What's new

"Uplift." Oil on Canvas, 12 x 12 inches

We are still digging ourselves out after the big thunderstorm of last week. I am being entranced by the mud - patterns, textures, and quantity. Here are some "mud photos" from my camera phone:

I love mud cracks

These are antelope ground squirrel tracks. So tiny! Such long toenails!

backyard mud patterns

More backyard mud patterns.

It only took 5 days before little bits of green appeared after that rain. FIVE DAYS. I think that's impressive. I am living with the daily hope of seeing a hungry tortoise, now that there's something green to eat. I also live with the daily hope of seeing a tarantula - this is the season!!!!

What's new with you?

Desert wonders

I have been working hard in the studio - so hard, in fact, that I haven't been sweeping the floor, dusting, cooking, or much of anything else. (this is unusual for me.) I haven't been very good at photographing everything I'm working on, either. But there will be an onslaught of photos soon, I hope.

Unless I have more days like today, where I worked and worked. Worked. Scraped away. Worked. Spilled wax on my favorite t-shirt, dropped a wax-filled brush on the floor - getting more wax where it shouldn't be. Then, I did a lovely jackrabbit drawing, transferred it to my encaustic painting, and then realized I had made it too small!!!! Aaargh......

Tomorrow is another day.

I did want to share with you the wildlife moment Pono and I had on our Sunday hike:

Yes, that is a roadrunner in the talons of this amazing hawk. I am not sure what kind of hawk it is. Cooper's? Red Tailed? Does anyone know?

Here is a  photo of a recent encaustic:

"Legs." (coyote) Encaustic, thread, twine and ink transfer on panel. 10 x 10 inches

I swear there will be more soon! I'm not trying to be a tease.

I leave teasing to the rain. I heard it poured in Yucca Valley - 6 minutes away. There was flooding in the lower desert. Here chez Pono? We got .02 inches. WIMPY!!!!!

More Desert Creatures

Pono and I had a magical encounter with a desert tortoise yesterday morning on our hike. I took a video of it with my phone, which I had hoped to share with you. However, I can't seem to get the video to upload. Sorry about that. Photos instead...

Today's morning hike was all clouds and drama. As usual, no rain.

The studio has been absorbing most of my time and energy.

"Talking Roadrunner." Encaustic, thread, and ink transfer, 8 x 8 inches. 

There will be more work to share with you soon.

Thanks for all of your comments and emails! I cannot tell you how much it means to me.

The Bald Tailed Coyote

This morning I saw my first family of quail with scurrying chicks!!! It was so exciting that I stayed at the window for awhile to see if they would come closer. Slowly but surely, they were making their way closer to me and my camera when out of the desert comes a coyote, scattering the quail and causing quite a din! The coyote turned and I realized he (she?) was either recovering from mange or just beginning to get it. No fur on tail!!! I was able to snap two quick photos before the sight of me through the window frightened Ms. Bald Tail away. Just another day in the desert.....

I am kind of hoping this coyote was recovering from the mange, because I do always enjoy seeing a healthy coyote. I saw Bald Tail again this afternoon, while out with Pono, and fortunately I saw him/her before Pono did. (I was able to grab Pono the dog and prevent him from a good coyote chase.)

I am almost wondering if this is the same young coyote who visited the backyard last year with even less fur:

I also have a pigeon (I know, a PIGEON?!!???) that's been trying to take over a dove's nest under the eaves in the back of the house. Crazy bird!!! I have resorted to scaring the pigeon away with a broom, when I see her. I don't know why she thinks she can take over someone else's nest. And you thought only people were nuts.

In the studio, I am progressing on the new series with a new format:

"Convergence." Oil on canvas, 36 x 12 inches. 

I will be shipping three of the new abstracts to The Red Arrow Gallery in Nashville, TN tomorrow!!! How exciting!! (Thanks, Katie!)

Happy Mother's Day, to all of you Mothers out there!!!

Contrasts

We had quite an amazing walk this morning. About 2 weeks ago, one of the usual trails was filled - literally covered - with caterpillars. The flowers were still in nearly full bloom, and each one seemed to have a caterpillar climbing on it. I admit, I didn't take a single photo, feeling somewhat queasy by the prospect of so many caterpillars. Today, the same trail was filled with butterflies. (I think they were American Painted Lady butterflies, but I'm not sure.) It was rather magical to walk around, surrounded by butterflies. M, Pono and I were having a nice little butterly walk, with M out in front. Suddenly, M stopped, turned and grabbed the dog. "SNAKE!" While he held the dog, I, (of course) had to go in for a closer look. Lo and behold a rattlesnake caught in the middle of breakfast!!!! (Okay, Dad, I know you aren't a big fan, so you should probably cover your eyes. This goes for any of you who are a might sensitive.)

