Digital Photograph...Little House...

I found this sad little house right across the Virginia-North Carolina border. It just begged to have it's picture taken. "Please remember me" it said... [background texture by djPettitt]

This Morning....Home

Up early, early, early this morning. I needed a long walk on the beach. It is like an old friend. Nothing like a walk on the beach to put life in perspective. I leave here today to go see some of the boys. Rain is on the way. [all photos taken with my iphone and some camera apps]

On the Road Again....

She looks very elegant!

Love the colors on this one.

Remember the Sunday drive?

Cute little race car

The family car

Yesterday I left my folks house and headed back to North Carolina. It was bittersweet. I have so much fun with my parents. I love D.C. and the cherry trees were beginning to get their blossoms. Yet, it was time. People to see and things to do. Nice Greek dinner last night with an old friend in Raleigh North Carolina. I landed at the beach today. I have missed the sounds and smells. My heart began to sing. Hope everyone is staying warm and dry...

I Made it to the Paul Gauguin Exhibit...

A beautiful still life

Adam & Eve, good or bad

Love the deep, bold colors

Two Taihitians

Self portrait

This week I spent most of my days soaking up ART. I visited a few museums, went to the sculpture garden, enjoyed the monuments, spent some time in the archives. Basically it was a feast for my eyes and soul.

The National Gallery - East Wing had several exhibits I was interested in. I first went to the Paul Gauguin exhibit. Many of these paintings have never been together nor have some of them ever been to the United States.

My expectations were definitely met. In fact, I walked away realizing how much I had not really thought about. I think of Gauguin as a painter. I love his battle with good and evil, primitive and civilized. I love his use of color and bold color combinations. What I was not ready for was his wonderful pottery, his wood carvings, and his beautiful woodcuts. They were stunning.

I found myself fascinated with the woodcuts he used in his journal. I wanted to see more of his journals. I enjoyed his letters to both his wife and to other artists. He wrote of his various art projects, how they were progressing, his difficulties with them, and what they reprsented to him. Very much what I hear from contemporary artists today. I hope if you have a chance to visit this traveling exhibition that you will take a few hours and lose yourself. Your soul will thank you.

The Canaletto - Venice - Exhibit

At the National Gallery - East Wing - right down the hall from the Paul Gauguin exhibit was the Canaletto - Venice exhibit. Let me tell you know matter how much I had read about it prepared me for what I saw. Canaletto and his rivals were painters in Venice about 150 years befor Paul Gauguin was painting. They painted from 1730 to 1780 or so.

They took street scenes, canal scenes, everyday Venice and turned them into wonderful paintings. They have been compared to giant postcards from Venice. Many of them were ordered from visitors enjoying Venice and the carnival that went on nine months out of the year. You can find a large number of them in Britian. The queen has quite a collection as do several other prominent people from there.

These paintings were extremely detailed. Many artists use the obscura camera to trace the city onto paper for quick yet detailed sketches for their paintings. I was totally overwhelmed with joy after the first gallery of these paintings. The light that they had captured, the fun and details were amazing. I found myself picking my jaw up off the floor. If you have a chance this is not to be missed.

Saturday Textures...

Paint from an office door at Georgetown University

a concrete window casing in downtown D.C.

A chair in a garden in Georgetown

A rubber mat at BJ's

the same rubber mat with color

Here are a few textures for you that I have been collecting around town for your digitial work. Hope you can find something fun to do with them. I will be playing with some of these over the next few days. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Angels all Around Us

White Angel

I have to tell you a little story about last night. After dinner my escort went down to the underground garage to get the car. After many minutes he returned saying the car was not working properly and would not start. I went down with him to see what was the matter as he seemed very flustered.

Once down in the garage we realized the battery on the car had died. Getting out of the car I remarked that we would just have to find a jump. Just then a car pulled in right behind us. A young man jumped out. We asked him if he had any jumper cables...

He laughed and said "I have something better. I just bought this battery charger. I thought I might need it some day." He promptly popped the hood, hooked it up, pressed a button, we tried to start it and it started. Miracles. His name was Carl. Our own angel...

Digital Photograph...Pier 7

Pier 7

Do you ever wake up a little groggy from the wonder of the day before? Last night we went for dinner with an old friend on the waterfront. The Potomac River is rich in history and nice places to eat. I enjoyed this view from our table along with an incredible meal. Of course I ate seafood, lots of seafood. The best I have had since I left the beach. My days here are numbered and I am trying to fit in as much as possible. Hope you are enjoying the day...

Digital Photograph - The Lover's Tree

The Lover's Tree

This week I spent some time at Georgetown University. It has been beautiful out all week. I really enjoyed walking around taking photographs. Watching all the college students enjoy the nice weather was an added bonus. I love this tree and there is this bench close by. Perfect viewing of the tree and the quad. Young lovers enjoying the day and each other on the bench. I decided to use photoshop, a few layers, to define the mood. Hope you enjoy!

