Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.134

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with our scene from the Sonoran desert area. This is an 8x10 canvas using my usual acrylics.

The subject photo is seen directly below.



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've now completed the foreground with various small plants. Each is lit in a way that is appropriate to and consistent with this sunset scene. Shadows have been added to all the cacti, which have all been completed in green, yellow and blue.

The cloudless sky is now finished in a somewhat darker shade of blue.

Finally, a darker blue appears between the background cacti, suggesting many more cacti in the far distance.

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



Next week I'll start an entirely new project.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Go Scratch

Umm, got an itch? I hope that you're not in Italy.

Link

Whatever their reason might be, a passing hearse or simple discomfort, Italy’s highest court ruled that men may not touch their genitals in public. The ruling settled an appeal by a 42-year-old worker from Como, north of Milan, who was convicted in May 2006 of “ostentatiously touching his genitals through his clothing,” though his lawyer argued it was a problem with his overalls. ...

Ouch.

Ah, clarity, there's nothing like it.

The court ruled that this “has to be regarded as an act contrary to public decency, a concept including that nexus of socio-ethical behavioral rules requiring everyone to abstain from conduct potentially offensive to collectively held feelings of decorum.”

Umm, okay.

Unlimited

This week, Verizon Wireless (and other carriers) began offering unlimited access plans. For the small price of $99.99 (cough, cough) you too can have unlimited, anytime, anywhere cell phone service. Such a deal. For $1200.00 per year plus applicable taxes and fees, perhaps they should have entitled the plan Unlimited Billing. It's yet another boon for the telecommunications industry, as if they needed one. And excuse me for asking, but does anyone really need more than the usual monthly allotment of several hundred minutes? If so, consult your local support group.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.133

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with our scene from the Sonoran desert area. This is an 8x10 canvas using my usual acrylics.

The subject photo is seen directly below.



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.

Perhaps the term continued to work is something of an understatement. Things got going fairly well and I failed to stop to take photos of various stages of the piece. In my enthusiasm I didn't think about it until things had changed considerably.

I'll attempt to set forth the changes. I've addressed a number of areas, including the sky which is now starting to gain a bit of color. It will change again before I'm done.

I've also added a number of ancillary cacti and painted in some of the details. Shadow is seen in blue against the green body color.

Additional details have been added to the foreground. Various small plants are now seen, with highlighted and shadowed areas.

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



Next week I'll have some additional details.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Tribal Council

Receiving the unanimous vote of the entire SLB staff this week is her majesty, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Formerly assumed to be the Democratic party's designated hitter, she has had to work hard to stay afloat in this race. Unfortunately, she has dived for the low road time and time again. Not exactly a good role model for all of us ordinary citizens.

Apparently, for at least some politicians, different rules apply. We may be plagiarizing here, but the tribe has spoken. Farewell Ms.Clinton, you are ejected from the virtual island of Left Blogistan.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.132

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing with our scene from the Sonoran desert area. This is an 8x10 canvas using my usual acrylics.

The subject photo is seen directly below.



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 given the canvas a solid layer of paint covering the thin wash of color. The ground now appears in a red color, the sky a pale blue. The cacti are now a solid medium blue color. This stage of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.



But not satisfied with this progress, I was anxious to see those 2 long shadows. In adding them, I was actually painting things a bit out of order, but I needed some immediate gratification. It appears in the photo directly below.



Next week I'll have some details.

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Putting The Bang Back Into The National Parks

There you are, sitting amongst striking scenery, perhaps enjoying this view.



The birds are making sweet sounds as a soft breeze gently stirs the native shrubs. There's nothing to do but soak up the beautiful views. Things are almost perfect. Almost perfect because there is apparently one other thing that would make your national park experience incomparable.

PEER link

Washington, DC — A campaign by the National Rifle Association to repeal National Park Service rules relating to firearms is based upon misconceptions, according to an analysis released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). If the NRA is successful, it would mark the first time Congress would have enacted a statute to repeal a regulation governing the national park system – in this case, rules that date back to the origin of national parks.

Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has prepared legislation forbidding the Interior Secretary from enforcing “any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm in any unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System…” On December 14, 2007, a group of 47 senators wrote to Interior Secretary Kempthorne urging repeal of these regulations because they are “confusing, burdensome and unnecessary”. The NRA claims credit for both the letter and the Coburn amendment. A Senate vote on the Coburn amendment may occur as early as this week.

The legislation is aimed at controlling the hotbeds of crime that are our national parks, no doubt. You just can't be too careful.

Senator Coburn is apparently attempting to reinforce the misconception that the current regulation is in conflict with the second amendment. In fact, the current regulation was put in place during the Reagan administration and relaxed an earlier stricter one. It does not absolutely bar weapons.

