Blue Berries vs. Blueberries

Blue Berries vs. Blueberries
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This are blue berries, not blueberries. We saw these on a recent outing to Long Hill Gardens, and they are very mysterious. But I love the fact that they are blue.

Bright Leaves in the Grass

Bright Leaves in the Grass
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Everyone says this is not a very good year for fall color, very few red leaves, at least so far. But on a recent walk, I spotted a beautiful bright leaf in the grass, so I took a picture with my phonecam, and later cropped it just a little bit to improve the composition.

Halloween Traffic Jam

Halloween Traffic Jam
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I took this picture with my phonecam at Russell's Orchard in Ipswich a few weeks ago. But this image came to mind today when I encountered pre-Halloween traffic lined up on highway 128. If you live anywhere near Salem (and we do), you can expect traffic problems all through October, and the closer it is to Halloween, the worse the traffic. Pretty scary. . . .

Mannekin

Mannekin
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is a little drawing of a mannekin (the bird) sitting on a mannequin. I drew this today with felt tip pen. It is intended as an illustration for a 'zine.

Double Take (Self Portrait at Terminal C)

Double Take (Self Portrait at Terminal C)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday, I was at Logan Airport's Terminal C waiting for Mel's plane to arrive (it was late). I decided to amuse myself by taking photos of the mirrored walls with my phonecam. I like this one the best, so I cropped it tonight to improve the composition.

Portrait in Progress as of October 23

Portrait in Progress as of October 23
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here is the portrait I have been working on, as it looks today. This morning I worked on the eyes, modifying shape and size. I checked my work by looking at the painting in the mirror, which sometimes helps me see what needs to be changed. I also started to block in the figure and background.

Marina at Bangor, Northern Ireland

Marina at Bangor, Northern Ireland
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today is the last day of Mel's trip to Northern Ireland, and he spent part of it in Bangor. So today I cropped and edited this image from a photo that I took in Bangor during my first visit to Northern Ireland. Even in the cold weather, I could tell that it was a great place to visit.

Lisbon Seen From Castelo de Sao Jorge

Lisbon Seen From Castelo de Sao Jorge
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Time for another image of Portugal. I took this picture during my visit to Portugal in July of 2001, from the Castelo de Sao Jorge in Lisbon. Tonight I edited this picture, cropping it to improve the composition.

Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I took this picture with my cameraphone last week at Long Hill Gardens. I liked the way the leaves looked in the sunlight.

Fall Harvest at Russell's Orchard

Fall Harvest at Russell's Orchard
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

It would be hard not to notice fall in Massachusetts! A few weeks ago, I took this photo with my phonecam on a trip to Russell's Orchard in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Tonight I cropped the photo to give the composition just a little help.

Long Hill Grape Arbor

Long Hill Grape Arbor
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

After many rainy days, it was time for another trip to Long Hill Gardens. I have taken several pictures of the grapes produced by this arbor, but this time I photographed the arbor itself, with the sun streaming through the golden leaves.

Portrait in Progress as of October 17

Portrait in Progress as of October 17
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is the latest version of the portrait I am painting. Today I made some changes to the eyebrows and hairline, and added some shadows. The changes are not huge, but small changes can make a difference in a portrait.

Mount Stewart House, Northern Ireland

Mount Stewart House, Northern Ireland
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Mel's in Belfast, so here's another image from my last trip to Northern Ireland. This is the Mount Stewart House, a manor house with magnificent gardens, just twenty minutes from Belfast.

Wonder Tree

Wonder Tree
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I have been admiring this tree right outside the bank, so recently I stopped to take a picture of it with my phonecam. I love the color and the texture of the fruit. But I don't know what kind of tree this is, and no one else seems to know either. I suppose it is a wonder tree. . . .

Little House on Antrim Coast

Little House on Antrim Coast
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Mel is spending ten days in Belfast, so I decided to post an image of Northern Ireland. This is from my first visit there. We drove up the Antrim Coast road, and spectacular views just kept coming, so I took pictures from a moving car with my disposable camera. Recently, I cropped this image out of one of those photos. After the image was cropped, I was happy with the composition but the image was too blurry, with color seeming to "bleed" outside the lines. So I opened the file in Painter IX and edited it to clean up some of the lines of the house. I left the rest of the image alone because the soft edges seem to work with the hills and clouds in the distance.

Spain Seen from Moncao, Portugal

Spain Seen from Moncao, Portugal
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here's a nice memory of an October trip to Portugal. I took this photo of Spain (across the river) seen from Moncao, Portugal. I used this photo as the source for one of the watercolors of Portugal that I posted last winter. Tonight I edited the original photo to emphasize the view of the distant landscape seen through the trees.

