Paper Flowers Collage Day 2

This is the little collage I have been working on. Yesterday I added more leaves and more detail in the blossoms.

My Dad in London (Rescued Photo)

My Dad in London (Rescued Photo)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today I have been looking at pictures of my Dad in my Mom's old album, where she kept photos he sent home from overseas during World War II. I found a snapshot that I especially liked of my Dad in London, with St. Paul's in the background. But the photo needed a little help. So tonight I scanned the image into the computer. The image was tilted, so I rotated and cropped it to straighten it out, and improve the composition.Then I adjusted the contrast for the sake of the patterns of dark and light. Then I opened the image in Painter IX to do some clean-up. I had to remove some black marks and scratches, so I used digital bleach, scratch remover, and even some cut and paste. It's not really just about the photo, although I am glad that I could fix it up. It was nice to spend time on this today, and it made me smile to think of my Dad in London. He went to Picadilly Circus, and Saint Paul's, just like I did. He tried out the red phone booths and the pubs. I wonder, did he ride the double-decker bus? I hope so, and I hope he liked it as much as I did!

Evening Light on the Trees

Evening Light on the Trees
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This image began as a photo taken with my cameraphone during an evening walk. I like the way the trees looked in the light of the setting sun. Tonight I cropped the image, and then used Painter IX to posterize the colors.

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 4)

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 4)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is the fourth and I think final version of this painting. I had not worked on it for a few days, but that didn't keep me from thinking about it. I decided that I wanted the mountain in the foreground to be a stronger color. I was thinking about brown, but once I started mixing colors, I decided on the color you see here. I love to see the Colorado mountains turn pink at sunrise and sunset. I also made the sun a brighter pink, so it would show up against the bright blue sky.

Rose of Sharon

Rose of Sharon
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

On a recent walk, I used my phonecam to take this photo. I love rose of Sharon. I especially like the blossoms in this color, the same color that was growing in my yard when we lived in Lawrence, Kansas. Tonight I cropped the image to focus on the blossoms against the blue sky.

Paper Flowers (Collage in Progress)

Paper Flowers (Collage in Progress)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I only had a short time to spend at Red Brick today. I was taking some collage materials over there anyway, so I decided to make an image with pasted paper. I started with a strip of painted paper trimmed from a painting, and began to make a design based on geometric shapes. I decided to start making flowers, using the green paper for stems and leaves, and then I added two different shades of pink paper. This is what my little paper bouquet looks like so far. . .

Bridge over the River in Porto Day 2

Bridge over the River in Porto Day 2
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is a work in progress. Yesterday I had a chance to work some more on this little painting. The bridge in the painting is supposed to be the "Ponto de Arrabido" (Arrabido Bridge) in Porto. This is a view I have seen often during my visits to Portugal, and I began painting this scene from memory. Yesterday I modified the shape of the hillside, and added more houses on the hills.

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 3)

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 3)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I worked a little bit more on this painting today, adding more red and orange colors to the Colorado mountains. I also lightened the sun, added pink highlights to the mountains, and used a pink wash to suggest clouds in the sky. But the sky is still blue. . . .

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 2)

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 2)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here is the painting of the Colorado mountains I have been working on. This is the painting looked on the second day, after I added some transparent washes of color. (The mountains really can look pink at sunrise and sunset.) But I left the sky alone. (Please don't tell me that it is too blue.)

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 1)

Don't Tell Me the Sky is Too Blue (Day 1)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here is another work in progress, a painting that I started last week at Red Brick. I have been painting a lot of mountain images since I got back from my recent trip to my home state. This one is acrylic used as watermedia paint, and I was painting from memory and imagination. The blue of the sky is intense, but the sky can look turquoise in Colorado sometimes, especially when you are very happy to be there.

