Sometimes we are powerless to what the future holds. We would like to believe we have absolute control and our destinies are for our taking. We've witnessed those who preach that it came easy to them and everyone has the will if they desire. Everyone But the lazy. Then let me ask you this; in a burning building when a make-shift bridge is tossed and twenty people have to cross it, won't someone go first, someone be last, someone encourage others, someone give up their spot, some push others out of the way, some not be able to cross, some may be carried, some will be too scared to cross. some will hold someone else's hand, some will look down and hold up the line, some will run without holding on at all, some will take all their energy to put forth one slow step at a time. It's not that everyone doesn't want to cross the bridge, it's just not everyone can possibly cross at once, thus forming their destiny. True, you may already know which one of these people you would be and decided that indeed you do have control of your destiny, you've considered it survival of the fittest, but again, you haven't asked me what awaits at the other end of the bridge.
Powerless
Wanna Be
The Gathering
The Gathering (2008)
This purposely looks unfinished and child-like. I copied the idea off of one of my favorite plates. One that I often pull out of the hutch during the wintry wood stove season. It has that old European flare to it, that I am so much addictive. I have two plates actually, they are square shaped and have an English label on the back. The background appears as old wallpaper and the deer date back to something out of an ancient Children's literature book. The kind you find in old antique stores hanging together by threads and smelling of old wood. The greenery is faded and without detail as if it is unimportant. More so is the suggestion of conversation. The voice of the gecco in the Geico commercial comes to mind.."Hey you, how you've been? Long winter it was. "
The Man in The Garden
If I could put time in a bottle, it would be consumed with the hours I spent in this magical place. A place you wouldn't mind getting lost in conspiring one inspirational thought after another. A poetic wisdom is unraveled here and a story unfolds. It is a place that hides within itself and dares the viewer to discover it all. A place that even causes the wind to catch it's breath. It will take you back to your days of your childhood and capture your retrieve of discovery, every wish and every dream. You will see a thousand views without moving your head. A place that not only bottles time, but keeps the cork tight until the drink is at it's finest. Nature's Song
Nature's Song (2008)
An enchanting stroll conspired of lure and deception and yet so tranquil the moment it soothes the common ear. The lady is unable to look upon the pan of the gardens, however she attempts to gaze at him through her looking glass. Only the woodland creatures, those with their feet literally planted are able to gaze upon him as he melodically plays nature's song.
Perception's Tree
Perception's Tree (2007 -08)
I almost named this 'Wedding Day' but thought what bride would have time to be daydreaming in some field the day of her wedding, yet she has that look on her face of deep thought contemplating whether she feels up to the challenge that life is bringing her in the near future. The serpent in the tree looks ready to pounce, however the story could go another direction if you let your mind wander and study the characters. Obviously, she must know that he is there. Perhaps it is the fair maiden that is setting the trap.
New Dragon
Rip Van Winkle
Easter Island
Everyone has a dream destination.
That place in the back of your mind that you plan to visit someday, hopefully in reality and not in a continuous dream... For some it may be the romantic island, or to tackle the ferocious terrain of Antarctica. Maybe to thrill an evening in a haunted castle or dust off an ancient tomb in Egypt.
For me...
it would be to sail to Easter Island. One of the most isolated islands in the world, which houses an incredible secret - the "moai". No one can say for sure how they became..theories are noted numerously, this being one of better sites http://mysteriousplaces.com/Easter_Island/html/site1.html.
The Thaw
Grace and Simplicity
My first wooden sculptor from my 3D class. The object of this project was to create an idea out of wood with the specifications that it was to be non-functional and attached only using dowels and wood glue composing of symmetrical or asymmetrical values with negative and positive space showing either unity or variety. So I chose the gymnast.
Her posture indicates she may be a diver, dancer, or gymnast conducting either a back or front dive or flip on the parralell bar; the positioning is in the eye of the beholder. The extremities were sanded to very fine and definite points to make note the many hours spent by the athlete as she prepares for competition; perfecting every movement so it is displayed with grace and simplicity.
Myth & Magic
...and speaking of the days of enchanted castles, I decided to post one of my latest drawings.
I've recently purchased a book about the artwork of John Howe and am just fascinated with his ability to create authentic mythical scenery and creatures. For those of you who may not have heard of him, John Howe is a fantasy artist, more so a visionary, and is most noted for his artwork inspired by The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion, basically Tolkien's Middle-earth. As noted in the book, his ability to capture a moment in time, that passionate second before a hero becomes is unbelievable. Your able to study their facial expressions and see a number of emotions, almost as if you can actually see them weighing out the possibilities of their next move, the 'what is my best choice scenario here - big dragon on my left, ugly ogre warriors on my right', and then there is the beautiful princesses, wait I didn't see helplessness in these girls..these are wild rugged kick butt princesses that you just don't want to fool with. But best of all is the almighty dragons. Extinction has made them almost impossible to know how to draw, okay so maybe they didn't ever exist, but to see them brought to life in his paintings, you would argue. What I think is most appealing to me is the elegance of the lines, so many fragile curves for such a ferocious creature. Its that love hate thing,,,yes their evil but to pretty to die, like when a big ole grizzly is about to gobble you up - I think your adorable in the woods but now that your in front of me...one of us is going to have to die; just to point out one expression that you'll find on John Howe's heroes.
