• Critiques and Testimonials
  • INSPIRATION – While the World Outside My Window Goes Insane
  • Remembered or Forgotten: Remembering Jenny
  • Ode to 668 East Beach
  • THE UNDERTOW
  • Mystical Andes
  • Esta Casa Es Loca!
  • Peaceful Chimborazo
  • RED FLAG… “It’ll Never Happen To Me”
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Zeebra Designs & Destinations

~ An Artist's Eyes Never Rest

Zeebra Designs & Destinations

Monthly Archives: June 2014

There’s No Place Like Home!

29 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA

≈ 29 Comments

Tags

guayaquil airport, gye, wordpress challenge contrast

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Traveling last night and early this morning, I often noted the contrast between the pastoral beauty of Costa Rica’s rural areas I had left behind and the stark neutral mood inside the San Jose, Bogota and Guayaquil airports.  I noted many options during my travels that qualify for this week’s Photo Challenge for CONTRAST.

Taking advantage of fast internet in Guayaquil, -another contrast from the slow connections in the country!- here are a few images from early this morning!

While waiting on luggage, I took a few photos around one thirty this morning in the GYE baggage claim area! Continue reading →

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Timeout for Art: Sharing Talents and Helping Friends

27 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in ART, Costa Rica

≈ 58 Comments

Tags

helping others, laughing during difficult times, mosaic tile projects, Timeout for Art

Hank and Marie, a dear couple that I nicknamed 'The Swans."

Hank and Marie, a dear couple that I nicknamed ‘The Swans.”

A talent is not a talent until it has been shared. If we are so blessed as to be an artist, shouldn’t we help someone just as someone helped us? (Wayne A. Wright)

Who wouldn't want to step into this sunset dining scene?

Who wouldn’t want to step into this sunset dining scene?

Years ago when Hank and Marie Groff were distant neighbors in Costa Rica, Marie often invited me to join them for dinner.   If I was working on a creative project, I knew that I would have difficulty pulling out of my focus to switch gears, put away my supplies and drive to their home for dinner.    Hours later while deep in a painting trance, I often heard Marie return.  She quietly came inside, whispered from the doorway, “Don’t stop;  your dinner’s here in the kitchen.”    With a loving heart, she retreated without another word.

We embraced a new challenge - the art of mosaic tile!

We embraced a new challenge – the art of mosaic tile!

When my vehicle was no longer road worthy, she always asked if I wanted to ride with her to a larger city to buy supplies.  When the other option was by bus on bumpy four-wheel-drive roads, I was always grateful to ride in her Isuzu Trooper limousine!  

Hank and Marie help with a tear-down project - Team Zeebra!

Hank and Marie help with a tear-down project – Team Zeebra!

(Above photo:  see Construction in Reverse.)

Always-patient Hank

Always-patient Hank

With a background in construction, Hank as been a patient teacher;  he’s tutored me about soil samples, engineering reports, concrete finishing and repair.  He’s helped solve water-line riddles, and every so often I am able to share my work experience with him.  He has explained why the peeling paint on a wall most likely came from a roof leak and has helped with repair on gates and shovels and doors!

June Solstice Sunset - One Day Early!

From the outdoor pavilion – June Solstice Sunset – One Day Early!

They are tireless in their support, and I am blessed to have such loving and helpful friends.  It’s quite natural to reciprocate with the same loving spirit!

Their ‘soaking pool’ perches on the corner of their outdoor pavilion, and Hank recently tiled the inner area.     The three of us agreed that a mosaic border would enhance the effect, and we approached the challenge at full throttle and worked from mid morning until sunset almost every day until we finished! Continue reading →

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Timeout for Art – Having Fun While Working!

26 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in ART, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes

≈ 41 Comments

Tags

Ideas for Mosaic tiles, mastering new projects, Mosaic Tile, Timeout for Art - Having Fun While Working

Come see the evolving mosaic border!

Come see the evolving mosaic border!