A Portrait in Progress as of August 19

A Portrait in Progress as of August 19
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is a portrait I am painting for my friends. Over the past few days, I have had a chance to do a little bit of work on it. I am still working on basic issues: the shape of the face, the placement of the features, and the basic composition. Right now, those factors are more important than the details of the face, which will come later. I am working in thin layers of paint so I can make corrections as I go.

Dancing Roses

Dancing Roses
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This piece of digital art began as a photo of a single pink and white rose, taken last year with my old cell phone camera, which had a nice soft focus. Tonight, I decided to use Painter IX's tools to create a pattern from the photo. Then I used the pattern pen tool to make the roses twirl across the page. It looks like quite a celebration!

Bridge over the River in Porto (Day 1)

Bridge over the River in Porto (Day 1)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is a work in progress, a painting at the very beginning stages. When I visit Porto, I love to see the beautiful views of the bridge over the river and the red-tiled roof on the hillsides. So the other day, at Red Brick, I started this funny little painting, working from memory and imagination. So far, It is only a very rough sketch, but it was fun to get it started, and it brought back many nice memories of my visits to Portugal.

Tall Tree and Vines

Tall Tree and Vines
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday I was loading photos into my computer, and this one was among them. I used my phonecam to take this picture during a recent excursion to Long Hill Gardens here in Beverly. We were walking the dogs, and I saw this beautiful tall tree. I liked the pattern of the vines against the tree trunk. Later, I cropped the photo to get the composition the way I wanted it.

Tree Full of Crab Apples

Tree Full of Crab Apples
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I love crab apple trees. I love them when they are in bloom, but they are also beautiful when the crab apples turn bright colors. Here is a picture that I took last week and cropped tonight to show the little crab apples on the branches.

Blue Mountains Day 3

Blue Mountains Day 3
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is the painting I have been working on at Red Brick Studios. This is an acrylic/watermedia painting of the Colorado mountains. This is how it looked on Day 3 when I was finished. I started by adding a wash of gray to the sky, trying to get the soft colors of the thunderstorm. Then I added blue and gray to the bottom half of the painting, trying to suggest a lake. I added some strong pink to the bottom of the picture to suggest grasses at the edge of the water, and then outlined the mountains with some pink, working with a dry brush, with the intention of making the colors more intense. The result is not a realistic image of the Colorado mountains in a thunderstorm, but that is what happens when I paint from my imagination and memory. Still, these are colors I associate with Colorado, and there is something here of the feeling of seeing the Rocky Mountains in a rainstorm. I can never be sure that a painting is finished, but I am content with this one as it is.

Blue Mountains Day 2

Blue Mountains Day 2
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is my painting of the mountains as it looked on Day 2. I added some color to the sky to begin to make it darker, and put a brown wash over the mountains, to cut the sweetness of the colors just a bit. Then I put some brown in the foreground too. I wasn't very happy with the painting at this point but it was time to go, so I took a picture of it anyway. It actually helps me to I leave a project unfinished for the next day, so when I it is time to paint again, I can just pick up the brush and start right away.

Blue Mountains Day 1

Blue Mountains Day 1
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Over the past few days, I have been working on a painting of the Colorado mountains. Last week while I was in Colorado Springs, you could see that it was raining in the mountains, and the colors were great. That is what was on my mind when I began to paint. (Although I did take photographs that day in Colorado, I am working from memory and imagination, with only a very general image in mind.) I have been painting in the studio at Red Brick, trying to get there as often as possible. My schedule is crazy this week and I could only spend an hour each day on this, but I try not to let that stop me. Anyway, I took a photo of the painting each day. This is how the painting looked on Day 1.

