Thank you Mac. I truly appreciate your compliment. I wanted to bring a bit of reality to the artwork, and I hoped that by showing the little Warrior stepping out of the frame would do that. I am truly very glad that you like that effect.
As you become more familiar with your painting I am certain that, with your great artistic talent, imagination and persistence, you will soon learn to create the kind of painting you are hoping for. I did not learn a lot of what I am able to do now in a short period of time, and I am still eagerly learning. So I am so looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful paintings.
I sincerely appreciate your very kind words, and I know that nothing you would ever say would be out of jealousy, that is just not who you are. (smile)
Thank you so much, G. I am very grateful that Mac provides us with such a great group to share our artwork, beautiful photos and paintings. I love being able to enjoy seeing the photos of other places in the world that I will never be able to see in person. It show just how small the 'big' world really is.
That is one of my most favoured of your creations. I said it was fantastic the first time I saw it, and now happy to see that I am joined in my praise for it.
Thank you Buzz. Indeed you were very generous with your compliments when you saw it the first time. Some of the artwork I posted in the Anishinaabe group before I started posting to the Creative Arts group at....your relentless instance. (big grin)
Today is Chinese New Year's Day, based on the lunar new year. As it is still early morning I am posting some photos I have taken at New Year during past years.
The shops in Chengdu decked out with New Year's decorations - red colour signifies good fortune.
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In the early Spring it gets windy, so multi-coloured and shaped kites are sold.
Watching the New Year's Eve special TV gala from Beijing (from 2 years ago - I didn't bother photographing the TV screen last night).
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.Walking in a park in Chongqing on New Year's day, a couple of years ago. Red lanterns to mark the day.
.Huge decorative figures are put up in the park
.Even the boats were decorated.
For this morning's breakfast, we ate traditional New Year's homemade special sesame-stuffed glutinous rice balls - DELICIOUS. (internet photo, but that was what we ate)
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS ON THENEWSTALKERS
Happy New Year Buzz. What an amazing photo essay of the New Years displays. I wish I was there in person to see them. I have seen some of the various displays in some of the Chinese drama movies I watch, and it always amazes me how many ornate and beautiful decorations there are. It is good to know that the tradition still carries on today.
Happy New Year Buzz..they were going to celebrate it in Melbourne but not now. The whole state of Victoria has just gone into a 5 day lock down. The UK strain of the virus has broken out. So no Chinese dragon in the streets today...13 cases now confirmed the last one worked at Tullamarine airport...
Have a good time and hope you and your wife stay safe and enjoy the festivities...🎉💥🏵️🎊
It's quieter than usual, and I'm just as happy that we're not having a huge family gettogether. The virus is pretty much under control in China now, after a recent flareup, and we haven't had a new case anywhere near our area for many months.
That is really a beautiful painting, Mac. Although, I like the darker one as it shows the colors brighter. But, the lighter one does not look quite so 'old'. (grin)
I like how the paint appears to run off the canvas one the one side. I do like that effect.
I see a Ambon Scorpion fish in the center in all its camouflage among the bright yellow sea flowers among the reef.
Just what I see. Others may see something different. Would be interesting to hear what they see.
Don't knock your own artwork, Ender. I am very envious of others artwork here in this group, and this one of Mac's is one of them. And his paintings as well. I am not that good even at abstract painting. Some of my paintings actually were so bad that they made my stomach turn and I could not stand to look at them.
So we each have our own 'thing' that we do best. And while Mac may feel frustrated in his painting at this point, I must say I am enjoying them very, very much. I like to play "What do I see" with his paintings. I may be the only one who may see them, but, it is fun share.
That is a really awesome photo, Kavika. Wish I could see some beautiful sunsets and sunrises here. Too much around me to see the sun rise. By the time I see the sun, it has already risen and on its way to the open sky.
I accidentally had bracketing turned on, so exposures kept rotating. This one is darker than it otherwise would have been. Nice color contrast, I thought.
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The only Christmas Cactus flower I got this year, 6 weeks late. I suppose it got too much light in October. You have to keep it cool, dark, and dry in the fall to make it bloom properly. The plant has been passed down in my family for 4 generations so far.
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Card and Jay.
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European Starling.
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Finally got a Carolina Wren.
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Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.
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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, tucking his head under a wing for warmth. Either that or he's taking a nap. I think he was cold, though. He seemed to be shivering. This Polar Vortex stuff sucks, and I'm at the southern end of it. I feel bad for those farther north. I saw that somewhere in Montana they're having -60 wind chills.
I have video of him doing this. I'm putting it in a movie along with a some other clips from yesterday, but I haven't finished editing it yet. I'll post it when I'm done.
If you were still here you could be enjoying the longest cold snap we've had in 40 years. It hasn't been over freezing all week, and the highs are only going to be around 20 in the week ahead. Lots of snow coming after Sunday, too, especially down in the Table Rock Lake area.
I bet people farther north are rolling their eyes at me, but it's been so mild here the past few winters that I got spoiled. This is a nasty change of pace.
I'm actually feeling sorry for the birds, and worrying about some of them like the robins. I saw one walking around today as if he was in a daze, wobbling a little, dragging his tail, with one wing partially extended. They've been showing up at the feeders. It's not bugs and earthworms, but I suppose it's better than starving. I'm going to start putting meal worms out for them as soon as I can get some.
Yeah, phones are limited by not having an optical zoom, just a digital one. Still, some are pretty good, depending on what a person wants to take pictures of, I suppose.
I don't think the cel phone camera has a sufficient zoom feature to take the nice close ups of the birds. I do like other photos I am able to take with it.
I have video of him doing this. I'm putting it in a movie along with a some other clips from yesterday, but I haven't finished editing it yet. I'll post it when I'm done.
Oh no! I finished my video but it won't upload here. Apparently, there's a size limit of 500MB. Mine's too large, by 264MB.
Dang it. I spent a lot of time on that, too. I'm actually quite proud of it. I'm going to have to get a YouTube channel or something. Buzz won't be able to see it on YouTube, though. Double dang it!
It's just a bridge camera, a Panasonic Lumix FZ80. 60x optical zoom + 60X digital zoom, so 120x in 18MP resolution...I think.
There are settings that double it to 240x, but to be honest I can't remember if I have it set up that way or not. Too many settings to flip through, and I don't understand half of them. I'm still a newbie at this stuff.
It also takes 4K video, but I'm sticking with regular 1080 for now. File sizes are a problem as it is.
I had to do some research and find out how to adjust the advanced settings, but I did it. It's lower quality, but I got the entire video down to 276MB in a single file. It's uploading now.
Well, that was a pain. It uploaded quickly, but took forever for the site to do whatever it does to videos before they can be posted.
I guess this is as good a place to put it as any.
There's 58 clips in it from my camera, and 5 songs from a royalty-free, stock music site. All the clips were shot from inside the house, zoomed through windows. It's too cold to be standing around outside filming birds.
I made it with the free, open-source video editor Shotcut (which Is awesome, BTW).
It was fun to make, but time consuming. I hope you guys like it.
A great video, Dig. Very well done, and fun to watch. It was really fun to see that bulling Robin get a taste of his own medicine from the Woodpecker. I was cheering for him to give that bossy Robin what for. (grin)
I WILL be able to see a YouTube if it's one I want to see, because Raven is able to convert it to an mp4 which I can watch and she said she would do that for me if I asked.
I can watch and she said she would do that for me if I asked.
Absolutely, Buzz. I am always most happy to help everyone where and however I can. Converting YouTubes to the MP4 format is very simple and does not require a lot of time to convert.
For me, it is important that all members of NT have access to the information shared here on NT, whatever or however it might be presented, so that no one feels left out. And I am honored that I can help.
Robins that look fat aren't necessarily so. They puff up their feathers for insulation to stay warm. I caught one doing it on video the other day. The clip is in the new movie I made, if I can figure out how to post it. The file is too large to upload here.
I will out for most of the day tomorrow getting my COVID vaccination, and I have to travel a ways to get it and back, so I am not sure what time I will return home. So I will post my Friday artwork tonight so it will be here for those who can also see it in the morning. I hope everyone has a good evening, and a great day tomorrow.
A new Fancy Dancer in his regalia, ready to show his steps when it comes his turn.
Travel safe raven and hope all goes well. We are going into a 5 day lock down. The UK virus has broken out in Melbourne...got 13 cases one of which worked at Tullamarine airport...so we will be bunkering down once again...
And what have the idiots panic bought once again...dunny paper (toilet paper)...idiots and ferals...
And so rolls on..but think we will once again stamp it out for now as we have done previously..
Thanks shona. I have never been to Corona CA, but, it is not too far from me. The trip there for my 1:30p appt time by fwy will likely not be too bad traffic wise, but, if I have a long wait time it could be a real problem traffic wise on the trip home by fwy. So I have an alternate route home just in case. And...it will be raining in the morning before I have to leave.
The lockdowns are indeed a problem for many. Fortunately where I live we have not needed any lockdowns. But, that could change at any time. We never know what way the virus will take.
I think the dolts who hoard toilet paper, hand towels and Kleenex tissues are not living in reality. They would be better off investing their money in food items and/or other normal household needs. But, hoarding anything is not helpful.
Thank you for your good wishes and kind thoughts. I really appreciate them. (smile)
Thanks Buzz. The Native American children learn early the traditions of their Tribe. And dancing is on of the most prominent ones. The little ones, about the time they are 2-3 y/o, start to learn the dances to the best of their ability, and love to get dressed up in their limited regalia. The regalia is limited so that it is not too much for them to work with, of be a tripping hazard for them. But, it helps them understand the essence of the dances they learn.
So you can see by the artwork of the young children I have posted previously that they get an early start. They are not at all forced into it, they see the adults in their beautiful regalia and dancing the various dances, and the youngsters are eager to learn themselves. It is the way to keep the traditional dances alive for each generation.
