Caught on camera during the last snow storm, the rare and elusive SNOW URCHIN! *grin*

Lucky for the snow urchin, they aren’t a delicacy like their cousins the sea urchins. Too piney.

The first Circle Celtic Tree of Life design (to the left) I completed by drawing the basic outline in ink on illustration board, then scanning it into the computer, and then coloring it all digitally.

I am very happy with the vibrant result, but always intended to create another version with the original outline drawing by inking in all of the details in black, and I finally finished it!

Click on the image to see a zoom or to buy framed or unframed prints. The background is digital, as I did the design on white illustration board, but the rest is all hand-drawn with archival inks. Actually, the background matches the one I used in the Celtic Letters Print, a sort of aged linen look, and would make a nice ’set’ on the wall, if I do say so myself.

I also added the detailed illustrated version to t-shirts, sweatshirts, and all of the other stuff in my shop. (Click any of the images below to browse.)

It was a fun project – I always liked playing with markers.

Not that I’m ever entirely sure where inspiration comes from, but the impulse to draw a starfish on a beach in colored pencil seemed to just come out of left field. On a good note, I’m not usually one to turn away the muse simply because there’s no seemingly rational explanation given along with the actual idea. When I’m being smart about it at least!

Although the details are a little hard to see in this smaller version, the part I like best about this image is that the water rolling onto the beach is so shallow that it’s clear – it’s still just the color of the sand, but darker – there aren’t any really obvious cool tones in the water at all.

Another thing I like is the dual-meaning title – ‘Vacation’ reminds many of us of trips to our favorite beach, but could also refer to the starfish having a little vacation from it’s usual home in the water as well, close to, but still away from, the gently rolling waves.

Click here or just click the image to see a zoom or to get a fine art print for your wall. Thanks for looking!

Recently, a lovely person contacted me with a request for a print of my entire Celtic Alphabet – what a good idea! (Definitely falls into the ‘why didn’t I think of that’ category.) So I created a new print, which includes all 26 original letters, two spacers, and is set against a subtle background that has an old, muted linen or rag paper look:

As shown above, the Celtic Alphabet print is available unframed or framed (the above framing is just a suggestion – there are many kinds and combinations available!) – just click either image or click here to see a zoom, play with framing options, purchase, etc.

Thanks for looking!

Crystaline snow waves….

…. flecked with tiny pine needles. From a snow a few weeks ago that ended in sleet and freezing rain.

Just a little abstract photography for today – thanks for looking!

(Click the image to see a zoom or to buy prints!)

Previously: There’s going to be a little construction dust here as I convert all ten years of this weblog from Blogger to Wordpress, so sorry about that. It shouldn’t take more than a day, and then, hopefully all the OLD links/pages will still be working as well as the new ones, although the template will be similar but not exactly as it was too. I’m also planning on categorizing all the old posts, but that might take some time since I have to go through them all individually.

The only major thing that will be different is the link for the RSS feed, so if you read this blog via RSS, come get the new link in a few days!

Anyway – here goes – wish me luck!

Addendum: Okay – the conversion went smoothly, and now the tweaking process has begun!  I’m also going to create a new graphic for the top of the blog, but that may not be up until tomorrow.  If you see any obvious problems here, please leave a comment!  Thanks!

I took this photo a few weeks ago. Although it’s a little harder to see in this smaller version, each branch of the tree is frosted with a thick layer of snow, and the image was taken while it was still snowing. I thought black and white was a good way to accentuate the contrast…

If you want to see a larger version, click on the image (also to get a print.) Definitely works better in larger form. Thanks for looking!

I caught this guy hanging out in one of our evergreen trees, impatiently waiting for his turn at the bird feeder.

The blue jay didn’t wait very long actually – they tend to descend on the feeder like it’s never going to be refilled. The blue jays chase away the tufted titmouses (titmice? LOL), and then the little titmouses chase away the big blue jays. It suppose it’s their version of tag. I only wish this guy would have had his crest up, but he was too focused on the sunflower seeds to pose.

The funny thing about this icicle is that it had grown at the intersection of a small tree limb and two branches, and it was the only one I could see in any of the trees in the area. And it was over a foot long! I was happy to have captured this shot at sunset – I love the colors and luminosity through the ice.

Just click the image for a zoom or to purchase framed or unframed prints – thanks for looking!

The night was cold and very purple… (A much better way of starting a book than ‘it was a dark and stormy night’ – heh.)

Click either photograph above to see a larger zoom or to buy an unframed or framed print for your wall – and happy new year!