Belatedly, royGbiv

The third Thursday came and went, as did most of the busy weekend.  I am sitting down to the computer to do more than check email (and read my horoscope) for the first time in days.  Happily, I was able to put in three full days painting in the new studio, which was heaven after all these many months.  I will give you a little look at my progress there, but first, I give you GREEN, for the April Roy G. Biv challenge, brought to us by the talented Julie and Jennifer.

Walking along Ballard Avenue a couple of weeks ago, the flower store had a stunning display of lime green birdcages.  I felt the '60s had returned!

Some sweet graffiti on a nearby garden wall in my neighborhood.

At the Locks this afternoon, I spotted this swath of vivid green algae.

A delicate green indeed on these new leaves along the Elliot Bay trail.

All the focus on green seems to have followed me into my painting efforts this week.  These are all acrylic, graphite and collage on paper, each about 6x9 inches I guess.

 Nobody is finished yet, but they are feeling complete to me.

Nobody has for-sure titles yet, either.

Gosh, it feels good to have muscled through the uncertainty of the first few hours, just to move paint again and not think about anything but the relationship of color to shape to line.

Hope your Easter was a happy one!

Drawing Challenge Returns - Fern

The Drawing Challenge took a brief summer hiatus.  I rather missed our little get-togethers!  Thank you to Norma for graciously offering the theme as we commence anew.

Ferns are very prolific in Southeast Alaska.

The underside of the leaves has seed-thingies.

pigma pen in 8x6 gamma sketchbook, daily drawing

Please do yourself a kindness and drop by our friend, the Fairy Yellow Bug Queen to wander amongst a forest of ferns brought to you by many talented artists.

Good Time Outdoors

Our camping trip out the road was so relaxing and memorable.  Here, have a look:

Saturday the skies were overcast but no rain, and warm.

Our camp was in the woods, right along the shore at Green's Camp.

Titus and Flossy setting up camp.

The beach combing was good.

Ziva was definitely the ring leader of the four-dog pack.

Brother Rex - a sweet boy!

Cherie scrubbing Ziva, who made the mistake of rolling in something dead and had to be bathed in the tide.  (Ziva had no regrets)!

Titus didn't quite get the whole 'play in the tide' thing.

Sunday morning dawned crystal clear and gorgeous.

We stayed out all day, exploring and enjoying.  Lots of huckleberries ripe already.  I did some picking.

Hope your week is going well and you are finding some time to get outdoors. 

Summer Visions

I have been busy as heck putting together my proposals for public art for the new Petersburg Public Library, creating mail art for exchange with Connie Rose (it's in the mail, Connie), and enjoying summer in Southeast Alaska.  Since I can't show you either of the first two efforts yet, I will share photos of our walk from Friday and this afternoon. 

Friday was ridiculously stressful but mid-afternoon I called a halt to the craziness, asked myself what would give me joy the rest of the day, went back to the studio from which I had been called away on a fools errand, gathered my things and retreated to the quiet of my home on the beach.

I sat in my rocking chair by the sunny window with a glass of ice tea and finished the novel I was reading.  Then Flossy and I...

went out the road for the afternoon walk.

The clouds were amazing, flying across the blue...

...throwing shadows dramatically across the landscape.

The Slough was a mill pond - the variety of blues struck me.

 This afternoon we went on a picnic with dear friends to Sandy Beach.  (Every town in Southeast Alaska has a place called 'Sandy Beach').

 After the fabulous food, we went for a walk along the nice trail through the beach fringe. 

 We met a big old Tree fellow.  He was very friendly - see all the hearts around him?

This exposed root has developed a beautiful verdigris palette.

Shy Maiden is the name of this tiny flower, I was told.  Thanks for visiting - hope your new week is starting out splendid!

Green Inspiration

These green days of summer have me going on a beading project for the Tongass Rain Forest Festival art show coming up the beginning of next month.  What's your current inspiration?

Wet Afternoon Walk

I had to force myself to go back out after getting home from town late this afternoon, and actually waited a bit for the rain to slow down to less than torrential; then, go back out I did.  I wanted to show you how the past few days have brought an end to the season of screaming green, ushering in the first hints of autumn.

Rain and wind made for a perfect imitation of October all day.

Devil's club leaves are among those starting to turn color.

Devil's club fruit - inedible by you and I... but I think the birds enjoy, and perhaps this has medicinal uses for the Indigenous Ones.

The Devil's club fruit will turn bright red before the end of summer like these already have.

Wild celery has gone to seed in a starry way.

wild celery - this plant stands about eye-level tall

salmon berry

New mushrooms are poking through the wet forest floor.

 Hope this post refreshes you, if you are living in the hot dry parts of the world!

Solstice

Our days are at their longest - the green and silver hours dim to twilight around 11pm and birds sing me awake with the full onset of daylight at 3 am, but no insomnia.   

View across to Kupreanof from the top of the 40,000 Road on Sunday afternoon

 

 There is good change afoot in the family again, so I drop back asleep under my quilts until the alarm at 5am.   

Dog.  

 Coffee.  

40,000 Road on Sunday afternoon

 

Across the Bay, morning clouds rise like yeasty dough to drape themselves in languid lovers embrace across Tonka Mountain and I begin the day grateful.  Grateful to be one of the Living Ones, one of the Humans, even when it’s hard sorrow to be lived through as in mourning the death of old friends as we have done on this island lately.  This beautiful summer light won’t last forever.

Happy Solstice to All!  Hope you are walking in gratitude today.