News on the Art/Creative Front

First, the butterflies aren't going to make it.  One of the boys put the chrisalyds in the butterfly hatchery by himself very early one morning.  He took them out of the cup, off the lid, and TAPED the paper they were attached to to the butterfly mesh house.  He must have accidently squashed them in the process, because some are flat and some are shrinking.  So, we'll try again with another cup of caterpillars. 

I was overjoyed to find one painting last week, though without permission.  (I handled that.)  I had a large board on an easel that I had planned to paint on for months and months.  He found some acrylic paints and went at it.  He painted a very nice picture and we have it sitting on the fireplace now. 


The other is in the process of painting on a smaller board now.  He's painted over his work several times but is enjoying it.  I would so love for one or both of them to enjoy art!

Transformation One

Our caterpillars have attached to the top of the container and they're starting to form into chrysalids.  They grew very fast as caterpillars and performed just as advertised. 

The garden is not ready though.  We have about 10-14 days to get it ready to receive the new butterflies.  They can go find a place, of course. But I want to have the garden ready.  I'll post pictures as we progress.

Creating - Butterfly Garden

Our butterfly hatching kit arrived today.  Tomorrow the boys and I (with Dad's help hopefully) will start a butterfly garden in the backyard.  First we have to get rid of thick grass.  I'm planning to use the cut and cover technique.  I just don't want to dig it all out and the boys aren't old enough yet.  I found good sites for plants for this area and I have a few yard ornaments and a piece of iron fence we can use to decorate.

One resource I read said to leave some natural area nearby.  No problem - rope it off and stop mowing!

On Enchanted Learning I found a butterfly calendar.  We're each coloring one and then will give them to the grands.

Pictures to follow as we progress.

Floundering

This is supposed to be my art/photography blog.  Well what is here for the last few months is what I've done..... nada!  Since leaving Nebraska I have not been inspired to take photos.  Even though there are interesting old buildings and artifacts here too, I am just not there.  I think I need a new urban/suburban photographic interest.  New buildings don't call to me, but street scenes do. 

On the other hand.  There is just so much photography I want to do just for me.  I've yet to discover a reliable market for photos as art.  I enjoyed making the little houses from my photo snips and sold a good number for Haiti relief.  But again, how much market and how many small house magnets do I need.  There are gifts, of course, but I'd like to think someone would find enough value in what I do to pay for it. 

I've been yearning to paint, but again, not sure of subjects and I don't even know if I really can paint.  I just have this hunger to do so.  I guess I should do it to satisfy myself even if I can't really....

I am going to work on some designs to go on tshirts etc for my boys' elementary school and put them in cafepress.  That might be fun.  Go Mustangs!  So, watch this space and see if the muse strikes.

What are you up to?

One Photo a Day - hahahaha!

Well, I took two photos in a row in this project.  I'm not giving up.  I still like the idea.  My life/mood/muse just haven't cooperated.  Daily life with twin 7 year olds (ADHD) is challenging and I lost a dear friend recently and I grieve over it.  Ever onward.  I need about 90 photos to catch up!

I've fallen in like with making treasuries on ETSY.  It is so satisfying to search for art I like and make collections.  I've seen some treasuries that make art themselves. 

Artistically, I'm currently lazy.  I have yet to find an inspiring/motivating subject since we returned to Houston - going on two years.  I'm not drawn to modern buildings or nature shots.  I'd like to continue with old structures, and there are some nearby.  I'd like to shoot the old neighborhoods in the city but have not journeyed there.  One that I have always been drawn to, Freeman's Town, seems to have been replaced by condos.  I'd like to find any remants of the historic village.

I will have new work or the chosen work of others to report soon.  I'd like to hear from you.  What are you working on?  What have you seen?

A Project for 2011

Today I started a project to take at least one photograph per day.  Since I didn't start on the first, I'm calling it 350 or So .... instead of 365 Photos.  I was inspired by some conversations amongst photographers on ETSY. 

My first photo isn't very artistic, but she is sweet.  I snapped the boys' puppy Fuzzy in the backyard.  A better shot will be her following or tormenting Hank.  She runs under him and all around him and it must tickle his hair.  He just dances!  Soon he gets enough and growls at her.

I don't have to go get her out the the further reaches of the yard; she'll follow Hank anywhere.

A Photographer I Admire

I 'met' a photographer through Flickr when we lived in Nebraska and I started shooting a lot.  We commented on each other's photography and shared sites.  I was looking at Flickr today and looked up his photostream (Flickr term). He has 50 some pages of wonderful photographs now. 

If you like landscapes, old buildings, vivid colors, and/or unique perspectives, you'll enjoy his work.  The link is included here.  I encourage you to take a look and leave him comments.

Good viewing!

http://bit.ly/hSZyAe

Astounding Underwater Sculpture Garden

Underwater Sculpture Haven

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor - You have to see this.  An artificial reef of human sculpture has been started near Cancun to relieve eco pressure on the natural reef caused by tourism.  The first link is to a gallery of stills.  The second is a Youtube of the site.

Youtube of the underwater sculptures

What dedication and generosity!  And what a good idea to create an attractive diving site that harbors sealife in order to relieve the natural area.  I'm just blown away by the art, altruism, and ingenuity of this artist and foundation.

One statue has a bladder inside that divers can fill so she blows bubbles.  Fish are hanging around and taking shelter and plant/animal life is already attaching to the sculpture.  I'm sure there is more footage available upon search.  I'm off to find it.  I just had to write this first.

Art House Sketchbook 2011

Time's up.  My sketchbook titled "I am a Scavenger" is to be postmarked by January 15.  I have a few pages to go but could send it anytime.  I have enjoyed making pages, mostly collage, on the theme.  I have a stash of left over paper, fabric, thread, and objects I have found.  One prize is a cup of shattered auto glass.  It is a cup of jewels.  As I worked, I developed an awareness that scavenging is recycling.  It may be a bit more focused on the finding, but both repurpose, reuse, fix, and rescue.

I selected this theme because I am a scavenger of sorts.  It is most evident to me when I walk.  I always expect to find a small treasure on the ground, street, or beach.

Art House displayed pictures of visitors to an exhibit of sketchbooks.  They had small stacks of sketchbooks and sat or stood leafing through them.  That would be very interesting.  link:

Art House - great place to see art.     In a few days I'll put all the pictures on Flickr and a link here if you'd like to see more scavenging.

Photograph Review - Brown Pelican

This is a photograph from an artist who sells on ETSY.com.  Her shop name is Eyeshuttertothink.  Great name for photography, eh?  I asked her if I could feature one of her photos here because I admire her work.  It is quite diverse in subject and style. (http://eyeshuttertothink.etsy.com/) I had another shot in mind as I started to write; but as I was looking for it, this one caught my eye; and looking at it brought tears to my eyes.  So this is the one!  It is called Brown Pelican.

Why tears?  Isn't that what art is about - feelings evoked by images?  I don't know why; it isn't a sad picture.  I think it is the beauty, wisdom, solitary condition, .... don't know for sure but he is beautiful and striking.  You will soon find a comment below from the photographer herself about her views on the photo. 

Please share your views, too.

Brown Pelican is reproduced with permission of the artist.  All rights are reserved.  Do not copy.

What's in a Treasury?

I'm posting some Treasurys from ETSY at the end of the blog posts. These are collections of ETSY sellers work that I picked out (curated) as interesting, beautiful, inspiring, etc. Take a peek.