April 6, 2011 – We see a nest

There are hoarders and then there are artists who collect things along the way because they know “they’ll use it some day.” In my big box of collage fodder I found this tattered, small, school book titled More sounds to say a product of “The Ladybird Key Words Reading Scheme.” I do like the use of the word scheme here. A price sticker on the book indicates I paid 5p. I haven’t been to the U.K. in 10 years. Even I am a little surprised that I would have schlepped this back in my luggage. But some of the illustrations are pretty cool (stay tuned for more).

And today, on this spring day, we see a nest. We can say nest. It starts with n .

March 21, 2011 – Melt

The recent winter blast of rain and snow has put the Sierra snow pack over the top. I know how good it is for all us of us in California to have that water dense, snow pack. But, what I am really excited about is the melt. Before San Francisco, I lived in a lot of wintery places. Waiting for the melt and for winter to end, seemed endless most every March. And just when you’d think spring had arrived, it was snowing again. It was gray days with crocuses poking through snow — herring waiting to run. Here in San Francisco, there is no such thing. But I wait for the melt in Yosemite. It’ll still be a while at that high elevation. There is nothing like the rush of water into Yosemite Valley during the melt. The first time I experienced it was back in May 2005. That started me painting moving water, something I had avoided beforehand. I have about six weeks to go, but I am already planning the trip.