It is very important that Native Americans keep their history and traditions, culture and beliefs alive. It is who they are, and must live on for future generations.
It uses colours from the image to enhance the image, and I get a kind of subconcious urge that I'm being led into the image by it. Some may consider it to be too complex but I like it because I like what it does.
Thank you, Buzz. I am glad you like it, and appreciate your feedback on what you see, how it appears to you. Such feedback really does help me in how others feel about what they see.
Great photos! Love that gothic cathedral. Built from 1176-1450, according to Wikipedia.
It reminds me I need to catch up on Father Brown. I still haven't seen the latest season yet.
Somerset is right next to the Cotswolds, where that show is filmed and takes place. Did you happen to make it over there and get any pictures? Lots of quaint, picturesque villages, or so I've seen and read from afar.
Thanks, Dig. The City of Wells is considered the smallest city in England. It isn't much more than a village. They call it a city because it has a cathedral. The cathedral was very interesting.
We love watching Father Brown, and watch it religiously (yes, pun intended).
We spent a day in the Cotswolds. It was very beautiful. I would like to spend more time there. I have some photos. This is one that I posted a few months ago, but I just framed it since I am experimenting with Power Point. I will look for more. I think that I may also have interior photos of the Wells Cathedral that are very interesting.
Beautiful and charming. It's like a fairy tale village.
Speaking of the cathedral, there are things I just love about old masonry architecture, like how some of the purely technical aspects (the way vaults have to be put together, for one) also look inherently majestic. There's a kind of natural, technical beauty. It's captivating.
Wells Cathedral is unique in that it has "scissor arches". They were added in the mid-14th century to stabilize the crossing because cracks were forming that threatened the tower.
You are most welcome for the help with PowerPoint, G. And you have done a great job with your framing. You are indeed a fast learner! And as Perrie knows, once a teacher always a teacher. (smile)
The photos are truly beautiful, and the color of your frames really compliments the photos very well. Well done!
As you now see, framing enhances photos and gives tham a more professional look. Your photos make me realize that I never saw as much of England as I should have, and although I took many photos with my Canon F1 SLR film camera back then (almost a half century ago), I brought only one photo taken in Wales with me here.
I have never been to England, or other countries, and I really enjoy seeing to great scenes, forests, gardens and other events in the various countries that I will never be able to see in person at this point. G did a great job for his first attempt, and he is a fast learner, so I am sure he will become much better at PowerPoint, and begin to stretch and challenge himself to experiment and let his imagine lead the way. (smile)
A funny bird story that just happened...on camera.
A Grackle has a piece of feed corn, but just can't crack it. He tries and tries to no avail, all the while being harassed by a Blue Jay who really, really wants that particular piece of corn, even though there's plenty more in the platform feeder not 15 feet away.
After a while the Grackle gives up, drops the corn, and walks off in a huff. Not a second later the Blue Jay swoops in and claims his prize.
LOL! I wonder if the Jay had any better luck cracking that seen corn he pestered the Grackle for. It would be really funny if the Jay could not crack it either.
I decided, to save paint, canvas and time, I'd experiment with techniques, paint "behavior" and ideas, by doing small "practice" pieces on glossy photo paper, which, I intended to throw in the trash after, hopefully, learning and improving. Using cheap paint and relatively small amounts of it, this was the first one.
Nothing special or interesting with this one, except, I realized that these ARE PAINTINGS! Although, because done on paper, they would not have the durability of canvas or canvas board, they might still have some purpose, like, inserts in greeting cards or notes to friends, etc. ! And, unlike photographs, the TEXTURES make them clearly identifiable as PAINTINGS, because, after all, that is what they are.
I purposely photographed this one against my computer keyboard to give an idea of scale, this one being 3.5" x 5". I have a load of 4" x 6" and 5" x 7" papers, so, I can practice, learn, save time and paint, and still have a finished painting to be able to literally share and give should anybody actually want one.
In the event I decide to do art shows, I might even put these out as promos … maybe in clear plastic bags that can be sealed … a business card inside.
I can't think of the right word to describe those pretty, gem-like mineral accretions sometimes found in rock, but that style of painting reminds me of them.
I don't use any brushes in my technique, occasionally a palette knife or wooden stirring stick, but no brushes except after a painting has dried, at which point, I use a soft-bristle brush to apply clear varnish.
The example above was done quickly, using just two or three colors that were partially left-over house paint. Now that I know I can do these, practice paintings on paper … hopefully, will get better and lead almost directly to derivative versions done on canvas.
WOW Mac! That is a beautiful painting. And what I see in it is various underwater plants floating gracefully in the current. If you don't mind, I would like to try an idea with your beautiful that would fit in with what I see in the painting. Please let me know if it is OK with you for me to do so just for fun.
This is a photo of a monument at Leech Lake MN commemorating the ''Battle of Sugar Point'' on October 6, 1898.
The Pillager Band of Ojibwe defeated the U.S. 3rd Infantry. It is considered by many the last battle of the Indian Wars.
The 3rd US Infantry was sent to Leech lake to arrest Chief Hole in the Day, sometimes called ''Old Bug''. He was never arrested and the US declared that there would be no further attempts to arrest him. Today many of his relatives live in the area.
What makes this quite personal to me is that my Grandfather fought at this battle. I have two of the weapons that he used in the battle. It is truly a piece of history to have sat with my grandfather and have him tell me the battle of Sugar Point, he, being an actual participant in the battle. At the time I didn't realize what this meant or that I was talking to a link to an important part of not only our family history but the history of the state of Minnesota and of the US.
NOTE: For the record, the "painting" on paper posted earlier, is really lacking in several important respects, so, I emphasize, it was an experiment to determine 1) If, in fact I could work on techniques and paint behavior on paper, and 2) if able to do so, if any such experiments were, IMO, worthy of saving, would they be viable as "paintings" in-and-of themselves. The one posted I will not likely consider anything other than a throw away, having nevertheless learned what I set out to learn, namely items 1) and 2).
I'll do better going forward, and, may even consider sending the "successes" to people I care about … and that certainly includes all of you. I'm talking "gifts," not "sales" -- if I am not being presumptuous in believing anyone would want one. Let me think about it.
Thanks again to all for making the GROUP the fine entity it has become.
As Mac mentioned, we are moving into Saturday...so here is one for Saturday..it is one of the first creations I did. The background is a Buckeye wood burl.
Thank you steve. It was one of my firsts, before I learned how to do framing and the many other things that I have learned since. It is about 4 years old. It is a Spiritual vision, the shaman seeing through the eyes if the Sacred Eagle. It is just one of the various Native American beliefs. I am very glad that you like it.
HI Kavika, These are a few of my most favorite pictures and I remember taking each one, here's where I was when they were taken.
The first picture was taken in from the back yard of an apartment I had in Melbourne Fl. The picture is of the coastal water-way taken from the mainland facing the barrier island.
The second pict is Coco Beach Fl taken from a roof top I was installing solar on.
The third pict was taken at a small marina in Satellite Beach Fl where a friend mored his sailboat.
And the last pict was taken in my old stomping ground on a winding country road outside of Peoria illinois.
Hey Kavika, I never was in Ocala but I loved Melbourne, Except for hurricanes. I hated hurricanes and that's the main reason I relocated to Phoenix. But I sure miss the long sunny days. Plenty of time to both work and Play !!
A little while ago today I had gone out to pick up lunch and took these two pictures when I was out this afternoon.
LOL, I get home and see you had replied to the picture I had already just posted that is kinda like these while I was gone... lol
These pictures are from a small local residencial lake/pond close by here in Glendale. ..phoenix
I'm familiar with Phoenix and the surrounding area. I have quite a few friends there. One of my favorite places to stay when I was there was the Biltmore. One of my favorite restaurants was ''The Point'' I also really enjoy Kai. The Heard Museum was a regular stop for me as well. Trying to get my wife out of art galleries was a chore. LOL. She met R.C. Gorman some years back and was fascinated with his work. (she has a couple of his paintings)
Ocala is just far enough inland that we don't get hurricanes, it's only a 45 minute drive to the gulf coast.
Getting closer to what I want in the way of, at least one genre of my paintings. I am not satisfied with the composition, nor the limited range of colors, but, the broken texture and variation, is, IMO, at the very least, interesting, if not intriguing.
Very interesting Mac, and stimulates the imagination. Lots of movement in the color variations. What I see in the center is a cat creeping up on a bird in front of it hoping to catch it.
What I most enjoy about your painings is that they are exercises for the imagination, seeing images in them. For example, in this painting I see a red-robed person reading a document, to the right of it a bird's head with a couple of ghostly figures to the right of that, and on the mid-left, a figure of a man in blue similar to ones I've seen in a painting by Chagall. Do you see what I mean? Here is the Chagall paining I mean...
Any similarities via the polyreferential aspects of abstract expressionism are coincidental unless specifically intended by the artist.
Jackson Pollack had a manager who from time-to-time would admonish him for having “too much content” in given paintings rather than allowing the paint itself to be the subject.
The painting I did today is still experimental, not done with concern for aesthetic composition, color combinations, interesting contrast ... it’s approaching what I’m aiming for, namely the cells that result from different paint densities and additives and surface temperature changes.
Working on small sized paper and with small quantities of paint is where I am now, but, I am learning.
That is one thing I really like about abstract paintings, they allow the viewer to see what their eyes see, and there is no fixed subject. The viewer is free to let their imagination be their guide as to what they see amid the myriad of colors and shapes.
A very nice photo G. And the angle of the shot really does show the well worn steps over the many years. What is the white veil looking object stretched across the stairs near the top?
Thank you, Raven Wing. The white veil is actually the sun shining through the window on the left onto steps that curve to the right in that spot. The steps curving to the right lead to a side door.