Fantastic Narrow Street in Porto

Fantastic Narrow Street in Porto
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This image began as a photo that I took during one of my trips to Portugal. I love the narrow streets of Porto, especially in the Foz. I took the photo on an overcast day, and the colors were muted. Tonight I decided to brighten them up, using Painter IX's digital pastel, tinting the sky with some blue and intensifying the colors of the buildings. Then I used some special effects to kick the saturation up still further. Under cloudy or sunny skies, I love being in Portugal

Evening Clouds

Evening Clouds
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This day was full of stresses and worries. And then there was the news. Are the skies friendly or not? This question matters to me because I count on air travel to help me connect with people I love who are far away. . . .After dinner, at the end of a day full of tasks to do, there was just one more errand, so I went outside to put something in the trash. On my way out the door, I looked up at the sky and saw the most amazing pink and purple clouds behind the trees. I suddenly felt much better and I took a quick picture with my phonecam. It took less than a minute to walk back to the alley with the trash, but when I came back, the clouds were already gone. But the sense of peace and comfort did not vanish with those evening clouds.

Mountains (Collage)

Mountains (Collage)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I started this collage yesterday at Red Brick Studios, my new place to make art! I finished it this morning before breakfast. I made it with torn paper, magic marker, and acrylic paint. The image is from memory and imagination, influenced by my trip to Colorado last weekend. This week, my schedule is crazy because I am catching up after my trip, so I can only spend an hour or so at Red Brick each day. But it is wonderful to be able to just walk in and start painting. I am posting this because it is the very first piece of art I made at Red Brick Studios. I think I am going to like it there.

Countryside in the Mountains of Northern Portugal

Countryside in the Mountains of Northern Portugal
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

My first trip to Portugal was in October, several years ago, and Mauro surprised me with a road trip to Vigo, Spain. On the way, we passed many beautiful little farms as we drove through the mountains. I took as many pictures as I could along the way. This image is from a photograph that was alright, but needed a little help. The photo looked washed out, probably because of the bright sunshine in Portugal. So tonight I cropped the image to improve the composition, and adjusted the saturation and contrast to bring out the colors and patterns in the landscape of Portugal.

Morning at Sloan's Lake, Denver

Morning at Sloan's Lake, Denver
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I spent the past few days in Colorado, visiting friends and family, and attending my high school reunion. On my first morning in Denver, I took a walk around Sloan's Lake. The colors were great in the morning light, so I took this picture with my camera phone. Tonight I cropped the image to improve the composition.

Portrait Postscript as of August 5

Portrait Postscript as of August 5
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

A few months ago, I mailed this portrait to my friends. But there was a problem with a shadow near the jaw that was too dark. So after I mailed it, I made an adjustment to the digital image, softening a shadow near the jaw. Today I am visiting my friends, and had a chance to make changes to the original version. It was fun to see my friends and work on the portrait again.

Mountains (Digital Sketch)

Mountains (Digital Sketch)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

If you give me a blank piece of paper (or a blank computer screen), it is likely that I will begin to draw mountains. Here is a quick sketch of mountains that I made with Painter IX's digital pastel today. Mountains make me feel at home. This sketch is from my imagination, and these mountains could really be anywhere. I love the mountains of Portugal, and the mountains that I saw in Brazil were beautiful too. The mountains of Scotland are fantastic, and there are some amazing cliffs in Ireland and Northern Ireland. And there are beautiful mountain vistas in New Hampshire and Vermont. But the Rocky Mountains are where I grew up. I feel at home when I see mountains because I grew up looking at them every day, and this drawing looks most like the scenery in the foothills of the the front range in Colorado.

Vine on the Fence (Hot Summer Day)

Vine on the Fence (Hot Summer Day)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

It has been unbelievably hot and humid here! Air conditioning helps, but I get cabin fever staying inside. Late this afternoon, it started to cool off just a bit, so I went outside to sit for a few minutes. I saw this vine on the fence, with its tendrils curling every which way. I thought, "My hair does the same thing in this weather," and that made me laugh. I took a picture with my phonecam, and tonight I cropped the image to highlight the patterns of the leaves and the contrasting shades of green.

Flowers and Red Brick

Flowers and Red Brick
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I met Heather at Red Brick Studios today, and while I was waiting for her, I noticed these flowers against the red brick wall, so I took this picture with my cameraphone. Tonight I cropped the image and adjusted the color a bit.