Well, your just going to have to buy the book. I found it at Barnes and Noble. Its titled Myth & Magic; The Art of John Howe forward by Peter Jackson. Did I mention the fantastic array of color. I'm sure if you buy it, you'll think...so why did she think her drawing would compare - its just inspirational, I'm sure I have a long way to go before I put Mr. Howe out of work.
Valentine
If Only In MemoryNeuschwanstein, the Sleeping Beauty
"It is my intention to rebuild the old castle ruin of Hohenschwangau near the Pöllat Gorge in the authentic style of the old German knights' castles, and I must confess to you that I am looking forward very much to living there one day (in 3 years' time); there will be several cosy, habitable guest rooms with a splendid view of the noble Säuling, the mountains of Tyrol and far across the plain; you know the revered guest I would like to accommodate there; the location is one of the most beautiful to be found, holy and unapproachable, a worthy temple for the divine friend who has brought salvation and true blessing to the world. It will also remind you of 'Tannhäuser' (Singers' Hall with a view of the castle in the background), 'Lohengrin' (castle courtyard, open corridor, path to the chapel); this castle will be in every way more beautiful and habitable than Hohenschwangau further down, which is desecrated every year by the prose of my mother; they will take revenge, the desecrated gods, and come to live with Us on the lofty heights, breathing the air of heaven". - King Ludwig II 
Originally named the Hohenschwangua, the precious stone atop the mountain was immensely decorated with medieval legends and poetry, most famously that of the swan knight, Lohengrin, a childhood favorite of Ludwig II. (A romantic opera was dedicated to Lohengrin in 1850). Ludwig was a bit of an eccentric and involved himself in the details of the building of what is known today as the Newschwanstein Castle. Many of the interiors were revolutionary at the time such as a warm air central heating system, a hot water system for the kitchen and bath, bedrooms equipped with telephones and a natural cave located between the living room and study. The art work in Newschwanstein is whimsical and to stand next to it is to be part of it. I can honestly say it will take your breath away. Never had I seen so much magnificent works of art in one place. To imagine the creators tracking up the mountain with every piece leaves one to believe it had to be mere obsession. The kind that only artist know.
Castle Vianden
To stand in the depth of a masterpiece; a work of architecture that has claimed to a land for hundreds of years is in the least just incredible. Its no wonder that the mysterious and intrigued find their way to these great places on earth. They are just filled with captivation, and excel anyone into their craft. Writers and poets must engulf a whimsy of scripts just entering the front gate, by the time they reach the balconies above I imagine a sedative is in need.
We spent time in Vianden back in 2000, and even today, I dream of returning. Luxembourg is a wondrous place to visit inspiring of old and new and the Vianden castle should be on every adventurers list.
Vianden Castle was reconstructed in 1977. Its history dates back to the Gallo Roman era during the 600s, and the number of noble men and women who walked its halls is lengthy. It holds many legends, such as Yolanda, the daughter of Count Henry I, who ran away to a Dominican convent when she was only 14, only to be brought back kicking and screaming by her parents and locked up in the castle for over a year, before finally returning to the convent to become a novice.
The castle was also the last place in Luxembourg to be freed by the Germans in 1945.
And what of romantism...Victor Hugo spent a good deal of time visiting Vianden ( between 1802-1885) and he was responsible for elegantly advertising Vianden to the outside world. Victor eventually dove deeply into his writing to become known as the most influental of French Romantism. Most famously he is known throughout the world for writing Les Miserables and Notre-Dame de Paris or as it is known in english, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Yes, Vianden Castle itself has seen its fill of masterpieces walk through its halls. Even I didn't understand the full gratitude of being part of such a piece of history until after we returned to the states.
Shading the imagination
Remember watching the clouds roll by and using your imagination to visualize the many different images...white whales jumping over cars, and sailboats passing over the circus of elephants and horses.
In my two-dimensional art class this week we are practicing shading techniques. We did this project by attaching a studio light to the end of a table, then we turned out the lights and traced the shadows of a pair of scissors held in about five to six different positions and lengths in front of our blank paper causing short and long shadows of the handles and blades. We finished by shading each new shape formed by the scissor overlaps from darkest to lightest.
so....Sit back, relax and 'cloud gaze' away! Add 'what you see' to the comment box below.
The Riverwalk of San Antonio
where a tribe of Payaya Indians lived happily along the banks of the Rio Saint Antonio de Padua
the namesake of the San Antiono River
Spanish Queen
Hauntingly she rest, the Texan sun warming her stone exterior, as bus loads of tourist brush their hands against her stucco walls. Her existance is mere legend now; she is no longer the fortress she once was. Yesterday's sounds still whisper through her halls; the playing of harps and violins echo unnoticed; guitar strings plucked in a spanish melodic tone saturate the limestone cathedral while the young children repeat their spanish prayers. 
