Posted in My Paintings UTPA MFA, Paintings, UTPA MFA, tagged My UTPA MFA Paintings, Sea Anemone Forms on January 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Two of my latest paintings, are based on sea anemone forms. They are 5′ x 3′, and done in acrylic on paper.
"Like Sea Anemones" 5' x 3', acrylic on paper
"Like Sea Anemones" 5' x 3', acrylic on paper
A third was created in PhotoShop and printed on paper:
"Nightmoth" 24" x 24", Digital on paper
Posted in Birding, Texas Birds, tagged Birding, Black Skimmer, Brown Jay, Green Jay, Hooded Oriole, Texas Birds on January 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »
South Padre Island has a boardwalk extending out into the ocean where access to shore birds is easy.
Skimmers
Carrina took this photo of the Black Skimmer. A flock of approx 200 flew in to land next to us. All birds faced into the wind in unison. Note the lower part of the beak is longer than the upper part. This is because they actually SKIM the top of the water with their beak open, scooping up tiny organisms. The neon orange color on their beaks was astonishing.
Brown Jay, next to the robin-sized Kisskadee
And then the Brown Jay, a rare visitor to the U.S., appearing this year after a 4 year absence. He is quite a lot larger than our Calif. jays but still has the sassy ways of our Stellar jays … stealing food from other birds and fussing loudly if all is not pleasing him. He was seen at Salineno refuge, near Falcon Lake.
Hooded Oriole
Also seen there was the exquisite Hooded Oriole … a deeper orange than most orioles and smaller.
Green Jay
Our visit at Salineno gave us views of 3 kinds of Orioles and the Green Jay. What more can one ask of Texas??
Posted in Birding, Texas, tagged Birding in South Texas, Quinta Mazatlan, Ringed Kingfisher, Tropical Parula on January 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »
A hum … a buzz … a ripple through the birding community … it has been reported that a Tropical Parula has arrived at Quinta Mazatlan. The gardens at this splendid, restored, adobe house provide shelter and food for migrating birds. Carrina and I brave the cold morning to arrive at 8am when they open the gates and join the shivering group … wandering amid the thickets, hedges, and lawns. Ten o’clock and no bird has shown up to sip from the fresh orange halves adorning the feeders …and then!! there he is!!
Tropical Parula
A tiny bird with blazing yellow tummy and blue-gray back. A rare tropical treat … seldom seen in the U.S.
Ringed Kingfisher
Across the pond a Ringed Kingfisher swoops down and poses for us. This bird is seen only here on the border with Mexico. He is BIG!
We are delighted and frozen, so off to get coffee and marvel at the Green Jays and Kisskadees energetically stripping the feeders of seeds and suet. We see these local wonders every day and are continually amused by their antics. They restore my soul.
Posted in Drawings, tagged "A Page a Day", Book Art, Drawings on January 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Paul Veladez
An amazing group of palm trees! The paintings were done on the pages of old books. Paul Veladez picked the pages/words he liked … then painted over and around the words. A page a day. Assembled as a group each image complements its neighbors.
Paul Veladez "Palm"
The words on the pages resonate with the palm trees.
Paul Veladez "Palm" close up
The more time the viewer spends looking-reading the more intense the experience becomes.
Paul Veladez "Palm" text
Time, travel …
Paul Veladez "By tomorrow ..."
“By tomorrow the stars will have rolled away” … the paper/book had fascinating words overlaid with free, floating palms. Loved it!!
Paul Veladez "Cone Flower"
Paul Veladez "Rat"
At the end of every day Paul does one of these mini paintings. If it has been an ordinary day he paints a palm tree … if it has been a bad day he paints a rat … and if it has been a extraordinary day he paints a flower.
Posted in Sculpture, tagged art philosophy, crafts, Sculpture, woodworking on January 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Off in the morning to see a woodworking craft show in Weslaco, Texas.
Bill Killough
Here is Bill Killough with his intricate little house … of course we all see it as a “hobbit house” after being inundated with “Lord of the Rings” and Disney. The interior spiral staircase is a marvel … I am charmed!
Craft is defined as “skill in making things by hand” or “an occupation requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill.” As I turn his carvings in my hands I wonder … what is the difference between art and craft? His attention to detail and perception of space is excellent. Art, per Wikipedia, is “the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often of symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect.”
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy says “The definition of art is controversial in contemporary philosophy … (a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics).” Holding the “hobbit house” and feeling the wood, the way the knife has gouged its way in feathered strokes, it appears to me that there is minimal difference between “art” and “craft” … Bill has his own aesthetic.
Bill Killough "Hobbit House"
Looking carefully at his face and his carvings, you can see his Philosophy of Life!
Mary P Williams 