Light

I have been re-reading Crow Planet by Lyanda Lynn Haupt.  It is a wonderful book even better on the second reading.

But here we are, intricate human animals capable of feeling despair over the state of the earth and, simultaneously, joy in its unfolding wildness, no matter how hampered.  What are we to do with such a confounding vision?  The choices appear to be few.  We can deny it, ignore it, go insane with its weight, structure it into a stony ethos with which we beat ourselves and our friends to death--------or we can live well in its light.                                 Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Live well in its light.........sounds like a plan: facing reality without giving up hope.

Also very inspiring....Jane's Journey, a wonderful documentary about Jane Goodhall

Inspirations from Nature, (including other humans)

Thanks to Roz Stendahl

http://www.rozwoundup.typepad.com/

March 28, 2012

Observing Nature: Pat Beaubien at the MCBA Visual Journal Collective

For quite awhile now I have had a Fabriano Venezia 9x12 Journal,
 however I have had trouble getting comfortable with the larger size. 
Habits die hard sometimes.  Recently I went to the Minnesota Center 
for the Book Arts Journal Collective meeting and was very inspired by 
the work of Pat Beaubien.

It looked like so much fun to use watercolors with a sense of abandon
that I have been attempting to be more free and yet have stronger values,
and its a process that now has a long way to go.
 The key is to really work every day.

My very careful Lichen work at the Minnesota School of Botanical Art
is quite a contrast from the more loose and spontaneous approach.
Yet I am learning from both.
I also have just recently found out about the Natural History Network  http://naturalhistorynetwork.org/.  All of these efforts are connected 

for me but time will tell exactly how.......

Hidden Falls Regional Park, Mississippi River  (large tree has lots of roots showing on the shore  by the river)

Rainy Day

After being out and about for a few days, I'm doing some color work... playing around at home.  The marsh is alive with many birds and ducks.  We even witnessed a bald eagle swooping down to catch a duck and flying away with it and landing in a tree to devour the meal.  This eagle we observed is now often on the nest.  Its Spring.

Spring Migration

The red-winged blackbirds are back!  Its always fun to hear the familiar call of the blackbirds as they return.  I also this morning saw a pair of bald eagles by their nest.  A week ago a close up of a red tailed hawk was a treat.  Today I finally got a view of a fox sparrow, although I'm hoping for a better view when I return tomorrow to the same location.  Excellent views of Green-winged Teals and Blue-winged Teals.... also a highlight.  Its been so warm here that many creatures may be a bit disoriented...getting near 80 in March.

Celebrating the Green

Happy Saint Patrick's Day coming up!  

Its going to be in the 70's for the next few days...sunny and unusually warm for this time in Minnesota.  

My shamrock plant is blooming.  

Three predominantly green watercolors 

painted quite a few years ago, 

seemed to call out to find the light of day once again.

Patterns

The search for beautiful patterns in Nature continues as I enjoy the limited palette of the winter and what might be the last of the snow.  My long term projects of lichen illustration and weaving continue side by side with a wonderful burst of new spring sunshine.

Mississippi River scenic overlook from St Paul side

Northern White Pine cones in the snow

Botanical Lichen illustrations from the BioDiversity Heritage Library site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/collections/

Happily Weaving at Home

A great cure for my winter blahs is time spent weaving.  Thanks to the expert assistance of the folks at Color Crossing in Roberts, Wisconsin, my loom is now in my own place and I can adjust my time to fit the rest of my life.

I am working on a set of dishtowels that have to be the most labor intensive cotton towels ever.  There is something about making useful items with my own hands that feels satisfying.  I am grateful with each throw of the shuttle for the chance to do this kind of "work".  Since people of all cultures in all times have been making cloth, I can also feel connected to folks all over the planet.