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.

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* * *  
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.


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

The one where I'm lost, but my art is right where it belongs. Wendy J. St. Christopher - Art166.com

'Grand Hyatt San Antonio' at Art166.com. Prices begin at $32 US.

"Wherever you go, there you are."

~ from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension

I have a nearly non-existent sense of direction.

Say you'll meet me on Houston Street, and I'll end up on Military Highway. Ask for directions to Austin, and I'll point you toward Corpus Christi.

So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that, even though I've photographed this hotel several times, I couldn't quite find it again to double-check its name and location.

I called my sister for advice. Yes, the grumpy sister, who hates being interrupted at work.  The conversation went something like this --

Me: "You know that big hotel next door to the Convention Center? It's right across the street from that other REALLY BIG hotel? The one on Commerce Street?"

Her: "No; but, the Convention Center's not on Commerce . . . "

Me: "Sure it is! You know -- right behind the mall . . . "

Her: "That's Market Street, dufus!"

Me: " . . . . . ."

Her: "The Convention Center? The Lila Cockrell Theater? Market Street."

Me: "But . . . I've spent an hour searching for buildings on Commerce . . ."

Her: "D'uh."

Me: "Okay, thanks. Let me spend a little more time on Google."

Her: "That's just sad." ~ disconnects phone ~

Me: ~ I hang up the phone, too -- even though I'm pretty sure she's completely wrong. ~

Two minutes later, I hit redial.  She answers, reluctantly.  My earlier call has, apparently, exacerbated the inherent grumpiness.

Me: "Guess what? You were right; it's the Grand Hyatt, on Market Street! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Her: "That's just sad." ~ disconnects phone ~

Me: ~ I hang up, too (deja vu?), and add the newly corrected information to my online listing. All the while trying to figure out when I mentally swapped Market Street for Commerce Street . . . ~

------

* This fine art print depicting the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio, Texas -- on Market Street, not Commerce Street -- is available through my website at Art166.com.   

The print 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 Premium Somerset Velvet Paper, for a more traditional look.

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

Suggested framing as shown above -

Frame style - Simple, black, gallery frame.  Model 111MBLK
Mat style - Arctic white w/black core


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

Introducing The 'Natural Attributes' Collection, by Wendy J. St. Christopher - Art166.com

"Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else sees, but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into an enticing new possibility."

~ Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Kaleidoscopes make me think of the past; a time when nothing was perfect, but everything was possible.  A time when escape could be found in a 99 cent cylinder from the local Woolworth's store.

Kaleidoscopes are imagination, mystery, and wonder -- an accessible stream of endless possibilities.

Kaleidoscopes are magic!  At least, I thought they were, until I was five or six years old.  ;-)

They still have their own kind of magic -- patterns, shapes, and colors, forming an intriguing 'other' -- which is why I enjoy exploring them through my art.  I've created kaleidoscopic art for many years; first, with paper, scissors and glue, then, and now, through the medium of digital art. 

 I like my current process better . . . more gratifying output, less frustrating clean-up.   ;-)

With this new collection, I've taken my kaleidoscopic images to a different plane; a plane of pure whimsy, where everything is colorful, bold, complex, and lush.  Symmetry, order, and elegance are joyful co-conspirators in these twenty pieces.

 These vibrant images create a stunning focal point -- whether displayed singly or in groups -- and are equally at home in contemporary or traditional spaces.

Fine art prints from The Natural Attributes Collection are available through my online galleries at Fine Art America.  They can be purchased in a variety of sizes, fine finishes, and optional framing choices.  Click here to see the entire collection.

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