Still Life with Pitcher Plants

Pitcher Plant by SFD

PK took this beautiful photo of a pitcher plant on our foray up into the mountains last week. We hiked up a long trail to a series of bogs and ponds that nestled in a valley between two hulking peaks. While I leaned against a tree and contemplated the way it was both sunny and snowing at the same time, PK waded out into the middle of the bog and discovered a big patch of these vividly colored carnivorous plants. What always amazes me is how the plants that grow together in the wild always complement each other well- not only in function, but aesthetically, both form and color. I love how the moss highlights and echoes the reds in the pitcher plant, and how the whole formation brings to mind an underwater scene, rather than an overwater one. I would have liked to spend some time drawing at the bog, but alas, the snow fell and the wind blew, and we had to move on before our digits solidified.

Inspiration: Aleta Gudelski

Relections, Lamoile River, Vt by Aleta Gudelski

I love the colors in this piece by Vermont artist Aleta Gudelski. So often I'll be out hiking in the woods and come across a scene like this, where the sunlight hits the water just right, and crisp colors flash across the surfaces of rock, water, and trees. When I paint I struggle with colors -so often they swirl and muddy together until all sensation of light in the painting is lost. But even though she focuses more on the impression of a place than a realistic portrait, Gudelski's work so perfectly captures the moment that I swear I just saw a brook trout diving into the shadowy depths. Check out more of her work here.

nearly there...

The first asparagus of the season has arrived!

I am very excited that I am a mere few weeks away from a long relaxing summer in which I can finally get back to working on my many artistic projects. I have successfully conquered the job market, and am very happy with where I'll be teaching next year. Hurrah! Two more weeks of frantic papers and grading and my time will be my own again, if only for a little while.

Right now I'm fighting the urge to ignore all my papers and do watercolor paintings of asparagus spears. I may be developing a problematic asparagus obsession...

Another fine day in the mountains...

I escaped again this past weekend. A few hours of driving and once again I was roaming the hills, though still through knee deep snow. I stumbled across this bog with a view, and had to stop for a moment to admire the deep blue mountain. This was definitely worth having to stay up really late last night to finish grading papers and hem my interview suit...

a little more snowmelt...

Regularly scheduled programming will resume shortly as my job hunt heads towards a (successful) end and April vacation begins! In the meantime, here's a little photo of a rushing torrent of snow melt from a nearby mountain...

soft spring light

The other night I came home from work and took a little nap before heading out on the town. It had rained all day, thick sheets of water that blew sideways with the wind, and as I started to drift off I heard the soft rumble of distant thunder, a sure sign of the end of winter. This morning the sun bloomed bright, and the waters stilled. I've thrown open the windows and let the warm spring air come in and freshen everything up-which was badly needed in both the rooms of the house and in my winterstale brain.

Posting has been light here as of late, and will probably be slow for a few more weeks as I wrap up a frenzied job search and an overloaded semester. I've got a few things brewing though, and can't wait to catch up on what everyone else out there has been up to...