Presidents Day (a little late)

Oh well, I did not do this drawing of a bust of George Washington until tonight at the last Sketching in the Galleries class for the month. Our instructions were to deal with the profile and the interface with the background. We were also to define a space within our paper and fill it with out drawing. My drawing materials were pencil and a soft graphite stick. The Sculpture was created by Jean-Antoine Houdon (French) in 1786.

Sunday Afternoon with the Pups.

During my Sunday at the ranch I led the pups down the hill for a short tour and took my camera. I was having fun watching. I took quite a few photos but had a difficult time tracking pups quick enough to maintain focus. When we came to a tree there were plenty of sticks to pick up and run with. Even Cooksie (Mom) got into the fray.) On the hillside between the trees there was plenty of space for games of chase and roll.

Through the Fence

I was looking for photos to send in to a book publisher and found this one. While the quality of the image was not right for book publication, I really liked this image and decided to feature it on my blog today. My preferred point of view is from a point close to the ground and no higher than chest level of my subject.

Sketching In The Galleries: Hindu and Buddhist Art

This week we went to the Hundu and Buddhist Galleries. Although this is my least favorite part of the DMA, I took on the challenge and found this gruesome god head glaring down from a pedestal, and filled my page with it.

Rain Wash Textures

Saturday at the ranch we had some very hard rains which pretty much turned the arena into a wash flat. By Monday after noon the Sun had dried things off enough to walk across the arena looking for interesting features. I am wondering what created the textures I see in the image above. Are these snail trails? Are they worm biways? Anybody have any ideas?
As the rain falls and water washes across the plain of the arena, small wash plains are created showing the affects of turbulent flow on a small scale.






The flat plains of the arena capture water in pools leaving these ponding textures.

Twisty finds his game

This morning I went to Cedar Elm Stables to photograph one of Doc O Lena Twist's Offspring Twisty demonstrate his skills at Jumping. While most of Doc O Lena Twists have found their jobs in the Western Arena either Cutting, Barrel Racing, etc.. Twisty has moved into the English Arena and found his niche as a Hunter. A few more images of todays workout make be seen in this Gallery .

Sketching in the Galleries: Nasher Sculpture Center

This week our Sketching Class was held at the Nasher. We worked in the downstairs gallery among the sculptures of Gaston Lachaise. I did 3 drawings, the one to the left being one of my favorite. This drawing was done with a carbon stick that came with a new set of drawing pencils.

New Planning Calendar

Last night I put together a Planning Calendar for 2008. Each month has a photo page from either a photo taken that month, or featuring an event I regularly photograph during that month. I have prepared a Flash Gallery including all pages in the Calendar. I was considering submitting this Calander to be printed in a hardback book, but decided to have it made into a spiral bound calender.

Sketching in The Galleries: Painting on the Wall

Rachel Cox has returned to lead our sketching class for the month of February. Today she took us to the European 19th Century Galleries and challenged us to work on our drawing with emphasis on the frames and how they were hanging, bringing in the paintings as part of the composition. I chose a small portrait, starting by drawing the frame with all details, working to show the depth and shadows created by the overhead lighting, I then added a suggestion of the woman in the painting.

Fun with the Sticks

Today I had to get the pups out for some time in the sun. As they are a full 2 mos old now and eating heartily, they have put on a few pounds and collectively are able to topple their yard pen. After their 2nd escape I decided to let them have some fun and I would supervise with my camera. This is what I saw:

Chicken Green Chili Tomatillo with Blue Corn Plantain

Tonights supper featured a Chicken with Green Chili Tomatillo Sauce and Blue Corn Plantain Chips.
The Chicken with Green Chili Tomatillo Sauce was prepared with chickeb leg quarters braised with sweet onion rings in an iron skillet. After the chicken was browned I added enough chicken broth to cover all, and then added shredded oven roasted Anaheim Green Chilis. I cooked chicken til meat fell off the bones, adding the yellow squash when chicken was almost done. I served the Chicken Green Chili Tomatillo Suauce with two Central Market Bean and Cheese Tamales. The Blue Corn Plantain chips were prepared from cut squares of green plantain, dipped in egg and then dredged in blue cornmeal. I then fried the platain just like you would potatoes. I served the plantain chips with Fisher and Weiser Mango Ginger Habenero Sauce.

Sketching in the Galleries: Iceberg

This week and final Thursday with Keri Oldham, we were assigned to do value drawing based on one of two paintings from the Rachofsky collection. I chose Iceberg by Tomory Dodge, 2006. The object of this lesson was to use value interfaces to imply line. The link for Iceberg leads to similar sreenprints to the original oil painting from which I drew.