Donald was his first name, I didn't catch his last name but he looked familiar.  He had a very strange looking comb over with hair that looked like cotton candy sprayed with a black lacquer.   We were setting up to paint and he was standing between me and that blond beauty, Susan Gardner.

    I offered him $5 to change places; telling him I liked the light better on the other side.  He said he didn't deal with such small sums.  I upped the offer to $10 and he said that wasn't going to get it, and did I notice how good she smelled.  OK, I says will you take $15?  He smiles and points out  those form fitting white jeans.  Damn, $20 is all I've got, my last bit of money from the inheritance.  "You sure that's all you got", he questions.  Yep, I say.  "Good", he says, "I like taking a man's last cent."

    I moved over and watched her set up the still life above.  The symbolism was blatant.  I suspect she was doing it subconsciously unaware I could read it like a book.  The clear bottle was me; it stood for clarity of vision and purity of heart and soul.  The blue bottle was her and represented murky depths that will always remain obscure and impossible to understand (actually, I suppose it represents all women).  The silver bowl stands for money.  You have to have coin to get close to this bottle (this too really stands for all women).  I should have painted my lost $20 in the bowl but didn't have any sap green on my palette.

    So, there I was, painting next to her; I got what I bargained for didn't I?  Not exactly; like the old saying "be careful of what you wish for", that Donald guy skinned me.  He knew she was a smoker.  As soon as that still life was arranged, she lit up a cigar and started chomping on it like Mango on a baby back rib bone.

    The entire session she was blowing smoke in my face.  Between puffs she would put the cigar right in the middle of the set up.   For more than an hour I listened to "Phhht, thwack" sounds as she spit the tobacco bits across the room into the trash can.  I've got to give her this; she was quite accurate.

    You doubt the story?  Hey, look at the painting, a picture is worth a thousand words, or about a 1/2 cup of gasoline.

    And me; I won't part with more than $12 to paint next to her again.

acrylic/canvas 24"x32"

(click on image to enlarge: double click to see brush strokes :)

Remember, the most beautiful things in the world

are the most useless;

peacocks and lilies for instance.

~John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice , 1851

Hello my little pretties. :) I hope all is good in your worlds. All is good with me. We worked on Drayton Island the last couple of days, and today was one of rest and renewing of energies. We spent the holiday weekend crossing some major projects off the list...and that is a good thing.

I am having my evening glass of red wine..tonight 'tis Me'nage a Trois. So many things I think of chatting with you about, but one can't say it all, can they? Hmmm...this morning my lilies spoke to me as I walked by, asking me to tell our their story...so I will.

I found this quote and liked it...peacocks and lilies. hee, hee. So many other things could be added to the list of useless, but beautiful things...eh? Useless though?

back to the lilies....

We used to have a beautiful huge tree right by the front door, but a few years ago a hurricane damaged it beyond saving. Though, I was saddened about the loss, the opening allowed the sun to touch the earth once again. Much to my surprise, when summer came again, large blades of green pushed through the earth. In time, revealing what had been silently sleeping...waiting for the awakening light. Beautiful wild lilies...thus, my quick study of wild lilies in a jar painting! I had no idea they were there! I found out they are native to Florida and are called "rain lilies"...don't you just love that! They are blooming again right now.

Sadly, another huge tall 75' pine tree had to come down too. Unbeknownst to me a wisteria vine lived way in the top. In time, the rain and sunlight revived the vine, and now a simply divine wisteria bush grows where the pine once stood. Some of you may remember the painting called It's a New Day. Well, that painting and others are from that bush and the creatures that come and go...such as butterflies, bees, or the little warbler in that painting.

Okay, so why am I going on and on about storms, trees, flowers, and sunlight? Well, I think at times this is a perfect analogy for our lives. We all have and will experience what seems like upsetting changes..without sounding too corny ...the hurricanes of life. Yet, often as time passes..wonderful and magical things start stirring within our hearts and unfolding in our lives, due to the change...things previously unbeknownst to us!

I could say a lot more, but I think not tonight, for it is late. Besides, you know dear hearts..you already know!

Wonderful and magical things are within all of us! I leave you with this quote:

The windows of my soul

I throw wide open to the sun.

~John Greenleaf Whitter (poet 1807-1892)

I opened the windows of my soul to the light,

and now

my wild heart is like a rain lily

unfolding, blooming, and hopefully revealing...