Sea Gull and Rocks on the Beach

Sea Gull and Rocks on the Beach
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here is another photo that I took yesterday at the beach at Lynch Park. I noticed the seagull on the rock, so I decided to take a picture with my phonecam. Later, I cropped the image and adjusted the brightness and saturation to make it easier to see the bird on the rocks.

A Bright New Path

A Bright New Path
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

On a morning walk on the beach, Heather and I noticed a path that we had never seen before, leading uphill and away from the water. We decided to follow it, and it turned out to be a second entrance to the beach, and not such a well-kept secret, either. We have been to this beach many times, and have never noticed this path. As we came to the top of the hill and the end of the path, I looked back and took a picture with my phonecam. I could just make out the ocean through the trees. Tonight when I loaded the image into the computer, I realized that the brightness of the sunlight made it impossible to see the ocean in the photo. But I really liked the image anyway, so I opened it in Painter IX and cleaned up some litter in the foreground with digital pastel. While I was at it, I added a little transparent blue to counteract the brightness of the sky and to suggest the position of the water. (Trust me; this path leads down to the ocean.) This little adventure was the bright spot in the day, and a good reminder that even when you think you know all there is to know about a situation, pay attention anyway, because you might just find a new path that you had overlooked before.

Panoramic View near Braga, Portugal

Panoramic View near Braga, Portugal
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here is a nice memory of my first trip to Portugal. We were driving to see the sites in the area and stopped to take in this panoramic view of the area around Braga. Tonight I cropped the image and adjusted the color to focus attention on the view beyond the trees.

Driving in the Rain (Accidental Art)

Driving in the Rain (Accidental Art)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

We have been having problems with internet connection for two days. So tonight, after a really strong thunderstorm, Mel and I headed over to the computer store. Although the thunder and lightening had stopped, it was still raining hard. But the sun was going down, and as we approached Danvers, the sky was beautiful. I wanted to take a picture with my phonecam. The car was bouncing along, the windshield wipers were going, and I forgot to turn off my flash. Just one obstacle after another, which is the way the day seemed to be going. But when I loaded the pictures into the computer, I liked some of the effects in the photography. This image was a happy surprise. In college, I learned about Raku pottery with its emphasis on using accidental effects. ( I guess I would consider this Raku photography.) I decided not to change anything about the photo, except that I cropped it just a bit to move the bright yellow and orange area out of the exact center of the image.

View from a New York Rooftop

View from a New York Rooftop
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here is another photo that I took last week in New York City with my phonecam. You get a different view of the city from the rooftop. Last night, I cropped this photo to improve the composition and emphasize the diagonal of the Hudson River.

At the Hair Dresser's (Self Portrait Photo)

At the Hair Dresser's (Self Portrait Photo)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I am going to my high school reunion next week, so I had a hair appointment scheduled for today. George cuts my hair and he is the best! While George was drying my hair, I started taking pictures with my phonecam. George decided to have fun too, and helped me by creating some special effects with the hair dryer. This is my favorite of the pictures I took today.

View of Boats at Kennebunkport

View of Boats at Kennebunkport
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

We drove up to Maine tonight to have dinner with a visiting relative from out of town. Just about sundown, we were waiting for a table at the restaurant, so I took this picture with my phonecam while we were waiting. Later, when I got home, I edited the image to focus on the boats, the water, and the lines of the trees.

Digitally Modified Crabapples

Digitally Modified Crabapples
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Some of the crabapple trees are starting to produce fruit. I was excited to see this tree, with its yellow and pink baby apples, so I took a quick picture with my phonecam. When I saw the image on the computer screen, I realized that I was in such a hurry to take the picture that I didn't notice that the crabapples had been pecked at by birds and the leaves had been chewed on by insects. So I opened the image in Painter IX and used digital pastel to cover the flaws that were distracting. I guess you could say that this image is not true to the original photograph that I took, but it is true to the way the crabapples looked to me when I grabbed my camera to take the photo.