As you grow in self-esteem, your face, manner, way of talking and moving will tend naturally to project the pleasure you take in being alive. ~Nathaniel Branden

Do you see these two pieces of tiles?  They need to be a little smaller!

Do you see these two pieces of tiles? They need to be a little smaller!

Two sets of eye wear work better than one!

Two sets of eye wear work better than one!

The strong and mighty Z pulverizes the ceramic tile!

The strong and mighty Z pulverizes the ceramic tile, and work halts until we regain control of our giggle boxes!

Because Marie took so many photos, today’s Timeout for Art will be split into two posts.

Yes, this is a fun project!  Marie shares the tile-splitting tasks!

Yes, this is a fun project! Marie shares the tile-splitting tasks!

It’s ok to have fun while working!

Honestly, it’s back-breaking work, but the many laughs have trumped the fatigue!

Before Grout...

Before Grout…

After grout (Ahem; that's agua quinada -tonic water in the can!)

After grout (Ahem; that’s agua quinada -tonic water in the can!)

 

(A much-larger post will follow after the final section of grout is finished!)

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Do you like the progress?

Z

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In Between Showers – A Mosaic Challenge

23 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in PAINTINGS: ACRYLIC, PHOTO CHALLENGES

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

mosaics for pools, Painted mosaics, WordPress Photo Chllenge Between

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA This week’s WordPress Challenge is ‘Between.”

My mind immediately dashed on many thought tangents as I pondered ideas that represent ‘Between.”     The above art project (in progress) keeps getting stalled due to rain showers, so climb aboard and step into a mosaic-filled world! Continue reading →

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TIMEOUT FOR ART – Vivid Imagination

20 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in ART, PENCIL DRAWINGS, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes

≈ 55 Comments

Tags

capturing personalities in trees, hurried sketches, Pencil drawings of trees, Timeout for Art - Vivid Imagination

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(See the model for this character in the next photo!)

Many savage nations worship trees, and I really think my first feeling would be one of delight and interest rather than of surprise, if some day when I am alone in the woods one of the trees were to speak to me. (John Lubbock)
When traveling through Ecuador’s Manabi Province by bus, I sometimes make lightning-fast sketches of the unique ceibo trees. With only a few seconds to observe and capture the essence of individual trees, I scribble details and thoughts until the next sketch-worthy tree captures my attention.

P1110875 ceibo w tongue2 P1110875 ceibo w tongue5EYES

Some of those trees seem to be waltzing across the landscape, and others wear scowls or humorous expressions. I’ve noted trees with amputated limbs or with bellies hacked open (for honey?) while others are burned or felled for farmland. Peer over my shoulder to see a few typical pages of hurried sketches of these areas. Continue reading →

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An Unexpected Visitor?

16 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in PHOTO CHALLENGES, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

crystal palace quito, ghosts in photos, wordpress photo challenge extra extra, [rde

P6090230 sarita crystal palace

Sarah admires the view while coordinating a medical appointment for a friend.

Hi Amigos!

I’m back with another post for the WordPress Photo Challenge which states: “This week, share a photo that has a little something extra: an unexpected visitor, or a tranquil landscape with a splash of color…or find a photo with an added element that makes it an image only you could capture.”

 P6090211 quito crystal palace P6090232 wheelbarrow shadows

(Quito Ecuador)  – Returning home after fast trip to Ecuador’s Sierra, I spent many hours wading through an eclectic range of photos which covered visits to pueblitos, museums and even a lending library of books written in English!

Come see the soccer images!

Come see the soccer images!

P6090240 crystal palace futbol

The photos from the Crystal Palace included the flaming nasturtiums and geraniums as well as delicate pink hues of taxo – a new species for my eyes.  Inside the glass enclosure was an impressive collection of soccer images from Brazil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_passionfruit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_passionfruit

Stepping back outside, I took photos of the sweeping view of the city, but the camera caught something extra that I overlooked. Continue reading →

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Surprise Visitors from the Wild

15 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in PHOTO CHALLENGES

≈ 31 Comments

Tags

baby birds, frog images, sick birds, spotted skunk, wordpress photo challenge extra extra

What's poking out of the pre-Columbian pottery?

