Illustrator, Adventurer by Bike, Renaissance Man
Another full weekend of drawing, tracing, rendering, and making vector art. I haven’t spent this much time on an art project in such a long time. It feels AWESOME to see something start to come together. I can hardly wait to share the full project with the rest of the world soon.
Also, my first weekend with a new eye-glass prescription in 5 years. These new glasses feel so much easier on my eyes.
Back to it!
The slightly bright and non-forboding antique build is a gentle reminder of repurposing old for new. The Bakery Blocks building is now home to a dozen companies that bring livelihood to the area.
A real world example of what artists call “1-point perspective”. Notice how this road of petals disappears into a single point in the center.
Billions of blossoms died to pave the way for a lady and her dog to “go walkies”.
*Knock-Knock*
Who’s there?
*Knock-knock-knock*
Who is THERE?!
*Knock-knock-knock-knock* *knock-knock*
Hmm. Bushtits aren’t very good at knock-knock jokes.
We should probably replace that window.
We have decided to name him “Dirk”. He is Dirk the Deck Duck.
Draw the dog you want, not the dog you have.
We also don’t have a dog.
I spent most of this day working on a drawing project rather than running around taking photos of real dogs. Apologies for potato resolution of the potato dog.
You should enjoy Patao_dog. We call him Potato-dog.
Back home at the Hunny House in Portland after driving for 2+ hours to get from Eugene back to Portland, I’ve spent the better part of my day, and well, weekend working on a series of drawings that I hope to share very soon.
Just in time to watch one of the first buds opening on the lilac trees. Working with such limited light, it was very challenging trying to get such colors to really pop out. Using some light bouncing trickery, I was able to give this budding branch some well deserved exposure and use boke to naturally obscure the ugly background. Today was a good day.
Second day in Eugene, wandering our AirBnB’s property I happen to come across this tiny house hanging in a tree. It made me think about our own tiny house, the Cozy Cottage in which we were guests of the weekend, and how small of a house a bird needs to be “happy” as much as a bird can be happy.
There was additional evidence that this house had some recent visitors, and I think it was something flying in or out of it that really grabbed my eye. I watched for about 10 minutes hoping to see the occupant so we may discuss the housing market of the area, but I withdrew to our host’s domicile as rains returned to dampen my day.
We had a very lovely weekend in Eugene to spend time with birds at the Cascades Raptor Center and to celebrate 75 months together. Audrey spent her early part of the day out and about searching for new birds while I holed-up working on a special art project for a friend.
That evening, we went over to ColdFire Brewing for a pint of American Stout and enjoyed an EXCELLENT burger provided by the adjacent food cart called Hay Baby. I also happen to work our Scrabble duel by just a couple of points. Highly Recommended ++
We topped our evening watching Vaux’s Swifts swirl into the chimney of Agate Hall. Just like the Vaux’s Swifts of Portland, they produce a visual tornado that is a feast for the eyes.
This was a good day.
Our first visit to the Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene, OR. We’ve been wanting to get over here for a couple of years now and finally had the opportunity to spend an evening with these amazing birds. This Gyrfalcon named Nike really grabbed my attention with her remaining eye and curiosity.
From CRC’s website:
Nike was rescued on the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington in February 2005 by raptor researcher and bander Dan Varland, who had noticed she had an eye problem. Dan transferred her to the Wildlife Center of the North Coast near Astoria OR, with a badly infected eye. After stabilizing the bird and giving it a week on topical and systemic antibiotics, a veterinarian surgically removed the eye, as there was no chance of saving it.
Photographically, it was very challenging to get a good shot of her as we had the dense fencing of her cage, a bright back-light, and a rampant curiosity that kept her from holding still for more than a tenth of a second. I really wanted to show how her good eye contrasted against the spot where her left eye should have been. At some point, I must have made some sort of noise to get her to look right at me and present me with this gorgeous twinkle of sunshine from her eye.
After spending some time admiring the birds we decided we would have to visit once again when we wouldn’t be so pressured to outlast the sunset.
Go visit the Cascades Raptor Center.
Yo spring, I see what you’re up to.
Bring MORE of all this sunshine, flowers, spider webs, and overall spring time happiness.
At the entrance to the Oregon Zoo, there stood a mountain goat. Its name unknown to most. As rain pelted its back, it eyed us with a dark stare, but soon something changed its posture. “The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go!”
Alas, our friend is still growing fat in the loving arms of captivity.
Peaking through the portal to get a glimpse of the world as it is. Or is this a reflection of what was?