Sunset at Singing Beach

Sunset at Singing Beach
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

One evening last summer, I used my phonecam to catch this picture of Singing Beach just as the sun was going down. The beach seems to invite reflection on life, so I think this is a good image for the Jewish holiday that starts at sundown tonight. I love my digital clocks and computerized calendars, but it is also good to connect with the sun, moon, and stars as ways to tell time and mark the seasons.

Three Pink Mums

Three Pink Mums
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Despite the cold and rainy weather, there is still time for some fall flowers. Flowers like these are blooming all over the neighborhood, but I took this picture with my phonecam at the Topsfield Fair flower show last week.

Topsfield Fair Fantasy

Topsfield Fair Fantasy
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today is the last day of the Topsfield Fair, and it has been far too cold and rainy to think of going in reality. But here's a nice memory from last year, taken late afternoon, also on the very last day of the fair. I was so eager to capture the bright fall foliage and the colors of the booths that I didn't even notice the litter, the generator, and the general junk in the original version of this photo. But I have been playing with this image for the past few weeks, and with some digital editing and Painter IX's digital chalk, I managed to clean it up a bit. Now I think it does a better job of showing the excitement of this bright October fair

Ocean at Singing Beach

Ocean at Singing Beach
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Despite today's fall temperatures, we have recently had some good beach weather. Earlier this week, I used my phonecam to take pictures of the waves rolling in at Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Now that it is October, dogs are allowed on the beach again, so there were a lot of people walking their dogs. But a few people were swimming and tanning themselves, as if it were August instead of October.

Portrait in Progress as of October 8

Portrait in Progress as of October 8
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here is the latest version of the portrait I am painting of my friend's father. I have made some changes, and expect to make quite a few more. I am still doing some basic blocking in of the features, adjusting proportions without worrying too much about detail at this point. The color of the face is more naturalistic because I added some middle tones. Right now, I feel like what I have is a general family resemblance, but it is not yet a likeness. I will keep going. . . .

Midway at Nightfall Topsfield Fair

Midway at Nightfall Topsfield Fair
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

One day this week, Heather and I went to the Topsfield Fair. It was late in the day, but the advantage was getting to see all the rides at nightfall as the lights were turned on. I started taking pictures with my phonecam, and here is the one that I like the best.

Trees in the Fog

Trees in the Fog
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Warm afternoons and cool nights have been giving us heavy morning fog. So I grabbed my digital camera and went out to take pictures. I grew up in a very dry climate so I didn't see much fog as a kid. I always thought of fog as something out of a mystery book. Now I see fog more often, but it is still exciting to me and I love the way it makes things look, or rather, the way it makes us look at things. Fog makes us pay attention, just like art.

Portrait in Progress (Underpainting) Posted October 5

Portrait in Progress (Underpainting) Posted October 5
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is what I have done so far on the portrait of my friend's father. I used pencil to put in some light marks for placement, then switched to paint to start blocking things in. I start with yellow because it is the most forgiving if I make a mistake, and then go darker. I use brown or purple for darkest areas at first. I try to remember to put the background in as I go. At this point, I can see a resemblance but I can also already see things I need to change.

Garden in Braga

Garden in Braga
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here's another picture from Portugal, from a group of photos that I loaded into the computer and edited earlier this week. My first trip to Portugal was around this time of year. Mauro showed me this beautiful garden in downtown Braga, where the flowers were still in bloom, although even in Portugal autumn was coming. In the fall, flowers seem brighter. Are they really brighter, or are we just paying more attention because we know we had better look at them while we can?

Just One Apple

Just One Apple
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

The other day, I was thinking about making a card to send for the Jewish New Year. So I started to sketch on the computer, using Painter IX's digital chalk. It's just one apple, but they say you should start the New Year with something sweet, like apples and honey, in hopes of a good year.

October Roses

October Roses
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Even though it was chilly last night, it was surprisingly warm this afternoon, so Heather and I went to Long Hill Gardens with the dogs. I was surprised to see these roses still in bloom, in October! I liked the combination of yellows and pinks, so I took a picture with my phonecam. Tonight I cropped the image just a bit to focus on the blossoms.

Tugboats in Portsmouth, NH

Tugboats in Portsmouth, NH
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today we were in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for breakfast (at Friendly Toast), and took a walk down to the water. I used my phonecam to take this picture of the tugboats.

