The one where it's w-a-y too hot to think happy thoughts.

          "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
                     ~ Harry S. Truman, United States President

        "Guess what, Harry?  I can't stand the heat."
                     ~ Wendy J. St. Christopher, Artist  

As a barely-teen, I was abruptly transplanted from the snow-covered, urban wonderland of Wisconsin to the steamy-hot, urban landscape of South Texas.

'Power Station - Hot' from Art166.com

Before that time, I was sure 100+ degree heat was something that only happened in science fiction stories -- or in one of my favorite episodes of The Twilight Zone. (scroll down to watch the episode)

Yikes -- 100 degrees!  That couldn't happen in the real world, could it?

Silly, silly, me.

It's hot in my host city.  It's dripping with humidity hot.

It's heatwaves rising tsunami-like from the pavement hot.  It's burning soles of your feet, through your shoes, hot.

It's never have a good hair day hot; I'll never pry this shirt from my back hot.

It's waterproof mascara-melting hot.

It's 'do I smell bacon or have I been outside too long?' hot.

It's running through hell wearing gasoline shorts hot.

Yes, it's that hot.  Actually, it's this hot --

'Southern Extremes', available at Art166.com, from $32 US.

Relocating from Wisconsin to South Texas meant trading 9 months of cold for 9 months of heat.  A meteorological 'opposite day', as it were.

Years later, I am still not amused.  I am, however, very, very . . .   . . . well, you get the picture.  ;-)

* * *

Both fine art prints, 'Power Station - Hot' and 'Southern Extremes', are available in a variety of sizes, fine finishes, and optional framing choices.  They're also available as Acrylic Mounted or Metal (Aluminum) prints -- both come ready-to-hang and require no framing.

While visiting the site, you're invited to sign up for my newsletter.  Click here to subscribe.

* * *  
If you've read this far, you deserve the promised episode of 'The Twilight Zone'.  Your computer or other internet-capable device must be compatible with YouTube to view.  Enjoy!

Oops!  I'm sorry to report that CBS has removed episodes of 'The Twilight Zone' from YouTube.

You can still watch the episode -- The Midnight Sun -- on Hulu.com, at this link -
 http://www.hulu.com/watch/440785


Signing off at 4:50 a.m.
More True Tales of an Insomniac Artist, 
Wendy J. St. Christopher, Art166.com and Art166.net

The one about time, patience, and creative rewards.

          "May what I do flow from me like a river,
           no forcing and no holding back . . ."
                   ~ Rainer Maria Rilke   

Texas takes summer very seriously, and I find few things worth braving the heat of day.  But, if all is just right with my Universe, there comes a moment when triple-digit temperatures take a back seat to pure wonder.    

In this case, the wonder was a light-dappled riverbed, just on the cusp of sundown.

My original photograph of the site showed the bare bones of a moody dream-scene; more than worth a day's drive through the late-June heat of the Texas Hill Country.

I took the photo in 2007; but, it was only a few weeks ago that inspiration struck.  Like lightning, I had a sudden vision of exactly how I would enhance that photograph -- transforming it into the feeling I wanted to convey -- the very story I wanted to tell.

Title - 'River of Dreams and Wishes'

'River of Dreams and Wishes', available at Art166.com, from $42 US.

So, a full day of driving into the Hill Country and back,
+ a few minutes to compose and shoot the photograph,
+ seven years waiting for a very specific creative spark.

Sometimes, that's how long it takes to 'make a picture'.  Apparently, patience really is a virtue!

* Cheers to my friend, Joe Haley, who was Driver, Refreshment Procurement Officer, and Bodyguard, on that seemingly ordinary day more than seven years ago.  :-)

----

This fine art print, 'River of Dreams and Wishes', is available in a variety of sizes, fine finishes, and optional framing choices.  Click here to learn more, or purchase.  (Product page will open in a new window of your browser.)

Optional framing and matting treatments are also available at the site.


While visiting the site, you're invited to sign up for my newsletter.  Click here to subscribe.


True Tales of an Insomniac Artist, 
Wendy J. St. Christopher, Art166.com and Art166.net

The one where an obvious clue is discovered -- without spreading that messy, black dust everywhere.

" . . . if you want to stand out, you have to learn to crystallize your existence, 
and create your own fingerprints."
                ~ Carlos Santana

In pursuit of truth, justice, and the American way, I originally planned to join the local police force.  Unfortunately, that was back in the days of pre-political correctness, and I was one inch too short to apply. (Apparently, my elegant, long-legged stature is all in my mind.)

As it turns out, even civilians of average height can uncover relevant evidence . . .  like this thumbprint abstraction, for instance.

Title - 'One Clean Print'

In bright colors on yellow -- 

'One Clean Print - bright', available at Art166.com, from $47 US.

or classic greyscale on white --

'One Clean Print - greyscale', available at Art166.com, from $47 US.

If you're thinking the only crime here is a crime against art . . . well, that burden of proof lies with you.  Feel free to order a few large prints, to aid in your investigation.  First, examine them for clues, then hang them on your walls!

I call that a win/win situation; justice served!  ;-)

------

* Fine art prints of my 'One Clean Print' images are available through my website at Art166.com.   

Prints are available in a variety of sizes, fine finishes, and optional framing choices.  Click here to learn more, or purchase.  (Product pages will open in a new window of your browser.)

* While visiting the site, you're invited to sign up for my newsletter.  Click here to subscribe.


True Tales of an Insomniac Artist, 
Wendy J. St. Christopher, Art166.com and Art166.net

The one where I'm Thinking of Blue, but not feeling blue. Wendy J. St. Christopher, Art166.com

"Blue -- darkly, deeply, beautifully blue."
                         ~ Robert Southey, English poet

Recently, I've been haunted by blue.  I've been researching blue, counting blue cars, seeing blue in my dreams.

Not the cheery, bright, blue of morning skies and crystal-clear lakes, but the deep, quiet, blue of secrets and serious thoughts, and things that gently go bump in the night.

As is the way with hauntings, the best solution is to bring things into the light of day.  Here's the exorcism of my 'blue'  . . . for now, at least.

Title - ''Thinking of Blue'

Thinking of Blue', available at Art166.com, from $42 US.

* This print, depicting my strangely blue obsession, is available in a variety of sizes, fine finishes, and optional framing choices.  Click here to learn more, or purchase.  (Product page will open in a new window of your browser.)

** I suggest the Acrylic Print (no frame necessary), for a contemporary, high-impact display, or glossy or semi-gloss papers for a more traditional look.

 ** MATTE PAPERS AND CANVAS FINISHES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THIS VERY CONTEMPORARY IMAGE.

Optional framing and matting treatments are also available at the site.


While visiting the site, you're invited to sign up for my newsletter.  Click here to subscribe.


True Tales of an Insomniac Artist, 
Wendy J. St. Christopher, Art166.com and Art166.net