And now I can see what that white swath is that I saw in the other one that was further away. It is a light on the curvature of the stairs to the right. Nicely done.
They sure did strange things with stairs back then. I've seen pics from castles where stairs meet other stairs in ways that make no sense at all, and actually look dangerous. A great place to trip and fall. But I guess it made sense to them at the time.
The reason no reply from me Vic is because I cannot open photos you post that are most likely copied and pasted from Google or another such site. For me to see them it would be necessary for you to save the photos to your picture library and then paste them on NT from there. Most members here put up with that inconvenience, for which I apologize, and am grateful.
After watching a few tutorials it occurred to me that the possibilities might be infinite. I could hardly believe all the things that program can do. It's amazing.
Great photo and the various editing, Dig. The editing of all is very well done. I have only used Paint Shop Pro a few times over the years, and it was indeed fun to use. You appear to be well on your way to mastering the app, and creating a lot of great artwork to share with us. (smile)
We recently had our staircase spindles upgraded from oak to wrought iron, and the results were nice. This is a version of the finished product photo, edited in my usual fashion, but a little heavier on the tint.
Thank you Raven. As I look at it in more detail, I notice how much it stylistically draws the eye up the stairs and towards the door on the left. I may need to name this image “to the toilet”.
Were the spindles from Toronto's Steptoe & Wife? They were our best friends in Toronto, and a very successful client, in creating wrought iron staircases as in this photo (from their catalogues):
Thank you very much Mac. I am very glad that you like the effect. I love stained glass windows, and the myriad of colors they can produce. It is very Spiritual in how it affects to mind and Spirit.
Thanks Hal, and you did the Rabbit great justice with your representation. The Rabbit is one of the more influencing Spirit Guides. Here is what it is a symbol of;
The Message of Rabbit Spirit Animal Nurturing Love Comfort Vulnerability Good coordination More planning
Rabbit Spirit Animal Symbolism Fertility Abundance Seasons Ostara Long life
Native Americans will have many Spirit Guides during their life time, as they move from childhood to adult life, and there after based upon their merits and needs.
Very beautiful windows. I've always admired good stained glass windows. Previously I had posted the Chagall windows at the Haddasah Hospital in Jerusalem that were depictions of biblical stories.
When I was a young punk hangin' on the street corners of South Philly, there was a tradition (between street fights) called "THE BATTLE OF THE GROUPS," the "groups being neighborhood guys singing acapella music with the row houses all around providing the echo chambers for our tunes rendered in the night. In Philly, the ideas of "Battle of the Groups," and, "Music from the Soundtrack of your Life" … were born and nurtured.
One of the most popular songs of the day was "Sunday Kind of Love" … perfectly suited for five teenage voices in tight harmonies. I sang that song with three or four different street corner groups, all white, and mixed race … it's a memory etched very deeply in my mind.
So, going into Sunday, here's the original 1950's, early rock n' roll, DOO WOP version.
For 50's and Doo-Wop, "In the Still of the Night" by the The Five Satins, "I've Only Got Eyes For You" by The Flamingos, "Come Go With Me" by The Dell-Vikings, "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" by Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers and "Book of Love" by The Monotones, just to start with.
Getting into the 60's, I like everything from Motown, especially Smokey Robinson. I'm a huge Aretha Franklin fan. Lots of other Soul Music, too. Of course, I love the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Mamas and Papas and many, many others.
As I’ve stated before, I am biased towards Boyz II Men. Later today I will try to post two videos, both showing classic songs that IMO, the Boyz versions eclipsed, In the Still of the Night and Just My Imagination.
As some NT members already know, the drummer on "Be My Baby", the great Hal Blaine, was a very close friend (and client) of mine for almost 40 years until his death two years ago. Hal was the drummer on six Grammy Records of the Year in a row and many other great records. In the '60s and '70s, Hal was the busiest, most in-demand and most successful studio drummer in the world. He played on more than 40,000 sessions and earned about 400 gold and platinum records.
About "Be My Baby", Bruce Springsteen's drummer, Max Weinberg wrote: "If Hal Blaine had played drums only on ... 'Be My Baby', his name would still be uttered with reverence and respect for the power of his big beat."
Art Garfunkel from Simon and Garfunkel, contributing a note to Hal's autobiography, "Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew" (I negotiated the contract with the publisher for Hal in 1990) wrote: "If music in the second half of the 20th century were the Empire State Building, Hal Blaine would be the ground floor."
Hal has a lot of interesting interviews on YouTube. YouTube also has the full recordings of 2 CDs of jokes Hal recorded. He used to send emails to his friends every day with great jokes.
I met Hal and started representing him when I first became a lawyer, and he became like a second father to me. I last saw him at his 90th birthday party just a month before he died. The party was attended by many great musicians, including Charlie Watts, the drummer for The Rolling Stones. It was the last time Hal played drums.
Hal was a wonderful musician and a really great guy. I miss him a lot.
I didn't know that about you and Hal Blaine. That's really something. Being a lawyer out there in entertainment central really must be interesting at times.
As far as the song, the only anecdote I'm aware of is how Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys thinks it's the best pop song ever made, and that the first time he heard it he was driving and was so astounded by it that he had to pull over because he couldn't pay attention to the road.
I have some great musician friends who I have occasionally represented, but my 95% of my practice is in another field, not entertainment law. I have met many great musicians over the years. I did represent Hal for a long time. He also considered me his manager for many years, before he fully retired.
I have heard that story about Brian Wilson, also.
This is a hilarious joke told by Hal, best appreciated by musicians:
The original song is in 4/4 which represents 4 beats per bar (and a quarter note having one beat--technical musician stuff). A "bar" is a musical division. In music theory, a bar (or measure) is a single unit of time containing a specific number of beats played at a particular tempo. Adding the syllable, as in the joke, changed it to 5/4 time. As a musician (since I was a very young kid), I laughed for 2 days when I first heard the joke. It still makes me laugh.
Hal has lots of other jokes on his CDs that are not about music. He used to send me lawyer jokes, too. Haha. I've heard them all.
Your “hobby” is already demonstrably beyond the hobby level; it is clear to me, it is on the verge of a becoming a passion, one pursued by an evolving master.
Daffodils! I have to wait until late March or early April for daffodils.
Ugh! It's 3 degrees where I am and it just started snowing, the first of a few forecasted waves over the next several days. Might have a foot by Wednesday when everything is said and done. It may provide some good fodder for pictures, though.
The high today is predicted to get to about 66 where I live. It's breezy with clouds and sun. We were supposed to have rain last week, but unfortunately, except for only 1/10th of an inch one night, the rain didn't show up. We need rain badly.
Pictures with snow are really beautiful, but definitely foreign!
Sad news. It got down to -4 overnight and I found a sapsucker dead on the ground this morning with his head still tucked under a wing. He must have fallen out of the tree like that, the poor thing. It's still snowing and he was only partially covered, so I think it happened not long before I found him, which would have been the coldest part of the day. It was likely the one shivering and trying to stay warm in the video. He was the only one with bright red on his head that I've noticed hanging around here lately. There are others, but they don't have as much red.
I scooped him up and brought him into the garage where he could warm up, hoping he wasn't actually dead. No such luck, though.
It made me go read about them and apparently they can't handle excessive cold. I guess they breed in Canada in summer and migrate south in winter. Looks like some didn't make it far enough south this particular year. This cold snap has to be brutal for the wildlife around here, and it's going to be even colder tonight. Something like -13.
At least the little guy got memorialized in that video, and possibly the other one I posted at 8.4.10 as well (I think it was the same bird). I hope the others make it through.
If dancing is art then here is some art. Supaman and Acosia Red Elk using traditional native dances, Fancy Dance (Supaman) and Jingle Dance (Red Elk), and dancing to Hip Hop. Both dances are very physical and the footwork and hand and body movements have to follow very intricate patterns.
Please feel free to give it a try. From an old Fancy Dancer, I'll stand by ready to call 911.
It was Mark Twain that said, “Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth.”
Willie "The Worm" Monroe, in 1969, moved to Philadelphia to meet trainer Yank Durham, who was training Frazier. Durham noticed that Mr. Monroe boxed with a sleek, slippery motion that suggested a worm, and thus was born “Willie the Worm.”
In the 50's, there was a kids' show in Philly every night … the star was a puppet named "Willie the Worm" so, it was an easy segue to Monroe especially since guys my age watched Willie every week night at 5:00 on Channel 10.
What is she holding that has light coming from it?
Thanks Dig. It is a large feather, something that is a symbol Native Americans hold at ceremonies or when dancing. The lower part of the feather is a bright white, which is why it looks as if there is light coming from it.
I know Buzz. And it is very frustrating to have all my hard work turn into the default site hat. I don't know why it does that, and it is very annoying. There is no reason for the images to turn into the default hat image, it has nothing to do with anything on my part or the artwork. It is something in the site system itself that causes that to happen. It also happens in the Anishinaabe group as well at times. I might just as well not bother posting any artwork if it is just going to dissolve into the site hat symbol. Very frustrating, and I wish I knew why it happens. No one else's artwork does that, just mine. Grrr!
Hi Mac...yes I did...and in order to see if the format does indeed play a part in the images changing to the default hat format, I saved all the original images to the .png format, and after I finished with the artwork I made sure to save them in the ,png format.
Some of the artwork I have posted are 2-3 years old, and they never had changed before. It is really hard to nail down, as some of the same artwork I have posted here in this group I also posted in the Anishinaabe group. Some of the artwork in the Anishinaabe group will change to the default hat in that group, but, not here, and vise versa. And the changes are totally random in that they don't always change. So it is really hard to nail what is causing the changes to the ground. TiG thought it might have something to do with Jamroom, but, that is not easy to figure out either, as in what might they be doing in Jamroom that could be randomly changing the format of the artwork.