What’s poking out of the pre-Columbian pottery?

(Ecuador) – Living totally immersed in nature, I am often treated to unexpected visitors from the wild!   This week’s photo challenge is ‘Extra Extra,‘ and Michelle states, “This week, share a photo that has a little something extra: an unexpected visitor, or a tranquil landscape with a splash of color. A lone carrot in a sea of peas. Draw us in with a humorous detail, or find a photo with an added element that makes it an image only you could capture.” 

I remembered this surprise moment from earlier this year.

Come a little closer?

Come a little closer?

Peering from its hiding place, Mr. Frog startled me one sunny morning!

P1500375 paintbrushes riverhouse frog

Although frogs and geckos ‘creep out’ many of my female friends,  they make me smile and are often used as models for some of my studies!  Here are a few more unexpected guests that arrived with no warning: Continue reading →

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Timeout for Art: A Magical Room

12 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in Bodega "Magic Carpet" Project, PAINTINGS: ACRYLIC, PAINTINGS: CUSTOM DESIGNS & FLOORS, PHOTO CHALLENGES, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA

≈ 51 Comments

Tags

art studios, creative artistic spaces, Lisa Brunetti, painted concrete floors, transforming an ugly room into a happy one, ways to remodel an old room, wordpress challenge ROOM

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“I step into my studio and nothing will be the same ever again.” (Franco Paisio)

This week’s WordPress Challenge is ‘Room,’ and these photos show how a farm bodega transformed into a unique studio space.  Enjoy the pictorial!  Z

riverhouse bamboo ladder

August 2008; the fixer-upper challenge begins!

Let’s peer inside the bodega!

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Continue reading →

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Timeout for Art – Field Work

05 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by Playamart - Zeebra Designs in ART, NATURE, PAINTINGS: ACRYLIC, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Black necked stilts, ecuador shrimp ponds, little blue heron, snowy egrets, Timeout for Art - Field Work, white ibis

P6030221 GREAT EGRET Y SNOWY EGRET

Is there a pecking order in the egret family tree?

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”John Muir”

Manabi Province, Ecuador –

Many birds feast in the shrimp ponds; when the water is drained for harvest, the avian telegraph announces the all-you-can-eat buffet!

Yay!  Lunch is ready!/

Yay! Lunch is ready!/

Elusive white ibis flock to the ponds for their ration of shellfish; petite kingfishers perch near the outlet pipes and spear random hors d’oeuvres.  Great egrets tower over snowy egrets and little blue herons as they scramble, squawk and poke for shrimp and fish.

P5250209 snowy egret

Conceited snowy egrets, pairing black leggings with bright-yellow slippers,  fluff their wispy feathers to claim entitlement to the choicest morsels!

One Happy Family...

One Happy Family…

In formal attire, the black-necked stilts add a modest touch of elegance and keep a low profile along the edges of the pond!  Although the stilts have always captured my attention, I realized that I knew little when I began a study based on an old photo. They are black and white and have very long reddish-pink legs. Do they all have pink legs, or do the male and female have different colorations?

P6030249  STILT LARGE FILE

“Oh Grandmother; what big eyes you have!”

Consulting a bird book, I was surprised to learn that stilts have red eyes! (Red eyes?) I looked at photos on the computer. The less-than precise images showed dark eyes. Details were lacking on the bill as well, and I was unsure – was it curved slightly like an ibis, or did it have a slight upturn – or was it straight as a sewing needle? Rather than guess, I waited for an opportunity for field research. Continue reading →

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A friend says that he loves my stories, but it's a shame that I'm in an institution in Mississippi and making this all up!

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© Lisa Brunetti, Playamart, Zeebra Designs & Destinations and Zeebra Maps, 2008-2013/present.

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