Love and Light to all,

~gypsy-he♥rt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

]]> http://macroartinnature.wordpress.com/?p=686 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:25:26 +0000 macroartinnature http://macroartinnature.wordpress.com/?p=686 © 2008 - Michael Brown
* Copying/downloading of images is prohibited.
"Daylily"

Well, ..... it seems that I have not had much to say or to write about this past year or so.
Have been busy with the family, busy keeping the business above water, busy creating a new body of work that I have yet to show anyone, ... just plain busy!
It seems that when I do write something here in my journal, I have been repeating myself.
Maybe one day I will have something new to say.

I was digging around my journal the other day and looking at various stats.
One stat that I have not looked at in a long long time were the most viewed posts that I have created since starting this journal.
It was interesting to look at those stats, some which surprised me.

Here are the Top 10, most viewed posts since 2005.
** A couple of these are older posts moved over from the "Blogger" days, and I have yet to line up the images and text to match up with the existing WordPress posts.

1. Artistic Blurs In Your Macro Images Using Photoshop
2. Using The “Orton” Method For Artistic Blending
3. “Layers Of Gold” Macro - Using Reversed Nikkor 50mm 1.4 Lens.
4. “In Their World” Series - Unwanted Highlights In Your Photography?
5. Rose Stamen - 50mm Reversed Lens
6. What The Lensbaby “Should” Force You To Do!
7. Adding Space To A Image In Photoshop Using The “Free Transform” Tool
8. Michael Brown, Inventor Of The “Cram It” Method In Photography.
9. A Marriage Of Macro Photography & Georgia O’Keeffe Paintings.
10. Photography In Late Evening Light.

Oh well, ..... at least I wrote something! : )

Everyone take care,
Michael

Portfolio Now Listed At "PhotoShelter"

"Macro Art In Nature"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TOMS RIVER, N.J., May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Twelve special therapy dogs have a permanent home at the Community Medical Center, thanks to artist Laura Barbosa. Barbosa's "Bright and Beautiful" collection
(http://onlyoriginals-gifts.com/Public%20collections.html) -- three life-sized acrylic paintings on canvas depicting a dozen therapy dogs currently working in Ocean County, N.J. community hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities and schools -- has been purchased by the Community Medical Center and is now on permanent display there.

In creating the paintings, Barbosa hoped to raise awareness of the role therapy dogs play in health and healing for patients of all ages. She also wanted to support The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.
(http://www.golden-dogs.org/). With the sale of the paintings, the artist was able to meet both objectives, with unexpected results for Community Medical Center patients.

"I hope to help the patients heal through my artwork," Barbosa explained. "The dogs in these paintings are well-known in our local facilities and visit the very patients who are now viewing the collection. They love the dogs dearly and count on them to boost their morale, help them heal and lower their blood pressure. 'Bright and Beautiful' will allow those patients to enjoy these wonderful dogs even in their absence."

Barbosa believes the Community Medical Center's support of therapy dogs in its hospice, oncology, pediatric and outpatient programs makes it a good match for "Bright and Beautiful." She is pleased to see the paintings become part of the hospital's permanent collection, in part because of their potential to dispel myths and stereotypes about certain dogs. The twelve therapy dogs featured in her paintings include some misunderstood and feared breeds, yet all twelve are valued members of the healthcare community in Toms River.

Barbosa's connection with dogs is evident in her work. The self-taught artist's realistic style captures each
dog's personality, resulting in lifelike, compelling portraits. But even with "Bright and Beautiful," Barbosa couldn't help adding a touch of whimsy: The dogs are set against boldly colored backgrounds and surrounded by cheerful flowers.

"If we take the time to see what is right in front of us, we begin to notice our beloved dogs are more than just primitive canines and capable guards," she explained. "Dogs have a remarkable capacity to love and empathize and, ultimately, to help patients of all ages, backgrounds and conditions to experience healing. That's what I hope people take away from this collection."

 
About the Artist

A native New Jerseyan, Laura Barbosa is a self-representing artist with 20 years' experience painting animals and subjects of fantasy. She is best known for her animal portraits, surreal representations, new wave digital art and colorful abstracts. Barbosa's paintings have been exhibited in group shows in galleries including the Splash Contemporary Gallery in Asbury Park, N.J. and The Stover Mill Gallery and Tinicum Arts Festivals in
Erwinna, Penn. To learn more, visit http://www.onlyoriginals-gifts.com.