I may change the format of the artwork to the .jpg and see if it still changes to the default hat. But, that is a lot of work to do, and there is no guarantee that it will resolve the problem either.
RW, I dragged the image you posted to my computer, opened it in Photoshop Elements, copied it, saved it as a .jpg and posted it here in its original size.
And this one, I simply changed the .png to .jpg leaving the rest of the file name unchanged! That's all I did and here it is.
If that is so, then the inconsistencies here are really strange, because if Raven has been consistent with her format, then why is it that only one or some but not all switch to the hat, and why is it that you have not seen the hat for the abovenoted picture but others do?
I actually have a bird of paradise I planted several years ago. It has never grown over a foot tall. It doesn't die off yet it never really grows. It bloomed once in probably five years.
It's a little skimpy on frame options, though. I need to see if I can find some free ones as vectors somewhere and import them. I want some nice wooden ones.
You did make the right choice, and for the right reason. IMO, the black frame would have been a bit too stark for the softness of the image. And the gold one brings out the colors of the squirrels fur and the color of the surrounding leaves.
Yes, I did, and I LOVED it!!! It is so beautiful to see the snow falling, the amazing birds, and the squirrel. I really appreciate that you made the video for me. Thanks a million!
This is a photo of America's first Prima Ballerina, Maria Tall Chief considered by many as one of the finest ballerinas of all time. She was part of the ''Five Moons'', five Native American's from Oklahoma that became some of the most famous ballerinas of all time. Their legend lives on as they were instrumental in the field.
I just remembered to ask if you've been watching The Expanse? An Ojibwe Anishinaabe woman named Cara Gee plays an important character in it. Every time I saw her in an episode I told myself to remember to ask, but then I always forgot, of course.
Thanks for the link, Dig. I haven't seen The Expanse but I saw her in the latest version of Jack London's, ''Call of the Wild''. I'm a big Jack London fan.
Maria Tall Chief was my Mother's favorite dancer. She was indeed tall and somewhat gangly in a way, but, she made up for it in her beautiful grace and poise in her dancing. No other ballerina could compare with her. And the performance shown in the photo here is one of her best ever.
I've already commented on why I like the top one, in which I can see many images. The bottom right on shows a man high-stepping while waving a ribbon, and the left is an undersee image with miltiple Dali-type fish.
That one almost looks like it was painted on transparent glass. There's an illusion of being able to see past it, as if it was on a window. That's pretty neat.
It's fun. I've encountered a problem, though. I keep trying different series' of adjustments until I find something I like, but then I forget how I got there. I should start taking notes.
I've had that problem as well at times, Dig. Sometimes I am working for one thing and get a totally different result, and as you say, I can't remember how I got there, and I can't undo the result I don't want if that happens to be the case. Problem is, if I like the unexpected results, I can't remember how I got there so I can't repeat it.
It's frustrating. I've been trying to repeat the look of the squirrel photo in 39 , but I just can't hit on it exactly.
The software displays a whole page of info about individual pictures, even more than the camera does; it would be nice if it would also display edit history.
I didn't think the Holy Father allowed female Cardinals yet. Looks like a record number of comments for this group - obvously it's a great place to hang out.
The Greylag Goose, a native of northern and central Eurasia, has been domesticated and raised for meat for over 1,000 years. It can be white, completely gray (like the wild form), or somewhere in-between. Dozens of domestic breeds exist, with lots of variation in size and coloring. (In some the coloring is sex-linked, with females having gray patches and the males always white!)
Many escape their domestic situations and end up in the wild.
Thanks for the info. Those were in the wild, one of the first photos I took with my new camera with the 30X Leica lens zoom, which was needed because all they were from eyesight were a few little white specks in the water. Of course the photo was toyed with, using the engraving tool.
Having been born in and spent most of my life in Canada, that weather is nothing new to me. My brother and I once built an igloo in our back yard and slept in it overnight - once. LOL We used to flood the lower second back yard to get a private skating rink.
I doubt they like it, but they looked alright to me. So far the sapsuckers are the only thing I've noticed having obvious problems. Even the robin that's hanging around didn't seem phased by it. I guess they're more hardy than I thought.
Got my COVID shot today. I will be doing an art show or two maybe, when things get back to more or less ”normal”; I did a few back in the 70’s with my more traditional (oil) paintings, and in the 80’s, with my photos. The abstract stuff is marketed on-line as well.
Here is how I’ll be marketing the abstracts on paper (4” x 6”) in mattes and sealable clear bags.
I'm getting my second Covid vaccination tomorrow. I have heard a number of people say they felt a fever for a day or so after the second shot. I hope that doesn't happen.
I don't think we've seen the painting on the lower left before. It's spectacular!
Got my first vaccination last Friday, and the only things I an experiencing tiredness and very annoying itching. Hopefully, it will level off by tonight so I can get some sleep. But, so far no pain or soreness in my arm, no fever and no aching muscles.
I'm not entirely sure yet that I will even bother getting a vaccination. I live in a City-State of about 32,000 square miles with a population of about 32 million which has been Covid-19 free for at least nine months save for two or three imported cases months ago, and I will not be travelling anywhere.
A home I owned and lived in for almost 20 years had 3 wood-burning fireplaces and a gas one - We bouught a half-cord of wood at the beginning of each winter. Those were the days - the sight, sounds and warmth will never be forgotten.
One more time! Post your creativity.
Thank you for the first sign of Spring !
Only ONE more time?
When the red red robin comes bob bob bobbing along - Al Jolson
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I love dem birdies!
It's too damned cold out to get new photos. Wind chills are expected to be 35 to 50 below this weekend. Even Kobe doesn't want to go outside.
LMAO, perfect.
He sure NOSE the right thing to do.
He sure doesn't look like he wants to go out.
Winter in Lampe, MO, and Wiki hiding from the cold doing her ET impersonation.
Winter in Ocala, FL. it's currently 74 degrees with a high of 82 today.
Nice! Wiki looks content to stay right there. I've never been to FL even though I have cousins down there.
It sounds like this would be a great week to visit cousins in Florida considering what the temps will be in WI/MN.
It would be nice... We are planning on seeing the kids at the end of September in Phoenix. I'm going to be a grandpa.
Congratulations grandpa.
Thanks. Not yet, but soon... I'll get 50 cents off my McDonald's coffee and be a grandpa! Hahahahaha!
If it's twins you'll get $1 off.
50 cents OFF!!! I remember when coffee was a dime.
It's possible it might just get TOO HOT for Wiki.
Wiki AKA Sun Dog.
That picture of him is hilarious.
Show off!
Happy Thursday everyone!
A great Warrior in the making.....
I would deem this a Masterpiece!
The fact that the subject begins to step out if the frame is a brilliant touch that compels the viewers’ engagement.
As a frustrated painter, I can only wish I had the wherewithal to create such a work, not out of jealousy, rather, out extreme admiration!
Wonderful, RW, just wonderful.
I could not agree with you more. It is truly wonderful and truly a masterpiece.
I also very much appreciate the subject beginning to step out of the frame.
Thank you Mac. I truly appreciate your compliment. I wanted to bring a bit of reality to the artwork, and I hoped that by showing the little Warrior stepping out of the frame would do that. I am truly very glad that you like that effect.
As you become more familiar with your painting I am certain that, with your great artistic talent, imagination and persistence, you will soon learn to create the kind of painting you are hoping for. I did not learn a lot of what I am able to do now in a short period of time, and I am still eagerly learning. So I am so looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful paintings.
I sincerely appreciate your very kind words, and I know that nothing you would ever say would be out of jealousy, that is just not who you are. (smile)
Thank you G. I really appreciate your compliment.
Raven Wing, we are very fortunate to be able to see, and admire, your amazing artwork.
Thank you so much, G. I am very grateful that Mac provides us with such a great group to share our artwork, beautiful photos and paintings. I love being able to enjoy seeing the photos of other places in the world that I will never be able to see in person. It show just how small the 'big' world really is.
That is one of my most favoured of your creations. I said it was fantastic the first time I saw it, and now happy to see that I am joined in my praise for it.
Thank you Buzz. Indeed you were very generous with your compliments when you saw it the first time. Some of the artwork I posted in the Anishinaabe group before I started posting to the Creative Arts group at....your relentless instance. (big grin)
Yes, I really had to prod you into doing us all a favour by sharing your magnificent creativity.
And you were such a gentleman while sticking all those pins in me........
LOL. I'm such a sadist.
True. But, you are so nice about it, and I just could not resist. So...here I am. (grin)
Beautiful painting!
Thank you Perrie. I am very glad you like it. (smile)
Today is Chinese New Year's Day, based on the lunar new year. As it is still early morning I am posting some photos I have taken at New Year during past years.
The shops in Chengdu decked out with New Year's decorations - red colour signifies good fortune.
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In the early Spring it gets windy, so multi-coloured and shaped kites are sold.
Watching the New Year's Eve special TV gala from Beijing (from 2 years ago - I didn't bother photographing the TV screen last night).
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.Walking in a park in Chongqing on New Year's day, a couple of years ago. Red lanterns to mark the day.
.Huge decorative figures are put up in the park
.Even the boats were decorated.
For this morning's breakfast, we ate traditional New Year's homemade special sesame-stuffed glutinous rice balls - DELICIOUS. (internet photo, but that was what we ate)
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS ON THENEWSTALKERS
Great photos Buzz.
Xin nian kuai le!
Thanks GG. It should be better than the last one.
Happy New Year to you and your bride Buzz !
Thanks Pat. Hope all goes well for you and yours.
Happy New Year Buzz. What an amazing photo essay of the New Years displays. I wish I was there in person to see them. I have seen some of the various displays in some of the Chinese drama movies I watch, and it always amazes me how many ornate and beautiful decorations there are. It is good to know that the tradition still carries on today.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful essay.
