tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81951289429427892552024-03-13T23:30:23.598-07:00James Parker ArtJames Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-20582414745790180942011-07-04T04:20:00.000-07:002011-07-04T05:18:34.271-07:00Adebanji's Homeless & Poverty<span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Running inexcusably late (what century is this?) I have managed to get myself stirred up enough to finish Banji's moleskin. When I get in a slump, I re-define the whole meani</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ng of inactivity. My apologies.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMACoXlPuXw/ThGuoEBzNEI/AAAAAAAADaA/rbSd32Okfic/s1600/IMG_1217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMACoXlPuXw/ThGuoEBzNEI/AAAAAAAADaA/rbSd32Okfic/s400/IMG_1217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625469412861752386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Somewhat at a loss for subject matter for Adebanji's theme of poverty and homeless, I stewed for a month or so, then, one morning while looking in the mirror for a familiar face....There It Was!!!! A perfect example of poverty! So I did a self-portrait. Except my forehead was too high and it didn't look like me. So I borrowed some hair from Larry King or Curious George or somebo</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">dy. It still doesn't look like me, but maybe it looks like somebody. I guess I shoulda tried a hat. BUT...if it did look like me, it would be the "Perfect Poverty Poster Person".... I'm not "Poor"...I just stay so broke I </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">can't even pay attention.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVb3ez7KAIM/ThGuomG7qFI/AAAAAAAADaQ/CztGEDS6QEs/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVb3ez7KAIM/ThGuomG7qFI/AAAAAAAADaQ/CztGEDS6QEs/s400/IMG_1215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625469422010083410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> The second page of Adebanji's journa</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">l pictures a homeless dude camped out in front a Louis Vuitton store.... I doubt he's waiting for the store to open so he can get a new pair of shoes. There is a tragic sense to the disparity between the rich and poor. Moses had it out with the Egyptians...Robin Hood had a go at trying t0 even things out...Karl Marx missed the mark. We still have the same problems....I haven't heard that Charlie Sheen or numerous sports and entertainment folks want to return a few million dollars o</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">f their contracts..."Oh No...that's too much money....I just wouldn't feel right...getting paid that much!!!)<br />Yeah, right.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JeJ1p9xmLU0/ThGuoTlf4wI/AAAAAAAADaI/yam0nb9H63Y/s1600/IMG_1216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JeJ1p9xmLU0/ThGuoTlf4wI/AAAAAAAADaI/yam0nb9H63Y/s400/IMG_1216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625469417038013186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /> Anyway....one more moleskin....Liz Holm....portraits. I'm on it right now, even as we blog. Coming soon....promise!<br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-35736916587205191182011-03-10T15:12:00.000-08:002011-03-10T15:23:14.891-08:00One Hummingbird & One Hawk<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I'm still dragging somewhat...duh! Sure hope to get back to firing on all cylinders before too long. Anyway, I've had Dean Haven's journal for The Flying Moleskins for a while. Got a little surge of energy and grabbed my brushes and paints. Dean left the door open for choice of subject, and, wouldn't you know it a hawk flew in....pursued by an angry hummingbird. The hawk didn't stand a chance. I have presented my paintings of these two before the car</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">nage began.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYO6kO4kPlQ/TXlcwIO4PlI/AAAAAAAADZ0/CK0LR44roVg/s1600/dean%2527s%2Bjournal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYO6kO4kPlQ/TXlcwIO4PlI/AAAAAAAADZ0/CK0LR44roVg/s400/dean%2527s%2Bjournal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582595195015806546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QoyW2np9DDg/TXlcvSnuqmI/AAAAAAAADZk/PHqBKAw-QDE/s1600/dean%2527s%2Bhawk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QoyW2np9DDg/TXlcvSnuqmI/AAAAAAAADZk/PHqBKAw-QDE/s400/dean%2527s%2Bhawk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582595180624521826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xCwYPT8eGw/TXlcv8jcgAI/AAAAAAAADZs/Z9l6ypGHZu4/s1600/dean%2527s%2Bhumbird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xCwYPT8eGw/TXlcv8jcgAI/AAAAAAAADZs/Z9l6ypGHZu4/s400/dean%2527s%2Bhumbird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582595191880843266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I've got Adebanji Alade's journal now....poverty and homelessness. Now that should be a challenge. Hm-m-m-m.<br /> See ya down the road.....James<br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-76143080800877729902011-02-15T11:39:00.000-08:002011-02-15T12:19:36.502-08:00Return to Any Sense? Vern's Journal<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"> Boyoboyoboy! My bad. Hanging my head in shame.</span></span></span></span></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I've been away from my blog and painting so long, I forgot I had fingers. More on that in a moment. I have had two journals from the "Flying Moleskins" Project....Vernon Schwarz and Dean Haven. I have been sitting on them. Attempting to get back in step, I finished Vern's and have it posted here. I'm</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> working on Dean's and will have it shortly.</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71QY70JbWs4/TVrZNCqTtNI/AAAAAAAADY8/hSkIutf4Ug8/s1600/IMG_1175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71QY70JbWs4/TVrZNCqTtNI/AAAAAAAADY8/hSkIutf4Ug8/s400/IMG_1175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574006306900260050" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Vern's subject was anything, so I painted anything out in desert, but I kept getting annoyed by this "Beep, Beep" every now and then.<br /><br /> I went through a bit of escape and stick my head in the sandness. Call it malaise. or discombobulation, or mollygrumps, or manic depressive, or panic distressive or< maybe just "out of it".<br /><br /> As human beings, we all have problems. Artists, as human beings, have problems....except ours are more colorful.. I, as a part-time human being, have problems, too...but I'm just a bigger baby with them. I have a habit of making things worse than they are. For instance, I became reclusive for a couple of months and after getting home from work, just sat and watched movies instead of painting or doing anything constructive. However, If I was depressed, I'd watch stuff like "The Road" or "No Country for Old Men". If I was cold, I'd watch "March of the Penguins". If I had money problems, I'd watch "Falling Down". If I dwelt on social injustice or man's inhumanity to man, I'd put on "Schindler's List" or"Holocaust". If I read something about covert government or something I stuck "Shooter" (Mark Wahlberg) or" Enemy of the State" in the DVD playeer. If I saw something about the Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, I rented "2012" or "Day After Tomorrow" or "Deep Impact". DUH. Anyway, I watched" K PAX", "Godspell" and "Out of Africa" and now I'm all better.<br /><br /> More later...I won't be gone so long. Cya down the road................James<br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-60045478401986179662010-11-03T12:10:00.000-07:002010-11-03T12:44:00.232-07:00OOPS...Now Where Was I?<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I've been away from the blog for a while. I encountered a toxic plant resin rom a FireStick plant (Euphorbia Turicalli), got it my eyes and couldn't see for days. It felt like you poured gasoline and pepper sauce in em....absolutely excruciating. And it took a few weeks to be able to work in close detail. During that time, my brother-in-law and best friend left this life after an 18 month struggle with esophageal cancer. It really affected me (still does and will continue to) and I kinda got propelled into a major fu</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">nk. Author</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">s have an occasional "block" and artists do, also. I just got into a mood wh</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ere I got home from work at the greenhouses, grabbed a couple of beers and read books....I think I've finished everything Ken Follett, Michael Crichton</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">, Dan Brown, James Rollins ever wrote...and well into James Michener.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />While in this state of retreat, I looked up one day and noticed I had two Flying Moleskin Journals to do...Ed Burton and Vern Schwartz. Pokey and Taco Belle, my pups, hopped on me and commanded in dog lingo to get moving. So I picked up my brushes and turned out Ed Burton's Journal with the two pieces. Below....First, the original "Rock" band, and the se</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">cond. three of my favorite artists.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG4doHuSOI/AAAAAAAADX8/MGyZpOq20nA/s1600/ed+burton+rock+crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG4doHuSOI/AAAAAAAADX8/MGyZpOq20nA/s400/ed+burton+rock+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535408236140579042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG4d7G7NNI/AAAAAAAADYE/7D6PCsAnQLI/s1600/ed+burton+crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG4d7G7NNI/AAAAAAAADYE/7D6PCsAnQLI/s400/ed+burton+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535408241237505234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now...to get cracking on Vern's. I also haven't updated Windows to the Words, but that will be coming in a couple of days.<br /><br />Speaking of Ed Burton....Ed sent me some of the neatest photos of pumpkins carved with unbelievable talent and imagination. It's a bit after Halloween, but these are just TOO good, not to share. Here's a couple of them.....<br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG6IATUe4I/AAAAAAAADYM/4JvRVYgY-w4/s1600/pumpkin+zipface.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG6IATUe4I/AAAAAAAADYM/4JvRVYgY-w4/s400/pumpkin+zipface.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535410063697804162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG6Iuy4UeI/AAAAAAAADYc/p7ace7-wigo/s1600/wrinked+woman+pumpkin.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG6Iuy4UeI/AAAAAAAADYc/p7ace7-wigo/s400/wrinked+woman+pumpkin.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535410076178207202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG6IZxUuhI/AAAAAAAADYU/MX-iIlbUZR4/s1600/pumpkin+obama.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TNG6IZxUuhI/AAAAAAAADYU/MX-iIlbUZR4/s400/pumpkin+obama.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535410070534535698" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pretty cool, huh? Cya down the road............ James</span></span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-31001364445569707242010-08-25T12:17:00.000-07:002010-08-25T12:47:33.123-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVsmr2-__I/AAAAAAAADWY/YlkD2O1acnk/s1600/IMG_1161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVsmr2-__I/AAAAAAAADWY/YlkD2O1acnk/s400/IMG_1161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509429131021844466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> This month I had Sheila Tajima's journal for <a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com">The Flying Moleskins</a> project. Sheila's theme is "Things You Love". Well, aside from the "Four F's"..Faith, Family, Friends and Freedom, there's about 17 kazillion other things....like my pups, Pokey and Taco Belle and a hot shower and a comfortable pair of tennis shoes, and..... I could go on and on. But I settled for a T-Bone, super stuffed baked p</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">otato and a cold beer. So there.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVuNTmmbCI/AAAAAAAADWg/CvoWONeAQpI/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVuNTmmbCI/AAAAAAAADWg/CvoWONeAQpI/s400/IMG_1160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509430894037199906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVuN-6LF5I/AAAAAAAADWo/Wq8oAJ9t6_Q/s1600/IMG_1159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVuN-6LF5I/AAAAAAAADWo/Wq8oAJ9t6_Q/s400/IMG_1159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509430905662019474" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last month's challenge on Windows to the Words was frogs. I just realized I never posted them, so here they are. There were some very nice other submissions of the little slimers, and you can view them by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com">HERE</a><br />Also, this month (Until Labor Day), the Pooch Portrait Exchange is featured, with some delightful works.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> It has been so-o-o-o hot, that I haven't h</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ad a lot of energy left over to blog much.....waiting for that first</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> coo</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">l spell. But I haven't been alone in my sweltering. Below are how a few local pooches coped with the heat........</span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVxUxVYBmI/AAAAAAAADXc/kul8H-yODC4/s1600/dog+in+hose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVxUxVYBmI/AAAAAAAADXc/kul8H-yODC4/s400/dog+in+hose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509434320811984482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVxfodO7VI/AAAAAAAADXk/U3El878m31E/s1600/dog+in+pool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVxfodO7VI/AAAAAAAADXk/U3El878m31E/s400/dog+in+pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509434507407584594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVxNkgHqLI/AAAAAAAADXU/UqtWwDYW_Kw/s1600/chi+under+fan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/THVxNkgHqLI/AAAAAAAADXU/UqtWwDYW_Kw/s400/chi+under+fan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509434197108304050" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Cya down the road....James</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-49686337452750840682010-07-25T17:08:00.000-07:002010-07-25T17:43:16.741-07:00Chipmunk Chew<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TEzSiO9p8cI/AAAAAAAADSI/-Mpvg1kke8c/s1600/chipmunk+gary+keimig.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TEzSiO9p8cI/AAAAAAAADSI/-Mpvg1kke8c/s400/chipmunk+gary+keimig.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498000730686616002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://wildernessartchallenge.blogspot.com">Gary Kiemeg's Wildlife Challenge (Click HERE</a>) for this month is the cute little chipmunk pictured above.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TEzSztj81QI/AAAAAAAADSQ/gbuCBnWQajs/s1600/resi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TEzSztj81QI/AAAAAAAADSQ/gbuCBnWQajs/s400/resi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498001030958077186" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> With puffy cheeks like that, he has to be a double bubble fan....so I painted him as above.<br /><br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Aside from being miserably busy and busy being miserable (kidding)....I've had computer problems. You may have had problems such as I have had. Click the image below and see if your computer and you have had similar experiences.</span><br /></span></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwe9OTTgj7p-F3n0FI0LIn7INg0c4Dr_LELCX-_hRTFvzHp1LejBeYr1Gy-DtLjSIEQlxjfDDGtAgnysOXX' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-7934035155911939642010-07-10T16:10:00.000-07:002010-07-10T17:08:06.168-07:00Healthy Pelican = Flying Moleskins - RedNeck Shots<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">A couple of blogs ago, I pictured an oil-soaked Brant's Comorant (I think). I painted this Momma Brown Pelic</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">an and her two chicks the way our wild life should look. It's a 12</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">x 30 Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas with image extended on ed</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ges.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDj_qeCkt1I/AAAAAAAADPI/6eKsZyfAfc8/s1600/pelican+crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDj_qeCkt1I/AAAAAAAADPI/6eKsZyfAfc8/s400/pelican+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492420850661766994" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> In the incredibly delightful "Flying Moleskin" project, I had Irit Bourla's journal, and her theme is "PLACES". Well....there are a lot of places. Over a thousand, I think. To narrow the choices, I just picked the four places I've lived...Texas, Louisiana, Costa Rica and Florida. And did a little cartoon-like vignette of each, showing a few highlights. It was fun to do and I hope she likes it.