Fantastic Ferris Wheel at the Topsfield Fair

Fantastic Ferris Wheel at the Topsfield Fair
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is from a photo I took at last year's Topsfield Fair. Heather and I had made a spur of the moment trip to the fair; neither one of us had ever managed to get there, and we loved it. So recently we've been talking about going back to the Topsfield Fair this year. (It opens today.) I felt like a kid again to be there, remembering great times at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo as I was growing up. Because the Topsfield Fair is in Massachusetts in October, you can see that there's a backdrop of bright fall foliage. Tonight I cropped this image out of a larger photo of the midway. Then I added color to make the ferris wheel show up against the sky and to convey the excitement of a fantastic day.

Green Foothills Red Sun

Green Foothills Red Sun
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here's another of my acrylic watermedia paintings inspired by memories of Colorado. Although there are a lot of spectacular mountain views in Colorado, the foothills have their own beauty, with sparse vegetation against the slightly pink earth that is the basis of the state's name. I grew up looking at these foothills, as our family drove from Pueblo to Colorado Springs or Denver and back.

Woods in Late Afternoon

Woods in Late Afternoon
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today, on a walk, I used my phonecam to try to capture the late afternoon sun as it hit the trees. This image gave the best sense of the sunlight behind the shadows, just out of reach. I decided to capitalize on the natural blurriness of the phonecam, so I adjusted highlights, midtones, and increased the saturation. I decided to take my cue from the impressionists, who didn't worry about crisp edges. After all, it was the gorgeous light that I was after in the first place.

First Red Leaves

First Red Leaves
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I used my phonecam to take this picture of the first red leaves of the season when I was at Long Hill this week during a sunny, warm fall day, much like today.

Rainy Walk in Dublin

Rainy Walk in Dublin
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

It has been raining here today, and here's a picture to match the weather. This is a picture from my first trip to Dublin, the only rainy day of a three-week trip. I believe this is an alley near Grafton Street. Rain is usually disappointing for travelers, but it does make for some interesting effects in photos. Tonight, I cropped this image to center on the geometry of the alley and adjusted the contrast to make the most of the light, reflected from the shop windows onto the wet walkway.

Purple Grapes

Purple Grapes
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I saw these purple grapes on the arbor at Long Hill this week, so I took a picture with my phonecam. Tonight I cropped the image just a bit for the sake of the composition. No matter how often I go to Long Hill Gardens, there is always something new to see. Sometimes the changes in nature over time are subtle (a few weeks ago, the grapes on the arbor were green) but small changes are worth noticing.

Rose Hips (Digital Gardening)

Rose Hips (Digital Gardening)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

One very warm day this week, Heather and I went to Lynch Park with the dogs. While we were there, I used my phonecam to take a picture of the rose hips on the beach roses. Tonight as I was cropping the image for posting, I noticed that some of the leaves were shriveled and gray, no doubt from the summer heat. So I opened the image in Painter IX and through the magic of digital chalk, got the leaves to green up again.

View of Mountains Through Trees, Portugal

View of Mountains Through Trees, Portugal
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I have been editing pictures and tonight I cropped this image from a photo that I took during a trip to Portugal in July of 2001. I took this photo from a car on a switchback road that wound through the mountains, and I tried to capture the view while moving at high speeds. The strange and beautiful Portuguese landscape was worth capturing, but I could only get a glimpse of it through the trees. Seeing things at high speed is just the way it is now. So often I wish I had more time for a trip, for a conversation, for a visit. But we can either regret that the time we have is too short, or we can take the brief glimpse we get and make the most of it.

Portrait in Progress, Preliminary Sketch as of September 22

Portrait in Progress, Preliminary Sketch as of September 22
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today I did some work on this sketch of my friend's father. I re-worked the eyes, using some earlier photos to get a better idea of what the eyes should look like. (In the main photo I am using as a source, it's hard to see the eyes clearly behind the glasses.)

View From Sterling Castle, Scotland

View From Sterling Castle, Scotland
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Tonight, I was looking through my photos and found a photo taken from outside Sterling Castle in Scotland during our trip last summer. Tonight I decided to take a mini-vacation from the here and now, and edit the photo. I cropped the image so more detail of the mountains and rooftops could be seen. When I was there, like everyone else I took a lot of pictures of Sterling Castle, but it is also interesting to get a different perspective, to see the view from higher ground.

Turquoise Sky

Turquoise Sky
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Time for an image inspired by the Colorado mountains. This was done on the computer in digital chalk, using Painter IX. Whenever I see a blank page (or blank screen), my first instinct is to draw the contour of the mountains.