Thanks Raven~
Happy New Year Buzz..they were going to celebrate it in Melbourne but not now. The whole state of Victoria has just gone into a 5 day lock down. The UK strain of the virus has broken out. So no Chinese dragon in the streets today...13 cases now confirmed the last one worked at Tullamarine airport...
Thanks Shona,
Everything is okay here.
Happy New Year, Buzz. Nice pics. So much color.
Were the celebrations limited by Covid at all?
Thanks Dig,
It's quieter than usual, and I'm just as happy that we're not having a huge family gettogether. The virus is pretty much under control in China now, after a recent flareup, and we haven't had a new case anywhere near our area for many months.
Ok, just showing off. Haha
I have to show this beauty I recently received.
I love it !
Sorry, a little dark but the flash on my phone only goes off when it wants to.
What a super painting. Was it a gift for some occasion? It's similar to the paintings that A.Mac is doing these days.
Haha It is an AMac original.
It still didn't get it quite right. For some reason it really didn't capture the white.
The colours are brilliant.
Also makes me want to paint my walls. Looks kinda Grandma. Haha
Thanks again. I really do love it.
That is really a beautiful painting, Mac. Although, I like the darker one as it shows the colors brighter. But, the lighter one does not look quite so 'old'. (grin)
I like how the paint appears to run off the canvas one the one side. I do like that effect.
I see a Ambon Scorpion fish in the center in all its camouflage among the bright yellow sea flowers among the reef.
Just what I see. Others may see something different. Would be interesting to hear what they see.
Hold on …
This is the actual original on gallery wrap canvas.
© A. Mac/A.G.
I have sent somebody on horseback to steal the original original.
Should be there in a couple of weeks.
It really does look that brilliant. My pic didn't do it justice.
Is that same one I saw a while back in one of the other sessions? I really do love how it enwraps the canvas, with the line framing showing.
Don't knock your own artwork, Ender. I am very envious of others artwork here in this group, and this one of Mac's is one of them. And his paintings as well. I am not that good even at abstract painting. Some of my paintings actually were so bad that they made my stomach turn and I could not stand to look at them.
So we each have our own 'thing' that we do best. And while Mac may feel frustrated in his painting at this point, I must say I am enjoying them very, very much. I like to play "What do I see" with his paintings. I may be the only one who may see them, but, it is fun share.
Pretty spectacular.
I am not pressing charges; in fact, I am flattered that anyone would thing enough of my work to steal it!
Very cool. Glad to see your art being appreciated!
Tonight's sunset in Stone Creek, Ocala FL.
The photo was taken by my neighbor.
Beautiful photo, Kavika
That is a really awesome photo, Kavika. Wish I could see some beautiful sunsets and sunrises here. Too much around me to see the sun rise. By the time I see the sun, it has already risen and on its way to the open sky.
WOW!!!
I accidentally had bracketing turned on, so exposures kept rotating. This one is darker than it otherwise would have been. Nice color contrast, I thought.
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The only Christmas Cactus flower I got this year, 6 weeks late. I suppose it got too much light in October. You have to keep it cool, dark, and dry in the fall to make it bloom properly. The plant has been passed down in my family for 4 generations so far.
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Card and Jay.
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European Starling.
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Finally got a Carolina Wren.
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Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.
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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, tucking his head under a wing for warmth. Either that or he's taking a nap. I think he was cold, though. He seemed to be shivering. This Polar Vortex stuff sucks, and I'm at the southern end of it. I feel bad for those farther north. I saw that somewhere in Montana they're having -60 wind chills.
I have video of him doing this. I'm putting it in a movie along with a some other clips from yesterday, but I haven't finished editing it yet. I'll post it when I'm done.
Great photo's Dig.
Where I grew up it is -35 currently without the wind chill. That is why I live in Florida.
If you were still here you could be enjoying the longest cold snap we've had in 40 years. It hasn't been over freezing all week, and the highs are only going to be around 20 in the week ahead. Lots of snow coming after Sunday, too, especially down in the Table Rock Lake area.
I bet people farther north are rolling their eyes at me, but it's been so mild here the past few winters that I got spoiled. This is a nasty change of pace.
I'm actually feeling sorry for the birds, and worrying about some of them like the robins. I saw one walking around today as if he was in a daze, wobbling a little, dragging his tail, with one wing partially extended. They've been showing up at the feeders. It's not bugs and earthworms, but I suppose it's better than starving. I'm going to start putting meal worms out for them as soon as I can get some.
You take such great photos. I don't think I can really get very good bird photos with my cel phone camera.
Ehh...'cuse me, but, I have seen some of your cel photos, and they are quite good. Don't be so cheeky with your beautiful photos. (big grin)
Yeah, phones are limited by not having an optical zoom, just a digital one. Still, some are pretty good, depending on what a person wants to take pictures of, I suppose.
I don't think the cel phone camera has a sufficient zoom feature to take the nice close ups of the birds. I do like other photos I am able to take with it.
The zoom feature is pretty good, but not for the amazing close up photos of the birds like you and A. Mac get. At least, not so far.
Oh wow! Those are beautiful photos Dig. The birds are awesome, and the flower is just gorgeous. Very nicely done!
What an incredible variety of birds. There's nothing like that here.
Nor in my neck of the woods. I wish there were. All I get here are crows.
I have crows.
I also have ravens, which look like crows but are bigger.
This is a long-zoomed shot of a crow through some light falling snow, so it's not the best quality.
Oh no! I finished my video but it won't upload here. Apparently, there's a size limit of 500MB. Mine's too large, by 264MB.
Dang it. I spent a lot of time on that, too. I'm actually quite proud of it. I'm going to have to get a YouTube channel or something. Buzz won't be able to see it on YouTube, though. Double dang it!
Any ideas?
No idea on my part Dig. I do know in the past someone was able to convert you tube videos so Buzz could see them.
I figured it out. I just split it in two. Had to edit the split point and re-render both parts, but it didn't take very long.
I'll be uploading it shortly.
Great.
Well, crap. For some reason, the re-renders added file size to both parts.
The original was 764MB, but split in half the new parts total 1145MB. How does that make sense?
I still can't upload them. I'm working on it, though. Maybe I'll try a different render format.
I'm rooting for you Dig.
What type of camera and what optical zoom do you have, Dig?
It's just a bridge camera, a Panasonic Lumix FZ80. 60x optical zoom + 60X digital zoom, so 120x in 18MP resolution...I think.
There are settings that double it to 240x, but to be honest I can't remember if I have it set up that way or not. Too many settings to flip through, and I don't understand half of them. I'm still a newbie at this stuff.
It also takes 4K video, but I'm sticking with regular 1080 for now. File sizes are a problem as it is.
That did it! Problem solved.
I had to do some research and find out how to adjust the advanced settings, but I did it. It's lower quality, but I got the entire video down to 276MB in a single file. It's uploading now.
Thanks Dig.
Well, that was a pain. It uploaded quickly, but took forever for the site to do whatever it does to videos before they can be posted.
I guess this is as good a place to put it as any.
There's 58 clips in it from my camera, and 5 songs from a royalty-free, stock music site. All the clips were shot from inside the house, zoomed through windows. It's too cold to be standing around outside filming birds.
I made it with the free, open-source video editor Shotcut (which Is awesome, BTW).
It was fun to make, but time consuming. I hope you guys like it.
Thanks for a great addition to the article and the GROUP, Dig!
I hope it streamed okay.
That was fabulous, Dig. Well done.
Thanks.
Awesome, Dig ! They're all wearing their puffy coats. The Robin bullies everyone but the Sapsucker.
Thanks, Pat. That was a Red-bellied Woodpecker (even though their bellies aren't red, go figure).
But yeah, he wasn't putting up with the Robin's crap, was he? I'm glad someone noticed that. I cheered for him when I first saw it. LOL.
I'm fairly sure that the look that the woodpecker gave the robin was similar to Robert De Niro, ''you looking at me'' line.
A great video, Dig. Very well done, and fun to watch. It was really fun to see that bulling Robin get a taste of his own medicine from the Woodpecker. I was cheering for him to give that bossy Robin what for. (grin)
I WILL be able to see a YouTube if it's one I want to see, because Raven is able to convert it to an mp4 which I can watch and she said she would do that for me if I asked.
Absolutely, Buzz. I am always most happy to help everyone where and however I can. Converting YouTubes to the MP4 format is very simple and does not require a lot of time to convert.
For me, it is important that all members of NT have access to the information shared here on NT, whatever or however it might be presented, so that no one feels left out. And I am honored that I can help.
Great collection of birdies! I love me dem birdies!
We are looking good headed to Friday; THANKS TO ALL!
© A. Mac/A.G.
I see you have winter robins, too. It's weird to see them when it's snowy and cold, isn't it?
Nice. I love the wing detail in that one. Did you sharpen it with an edit, or was that just how the shot came out?
This one is unedited.
That is one great photo Mac. Such a beautiful bird. Mother Nature is the one true artist. She never fails to impress.
Kind of well fed, I'd say. Guess winter doesn't lessen their diet.
Robins that look fat aren't necessarily so. They puff up their feathers for insulation to stay warm. I caught one doing it on video the other day. The clip is in the new movie I made, if I can figure out how to post it. The file is too large to upload here.
Well now you know I don't know much about birds.
Not like I know a ton. I finally got that video posted. Check it out at 8.4.10
He's lovely!
You're pretty lovely yourself!
I will out for most of the day tomorrow getting my COVID vaccination, and I have to travel a ways to get it and back, so I am not sure what time I will return home. So I will post my Friday artwork tonight so it will be here for those who can also see it in the morning. I hope everyone has a good evening, and a great day tomorrow.
A new Fancy Dancer in his regalia, ready to show his steps when it comes his turn.
