Shooting in the Dark

Turtles: Irwin's Snapping & Loggerhead Sea

Not only was this turtle full of personality but he was swimming with the the archer fish.  The archer fish spit (launch seems like a better word) water at insects on land and knock them (crickets on a stick in this case) into the water to eat.  Amazing.  The National Aquarium in Baltimore had quite an amazing number and variety of turtles.  I happened to be just looking over the pool rim when the enormous sea turtle swam up.  I have to say that it was pretty exciting.

More Jellyfish

Jellyfish

Not Quite Done With the Hydrangeas

Secret Spaces

Taylor Arboretum

Between rain drops (read torrential downpours) last Friday I took Olivia and my cousin for a walk around Taylor Arboretum.  Looking back it's been more than two years since my last trip to this wonderful little arboretum.  I should definitely not let two more years pass before I visit again.

Stork Update

I've been doing more work at home than the studio this summer.  But when I do get there I'm still working away on the stork drawings.  And still loving every moment.

Lilies and Daylilies

The lilies and daylilies were in spectacular bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  I'd have taken a lot more photos but it was really way too hot.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Despite the excessive heat after we finished at the Brooklyn Museum we wandered over to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  I've been wanting to see the gardens for a long time but never had the energy after the museum.  I'm not sure why the time I had to see it needed to be 90 million degrees, but there you have it. 

El Anatsui at the Brooklyn Museum

All three of us had the day off today and I was bound and determined to do a summer time family activity.  Since it was planning to be too hot to survive the outdoors, excessive heat warnings and all, I convinced everyone to make a trip to the Brooklyn Museum to see the El Anatsui show before it closes.  It was totally worth it.  And as a bonus we got to see the Sargent watercolor show.  And now, well now I'm ready to get in the studio!

Discombobulated

This has been an oddball summer, strange and a bit disorienting.  Lots of false starts and disrupted plans.  We are trying to settle in to the discombobulating rhythm of our days, and like these wildflowers, grow where we're planted.

Floating Pattern

Plant Forms

4th of July Run

The fireworks in front of the Art Museum were a lot more dramatic than we expected this year.  Unfortunately it wasn't the actual fireworks but the stampede that was memorable.  We missed the grand finale, lost 3 chairs and a sweatshirt, but didn't step on anyone or get stepped on.  Olivia and I did get separated from Matt.  Cell phones were down of course and we finally got back together at the car.  This morning there is almost no reporting on the event.  NBC seems to be the only coverage and they are saying that someone fired a BB gun into a crowd and started the stampede.  But they aren't commenting on who was hurt.  There were at least 7 little kids on the blanket behind us and dozens in the near vicinity.   We saw a lot of lost people on our way to the car.  It's amazing to experience something so dangerous and not have any mention of it in the press.

A Little More From the Field

Fields of Flowers

These images are from Chanticleer's beautiful wildflower garden on a swelteringly hot day before the daily thunderstorm.  I've just been invited to do a solo show in September.  Time to kick the studio efforts in to high gear.  I have a few pieces I've been puttering with for a while.  Hopefully I can pull them together and finish them in the next two months!

Tropical Rainstorms

Everyday for the past week or so we get a tremendous rainstorm, often in the afternoon.  I was hoping to get over to Heinz this morning to go fungus hunting but it looks like today's monsoon is going to be early.