Contact:
Laura Barbosa
wardogmastiff@netzero.net
http://www.onlyoriginals-gifts.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

Gosh! WHAT a busy week! "Navy Week" came to an end this evening with a wonderful buffet/reception held on the Bourtzi, and it closed with a spectacular firework display from the end of the 'Dolphin' Jetty, on the new port.

I was thrilled to accept an invitation from The Chief of the Port Authority who, along with all the naval officers and their wives, looked exceptionally smart in their pristine white naval uniforms (Oh be still my beating heart! Thought I was on the set of 'An officer and a Gentleman'  for a second and half expected Richard Gere to appear any moment - must have been the wine!)

I don't have many photos of the week's events  (too tied up with the Art exhibition every evening, I'm afraid) but I did translate the programme of events into English for the organisers, so here is the diary of all that's been happening on Skiathos, this past week:

 SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2008

08:00  Official Opening Ceremony - with the raising of the National Flag

In the Submarine “KATSONIS” area.

11:00            Memorial Service - with boat-side ‘wreath-hurling’ into the sea

At the Statue of the Unknown Sailor

            .

21:30  Choir Performance

At the Open-air theatre, “Bourtzi”.

            MONDAY 30 JUNE 2008

20:00   Exhibitions Opening Ceremony - with a prologue by Anna Deliyanni,

 At the Municipal Centre, “Bourtzi”

 “Skiathos and the Sea”- a             journey through Skiathos’ nautical history

(Opening daily for the duration of Navy Week, 19.00hrs – 22.00hrs)

“Colours of Skiathos 2008” – an Art Exhibition of works by local artists

(Opening daily until August 30, 19.00hrs – 22.00hrs)

Organized and presented by:

The Municipality of Skiathos

The Municipal Culture Development Branch

The Union of Retirees N.A.T. of Skiathos

            TUESDAY  01 JULY 2008

20:30   Presentation - of traditional sailing boats.

21:00   Consecration of the Office of Retirees N.A.T. -

             At the Skiathos Old Harbour - Psaradika Fish Restaurant.

            WEDNSDAY  02 JULY 2008

19:00  “Deep Sea Clean-up” - of the Skiathos Harbour.

            Community-conscious volunteers are invited to participate.

20:30  Free Sea Tour

At the South Harbour - Skiathos.

            Sponsored by the Tourist Boat Union.

            THURSDAY 03 JULY 2008

19:00  Aquatic First-Aid Demonstrations - by professional Life-savers

            At the Bourtzi Swimming Area (below the Cafe).

Under the auspices of the Municipality of Skiathos

21:30  “Make a Wish” (Sea Lights).

            FRIDAY 04 JULY 2008

20:00  Sea-sports Athletic Demonstration

At the Skiathos Harbour.

            Presented by The Sea Sports Club and the Boat Rental

            Recreation group.

21:30            International Dance Festival

At the Open-Air Theatre, “Bourtzi”.

            SATURDAY 05  JULY 2008

20:30  Free Sea Tour

Skiathos South Harbor.

Sponsored by the Union of Tourist Boats

21:30            Philharmonic Band - Music Festival

At the Open-Air Theatre,  “Bourtzi”.

            SUNDAY  06 JULY 2008

19:00            Swimming Matches - Municipal Athletic Swim Team of Skiathos.

21:00            Awards Ceremony – the presentation of medals and diplomas       

At the Skiathos Municipal Council Hall, “Bourtzi”.

22:00  Official Reception

At the Open-Air Theatre, “Bourtzi”.

23:00            Fireworks Display

In the Skiathos Harbour area.

The Art Exhibition is proving to be a great success, with a steady stream of visitors - and many paintings sold already! If you visit, be sure to leave your comments in our 'Visitors Book' - your feedback is invaluable to us and we want to ensure that every year it gets better and better.

After tonight, things should be a little quieter as the island returns to normal. We had a spectacular electrical storm a couple of nights ago but only a light shower followed - not the heavy rain we all pray for (Skiathos badly needs it!) Not only is there a water shortage (and the season's only just begun!) but the threat of fire is very real and we don't want a repeat of the devastating fire that swept through Paraskevi Valley last year. It's amazing how quickly the charred hills surrounding villa nicara have turned to green once again though it will be many years before the lush forests return, sadly.