Travel safe raven and hope all goes well. We are going into a 5 day lock down. The UK virus has broken out in Melbourne...got 13 cases one of which worked at Tullamarine airport...so we will be bunkering down once again...
And what have the idiots panic bought once again...dunny paper (toilet paper)...idiots and ferals...
And so rolls on..but think we will once again stamp it out for now as we have done previously..
Stay safe and well.
Thanks shona. I have never been to Corona CA, but, it is not too far from me. The trip there for my 1:30p appt time by fwy will likely not be too bad traffic wise, but, if I have a long wait time it could be a real problem traffic wise on the trip home by fwy. So I have an alternate route home just in case. And...it will be raining in the morning before I have to leave.
The lockdowns are indeed a problem for many. Fortunately where I live we have not needed any lockdowns. But, that could change at any time. We never know what way the virus will take.
I think the dolts who hoard toilet paper, hand towels and Kleenex tissues are not living in reality. They would be better off investing their money in food items and/or other normal household needs. But, hoarding anything is not helpful.
Thank you for your good wishes and kind thoughts. I really appreciate them. (smile)
A terrific costume - very effective frame.
Thanks Buzz. The Native American children learn early the traditions of their Tribe. And dancing is on of the most prominent ones. The little ones, about the time they are 2-3 y/o, start to learn the dances to the best of their ability, and love to get dressed up in their limited regalia. The regalia is limited so that it is not too much for them to work with, of be a tripping hazard for them. But, it helps them understand the essence of the dances they learn.
So you can see by the artwork of the young children I have posted previously that they get an early start. They are not at all forced into it, they see the adults in their beautiful regalia and dancing the various dances, and the youngsters are eager to learn themselves. It is the way to keep the traditional dances alive for each generation.
It is very important that Native Americans keep their history and traditions, culture and beliefs alive. It is who they are, and must live on for future generations.
What do you think of the framing? It is a new technique I used in overlapping shape fills.
It uses colours from the image to enhance the image, and I get a kind of subconcious urge that I'm being led into the image by it. Some may consider it to be too complex but I like it because I like what it does.
Thank you, Buzz. I am glad you like it, and appreciate your feedback on what you see, how it appears to you. Such feedback really does help me in how others feel about what they see.
Friday!
© A. Mac/A.G.
I llke it much better than a bishop.
That's a beautiful photo of the Cardinal. It show the different combinations of colors of the feathers, and its striking red color. Very nicely done.
Wells, England
Very special thanks to Raven Wing for creating the frame for the photo of the stream and for helping me get started with Power Point.
Wells Cathedral
In England's green and pleasant land...
Great photos! Love that gothic cathedral. Built from 1176-1450, according to Wikipedia.
It reminds me I need to catch up on Father Brown. I still haven't seen the latest season yet.
Somerset is right next to the Cotswolds, where that show is filmed and takes place. Did you happen to make it over there and get any pictures? Lots of quaint, picturesque villages, or so I've seen and read from afar.
Thanks, Dig. The City of Wells is considered the smallest city in England. It isn't much more than a village. They call it a city because it has a cathedral. The cathedral was very interesting.
We love watching Father Brown, and watch it religiously (yes, pun intended).
We spent a day in the Cotswolds. It was very beautiful. I would like to spend more time there. I have some photos. This is one that I posted a few months ago, but I just framed it since I am experimenting with Power Point. I will look for more. I think that I may also have interior photos of the Wells Cathedral that are very interesting.
Beautiful and charming. It's like a fairy tale village.
Speaking of the cathedral, there are things I just love about old masonry architecture, like how some of the purely technical aspects (the way vaults have to be put together, for one) also look inherently majestic. There's a kind of natural, technical beauty. It's captivating.
Wells Cathedral is unique in that it has "scissor arches". They were added in the mid-14th century to stabilize the crossing because cracks were forming that threatened the tower.
You noticed the bird-like sculpture with the wings?
Supposed to be angel wings?
Probably angel wings. I think I have other photos taken on the cathedral grounds with more pairs of wings.
I really like that photo and the great frame. The style of the frame enhances the photo very well. Good choice.
The light gray color in the frame for the darer colors of the Cathedral really makes for a great compliment to the photo. Very well done.
You are most welcome for the help with PowerPoint, G. And you have done a great job with your framing. You are indeed a fast learner! And as Perrie knows, once a teacher always a teacher. (smile)
The photos are truly beautiful, and the color of your frames really compliments the photos very well. Well done!
Thank you very much, Raven Wing.
As you now see, framing enhances photos and gives tham a more professional look. Your photos make me realize that I never saw as much of England as I should have, and although I took many photos with my Canon F1 SLR film camera back then (almost a half century ago), I brought only one photo taken in Wales with me here.
I have never been to England, or other countries, and I really enjoy seeing to great scenes, forests, gardens and other events in the various countries that I will never be able to see in person at this point. G did a great job for his first attempt, and he is a fast learner, so I am sure he will become much better at PowerPoint, and begin to stretch and challenge himself to experiment and let his imagine lead the way. (smile)
Both GG and Dig take exceptionally good photos, yet both are not too proud to seek advice to improve them even more. I admire what both of them do.
I agree, Buzz, and I am always very happy to help those here on NT where I can, and assist however I can.
Beautiful photos of my home away from home. I have seen Wells Cathedral and it is lovely.
A funny bird story that just happened...on camera.
A Grackle has a piece of feed corn, but just can't crack it. He tries and tries to no avail, all the while being harassed by a Blue Jay who really, really wants that particular piece of corn, even though there's plenty more in the platform feeder not 15 feet away.
After a while the Grackle gives up, drops the corn, and walks off in a huff. Not a second later the Blue Jay swoops in and claims his prize.
Persistence paid off for one of them, at least.
Quick video, less than a minute long. No sound.
LOL! I wonder if the Jay had any better luck cracking that seen corn he pestered the Grackle for. It would be really funny if the Jay could not crack it either.
Yaaay Blue Jays - to the winners go the spoils.
Wow... that Jay was quite the thief.
Interesting happy accident.
I decided, to save paint, canvas and time, I'd experiment with techniques, paint "behavior" and ideas, by doing small "practice" pieces on glossy photo paper, which, I intended to throw in the trash after, hopefully, learning and improving. Using cheap paint and relatively small amounts of it, this was the first one.
Nothing special or interesting with this one, except, I realized that these ARE PAINTINGS! Although, because done on paper, they would not have the durability of canvas or canvas board, they might still have some purpose, like, inserts in greeting cards or notes to friends, etc. ! And, unlike photographs, the TEXTURES make them clearly identifiable as PAINTINGS, because, after all, that is what they are.
I purposely photographed this one against my computer keyboard to give an idea of scale, this one being 3.5" x 5". I have a load of 4" x 6" and 5" x 7" papers, so, I can practice, learn, save time and paint, and still have a finished painting to be able to literally share and give should anybody actually want one.
In the event I decide to do art shows, I might even put these out as promos … maybe in clear plastic bags that can be sealed … a business card inside.
Who knows?
I can't think of the right word to describe those pretty, gem-like mineral accretions sometimes found in rock, but that style of painting reminds me of them.
Do you do that with brushes?
I don't use any brushes in my technique, occasionally a palette knife or wooden stirring stick, but no brushes except after a painting has dried, at which point, I use a soft-bristle brush to apply clear varnish.
The example above was done quickly, using just two or three colors that were partially left-over house paint. Now that I know I can do these, practice paintings on paper … hopefully, will get better and lead almost directly to derivative versions done on canvas.
WOW Mac! That is a beautiful painting. And what I see in it is various underwater plants floating gracefully in the current. If you don't mind, I would like to try an idea with your beautiful that would fit in with what I see in the painting. Please let me know if it is OK with you for me to do so just for fun.
I see the spreadeagled back of a headless human figure - your paintings are fodder for the imagination.
It reminds me of the kelp gardens of Santa Catalina Island in Southern California.
This is a photo of a monument at Leech Lake MN commemorating the ''Battle of Sugar Point'' on October 6, 1898.
The Pillager Band of Ojibwe defeated the U.S. 3rd Infantry. It is considered by many the last battle of the Indian Wars.
The 3rd US Infantry was sent to Leech lake to arrest Chief Hole in the Day, sometimes called ''Old Bug''. He was never arrested and the US declared that there would be no further attempts to arrest him. Today many of his relatives live in the area.
What makes this quite personal to me is that my Grandfather fought at this battle. I have two of the weapons that he used in the battle. It is truly a piece of history to have sat with my grandfather and have him tell me the battle of Sugar Point, he, being an actual participant in the battle. At the time I didn't realize what this meant or that I was talking to a link to an important part of not only our family history but the history of the state of Minnesota and of the US.
Good documentary, adding to the breadth and scope of the Group!
Thanks, Mac. The photo of the man in the center holding the rifle is ''Chief Hole in the Day''..
Good history lesson.
Saturday is upon us … and we keep on looking good!
Downy Woodpecker, Female
© A. Mac/A.G.
NOTE: For the record, the "painting" on paper posted earlier, is really lacking in several important respects, so, I emphasize, it was an experiment to determine 1) If, in fact I could work on techniques and paint behavior on paper, and 2) if able to do so, if any such experiments were, IMO, worthy of saving, would they be viable as "paintings" in-and-of themselves. The one posted I will not likely consider anything other than a throw away, having nevertheless learned what I set out to learn, namely items 1) and 2).
I'll do better going forward, and, may even consider sending the "successes" to people I care about … and that certainly includes all of you. I'm talking "gifts," not "sales" -- if I am not being presumptuous in believing anyone would want one. Let me think about it.
Thanks again to all for making the GROUP the fine entity it has become.
As Mac mentioned, we are moving into Saturday...so here is one for Saturday..it is one of the first creations I did. The background is a Buckeye wood burl.