This last photo was taken about 8 minutes later, after we had hiked further and I decided I had to go back for another peek. I mean, it's not every day you see a snake swallowing a rat, right?

I think it's a speckled rattlesnake, possibly a Panamint speckled rattlesnake. M thinks it's a Western Diamondback. In either case, it was quite impressive, and maybe more than a little revolting on some level, no matter how much you love nature. (and snakes.) And now I wonder how many of you are going to comment about how I can take a photo of a snake swallowing a rat, but not a photo of a trail covered in caterpillars......

All I can say is that the world is full of contrasts of all kinds. Today, the contrast being one of a hike where it began as air filled with butterflies and had a snake in the middle. The end was rather anti-climactic, to say the least.

Happy May, everyone.

A feather?

One of the challenges I posed myself this year was that I would make a concerted effort to DRAW MORE. In my humble world of art-making, drawing is at the center of everything else. So it makes sense that this would become a bigger part of my art practice, does it not?

Recently, I have grown tired of some of my usual drawing materials, so I decided to draw with the tip of a feather. Yes, i did.

I really love that I have less control over the line, and even less control over how the ink comes off of the feather tip. I think there will be more.

Then, when I was ready for something new, I tried ink and brush, which I have done before, but not for a long time.

A shot of the cool storm cloud from the past weekend.

The desert truly is a place of beauty and wonder.

It's life

M came home late on December 10th, after being gone since July. Two days later, he was in the hospital. It wasn't the homecoming either of us had anticipated. The good news is that he is okay, and today, he finally got to come home from the hospital. A big, heartfelt thank you goes out to all of you who called, emailed and prayed for him this past week. It means so much to both of us. We will make every effort to to follow up with each of you individually, but I thought this blog might be the quickest way to deliver the good news to all of you.

The Christmas cards might end up being New Year's Cards, and a few Christmas packages might be a little late, but those things don't seem so important to me right now. Not because I don't think of you who are far away, but simply because I know you will all understand that my priorities were elsewhere.

In other, desert-related news: our backyard has been the happening spot in the early morning hours, before the sun comes up. One morning, we had a bobcat, stalking a cottontail. It is the first bobcat I have seen in several years, and it was thrilling. A few days later, two coyotes had killed a jackrabbit. I managed only a few shots before a certain fuzzy dog noticed my interest and frightened them all away by running out his dog door, barking. A friend of mine asked me if it was hard for me to see the coyotes kill one of my beloved jackrabbits. I didn't really know how to reply. I've had a few days to think about it now, and this is what I have decided: I understand the relationship between life and death. All living things die, and when one creature dies so that another may live, there is a sense of rightness to that. What I really have trouble with is suffering.

You can just make out the jackrabbit in the coyote's mouth.

Home again

Lotus Flower, Bangkok.

 I have finally returned to the Joshua Tree desert.  I came home to find the creosote bushes loaded with yellow blooms and fuzzy seeds, the lizards and snakes out in droves, and the paper bag bush (my favorite!) blooming.  Magical!

Pono discovered a rattlesnake curled up next to a bush yesterday on our morning walk.  I heard it rattle only once.  That was enough to make all the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and I yelled "PONO!!!  NO!!  LEAVE IT!"  Amazingly, he immediately jerked his head away from the snake and ran over to my side.  Whew.  I spent the remainder of the walk praising him and thanking him for not getting bitten on the nose.  Of course, all night last night I dreamed about rattlesnakes, and in my dream, one bit me on the hand.  I killed it, (by squeezing its head between my fingers - that's how I knew it was a dream) so that I could show the doctor what kind of snake it was.  This is the time of year when every stick looks like a snake, and I am as skittish as the rabbits I see out in the yard.  I don't think that's a bad thing.

Forgive my lack of blogging.  I am suffering from a severe case of computer aversion.  If there's a cure and you know about it, please let me know.  I hope to recover soon.

Creature companions

I have planted salvia greggii (which is a pink flowering shrub) in our front yard that the hummingbirds are attracted to.  All day long, I see them feeding on the pink flowers.  Once they have fed, they will often fly into the palo verde tree and perch in the green branches.  They aren't particularly afraid of me or Pono, and more than once, they have flown right up to my face, as though they are telling me something urgent.  Everything about the hummingbird seems urgent, with their quick movements and buzzing wings.

The desert has been so gentle and mild the past couple days.  In the evenings, Pono and I have been in the habit of sitting outside at sunset, watching the bats catching insects.  There is nothing quite like the quiet, devoted companionship of a dog.  With my husband away, Pono seems to stick close by my side, and when I lay on the floor, he lays next to me and rests his head on my belly.  It is a comforting feeling.  Mr. Pono, I am grateful for you, even if you did roll in some stinky dead thing today!  I hope you all have a great weekend, my dear blog friends.  That is what I intend to do.