Digital Photograph - The Mason Jars....

Mason Jars

Here are a couple of Mason Ball & Atlas jars I have been collecting along my travels. Everytime I run across some that are a good price I try to pick a few up. These are the latest I found along the North Carolina - Virginia border. They came with free dirt and spider webs - minus the spider. I unpacked, washed, took their pictures, repacked and will store them till I find them a home. Eventually they will take up residence in my new studio or kitchen.

I love these simple jars, their blue subtle colors just sing to me. They look good as vases or holders of things! Three are the large ones and the Atlas jar is much smaller. There is a rumor that the one's with 13 on the bottom are the pricer one's. Bootleggers thought they were unlucky so they would break them. Hence, a 13 is rare. I am hoping to run across a few of those minus the whiskey in some old barn. My other dream is to find a green one... something to make the hunt a little more challenging.[ps they came with cool zinc tops]

William Bouguereau - Freebies

One of is most recognized paintings.

One of his favorite models.

My favorite little one.

Love the flowers around her head. Stunning contrast to her clothes.

Sisters

Thought I would start out the week with some William Bouguereau paintings. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. He was a French painter. His family owned olives and wine. It was thought he would follow but his passion was painting. He was thought to be the best in his lifetime. He married an English girl and had five children. He showed his work in the Academy. He loved to paint his children and their friends. He was sought after and had an extremely lucrative painting business. He was quite prolific, painting over 800 known paintings. I can see the joy in his paintings. He was quoted as saying that he loved to wake up and know he was going to spend the day in his studio. He went to bed happy knowing he would be in his studio the next day. To me, that is happiness. I am off to the Paul Gauguin exhibit in D.C., weather permitting.

Digital Photographs...Doors, Windows, oh my...

Dr. Pepper Building

Dr. Pepper Door

Dr. Pepper Window

Thought I would share a few photographs I took of this cool Dr Pepper bottling and storage building I found in the mountains of North Carolina.

I love the first picture. Please enlarge it and check out the top two windows.

The second photograph of the door makes me wonder how many workers came in and out. Getting Dr. Pepper to all the little mountain stores must have been a real mission.

The last photo of all the left over bottles piled high in the window. Just a memory of what once must have been a bustling place. I love these places. So rich in history, yet just sitting there waiting...

Digital Photograph - The River

The River

I am rambling through the North Carolina mountains on my way to Virginia. I am on my way home to see my Mother and Father. I ran across this river on my way yesterday. It was so quiet and peaceful. How nice it would be to live along a river...

George Washington Images...

As a great statesman

Crossing the Delaware

Before the battle of Trenton

Signing the Declaration of Independence

Portrait by Gilbert Stuart

George resigning his commission

A young George

George Washington did not have the luxury of being photographed like Presidents do today. Our Presidents are recorded by film, digital photographs, cameras everywhere. George Washington was recorded with paint and canvas. Here are some of those portraits. Many are portraits at various ages, the others tell of the things he accomplished in his life.

I have always admired George Washington. Seeing the Washington monument, visiting his home - Mount Vernon, spending so much time in Washington DC definitely gives you insight into the man. I plan on celebrating with a piece of cherry pie or maybe some Cherry Dump Cake.

Cherry Dump Cake

A little cake that is so easy you could probably do it in your sleep. I think this is a great dessert to make with kids. The best part is it is delicious. So, in honor of George Washington - here it is Cherry Dump Cake....

Cherry Dump Cake

2 cans of Cherry Pie filling

1 yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Take a 13"by 9" rectangle baking pan.

Open the two cans of cherries and pour them in the bottom of the pan.

Make sure you smooth them out to cover the entire pan.

Open the cake mix and pour on top of cherries.

Smooth out the lumps and spread over the cherries.

Melt the stick of butter and pour over the top.

Cook for 1 hour.

Serve warm.

Variations - you can use a can of crushed pineapple and a can of cherries. Top with nuts of your choice. I have heard of people who use two sticks of butter. Use what you think is best. I also love this recipe with apples or peaches instead of cherries. I serve this with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

George Washington Collage Sheet

Here is a little collage sheet filled with postal images of George Washington, enjoy!

[The money image is from Wikipedia.]

Happy President's Day

George Washington

The third Monday in February in the United States is designated President's Day. We celebrate our first President - George Washington. His legacy is our wonderful nation, our constitution, the foundation of the country. I am going to enjoy the day, my freedom, and head to Washington DC today. Hope you all have a great day.

Wall Textures for You

Here are a few textures from that lovely wall I found. I am thinking they wil be fun to play with.