~ Moonrise

~ Morning Perspective

~ Destiny's Road

All from the "You Are Here" Gallery

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These images are now available at Art166.com.

They are conveniently offered in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $95.00 US, in the "You Are Here" gallery.

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The Backstory -

This is me -- standing in the road.

”

~ Angelica

~ Night Air

From the "Witcher's Lamp" Gallery

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These images are now available at Art166.com.

They are conveniently offered in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $150.00 US, in the "Witcher's Lamp" gallery.

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The Backstory -

Back in the early days, when this blog was just a cold and lonely void, I posted several more of this group of images and relayed the obligatory backstory. Read it, and view the accompanying images, here.

This unlikely tale involves a strange man, a desperate woman, and at least one potentially deadly implement.

Really! Today's quiz, below, might explain that:

Your Quirk Factor: 62%

You're so quirky, it's hard for you to tell the difference between quirky and normal. No doubt about it, there's little about you that's "normal" or "average."

How Quirky Are You?

”

The "A Night At The Opera" Series

~ Overture

~ Cadenza

~ Aria

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These images are available separately, but make an intriguing collection, from Art166.com.

They are conveniently offered in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $95.00 US, "Abstraction” gallery.

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The Backstory -

This mysterious arched structure sits back from the road, somewhere near (or in?) the Texas Hill Country. We were just driving around, and I have no idea where or what this is. However, it made for some fab manipulations!

If anyone recognizes the original photo, above, please feel free to chime in with a comment!

Which came first? Why, "Overture," of course!

Now, I've been up all night -- I'm off for an early-morning nap.

Later, all!
”

9 Treasures

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This image is available for purchase, in a variety of sizes and priced from $35.00 - $350.00 US, at Art166.com.

Look for it in the “Abstraction” gallery.

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"Okay, so I'm addicted to digital art, it's like painting with magic!"
~ Lynette Clay, Artist

When I read these words on painter Lynette Clay's blog, I immediately wrote and asked if I could quote her. 9 Treasures was specifically created as a tribute to her sagacious words. You're obviously a visionary, Lynette! Thank you!

Too many people still see digital art as "not real art" or as something that a computer just "spits out," or that "anyone with a computer can do that."

Yes, I've actually had these things said to my face. (Don't worry, nobody got hurt -- much!)

I say, let everyone with a computer do it! Digital art can be brilliant, beautiful and like nothing that has come before! The world needs more digital art!

C'mon everyone -- boot up!

Listening to:

The lovely and talented Paul Gross.

I love Paul Gross. Years ago,while watching a rerun of "Due South" I stated, jokingly (but, you know, wishing it were true!), that Paul Gross was my boyfriend.

After a moment of silence, my 8-year-old nephew looked at me, and shaking his head said very seriously, "Mom, you're delusional."

Out of the mouths of babes!

Heliocentricity

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This image is available for purchase, in a variety of sizes and priced from $35.00 - $350.00 US, at Art166.com.

Look for it in the “Circular Logic” gallery.

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A few months ago, I had a very vivid dream. In this dream, I was standing alone in a huge ballroom that was being remodeled into a formal dining area.

The room was cluttered with lumber, tools, and other construction supplies, but, lined up against one empty light-blue wall, were 30 side chairs covered with a plastic drop cloth.

Unable to resist (yes, I know curiosity killed the cat), I walked over and flipped back a dusty corner of the plastic covering, revealing three brand-new chairs.

The simple wood frames were covered in many layers of sleek, black lacquer, and the chair backs and seats were heavily cushioned and covered with a heavily-textured, but velvety soft, dark red and gold fabric.

That design of stylized red stars (or, as close as I could remember and reproduce it) is what you see at the center of Heliocentricity, above.

I still have dreams (waking ones!) of getting those chairs into production. Maybe, someday, I will.

Honestly, if you buy one (or the art work!) don't use it in a light-blue room! Really!

The Flock

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This image is available for purchase, in a variety of sizes and price points, at Art166.com.

Look for it in “The New Neighbors” gallery.

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Hi, guys!

This is an original fractal image, heavily post-processed in Photoshop (of course!).

No time for a story today, but feel free to post your own if you're so inclined!

Later!

Capitol View

- (click image for a larger view)

These images are now available at Art166.com.

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The Backstory -


Prologue - Blame It On The Bats

I'd always heard about the Austin Bat Colony, and checking it out has long been on my list of “Things To Do Before I Die.”

Coincidentally, on a sizzling-hot afternoon in late June, Joe and I found ourselves on the uncertain road to Austin, Texas. It was a random trip that began with us driving around looking for a place to have lunch, but we had a full tank of diesel fuel and three cameras between us -- we always have our cameras –- and, suddenly, I was this close to achieving a dream.

Who needs lunch? To the bat cave, Joe!

Chapter 1 – Down Under

Austin is hot. And crowded. And it’s way too early to see even one bat. We do, however, find the bridge where the colony is installed, and we spend about an hour walking around underneath and reading the “Bat Plaques” which are impressively full of illustrations and nifty info. We take pictures of landscaping and bike trails, spend some time chatting with strangers, and are intoxicated with the pervasive scent of bat guano. I stop twice to suck on my inhaler.

