Longwood Coleus

It's been about a year and a half since my last visit to Longwood Gardens.  It's been on my mind quite a bit lately, what with my coleus obsession and all.  And wouldn't you know,  Matt came home with two free tickets from a co-worker who bought extra on a groupon.  So Wednesday I took myself off to Longwood.  And did they have coleus??  Tons of varieties.  I actually got tired of photographing them.  Shame on me.  But I got so tired I could barely bring myself to take new photos when I stumbled upon another variety.  I may have even sighted one in the distance and averted my gaze.  I'm sure it's the effect of my lingering "you don't have pneumonia, you're fine, I'm sure the stuff you are coughing up out of your lungs doesn't exist now please pay me $35." 

These are some of the fantastic varieties.  I couldn't find name tags for the first two but the last three are "Coleosaurs", "Wasabi", and "Big Bob."  I love Bob.

Some Days

You know how some days you just do your job very well, really nail it?  Friday was NOT one of those days.  Friday was one of those days that started off well critiquing the Deconstructed Line Compositions and quickly descended into chaos.  The problem was that I decided to approach my negative space assignment in a new way.  I usually use cut paper and for reasons I will regret until some new disaster takes center stage I didn't.  The result was completely annoying and frustrating for everyone.  I promise NEVER to make this mistake again.  On the other hand my favorite Deconstructed Line Composition assignment delivered it's usual fun, including these works by Courtney, Kayla, Ryan, & Arron.

Wow!

The show just keeps getting more dramatic and more exciting.  I may have to go next Friday without my camera so I can really watch the show.  The viewfinder limits how I see the shows. 

Fall Flowers

Andrew Piedilato

Andrew Piedilato is one of my favorite painters.  I've been spending huge amounts of time searching for images to share with my students.  I was very excited to come upon new work by this great painter.  I wish I could see them in person.  These images come from his website.

Mallards in the City

It's been a while since I went out to take pictures just for fun.  In fact, as much as I love Heinz, my project there has been feeling a bit like a chore lately.  Of course I'm nearly into my 10th (really 11th since I got started in December last year) month of a year long project.  So it makes sense that I'm feeling a bit burned out.  So just for fun I stopped by FDR Park to see who was out and about.  Mallards were gathered together near a bridge socializing, preening, and diving for crabapples. 

Studio

For about month now I've been painting my coleus plants.  It's all very much still in the experimental stages.  I think.  Maybe. 

Water Patterns

Student Work

These are two tiny paintings, 4" x 4", from an assignment my drawing students completed last week.  Each student made at least 12 of these tiny watercolor paintings.  They were inspired by the students commute to class.  Ben focused on the wildlife he encountered and Jennifer on the textures. 

Teen Update

Olivia has also been sick, bronchitis/walking pneumonia, and so missed out on her performances this weekend.  So normally I will have photos of flags but today we'll have to be satisfied with an image from this summer.

Eye of the Frog

I've been sick for the past three weeks which has put a damper on all of my activities.  I'm also spending much more time inside than outside which has limited the images I have to choose from.  So to keep things interesting I'm going to be including more images of what I do and see.  Images from teaching, studio, high school, and of course the great outdoors. 

Red & Green

Buttonbush Follow Up

I'd say lately I've taken some photos of some interesting things but I have not taken some interesting photos.  Perhaps my focus on documentation has dulled my compositional sense.  After I take my final documentary photo in December I'm only going to take stunningly amazing photos.  Or maybe I should make myself keep taking documentary photos until I get good at it.  Sigh.  That sounds hard.

Good Show

It's going to be a great season.  First of all, the show is going to be good to photograph, obviously my top priority.  Secondly, this is my second viewing and already many great things have been added.  I look forward to seeing the show unfold this fall.

Young Robins

Young Robins can be seen everywhere at Heinz these days.  In fact so can huge flock of adults. 

Like These

These images might be more about their color than texture, another subject that keeps me busy.  Perhaps I'm gearing up for another round of cut canvas works.  Obsessive consideration of texture seems to be a precursor to that sort of work. 

Plant Textures

I have something of an obsession with the shapes and textures of plants.  Lucky for me the refuge supplies much to fuel my obsession.

Male Monarch

Mulch Mushrooms

Hummingbird

More Tiny Treasures

More Wildflowers