Fall

It must be time to get back to those leaves. Taken at the edge of my lawn.

Important Dick Cheney Advisory

Good things can happen when Dick Cheney comes to town. This is epecially so when he comes to go a-hunting. My own Hudson Valley has the good fortune to host old Deadeye Dick for two days, specifically for this purpose. (Who knew that such good hunting was available about 100 miles north of New York City?) Residents are advised to wear bright orange for this period.

In possibly related news there has been another siting of Bigfoot, or Sasquatch.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.116

Welcome back.

This week we'll be continuing with our new Grand Canyon painting from the photo seen in the photo directly below.



When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.



Since that time I have continued working on the painting. I have painted most of the red areas blue as seen in the original photo. They now become the shadows for the newly painted pink buttes. Also new is the preliminary sky and flora/fauna of the foreground. (also preliminary.)

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.



That's about it for now, see you next week.

As always, feel free to post your own work.

Tribal Council

After due consideration of all suitable individuals, it is the unanimous determination of the SLB staff that House Speaker Nancy "no impeachment" Pelosi is to be voted off the virtual island of Left Blogistan.

For her nonsupport of Rep. Pete Stark, for her acute nonleadership skills and for her general capitulation to the Repugnican agenda, we vote you, Ms. Pelosi from the island.

The Tribe has spoken. Farewell. Or not.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.115

Welcome back.

This week we'll be starting an entirely new project. Last week marked the completion of the Grand Canyon painting that has been our subject for several weeks. This new cycle will also be a Grand Canyon scene, the photo seen directly below.



For this painting, I will be moving up to a larger 8x10 inch size. (Our last piece was 5x7.) As usual, I will be using acrylics.

I was attracted to this photo because of the interesting pattern of shadows created by the various buttes.

The first strokes are all important for placing the major elements of the scene on the canvas. I had actually started this piece in blue paint on another canvas. Those blue strokes were poorly proportioned and I painted right over them in fresh red purely for the reason of making my change easily seen. However, those red strokes were not right either. I grabbed another canvas, continuing in the red that I was already using. The result, better taking into account the shape of the canvas and now better proportioned, is seen in the photo directly below.



Next week, I'll have some of the elements filled in. That's about it for now, see you next week.

Farther Down Santa Fe Ave...

Grants, New Mexico really is a treasure trove of delights. Farther down the road was this perfect symbol for the decaying ruin that is the Bush administration. The photo speaks for itself.

No Vacancy

Seen on Santa Fe Avenue in Grants, New Mexico was this relic from a prior era. The hotel that it promoted was long gone, only a vacant lot remained. This sign stood as a lonely sentinel. (Taken with a Nikon L4.)

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.114

Welcome back.

This week we'll be continuing with our 5x7 painting of Arizona's Grand Canyon. The photo of our subject is seen in the photo directly below. (For those new to this series, I will be using my usual acrylics.)



When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.



Since that time I have continued to work on the painting. I have made changes to almost every surface except for the sky. I have once again changed the foreground butte adding back dark shadows that were eliminated earlier. These are more in keeping with those in the original photo.

There is now more red in the dark shadowed areas. Also, pink has been painted on the buttes far to the rear. I have also added highlights to the medium distance buttes and closed in some areas where too much dark shadow appeared.

I now consider the painting to be finished. The current state of the painting appears in the photo directly below.



For the frame fetishists amongst us, I have placed it in a 5x7 frame that I had. It is seen directly below.



Next week I'll start with an entirely new piece in an 8x10 format. That's about it for now, see you next week.

As always, feel free to post your own works below.

Hold My Calls

The scene is one of the many rest stops on the Garden State Parkway, or as the boran2 boy calls them "food fuel". Pulling in to the parking area, we made our way amongst the many vehicles toward the building housing the crowded food court. Once inside, the b2 boy and I went into the men's room.

Men's rooms tend to be like churches. Hushed silence and focused concentration usually prevail. But this day, I heard an incessant one-sided conversation. Very strange.

Turning to my right, I saw a middle aged man standing at a urinal, one hand on his equipment and the other on his, umm, other equipment. His cell phone, that is. He was talking while peeing, an activity deemed illegal in at least 4 states. At least that's what I've heard.

Is there no time inappropriate for a cell phone call?

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.113

Welcome back.

This week we'll be continuing with our 5x7 painting of Arizona's Grand Canyon. The photo of our subject is seen in the photo directly below. (For those new to this series, I will be using my usual acrylics.)



When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.



Since that time I have continued to work on the painting. I have concentrated all my efforts on the sky, particularly the clouds. I wanted to have the sky a somewhat darker shade in keeping with the photo, but still light enough to provide a suitable background for the clouds. After some fiddling with the amount of white I was adding to the blue, I arrived with the at balance seen in the photo directly below. As usual, the photo reflects the current state of the painting. The cloud are done in a simple fashion, mostly white highlights and the blue as it came from the tube.



That's about it for now, see you next week.

Many thanks to Olivia for featuring this week's progress.