Highland Park

Went back to Highland Park Friday Morning. Tulips are in full bloom. Yellow Magnolias were in blossom, though there is evidence of damage from the hard frosts we got during April's cold spell. The lilacs are beginning to open as well, though hopefully they will not peak until the Lilac Festival. It looks as though the Rhododendrons will be beginning to open soon. Weather permitting, I plan to go again this Friday. Til then, enjoy the lastest images...

Elizabeth Magnolia

Burgundy Tulips

Daffodils

Lilac Blossoms

World Expression Tulips

More images here

Prints can be purchased at Solace Pointe

For those of you who like to customize your own purchases, prints are available through my Imagekind and Fine Art America portfolios.

Virginia Beach

Took a fast and furious trip to Virginia Beach with John and Amanda and friend Kristin to see Matt Tarpey and We Were Gentlemen play their final show. May sound crazy to drive all that way just to watch a band play, but as a fellow musician, John did not pass up the invitation from Matt to go down and support his friend once more. Besides, we all love a rode trip adventure, and John has never been to the ocean. I myself have never visited it stateside. And I love that my kids, now in their twenties, still love hanging out with their Mom just as much as she loves hanging out with them.

We left at 6:30 Friday morning after John got out of work. Traffic on Route 264 was at a snails pace for over fourty miles, and again further on, eating away all the good time we had made the rest of the trip. Arriving at a little after 6pm, we checked into our hotel before heading to the venue where We Were Gentlemen would be playing. Find Gil's easily, we stopped for a bite to eat before going to see the band. Matt was just a little overwhelmed by the show of support, and genuinely thankful for our efforts to be there. I am always amazed at these guys; so quiet and unassuming in person, and completely the opposite onstage. My son is no exception.

Next morning, after breakfast, we spent a few hours on the beach - collecting shells for Michaela and walking in the surf- before getting on the road again; taking a different route home through Virginia along the coast. The rain held til we got to PA, and thankfully Amanda did most of the driving from there until we reached Letchworth. I had reached my limitation, and needed a rest. We drove into Albion around 1:30 am and ironically, the first vehicle we saw had a Virginia plate.

Michaela, though upset she didn't get to go, loved all the treasures we brought back for her. She took a bunch to school to show her class. My dogs, on the other hand, still haven't forgiven me. Is there anything worse than dog guilt? *sigh*

Here's a few pics from our visit:

You can see the rest here

It was cool and grey; reminded me of home - Lake Ontario

Collecting shells for Michaela

View of the Pier

Marina pic for my Sweetie :)

The Silence Broken @ California Brew Haus

Some pics from The Silence Broken's show at the California Brew Haus in Rochester, New York on Saturday. It was their first show with new singer Nik Humphreys, and the first time they've played live in nearly two years. In addition to regular fan favorites, the guys played three new songs written with Humphreys. There was a great turnout and the guys sounded awesome! Looking forward to upcoming shows!

For more information on The Silence Broken, visit www.myspace.com/thesilencebroken

TSB on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-SILENCE-BROKEN/166528876710


Myka, keyboards

Nik, vocals

Justin, drums

John, bass

Jones, guitar

Highland Park

Spent the morning at Highland Park. Tulips, daffodils and muscari are in bloom. A few lilacs are starting to open; azaleas, forsythia and other shrubs are in full bloom. The magnolia trees were just gorgeous. Fortunately the rain held off during my walk; it started to pour just as I was leaving. Here are a few images:

Grecian Windflowers

Magnolia Blossoms

Tulips

Muscari

Daffodils

More images here

Prints can be purchased online at Solace Pointe.

For those of you who like to customize your own purchases, prints are also offered online through my Imagekind and Fine Art America portfolios.

Spring @ Solace Place

Everywhere around us there are signs of Spring. Nature is bursting to life once more. On my daily walks with the dogs, one of our favorite things to do is explore the back woods. While they hunt for little critters to chase, you can find me exploring for wildflowers. Here are a few pics from one of our recent outings:

Work in Progress

Untitled

Pen and Ink drawing in progress. This is a head study of a pair of Gelderlanders in harness. Strathmore Bristol, 2 ply vellum. Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph technical pen 4 x 0, .18mm. Overall dimensions are 13 1/2" x 11 1/4".

In this series of posts, I will be sharing five pen and ink drawings in progress, allowing the viewer insight to my drawing process, and the opportunity to see as the work develops with each additional layer. I am not currently set up to photograph the work properly, so these images are not the best quality; hopefully they will suffice for now.

Ideally, I would have begun with the rough sketch; however, this is a piece that was already in progress, as are some of the others I plan to add to this series. As many of you know, I do not work on one piece at a time; rather, there are probably three to five pieces in progress simultaneously. This method of working allows me to put something aside and return to it with a fresh perspective, as often, especially when blocking in large areas that require an immense amount of time, the direction of the work is lost. Working on several pieces at once allows me to minimize down time. Setting aside a drawing when that point is reached can be crucial to the finished piece. Pen and ink is a very unforgiving medium, and mistakes are not easily reworked, if at all - though that is one of the things I enjoy about working in this medium: you are committed to each mark you make.

Generally, a drawing is approched very much like a puzzle: broken down into shapes - isolating those shapes and then piecing them back together until the final image emerges. In this image, the largest areas have been blocked in first; each section made up of rows of lines approximately 1/4" long. A second layer has been added cross direction, to the outside horse's cheek and neck.

In the next post, areas of light and shadow will begin to emerge.

Featured Art

"Mute Swan with Cygnets"

Our featured art for the month is an image of a female, or "pen", mute swan with her three cygnets. These are the grey, or "royal" form - hence their grey down. As they mature, they will grow grey-brown and white feathers, giving them a mottled appearance instead of the all white form of the "polish" cygnets.

Although mute swans are native to Eurasia, they have established breeding populations in North America after escaping parks and estates where they were originally introduced. Due to their territorial, aggressive behavior, there is concern regarding their impact on native waterfowl. Some areas are seeking to control the number of mute swans, while in other areas they are protected.

Despite the controversy over their status, I enjoy their graceful, regal nature. This pen and cob pair reside at a large pond where Michaela and I like to go and have breakfast on our errand days. A large number of Mallards and Canadian Geese also frequent the pond. Originally, the pair had four cygnets; on the following visit they were down to two. Mute swans, like most birds, are attentive, protective parents. Although the pen is tolerating my presence here, the cob did not hesitate to fend off a couple who brought their little dog too close to where the cygnets were wading.

Open edition. Unstretched canvas print, Premier Gloss finish. Image size 24" x 16", $225.00. To purchase, click here.

Museum and Gallery Wrap also available.

Additional sizes, papers and frame options on request.