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkCl_QiQrI/AAAAAAAADPQ/nK4KNILS5bo/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 141px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkCl_QiQrI/AAAAAAAADPQ/nK4KNILS5bo/s400/IMG_1143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492424072214233778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkDaRxF_OI/AAAAAAAADPY/mVS9FXYGyXc/s1600/texas+moleskin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkDaRxF_OI/AAAAAAAADPY/mVS9FXYGyXc/s400/texas+moleskin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492424970535828706" border="0" 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style="display: block;" id="htmlbar_Add_Video" title="Add Video" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="addVideo();" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Add Video" class="gl_video" border="0" /></span> <div style="display: block;" class="vertbar"><span style="display: block;" class="g"> </span><span style="display: block;" class="w"> </span></div> </span><span id="htmlbar_PreviewAction" title="Preview" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);toggle();ButtonMouseDown(this);">Preview</span> </div><textarea style="display: none;" name="postBody" rows="17" cols="47" id="textarea" wrap="soft" tabindex="5" dir="ltr"></textarea><iframe tabindex="5" style="display: block;" id="richeditorframe"></iframe><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkENYmfd0I/AAAAAAAADPg/l3yjO_9bKFM/s1600/louisiana+moleskin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkENYmfd0I/AAAAAAAADPg/l3yjO_9bKFM/s400/louisiana+moleskin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492425848543737666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkFJG9h_iI/AAAAAAAADPw/oP1GYBxyR4A/s1600/florida+moleskin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 359px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkFJG9h_iI/AAAAAAAADPw/oP1GYBxyR4A/s400/florida+moleskin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492426874600685090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkExAY2SvI/AAAAAAAADPo/x87rD3YizI4/s1600/costa+rica+moleskin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 359px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkExAY2SvI/AAAAAAAADPo/x87rD3YizI4/s400/costa+rica+moleskin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492426460519353074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A few mornings ago, I dropped by a</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">n old red-neck buddy's place. He w</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">as in the middle of whipping up some </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">breakfast......</span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkGXYpGJOI/AAAAAAAADP4/MnhXu7GyW_U/s1600/redneck+pancakes.htm"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 335px; height: 391px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkGXYpGJOI/AAAAAAAADP4/MnhXu7GyW_U/s400/redneck+pancakes.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492428219376608482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">He asked me to join him, but the eggs were a little too greenish for my taste, so I moseyed on over to the Blanco Cafe ...."The Bowling Alley (yes, that is the name of the cafe). I always carry my camera at the ready for spectacular shots, but all I got was these photos of things you're likely to run across in these parts..</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkIN5pHVKI/AAAAAAAADQQ/KnSGCqjoQ68/s1600/redneck+headlites.htm"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkIN5pHVKI/AAAAAAAADQQ/KnSGCqjoQ68/s400/redneck+headlites.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492430255459620002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkJI3zL8JI/AAAAAAAADQY/J7Kr003_5gM/s1600/aircondition.htm"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkJI3zL8JI/AAAAAAAADQY/J7Kr003_5gM/s400/aircondition.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492431268577276050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkH4Hqz0cI/AAAAAAAADQA/1PJBfOvGdGE/s1600/cow+in+car.htm"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TDkH4Hqz0cI/AAAAAAAADQA/1PJBfOvGdGE/s400/cow+in+car.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492429881267704258" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">.<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Cya down the road........................ James</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-24192868858393383202010-06-28T14:04:00.000-07:002010-06-28T14:46:49.533-07:00Reflection...And Catching Up<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Aside from computer problems, trying to get used to the heat, adjusting to my new greenhouse job, several artwork projects, and a general depletion of any available energy...I am wa-a-a-ay behind on blogging and blog-visiting. I hope to get ba</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ck on track shortly....so I'll keep this one short.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TCkQ1OuUSpI/AAAAAAAADMY/ZbBeT9bUxcg/s1600/bott+crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TCkQ1OuUSpI/AAAAAAAADMY/ZbBeT9bUxcg/s400/bott+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487936127599135378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TCkSUbkWa7I/AAAAAAAADMo/u3BG4sn8RHo/s1600/heart+of+stones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TCkSUbkWa7I/AAAAAAAADMo/u3BG4sn8RHo/s400/heart+of+stones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487937763134565298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TCkRN3suC4I/AAAAAAAADMg/DuKcYj6V5qk/s1600/tabasco+crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TCkRN3suC4I/AAAAAAAADMg/DuKcYj6V5qk/s400/tabasco+crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487936550915148674" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Windows to the Words challenge for June is "Reflections" There haven't been many submissions, but the ones submitted are very nice...and you can view them by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com">HERE</a>. And...there's still time to send one in...I'll post all entries received by Sunday, July 4. Pictured above are my 3 submissions. Next month's challenge is a dog portrait exchange, but I haven't received many dog pictures for that one. I hope to have at least a dozen or so....see more info by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/">HERE.</a><br /><br /> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Instead of some humorous pics, I'll save those for next blog and leave you with an absolutely marvelous video my sister sent me. This short video has magnificent scenery, incredible wildlife shots, beautiful music and a truly inspiring message. In the midst of the Oil Spill tragedy, this video is so appropriate to remind us of what we have..and what we cannot afford to lose. Click <a href="http://goffministries.org/creationcalls.htm">CREATION CALLS.</a><br /><br /> <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Cya down the road....... James</span><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-75930479917518637092010-06-09T15:27:00.000-07:002010-06-09T16:21:37.452-07:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Well, I started working at Klepac Greenhouses in Blanco, Texas this week. I am in poinsettia propagation and production which will start this coming week. Klepac grows and ships over 200,000 each </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">year. I only work mornings before it gets scorching, so I should have a good bit t</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ime for painting and blogging.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"><a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com">The Flying Moleskins</a> project is so cool.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"> It is so exciting to receive a new journal each month and be able to see and hold the artwork of the participating artists. It is thrilling and humbling. Gee, these folks ar</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">e talented!!!! I had Dana Cooper's Journal this month and her theme is "Dreams". So I dreamt up a couple of ideas, and painted em in her Journal while I was t</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">aking a nap. Here they are:<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAdn6OBj8I/AAAAAAAADKw/Wos0Gkbi6o4/s1600/dana%27s+res.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 140px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAdn6OBj8I/AAAAAAAADKw/Wos0Gkbi6o4/s400/dana%27s+res.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480913317990076354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAeQuHUPfI/AAAAAAAADLA/TgoWFj9lJ8s/s1600/kfc+resi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAeQuHUPfI/AAAAAAAADLA/TgoWFj9lJ8s/s400/kfc+resi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480914019115351538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAd7T7PWmI/AAAAAAAADK4/GVJjLYDJRUQ/s1600/dream+lamb+resi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAd7T7PWmI/AAAAAAAADK4/GVJjLYDJRUQ/s400/dream+lamb+resi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480913651308124770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I have been working on "Windows to Texas Wildlife" for several months, and I finished it up and entered it in <a href="http://austinartspace.com">Austin Artspace</a>'s competition, "What Texas Means to Me". And .... I also posted it on the "<a href="http://sometexasartistsliketopaint.blogpot.com">Some Texas Artists Like to Paint" </a>blog. Its an acrylic on 20 x 24 canvas. It's fairly representative of Texas critters.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAewt6PCdI/AAAAAAAADLI/XzzSm7Wq1vE/s1600/aust+res.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAewt6PCdI/AAAAAAAADLI/XzzSm7Wq1vE/s400/aust+res.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480914568816298450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAfixznYgI/AAAAAAAADLY/SdKkg1asU4w/s1600/tex+wild+left.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 616px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAfixznYgI/AAAAAAAADLY/SdKkg1asU4w/s400/tex+wild+left.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480915428855734786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAfLm6X_JI/AAAAAAAADLQ/as_KvHfalFc/s1600/tex+wild+right.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 390px; height: 592px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAfLm6X_JI/AAAAAAAADLQ/as_KvHfalFc/s400/tex+wild+right.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480915030794304658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">Also, on the "<a href="http://some%20texasartistsliketopaint.blogspot.com">Some Texas Artists Like to Paint</a>" blog, the additional theme of having a piece of artwork dealing with the tragic incident of the Gulf Oil Spill is featured. So I wrote a poem and did another painting/decoupage in acylics on 10x20 canvasboard called "Sorrow". He</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">re it is.....<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAgMPd_C6I/AAAAAAAADLg/sxHbR99BxLs/s1600/oil+resi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAgMPd_C6I/AAAAAAAADLg/sxHbR99BxLs/s400/oil+resi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480916141192711074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAgxxvJhqI/AAAAAAAADLo/A9DauIXCXmQ/s1600/sorrow+poem.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 602px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TBAgxxvJhqI/AAAAAAAADLo/A9DauIXCXmQ/s400/sorrow+poem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480916786046666402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Cya down the road.......................... James</span></span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-4430514678944654192010-05-30T05:04:00.000-07:002010-05-30T17:08:21.104-07:00After the Storm, Daddy Welcome Back and Greenhouses<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> A new challenge/collaboration blog was originated by Angela Elledge and nine Texas artists have thus far, joined in...<a href="http://sometexasartistsliketopaint.blogspot.com"> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Some Texas Artists Like to Paint</span></a><a href="http://sometexasartistsliketopaint.blogspot.com">.</a> This month's (June) theme is "Texas Stuff" and a second theme has been added, "Oil Spill Sorrow" in which our group can submit artistic commentary on this</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> tragic incident in the Gulf.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TAJWHQEk-SI/AAAAAAAADH4/AiTNpfrAgZA/s1600/windmill+resi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TAJWHQEk-SI/AAAAAAAADH4/AiTNpfrAgZA/s400/windmill+resi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477034779409185058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> The above is "After the Storm" an acrylic on 12 x 30 canvas (image extended around gallery wrap. It is a departure from my usual style, and I kinda like it. It is my contribution to the Texas theme of the new blog.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">POE"ART"</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">RY... A New Series<br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I have been writing poems to fit the reference photo/art on the fascinating blog <a href="http://everyphototellsastory.blogspot.com/">"Every Photo Tells A Story</a>" for over a year n</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ow. And I write a little intro poem for each month's Windows to the Words Challenge. I l</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ike to write simple poetry. Every now and then, I actually write something halfway decent. So, working with an idea from a couple of friends I did the first of what I hope will become a successful series. First, I pick one of my better poems, and work in reverse, painting an image that is inspired by the poem. This first one I finished for Memorial Day, but it's actually more appropriate for Veteran's Day. I painted</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> on a 10 x 20 canvasboard. Then I printed out the poem, trimmed it, and gave it an antiqued and stressed wash. Then I glued it to the canvasboard and Kamar varnished it. A decoupage...and I guess it's a mixed media.</span></span></span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TALkvPYEiOI/AAAAAAAADIA/Xgg_UON9nZc/s1600/welome+rop+si.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TALkvPYEiOI/AAAAAAAADIA/Xgg_UON9nZc/s400/welome+rop+si.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477191597068421346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Click images to Enlarge</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TALkvSUy-FI/AAAAAAAADII/ddIPnOh1byg/s1600/welcomepoem.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TALkvSUy-FI/AAAAAAAADII/ddIPnOh1byg/s400/welcomepoem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477191597859993682" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">"My Daddy, Welcome Back"<br />Acrylic, Mixed Media, 10 x 20 canvasboard<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Back to the Shack...And into The GreenHouses<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">F<span style="font-style: italic;">or most of my adult life, I've been a nurseryman and horticulturist, specializing in tropicals and greenhouse production. Located just outside of Blanco, Texas is a tremendous floral greenhouse operation... Klepac Greenhouses. They are introducing some new lines and have been looking for experienced personnel w</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ith technical growing knowledge. So, I'm starting June 9th, and we'll see what we can come up with. I'll still be painting and blogging, of course...but doing another labor of love for the benefit of my bank account. I'll keep ya posted.<br /><br /> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">I got a lot of stuff going (new Windows to the Words challenge coming and a "dog portrait exchange") and so I'll make this post a bit short. Besides, I got a tummy ache. This new Oriental restaurant opened up and I tried this chicken dish. However, when I got my fortune cookie...this message kinda got to me.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TALuwCmVsfI/AAAAAAAADIQ/gNQv7GLuECw/s1600/mis+fortune.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 387px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/TALuwCmVsfI/AAAAAAAADIQ/gNQv7GLuECw/s400/mis+fortune.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477202605934752242" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cya down the road..................................... James</span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"></span></span></span></span></span></div></div>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-21647633575858957052010-05-21T21:43:00.000-07:002010-05-21T23:15:21.139-07:00TripTych and Butterflies<span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I've been a bit snowed under trying to finish up several projects in progress, including a few commissions. The following triptych...one painting in three parts...is one </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">of thos</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">e commissions.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_djNo_HdqI/AAAAAAAADGM/qhmcyRln1P4/s1600/triptych.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 525px; height: 132px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_djNo_HdqI/AAAAAAAADGM/qhmcyRln1P4/s400/triptych.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473952958083724962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The family that commissioned this live on a ranch outside of Blanco, Texas. They wanted a scene above their breakfast nook that was colorful and interesting, and suggested incorporating elements of their landscaping and yard decor. This is the result. The two end pieces measure 24 x 24 and the center, 24 x </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">48.</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dmBbh_PQI/AAAAAAAADGU/S-SAem2fB6I/s1600/trip+left.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dmBbh_PQI/AAAAAAAADGU/S-SAem2fB6I/s400/trip+left.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473956046848343298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dmBtwIktI/AAAAAAAADGc/Kt_d_ulzg_M/s1600/trip+center.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dmBtwIktI/AAAAAAAADGc/Kt_d_ulzg_M/s400/trip+center.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473956051739513554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dmCWC6OFI/AAAAAAAADGk/K1k8SFqnBDE/s1600/trip+right.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dmCWC6OFI/AAAAAAAADGk/K1k8SFqnBDE/s400/trip+right.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473956062555682898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">They positioned and hung it right away, and it does look spiffy... colorful, interesting and a conversation piece. I hid little things inside it for the grandkids to enjoy.... like the scorpion above and left of my name, and the eyes peeking out of the broken pot on the center piece. This was a fun project, but I'm happy to be</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> finished.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dofL7Q5VI/AAAAAAAADGs/M65oP11TfNU/s1600/my+white+admiral.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dofL7Q5VI/AAAAAAAADGs/M65oP11TfNU/s400/my+white+admiral.