Saturday, August 25, 2007

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.107

Welcome back.





This week we'll be continuing with our 5x7 painting of Arizona's Grand Canyon. The photo of our subject is seen in the photo directly below. (For those new to this series, I will be using my usual acrylics.)



When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.



Since that time I have continued to work on the painting.

Still multitasking, I darkened the left side shadowed area. I was hoping to start to see those islands floating in shadow as seen in the photo, but I'm not quite there yet. It still needs some work to bring out that effect. But at least the color is now much closer to what it should be. (I was still packing when I was doing this.)

The present state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.



That's about it for now. I'll see you next week.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.106

Welcome back.





This week we'll be continuing with our 5x7 painting of Arizona's Grand Canyon. The photo of our subject is seen in the photo directly below. (For those new to this series, I will be using my usual acrylics.)



When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.



Since that time I have continued to work on the painting.

Let me start with this. Friends don't let friends paint while packing. Too lazy to dig out the paints I needed while I was occupied packing for a trip, I decided to mix the colors I had on hand. Starting with my blue and yellow, I made green, then added red to produce what I hoped would be a brown. This color was intended to be the very dark brown on the left side of the photo. My less than successful attempt is seen in the photo directly below. With my packing ongoing, I hadn't the time for a do over.



Next week I will have some actual progress to show. See you next week.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Congested Thinking

With the disclosure that the Feds will be sending $350 million dollars to New York City (Specifically, Manhattan.) for the reduction of street traffic (The term congestion is the current fashionable jargon.), one can only wonder how this huge amount of funds could be better managed. For the uninitiated, Manhattan, one of five boroughs (Or counties.) that comprise the City, is an island with a number of entry points. Most of these are already subject to substantial tolls for their useage.

The federal funds are being used to construct a system including computers and cameras to monitor and control/reduce the said congestion. It seems to this observer that this same result could be achieved by doubling (or tripling) tolls on the various entry roads/bridges (or approaches in Gothamspeak.) leading to the island during relevant hours. This could be supplemented by adding tolls to those approaches currently without tolls.

In a time when so many are going without necessities including healthcare, setting yet another layer of technology over the city is a tremendous waste of precious resources. When will we set straight our misguided priorities?

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Verizon Sux

During the day, at work, my evil overlords make sure that I and my fellow servants employees don't get too much dangerous internet exposure. Blocks provide this valuable service, making the workplace safe for all, while limiting severely the sites we can access. Hence my usual nightly visits to the diaspora of blogger friends.

While at home, I expect somewhat less restraint via our trusty Netzero dial-up service. Yes, dial-up. Ahem, when the snickering subsides, I'll continue my tale.

(boran2 crosses arms and taps foot.)

Accordingly, our dial-up internet service is dependent upon reliable telephone service. You know, those near obsolete land lines. Yesterday, I came home only to find that ours had been disconnected without any prior warning. We had recently come to Verizon from MCI, our provider of many years. MCI has recently been acquired by Verizon, but customers won't be moved over automatically. A formal request is required. And in June we made such a request. I received my final MCI bill and paid the few remaining dollars due on my account. All was well. Or so it seemed.

Upon discovering the discontinuation of our service, I dialed as the recording directed. But, so sorry, all billing inquiries must take place before 6:00PM. I was determined to speak to an actual person, but the only one available was responding to inquiries about repairs. He could not address matters of billing. I could not do anything until the next day. I called MCI. Lo and behold, an actual person was answering calls despite the imminent demise of the company as a separate entity. But no, I could not switch back. Suddenly the company had ceased to operate within New York state.

Angry, I went to bed without my internet fix. Upon calling the next day, it was discovered that I had received no bills since June because Verizon had an incorrect address. Service would be restored. But even if Verizon did not have my correct address, couldn't I have received a call regarding termination of service? One would assume that Verizon does have my phone number, no?

Yes, I'm back after my little-noticed forced hiatus.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.105

Welcome back.





This week we'll be continuing with our painting of Arizona's Grand Canyon. The photo of our subject is seen in the photo directly below. (For those new to this series, I will be using my usual acrylics.)



When last seen, the painting appeared as it does in the photo directly below.



Since that time, I have continued to work on the painting.

I have worked to define the lit areas to the left of the foreground butte. To my eye, those lit areas are islands in a sea of shadow. Accordingly, I have spent time to define those islands, seen as red in the photo directly below. It will make my job easier in future installments of this cycle. Note that the vast shadowed area to the left of the butte still awaits its first coat of paint. Note further that those colors seen in the photo are only preliminary and will change later on.

The current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.



That's about it for now. I'll see you next week.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Deathly Hallows

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows today, a bit after all the initial brouhaha. I took my time, savoring this last book of the series.

It has been quite a journey, very exciting with many questions answered. And yet I have a few more.

Did Harry ever tell the Dursleys that it was safe to come out of hiding, or did he just let them continue to suffer in their safehouse(s)? (If he didn't, who could blame him.)

Did Aunt Petunia ever apply to any other wizarding schools after being rejected by Hogwarts? (Was she jealous of the attention that Severus Snape gave to her sister, Lily?) Is financial aid available for financially challenged wizards or do they simply look under the sofa cushions for misplaced galleons?

Did they use union wizards to repair all the damage at Hogwarts?

JK, enquiring minds want to know.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Saturday Painting Palooza Vol.104

Welcome back.





This week we'll be starting an entirely new piece. We're heading back accross the country from our New York City Gehry skyscraper to Arizona's Grand Canyon. Our new subject is seen in the photo directly below. (For those new to this series, I will be using my usual acrylics.)



Not satisfied by the mere challenge presented by this magnificent scene, your intrepid diarist will be painting on a 5x7 canvas. Reducing one of the world's great wonders to a postcard-sized image?!! Well, frankly, I like smaller canvases and the heat has made me feel too lazy to go any larger. (Slacker!!!)

I love this photo, especially those wonderful clouds.

As usual, those first few lines are all important in placing the major elements. I've gone a bit further than just a few lines. (I got started and couldn't stop!) The result of my efforts and the current state of the painting is seen in the photo directly below.



That's about it for now. I'll see you next week.

Car Show

Last evening we took the boran2 boy out to get ice cream and to the local car show. He had just passed his swimming test at camp and deserved a night out. The heat here in the Valley was still quite intense. But it was nice to be out.

The photo shows a 1936 Cord at the show. Interestingly enough, it has front wheel drive and flip up headlamps, both unusual for the time. It is truly an American icon of the period and rare.