I needed to visit the hospital complex again today for various matters regarding my mother-in-law and her ongoing medical issues. I took along my camera just in case I spotted anything interesting to photograph. A nice surprise was finding another area with poppies in bloom! Yipee!!
Yesterday evening I returned to the hospital grounds to take more poppy pictures. I thought I’d have plenty of time to take more pictures as it appeared there were many unopened blooms. However, the bulk of them were gone! So many of the unopened blooms were drooped over and look finished. It was quite a surprise and another lesson in the “do it while you can” category of life.
This time last year I was in England with my mom showing her the sights with Derry. The decision to take her then was a good one as one year later things have certainly changed. First, I highly doubt I could have done a fraction of the travel I did last year because of my back problems and, most sadly, Derry’s dad is no longer alive (the though of which continues to deeply sadden me). In short, when opportunity presents itself, and if you have the means and motive, go for it. It something I need to tell myself regularly as, tick tick tick, life changes fast, and regrets can pile up.
On a good note, I’m almost finished with my 12 x 12 inch piece for the 8 That Create group. The theme for an upcoming show is fashion, and my piece is based on the pages of a past Vogue magazine. I have a few more rows of french knots to add, and then I should be squaring off and finishing it. All in all, a good weekend, despite the back woes!
After visiting my mother-in-law at a hospital facility in Princeton-Plainsboro today, I decided to take some photographs of poppies on the nearby grounds. The flowers looked beautiful in the sunlight, and I found it very soothing. However, someone called the police on me! Luckily, all went well — although it was sort of funny when he thought I said I was photographing puppies rather than poppies (at least I said “photographing” rather than “shooting”). I might use some of the photos as a basis for some watercolor paintings.
Rich and I spend an afternoon walking around some areas of the NJ Pine Barrens. I took these photos in historic Batso Village and some surrounding areas.
Prior to having some routine blood work done, I used my iPhone to take a picture of this flower which outside of the doctor’s office. I then made the adjustments to it using a couple different apps. What fun!
These are from the butterfly picture I took the other day.
I took this photo out of the car window while Rich drove.
The first butterfly and the first flower I photographed in NJ this season. Hopefully it’s the start of many more to come.
My self-imposed goal of painting Budz on a regular basis was completed. It’s primarily watercolor paints.
“ArtTrader Magazine is a free web based publication (in PDF format) focused on mail art for trade such as ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), ACEOs, art journals, chunky books, altered art and altered art books.” Not only can you download the free PDF publication of the current issue, but you can download all issues going back to 2008. I have no affiliation with them at all, but wanted to share their information in case you’re not aware of the publication. Enjoy!
I did this last week. It’s all still a struggle. Even so, I’m learning. Happy June!
by Maggie Macnab
Earlier this year I came across this book while at Photoshop World. With one quick flick of the pages, I immediately had to have it! Design by Nature, Using Universal Forms and Principles in Design by Maggie Macnab is by far the best design book I’ve come across in some time.
The introduction of the book starts, “At five years of age, I stood above the clouds at sunset atop a mountain with my father. He told me to never forget the moment. I never have.” And I was hooked. “By recognizing the principles, patterns, and processes of nature, you can create intuitively elegant and aesthetic design at will rather than by chance.”
The book is divided in three sections: Memory: Remembering What We Know; Matter: Understand and Create; and Motion: The Experience Enhanced. This is a book I could not put down, and I read it from cover to cover. I still find myself picking it up at different moments and drifting off into re-reading sections, like “Wabi-sabi and Grunge” (which alone is food for thought) or “Using Nature’s Elements in Design.”
The book is written for designers and creative thinkers of all types.
It includes insightful profiles of guest designers, quotes, concepts, learning objectives, put-it-into-practice exercises, images, illustrations, and even external links for more information.
Macnab’s skillful weave of compelling text and imagery strikes just the right balance to convey the subject matter and provide the reader with a better understanding of how to incorporate nature’s shapes and patterns into meaningful design.
Important to note is this is not a new book with a pretty cover and nothing of substance inside. Instead, it has a clean cover and an inside bursting with nearly 300 pages of stimulating, provocative information written by a person passionate and knowledgeable about her craft. I cannot say enough good things about this book, and it is an absolute keeper. No matter what your present design skill, chances are you will benefit from reading it. Published by New Riders, it lists for $44.99 although you can get it through Amazon for less. It’s also available for download on your Kindle/iPad/eReader.
My latest watercolor of Bud-Z. I based it on a photo taken during a very sunny day, and I once again struggled with painting the shadows. Practice, practice, practice. I know, but it’s slow going. Digital painting often seems so much easier for me, but it really does all come down to practice!
Meanwhile, I’m putting together some of the tech-related columns I’ve written over the years with a goal of updating some where needed and then putting them together in some kind of an ebook. What do you think? Any interest?
I’m a member of 8 That Create, the brain child of artist Sue Bleiweiss. Part of our mission is to encourage our individual artist journeys. Our first joint journey is the creation of a piece under the theme, “Empty Spaces.” Because of my darn back woes, I haven’t contributed as much as I should have. However, I have finally finished the digital end of my piece which I am calling “Faith.”
"Faith," ©2012 Gloria Hansen
This is the piece prior to being stitched. You can read about the process of how I went from a very basic idea to this finished digital collage. The post is called, “The evolution of “Faith” – my empty spaces piece, and you can find it here.
I’m behind in posting. I did these around the 22nd-23rd of April, but I didn’t have a chance to post until now. Each are primarily watercolor, but they each also have a bit of acrylic and gouache in them. This past weekend, I was in NYC for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk. I’ll post more on that in the coming days.
I’m also a member of 8 That Create. Our first group theme is “Empty Spaces,” and you can learn more about the art created for the theme by reading the blog here. Once my Unity Walk work is finished, my next priority is finishing and writing about my piece. Unfortunately for me, I’ve been battling a bad back which has been knocking me for a loop and zapping my creativity and energy.