Very Cool !
Thank you steve. It was one of my firsts, before I learned how to do framing and the many other things that I have learned since. It is about 4 years old. It is a Spiritual vision, the shaman seeing through the eyes if the Sacred Eagle. It is just one of the various Native American beliefs. I am very glad that you like it.
You're welcome Raven, Quite an eye catching image !
Those wings make me think of this butterfly that I saw here:
And that is a magnificent burl.
Thanks Buzz. The butterfly is beautiful, a very bright blue. Never seen one like that.
Very impressive. Was there a pot of gold down the road? There appears to be another rainbow above the main one.
Thank you Buzz,
If there was a pot of Gold, I didn't find it, the road quickly turned. lol
And yea it was a double rainbow.
Very pretty and a once in a lifetime view. I got lucky !
Those are really great photos steve. That one with the rainbows is really awesome.
Thank you Raven, I think the rainbow picture is my favorite picture as well.
My second favorite is the first picture in the group. It showed me the importance taking outdoor pictures from the shadows into the light.
Where were the photos taken at?
Almost looks like Florida.
Yes it does.
HI Kavika, These are a few of my most favorite pictures and I remember taking each one, here's where I was when they were taken.
The first picture was taken in from the back yard of an apartment I had in Melbourne Fl. The picture is of the coastal water-way taken from the mainland facing the barrier island.
The second pict is Coco Beach Fl taken from a roof top I was installing solar on.
The third pict was taken at a small marina in Satellite Beach Fl where a friend mored his sailboat.
And the last pict was taken in my old stomping ground on a winding country road outside of Peoria illinois.
Thanks, 321steve, I was fairly sure that the first three were taken in Florida. I live in Ocala, FL. so they looked familiar.
The second one is my favorite. I lived in a community like that in CA.
Hey Kavika, I never was in Ocala but I loved Melbourne, Except for hurricanes. I hated hurricanes and that's the main reason I relocated to Phoenix. But I sure miss the long sunny days. Plenty of time to both work and Play !!
A little while ago today I had gone out to pick up lunch and took these two pictures when I was out this afternoon.
LOL, I get home and see you had replied to the picture I had already just posted that is kinda like these while I was gone... lol
These pictures are from a small local residencial lake/pond close by here in Glendale. ..phoenix
What a cool coquensidence ... lol
I'm familiar with Phoenix and the surrounding area. I have quite a few friends there. One of my favorite places to stay when I was there was the Biltmore. One of my favorite restaurants was ''The Point'' I also really enjoy Kai. The Heard Museum was a regular stop for me as well. Trying to get my wife out of art galleries was a chore. LOL. She met R.C. Gorman some years back and was fascinated with his work. (she has a couple of his paintings)
Ocala is just far enough inland that we don't get hurricanes, it's only a 45 minute drive to the gulf coast.
Nice photos of the park in Glendale.
Outstanding!
Thank you A mac
These are a few of my favorite pictures that I have taken over the years. Each one stood out to me when I first saw them as well.
Even a broken clock get it right twice a day ...lol
Getting closer to what I want in the way of, at least one genre of my paintings. I am not satisfied with the composition, nor the limited range of colors, but, the broken texture and variation, is, IMO, at the very least, interesting, if not intriguing.
© A. Mac/A.G.
Very interesting Mac, and stimulates the imagination. Lots of movement in the color variations. What I see in the center is a cat creeping up on a bird in front of it hoping to catch it.
Very well done.
What I most enjoy about your painings is that they are exercises for the imagination, seeing images in them. For example, in this painting I see a red-robed person reading a document, to the right of it a bird's head with a couple of ghostly figures to the right of that, and on the mid-left, a figure of a man in blue similar to ones I've seen in a painting by Chagall. Do you see what I mean? Here is the Chagall paining I mean...
Any similarities via the polyreferential aspects of abstract expressionism are coincidental unless specifically intended by the artist.
Jackson Pollack had a manager who from time-to-time would admonish him for having “too much content” in given paintings rather than allowing the paint itself to be the subject.
The painting I did today is still experimental, not done with concern for aesthetic composition, color combinations, interesting contrast ... it’s approaching what I’m aiming for, namely the cells that result from different paint densities and additives and surface temperature changes.
Working on small sized paper and with small quantities of paint is where I am now, but, I am learning.
That is one thing I really like about abstract paintings, they allow the viewer to see what their eyes see, and there is no fixed subject. The viewer is free to let their imagination be their guide as to what they see amid the myriad of colors and shapes.
This photo is also from Wells Cathedral, England. What I especially like about it is how the steps are worn down from centuries of use.
A powerful composition!
Thanks! Coming from you, that means a whole lot.
A very nice photo G. And the angle of the shot really does show the well worn steps over the many years. What is the white veil looking object stretched across the stairs near the top?
Very well done!
Thank you, Raven Wing. The white veil is actually the sun shining through the window on the left onto steps that curve to the right in that spot. The steps curving to the right lead to a side door.
Here is that section of the steps close up.
And now I can see what that white swath is that I saw in the other one that was further away. It is a light on the curvature of the stairs to the right. Nicely done.
They sure did strange things with stairs back then. I've seen pics from castles where stairs meet other stairs in ways that make no sense at all, and actually look dangerous. A great place to trip and fall. But I guess it made sense to them at the time.
Those steps are made from better stone than the ones we had to encounter while climbing the sacred Buddhist Mount Emei.
WoW! Talk about your tripping hazard! What are those steps made of? Slate or shale or the like?
Yes, I would guess you're right.
Raven Wing has it right. Those steps could definitely be a tripping hazard. Any idea how old they might be?
Mount Emei (Emaishan) has been a sacred Buddhist site for 2500 years, but I have no idea how old those steps are.
"A most athletic male Red-bellied Woodpecker, having discovered a treasure in a tree trunk.
Courtesy of Shiro Kitsune
@Kitsune22530546
The reason no reply from me Vic is because I cannot open photos you post that are most likely copied and pasted from Google or another such site. For me to see them it would be necessary for you to save the photos to your picture library and then paste them on NT from there. Most members here put up with that inconvenience, for which I apologize, and am grateful.
Hey, Vic. Looks like this one’s a male. The females red feathering only covers the back of the head and not the entire crown,
Thanks for posting.
I finally started playing around with Paint Shop Pro today, and this was the result. My first-ever creative edit:
Original image of a grackle on a branch...
Enhanced a bit...
Warping brush effect...
Rough-edged and framed...
Gotta admit, that was a lot more fun than I was expecting.
You’re on your way and about to find there’s no end to the road you have just begun to walk down.
Commendable beginning.
Thanks, Mac.
After watching a few tutorials it occurred to me that the possibilities might be infinite. I could hardly believe all the things that program can do. It's amazing.
Great photo and the various editing, Dig. The editing of all is very well done. I have only used Paint Shop Pro a few times over the years, and it was indeed fun to use. You appear to be well on your way to mastering the app, and creating a lot of great artwork to share with us. (smile)
Thanks, RW.
Way to go. Yes, it IS both fun and rewarding.
Thanks, Buzz.
We recently had our staircase spindles upgraded from oak to wrought iron, and the results were nice. This is a version of the finished product photo, edited in my usual fashion, but a little heavier on the tint.
That is really beautiful Hal. The color of the frame works very well with the coloring of the image. And the very ornate handrail really sets it off.
Very well done indeed!
Thank you Raven. As I look at it in more detail, I notice how much it stylistically draws the eye up the stairs and towards the door on the left. I may need to name this image “to the toilet”.
"To the Loo...straight up the stairs and to the left..."
Were the spindles from Toronto's Steptoe & Wife? They were our best friends in Toronto, and a very successful client, in creating wrought iron staircases as in this photo (from their catalogues):
Nope - cheapstairparts.com . The name kind of says it all when it comes to how we decorate. They don’t look cheap though. That’s what counts.
Yours don't look at all cheap.
Saturday afternoon and here is another one just for fun...
Cool!
Thanks dev. Glad you like it. It is the Creator creating the Spirits for the various Spirit Guides for those on Earth.
If ever there was a stained glass window urging itself to be created, this one makes its case eloquently!
Thank you very much Mac. I am very glad that you like the effect. I love stained glass windows, and the myriad of colors they can produce. It is very Spiritual in how it affects to mind and Spirit.
I like it all, but I especially like the rabbit for some reason.
Thanks Hal, and you did the Rabbit great justice with your representation. The Rabbit is one of the more influencing Spirit Guides. Here is what it is a symbol of;
The Message of Rabbit Spirit Animal
Nurturing
Love
Comfort
Vulnerability
Good coordination
More planning
Rabbit Spirit Animal Symbolism
Fertility
Abundance
Seasons
Ostara
Long life
Native Americans will have many Spirit Guides during their life time, as they move from childhood to adult life, and there after based upon their merits and needs.
Yes, very colourful fun.
Since stained glass was mentioned. Wells Cathedral.
Indeed those are beautiful stained glass windows.
Very beautiful windows. I've always admired good stained glass windows. Previously I had posted the Chagall windows at the Haddasah Hospital in Jerusalem that were depictions of biblical stories.
Coming up on Sunday.
When I was a young punk hangin' on the street corners of South Philly, there was a tradition (between street fights) called "THE BATTLE OF THE GROUPS," the "groups being neighborhood guys singing acapella music with the row houses all around providing the echo chambers for our tunes rendered in the night. In Philly, the ideas of "Battle of the Groups," and, "Music from the Soundtrack of your Life" … were born and nurtured.
One of the most popular songs of the day was "Sunday Kind of Love" … perfectly suited for five teenage voices in tight harmonies. I sang that song with three or four different street corner groups, all white, and mixed race … it's a memory etched very deeply in my mind.