She appears to smile as the days shadow creeps across one pillar to the next. She poses for a picture and then again, she escapes to her days of pride. The memory of glowing gardens lining her courtyards with bushels of corn and beans; peaches weighing over a pound. The humming of the turbine as it pushes power to the flour mill. The rustle of some 2,000 cattle drowning out the calls of the Indian vanqueros as they attempt to organize the herd for branding. The 'Queen of the Missions' stands proud. She is the San Jose Y San Miguel De Aguayo Mission. http://www.nps.gov/archive/saan/visit/MissionSanJose.htm
A Winter Walk
"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."
-Wilson 'Snowflake' Bentley 1925, Jericho, VT
Last winter we headed out on many snow hikes. The Vermont forests hold a magical pose of tranquility after a quiet wave of snow, most often they are stirring with wildlife. Its the best time to take what you would think to be an uninterrupted hike, however one can expect to run into a multitude of bundled-up cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Vermonters know when to head into the woods.
These pictures were taken during our winter hike on the picturesque trails of the Green Mountain Audubon Society located in Huntington, Vermont, just outside of Richmond http://vt.audubon.org/centers.html.
If you get the chance to take your own winter walk, don't forget to listen for the beavers plunging into the icy ponds.
Awesome Ausable
"I like this place, and willingly could waste my time in it" - ShakespeareSteep ridges of sandstone shade us from the sun, as we make our way deeper and deeper into the gorge, the rushing white water drowning out our exclamations. Surely if castles were still erected they would tower over this place. I watch the small crevices for movement, determined to catch a glimpse of a gnome, dragging my finger along the rock, scanning for pixie dust. The stone path narrows as the rock wall boast out in the formation of animals and faces. The frozen elephant lowers
his trunk, giving us permission to pass. Rainbows hide in the falls and trees hang freely over the rock cliffs and watch us from above; some teasing us with string like roots as if we were kittens. The water stops and foams, before finding a new route. In a hurry, in a hurry, to find its way out. Spiders weave their webs to catch water droplets from the spray. Deep green hostas and ferns hold tight as if potted to the temple chasm walls. Further down we climb, but no shoreline exist, closer to the rage, the depth of 80 some feet. Our clothes are dampened as we near....close enough to almost touch it, then a steep green ladder appears, inviting us to climb to the heavens, to where the trees tower and where castles would be, to see where we have been, or where we could be. http://www.ausablechasm.com/In Search of Moose
....It starts with a trip to the grocery store, the purchase of pretzels and cheese; any favorite road side treat will do. Once home, the packing of binoculars, the 35 mm, its series of lens, film, and the camcorder go into the SUV. 
Then off we go......on our road trip to Island Pond, the best place in Vermont to spot moose.
The drive takes us past authentic Vermont shops such as The Castle, a privately owned home in Irasburg with white castle exterior. The owners run a small elegant gift shop in their renaissance interior serving delicate treats and teas out of their dome kitchen. Though unfortunately, I hear the place is up for sale. There is the Trading Post just outside of Orleans selling hunting items, wool clothing, and snowshoes and Uncle Bill's Diner, with his delicious fresh cut fries....and least not to mention The Cajun Snack Bar, setting invitingly along the road north of Lowell, with umbrella tables, serving, to my opinion, one of the best Philly Cheese steak sandwiches in the state. So many good food spots are available but you wouldn't be able to try them all in one day.
Interestingly enough, we pass an Elk farm and later a Boar farm; always a picturesque stop...And although slightly out of our way, we choose to drive towards Lake Willoughby, said to have likeness to Loch Ness. There is no lake monster here, but it does host local folklore. A perfect place to enjoy a packed lunch. If you go during the winter and have your binoculars you are sure to see ice climbers as they hang by picks on mountain sides of pure ice. Then up and over the hill to Island Pond, watching our speed, because the local constable has a reputation for catching every driver who dares speed over 35 in his town.
To see a moose in the wild is indescribable. They are curious creatures, and for the most part don't seem to scare easily, taking their time to either cross the road in front of you, or grazing near mud wallows. Evidence is obvious along the road sides, as their huge hooves sink into the mud and track over the asphalt. We were told the moose hang near the highways due to their addiction to road salt, and naturally as the chicken joke states, to cross to the other side.
Rustic Soul Rejunvenation
For our Adirondack experience we traveled early spring to the Wawbeek Lodge http://www.wawbeek.com/ and we couldn't have been more satisfied. Even the first morning rain was inviting as we traveled out before breakfast along the lodge's trail, listening to the melodic tones of a loon as she sung to her mate on Upper Saranac Lake. It was the first time I ever heard one sing, and yes, it was just as alluring as "On Golden Pond". The water was exceptionally still except for the dancing rain drops and the occasional fisherman boat. My goal was to get a picture of the loon, but with all of the un-moving along the shoreline, she knew we were coming and I never did get the shot.
After convincing ourselves to retreat from the shoreline, we followed our trail back to the Wawbeek restaurant for our breakfast, and although it was a bit nippy we took our breakfast out to the heated open porch that overlooked the lake. The cook told us we were the first to dine on the porch this year. I found it unbelievable for I would have been out here with mittens on, if needed....the lake was too captivating. I was sure it had drown the worries and stresses of life of a million before me.
