Friday, October 14, 2011

Countdown

I've been busy in the studio, as the Hwy. 62 Art Tours approach.  There's nothing like a deadline to hurry things along.  Just think, in two weeks, I will be opening up my studio doors to the public!  Good thing I still have two weeks, since it's a mess in there right now.  I won't take too much time to write, but I did want to wish everyone a happy weekend.  I just saw a flock of turkey vultures soaring above.  They pass through Joshua Tree every year, and I was just beginning to wonder when I would see them.  If you wish to read a previous post about these big birds, click here.  Now I know it's fall.

The other exciting desert event of this week was on the Wednesday morning run with Mr. Pono the fuzz ball dog.  We happened upon a very angry, rattling Mojave green.  It is an unmistakable rattlesnake, because it does look quite green.  I ran past it first, and fortunately I was able to corral the dog before he took too great of an interest in the coiled snake.  I would have photographed it for you if it hadn't been so darn angry.  I am also not a skilled enough photographer to photograph a rattling snake while holding an excited dog at the same time.  I have shortcomings, you see.

Fresh off the easel:
"Last Light."  Oil on board, 14 x 11 inches.  ©Karine M Swenson 2011
  I love ya, dear readers!

4 comments:

Paula said...

Gorgeous Karine ! WOW !

ArtPropelled said...

Beautiful painting Karine! I can really feel the desert at dusk. Readers of your blog are probably relieved you didn't try and juggle dog, camera and angry rattle snake. What a thought!

It is Spring here and I wait to hear the call of the first Red Chested Cuckoo before I really know it is Spring. The cuckoos arrived two weeks ago.

Good luck with your open studio.

Deb Ammerman said...

I am very relieved that you didn't try to photograph the rattling snake, you crack me up! When my husband and I were first married, we went for a hike at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado, I saw the rattle of a snake go across my path just as I was about to step on it... I think I must have jumped a mile high! It was quite memorable! :)

annietiques said...

Karine, this painting takes my breath away!!!! Absolutely beautiful!

Unfortunately I won't be attending this years open studio tours, but I will be visiting the H-Desert next spring, hope to see you then!!!!