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473958757078721874" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The theme for this month's Windows to the Words Challenge is butterflies. And it IS a challenge trying to get the symmetry of a butterfly depicted and retain your sanity too. Above is my first submission, a White Admiral. Below is a Purple by Bonnie Heather, and you can see the rest of the artworks b</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">y clicking <a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com/">HERE.</a><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dofczuB7I/AAAAAAAADG0/wOU0m1V53ig/s1600/100_4638.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_dofczuB7I/AAAAAAAADG0/wOU0m1V53ig/s400/100_4638.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473958761610479538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">My two cents worth</span>. People love to disagree. They usually disagree because they look at the same thing from different viewpoints or perspectives. Whether it's Arizona laws or health care reform. attitudes change in relation to the angle in which we look at the situation. The inviting swimming pool below becomes a menacing wall of water with a simple 90 degree turn. Same picture...two drastically different perspectives. Maybe folks would agree </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">more if they would look at a problem from every angle, before putting on the boxing gloves.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_d19Vz6g9I/AAAAAAAADHE/3Fj9HEVRrJo/s1600/PF4B6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S_d19Vz6g9I/AAAAAAAADHE/3Fj9HEVRrJo/s400/PF4B6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473973568779486162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> My next blog will be Wednesday or Thursday (May 26, 27). I will have two new art directions to show ya and details on a new career move. I sure hope you will drop back by.... Cya down the road ...James</span></span></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-34620662552283634742010-05-10T02:23:00.000-07:002010-05-10T04:00:55.239-07:00Dominque's RainForest - Texas Wildflowers<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Dominique Eichi's sketchbook theme for </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Flying Moleskins project is forests, back roads, and stuff like that. Dominique first made contact with me while I was living in Costa Ri</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ca</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">, and before I had a blogspot. So I chose to depict a Costa Rican rain for</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">est. Actually, it's just so neat to paint the colorful wildlife.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fSmORXNDI/AAAAAAAADDo/yOg4zil1gec/s1600/IMG_1041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fSmORXNDI/AAAAAAAADDo/yOg4zil1gec/s400/IMG_1041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469571826572538930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fSnZ9UnGI/AAAAAAAADD4/IZ5TaP9nmao/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fSnZ9UnGI/AAAAAAAADD4/IZ5TaP9nmao/s400/IMG_1043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469571846889577570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fTVPcgH4I/AAAAAAAADEA/47eGH2nKAqY/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fTVPcgH4I/AAAAAAAADEA/47eGH2nKAqY/s400/IMG_1042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469572634341547906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >7 x 22 Acrylic (Click to Enlarge)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">When I posted this on The Flying Moleskins site, I later notieed I had forgotten to give the toucan feet or the bu</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">tterflies antennae. The above images have the little critters with all parts attached.<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">I loved living in Costa Rica, and spent a lot of time in the rainforest there, and in Panama. I studied the wildlife and was very for</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">tunate to actually encounter much of what I hav</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">e depicted. I've had howler monkeys throw seed pods at me (which I threw back at em), I've kissed a hummingbird....actually, I was showing some f</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">riends a trick I learned,,,I put a hibiscus flower in my mouth and withi</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fdXpSdlYI/AAAAAAAADEY/9pM9NcMaaxI/s1600/blue+jean+frog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fdXpSdlYI/AAAAAAAADEY/9pM9NcMaaxI/s320/blue+jean+frog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469583670754776450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">n a couple of minutes, a little rufous hummingbird came to visit. I could feel the wind from his wings on my nose</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">. I collected a handful of the little re</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fbAJzGcUI/AAAAAAAADEI/KiMG4dSaF34/s1600/200px-Common_crow_pupa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 271px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fbAJzGcUI/AAAAAAAADEI/KiMG4dSaF34/s320/200px-Common_crow_pupa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469581068141490498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">d and blue "blue jeans" poison dart </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">frogs.,,they're of the lesser potency, but can st</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">ll be an irritant to sensitive skin. I've held scarlet macaws, baby toucans, and had my loyal 5 foot iguana, Darwin, frequen</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">tly perch on my shoulder. And I've been awoken in the middle of the night by visiting Mexican free-tail bats and,</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"> once, by a six foot boa constrictor. I've held an 8 inch Blue Morph butterfly and watched a glass</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"> butterfly emerge from its chrysalis. And </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">more. So I thought I'd share a bit of the m</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">emories with </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Dominique.</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-feO8bbCvI/AAAAAAAADEg/gGBfGvOeYQ8/s1600/me+and+darwin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-feO8bbCvI/AAAAAAAADEg/gGBfGvOeYQ8/s320/me+and+darwin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469584620785437426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" > I received another commission...this time, a small (5x7) painting of Texas wildflowers. So I did this one, below, which is similar to another I had done some months back, except I gave more attention to realistic detail and used a toothbrush spackled ba</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" >ckground (which I really like).<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fi2BAZ66I/AAAAAAAADEw/FQZJES348xk/s1600/IMG_1040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fi2BAZ66I/AAAAAAAADEw/FQZJES348xk/s400/IMG_1040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469589690075704226" border="0" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> A</span>nd lastly... I have a friend out in West Texas who says they developed two new breeds of chickens. One, a 3-legged variety to meet the growing demand for drumsticks. However, they don't know how it tastes because they haven't been able to catch one. And two, a super smart chicken, and he sent a photo to prove it... below. Hm-m-m.</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fmxOA-JFI/AAAAAAAADE4/a-L-ArZm0II/s1600/nissan280.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S-fmxOA-JFI/AAAAAAAADE4/a-L-ArZm0II/s400/nissan280.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469594005714904146" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-5664233809300538962010-05-03T02:36:00.000-07:002010-05-03T03:58:48.148-07:00MOOSE - KRYSTAL<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Gary Keimig recently began a monthly wildlife art challenge called Wilderness Art Challenge. He launched </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">it in March with a reference photo of a bighorn sheep. Last month, it was a Shira moose traipsing through a</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> meadow.......</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96eVF4t_KI/AAAAAAAADCA/g3inMYxnZ5w/s1600/Horse+Creek-May+09+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96eVF4t_KI/AAAAAAAADCA/g3inMYxnZ5w/s400/Horse+Creek-May+09+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466981082868874402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Not being one to pass up an opportunity to paint a Shira moose traipsing through a meadow, I </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">painted the one below with acrylic</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">s on a 5 x 7 canvasboard.</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96foNnyxXI/AAAAAAAADCI/ddoBDIMyJjY/s1600/gary%27s+moose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96foNnyxXI/AAAAAAAADCI/ddoBDIMyJjY/s400/gary%27s+moose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466982510874510706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" > </span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sometimes Free is the Best Price There Is</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:georgia;"> Next door to my little studio gallery here in Burnet, is a older, established gallery/gift shop called ArtHaus. It is owned and run by a former German beauty queen...Heike Yost. Heike sponsors many workshops and instruction courses...particularly for the younger artists. From paints to clay modeling to scrapbooking, Heike does it all. Helping her from time to time is a young lady named Krystal Cates. Krystal has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. She rides the KARTS bus into Burnet twice a week, a</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">rriving at Arthaus about an hour before it opens. I'm always up and op</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">en, so Krystal comes to my shop to visit and spoil my dogs, Pokey a</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">nd TacoBelle, with lavish attention.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96jp9lz9II/AAAAAAAADCQ/0wzP1nEstAA/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96jp9lz9II/AAAAAAAADCQ/0wzP1nEstAA/s400/IMG_0947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466986938977481858" border="0" /></a></div></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Recently, the family dog of many years, Greta, passed away. A constant companion to her father, Greta's parting was a big blow to him. Krystal asked if I could paint a portrait of Greta that she could give to him. The photo she gave me wasn't too good...very little definition. I did the 8x10 acrylic below.</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96mq1feh5I/AAAAAAAADCY/vLmq-5PP27Q/s1600/greta.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96mq1feh5I/AAAAAAAADCY/vLmq-5PP27Q/s400/greta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466990252518180754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >I didn't charge anything, of course, but I guess I got lucky on the likeness, because I was met with tears of joy and praise from her and her Momma....and a gigantic piece of the best chocolate cake I've ever had. A million dollars couldn't buy those marvelous expressions of gratitude.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> The Windows to the Words April Challenge, "Flower Power" wound up with some remarkable submissions...including ones from Canada, Russia, The Phillippines, and India. You </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">can view them, like this lotus bloom from</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> Faith Te of The Phillippines. by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com/">HERE</a><br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96pMzcbFZI/AAAAAAAADCg/z2mXjUXnbHM/s1600/Pink+Lotus+-Oil+Painting+on+Hardboard+by+Faith+Te.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S96pMzcbFZI/AAAAAAAADCg/z2mXjUXnbHM/s400/Pink+Lotus+-Oil+Painting+on+Hardboard+by+Faith+Te.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466993035107308946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Cya down the road....James</span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-71283565147942047822010-04-21T04:32:00.000-07:002010-04-23T02:37:27.934-07:00Commission, Paint the Town, Special Artists<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87ixOn224I/AAAAAAAAC6w/Ar34zfTI2z4/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 314px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462552733413727106" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87ixOn224I/AAAAAAAAC6w/Ar34zfTI2z4/s400/IMG_0978.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Golf Tournaments are big here in the Texas H</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ill Country. So are hummingbirds. A local golf cours</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">e is having a tournament soon, and wanted something special as an award in addition to regular golf awards. Since their course is known for its abundan</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ce of hummingbirds, they ordered a hummingbird painting. I did the above on 8x10 gallery wrap (image surround) in acrylics using interference co</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">lor for the hummer's feathers which gives it a</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">nd incredibly realistic look, although it doesn't show that well in this photo.<br />They were well pleased.</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87kphvceeI/AAAAAAAAC64/YLGbz4x1FHM/s1600/5thPaintTowncardFront.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 288px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462554800130128354" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87kphvceeI/AAAAAAAAC64/YLGbz4x1FHM/s400/5thPaintTowncardFront.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I had nev</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >er been in a plein air event until this one last weekend. It rained. Not a wash-out...</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >b</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ut an on and off thing...enough to generate the need to hurl a few obscenities. Over 50 juried, talented artists competed...and I did, too. Assorted easels with paintbrush wielders littered the Marble Falls landscape, evoking odd looks from passerbys who were, no doubt, wondering who these fools were, standing around painting in the rain. We were challenged to do up to three to submit for judging and silent auction. I did two, </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">pictured below.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87qo84X_xI/AAAAAAAAC7w/7BXtObFRPrM/s1600/paint1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 318px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462561387305238290" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87qo84X_xI/AAAAAAAAC7w/7BXtObFRPrM/s400/paint1.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I did this one the first day (7 x 9) acrylic on canvasboard. It got a lot of commen</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >ts and sold in the silent auction for a nice amount. It depicts the storefront</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > of</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> The Wisteria Store on Main Street, Marble Falls.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87q4-n4zEI/AAAAAAAAC74/2nG7-4vIBeA/s1600/IMG_0980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 315px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462561662650862658" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87q4-n4zEI/AAAAAAAAC74/2nG7-4vIBeA/s400/IMG_0980.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >I rushed this one the second day, in between 3 minute "windows" of non-rain. Spent more time talking to folks about Costa Rica than I did painting. Acrylic on 7 x 9 canvasboard, it is supposed to depict the wondrous grandeur of the 200+ year old oak at Old Oak Square. However, it wound up looking like th</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >e tree that ate Cha</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >rlie Brown's kite. Out of 130 entries, this placed 131st.</span><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87uI4PNcKI/AAAAAAAAC8A/y359A-h4rJ4/s1600/shannon+heep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 341px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462565234349535394" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87uI4PNcKI/AAAAAAAAC8A/y359A-h4rJ4/s400/shannon+heep.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Shannon Heep was the promoter and co-ordinator for this event. She is director of the Uptown Marble and Historic Main Street Organization. Origina</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">lly from New York, after seven years in Texas, she ca</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">n talk with a drawl, chunk down three-alarm chili, and toss cow patties with the best of em. For more info on Marble Falls and Historic Main Street Click <a href="http://historicmainstreet.org">HERE.</a><br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87wr0DgiBI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/tLZLlp_uWgk/s1600/janey+rives.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 155px; float: left; height: 200px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462568033545390098" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87wr0DgiBI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/tLZLlp_uWgk/s200/janey+rives.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87xtn65RxI/AAAAAAAAC8g/amQVG02DqoE/s1600/Rives-SpanishMadonna%26Child.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 160px; float: right; height: 200px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462569164159403794" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87xtn65RxI/AAAAAAAAC8g/amQVG02DqoE/s200/Rives-SpanishMadonna%26Child.