Light & Shadows

The dramatic light in this photo captured my muses attention which lead me to the tiny branch of japanese maple leaves. The cast shadows on the large green leaf just makes me want to get out my paints and record it as artfully as possible dancing with each brush stroke. I loved the extreme light at the right of the photo ensuring that it gets proper attention as well. But, oh, my heart sings with the mysterious shadows lurking on each and every leaf. The tangled web of light and dark just ignites my creative soul down to its core. I hope you find inspiration wherever you look, even if it is in the shadows (a vincent price evil laugh is now playing in my head, sorry for that).

Autumn's Palette

Aren't the display of colors just spectacular on this virginia creeper? I loved how it shows the range of autumn's palette all within one plant specimen. No, I did not alter it in any way, this is just how it caught my eye and yes, you can blame the muse. She made me look, turn around, stop and take the picture all while in the car heading home. I turned it horizontally so you could appreciate the blending of the colors without the distraction of looking at the vine. Notice the vibrant green at the top blending into yellow green then a touch of yellow. That yellow turns to yellow orange, orange then into a red orange. I'm still waiting for the other leaves to catch up to this little marvel. Believe me, I already have my camera loaded and ready to shoot. Enjoy being a witness to the color change, it only happens a couple times a year!

Decisions

Contemplating a new journey? Admiring the view? Searching for family and friends? Just hanging around?

Hum, I wonder which one of these this little guy is doing. I would be happy with any of the choices, how about you? I couldn't resist the shot. Not only is the shield bug very interesting to me but the shadows he is casting, just marvelous. Did you notice them? This was taken late in the afternoon, my favorite time for photos, because of the lowering sun. It always does magical things to the shadows - fat, longer, stretched - it's all good in my book. I'm just looking for an intriguing element to pull me closer for a more detailed view and believe me, the muse is there leading me around the yard until something wonderful happens by. Embrace it and let me know what you discover!

Fragments

Some Thesaurus words for "remnants" - balance, bit, dregs, dross, end, excess, fragment, heel, leavings, lees, orts, part, piece, remainder, residual, rest, rump, scrap, shred, surplus, survival, vestige.

The ultimate seed pod for me is the wonderfully complicated yet extremely organized yucca. Although it has its moments of beauty in the long pale silver sage leaves that end with a pointed spike. Or it's tall slender stalk of little plump white blossoms that hang down and move ever so graceful with the slightest breeze. Ending the season with my favorite shaped pods that stand straight up then pop open to show us the rows upon rows of seeds waiting for extraction. Oh yes, I cannot pass them by without sneaking a peek into their little orderly world. Each pod reveals six seed sections carefully encased with a textured form that just calls to me. Let's not even talk about the tiny black treasures inside all stacked up and ready to go into the atmosphere in a moments notice. Who knew they would give me such joy season after season? Thank you Mother Nature for making me take notice to your creation.

Word - Remnant

The word for this week is remnant.

Its noun meaning: a small part or trace remaining; an unsold or unused end of fabrics that are sold by the yard.

This photo represents what remains of my pink hydrangea. It is actually the time I love it the most because of the natural color and all the imperfections that are not usually visible. The dried texture shows off all the veining with extra emphasis adding nice dark values around the flower center and among all the petals. With the violet blue of the sky in the background, it sure gives these dried flowers a bit of life don't you think? A walk in the garden today is full of excitement for me because of all the interesting seed pods, spent flower shapes and the hope of what next year will bring. Don't let it fool you, there is still a lot to look and see in the garden, you just have to look a little closer for all the remnants of the season past.

The Steampunk Aviator

I have been enchanted with the whole steampunk movement mostly because of the combination of insects and mechanical parts like gears. With owls being such a huge trend right now I thought I would try my hand at making it into my version of a mixed media canvas with various texture and many layers of random techniques. I know he needs a lot of love but I'm so pleased with the way he turned out. Actually he is pretty close to what I envisioned in my head - I know, you are sooo glad you aren't trapped in there, right? He looks adventurous and rough from a night of flying, the only addition I will make, a rolled up document to stick inside the cage as if he was delivering an important message somewhere. Hope you take flight with your next project, whatever it may be and wherever it may take you!

Puddles

I've been playing with mixed media for the last couple of months and have to admit it is quite freeing just to have fun and play. This is part of my 52 pages that I'm taking at http://www.wildprecious.ning.com/ and it is one of my favorites so far. When was the last time you jumped in a puddle just because? That's right, jumped. Not worrying about your shoes, clothes or what someone else might think. I have to admit it's been a while but I can guarantee if I had cool yellow boots like this I would be wishing for rain every day :) It was a fun assignment and made me think about being a kid, doing things with reckless abandonment and for the purpose of just because. Be free and splash away, you never know who you might inspire with your joyful bliss!