30 Thursday Jul 2015
Posted in TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Angel’s Trumpet, acrylic in progress
The week has been busy and very full, but I have managed to take some timeouts for art. Enjoy the photos, and forgive me for this hurried post.
The week has been full; prep for moving my friends and then the Global Transport crew arrived for three days of intense work. They were so nice and respectful!
25 Saturday Jul 2015
Posted in NATURE, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes
Remembering my promise to draw a blade of grass or two, I searched for worthy specimens of dried grass and worked a little each night before going to sleep. Missing the ‘Thursday Timeout for Art,’ I pondered waiting until next week to share the drawings. Ailsa’s travel theme for the week is GRASS, the perfect nudge to share these quite-tardy images.
Take your pick; one blade, two blades, three blades… It’s your choice!
I enjoyed limiting myself to one blade per session, and I spent half an hour to an hour on each one. After sharpening my pencils (I keep four or five handy so that I don’t have to stop often to sharpen the points.)
I selected this one and taped it to the surface to keep it in place.
It looks a bit flat… What’s missing?
19 Sunday Jul 2015
(Watercolor) My Friends’ Property near Mindo Ecuador
My Friends and WordPress Family:
The dengue and chikungunya side effects have all packed their bags and have left me in good health! Thank you so much for your support and concern as I regained my health. I am almost ready for the hurdles and am pain free. Yay!
Unfortunately, my Mindo friends are now the ones facing unexpected medical challenges, and I am in the cloud forest helping and will be mostly offline for the next few weeks. Julie is undergoing chemotherapy in Nebraska now, and I am helping Jim prepare to ship their belongings back to the USA. I will oversee their amazing property until it sells. It is with great sadness that I witness their dilemma, yet I am glad to be of help.
Will be online soon with details, but I will based in Mindo for the next few months and online briefly. I will leave you with sample images of the beauty of this area. Continue reading
16 Thursday Jul 2015
Foliage – Pencil
When given a sharp pencil, a blank piece of paper, and ten minutes or more of quiet time, I can usually find subject matter close at hand to occupy my attention. I have learned to admire the simplest of plants. A desiccated blade of grass can transform into an object of beauty via a finely-honed drawing.
The meandering philodendrom makes, for me, a fairly easy study. The basic shape and details of the leaves are forgiving and can be lightly drawn without too much fuss. The shading can be added later. This drawing is an unfinished work, though I am hesitant to continue.
My critical eye goes to the two simple leaves in the middle of the drawing. They seem to have a push-pull effect as if they’re not sure where they belong. Ten or so minutes of subtle shading will place them more firmly in the background. But wait -overworking a picture often ruins it.
The decision belongs to all of you; should I continue shading and adding depth, or is it time to stop? Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Would any of you consider drawing a blade of grass or three? I will try to do several studies of grass and will share those results next Thursday.
Sharpen that pencil and start drawing! 🙂 Z
11 Saturday Jul 2015
Posted in Ecuador, NATURE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
HOW MANY BIRDS?!
Isla Corazon, Rio Chone/Manabi Province, Ecuador
With a potential El Nino Phenomenom percoluting along the equator, many locals along the Pacific coast reach back and share stories of the El Nino of 1997 and ’98. One veteran of that extended season of torrential rains and mudslides is “Don Francisco” from the petite community of Puerto Portobelo on the north-east side of Rio Chone. The mangroves on the upper half of Isla Corazon washed away during the 1997/8 disaster, and silt from landslides and farmlands destroyed more trees and altered river channels. Francisco Reyes, who worked on a farm before the upper half of the island washed away, dedicated his time to replanting and restoring this heart-shaped island.
March 2013 Mangroves washing away in Rio Jama
My friend Stephen visited several weeks ago, and I rode with him to Isla Corazon, where we took the two-hour tour of the island. Known best for having one of the largest colonies of frigate birds along the Pacific coast, Isla Corazon hosts many other bird species. I never tire of visiting Isla Corazon, admiring the bird life and hearing new stories. Each tour is unique, depending on which guide takes you on a special canoe ride and which birds and critters step onto the stage.