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Janey Rives is the </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">mastermind and organizer of the event...it's fifth year. Janey</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> was the owner of JSpace art gallery in Marble Falls and an exceptionally talented art</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ist in her own right. She is pictured here with her painting "Spanish Madonna and Child". She is also a delightful personality with more energy than you can imag</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ine. </span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >A Few of the A</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >rtists</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S876U7rcyjI/AAAAAAAAC8o/dAKWqy2oOk8/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px; float: left; height: 150px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462578635571251762" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S876U7rcyjI/AAAAAAAAC8o/dAKWqy2oOk8/s200/IMG_0993.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8769SWF3rI/AAAAAAAAC84/Vsl_SmPjczg/s1600/richardbahn+pastel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px; float: right; height: 163px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462579328850452146" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8769SWF3rI/AAAAAAAAC84/Vsl_SmPjczg/s200/richardbahn+pastel.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I know this is turnin</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">g into a super-long blog </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(w</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">h</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">a</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">t'</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">s new)...but I met so man</span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >y wonderful and tale</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >n</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >ted people, I just have to introduce a couple o</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >f them....<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Richard Bahn (</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >and his Mom). Richard showed up early about the same time as I did Friday Morning. We</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" > visited and spent the first day in front of JSpace, painting the local storefronts. Richard is from VietNam and works in Austin as a computer draftsman. He just recently turned to art, working in pastels. He has a natural talent, and I have shown his second day's effort, Backbone Creek, above. In my opinion, it should have been in the top three. I</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:100%;" >t didn't place, but it sold well in the silent auction.</span><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87-DEWFUqI/AAAAAAAAC9A/yDTrDS_9yew/s1600/rita+with+ribbon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 214px; float: left; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462582726706418338" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S87-DEWFUqI/AAAAAAAAC9A/yDTrDS_9yew/s320/rita+with+ribbon.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rita Kirkman</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >I did a spot on Rita in the last blog...a realistic pastelist from New Braunfels wo has been touted i</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >n many art journals and exhibitions. She won first place in this event last year. This year she came in fourth. What I thought was her best out of the three she submitted, didn't </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >win a cup of week old coffee. Go figure. Anyway, I sn</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >apped a photo of her, shown on the left, with her in the spotlight...where she belongs. Click <a href="http://ritakirkman.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> to go to Rita's Place.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88B9Hrc5qI/AAAAAAAAC9I/AJtufoegCdM/s1600/lisa+prosser.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 234px; float: left; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462587022568646306" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88B9Hrc5qI/AAAAAAAAC9I/AJtufoegCdM/s320/lisa+prosser.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88C1jb-XQI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/Rio8oHPTm5k/s1600/dumba.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px; float: right; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462587992092597506" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88C1jb-XQI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/Rio8oHPTm5k/s320/dumba.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Lisa Prosser Lisa is a hill county artist that excels in landscapes, floral and abstract works. She has quite a talent, a delightful</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> personality and submitted some outstanding pieces for this event. More about Lisa can be found by clicking</span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" href="http://www.artistlisaprosser.com/"> HERE.</a><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);font-size:130%;" >Valerie Walden</span><br />Valerie was next in line when we were signing in Fri</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >da</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >y, and her knock-ou</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88oGfA97tI/AAAAAAAAC-w/epbjSqQWwbo/s1600/Last_of_Autumn-221x302.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 146px; float: right; height: 200px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462628964893585106" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88oGfA97tI/AAAAAAAAC-w/epbjSqQWwbo/s200/Last_of_Autumn-221x302.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >t smile, w</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >el</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >l</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88njFYUsOI/AAAAAAAAC-o/Xggdq-7_Uhk/s1600/v+walden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 140px; float: left; height: 200px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462628356716802274" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88njFYUsOI/AAAAAAAAC-o/Xggdq-7_Uhk/s200/v+walden.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >knocked me out. Being the bozo that I am, I asked her how her pond was. Considering her vacant expression, my obscure reference to Thoreau was probably lost in the translation Valerie is from Austin, founder and member of the Austin ArtSpace Gallery. She creates some of the mos</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >t delightfu</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >l </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >works and her talent is only exceeded by her win</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >ning personality</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >. In short, she's a big s</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">weetie. You can see more of Valerie's enchanting art and her story by clicking</span> <a href="http://www.valeriewalden.com/">HERE.</a><br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And for more info on the intriguing Austin Artspace, click <a href="http://austinartspace.com/">HERE</a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88G9Ef2TlI/AAAAAAAAC9o/66PxQrOdCko/s1600/debra+latham.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 329px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462592519272812114" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88G9Ef2TlI/AAAAAAAAC9o/66PxQrOdCko/s400/debra+latham.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88G9SDEJkI/AAAAAAAAC9w/QzTxIcPv5iw/s1600/latham+sra.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462592522910180930" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88G9SDEJkI/AAAAAAAAC9w/QzTxIcPv5iw/s400/latham+sra.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Debra Latham<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now Debra is a woman after my own heart...a kindred spirit, of sorts. She lives in Kingswood, over by Houston, but spends time here in the hillcountry at the family place. Her artwork is quite varied, but it is excellent in all respects. Aside from being drop-dead gorgeous, she has a winning personality, a divine talent, and she's got a neat sense of humor. If I was thirty years younger, thirty pounds lighter, thirty thousand richer, thirty degrees better looking and she wasn't already married, I'd ask her out to a picthur show. Then, if I knew the right six numbers, I could win tonight's lottery. Oh, Well. Click <a href="http://www.debralatham.com/">HERE</a> for a closer look at Debra and her artwork, much of it done in the Old Masters' style.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Thanks for putting up with another long blog...I'll le</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ave ya with a couple of shots of Pokey and TacoBelle in the bluebonnet</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">s </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and some ca</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">t and dog pictures. Cya down the road....James<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OCR4cZgI/AAAAAAAAC94/KcHPMKGCNi0/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600305346373122" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OCR4cZgI/AAAAAAAAC94/KcHPMKGCNi0/s400/IMG_0995.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OC_xPNlI/AAAAAAAAC-A/5ZTGjd8Ty6U/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600317664179794" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OC_xPNlI/AAAAAAAAC-A/5ZTGjd8Ty6U/s400/IMG_0998.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OXghuS-I/AAAAAAAAC-g/J0PSpAuO37U/s1600/image012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600670054861794" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OXghuS-I/AAAAAAAAC-g/J0PSpAuO37U/s400/image012.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OXc320JI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/CCE_wULAcxc/s1600/image010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600669073952914" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OXc320JI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/CCE_wULAcxc/s400/image010.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OWzfackI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/1_mKQytzoXA/s1600/image009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 306px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600657965576770" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OWzfackI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/1_mKQytzoXA/s400/image009.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OWpTWGEI/AAAAAAAAC-I/NvtSKRkjYrQ/s1600/image004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600655230605378" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S88OWpTWGEI/AAAAAAAAC-I/NvtSKRkjYrQ/s400/image004.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-45707425647779008082010-04-14T11:19:00.000-07:002010-04-14T14:07:25.505-07:00WTTW FLOWERS - BLUEBONNET FEST- RITA KIRKMAN- PAINT THE TOWN<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Spending every spare moment trying to g</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">et material ready and prepare for Burnet's Bluebonnet Festival, took me a</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">way from all sorts of things that needed to be done. So this blog post is overdue. And Windows to the Words is really gaining momentum with over a dozen sub</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">missions already for this month's "Flower Power" Challenge.</span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YI_BXtHWI/AAAAAAAAC4g/hiBMczRv9fw/s1600/angela+sullivan+almond.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YI_BXtHWI/AAAAAAAAC4g/hiBMczRv9fw/s400/angela+sullivan+almond.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460061477025946978" border="0" /></a><a href="http://angelasacrylics.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Angela Sullivan</span></span></span></span></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YI_rQrJNI/AAAAAAAAC4o/4EoUP8-12MY/s1600/magnolisa+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YI_rQrJNI/AAAAAAAAC4o/4EoUP8-12MY/s400/magnolisa+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460061488270746834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YI_rQrJNI/AAAAAAAAC4o/4EoUP8-12MY/s1600/magnolisa+resized.jpg"> </a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://jamesparkerart.blogspot.com/"><span> </span></a><span><a>James Parker</a></span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Above is my first submission for the challenge...Magnolia (my Mom's favorite subject) and Almond blossoms from Angela Sullivan. You can view these artworks on <a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com/">Windows to the Words Art.</a></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:100%;" > There is plenty of time remaining to send in your versions, and I would be honored to post them. I realize time constraints are a big consideration for all of us, but I presented some comments on challenges at the end of this month's <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/">Windows to the Words</a> Home page that I invite you to read and leave a comment.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">BLUEBONNE</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">T </span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">F</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ESTI</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">VAL</span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YO9SdA98I/AAAAAAAAC4w/OU9mh5EN08s/s1600/big+bluebonnet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 363px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YO9SdA98I/AAAAAAAAC4w/OU9mh5EN08s/s400/big+bluebonnet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460068044321650626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Burnet, Texas is officially designated as "The Bluebonnet Capital of Texas". It is no surprise that bluebonnets abound on all the roads leading to Burnet, and occur quite prolifically all around town. And they ARE beautiful. The 27th annual Bluebonnet Festival was this last weekend, a three day event with everything from an impressive air show to a weiner dog race. Over 30,000 folks attended under beautiful skies and mild temps, and I think everybody had a great time. I, and my sister, did well in the little</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> gallery/gift shop. Only problem was I over-ate big time...but I'm still craving just one more funnel cake.<br /></span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YSItRVyAI/AAAAAAAAC44/mW2KAaRqYRY/s1600/long+buggy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YSItRVyAI/AAAAAAAAC44/mW2KAaRqYRY/s400/long+buggy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460071539033884674" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Big Parade with Ant</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ique Car S</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">how</span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YSI_cLlTI/AAAAAAAAC5A/w1QUoCSwiY8/s1600/lonnie+and+the+blob.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YSI_cLlTI/AAAAAAAAC5A/w1QUoCSwiY8/s400/lonnie+and+the+blob.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460071543911191858" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lots of </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Visiti</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ng</span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YUq2x45jI/AAAAAAAAC5I/w5M7jBqJRY0/s1600/014356718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 253px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YUq2x45jI/AAAAAAAAC5I/w5M7jBqJRY0/s400/014356718.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460074324725130802" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lots of Rides and Concessions<br />I was gonna get some nice big blue balloons to decorate the gallery, but I couldn't find the balloon guy.<br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YXEjW9TZI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/wuCAopsUh6M/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YXEjW9TZI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/wuCAopsUh6M/s400/IMG_0955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460076965211753874" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">PEEPS<br />I took a jillion people picts in hopes of getting some good material for figurative painting</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> practice,</span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YYs7gHSoI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/bZh_-ETMLd0/s1600/securedownloadCAUILLHD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YYs7gHSoI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/bZh_-ETMLd0/s400/securedownloadCAUILLHD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460078758399003266" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Air Show, Weiner Dog Race, Pet Parade, Demolition Derby, and More</span><br />Here is a typical local observing one of the many events. He was overheard remarking, "Dang, seems like they'd invent something to keep the sun out of your eyes!"<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And A</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">RTISTS!!!!</span></span></span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YbN5jhwsI/AAAAAAAAC5g/Zjb2OYD0nOw/s1600/sliderHome_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YbN5jhwsI/AAAAAAAAC5g/Zjb2OYD0nOw/s400/sliderHome_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460081523835388610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YbONY08FI/AAAAAAAAC5o/DilDQM2quFY/s1600/IMG_0975.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YbONY08FI/AAAAAAAAC5o/DilDQM2quFY/s400/IMG_0975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460081529159217234" border="0" /></a></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.topnotchdrawings.com/">Top-Notch Drawings</a><br />John & Malia Gattas<br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I have alway been fascinated with caricatures and portraits. John amd Malia are at the very top of this art form. Located in New Braunfels, they attend shows and festivals, and, judging from this event...are highly in demand. I think they were the hardest working folks out there. always having a line of people waiting to take advantage of their exceptional talent and reasonable prices. Click <a href="http://www.topnotchdrawings.com/">HERE </a>to view more of their enchanting work.