All of this occurs to the creepy soundtrack of millions of chittering, yet unseen, Mexican free-tailed bats. It's eerie, even in broad daylight, but obviously, nothing's gonna happen under this bridge for at least 3-1/2 hours – it’s time for us to move on up.

Chapter 2 – Division Of Labor

Up on the street, we pull into a parking lot that’s just a couple of blocks away from the Texas State Capitol Building. Stuff is happening on the street corner next to our parking lot -- there's a group of nervous tourists, 2 cops with their squad car lights blazing, and in the middle of it all, a very intense cowboy with a guitar strapped to his back. Said cowboy is agitated, pacing and waving his arms, while delivering a high-volume manifesto on the current state of the world as he knows it.

Joe, who is, apparently, more 'empath' than 'self-preservationist', wades into the potential fracas to "help." Hm, I guess he left his white hat in the other truck . . .

"Be careful!" I toss over my shoulder, but, hopefully, Joe can take care of himself 'cause I'm already glued to the viewfinder and wondering if I'm too far away from the Capitol to get a handheld shot of those windows. (Don't worry, the truck is automatic, so if the raging cowboy decides to take Joe out, I can drive myself home.)

By using (for the first time! Scary!) the "digital zoom" feature of my trusty Canon, I'm able to capture a handful of really noisy, low contrast shots, but, as it happens, they're great for manipulations! See more here.

While I'm busy shooting, Joe is busy not getting shot. The police and tourists have moved on, leaving the now nearly-serene cowboy to say goodbye to his new 'friend' (Joe has effectively talked another one down!) and hopefully, to take his medication.


Epilogue - All's Well That Ends Well

I didn't see the bats. It was just too hot (and not in a positive, life-affirming way!) and crazy to wait around in Austin. I don't remember if we ever had lunch - though we did drive around for another couple of hundred miles, goofing off and taking pics. We actually ended up in Pedernales Falls State Park, which is really not the place for someone with respiratory disease -- but that's a story for another time!

”

Cosmic Conifers

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This image is available for purchase at Art166.com.

Look for it in the “Celestial Vision” gallery.

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The Backstory -

I decided to revisit my Lundblade Conifers. You can read that long, strange backstory “here”. It's a bizarre tale that involves: a group of tall, dark and mysterious strangers; shots being fired; burning rubber; falling in love; and me, pretty unabashedly breaking one of the 10 Commandments.

What can I say -- I'm not really at my best when it's 104 degrees in the shade. (Yep, that would be Fahrenheit!)

Anyway, “Cosmic Conifers” is an alternate view -- just a tad further out “there”.

Listening to:

“Snow Patrol - Final Straw”

I love Snow Patrol ! I love Snow Patrol! I love . . . HEY! Who threw that???

”

Today's enemy is: Internet Scam Artists!

I'd like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the moron who left this pile of scam in my inbox. This is a Copy & Paste, exactly as I received it:

From: marioba_1971@yahoo.com

Hi,
My name is mario from MINEASOTA,i'm making an enquiry for the printing that listed on your advert,i will like to start with just 7 to know what the quality look like and later buy more from you if am satisfy,so whats the price for 2 of and your mode of payment,if you accept moneyorder dont hesitate to email me your full name,contact address and cellphone to facilitate this transaction asap.
Looking forward to hear from you.
marion


Thank you. Moron.

Essential Glow

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This image is available for purchase, in a variety of sizes and price points, at Art166.com.

Look for it in the “Circular Logic” gallery.

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The Backstory -

I couldn't resist having another go at this intriguing piece of hardware. So, here it is: Essential Glow!

(Drat! It's after midnight, again! How did that happen?)

Sweet Hearts

- (click image for a larger view)

This image is available for purchase, in a variety of sizes and price points, at Art166.com.

Look for it in the “Abstraction” gallery.

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Hi, guys!

I'm taking a sabbatical this week (read that: taking time for some serious spring cleaning and home improvement), but I'll pop in every so often to check comments and post a bit of eye candy.

Take care!

EDIT: Oops, I knew I was forgetting something! *Note to self: Never blog after midnight . . .*

Thanks to twisted chili's comment/question, I've added the original photo so you can see from whence this came! Visit twisted chili's slightly twisted blog through the link in my sidebar.

Thanks, tc!

Houston Hardware 1

- (click image for a larger view)

This image is available for purchase, in a variety of sizes and price points, at Art166.com.

Look for it in the “Unexpected Hardware” gallery.

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The Backstory -

I found this unassuming piece of hardware in a Houston parking lot. There was a big truck parked right in front of it (Thanks a lot, Joe.), and I had barely any room to maneuver, but I just knew I could do something amazing with this.

I love the images I've pulled out of it so far, this one being my fave, but I'm not quite amazed, yet. Thanks to the joys of Photoshop, I can keep trying until a suitable level of amazement has been achieved!

Today's enemy is: Time!

Sorry, dear readers. No time to post today. I'll leave you in the company of my good friend (yes, he's looking at you), and a promise of more, later!