“…unloaded weapons may be possessed within a temporary lodging or mechanical mode of conveyance when such implements are rendered temporarily inoperable or are packed, cased or stored in a manner that will prevent their ready use.”

PEER again:

The Second Amendment right ‘to keep and bear Arms’ does not specify that the weapons must always be loaded and holstered,” stated PEER Board Member Frank Buono, the former deputy superintendent of Mojave National Preserve, noting the fundamental reason for this regulation is to prevent opportunistic poaching, as most park units forbid hunting. “It is amazing that for more than seven decades the vigilant guardians of the Second Amendment never before discovered this hidden violation of the Constitution by the National Park Service.”

And then there's the issue of consistency of regulations. Senator Coburn would have regulations conform to state law, potentially giving rise to many different regulations.

The other rationale for removing firearm regulations is “consistency in firearms policy” on federal lands, according to the senators’ letter. Senator Coburn’s legislation would have federal firearm policy conform to state laws, but because firearms laws vary from state to state, there would then be at least 50 sets of rules for federal lands. In some instances, where a park straddles a state line, there would be two different firearms policies in different sections of the same park.

Apparently one will need GPS to know for sure.

Tribal Council: Open Casting Call

SLB is now accepting nominations for Tribal Council ejections. Submit yours in the comment space below. All nominations become the property of SLB. Employees and their relatives are precluded from participation. Void where prohibited.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.131

Welcome back.

This week we will be starting an entirely new painting. Once again we are in the southwest, returning to the Sonoran desert area.

The new subject photo is seen directly below.



The one has strong verticals and shadows that will make for an interesting image.

I've laid out the basic elements to start the painting. Using a blue and red mixture to start, I've painted the horizon line and three largest cacti. The spaces between have been filled with the extra paint left over.

The pale result of my initial work is seen in the photo directly below.



Obviously, there is much work left to be done. But of course, this will provide us an oportunity to spend some time here together in the coming weeks. ;-)

That's about it for now. I'll see you next week. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.

Tribal Council

Adding insult to injury, it is the unanimous decision of the entire SLB staff that the Mittster, Mitt Romney gets the boot from the virtual island of Left Blogistan. His decision to leave the race after spending untold sums is his own, his booting is ours. This was part of his parting shot, and the reason he is this week's guest of honor:

Link

"First," he said, "I have to put something in context." He said, "America is unique in the history of the world. In the history of the world," he said, "whenever there's been conflict, the nation that wins takes land from the nation that loses. One nation in history, and this during the last century, laid down hundreds of thousands of lives and took no land: no land from Germany, no land from Korea, no land from Japan. America," he said, "is unique in the sacrifice it has made for liberty, for itself and for freedom-loving people around the world."

Umm, Governor, limiting the timeline to the last century is a little disingenuous, no? Extending the timeframe a bit, it is possible that Mexicans and native Americans might take exception to your statement, Governor. But then there's that American exceptionalism. It's kind of like having a get out of jail free card. Everything is justified. All is forgiven.

Farewell, Governor. The tribe has spoken.

boran2 Endorses...Obama...Grudgingly

Having waited until the last moment to announce my long awaited decision, I hereby make my half-hearted endorsement of Senator Obama. I say half-hearted because there is no appreciable ideological difference between Senators Obama and Clinton. (For a highly detailed analysis of their respective records, check out the recent dkos post of the diarist musing85. I will not link to dkos.)

It comes down to this: Obama is drawing support from independents and even some Republicans. That is the reason to vote for Senator Obama. Senator Clinton simply can't make the same claim. Obama's questionable assertions regarding change have as much substance as Senator Clinton's regarding her extensive experience. (She is my senator, now only in her second term.)

That's all I've got.

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.130

Welcome back.

This week we will be continuing the 10 x 10 scene of the creek and buttes in Sedona, Arizona. I will be using the photo seen directly below and 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 worked on several aspects of the painting. I've revised slightly the rocks amongst the reflections, adjusting the edges and highlights. The front lower left has had an edge adjustment.

I've also adjusted the bushes a bit. The shadowing includes colors seen in other parts of the painting, including some blue. The lit areas have also been changed to show a brighter look providing good contrast with the shadows.

Above the bushes, I've added shadows and highlights to the red rocks that sit below the buttes. The now have a more three dimensional appearance.

And with that, I've completed the piece. The photo directly below shows the final painting.



There were times when I thought that I had taken on a bit too much with this painting. But with some effort I was able to make a passable, if somewhat stiff,
water surface and reflection. It was a good learning experience.

That's about it for now, I'll see you next week when I will start an entirely new piece. As always, feel free to add photos of your own work in the comments section below.