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YhXMiv9lI/AAAAAAAAC5w/o9Y8KGqq_98/s1600/Youngblood%27s%2520Portrait-%2520GUY.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YhXMiv9lI/AAAAAAAAC5w/o9Y8KGqq_98/s400/Youngblood%27s%2520Portrait-%2520GUY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460088280620987986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://www.guymorrowart.com/">Guy Morrow</a><br />Corpus Christi, Texas<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"> I had an opportunity to visit with Guy for a while, and was truly impressed, not only with his marvelous artwork, but his attitude and strength of character. Guy is a strong Christian, and has an intriguing story on his website (click <a href="http://www.guymorrowart.com/">HERE</a>). He ha</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">s won many awards and exhibitions and has had his work on d</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">isplay in the American Embassy in Moscow. Guy took the time to come b</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">y my gallery on Sunday, closing, and was gracious enough to </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">compliment my work...and was captured by a red-eyed tree frog painting which he purchased and took home with him. That made my week. A visit to his site is highly recommended.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paint The Town and <a href="http://ritakirkman.blogspot.com">RITA KIRKMAN</a><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This weekend, April 16, 17, & 18. Marble</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Falls will host its 5th Annual "Paint the Town" Plein Air Event with</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> silent auction. Over 60 accomplished artists are to participat</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">e. I don't think I'm accomplished unless that refers to munching down cheese pizzas, but I'm participating. And I'm terrified. This is </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">my first Plein Air, and I feel like a kindergarten kid in college Physics class. I'll let ya know how this goes...shudder, shudder.<br />One of the artists that will be in attendance is <a href="http://ritakirkman.blogspot.com">Rita Kirkman.</a><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YnikjqPRI/AAAAAAAAC54/50A6ilpiyL4/s1600/rita++kirkman.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YnikjqPRI/AAAAAAAAC54/50A6ilpiyL4/s400/rita++kirkman.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460095073115585810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YnjLdQJfI/AAAAAAAAC6A/sbGw7rGBgCA/s1600/imgbysize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YnjLdQJfI/AAAAAAAAC6A/sbGw7rGBgCA/s400/imgbysize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460095083557692914" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">I first met Rita at a Georgetown, Texas show some months back. I was blown away by the skill of her realism in pastels. I visited with her a while back then, and featured her on my Georgetown blog at that time. Rita has more accomplishments, awards, and recognitions than a double fudge sundae has calories. She has appeared in International Artist, American Artist, Artist's Magazine, Pastel Journal and Southwest Art. She is pictured above doing a portrait, and her award-winning "Bride's Maid" is shown below it. Artist Extraordinaire!!! And...the best thing about Rita is... As distinguished as her career has become, she's still a friendly ole' country girl...a true treasure.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> So I will be the proverbial "Babe in the Woods". I just hope I come back in one piece.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> Finally (I promise to blog shorter and more frequently in the future)....I mentioned a Pet Parade earlier, so I thought </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I'd leave ya with a couple of cool pet shots. Cya down the road. .................James<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YsRA_RmkI/AAAAAAAAC6I/4roBLpG_58U/s1600/ATT68755.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YsRA_RmkI/AAAAAAAAC6I/4roBLpG_58U/s400/ATT68755.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460100269068098114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YsRShwslI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/ZELnyz7pkns/s1600/dogsit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S8YsRShwslI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/ZELnyz7pkns/s400/dogsit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460100273776144978" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-35937720952895558812010-04-01T02:31:00.000-07:002010-04-01T05:21:49.852-07:00EACH FOLLOWER GETS A THOUSAND DOLLARS !!!<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I won the Texas Lottery, so in gratitude, I am sending each of my followers a thousand dollars and a half-</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">eaten Krispi Kreme Donut!!!<br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RoUfgMrqI/AAAAAAAACz4/bPiUR6suWe4/s1600/thosand+dollar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 457px; height: 183px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RoUfgMrqI/AAAAAAAACz4/bPiUR6suWe4/s400/thosand+dollar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455099749915733666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> OOPS. Did I say I won? I meant to say WHEN I win the lottery, I'll send my followers a thousand bucks. Tsk, tsk....my bad. However, if you send your name and address, I'll have that stale donut in the mail to you by next week. Any questions, check the date of this blog.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Now that's taken care of. On to the <a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">Flying </a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">Moleskins</a>. I have<a href="http://michelleburnettart.blogspot.com/"> Michelle Burnett's</a> sketchbook. Michelle's theme is loosely souvenirs, postcards, memories of youth, or whatever</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> odd</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ity </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">my warped little mind can concoct. Well, I watched a lot of TV whe</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">n I was a kid. We had 4 channels...ABC, NBC, CBS and Uni</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ve</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">rsity </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">of Houston Public. So I put some of my fav</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">orites in Michelle's journal. I suppose you notice that I am glued to the TV with a program that matches my I.Q.... the test pattern.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RsKtMpg1I/AAAAAAAAC0A/rhHRRa05ems/s1600/moleskins+entire.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 125px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RsKtMpg1I/AAAAAAAAC0A/rhHRRa05ems/s400/moleskins+entire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455103979839652690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RsKzfk55I/AAAAAAAAC0I/mL4K-Ln8_xw/s1600/moleskins+entire+%282%29+left.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RsKzfk55I/AAAAAAAAC0I/mL4K-Ln8_xw/s400/moleskins+entire+%282%29+left.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455103981529655186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RsLJAcRcI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/EPns9lyDjBk/s1600/moleskins+entire+%282%29+right.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RsLJAcRcI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/EPns9lyDjBk/s400/moleskins+entire+%282%29+right.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455103987304646082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:georgia;"> There were so many other shows that I didn't include...Mr. Wizard, Zoo Parade (Wild Kingdom later), Science Fiction Theater, Life of Reilly, Fibber McGee and Molley, Little Rascals, Outer Limits, My Little Margie, Our Miss Brooks, Superman, Wagon Train, Yancy Derringer, Cisco Kid, Rifleman, Captain Midnight, Sky King, What's My Line.... I could go on and on. I think I did OK on most of the depictions, but I definitely got the Gong Show Award on a couple of em. My sister said that was the best Obama caricature</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> she</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">'d seen...as she was studying The Twilight Zone with Rod Serling.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">And my </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">sincere apologies go out to the Roy Rogers family....Dale, Trigger, Pat Brady, Nellie Bell, Scout and whoever. I did Roy's face 27 times and still couldn't get it. He has so much acrylic paint on his nose, it's gonna cost two dollars more to send the journal. I started to put a mask on him and call him the Lone Ranger. Oh, well. It was fun, it is colorful, and maybe Michelle will like it.<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Windows to the Words Challenge</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Last Month's challenge was "For the Birds" and I received over 4o exceptional submissions. A couple are illust</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">rated below...</span></span></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RzZTlWp-I/AAAAAAAAC0Y/7zVmejw0uco/s1600/bluebird-oil-painting-m+faith+te.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RzZTlWp-I/AAAAAAAAC0Y/7zVmejw0uco/s400/bluebird-oil-painting-m+faith+te.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455111927243384802" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://artisticrealism.com/faithteblog"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Faith Te</span></span></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RzZlM8oCI/AAAAAAAAC0g/s43bC-NH4fA/s1600/dean+haven+hummer.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7RzZlM8oCI/AAAAAAAAC0g/s43bC-NH4fA/s400/dean+haven+hummer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455111931972853794" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://deanos-den.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Dean Haven</span></a><br /></div></div></div> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> You can view the rest of these great artworks by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com/">HERE.</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> And a couple more Moleskin related notes. <a href="http://adebanjialade.blogspot.com/">Adebanji Alade</a> had my sketchbook this month and created</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> two "Jolly Llamas"...ouch. You can see that work by clicking <a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/2010/03/adebanji-alade-peter-and-paul.html">HERE.</a> There are 4 or 5 ranches around Burnett that raise them. Llamas are qui</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">te docile...to the point of seeming b</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ored to have you around.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7R9r43SGEI/AAAAAAAAC0o/ltZ98k2NhZs/s1600/IMG_0919+%282%29llama+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7R9r43SGEI/AAAAAAAAC0o/ltZ98k2NhZs/s400/IMG_0919+%282%29llama+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455123241604618306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br />A few days ago, I was coming back from The Llano Art Guild's Annual Show (I received a Second place in water media and a First in miniatures) and spotted these grazing...so I stopped and </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">cameraized em. They just looked at me like they were saying "Unless You've Got Beer and Pizza, We Can't Be Bothered". Kinda reminds me or</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> what a buddy of mine from Colorado said about Texas. He said we should put signs at the state lines saying "Welcome to</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Texas. Leave your money and get the Hell out". Ah, what do Co</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">loradans know?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7R9sGiuzDI/AAAAAAAAC0w/OjT7YJQHgaw/s1600/llama+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7R9sGiuzDI/AAAAAAAAC0w/OjT7YJQHgaw/s400/llama+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455123245276515378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:georgia;"> And, my first journal assignment w</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">as <a href="http://angelaelledge.blogspot.com/">Angela Elledge's</a> sketchbook. in which I depicted a Texas scene co</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">mplete with "Bottle Tree". See it by clicking <a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/2010/02/james-parker-bottle-trees.html">HERE</a><a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/2010/02/james-parker-bottle-trees.html">.</a> I got several comments and E-Mails from folks who had never heard of such a thing, and thought I was making it up. I wasn't....they're kinda common arou</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">nd here. In fact, there's this place in Llano called "Tin Lizard" that sells bottle trees and related yard decor items.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7R9sWfC8SI/AAAAAAAAC04/w8cgn4NrNgk/s1600/bottle+tree+for+blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S7R9sWfC8SI/AAAAAAAAC04/w8cgn4NrNgk/s400/bottle+tree+for+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455123249556025634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> When you pass by, it's hard to keep </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">y</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">our eyes on the road, because you think The Land of Oz has just magically materialized on the side of the road. I took several photos of the place, but none do justice. I offered the intriguingly interesting elderly gentleman who owns the place to pose in the picture, but he replied "If I did that, the next thing ya know, I'd be swamped by all them glamour magazines wantin' pictures". Yeah, I know how he feels.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">HAVE A JOYOUS AND MEANINGFUL EASTER !!!!!!</span><br /></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-56030676886352730872010-03-20T03:49:00.000-07:002010-03-20T06:21:54.823-07:00Challenges - Marilyn Rea Nasky - Perception<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6SpF8AulGI/AAAAAAAACxw/JKGojtXSaP4/s1600-h/big+horn+sheeep+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6SpF8AulGI/AAAAAAAACxw/JKGojtXSaP4/s400/big+horn+sheeep+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450667368498762850" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <a href="http://gkeimigart.blogspot.com/">Gary Keimig</a> is one excellent artist. <a href="http://gkeimigart.blogspot.com/">Gary Keimig</a> is also one photographer extraordinaire. A couple of weeks ago, Gary posted this photo of a bighorn sheep on his blog. <a href="http://sheilatajima.blogspot.com/"> </a><a href="http://sheilatajima.blogspot.com/">Sheila Tajima</a>, who is always 3 steps up on everything, spotted this and asked Gary if she could paint it. <a href="http://deanos-den.blogspot.com/">Dean Haven</a> followed closely behi</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">nd and asked if he could paint it. Brin</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ging up the rear, I finally found it a</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">nd wanted to paint it.</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6SpGuyH76I/AAAAAAAACx4/_QybJtueMYY/s1600-h/mountain+goat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6SpGuyH76I/AAAAAAAACx4/_QybJtueMYY/s400/mountain+goat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450667382127718306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> And so I did and that's it above. Gary got so many submissions he dedicated part of his Daily Painting blog to posting them, and you can view them by clicking <a href="http://gary-keimig.blogspot.com/">HERE</a>. Gary is considering a monthly wildlife challenge, and I think it's a GREAT idea.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://michelleburnettart.blogspot.com/">Michelle Burnett's</a> challenge, <a href="http://followingthemasters.blogspot.com/">Following the Masters</a>, called for renditions of artwork from the Italian</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Renaissance Masters. I chose Raphael with a portion of The Mad</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">onn</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">a i</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">n the Sistine Chapel...the two little cherubs at the bottom of that piece. </span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6Sug1zqodI/AAAAAAAACyA/vN8BMQm2M3M/s1600-h/n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6Sug1zqodI/AAAAAAAACyA/vN8BMQm2M3M/s400/n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450673328247972306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> The expressions on the faces of these two lead me to believe that Raphael had quite a sense of humor. These little cherubs have captured the fancy of today's society and are featured on cards, posters, and even U.S. Postage stamps. Just what are they thinking? Well, it probably isn't Peter Pan and TinkerBell, but that's what I had in mind.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">MARILYN REA NASKY<br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">There are some wonderful Texas artists in the blog community..<a href="http://v-vaughan.com/">.Virginia Vaughan</a>, <a href="http://nancymedinaart.blogspot.com/">Nancy Medina</a>, <a href="http://gwenbellsdailypainting.blogspot.com/">Gwen Bell</a>, <a href="http://dlaruemahlke.com/">Denise Larue Mahlke</a>, <a href="http://angelaelledge.blogspot.com/">Angela Elledge</a>, <a href="http://imaramblingal.blogspot.com/">Camille Olsen</a>, <a href="http://karenhargettsfineartjournal.blogspot.com/">Karen Hargett</a> to name just a few. Marilyn Rea Nasky is a talented, established artist from Volente, Texas, who is just getting her feet wet in the blog forum. I was fortunate to attend her recent acrylic demonstration</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> at the <a href="http://highlandartsguild.org/">Highland Arts Guild</a> in Marble Falls. Aside from showing us some helpful techniques and tips, she conveyed a delightful sense of humor and flair in personality. I was able to chat with her a while, and mentioned viewing her main website and events blog. I told her about the camaraderie and "sense of family" existing in our blog community at Blo</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">gspot...