Monday, September 30, 2013

Daniel Smith Triads

The best deal in watercolors are the Daniel Smith triad packs
that you can snag on sale during one of their many promotions.

Here are my latest four sets:
Ballet, Hydrangea, Canadian Geese, and Alpine Wildflowers.

In addition to the three watercolor tubes,

 There is an insert with product information and a painting idea.

On sale, this is a $100.00 watercolor order from Daniel Smith:
15 15ml tubes, two sets of sample dots, and 10 half pans.
For this quality of paints the price is right.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Dose of Rubies

The color that motivates me the most is ruby red.
Lab created stones pack a potent punch of color.

The subtle and shifting variations in red are mesmerizing.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Cloud Gazing

 I love that feeling when you are super-relaxed, gazing at clouds,
and the mind sees impossible things.
Is that the letter "A" up there?

Friday, September 27, 2013

Office Rainbows

Its occurred to me my world is getting more and more colorful,
and that's evident in my office and professional life too.

My projects and planning have taken on more flavor...

I'm extending beyond the sciences to the beauty of the arts.

Lecture shoes next to greenhouse boots, both in full-on pink.

A bit of stray Vera Bradley for extra punch.

Bold new designs match zany new ideas.

The quest for color and pattern is permeating into our courses.

It all seems a bit happier and fun.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Living in a Rainbow

A few weeks ago it just hit me how much more colorful my
world is becoming, both figuratively and literally.

 
It started with actually physically collecting colorful things.

The physical light and sparkly spectrum kept me company on
some of my darkest days.

Then my mind broadened "colorful" to mean variety: tastes, smells,
a wider range of thoughts and experiences.

But I'll keep taking my visual rainbow with me everywhere too.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

My Muse

 Vladi is curled up, keeping me company.

I can paint for hours with this kind of inspiration.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Too Pretty to Eat

 Finishing out my trilogy of sweet-toothed blogs,
a gem of a cupcake.

 Make that two!

 Strawberry and banana cream.

 
The cake is fluffy and frosting thick.

 Tell you the truth, I'd rather look at them than eat them.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Blemished

This doughnut seems to have picked up a bit of sprinkled frosting
from a neighbor.  It makes it even more perfect.

Bright bold colors against white, my favorite design scheme.

Some of the side sprinkles are sticking out at a rakish angle.

I can't explain it, but images like this always make me a bit happier.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Marbled Brownie

A fabulous looking batch of sweets from Nutcakes Bakery.
There is one that looks especially mesmerizing...

A marbled raspberry and Bavarian cream brownie.

The berry is jelled and juicy.

Cream liberally cascades into the crevices.

The brownie is chocolately soft and dense.

A delicious dessert landscape.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Me and Mom

I think its pretty clear I got my love for colors from Mom. We're doing
a self-portrait with an ipad, it took 20+ attempts until we both were
looking at the tiny camera, and I almost dropped it a few times first :).

We can both have fun anytime, anywhere (thanks, Mom!).

Friday, September 20, 2013

Blending Watercolors


Blending paints is not something I do naturally.  I like
everything neatly colored within the lines.

Luckily Daniel Smith watercolors blend like a dream.  Here are three
of my favorite colors: Manganese Blue Hue, Nickel Titanite Yellow,
and Quinacridone Pink (of course :).

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Ready for Fall

Its a box for us!

Something this charmingly wrapped must be a luxe scarf
from Marian of Beautiful Place.

Vibrant fall colors (to sniff).

Cascading threads.

A chiaroscuro balance of light and dark.

Perfect grooves to run my fingers along.

I'm ready for fall (almost).

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

End of Summer Fruit

A few photos from late August I didn't want to lose...

 The last of the rugosa roses are fading.

Replaced by large red hips, nestled in the leathery leaves.

The Shiro plums, long overripe, are mushy and ready to collapse.

A few shaded plums were too late to fully ripen.

The rest are shriveled and falling to the ground.

Apples are ripe, including these grown up from a casually
tossed apple core.

The pears are almost ready too, still a bit hard and green.

Except for the Asian pears, they are already buttery honeysweet.