Archive for the ‘Branches’ Category
three acorns by the mystic river
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged colors, green, Inspiration, Mystic River, nature, Photography, Somerville on July 18, 2012| 3 Comments »
leaf tales
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, family, Inspiration, leaves, musings, nature, Photography, poetry on July 10, 2012| 4 Comments »
I photograph a lot of leaves. Today I have decided I will one day write an essay about these things. I may reference the sensuous as an ode to Georgia O’Keeffe.
Or I may give a nod to Walt Whitman who described a leaf (or at least a leaf of grass) as the journey work of stars.
I can write of spidery patterns and blood-filled veins.
Of jagged ridges and rolling hills.
Of silhouettes in blue and green.
Of people protected and hidden half-seen.
Of autumn’s first leaves submerged and later frozen …
… and then go on to describe the new growth that emerges each spring.
And what sparked this thought of writing about leaves? A note from my brother who wrote, until he paused in his day and sat outside with his 2-year old son, he never really noticed the simple beauty of leaves blowing in the breeze.
using my mood
Posted in Branches, Nature Notes, tagged color, emotions, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography, reflections, silhouettes on June 25, 2012| 3 Comments »
Well, I won’t lie. I was having a moody morning to be sure. The approaching storm outside my window didn’t help. But instead of denying that fact, I decided to use that darker energy for this post.
I may have had no choice in the matter. You see, as I sorted through images this morning for a project that must be bright and colorful, I found myself drawn toward the darker photos, those with branches and leaves in stark contrast against pale skies.
Like a persnickety child, I suddenly wanted to select only those images, the darkest of my photographs in black and white …
… and those in hues of all the shadowy shades.
Even though I knew I could not submit them for the project.
But selecting the images and spending time in a darker place was like taking a deep breath … or smacking a styrofoam bat against a tree. A bit of release. 😉
Until I could abide the color amidst the shadows and the light leaking through.
Yes, I remain a bit moody and the rains have yet to fall outside my window but I think, just maybe, it might turn into an okay day. We’ll see …
colorful clutter
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, beauty, colors, food, garden, Inspiration, musings, nature, Photography on June 12, 2012| 4 Comments »
Last night I stood in the kitchen, trimming the sage, snipping dead thyme and bundling dry lavender branches. It kept my hands busy as I talked with a friend. In the end I tossed the litter haphazard on a white piece of paper that just happened to be on the table. In the morning I rose, drank my coffee and prepared to sketch out my day. And then of course I glanced at the paper, at the textures and colors, the shadows in transit… what could I do but run to get my camera? A few more leaves crushed, petals pulled from various nooks, colored paper unfolded, an old bird’s nest found … and somehow my morning became special.
green (and more!) in the woods
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Bellevue Pond, colors, environment, Inspiration, landscape, Massachusetts, Medford, Middlesex Fells, nature, Photography, plants, seasons, spring on April 22, 2012| 1 Comment »
chance encounters with color
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged beauty, colors, environment, Inspiration, landscape, nature, Photography, Somerville, walking on April 19, 2012| 5 Comments »
The results of an impromptu walk around my neighborhood. I have to admit, I got a bit lost. Many hours later, my feet still hurt. But it was worth it, I think. 😉
through the looking glass(es)
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged home, Inspiration, landscape, light, musings, nature, Photography, spring, trees, windows on April 17, 2012| 4 Comments »
Today I was a bit housebound with various projects. Still, the sunlit landscape called to me on many an occasion. As I have written before I am lucky to live in an old house well-kept in its old style with many windows of ancient rippled glass on all sides, some of which are double and even triple paned. It is both exhilarating and calming to move from pane to pane, over time, and try to capture an ever-shifting beauty from sunrise to sunset.
Dead Tree, Beautiful
Posted in Branches, Nature Notes, tagged blues, Branches, Inspiration, musings, nature, Photography, trees on April 15, 2012| 3 Comments »
One day, the landlord will have to cut down this tree before a strong wind blows it down on top of the house, a car or a person. Branches have already begun to break loose and litter the ground. But for now it stands tall, if a bit rickety, creating great beauty in its silhouette. I took this photo through the sheer cotton curtains covering the kitchen window.
Stories Behind the Pictures
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged art, colors, Inspiration, nature, paper crafts, Photography, watercolor on April 8, 2012| 3 Comments »
Sometimes when a photograph has been accepted for publication, the editor has asked me for the “story behind the picture.” Similarly, when my little four-year old friend sees some of my work with colored papers, she often asks, “Why did you do that?” And since she is looking at me intently waiting for an answer, I take a deep breath and try to share with her the story of why I made a sky green and a blade of grass blue. Well, on this quiet afternoon, I decided to share with you some of the stories behind my most recent works on paper. 😉 Mostly they were done at night, to help me settle my brain before bed, by doing something different with my hands.
Red Leaves on Snow
The story: In reading “The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats,” I was reminded of that striking scene in the picture book, The Snowy Day, when the little boy stands outside and is looking back at his footprints tracked through the snow. No footprints did I draw, but a trail of red leaves did come to mind, touched by sunlight.
In the Spirit of Klimt
The story: One day, while researching how trees have been expressed in art, I chanced upon Gustav Klimt’s Tree of Life. I was aware of Klimt’s striking female forms, but new to me was his tree with branches spiraling against a solid sky. I wondered what such branches would look like dotted with leaves made of Japanese paper.
In the Garden
The story: Speaking of Japan … a lovely woman sent me the children’s picture book, Little Pictures of Japan. For me, the book’s cover is evocative of looking through a rounded Japanese window into a garden. The image stuck with me so I decided to assemble what I imagined I’d see peering through such a window on a moonlit night. And finally …
Ethereal
The story: I found a cache of white and gray papers and an old set of watercolors I’d forgotten about. Nothing fancy, just simple lines and washes of color. For Somerville Open Studios 2012, I’ve decided to reproduce some of these works as postcards. We’ll see. Meanwhile, other paperworks can be found here.
Stirring the Pot … Abstractly
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, art, beauty, flowers, herbs, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography on March 27, 2012| 1 Comment »
An Interior Light in the Tulip
I don’t think of myself as an “abstract” person but of late I have felt like exploring that side of myself, especially today when I know there are other things I should be doing. 😉 I will do those things but …
Herbs in Silhouette on the Kitchen Table
… for a moment I give myself permission (once again) to creatively procrastinate by sorting through the digital files and pulling out a few images catching my attention. Some certainly bordering on the abstract. All imbued with a certain light and play of shadows.
Fresh Basil Reflected in Glass of a Blueberry Print
Water on the Green
Window Frames in Shadow on the Wall
Cactus All Aglow
Mystic River Lights Through Reeds
Behind the Fence Brightly
Ideas are starting to come to mind for how I might use these and other images. But … after a while … procrastination is procrastination no matter what adjective I put in front of the word. And so, for now, I must put away the camera and avert my eyes from photography files. At least until tomorrow. 😉
Words + Images 