</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">a laid back and easy format that is fun, informative and functional. So she has just begun a more informal blogspot which you can go to by clicking<a href="http://marilynreanaskyart.blogspot.com/"> HERE.</a><br />Marilyn has spent some years living in The Southwest teaching and reaching out in the Navajo culture. Th</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">e last few years she and her family have been on Oahu in Hawaii. She now makes her home over by Lake Travis and devotes her painting talents to the sights and scenes of the Texas Hill Country. I have presente</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">d two of her works below...<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6S1IgkNNBI/AAAAAAAACyI/Iio24bNHdeM/s1600-h/moon+dance+1+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6S1IgkNNBI/AAAAAAAACyI/Iio24bNHdeM/s400/moon+dance+1+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450680606810518546" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6S1IgkNNBI/AAAAAAAACyI/Iio24bNHdeM/s1600-h/moon+dance+1+%282%29.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Moon Dance 1</span></span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >22 x 30 Watercolor<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6S1I3l2tqI/AAAAAAAACyQ/iNReN8QO4aE/s1600-h/agave+midnight+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 344px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6S1I3l2tqI/AAAAAAAACyQ/iNReN8QO4aE/s400/agave+midnight+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450680612991448738" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Agave Midnight (from the Agave series)<br />20 x 20 Chroma Acrylic on Canvas<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;">You can learn more about Marilyn and view her stunning works at <a href="http://lightwithinstudios.com/">Light Within Studios</a> and <a href="http://inthestudiowithmarilynreanasky.com/"> </a><a href="http://inthestudiowithmarilynreanasky.com/">In the Studio with Marilyn Rea Nasky.</a></span></span></span></span><br /></div></div></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">PERCEPTION<br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I could write a thousand pages on perception and not even expose the tip of the iceberg on that subject. It is sai</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">d that what we perceive is what we believe...and for the most part, that's true. The catch is that what we sometimes perceive isn't always true. <a href="http://edwardburtonpaintings.blogspot.com/">Edward Burton</a> send me this gag pho</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">to a while back. It illustrates the point.</span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6S56eE8atI/AAAAAAAACyY/AxieypQ0Uuk/s1600-h/arm+butt.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 349px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S6S56eE8atI/AAAAAAAACyY/AxieypQ0Uuk/s400/arm+butt.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450685863182494418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Study this photo for just a moment...particularly the area just below the camera. Your first perception might be "Ohmigosh, that girl in the back isn't wearing any panties!!!" Well, you perceived wrong...it's the camera girl's armpit. How we perceive things has always been a fascination to me, such as DaVinci's "Last Supper". We have, over the years, taken the artwork at face value as an honored religious painting, when there are a multitude of "quirks" embedded within it that we don't perceive, simply because we are looking at it as a whole composition, rather than a amalgamate of smaller, individual artworks. But...that's another story for another blog.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Cya down the road....... James</span><br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span></div></div>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-79562260933794508902010-03-16T06:17:00.000-07:002010-03-16T07:09:12.143-07:00Bountiful Birds and SPRING!!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-Fmv_3l5I/AAAAAAAACw0/W5KunPtdaEc/s1600-h/my+hummer+wttw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-Fmv_3l5I/AAAAAAAACw0/W5KunPtdaEc/s400/my+hummer+wttw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449220974907463570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-FlxQRBiI/AAAAAAAACws/boGwHDsPWak/s1600-h/my+bluebird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-FlxQRBiI/AAAAAAAACws/boGwHDsPWak/s400/my+bluebird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449220958064805410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Pictured above are two more of my contributions to <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/">Windows to the Words March challenge.</a>... "For the Birds". This challenge is the "most attended" one yet...with over 30 entries. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">And the artworks are great!!!</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Like this one by <a href="http://karenhargettsfineartjournal.blogspot.com/">Karen Hargett. </a>You can view more enchanting bird works by clicking<a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com/"> HERE</a><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-HkoB47uI/AAAAAAAACw8/J8fJMg33Wmg/s1600-h/Robin046+hargett.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-HkoB47uI/AAAAAAAACw8/J8fJMg33Wmg/s400/Robin046+hargett.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449223137431973602" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Deadline for entries to this challenge (contest...there are prizes) is April 1... so there's still plenty of time, and your work is very welcome.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> I'm finishing up a couple of commissions and working on<a href="http://followingthemasters.blogspot.com/"> Michelle Burnett's "Following the Masters</a>" and <a href="http://gkeimigart.blogspot.com">Gary Keimig's "Wildlife" </a>challenges... so a short blog (<span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">was that a sigh of relief<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">).?<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> But the sights and sounds and smells of S</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">pring are popping up all over.... as you can see by the followi</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">ng:</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-LWN7wlBI/AAAAAAAACxE/RQC6OvIlhWY/s1600-h/puppy+with+spade.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-LWN7wlBI/AAAAAAAACxE/RQC6OvIlhWY/s400/puppy+with+spade.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449227287955280914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The neighbor's dog is ready to help out in the garden</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-MOOTjjhI/AAAAAAAACxU/unl70HBf7vQ/s1600-h/theeye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-MOOTjjhI/AAAAAAAACxU/unl70HBf7vQ/s400/theeye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449228250127765010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">The geese are flying North (the strange flight formation is the geese' way of saying "Luv ya, Texas</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">....Cya nex</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">t year</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">"</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-MOY7ggKI/AAAAAAAACxc/plF1ntMooJM/s1600-h/peeking.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 257px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5-MOY7ggKI/AAAAAAAACxc/plF1ntMooJM/s400/peeking.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449228252979691682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">And, as the poet said... "In Spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns..."<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cya down the road..... James</span></span><br /></span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-15532469339064134302010-03-10T04:08:00.000-08:002010-03-10T05:51:40.709-08:00Going to Peaces<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eNiHObrKI/AAAAAAAACt0/krN4hJKM6Ro/s1600-h/camille%27s+journal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eNiHObrKI/AAAAAAAACt0/krN4hJKM6Ro/s400/camille%27s+journal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446977891522555042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:georgia;"> This is my addition to <a href="http://imaramblingal.blogspot.com">Camille Olsen</a>'s journal for <a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com">the Flying Moleskins</a> project. Camille's theme is Peace. At first I was stumped about what to paint to depict Peace. I could see John and Yoko riding on Cat Stevens "Peace Train" singing "Give Peace A Chance"...but after I thought about it for a few seconds I couldn't see it. With my warped sense of humor, I started to get a can of green peas, throw em in a blender, paint em, and call it "Envision Whirled Peas". Fortunately, that one didn't stay afloat either. So I just started painting witho</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">ut a notion of what I was doing and finished it without a notion of wha</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">t I did. That's it above...a potpourri of Peace stuff...peaceful scene, a dove, a peace lily, a peace symbol, and a Peace rose. Unless you </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">mistake the fall foliage for a major forest</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> fire, the painting's not too bad.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eT5e6r1mI/AAAAAAAACt8/nTdmSBAG7VY/s1600-h/my+wood+thrush.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eT5e6r1mI/AAAAAAAACt8/nTdmSBAG7VY/s400/my+wood+thrush.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446984890088937058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> With a flying start, this month's <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com">Window to the Words</a> Challenge, "For The Birds", took off faster than a beagle on a pork chop. There's already over a dozen talented entries which you can view by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com">HERE</a>. My rendition of a wood thrush is pictu</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">red above. Birds seems to be a very popular theme, maybe because Spring is busting out all over, but my </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">birdseed bill is sky-high.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eWQguEFVI/AAAAAAAACuE/E_mBiCmKChQ/s1600-h/woodpecker.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eWQguEFVI/AAAAAAAACuE/E_mBiCmKChQ/s400/woodpecker.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446987484733117778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" > <span style="font-family:georgia;"> And, if you're a bird affecianado, check out the "Incredible Bird Photos" like the one of a woodpecker, above, on "WOW - Windows of Wonders" by clicking <a href="http://windowsofwonders.blogspot.com/2010/03/21-birds-beyond-belief.html">HERE.</a><br /><br /> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">There are three other new posts on WOW...one on "The Shoppers of Wal-Mart", which I wouldn't recommend if you don't like nightmares and having dark, disturbing doubts about the future of mankind. But...the post of "Forever Friends" is a delightfully touching story of a real "odd couple" who found life and h</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">appiness in each other. Your kids and g</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">randkids would love this one. The photo below shows the two, and you can view their story by clicking <a href="http://windowsofwonders.blogspot.com/2010/03/18-friends-forever.html">HERE.</a><br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eZ-K0URkI/AAAAAAAACuM/M41WhiufBps/s1600-h/ff2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5eZ-K0URkI/AAAAAAAACuM/M41WhiufBps/s400/ff2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446991567662630466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" > And Don't Miss This One...It is truly incredible...STREET PAINTING!!<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The photo below is NOT a photo trick...that street is painted!! check it out by clicking <a href="http://windowsofwonders.blogspot.com/2010/03/now-this-is-street-art.html">HERE.</a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5ebU2C77yI/AAAAAAAACuU/bEPqA0XslEw/s1600-h/painted+on+street.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S5ebU2C77yI/AAAAAAAACuU/bEPqA0XslEw/s400/painted+on+street.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446993056735424290" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I am a big kid. I get up each morning, eager to see what new wonders might be waiting. I revel in finding new things, seeing new stuff, making new friends and cherishing old ones, My soul and spirit is strengthened by humor, uplifted by beauty and inspiration, tempered by compassion and sorrow, and defined by that mixture. I like to share that recipe, and that's the reason I started <a href="http://windowsofwonders.blogspot.com">WOW...Windows of Wonders</a>. I invite you to join me as I post the weird, the funny, the beautiful, the inspiring, the touching, the awesome and everything in between</span></span>.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cya down the road.......James</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-22532469633135611622010-02-28T18:06:00.000-08:002010-02-28T20:00:36.997-08:00Project Bluebonnet - Kids and Pets<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Boy, I stayed away from this blog so long, I almost forgot how to do it.<br />Unfortunately for you guys, I happened to remember. I sowwy. I've been so busy trying to eke out a meager ex</span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">istence...well, you know.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4siRleQ1WI/AAAAAAAAChg/slcKPjaTQZw/s1600-h/blonde+girl+and+dog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 316px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443482260119541090" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4siRleQ1WI/AAAAAAAAChg/slcKPjaTQZw/s400/blonde+girl+and+dog.jpg" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4siRW1ViGI/AAAAAAAAChY/EMmwB9nxZAk/s1600-h/dirty+little+boy+and+dog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443482256189786210" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4siRW1ViGI/AAAAAAAAChY/EMmwB9nxZAk/s400/dirty+little+boy+and+dog.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Windows to the Words February Challenge wound up with some delightful submissions which you can view by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewordsart.blogspot.com/">HERE </a></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Above are two more of my submissions. While I was doing these here in my gallery/studio, I was observed and I picked up some commissions. And these paintings will serve perfectly as examples for obtaining more commissions whenever and wherever I go to paint or display. When I started Windows to the Words Challenge, I purposefully proposed to offer mainly universal themes...som</span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">eth</span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ing of interest for most folks. That way, what was painted by contributing artists might be used for sales or gifts. WTTW is basically for fun, fellowship and a smidgen of challenge... not for skill developm</span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ent. Kids, animals and nature is the meat and potatoes of WTTW. I enjoy painting Kids, animals and nature...and I enjoy eating meat and potatoes. And I hold fast to the belief, that, if you enjoy doing something, you do well at it...and, if you try painting something new, you can learn wonders about your talent. So paint with joy from the heart, and send your doubts and critics to vacation in Iran. I promise you won't see any city rooftops and taxicabs on WTTW ( Karin...forgive me)<br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)">March's WTTW Challenge is a contest (B-b-big prizes!!!!) and it's for the birds...actually the topic is "FOR THE BIRDS". Below is a sample reference photo, but go to <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/">WTTW</a> for a</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)">ll the grisly details...and my corny little poem.</span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4sssOd1ORI/AAAAAAAACho/TZaNUxrjN0U/s1600-h/IMG_0880+%282%29.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443493712916461842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4sssOd1ORI/AAAAAAAACho/TZaNUxrjN0U/s400/IMG_0880+%282%29.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><br /><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">THE <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">BLUEBONNET</span> PROJECT!!!!!</span><br /><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">A few blogs back, I had the Legend of the Bluebonnet painting and poem I did featured. Well, I went ahead and ordered a bunch of greeting cards with the art on the front and the verse on the inside, left, with envelopes. I made up some headers and got acrylic display stands. I placed some in local shops.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4stAxA4XgI/AAAAAAAAChw/GUlBERAx16Y/s1600-h/IMG_0883+%282%29.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443494065787657730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4stAxA4XgI/AAAAAAAAChw/GUlBERAx16Y/s400/IMG_0883+%282%29.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br />They're gone...but I've ordered another 500. Put in some more shops, antique stores, motels, etc. Point of purchase items....and I have my fingers crossed (and praying) that it will catch on. My goal is to have them in 100+ Texas locations by the end of April. It gets my name "out there", and, in quantity, maybe a bit in the bank. If it works, I'll follow with other art and poetry cards on the "Texas Theme"...the Alamo. Lone Star, San Jacinto, Tejas Indians, ZZ</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> TOP...Texas institutions. I'll keep ya posted, but if ya want one signed an</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">d numbered (who knows...I may be the next Andy Warthog?)