Dusk and dawn desert sky – Essence poem: WS & SM
Dusk and dawn desert sky,Clouds move on, catch my eye Weekend Sky (WS) #50 Saturday Mix (SM) – Lucky Dip – Essence Poem
Dusk and dawn desert sky,Clouds move on, catch my eye Weekend Sky (WS) #50 Saturday Mix (SM) – Lucky Dip – Essence Poem
For this First Friday Art post, I’m sharing a hibiscus photo and a few drawings. I took this picture of a Spin the Bottle Hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, at the Oregon Garden in Silverton, Oregon. I’m not sure who came up with the common name, but it’s a funny one! I’m sharing a quick pen-and-ink drawing … Continue reading Hibiscus photo & drawings: First Friday Art
It’s time to share special photos from the past year. Please enjoy this selection of nature, history, and art photos from Bend Branches. Best Nature Pictures The first photo shows a scene at the Portland Japanese Garden. We visited in October, when fall colors were at their peak. This picture shows a pronghorn buck at … Continue reading Some of my best photos from 2021: LAPC, SS
This Mix Tape A & B mural, by artist Erik Hoogen, is located at Silver Moon Brewing in Bend, Oregon. Erik worked on this labor of love seasonally for two years. This large work of art is located in a narrow alley so instead of trying to show it in one photo, I took several. … Continue reading Mix Tape A & B Mural: Monday Murals
Today I’m sharing kingfisher art. I drew the following images several years ago. In studies such as these you attempt to capture the essence of the subject. You’re not going for detail in this type of drawing. John James Audubon I’m also sharing images of belted kingfishers from a couple wildlife artists. The first painting … Continue reading Kingfisher art – sketches & paintings: First Friday Art
One of the challenges of photography is capturing images of elusive birds. Sometimes certain species are not considered difficult to photograph, they only elude YOU. Here are a few of mine. Intelligent & elusive birds I have been trying to get a decent photo of a black-billed magpie for a long time. These intelligent birds … Continue reading Elusive birds captured – finally!: LAPC
Many of us won’t be celebrating the holidays with close relatives, but we’ve grown closer to bird “families” in our yards. Interest in birding is soaring and people are flocking to this activity during the pandemic. I’m sharing the joy of birds in these photos of ornaments I’ve collected over the years. Bluebirds capture the … Continue reading Birds on my Christmas tree: LAPC & SS
I often walk through this “Tunnel of Joy” by the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. I call it that because the bright artwork is so joyful. I’ve previously featured one side of the bridge and the other but never the inside of the tunnel. The abstract painting lining the tunnel is by artist, Tom Cramer. … Continue reading Tunnel of Joy in Bend: LAPC
Drawing from a different perspective On January 20, visitors entered Classroom A at the High Desert Museum to find the room filled with lifelike mounts of raptors. One mount depicted a California quail being chased by a sharp-shinned hawk. Another was of a great horned owl perched on a branch. A golden eagle mount, with … Continue reading Sketching Raptors Workshop
Edward S. Curtis’ mission Curtis decided to make it his life mission to document the tribes of North America. He thought they were on the point of vanishing. At one point he went to the Smithsonian to ask for financing but they told him, “We have experts here; some have even been to Indian country”. They … Continue reading Edward S. Curtis’ Mission – A History (continued) Pt. 4