Getting my Instagram game up for 2021

 Coming tomorrow

My instagram hashtag list for 2021.

Check this out: Microsoft Planet AI

The Microsoft Planetary Computing using AI site was quite the cool find today. The site presents facts in 4 categories(bio diversity, climate change, agriculture, and water) in interactive infographic style, as a demonstration of the insights that can be gleamed using their AI service. Within each of these 4 environmental categories, there is a brief description of the task and issues and a moving clickable image collage that shows detailed bar graphs and statistics relating to whatever collage topic you choose.

FYI, IBM's Watson supercomputer also is capable of harnessing and producing insights into the agriculture of an area, using AI.

What is AI? A.I.(Artificial Intelligence) is the use of embedded decision logic within software that approximates the reasoning done by human beings. 

How does this relate to art? Well, there's no direct relationship. I shared this information because the earth and its creatures are frequent subjects in my work, so my hope was that anyone interested in my work would also be interested in developments related to the natural world. 

African Crowned cranes progression

 Below is a step by step pencil drawing of African Crowned cranes.  I'll update this post with an image of the final piece later. 

Step one was to block out the general shapes with graphite pencil and colored pencil. 

Step 2/4 

Step 2/4

Experiences build creativity

Have you heard? Philadelphians 18 and above can now use their Free Library card to check out FREE digital passes to cultural institutions and other attractions in the area! Learn more about our brand new Experience Pass program: https://t.co/yOq3px7WVC pic.twitter.com/bxmwyYVkBf

— Free Library of Philadelphia (@FreeLibrary) December 15, 2019

This is a great addition to an already incredible resource: your library card. If your new year's resolutions include getting out more with the family or learning more about US history, hop on this now. (tickets for certain dates may go fast).

 Anyone planning to do 1 new thing they have never done before every month in the new year?

High Steppin'

High Steppin'

Colored pencil

Horses are one of my very favorite animals. My fondest memory of one was from the movie King Arthur(2004). There are lots of horses depicted throughout, but the scene that sticks in my mind to this day occurred near the end where Arthur and his horse rides out of the castle to warn the leader of the Saxons gathered outside.
The scene opens with a close-up of the castle gates slowly opening. It's an overcast and foggy day, so you can't see much. You see nothing come forward for a few seconds, then you hear a horse neigh and metal hitting metal. A rider emerges from the fog--it's Arthur and his horse. A few seconds go by and we see him ride up to the leader of the Saxons. Arthur identifies himself and gives the leader this advice: "leave this ground Saxon, or I promise you my face will be the last thing you see on this Earth".
The Saxon leader's response: Finally, a man worth killing.

Competitive Dressage
I discovered dressage, a sport in which horses are trained to do choreographed movements, while researching horses. I then watched some videos of performances, looked up information on the sports section of the Olympics website, and did some reading on the US Dressage Federation site.


(image of an event list at a typical local competition)

Creation notes
This piece was difficult, due to the amount of details in the scene(notice the spectators?), but it was a joy to do.

Check the "Art Shop" link for prints.

Over to you now: What's your fondest memory of a horse? Ever been to a dressage competition?

New work: Two Tails

"Two Tails "
Birds: Great Horned Owls.
Materials: Colored pencil and ink.

About Great Horned Owls:
Why are they special? Two reasons: 1)they are the second largest breed of owl, and,2) they have special camouflage feathers to help them blend in while they sleep during the daytime. Where are they found? They are found in N. America. They prefer open meadows with trees nearby.
How big are they?
Adults are around 14-25inches long. Wingspans can be as wide as 5 feet!
What do they eat? 
They eat rodents, rabbits, crows, and small animals.

Information References: Thoughtco.com
National geographic

Some humor: titles that didn't make it
"I don't giva hoot!....hoot!", "Leemer for dinner again, Fran?"

What do I do now?
- Purchase prints. (Use the "Art Store" link at the top right of this site)
- view other artwork

Free coloring pages for October

Free printables / October 2019
Print and color these drawings according to the provided reference images, or, however you prefer. I update this page every two weeks during the month, so check back for more.



 Sun parrot

Color references:
Note: These images belong to their respective owners. Use them only as guides.

(Credit: Andrea Lightfoot)

Download all pages for the month( file available at end of month)

Instructions:  
Right click on the image and select the option to  save image ( "download image", in Chrome).

Making art

New work: A summer break

"A summer break ".
Birds: Cedar Waxwings.
Rendered With: Colored pencil and ink.

About Cedar Waxwings:
Where are they found? Parts of Central and N.America
How big are they? (medium) About the size of an American Robin.
What do they eat? They eat fruits and berries primarily.

How I created it

Illustration of step 1: Creation of base forms

- Blocked out the general forms of the birds lightly in color(light ocre and yellow) in the poses I found interesting.
- Added details to the birds.
- To create the trees and vegetation, I used a reference image to get the overall details right and then added vines and leaves to give it the right look.

Some humor: titles that didn't make it
"The berry bunch, after lunch", "Look, Joann! Here they come!"

Powerful Links
- Purchase prints of this piece
- Read more about these birds at whatbird.com

Today's quote and fact

Quotable

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right — for you’ll be criticized anyway.” — Eleanor Roosevelt"

Fun Fact: 

Great horned owls “horns” are just tufts of feathers. Their ears, located at the side of their head, are capable of hearing a mouse moving 75ft away!
Source: Sandiego zoo, https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/owl

New work: Fall at Lake Still

“Fall at Lake Still”. Trumpeter swans. Colored pencils. May 2019

Living in the northeast US, I don’t get to see many swans(I see mostly geese), but they usually can be found in parts of Canada and the Midwest….and your local zoo 

Titles that didn’t make it: “And they’re off, “Onwards and upwards!”, We’re off to see the wizard!, “Swan flight”, “A tale of water and greenery”

Seen any fly by lately?

P.S. 11 x 17in print available soon. Will update with link when available.