Philodendron: Then and Now

Stained Glass
Painted Penguin
In Progress

In early 2011 I became slightly obsessed by an image that reminded me of large philodendron leaves. I made one large (22x33) and several smaller "Philodendron" paintings, and a few postcards, just for fun. Until this morning, I'd left them alone.

Having worked on the Stained Glass Penguin for nine hours yesterday, I never quite got around to making a tiny painting for "Image-a-day" so I looked into my archives and found Philodendron 3. I "cut" a piece and made digital magic with it in Photoshop.

Philodendron 3 (22x33 $500, framed)

A piece of Philodendron 3

Philodendron Magic 2012 (poster at zazzle.com)

Image-a-day 2012: daily digital nanoscapes

Now that the distraction-turned-direction has become folded into my image-a-day commitment, I find myself making small watercolors paintings with an eye toward how they might looked multiplied and flipped horizontally and vertically, in addition to what might I might make happen to their colors under the flying finger of Photoshop.

What else? Each of these designs could be cut and painted tiles, quilt tops, or stained glass. Some could be effective needlepoint designs, although the diagonals might be tricky. Not for me, thank you. I have abandoned the idea of glass and tile because of the safety equipment requirement, and I have made just one pieced quilt which left me in awe of every quilt artist on earth. I  painted some nanoscapes-inspired needlepoint canvas which was challenging and not as much fun as I thought it should have been. Thus, I am left to paint, which I do every single day.

What happened to the pinterest posting?  I had been posting daily to pinterest, but when I read this post, I cancelled the account. Having been reassured by two people who are wise in the ways of these things, I requested another pinterest account, and the image-a-day images will go back up as soon as I am re-activated.

When can I buy these images? Watch for an announcement in mid-March.

Images from this week:

Tropical Tile

Blue Dots

Wild tiles

Raleigh Blue 2

Pink Tile

nanoscapes: defining other visions

The true, actual, and legally registered corporate name for nanoscapes is "nanoscapes & other visions, llc." Having taken tiny watercolor painted nanoscapes postcards to a new world with Photoshop, I have a better sense of what "other visions" means.

Each image created out of a 300 dpi scanned painted post card. I am committed to this 2012 Image-a-Day project and to posting these images to Facebook and to pinterest. What else will they become? Stay tuned.

Blue Dot

Green Glaze

Multi-glaze

Square

Purple Roller Coaster

Blue Tiles

Dancing Ribbon

Image-a-day: a new digital nanoscapes' direction

What started as a distraction has become a new direction for digital nanoscapes, and they are part of my 2012 Image-a-Day project.

Blue Tiles

Nanoscapes began as post-card sized paintings because "tiny" was my comfort zone. When a pal said "I love your work, but I can't hang a post card behind my sofa," I took the hint and made larger paintings. My new comfort zone became 22x33 inches.

The return of small nanoscapes

The original "Net"

But the small paintings and post cards came back, because I love to experiment, I must paint every day, and their size makes them convenient for a traveler.

Through my consulting business, Pass the Baton, I often speak at law schools around the country. Two years ago, I would carry a 12x16 Arches Hot Press watercolor block and a six pallets with 100+ colors. No more. I take three or four tubes of watercolors, a post card block, a 6H pencil, a ruler, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener. Everything goes through security and the whole kit may weigh one pound.

Painting in hotel rooms
With the best lighting in many hotel rooms in the bathroom, I never hesitate to ask for better light for painting. Kind concierge staff members have delivered new light bulbs and, sometimes, multiple lamps to make my rooms workable for a painter. The collateral benefit comfortable bed-time reading. All too often, bedside table lamps give off barely enough light to barely see the alarm clock.

How are these digital nanoscapes made?
I scan a small painting and then experiment the wonderful toys in Photoshop adjusting color and hue, saturation and more. The magic in these new digital nanoscapes comes from horizontal and vertical flipping which, as you will see, makes a combination with a center, giving new life and more energy than the original.

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 This painting, originally titled "The Net," is now the image of mosaic tile work that I would do if it didn't require safety equipment for tile cutting. When I turned 60, I decided that I should avoid all activity requiring either safety equipment or liability waivers. No skydiving, no bungee jumping, and no glass work.  

Just painting.