Simple View

A past trip to Portland, Oregon, reminds me of simplifying and gaining clarity. I’ve been obsessing over  painting, adding more color,  mixing materials, and pushing for new and more colorful outcomes. Then I had to remind myself that less is more. There is beauty in less. There is an art to less. As I looked through these photographs I felt my mind de-clutter.  My eyes basked in the sparsity of a reflection, of a rusty fence and a yellow wall. I was experiencing a simple view full of detail.

Cloud reflection.

Blue still life.

 

Fading yellow.

Black and white bird

 

 

Melange of Color

 

My visit to the Dale Chihuly exhibit in Seattle Center, Garden and Glass, was full of shimmering glass and dripping color. I think my head almost spun off my body while taking in this exhibit. For this post few words, more images. Go see it!

The Space Needle.

 

A tangled mix of nature and glass.

 

The girl with blue dress.

 

Splashes of color.

A mélange of color, intricacy and imagination swam in my thoughts.

Interrupting the Grey

Strolling along the waterfront in Kirkland, Washington, once more I am surprised by finding something new and magnificent. As I stumble across this colorful and creative sculpture I am reminded that beauty is everywhere. What is most interesting is that we humans are drawn to beauty. We are drawn  to experience it and create it. We have different definitions of it, but no matter how different our view of beauty is, we are all mesmerized by it.

The grey is interrupted by a ray of color brought by the swirl of this sculpture.

 

“Dreaming of creation”. Isn’t art an extension of our feelings, our experiences, our thoughts?

Perspective

The photographs shared today are from Sonoma capturing uniqueness by changing the perspective. Sometimes looking closely at an object or changing my point of focus I’ll  find beauty and wonder to be unearthed.

As my journey in California for now ends I find myself discovering a new path, one of observation and creation. As I continue to share with you these findings, I hope to also hear from you, your thoughts, experiences and discoveries.

Looking at world with a different angle.

 

 

Noticing materials, colors and decomposition.

I had a difficult time finishing this piece. I tried to change my composition and materials. Only when adding color did the piece come together. Yellow for warmth and sun, and red for wine and adventure.

 

Calistoga Dream

 

I believe for many people Calistoga is a dream land. This earth, for some, exists for cultivating a harvest for their future, and for others, it’s an escape from their daily lives. For me a heavenly oasis. In this land I witnessed  the warmth of the sun, felt the cradling of the hot springs and enjoyed the skill of the people, all mixing in a liquid pour of experiences that make up Calistoga.

This one is a “gratitude tree” and there are many more in Calistoga, here you will find a “lost love”, “wishes”, “wisdom” and “parents advice I didn’t take”, tree, along with a tag for you to transfer you dreams and thoughts on to them.

A fun discovery was a water-power grist mill that was built in 1846. The “Bale Grist Mill” is full of history on the region and still works, we walked away with some stone cut cornmeal and whole wheat flour.

Warm tones of the heat influenced this piece. Also I try to expanding from facial features to body and silhouettes.

 

 

 

Road Trips

Inviting destinations such as wine country and the coast lure me away from the city of San Francisco. I especially enjoy road trips along the seaside, these serve as a refreshing splash to the panorama. Along the road I find the horizon enchanting me where the highway merges into the sky. Occasionally the outings are interrupted by essential stops to admire the terrain. For this I must thank my amazing pilot,  even when I take numerous photos at what looks like the ground, pavement or dirt, he awaits patiently for me to finish taking in the surrounding.

A breath of fresh sea air and a sprinkle of saltiness on my skin.

Looking at the ground as he passes the time in the car.

Recognize the inspiration for my banner.

 

 

 

Lines and Patterns

Walking through the city I discovered lines and patterns that tell the story of San Francisco and its essence. Along the streets I saw walls exploding with art and expression. In the horizon, arcs and bridges connect with iconic architecture, and even looking down, spheres and composition paved the way.

Walking along Embarcadero.

Finding fun surprises.

Part of my learning has been exploring with different materials and working on facial features. This was made with a vintage pattern found in a awesome eclectic shop in Mission Valencia.

A City of Color and Flavor

San Francisco, an intricate metropolis full of color and flavor. My stay was in the neighborhood of SOMA, right off Mission Bay, with an inspirational view of the bay and its beautiful sunsets. A five minute walk to AT&T park the home of the Giants, another ten minutes to the active Market Street and its shopping maze and a trolley or bus ride away transported me to San Francisco’s unique neighborhoods.

One of my first pieces, Mujer y Mar. With all that water around me there was no other way to start. It’s actually a cover to my sketch book.

The Inspiration

My recent travels brought me to San Francisco, California. Absorbing a ton of sun and beautiful vistas resulted in this new project of sharing with you my photography, art and experiences. These next posts are a result of San Francisco, wine country and its treasures.

My little impromptu work station.

Paper, canvas and collage, a work in progress.

After a day of work I see the sunset filling the horizon with hues of warm yellows, deep oranges and soft pinks.