Winter

Winter is such a wonderful season, despite what the majority of the world thinks! For me as an artist, snow gives a wonderful relief to the business of the outdoors, rather like negative space in a composition allows one to focus in on the small details of a work of art. I think Alphonse Mucha knew what I'm talking about.

John Duncan, "The Riders of the Sidhe"

John Duncan, "The Riders of the Sidhe", 1911

I had never seen this painting before, or heard of John Duncan. What an exciting new discovery! He sounds like quite an odd character too; he said he heard "faerie music" when he painted, and married a woman whom he thought had discovered the Holy Grail in a well in Glastonbury.

My Treefrog and Frog Fairytales

There are several little green tree frogs that live around my house. I snuck up on this one and got a few good captures of him. The jewel-like color of their skin is simply amazing; the color has not been enhanced in any way in these photos.

photos by me

Of course one always thinks of the fairytale, "The Frog Prince" by the Brothers Grimm. In that story, there is no kissing of frogs involved, rather the frog is thrown against a wall and turns into a Prince. I wasn't about to throw this little guy against the wall to see what he'd become. Besides, I've already caught my Prince.

The Frog Prince by Arthur Rachkham, source, Terry Windling's blog: http://windling.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fcf7385883401a3fd23db7c970b-pi

I've always thought frogs are fascinating little creatures, with such odd, enigmatic little smiles. There aren't a whole lot of little girls who squeel upon sight of a toad of frog and run toward it, but I was one of them. Frogs feature a great deal in fairytales, though the one we're most familiar with is "The Frog Prince" by the aforementioned brothers. However, there's a Russian folk tale of a Frog Princess. If you're interested, you can read it here.

Sunset for Fairyland

photos by me

There are some sunsets that have to be seen to be believed.

Silver Point Grasshopper

All photographs by me, subject: grasshopper in silverpoint

I recently discovered silver point drawing, a very old method of drawing in which you use a wire of pure silver to draw on specially prepared paper. Old masters such as Leonardo da Vinci used it during the Renaissance, some of them drawing with pure gold, brass, and copper too.

I was drawn to it because, being obsessed with details, it allows one to draw the finest, most delicate lines possible because of the combined hardness of the metal, fineness of the point, and the ability to make a stroke with the lightest of pressures.

Another wonderful attribute is the highly reflective nature of the marks made. Before the metal tarnished on the page, it glitters and glows like the precious metal it is.

October Lunar Eclipse

Photo by Me

I went out to see the lunar eclipse early this morning. It was foggy and misty, and the moon was low on the horizon, but I still managed to capture an image of it, albeit not a very good one. I enjoyed being out in the chilly October morning. It's not often you get to see a lunar eclipse, and the fact that it was at this time of year made it extra enchanting.

The Oak

Photo by Matthew Jamieson, source: http://jamiesongallery.com/mj.html

Live thy Life,

Young and old,

Like yon oak,

Bright in spring,

Living gold;

Summer-rich

Then; and then

Autumn-changed

Soberer-hued

Gold again.

All his leaves

Fall'n at length,

Look, he stands,

Trunk and bough

Naked strength.

-Alfred Tennyson

Autumn Equinox

by Kirsty Mitchell, source https://www.facebook.com/artpeople1?fref=photo

Today is the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of Fall!

Time to Make Beautiful Things

"Wish" by Christian Schloe, https://www.facebook.com/ChristianSchloeDigitalArt

I've been too busy being busy lately. Mostly my life has consisted of driving to work, working, driving home, working in the garden, and cooking. All things that need to be done. But there is something else that has not been done for a long time, too long in fact, and must be done tonight. And that something is to make a Beautiful Thing.

Zephyrus

Flora and the Zephyrs by John William Waterhouse, via saveflowers1

Standing by the lake a few days ago, I felt a strong, warm wind rush across my face and blow my hair about. It was Zephyrus, the warm west wind, herald of spring.

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl by Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes, source Wikimedia Commons

I saw this gorgeous photo of a Burrowing Owl and couldn't help posting it here. It has one foot tucked away under its feathers so completely, you'd almost think it only has one leg!

Winter Weather At Last: A Fairytale World

All photos by me.

After spending most of my childhood in Texas, where there is very little in the way of a discernible change in the seasons aside from hot and hotter, I have an utter and complete fascination with snow. For a child who loved reading the fairy tales of Hans Christian Anderson and the various Red, Blue, and Violet Fairy Books, all of which have tales of Snow Queens and winter lands, the rarity of snow or even sleet was extremely disappointing.

Thus, when my family moved to an area where there was at least one good snowfall every winter, I developed the habit of wandering for hours in our woods every time it snowed, reveling in the enchanting sound of falling snow and the way the ordinary world could be transformed in a matter of minutes into the world of the fae, dangerous and beautiful, silent and yet full of music.

To an artist's eyes as well there is endless fascination and inspiration. Ice and snow exhibit some of the most exquisite, detailed patterns one will ever find. If you bother to slow down and look closely, new worlds reveal themselves to the naked eye. I invite you to try it next time you're outside in the snow.

Mirow Casle, Poland

Mirow Castle, Poland. Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mir%C3%B3w-03(tz).jpg

The Oldest House in New Orleans

Photo by me.

I recently took a trip to New Orleans, which is actually quite an interesting and mysterious city. Because I love old things, I sought out the oldest house in New Orleans, and found it in a more out-of-the-way part of the city. Called the Spanish Custom House, and built in 1784, it looks like something straight out of Gone With the Wind or a Southern Gothic novel. There must be so much history that has taken place in a house as old as this.

Old Door

I saw this old door in New Orleans. It made me think about all the various ways the Pevensie children found themselves pulled into Narnia. I wonder if this could be a portal...

Chance of Snow

By Hiroshige, via Wikimedia Commons

There's a chance of snow in the forecast, so... cue falling snow effect!