Backyard coyote

Today, Mr. Pono got a bath.  After the bath, he decided he needed to recline in the warm desert sunshine to dry.  While he was drying contentedly in the front yard, we had a visit from a neighborly coyote in the back yard.  I was talking to my Dad on the phone, but I told him I would call him back when said coyote got really close.  I hung up the phone and dashed for the beloved camera.  I swear this coyote behaved just like Pono often does.  There is no doubt of their kinship.

I normally have water in this saucer for the bunnies. 

When it began to yip in standard coyote fashion, Pono in the front yard finally discovered its presence and began to bark furiously.  It was at this point the coyote finally ran away.  I am so happy, because now I have some good material for drawings and maybe even a painting.  Maybe.  The desert wonderland never disappoints.

I have begun to list a few more monotypes on etsy.  Hop on over and take a look, if you care to see.

I am amazed that I have posted 350 times here on this blog.  Are you sick of me yet???  I love you all, my dear, dear readers. 

Departure

This poor, neglected blog!  I have every intention of posting at least twice a week.  In fact, there was a time, when I first started blogging, when I would post 4 or 5 times a week.  I don't know why I have slacked off so much, but perhaps in the new year I will find new motivation and inspiration for this blog.  It's not that I don't have plenty of things to blog about.  I have plenty of things I could share with you.  For example, I did manage to get back in the studio, and produced a painting that is a complete departure from anything I have done lately.  It feels more like my art from 4 or 5 years ago, combined with newer techniques.  I will let you be the judge.  This one is called "Departure", and it is oil on canvas, measuring 48 1/2 x 36 inches. 

M and I went to Las Vegas for a couple of nights this week.  We like going to Vegas, even though we don't really gamble.  It's just a place to go where we can escape the daily duties.  It isn't too far from Joshua Tree, and we love the drive, through the Mohave National Preserve.  I will be blogging about our trip this week, so I won't go into too much detail here. 

I got a new camera for Christmas.  (an early present from M.)  So this week has been spent with me learning how to use it and the accompanying software.  The learning curve has not been without its challenges, especially for this blogger, who has come to love the little tiny point and shoot digital camera I have been using since the beginning of this blog.  Nevertheless, I am sure my new camera will make for better photographs, once I get it all figured out.  Here are a few samples from the new camera, including the photo of the new painting and the Kelso Dunes.  (keep in mind that it has taken me nearly all morning to load the software, get the images from the camera, and get them comverted for you to view here!) 

More desert delights

I finished another oil painting yesterday. Well, I think it is finished. Sometimes, an artist will look at a painting she thought was finished, and realize that there is still something more it "needs" before she can sign her name. Maybe you have heard it before, but knowing when a painting is finished is one of the most difficult parts of the creative process. At any rate, I think I am going to call this one finished, and move on. I called it "Connection", and it measures 40 x 30 x 2.5 inches. It is oil over acrylic on canvas.

I am tired, but I am going to post another shot from the coyote encounter on Monday, a nice photo of a jackrabbit, and a photo of the Gambel's Quail.







I am sorry to say that the website is not quite ready, although I am making progress. You will be the first to know when it is ready!!! I look forward to your valuable feedback. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

The coyotes

This morning, just as I was about to open the door to the van for Pono and I to take our morning walk, Pono climbed into the passenger seat, looked intently out the window, and began to quiver. I directed my gaze in the same direction as the excited dog when I saw three adult coyotes and two coyote pups!!! How exciting! (I quivered, too, but for different reasons than Pono.) I am glad I was paying attention, because if I had let Pono out, I am certain there would have been trouble. Pono would have wanted to go after those coyotes, and with pups to protect, those three adults would most likely have attacked my dog. I kept the door to the van closed, and proceeded to watch the coyotes for about 15 or 20 minutes.


I only have a small camera, so these photos are not the best quality. Even though the adult coyotes got pretty close to the van, the pups were much more cautious. So the only good shot of a pup is from a distance that my tiny camera couldn't quite cover. I am including it anyway. That is the first time I have seen coyote pups before.



After a while, I did drive further down the road, so that Pono could enjoy his morning walk/run.

I am re-doing my website, and I hope to have it up and running by the middle of the week!!! I will post the news when I finish it.

Another cactus in my garden bloomed a couple of days ago. I love these cactus blooms! They don't last long, but they are so brilliant. You can also see a portion of the courtyard area in front of our house.


I leave you with a small painting I finished before my Colorado trip. It is oil on board, measuring 8 x 10 inches. I titled it "From the Past." It will be available for sale on my new website! (you can also email me, if you can't wait that long.) The larger painting I have been working on over the weekend did not turn out the way I wanted it to, so it is drying. I will re-work it once the paint dries. I hope to have another big one finished by the end of the week. Stay tuned.



Happy Monday, everyone!