Monday, September 29, 2008

palm on the beach



While bike riding, I noticed the palm trees' shadows on the ground. Here is a stylized interpretation.

giant banyon tree


Punta Gorda, Florida. This tree is large enough to walk through. Unfortunately, through the years lots of graffiti has been carved into it.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Florida oranges



Farmers' market. Faber-Castell PITT pens and color pencils.

farmers' market


Faber-Castell PITT pens and color pencils.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

an old Florida house



I sketched this house in the historic district of Punta Gorda, Florida. This town took a direct hit from Hurricane Charlie in 2004. This street is very close to Charlotte Harbor, many of the houses were flooded. All of the new homes are built under a strict building code to protect against major wind and water damage. No more tin rooves.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

rough seas


This started out as a sketch of the big, late afternoon Florida thunderclouds. While inking, it morphed into clouds and the ocean.

Monday, September 22, 2008

palm tree in a yard


There is a huge variety of palm trees in Florida.

palm tree in the breeze


Punta Gorda, Florida

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Orlando layover


During a SIX HOUR layover at Orlando's airport, I came across this sculpture, "The Traveler". He looked so real, I stood there waiting for him to take a breath. He is next to the Starbucks, (the only place open after 10:00pm), so I sat in front of him and sketched. Just the two of us, late at night, waiting to get to somewhere else. Not the greatest sketch or best pose, but we were both really tired. According to his tag, he has been there since 1986.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Hurricane Ike



To all those in Galveston and Houston, best of luck & hold on to your hats! To my family, friends and clients, hope to hear from you soon.

global warming



Hot enough for ya?

castor bean plant


A Saturday morning sketch, with some style experimentation. The castor bean seeds are coming to fruition. This is the 4th generation of seeds I've harvested. Next Spring these will be planted.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

house on the Blanco River


One of my favorite places to visit in Wimberley is on the Blanco River at an old resort called Rio Bonito. They don't seem to have a website, but my guess is the resort was established sometime around the 1930's or 40's. This is a private home, probably newer than the old camp houses. Yet another beautiful hidden place in this area.

summer/winter


Unitentionaly last summer and winter, I took pictures of this house on the Blanco River. They just happened to match up fairly well. This is the same house as the sketch above.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

tree studies



On the left is a giant, majestic bald cypress tree along the banks of a creek. The gap is large enough to stand in.

On the right is a dead, twisted cedar. They have a wild, rugged character about them. In the heat of the summer, and after a rain, they have a great smell. Almost like incense.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

sunrise


Driving down a country road in the Texas Hill Country at sunrise can be slow-going. This is when the animals own the road, I suppose they are out for the morning hunt. In abundance, there are jackrabbits, deer, roadrunners, armadillo (those that survive the night lounging in the middle of the road), an ocasional cow, and barking dogs running alongside a moving vehicle. I do love early morning time.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

A lazy afternoon


On Labor Day afternoon, I went for a drive out on a back road near Dripping Springs. It was hot & sunny, with a slight breeze. The air smelled like barbeque, the cows moo'd lazily as I sat sketching this old ranch house (not the first the first time I've sketched this). It was a moment to remember summertime before the damp cold sets in again this winter.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

dangerous Paradise


Careful, Paradise may have a nasty bite!
Three dimensional Pop Up art.

dry creekbed still life


I came across a fallen tree while on a hike through a dry creekbed. This tree was rotted, full of woodpecker and worm holes.
I originally sketched this tree on New Year's day this year while it was still standing. I thought it had a sort of primative metropolitan Mondrian look to it.
Now, 8 months later, after seeing it lying broken and rotting on the rocks, I arranged the pieces to look like a downtown skyscraper scene. I thought it was amusing.

dry creekbed still life



Sketched on New Year's day.