I found an oil on canvas that was a Jewish painting called Jewish meeting.  The artist was Amparo Cruz Herrera.  The artist is Spanish and this work exuded grace.  I liked it a lot.  I purchased it for eight thousand dollars.  My benefactor was happy with the purchase.

My client made no distinction between Jewish paintings that were of a religious nature and those that were only painted by a Jewish person.  I bought a rare Leon Bakst that was dated 1910.  His subject was a person in an exotic costume.  I’m not sure where my client plans to display it.

The next Jewish painting I found for him was a cityscape in oil of a deserted house in Veroia.  This painting only cost six thousand dollars.  Veroia is a Jewish neighborhood in northern Greece.  I thought that this painting was a little bit unsettling.

I found another good Jewish painting for my client.  The title of the painting was Juedisches Oesterreich Jewish Austria and was created by Frank Ettenberg in 2004.  The person that sold me the painting said that the painting evoked a feeling of the artist's state of being face to face with nationalism, his ethnic identity and an existential situation.

I found another Jewish painting I liked for four thousand dollars.  The oil painting called Birds of Paradise was painted by Maurice Sterne.  Sterne was a Jewish immigrant from Russia.  He was the first person to have a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.  He exhibited 174 paintings, drawings and sculptures.

I found a Jewish painting of a cat that sold for thirty five hundred dollars.  The artist of this work was Wettingfeld Zarojewski.  I could not find any other work from this artist at all.  My client really liked it.  He is also a cat lover in addition to being a collector of Jewish art.

There was a wonderful Jewish painting of a woman seated.  I fell in love with it on sight.  The woman depicted looks so reflective and comfortable.  I feel at ease just gazing at her.

I finally found a religiously significant Jewish painting for my client.  The artist was Joan Landis and the title of the painting was Simhat Torah.  This is the painting that was used by Pomegranate Publishing for their 2003 calendar and their greeting cards.  I thought it was lovely.

I liked the Jewish painting by Joan Landis so much that I sought out more of her work.  I purchased two paintings.  One of the paintings was named Shabbat and the other one was Mikveh.  I took the three that I purchased to my client and he fell in love with them.  He asked me to find more of her work.

I found more work by Joan Landis and I purchased every one I came across.  I found three more of the Jewish paintings on eBay at reasonable prices.  I purchased Shavuot, Purim and Birth for three thousand dollars each.  I felt like I got a bargain.

I liked the colors in the Jewish painting I bought called The Tailor Shop.  This painting was created by Jacob Glushakow.  He was an active member of the Jewish community in Baltimore.  His parents were immigrants from Russia at the start of WW1.  He has a painting that is still kept in the permanent collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art.

I was fortunate to find two Jacob Glushakow Jewish paintings on the same buying trip.  The other painting I found was entitled Barn in Maryland.  I liked it a lot and my client was very pleased with what I brought for him.

I have decided that I want to have three impressionist cityscapes painted in acrylic.  I will be buying one called Stormy Desert that was painted by an artist named JoanAnn.  The piece is painted on a 40” X 30” canvas and has flowering cactus plants in the foreground.

The next impressionist cityscape painting I plan to buy is called Tuscan Waterfall.  The piece is a triptych and is on three gallery wrapped canvases.  The artist lives in Tennessee and supports herself with her art.

The last acrylic impressionist cityscape that I plan to buy is called Autumn Dream.  Autumn is my favorite time of year and the painting captures every color of autumn.  The artist painted the sides, so there is no need to have it framed.  I can’t wait to see this hanging in my home.

I have found only two impressionist cityscapes that I liked in the Gouache medium.  The first was from an artist named Joe Wojdakowski and the subject is an area located in Wells, Maine.  I’m not sure why I am so drawn to this particular impressionist cityscape, but I am and plan to buy it.

The other Gouache impressionist cityscape that I plan to buy features Big Ben in London.  The artist is an Englishman named Alasdair Rennie.  The scene is rainy and I like it a lot.  It reminds me of my time in London when I was a child.