<br />then send a buck and a stamp to me...208 E. Jackson, Burnet, Texas 78611. Shameless, huh? Well take </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">a look at my piggy bank, below.</span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4stdKTF-4I/AAAAAAAACh4/jr1hYyR7mU0/s1600-h/e6ursyhersgtsegfs+%282%29.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443494553611271042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4stdKTF-4I/AAAAAAAACh4/jr1hYyR7mU0/s400/e6ursyhersgtsegfs+%282%29.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,153)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,51,51)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">And, finally...Burnet is a quiet little town with lots of old folks. LOTS of old folks. In the barber shop, they talk about how rough it was back in the Civil War. Most cars are travelling at half the speed limit in a 20 mph zone. Supermarket specials focus on prune juice and Depends. BUT...BUT..Burnet DOES have its own BIKER BAR!!!! And I have pictured it below....</span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4swILb4vmI/AAAAAAAACiA/na_SNPDg08s/s1600-h/securedownload.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443497491674218082" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S4swILb4vmI/AAAAAAAACiA/na_SNPDg08s/s400/securedownload.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-family:georgia;">CYA down the Road........James</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-87771138949726359062010-02-14T20:00:00.000-08:002010-02-15T12:19:39.384-08:00Dear Liz Holm Deer - Karin Jurick x 118 - Parker Boy Goes R-Rated - Black Eye Anyone?<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">When I checked out <a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">The Flying Moleskin</a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">s</a> blog Valentine's day my heart was swept away by seeing what <a href="http://lizholm.blogspot.com/">Liz Holm</a> (the big sweetie!) painted in my art journal....TWO...that's right, 2, remarkable wildlife paintings. One is of a little horse that is enchanting. The other depicts a deer and a rabbit who have developed a relat</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">ionship that epitomizes "The Way Things Should Be", and I have featured it below... and I have entitled it "Bunny Buddy". It shows that the humbl</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">est and gentlest of God's creatures demonstrate more sense, kno</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">wledge and wisdom than our world leaders....and, actually more th</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">an</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> most of us, too. Liz remarked that it would be nice if we could follow that example of 'GETTING ALON</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">G". Which gave me pause to think that maybe God did provide the instructions to living together in harmony</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> ...by examples set forth in nature, like Liz's illustration. But we're too busy NOT GETTING ALONG to notice. I beg you to click <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=mnox0YM9pWQ">HERE</a> or Liz's art to watch a video of a fawn, c</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">at and bunny that is so appropriate for this artwork....and will give you a "warm, fuzzy feeling" regardless of how cold it is outside. And...if you like th</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">e message....pass it on.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=mnox0YM9pWQ"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438335185331201618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 191px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jZCZssplI/AAAAAAAACeo/WlfLahZnBDU/s400/moleskine_deerbunny_web.png" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">I like art challenges. Sometimes I s</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">pend </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">more time with art challenges than I do with "Painting for Dollars". This could be why, when I open my pantry, I see three bags of ramen noodles and a can of vienna sausage. But that's another story. <a href="http://michelleburnettart.blogspot.com/">Michelle Burnett</a><a href="http://michelleburnettart.blogspot.com/"> </a>(another big sweetie) has a neat challenge ...<a href="http://followingthemasters.blogspot.com/">"Following the Masters"</a>. This month we followed Robert Henri. Robert Henri bega</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">n a movement of realism in the art world that was snubbed and shunned by "The Art Elite" of the time. They referred to his work and tha</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">t</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> of his peers as "Ashcan Art". What Bozos. Anyway, Michelle invited ar</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">tists to do a rendition of one of his works or be inspired by his work. His subject matter</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"> is quite varied, ranging </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);">from dirty street scenes to female nudes. When given a choice between dirty street scenes and delightful young maidens sharing their physical attributes...well...you Know what a dirty old geezer like me is gonna opt for. DUH, kinda a no-brainer. Below is Henri's "The Young Girl" and my rendition, "The Hot Chick"</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jWn3SAn_I/AAAAAAAACeQ/7-OkIkKOUvk/s1600-h/The-Young-Girl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438332530392604658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 307px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jWn3SAn_I/AAAAAAAACeQ/7-OkIkKOUvk/s400/The-Young-Girl.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jXTi7vIVI/AAAAAAAACeY/njPYv1VZWBs/s1600-h/ftm+feb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438333280844718418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 314px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jXTi7vIVI/AAAAAAAACeY/njPYv1VZWBs/s400/ftm+feb.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Windows to the Words is MY chall</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">enge blo</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">g. This month's challenge is "Kids and Their Pets...Matching Sets". The submissions I have received are marvelous...but lonely. Very lone</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">ly.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> They need your submission. It can be a sketch..a pen & ink...a painting...a pastel...your prerogative. It is so very sad to see a glum artwork, so cheer them up and send your rendition by the first of March (plenty of time left). Just click <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/">HERE </a>or the little girl looking out the window for all </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438336853316110850" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 158px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jajfbSigI/AAAAAAAACe4/vvI_6EJ-OQQ/s200/little+girl+%282%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">the details.<br />My first submission for my WT</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">TW is sho</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">wn below.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jVetTV5_I/AAAAAAAACeI/QZeHgOV3sj0/s1600-h/kidpet+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438331273583388658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 319px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jVetTV5_I/AAAAAAAACeI/QZeHgOV3sj0/s400/kidpet+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><a href="http://jillpolsby.blogspot.com/">Jill Polsby</a> came up with a grand idea of showing appreciation of participating artists in <a href="http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/">Kari</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">n Jurick</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><a href="http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/">'s Different Strokes</a> From Diffferent Folks by having them submit a portrait of Karin. Out of 18o artists who participated in Karin's yea</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">r-end portrait challenge, over 100 responded to Jill's proposal. My not-so-hot attempt is displayed below. To see some really good portraits go to Jill's site by clicking <a href="http://jillpolsby.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> and follow the link.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jUg5JUF3I/AAAAAAAACeA/EP1xj_l_cmo/s1600-h/karin+jurick.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438330211610662770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 309px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jUg5JUF3I/AAAAAAAACeA/EP1xj_l_cmo/s400/karin+jurick.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jYEcmXemI/AAAAAAAACeg/QKXDUUjHKQM/s1600-h/original+karin10dsp100%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438334120958065250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 316px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3jYEcmXemI/AAAAAAAACeg/QKXDUUjHKQM/s400/original+karin10dsp100%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Have a Happy Valentine's Day, and Cya down the road ....James</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-72398435167807309592010-02-11T04:51:00.000-08:002010-02-11T06:23:07.044-08:00EIGHT GRANDBOYS!!! Flying Moleskins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3P-g5-oq7I/AAAAAAAACdA/mEuJDom8vBA/s1600-h/boedy+luv.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436969016439122866" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 111px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3P-g5-oq7I/AAAAAAAACdA/mEuJDom8vBA/s200/boedy+luv.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3P-UNrPeGI/AAAAAAAACc4/XPLRR6oVCJg/s1600-h/bodey+saints.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436968798388189282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3P-UNrPeGI/AAAAAAAACc4/XPLRR6oVCJg/s200/bodey+saints.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Boedy Parker Weldon<br /></span></span></span></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">My youngest daughter, Traci, and her husband, Mark, are both teachers in Louisiana. After Traci got tired of folks referring to her as the Goodyear Blimp, Boedy came alo</span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">ng F</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:130%;" >riday, February 5, weighing in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Both are doing great, but Mark is still in recovery. Traci and Mark are big New Orleans Saints fans, and, as you can see with Boedy's cap...he's one of their newest fans. Actually, I think Traci had his arrival planned so he could watch the Super Bowl. And...you can also see he already loves his Granddad. Yup...EIGHT grandsons...NO granddaughters.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3QB3HzhH1I/AAAAAAAACdQ/GmO022YB8go/s1600-h/moles+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436972696642592594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3QB3HzhH1I/AAAAAAAACdQ/GmO022YB8go/s400/moles+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3QB3HzhH1I/AAAAAAAACdQ/GmO022YB8go/s1600-h/moles+2.jpg"> </a><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">The Flying Moleskins</a> is a sketchbook project originated by <a href="http://artbydominiqueeichi.blogspot.com/">Dominique Eichi</a>. Thirteen artists provided their own sketchbook, did an art piece in it, and sent it to the next artist who will do an art and send it on until it returns home to the original artist who will have a priceless keepsake of treasured art from their peer artists. I received <a href="http://angelaelledge.blogspot.com/">Angela Elledge's </a>sketchbook a few weeks ago, and, her theme being PLACES, I did a scene in Acrylics of a portion of my niece and her husband's yard. It depicts two "Bottle Trees" and some other plants and stuff in their yard. Texans have great imaginations for doing stuff with things that nobody else would do (or want to do). Trees...when Texans aren't hanging hoss thieves or people that put beans in their chili, from trees...or crashing their pickups into em...or barbecuing something with trees...they hang bottles on em, naturally. Indian tradition holds that evil spirits are trapped in the bottles. Texas Baptists contend that the evil spirits are in the bottles when th</span></span></span></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,102,0)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;">ey're full. Whatever. Now this sketchbook flies out to <a href="http://lizholm.blogspot.com/">Liz Holm</a>, and I'll anxiously await the next one. Great Project!!!<br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,51,204)"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Windows to the Words Art Challenge (click <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/">HERE</a> for reference photos) features kids and their pets. The challenge runs til March 1...plenty of time to submit an artwork. Below is another delightful contribution....</span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span><br /></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3QOlhrpOZI/AAAAAAAACdY/aAX8Ow46jR4/s1600-h/kids-and-pets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436986688002406802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3QOlhrpOZI/AAAAAAAACdY/aAX8Ow46jR4/s400/kids-and-pets.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://artichauhan.blogspot.com/"><br /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://artichauhan.blogspot.com/">Arti Chauhan</a><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,51,153)">11 x 14 Watercolor</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S3QOlhrpOZI/AAAAAAAACdY/aAX8Ow46jR4/s1600-h/kids-and-pets.jpg"><object class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-FAILED" height="266" width="320" contentid="FAILED"></object></a>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-6255400326066313662010-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:002010-02-01T08:13:43.383-08:00TEXAS - Bluebonnet Venture - BURNET<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2WsKYvVNII/AAAAAAAACZo/H1xAdANyo7k/s1600-h/3d16cf1d56f1ee80.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 122px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2WsKYvVNII/AAAAAAAACZo/H1xAdANyo7k/s400/3d16cf1d56f1ee80.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432937819932013698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I'm a native Texan. Some folks would consider that an excuse. But, me, and man</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">y (millions?) of other fellow Texans consider it an honor, a privilege, and a proud heritage.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Texans have a strange habit. When somet</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">hing... a word, or a thing, or a person...or a</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">nything, comes to be identified with Texas,<br />then Texans w</span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2WxufviaMI/AAAAAAAACZw/5u0CHHd3zSM/s1600-h/bush+miss+me.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2WxufviaMI/AAAAAAAACZw/5u0CHHd3zSM/s200/bush+miss+me.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432943937845356738" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ill attach and hold on to it with a savage tenacity...in a sense, they will "brand" it as their own. There are exceptions, of course, like Dr. Phil, Janet Reno, and</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> J.R. Ewing. OK, J.R.s not so bad. But you mention the Alamo, jalap</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">enos, chili, The Lone Star, roadrunners, George W ?, or Z.Z. Top...then you have a genuine Texas item...treasure or oddity. And so </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">it is with the Texas bluebonnet...the state flower of Texas.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The Legend of </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">the Blue</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">bon</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">net<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2W0hCRv3gI/AAAAAAAACZ4/SBXOSSyk9IY/s1600-h/bluebonnets.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2W0hCRv3gI/AAAAAAAACZ4/SBXOSSyk9IY/s400/bluebonnets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432947005132365314" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I posted this last year after I painted it. My sister had wanted a painting like this which is based on an old folklore tale called "The Legend of the Bluebonnet".<br />Well, The Texas Bluebonnet festival is coming up here in Burnet in April, and I am "re-producing" her painting and hoping to improve on some aspects of it. She, and several of my friends, read my poems on Every PhotoTells A Story and wanted me to write a poem telling the st</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ory of "The Legend Of the Bluebonnet." So I did. And I printed it below. They liked it, and we're working with some other folks to get note cards and prints done that incorporate both the painting and the poem, in hopes of having them ready for sale at the Bluebonnet Festival, in addition to future Texas gift shop sales...if there shows promise. What do you think?<br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">For many months, an evil wind,<br />Swept across the land,<br />The skies held back the living rain,<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">And turned </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">meadows into sand.<br /><br />Antelope and buffalo,<br />Wandered off and died,<br />The tribe was deep in peril,<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Oh, help us," mothers cried.<br /><br />The Shaman had a vision.<br />The Great Spirit from Beyond,<br />Sent a message for the people,<br />To say what must</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> be done.