Another Marsh in Connecticut

Another Marsh in Connecticut
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday I posted a sketch of a Connecticut marsh that I created on my handheld Clie while I rode the train back to Boston. So tonight I am posted another view of the same subject. I took this photo with my camera phone. My sketch was just a quick impression of the scenery that was flying by; the train was moving far too fast to really draw from observation. This photo gives you an idea of what it really looks like. Tonight I cropped this image to make it square, like the sketch, and adjusted the color to overcome the effects of taking pictures through a train window.

Marsh in Connecticut

Marsh in Connecticut
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

On the train back to Boston from my recent trip to New York, I took lots of pictures with my phonecam (great views of the water). But I also made one sketch with my Clie (handheld computer.) I sat in the the cafe car, and sketched the salt marshes in Connecticut. Tonight I transferred the image into my computer, opened it in Painter IX, and cleaned it up with a little digital chalk.

Drawing from the Sixties (Pencil Sketch of Mel)

Drawing from the Sixties (Pencil Sketch of Mel)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I did this drawing of Mel back in the sixties, from his high school graduation photo. That means I did this as a sophomore in high school. (He was two years ahead of me in school.) You can see the signature says Randi Zagon (my maiden name). Mel went to South High School, while I went to Pueblo Central. I turned this drawing in as an assignment in my high school art class (can you believe that?), and I remember that Mr. Corty, the art teacher, put it in the trophy case in the hallway as "plate of the week". So that week, we had a South High senior on display in the trophy case at Central. Well, that seems like a long time ago, but some things don't change. (For example, I still love to draw portraits, and Mel is still older than I am.) Today, I took a digital photo of this drawing, and used Painter IX to clean up the image and "repair" a tear in the paper with some digital chalk. I am posting it today in recognition of Mel's birthday, which is no secret, because he announced it on his blog already.

Rooftop View of Hudson River, NYC

Rooftop View of Hudson River, NYC
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday I took the train from Boston to New York City to visit my aunt. We were having a very quiet afternoon, looking at old family photographs, which I love to do. It was too hot to walk around the city, but we went up to the rooftop patio of the building instead. The views of the city were amazing! I took lots of pictures with my phonecam, and this is one of the best scenic views. You can see across the Hudson River all the way to New Jersey! It just goes to show you that when you are in New York City, you don't have to travel far to have an adventure.

Subversive Paint-By-Number (Moonlight Dancers)

Subversive Paint-By-Number (Moonlight Dancers)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Last time I visited my aunt in New York City, she showed me a paint-by-number set. I hadn't seen one of those since I was a kid. She invited me to paint, and I said, "Well, okay, but only if I can make it a subversive paint-by-number." I started to paint while we talked, making the color choices arbitrary rather than realistic, and keeping the paint as transparent as possible to let the numbers show through. I wasn't finished when it was time to leave to go back to Boston, so my aunt told me to take it home and finish it. I've been working on it, on and off, and finally finished it today. Once I had all the shapes filled in, I used some transparent washes of color, crossing the borders between the original shapes. In just a few hours, I am catching a morning train to visit my aunt in New York City again, and I am going to take this little subversive paint-by-number along to give to her.

New Hampshire Woods Near Durham

New Hampshire Woods Near Durham
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Here's a photo from yesterday's excursion to New Hampshire. I saw these trees near our friends' new home. I loved the contrast of bright green leaves against dark green shadow, so I took a picture with my phonecam. Today I cropped it to improve the composition and adjusted the contrast just a bit.

A Fig Tree

A Fig Tree
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday I went to New Hampshire with Mel. This fig tree belongs to two new faculty members at UNH who are moving in to their new place. I had never seen a fig tree, so of course I decided to take pictures. This is the best one. I decide to post it today because the timing is right to consider the fig tree. What was that line again? Something about sitting under a vine and fig tree, something about swords beaten into plowshares, something about studying war no more, something about no one being afraid. . . .

