Throwback Thursday: Clouds

So far this year, The Clouds of October haven't been spectacular. I was hoping to capture photos more like these:

2020

2021

#throwbackthursday

Flash Craft: Puff Ball Flowers

My alternate title for this painting is ... Ehh

Today I attempted another Flash Craft: a project that caught my attention one day, then I pressed myself to execute it within a week or so. My idea is to do rather than simply dream and plan.

I tend to roll things around in my head for weeks or months or years before I try them. For 2022, I've challenged myself to jump in head first.

So ... here's my finished painting:

And here's the video I found on YouTube that inspired me:

What did I learn?

• There are at least two sizes of bubble wrap. This would have worked better with the smaller size bubbles.
  
  
• The acrylic paint should have a consistent viscosity between colors. The thicker paints worked better for this project.
  
  
• I chose primarily mid-tone blues and grey and silver and purple and gold because I thought those colors would match my home decor. The navy blue didn't work at all. The original used bright colors which "popped" on the black background. Then the black shadows and white highlights worked. Mine might work better with pastel highlights and brown-black (rather than pure black) shadows. 
  
  
• I painted this following a video that was all visual with no verbal or written instructions. So there weren't any tips gleaned from the artist. I'll keep that in mind the next time I attempt a simple painting. I learn better with more kinds of input.
  
  
• I finished my painting before adding the splatter paint, dots, and stars like the original. I'll look at this painting for a while and determine if I want to add more. I doubt it.
  
  
• This painting looks far better from a distance and in this photograph than it does in person. I'm not upset at all. It is what it is - a very decent learning experience.
  
  

I'm OK with all of this. Flash Crafts are about exploring and trying new ideas. They're not all going to stick as an artform I'll try again.

So ... TA-DA! 

"Hey! Look at my painting!"

Eugene Park Tour: Orchard Point Park

Dale and I found a local gem in Orchard Point Park. This huge 58 acre regional park is managed by Lane County. It sits on the northeast point of Fern Ridge Lake, a local reservoir that's just a few miles west of town.

We chose to check out this county park when we drove past it on our last country ride in the convertible. We thought it was about time to check out something other than one of our city parks on today's Tuesday Travels. At first, we feared it was closed because of the locked gate. But when we drove down Clear Lake Road about another quarter mile, we found the entrance to the marina open.

This was a very cloudy, gray morning, so we didn't see the park in its best light. The docks and the acres of bbq pits are locked up for the season. But it's unmistakably apparent how magnificent this park must be in the Spring and Summer when the lake level is high. There's miles (it seems) of swimming spots with nearby picnic tables.

There's a small play structure for the little kids, and an open field with soccer goals.

This pretty bridge spans some shallow water in the warmer months. Then, it's another swimming area. Now, it's a meadow.

The bridge leads to a path that skirts the entire point. On one side we saw acres of picnic tables, bbq pits, open space, and restrooms.

The other side of the path has a concrete slope down to the water with many more swimming holes.

On the far end of the park are some horseshoe pits. There's even a spot for a game of beach volleyball. 

But our eyes kept being drawn to the water, the birds, and the hills beyond.

We are looking forward to returning here over and over.

#tuesdaytravels

The Clouds of October - 3

Fog in the morning. Haze from smoke all afternoon. It isn't fun to be outside where breathing is difficult.

But then, as the sun set, clouds formed on the horizon. 

I never tire of this view from our back yard.

A Little Rough

Let's play with textures again. Can you figure out what this is?

Think crispy, crunchy

A tortilla chip!

It's astounding how much hair and string this chip picked up while waiting in my studio for several weeks to be photographed. Eeeewww. I had to avoid the pieces while under the lens.

Coronavirus?

I pulled out my digital microscope this afternoon. Let's play with textures again.

Can you figure out what this is?

I'll give you a hint: 

Woof!

It's a dried dogwood seed pod!

I picked it up while taking a walk, not knowing what it was. Google Lens helped me out.

Throwback Thursday: Autumn Leaves

Taking a look back through the years at some pretty Fall colors.

2008

2012

2013

2015

2016

2017

2018

2020

2021

2022

The Clouds of October - 2

We've had a lot of fog and mist in the mornings, then clear afternoons. This horizontal cloud formation rolled in at sunset yesterday.

Eugene Park Tour: Bobolink Park

This morning's Tuesday Travels took Dale and me to another park about 10 minutes from home. Bobolink Park is an undeveloped, future neighborhood park site. It's in a neighborhood that looks like it was built in the 1970s or 1980s. But the city acquired the land just seven years ago, so the park doesn't have any bells and whistles yet.

It's a decent-sized piece of land that looks like it may once have been a fruit orchard. Right now there are a lot of tall evergreens along the edges of the park. Ivy is starting to intrude, but it looks so pretty crawling up the trees. (Ivy is an invasive species in Eugene).

Dotted throughout the interior of the park are apple trees

and pear trees. All of the trees are overgrown. The fruit is wormy and falls to the ground where the birds and bugs have a feast. When the city develops this park, the urban arborists are going to have plenty of work.

This particular tree stood off on its own. I told Dale that it looks like a trysting tree. Lovers can meet under the hanging branches, shielding them from prying eyes. It looks like a good place to kiss.

So we did!

The only building currently in the park is this picturesque old barn. It's all locked up for now, but sports a rough handmade sign that asks park visitors to keep their dogs on a leash.

Dale and I were pleasantly surprised that there was more to this park than a mown field. Taking the path around it was quite pleasant on this cloudy day.

Or maybe the pleasure came from that kiss ...


#tuesdaytravels