<br /><br />"The things that you hold precious,<br />The things that you hold dear,<br />Must fuel a fire of humility,<br />For your greed that's grown so clear."<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The great chief's daughter heard this,<br />And sadly went her way,<br />To fetch her beloved "doll-child"<br />Made from feathers of</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> the BlueJay.<br /><br />The "doll-child" was a gift to her,<br />When she was one year old,<br />From Grandmother who has gone away,<br />That she loved with all her soul.<br /><br />That night when all were sleeping,<br />She crept out to the blaze,<br />And placed the "doll-child" in it,<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Tears streaking </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">her young face.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Next morn she scooped gray ashes,<br />Of her bright, blue-feathered friend,<br />Then brought them to the mountaintop,<br />And let them scatter to the wind.<br /><br />Sweet drops of rain began to fall,<br />And kiss the sun-parched earth,<br />Plants burst forth in showy blooms,<br />A celebration of re-birth.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bluebonnets spread cross Texas,<br />In the meadows, growing wild,<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">As a reminder of that gift so great,<br />The love of a little child.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">------</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">James Parker<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://burnetchamber.org/">Burnet, Texas...Bluebonnet Capital of Texas</a><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> The sec</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">o</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">nd weekend in April, (<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">April 9 - 11</span>) for 3 days, is the Texas Bluebonnet Festival in Burnet.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://burnetchamber.org/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 53px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2W_ncfXqGI/AAAAAAAACag/Pu_dOV9_s_0/s200/burnet2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432959209875941474" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Las</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">t year, about 25,000 attended. This year's event looks to be a good o</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ne, too. Burnet is a picturesque, historical city and you can find out more about Burnet and The Bluebonnet Festival by clicking <a href="http://burnetchamber.org/">HERE.</a> The city of Burnet was designated by the Texas legislature as "Bluebonnet Capital of Texas" so...if my little poem and painting </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">n</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">otecard</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2W_BuCVWVI/AAAAAAAACaY/znWjlwJ9uDg/s1600-h/riverwalk3c.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 123px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2W_BuCVWVI/AAAAAAAACaY/znWjlwJ9uDg/s200/riverwalk3c.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432958561750964562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">s and prints have any fu</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">ture </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">success...Burnet is a good birth place for that venture. And...if you find your boots walking around Burnet...stop in James Parker Art Gallery....coffee's on.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And, Finally.......<br /><br /></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2W97BTiMmI/AAAAAAAACaQ/I4TBBOupPrc/s1600-h/sat+texas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 187px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S2W97BTiMmI/AAAAAAAACaQ/I4TBBOupPrc/s400/sat+texas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432957347152671330" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Satellite Picture of Texas from Space</span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Cya down the road................ James</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-33905232136702534412010-01-18T11:27:00.000-08:002010-01-18T14:33:15.569-08:00Flying Moleskins - WTTW - Music to Paint by<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <a href="http://artbydominiqueeichi.blogspot.com/">Dominique Eichi </a>had a bright idea a</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> while back...to form a small group of artists and begin a travelling sketchbook project. So she did, and it kicks off today...<a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">THE FLYING MOL</a></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">ESKINS (click here) </a>There's a little over a dozen of us who got a sketchbook, did a little work of art in it, and will pass it on to the next artist. At the end of the circular journey, each of us will have our own journal, f</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">illed with the work of our</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> fellow artists...a treasured memento. Below</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">is the cover from my sketchbook...<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1S8mCh-BxI/AAAAAAAACXw/zYDrmGX01zc/s1600-h/journal+resized.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1S8mCh-BxI/AAAAAAAACXw/zYDrmGX01zc/s400/journal+resized.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428170812588689170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >And, my theme is wildlife, and this is my send-off artwork....</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1S9RQT7M0I/AAAAAAAACX4/9RLFnq2NPk4/s1600-h/jour+pic+resize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1S9RQT7M0I/AAAAAAAACX4/9RLFnq2NPk4/s400/jour+pic+resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428171555022254914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> The first submission for the current Windows to the Words Challenge "Kids & Their Pets...Matching Sets" is from<a href="http://artwithliz.blogspot.com/"> Liz Pearson</a>, from South Africa, called "Puppy Love", and here it is...<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1S-rBGFz1I/AAAAAAAACYA/oH6c_0ebbA8/s1600-h/Puppy_Love1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1S-rBGFz1I/AAAAAAAACYA/oH6c_0ebbA8/s400/Puppy_Love1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428173097125924690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> And Back to the Flying Moleskins. <a href="http://edwardburtonpaintings.blogspot.com/">Edward Burton </a>chose "Music" as his theme and painting a magnificent Jazz artwork (see it by clicking HERE). Ed says he has the tunes going all the time while he's painting. I do too. I was wondering how many of you all out there, listen to music as you work? Leave a comment and let us know what you listen to. Would be interesting.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">Most of the time I listen to The Moody Blues. But three of my favorites are Enya, Yanni, and Enigma. And I </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">h</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">ave (hopefully) attached a selection from each of them. If you have a chance, lend me an ear. Lemme know what you think. Click on the Names.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1TC9a97R_I/AAAAAAAACYI/topfRc2gVPw/s1600-h/enya.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 115px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1TC9a97R_I/AAAAAAAACYI/topfRc2gVPw/s400/enya.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428177811355158514" border="0" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=jV-R5B9OisA"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Enya - Only Time</span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1TC9qKz0NI/AAAAAAAACYQ/iH4fCVk547c/s1600-h/yanni.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 115px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1TC9qKz0NI/AAAAAAAACYQ/iH4fCVk547c/s400/yanni.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428177815435727058" border="0" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=TKlkw2dCGn0"><br /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=TKlkw2dCGn0"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Yanni - Nostalgia</span></span></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1TC9xCx5JI/AAAAAAAACYY/ixC9VxNcF0Y/s1600-h/enigma.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 115px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S1TC9xCx5JI/AAAAAAAACYY/ixC9VxNcF0Y/s400/enigma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428177817281094802" border="0" /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?V=4F9DxYhqmKw"><br /></a><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=4F9DxYhqmKw"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">Enigma - Sadeness</span></span></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" > Cya down the Road.................... James</span><br /></div></div>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8195128942942789255.post-85387473855298577932010-01-07T04:43:00.000-08:002010-01-07T18:13:19.141-08:00NEW YEAR....Lots of New Stuff!!!!<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Wow...where to begin? First, the two pictur</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">es below are the WIP end pieces of a triptyche I'm doing for a beautiful residen</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ce here in the Texas hill country. These measure 24" x 24" and the middle piece w</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ill be 24" x 48". The paintings incorporate some of the garden decoratio</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">ns and</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> plantings surrounding the home. I should be finished by February 1...with luck. </span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span></span></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424183677771036306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 388px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0aSUP4DtpI/AAAAAAAACWE/GKco6mbm_xo/s400/right+trip.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0XxImgYuaI/AAAAAAAACUU/hU80kHlbwTo/s1600-h/left+trip.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424006456315263394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 399px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0XxImgYuaI/AAAAAAAACUU/hU80kHlbwTo/s400/left+trip.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Next, <a href="http://artbydominiqueeichi.blogspot.com/">Dominique Eichi</a><a href="http://artbydominiqueeichi.blogspot.com/"> </a>has begun a project that about 20 of the old-time DSFDFers are working on....a travelling Moleskin. A moleskin is basically a sketchbook. Each artist has a new one in which he/she will create a beginning artwork of a favorite theme then send the sketchbook on to another artist who will render an artwork on that theme and send it on until it makes the circuit, and returns home to the original artist. At that time, each artist will own a true treasure of original art from future Michaelangelos, Picassos, Van Goghs, O'Keefes, etc, worth millions ;-) You can keep up w</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">ith the progress by checking <a href="http://theflyingmoleskins.blogspot.com/">The Flying Moleskins</a> site.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Windows to the Words is getting a facelif</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">t and adopting a new and simpler format. The first challenge of the new year was provided by the incomparable master artist,<a href="http://edwardburtonpaintings.blogspot.com/"> Edward Burton</a>. ...Kids & Pets...A Matching Set. This is a super cute challenge that should be a lot of fun. Check it out by clicking <a href="http://windowstothewords.blogspot.com/">HERE.</a> Below are 3 photos from that challenge.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X0uIbdevI/AAAAAAAACU0/Mff6BVSS14s/s1600-h/blon+pig+tail.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424010399611452146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 283px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X0uIbdevI/AAAAAAAACU0/Mff6BVSS14s/s400/blon+pig+tail.bmp" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X0u36ghEI/AAAAAAAACVE/054OfbUY-DA/s1600-h/red+hair.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424010412358140994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 274px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X0u36ghEI/AAAAAAAACVE/054OfbUY-DA/s400/red+hair.bmp" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X0uqoTNQI/AAAAAAAACU8/HFARpPiKwt8/s1600-h/kid+with+black+eye.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424010408792110338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 262px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X0uqoTNQI/AAAAAAAACU8/HFARpPiKwt8/s400/kid+with+black+eye.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WOW or Windows of Wonders is my "just for fun" hobby blog...featuring funny, beautiful, incredible, inspiring and mind-bloggling pictures and videos.<br />I now have 15 blogs posted with a han</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">dy</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> access menu on the sidebar. Below are excerpts from two of the posts. You can link to WOW by clicking on the peek-a-boo kitten at the top of this site or just</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> click <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://windowsofwonders.blogspot.com/">HERE.</a><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X1p0e_tEI/AAAAAAAACVM/54NIp1vWe-A/s1600-h/inv7.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424011425049719874" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 315px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X1p0e_tEI/AAAAAAAACVM/54NIp1vWe-A/s400/inv7.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The Invisible Man</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This talented fellow paints himself to blend in with the background.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X13EkB4QI/AAAAAAAACVU/VmJ_XJ0Gr5M/s1600-h/file001344.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424011652704100610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 319px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X13EkB4QI/AAAAAAAACVU/VmJ_XJ0Gr5M/s400/file001344.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skinny Stupid<br />These young ladies think super-skinny is super-sexy. Duh. Incredible. Incredibly Sad.<br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I've been able to go to a few shows and galleries, and attended a watercolor Demo by artist Jack Moss of Llano. He is outstanding. And I've managed to finally set up my Etsy and Artfire shops (both are James Parker Art...clever, huh?) I also got around to setting up my sister's ETSY and Artfire shops.... Mag's Marvels. Aside from beautiful quilting, she is getting quite talented at Raku and fused glass. She's gotten me pretty interested, too. We've been slumping wine bottles and creating fused glass/dichroic glass. Below are a coup</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">la samples.<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X6pmxILrI/AAAAAAAACVs/jGWVY301Gxo/s1600-h/BOT+double+25.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424016918925815474" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 164px; cursor: pointer; height: 214px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X6pmxILrI/AAAAAAAACVs/jGWVY301Gxo/s200/BOT+double+25.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X5w6NnIlI/AAAAAAAACVk/IQruJk47N3w/s1600-h/cross1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424015944893014610" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 144px; cursor: pointer; height: 200px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X5w6NnIlI/AAAAAAAACVk/IQruJk47N3w/s200/cross1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Running long again, but I had to mention the Gallery/Shop/Studio in Burnet, Texas. I have the west side for artwork display and a little painting area, plus the back for a larger work space, and my sister (and a few friends) have the east side to display their wares. Works out pretty neat. I posted a few pictures as a WIP, and by springtime it should be a s</span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">howplace.</span></span></span><br /></div></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0Xxzefwy4I/AAAAAAAACUc/qCmn5QfzvwU/s1600-h/outside.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424007192899537794" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 228px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0Xxzefwy4I/AAAAAAAACUc/qCmn5QfzvwU/s400/outside.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0Xxz3kB3CI/AAAAAAAACUs/FKYHEG3IhQI/s1600-h/mine+inside.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424007199628319778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 298px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0Xxz3kB3CI/AAAAAAAACUs/FKYHEG3IhQI/s400/mine+inside.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0Xxzj57c-I/AAAAAAAACUk/XiHk4NKo0sw/s1600-h/mag+inside.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424007194351465442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 298px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0Xxzj57c-I/AAAAAAAACUk/XiHk4NKo0sw/s400/mag+inside.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And Finally....My Holiday Gift to You. I think many of you all have seen enough snow to last for a while, but this Video of "December Snow" by Justin Hayward and the Moody Blues is marvelous. I hope you can find time to click on the picture of Justin, below, and sit back for a moment, relax and enjoy.....James<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=z6dJO1JWdSI"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424021892793594738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 120px; cursor: pointer; height: 90px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DRocE4m2E3g/S0X_LH3nc3I/AAAAAAAACV8/s_hZ_Tnp5go/s400/default.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a href="http://windowsofwonders.blogspot.com/"></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>James Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14780546357335117813noreply@blogger.com14