Memory of Pueblo (Digital Daydream)

Memory of Pueblo (Digital Daydream)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Tonight I cropped a photo of Pueblo, taken on my most recent trip, to produce a view of the town with the mountains in the distance. Then I opened the image in Painter IX and used some digital chalk to add some subtle color. Although this image has been digitally edited, the backdrop of the mountains is as I saw it growing up. The soft, grainy image seems right for a memory. I am posting this in view of the New York Times piece on Pueblo,* and my upcoming time-travel to attend my high school reunion.
*Also see Mel's blog about Pueblo, www.accountabilitybloke.blogspot.com

A Portrait in Progress as of July 15

A Portrait in Progress as of July 15
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today I worked for a bit on my latest portrait. This is still in the very early stages, underpainting with thin layers of paint. Today, I focussed on compositional issues. Because this portrait is one of a set of two paintings, I am trying to make sure that the placement of the figure in this painting will look right when it is next to the other portrait that I already finished. Then I also worked on placement of the facial features, and made some corrections to body position and face shape, without worrying too much about getting a likeness at this point. That will come later (meaning getting a likeness will come later, and so will worrying about it).

Morning Light on the Trees

Morning Light on the Trees
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This week I have been doing some early morning yard work, and then drinking my coffee outside. I love to see the morning light on the trees. Here is a picture I took with my phonecam this week.

Last Call for Marigolds

Last Call for Marigolds
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I saw these marigolds at the supermarket. It is late in the season to be thinking about planting, so these flowers are on sale. I love the color, so I took some pictures with my cameraphone. When I got home, I edited the pictures in the computer. I like this one the best, and decided that the purple and gold flowers in the background add contrast. Maybe it isn't too late to plant marigolds after all. Maybe too late is just a state of mind.

A Portrait in Progress as of July 12

A Portrait in Progress as of July 12
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

I have been doing a pencil sketch to get ready to paint a portrait, and today I got started, finally. I didn't have much time to paint today, but at least I blocked in the composition and the placement of the face and figure. This is just underpainting, very rough and very early in the process, but it feels good to get started.

Fog Following Thunderstorm

Fog Following Thunderstorm
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

We had great weather this morning, but heavy thunderstorms all afternoon. After the storms ended, it was foggy. Around 8 PM, the light was beautiful, so I went out to take a little walk. Here is a picture that I took with my cameraphone.

Tree in the Late Afternoon

Tree in the Late Afternoon
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

This is a photo I took sometime this week with my phonecam. I had forgotten about it until I transferred some images into my computer tonight, and then I saw it again. I took this photo during a late afternoon walk. You see these trees growing wild along the highway, and I guess some people would call them ordinary, but I disagree. I love the patterns of the leaves, and this time of year, they make an amazing red blossom, as in this photo. So I took a picture, trying to capture the feeling of the late afternoon sun behind the leaves. Tonight I cropped the image to get the composition the way I wanted it.

Overlooking Northern Ireland (Giant's Causeway)

Overlooking Northern Ireland (Giant's Causeway)
Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Today the New York Times travel section featured Northern Ireland, so I decided to take another look at the photos I took while I was there. This one was taken during my trip to Northern Ireland just about this time, summer before last. Mel took me to see the Giant's Causeway, which is probably the most well-known tourist spot in Northern Ireland. (In fact, a lot of tourists aren't aware that they are in Northern Ireland when they are at the Giant's Causeway.) But before showing me the famous rock formations at the shoreline, Mel wanted to show me the view from the top of the cliffs. Now, I like walking, but not hiking, and am not crazy about heights. But it was certainly worth it! This is one of the pictures I took up there, looking down at Giant's Causeway and the Irish Sea. If you get a chance to travel, don't overlook Northern Ireland!