Pink Tulips and Portraits

Last fall, I helped plant a garden for the Pink Tulip Project which is a fundraising project that benefits the Women's Cancer Fund at the Maine Cancer Foundation. Gardens are established to raise funds, create awareness and support for those who have been affected by breast cancer and beautify the community.

On my run the other day, I noticed that they are all in full bloom around the city. Everyday, Sophie and I walk by this one blooming in front of a hotel up the street. I caught it the other evening as the sun was setting.

Still obsessed with doing portraits for Julia Kay's Portrait Party on Flickr. Above is my friend Donna. Together, we survived the Dalvero Academy boot-camp last summer and we are going back again.

The very talented Katarzyna aka Katek 29. You can see her beautiful work here.

More portraits and some flowers

I am still enjoying (okay, I'm a bit obsessed) for doing portraits for Julia Kay's Portrait Party on Flickr. It is such great way to practice, practice, practice. These studies are quite challenging. I try to capture likeness through lines, marks and color. I then have to post them along with portraits from other talented artists. Then of course, the person I am sketching gets to see the portrait also. Yikes—scary!

I usually add color to most everything I do, but decided to submit these two just as ink sketches.

A quick sketch of a bouquet of tulips that were used as a photo-shoot prop. Once again, by the time I got around to sketching them they were on their way into the trash.

Mobile snacking unit

There are all sorts of food sellers in Bali and many use these three-wheel carts as mobile food stalls. They can be seen on the busiest streets and highways, in the crowded cities, along a village road and at the beach. I have seen them pushing these carts in the most amazing traffic conditions going with or against the flow. I'm not sure which is better for business. This cart was parked along the beach selling Bakso which is an Indonesian boiled meatball soup.

Pura Luhar Ulu Watu

A Balinese sea temple built in the 11th century. It is located at the southern most tip of Bali and is perched atop sheer cliffs that drop down to the pounding sea. Monkeys run free and will take whatever they can rip from your body—hats, sunglasses, jewelry etc. This monkey and his family were sitting in a tree on the edge of the cliffs. Ulu Watu is a destination for surfers from around the world.

anjing bagus #1

"Anjing bagus" means "good dog" in Indonesian. In Maine speak it would be a "wicked good dog". There are so many dogs here in Bali and they are all about the same size (medium), short hair, pointy ears though the direction varies—both up, one up/one down, both down and some are sideways, pointed nose and they range in every color and pattern imaginable. Sad, but true, some have better lives than others. They are either sleeping anywhere and everywhere or they are very busy doing what Balinese dogs do. This sweet little guy belongs to the family who owns the little warung (food stall) at the end of the street. They also have an older dog and a few chickens along with an assortment of drinks and snacks. I probably won't eat there.

contrasts

At this time of year I am always amazed at the contrast between the gray pastel landscape outside and the bright intense colors I enjoy surrounding myself with in my home...