The first oil impressionist cityscape painting I bought was called Koi Pond Reflections.  I’ve seen this artist’s work before and I always really like it.  The painting was completed using brush and knife.  The painting has not arrived, yet, because the paint is very thick and needs to complete the drying process undisturbed.  I cannot wait to get it!

I really like having various styles of impressionist cityscape paintings.  I don’t just like variety in the mediums; I like variety in styles and influences.  I really fell in love with an oil impressionist cityscape painting called En Sendero that was originally purchased in Oaxaca, Mexico.  I purchased the painting for just over three thousand dollars.

The oil impressionist cityscape painting of Paris that I want was painted by a well recognized painter Radik Atoyan.  He is Armenian and signed the painting in his Armenian language.  He has a unique way of using color that just makes his painting look special.

I have also been interested in watercolor impressionist cityscape paintings.  There is an original painting that depicts an urban rainy night that I think would be perfect for me.  The painting just makes me feel good to look into.

I made a purchase not long ago that was painted by an Israeli artist named Yosef Kosssonogi.  The use of color in this watercolor impressionist cityscape is so vivid.  I could not wait to hang it on my wall.  After the shipment arrived with the painting, my brother came right over with a level to hang it.

I found a painting that reminded me of a vacation I took to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The impressionist cityscape painting was created by Adam Maeroff and I think that it is the perfect painting to complete my collection.

I går malede jeg tigrenes striber op med pastose sorte penselstrøg, som kalligrafiske skrifttegn, der dannede dyrenes form og bvægelse.

På samme måde fortsætter jeg med farverne. Disse maler jeg med lange penselstrøg i en fortsættelse af de sorte striber. Bundfarven ser man mellem de farvede penselstrøg og de giver derved den malede figur en helhedstone. I modsat fald, hvis strøgene var malet direkte på en hvid grund, havde det været usammenhængende.

I den venstre del af billedet har jeg malet tigeren gul, som en kontrast til den violette baggrund. Det får den gule farve til at blive meget aktiv så den nærmest presser  den røde tiger frem mod billedets midte. Den røde tiger, som er en kontrast farve til den blå tiger, driver denne op i luften til angreb mod den mørkerøde tiger. Farverne til de to kæmpende tigre har jeg valgt som aktive kontrastfarver til den lysende sol i baggrunden. Det er det mest aktive område i billedet.

For at holde modet oppe under det store arbejde har jeg lavet den lille sang om de ti små tigerbilleder - nød lærer nøgen tiger at spinde!

Ti malerier blir tegnet op så fri;
Et blev af dem blev sat væk og så var der ni.
Der var en, der var to, der var tre,
der var fir’, der var fem i atelieret,
der var seks, der var syv, der var otte,
der var ni, der var ti i atelieret.

Ni malerier blir farvelagt så flotte;
Et blev gemt, var så sejt - og så var der otte.
Der var en, der var to, der var tre,
der var fir’, der var fem i atelieret,
der var seks, der var syv, der var otte,
der var ni, der var ti i atelieret.

Det næste maleri ta’r jeg som en tyv;
Det bli’r til side sat og så er der syv.
Der var en, der var to, der var tre,
der var fir’, der var fem i atelieret,
der var seks, der var syv, der var otte,
der var ni, der var ti i atelieret.

Seks tigerbilleder små kom på bordet frem;
et malet færdig blev - og så var der fem.
Der var en, der var to, der var tre,
der var fir’, der var fem i atelieret,
der var seks, der var syv, der var otte,
der var ni, der var ti i atelieret.

Kazuya Akimoto Art Museum

named and added to gallery #9,2008  at Kazuya Akimoto Art Museum

"New Age Buddha"

acrylics 21"x18"

lisited in New Paintings  2008

Today's Keyword

within Museum paintings

Buddhism

( excerpted)

latest contents: "Buddhism "

related keywords: Asian Chinese Japanese

]]> http://bobotaro.wordpress.com/?p=505 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:36:26 +0000 bobotaro http://bobotaro.wordpress.com/?p=505

Today's Keyword

within Museum paintings

butterfly, moth

( excerpted)

latest contents: "butterfly, moth "

related keywords: bugs living things animals

]]> http://owenwswain.wordpress.com/?p=4 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:13:29 +0000 Owen http://owenwswain.wordpress.com/?p=4 [wp_caption id="attachment_3" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Acts1:8"]