Zinnias Zoom

Zinnias Zoom
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday at Russell's Orchard, I saw two bunches of zinnias in glass vases sitting near the counter. I loved the color, so I took a picture with my phonecam. Because the background was very cluttered, I decided to crop and enlarge. The image became almost abstract as I zoomed in on the zinnias.

Apples at Russell's Orchard

Apples at Russell's Orchard
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This afternoon, I went with Heather to Russell's Orchard in Ipswich, Massachusetts. It really was a treat, with so much to see and do. Many of the people there were taking the hayrides out to pick apples in the orchards. We didn't do that, but I did pick some apples with my phonecam, and here they are.

Two Boats at Chatham

Two Boats at Chatham
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I have spent the day reading about fish, so here is an image to match. I took this photo several summers ago, during a trip to Cape Cod. We stopped at Chatham Pier and watched the boats come in an unload their fish. Tonight I rotated and cropped the image (making sure to keep the bird on the left). The color needed to be corrected (as in chartreuse sky), so I did a little digital editing, but kept the pastel range of the colors (pink boat, purple railing). Every so often, art is better than reality.

Connemara Landscape

Connemara Landscape
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Tonight at a dinner the conversation turned to Ireland, and I mentioned the strong impression Connemara made on me, where people were sent to farm. It is hard to imagine the hardship here without driving through the area. When I got home, I cropped this image out of a photo I took last summer during our trip to Galway. It is not always easy to imagine the hardships of others; but it is important to try.

Morning Glories

Morning Glories
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I took this photo two days ago with my phonecam, while I was out for a walk in the morning. It has been nothing but gray skies and rain all day, so I decided to post these morning glories as a sunny antidote.

Portrait in Progress, Preliminary Sketch as of September 14

Portrait in Progress, Preliminary Sketch as of September 14
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I am going to paint a portrait of my friend's father, and last night I started a preliminary sketch, which is still a work in progress. I'm not satisfied with the resemblance yet and I know that I didn't quite catch his eyes, but I thought I would post the drawing as it is so far. Although the portrait is going to be a painting, I decided to start with a pencil sketch, working from a photo that my friend e-mailed to me. Last night, as I was drawing, I started to get a likeness -- but it looked more like my friend than his father! So I made some small changes and adjusted the width of the face. I hadn't really seen such a strong resemblance before, but then you do see differently when you draw.

Peach Tree in Massachusetts

Peach Tree in Massachusetts
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday on a morning walk, I passed a peach tree in the neighborhood. The peaches smelled delicious, and the color was great, so I took some pictures with my phonecam. (Apparently some birds agreed with me, so I had to do a little repair work on one of the peaches with Painter IX). It's unusual to see a peach tree in Massachusetts, but this transplant from the south seems to be doing just fine. I've been thinking about the evacuees from New Orleans who were flown to Cape Cod without evening knowing their destination. They had a very warm welcome in this cooler climate. I hope that they do well here, just like this peach tree.

View from Ferry between Belfast and Stranraer

View from Ferry between Belfast and Stranraer
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Tonight I cropped this image out of a photo I took last July, from the high-speed boat between Northern Ireland and Scotland. (Can you find the reflections from the window of the boat?)The boat was packed with people from Belfast going out of town during marching season. People were heading out in all directions, and Belfast was going to be nearly empty for a week. The high speed ferry is amazing and the scenery is great, but still behind it all was awareness of why everyone was leaving Belfast for a few days.

View of World Trade Center from Empire State Building

View of World Trade Center from Empire State Building
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

On a visit to New York City in 1988, I took an elevator to the observation deck of the Empire State Building, which is where I took this photo. (I went alone, but managed to arrive at the same time as a very large group of tourists from Japan, and I enjoyed watching their enthusiasm about New York.) The original version of this photo included some of the Japanese tourists, but last night, I cropped this image out of the photo to focus on the view of those beautiful twin towers.

Princeton Fantasy

Princeton Fantasy
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I am reading THE RULE OF FOUR, a novel set at Princeton. The time I spent working at Princeton really makes the novel come alive for me. Although it's fiction, the details are quite accurate. So tonight I am posting this photo which I took on the Princeton campus before I moved to Boston. Like the novel, the details of the photo are accurate, but I too have departed from reality by opening the photo in Painter IX and using digital watercolor to add color to the sky, trees, and roof to make the roofline more visible.

Zinnia in the Sun

Zinnia in the Sun
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here's another late summer flower, a pink zinnia. I took this picture with my phonecam last week during a morning walk, and tonight edited the composition to focus on the pattern of the petals and the sunlight.