From February 2015 – Ecuador Expat Journey tour – Preparing to leave the dock!
(High tide last week) Happy crew heading home so the tourists can enjoy the results of their hard work.
As we watch the work crew go back to shore, our boat pulls beside a flat-bottomed canoe. The transfer is quite fun!
Timing is important, and the small window of time changes daily with the tides. This particular tour was racing the fast-falling tide of a full moon. The trees on the left side of the tunnel are all new-growth and planted by the community; the ones on the right are the older survivors of the flood.
09 Thursday Jul 2015
Posted in Ecuador, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Detail- Watercolor – Museo Bahia de Caraquez artifact…
Hugh Curtler/Daily Gadfly-The Eye of the Beholder
Bahia de Caraquez-Ecuador –
This week’s quote came from one of Hugh’s recent posts. I’d like to hear your feedback after reading his post, though Ron Mayhew published a few images that same week that confirm Hugh’s observations. See Ron’s: At The Museum Looking At Art Distracted (Ron, I’ve been unable to comment, but suffice to know that I enjoyed the photos!)
Museo Bahia de Caraquez down below along Rio Chone…
This finds me writing from Museo Bahia de Caraquez (Ecuador) where I’ve been staying and working on watercolor studies of artifacts this week. It’s great to work during the public-viewing hours, but it’s blissful when working after hours! I’m sobered by the staff’s trust in my presence here as I meander between my favorite pieces, settle in and merge psyches with the ancient artifacts!
There are lots of heart-warming stories from my time here at the museum, but it’s time to go to work! I’ll leave you with a thumbnail sheet of the progress.
Have a good day, and see you again soon with stories and more images! Z
06 Monday Jul 2015
Posted in Ecuador, INSPIRATION, PEOPLE, TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
“Let’s get moving!” – Otavalo – Child in Bucket!
With great pleasure, I embrace the start of this week feeling much better! I’m not ready for the hurdles or pole-vaulting competitions, but as Johnny Nash’s lyrics state, ‘I think I can make it now, the pain is gone.’
Enjoy Jimmy Cliff’s version of the song while cyber-strolling through Playamart’s Ecuador files.
Pour a cup of coffee or tea – hot or chilled and take a magic trip to the middle of the world. My neighbor Nelly will lead the parade!
Nelly at La Division
Smiling Nelly gets silly!
Jama Parade
Oh, to be tall! (No Chikungunya in those joints!)
“I can see all obstacles in my way!”
Jama Mermaid
San Vicente Cabalgata
Near Montechristi
It’s a bird.. it’s a plane.. it’s — SuperBarb!
Photo by Henry Groff
Marie Groff, Smiling with new friends in Cuenca!
Silly moments in Jama
End of Day – Tired but Smiling… (Jama)
The rain is gone!
It’s going to be a bright, bright sun shining day!
02 Thursday Jul 2015
Posted in PAINTINGS: ACRYLIC, TIMEOUT FOR ART - Quotes
Fishin’ for Time – June 21, 2015
(And what did you do to record the shadow at noon during the solstice?!)
The fishin’ cat was a gift from my son years ago, and it presently fishes over my kitchen sink. It’s also posed for a portrait or two. Continue reading
01 Wednesday Jul 2015
Posted in TRAVEL: LATIN AMERICA
Rio Cinto Ecuador
End of day – view from my friends’ front porch…
Subtle moods wash over the cloud forest from hour to hour. She can be sunny and bright one minute, and mysterious and moody another. Here is a token sample of specimen and native plants that decorate the landcape and gardens of my friends’ property in Mindo. Getting stronger every day, I’m hopeful to be visiting this lovely area in a few weeks and doing a few nature studies. Which ones do you think might inspire me?
Tree fern
Ginger – Delicate to see, hardy with the right weather conditions, and these beauties thrive here!
Ahhhh, for sure I will paint these night-blooming angels trumpets, if they are blooming.
For more flowers and foliage, keep scrolling!
