Art and Nature and a bit of Joy

Do you see art here? One of the funnel web spiders, and I don't know enough to say which, has created a lovely web leading to his/her in-ground tunnel. These amazingly intricate webs manage to be both delicate and strong at the same time. Saw this while out walking dogs.


And, our little friend Hunter the Weimaraner (yep, I had to look up the spelling) racing to greet us. Hunter is pure joy and energy. He's a part of our morning routine too. Don't you wish you knew a human happy enough at seeing you to become airborne racing to meet you?



I have to water again today; and that 2 or 3 hour task done out in the heat usually zaps me to the point that I can't paint. I'm hoping to finish early.

Off to the Printer!

Here's The Covey. I'd "finished" it last week, then decided to do one last thing - and ruined it! So, a re-do, ta-da!

That's been often the story of not just my painting, but even my life. That one last thing makes me late, is the one thing I shouldn't have said, is the final bite that makes me feel sick, etc., etc., etc.

Wonder if I'll ever learn that lesson? Hasn't happened so far and I'm - - let's just say mature in years!

The Quail painting series

OK, I've decided to quail series is to have very simple names for each painting.

The first is The Guardian

Second is The Pair

Third, that would be this one, is The Flight


And, I'm sketching out # 4 which will be The Covey.

As soon as it is done, I need to get them off to the printer to have note cards made, then put the originals on my web site - www.artbyeddie.net - and offer the originals for sale.

It's funny; whenever I get rolling on a series, the paintings come quickly. And, when I'm stuck, well, I'm just stuck.

Quail painting # 2 - I'm not sure yet what I'm calling it. Nesting would be easy but boring. Hmmm. . . . I think of the male as really strutting his stuff, but I haven't come up with a good title in that vein.

And, I need to get more watercolor paper when we're in town tomorrow. So, maybe I'll keep going on quail until it's out of my system.

Two more are generally in my brain, but not yet on paper. They'll get there.

Quazy for Quail

OK, I know I shouldn't put up a picture of an unfinished painting, but I can't resist. I love quail! Love them, you hear! So, I'm doing a series of quail paintings, probably 4, and will have note cards made.

This one is called The Watcher. I've got the next number sketched out. It's going to be a close up of two quail, male and female, with the male in his breeding plumage and looking like he's strutting his stuff.

Sometimes one can't fight where their head is, and right now, I just can't get mine out of the way enough to work in abstract. So a quail series it is.

And, in another area of creative endeavor, I just made a vegetarian paella for dinner. My husband found the recipe in a bicycle magazine of all places! It's got a bunch of ingredients, takes many steps, uses several pans, took a full hour, and is totally worth the effort!

Out of my mind

I so much want to work in an abstract way, and I want to paint feelings rather than things. But, I've only managed that semi-successfully a couple of times. Usually when I start out to do that, my mind gets in the way and I end up forcing what that busy body wants me to see.

I'm giving thought to painting when I'm exhausted, painting in the dark, painting with my eyes closed, etc., etc., etc., as a way of breaking out of the control of my mind. Of course, it's my mind that has come up with those ideas. Hmmmmm.

Does it have to be Art with a capital A?

When people talk about ART it often takes on the feel of awe - think Michelangelo, think stuffy museums - and the eyes of many glaze over as they quickly lose interest. It doesn't have to be like that! If one can let go of the idea of making a mess, or worse yet making a "mistake", art can have a small A and enter all aspects of living.

For example, these candle holders are made from old water valves found for a quarter each at a garage sale. My husband cleaned them up, attached them to a board and affixed a nail to the handle portion of each. Viola! Love, love, love the idea of fire and water combined.


And this plant rooter, marble holder gizmo - a technical term if ever there was one - was created from parts of a broken chandelier. One of my oldest and dearest friends sent the chandelier for use in our home as we were building. It broke in transit, and we had to get another. But a few rescued pieces combined into this creation, and yes, it is waterproof!


This piece could be called Rock Around the Clock or possibly Doing Hard Time. In the area where we lived in New Mexico this type of red rock naturally breaks into thin slices. The splotches are lichen. After getting my husband to drill them for me, I created several clocks that were used as Christmas gifts that year.


And this little piece is a wreath made of succulents - easy to do, hard to kill, and just plain fun. It's now blooming. The two old wooden wheels were purchased at a junk store.


The thing is that giving my imagination free reign now and then takes me to interesting places and comes up with pieces of small-A art that can grace my life in unexpected ways. This in turn can jump-start the creative process to get me back painting! It's all connected.