So, going into Sunday, here's the original 1950's, early rock n' roll, DOO WOP version.
Fantastic song!
Rock n' roll, R&B, that sweet Soul Music... Now you're really getting into my territory.
Got any particular favorites?
Oh, yes. More favorites than I could ever name.
For 50's and Doo-Wop, "In the Still of the Night" by the The Five Satins, "I've Only Got Eyes For You" by The Flamingos, "Come Go With Me" by The Dell-Vikings, "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" by Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers and "Book of Love" by The Monotones, just to start with.
Getting into the 60's, I like everything from Motown, especially Smokey Robinson. I'm a huge Aretha Franklin fan. Lots of other Soul Music, too. Of course, I love the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Mamas and Papas and many, many others.
As I’ve stated before, I am biased towards Boyz II Men. Later today I will try to post two videos, both showing classic songs that IMO, the Boyz versions eclipsed, In the Still of the Night and Just My Imagination.
Stay tuned.
I'm quite fond of a few songs by those early 60's girl groups, pre-British Invasion.
Especially this one...
Excellent tune, Dig.
As some NT members already know, the drummer on "Be My Baby", the great Hal Blaine, was a very close friend (and client) of mine for almost 40 years until his death two years ago. Hal was the drummer on six Grammy Records of the Year in a row and many other great records. In the '60s and '70s, Hal was the busiest, most in-demand and most successful studio drummer in the world. He played on more than 40,000 sessions and earned about 400 gold and platinum records.
About "Be My Baby", Bruce Springsteen's drummer, Max Weinberg wrote: "If Hal Blaine had played drums only on ... 'Be My Baby', his name would still be uttered with reverence and respect for the power of his big beat."
Art Garfunkel from Simon and Garfunkel, contributing a note to Hal's autobiography, "Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew" (I negotiated the contract with the publisher for Hal in 1990) wrote: "If music in the second half of the 20th century were the Empire State Building, Hal Blaine would be the ground floor."
Hal has a lot of interesting interviews on YouTube. YouTube also has the full recordings of 2 CDs of jokes Hal recorded. He used to send emails to his friends every day with great jokes.
I met Hal and started representing him when I first became a lawyer, and he became like a second father to me. I last saw him at his 90th birthday party just a month before he died. The party was attended by many great musicians, including Charlie Watts, the drummer for The Rolling Stones. It was the last time Hal played drums.
Hal was a wonderful musician and a really great guy. I miss him a lot.
I didn't know that about you and Hal Blaine. That's really something. Being a lawyer out there in entertainment central really must be interesting at times.
As far as the song, the only anecdote I'm aware of is how Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys thinks it's the best pop song ever made, and that the first time he heard it he was driving and was so astounded by it that he had to pull over because he couldn't pay attention to the road.
I have some great musician friends who I have occasionally represented, but my 95% of my practice is in another field, not entertainment law. I have met many great musicians over the years. I did represent Hal for a long time. He also considered me his manager for many years, before he fully retired.
I have heard that story about Brian Wilson, also.
This is a hilarious joke told by Hal, best appreciated by musicians:
Which I am not. LOL. I didn't get it. Sorry. Did the 5/4 thing change the amount of syllables that could be sung per line or something?
Very good! You are very smart.
The original song is in 4/4 which represents 4 beats per bar (and a quarter note having one beat--technical musician stuff). A "bar" is a musical division. In music theory, a bar (or measure) is a single unit of time containing a specific number of beats played at a particular tempo. Adding the syllable, as in the joke, changed it to 5/4 time. As a musician (since I was a very young kid), I laughed for 2 days when I first heard the joke. It still makes me laugh.
Hal has lots of other jokes on his CDs that are not about music. He used to send me lawyer jokes, too. Haha. I've heard them all.
Actually, it was adding 2 syllables (in one word) as a single beat. It's the extra word that's the joke, of course.
I think I found a new hobby.
Great, Dig.
Welcome to the club.
And what a fun club it is!
Your “hobby” is already demonstrably beyond the hobby level; it is clear to me, it is on the verge of a becoming a passion, one pursued by an evolving master.
Go for it!
IMO, the BOYZ' versions of the following classic R&B songs were better than the original releases.
© A. Mac/A.G.
David King* with Boyz II Men lead singer Shawn Stockman at Stonecreek Studios in Gladwyne.
* Mr. King was a client of mine in a Philadelphia Adverse Action case (which I was able to have settled amicably)
Really nice.
Daffodils in bloom in my garden today. Happy Valentine's Day!
Daffodils! I have to wait until late March or early April for daffodils.
Ugh! It's 3 degrees where I am and it just started snowing, the first of a few forecasted waves over the next several days. Might have a foot by Wednesday when everything is said and done. It may provide some good fodder for pictures, though.
The high today is predicted to get to about 66 where I live. It's breezy with clouds and sun. We were supposed to have rain last week, but unfortunately, except for only 1/10th of an inch one night, the rain didn't show up. We need rain badly.
Pictures with snow are really beautiful, but definitely foreign!
Did someone mention "Pictures w/snow"?
I have hundreds of 'em.
For openers …
© A. Mac/A.G.
Someone did. It looks like frosting on a cake!
I made you a video!
Not of anything covered with snow, but of snow falling earlier when it first started (plus a few critters).
I only have a few...
Great, just great.
I know, I know. I don't know how many Christmas holidays I've spent in Florida from the time I was 16.
Beautiful
This video is astounding!!! Absolutely beautiful. Thank you very much, Dig.
Sad news. It got down to -4 overnight and I found a sapsucker dead on the ground this morning with his head still tucked under a wing. He must have fallen out of the tree like that, the poor thing. It's still snowing and he was only partially covered, so I think it happened not long before I found him, which would have been the coldest part of the day. It was likely the one shivering and trying to stay warm in the video. He was the only one with bright red on his head that I've noticed hanging around here lately. There are others, but they don't have as much red.
I scooped him up and brought him into the garage where he could warm up, hoping he wasn't actually dead. No such luck, though.
It made me go read about them and apparently they can't handle excessive cold. I guess they breed in Canada in summer and migrate south in winter. Looks like some didn't make it far enough south this particular year. This cold snap has to be brutal for the wildlife around here, and it's going to be even colder tonight. Something like -13.
At least the little guy got memorialized in that video, and possibly the other one I posted at 8.4.10 as well (I think it was the same bird). I hope the others make it through.
That is sad.
In what movie did a man plant a sea of daffodils in order to please a girl enough to want to marry him?
Big Fish
I looked it up.
You got it.
As one of my waggish students put it: "Fuck art, let's dance!"
That's hilarious.
But dancing IS art! So, it can be had both ways.
If dancing is art then here is some art. Supaman and Acosia Red Elk using traditional native dances, Fancy Dance (Supaman) and Jingle Dance (Red Elk), and dancing to Hip Hop. Both dances are very physical and the footwork and hand and body movements have to follow very intricate patterns.
Please feel free to give it a try. From an old Fancy Dancer, I'll stand by ready to call 911.
You would not think so if you saw me dance.
You would not think so if you saw me dance.
It was Mark Twain that said, “Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth.”
Beautiful in a number of respects!
One of my favorite dances. And the regalia is soo beautiful, and adds so much to the effect of the dance.
A Philly Street corner acapella group made it into a Rocky movie.
Sylvester Stallone's brother, Frank Stallone's group.
I wish, just for an hour or two, I could go back to the Philly street corners and sing with the boys.
Great stuff! I really do love that.
One more … for now.
I love my badass Philly … we get a bad rap … but there's no place like it!
The scene is an accurate representation of how it was … the scene and the original Rocky was shot in Philadelphia.
Yes, I am bragging.
There is nothing like the music from human voices.
Every time I see the Rocky series or the songs from it I always think of me and The Worm dancing for three rounds.
To be young again.
Willie "The Worm" Monroe, in 1969, moved to Philadelphia to meet trainer Yank Durham, who was training Frazier. Durham noticed that Mr. Monroe boxed with a sleek, slippery motion that suggested a worm, and thus was born “Willie the Worm.”
In the 50's, there was a kids' show in Philly every night … the star was a puppet named "Willie the Worm" so, it was an easy segue to Monroe especially since guys my age watched Willie every week night at 5:00 on Channel 10.
Small world, my friend.
It is a small world. He was a tough guy and even in sparring gave no quarter. LOL, it was a hoot being a southpaw I gave him fits.
A long time ago Mac, when we were all young and thought that we were bulletproof.
Great music and beautiful artwork everyone. Your photos are very well done, Dig. Here is one from me for Sunday...
Very beautiful.
Thank you G. Working with two different shapes and combining them into one artwork gives a different 'feel' to the primary subject.
Sweet. I love the geometry of the framing. What is she holding that has light coming from it?
Thanks Dig. It is a large feather, something that is a symbol Native Americans hold at ceremonies or when dancing. The lower part of the feather is a bright white, which is why it looks as if there is light coming from it.
Oh, yes. Now I see it.
It is a fan that may look similar to this one, where the bottom ends of the feathers are white. They a re also called 'prayer fans' by some Tribes.
That is super nice.
Thank you G.
Oh oh. That picture turned into the site standard hat.
I know Buzz. And it is very frustrating to have all my hard work turn into the default site hat. I don't know why it does that, and it is very annoying. There is no reason for the images to turn into the default hat image, it has nothing to do with anything on my part or the artwork. It is something in the site system itself that causes that to happen. It also happens in the Anishinaabe group as well at times. I might just as well not bother posting any artwork if it is just going to dissolve into the site hat symbol. Very frustrating, and I wish I knew why it happens. No one else's artwork does that, just mine. Grrr!
Has anyone inquired as to the file format (.png, .jpg, etc.) of your originals and whether or not that may be at the source of the problem?
Hi Mac...yes I did...and in order to see if the format does indeed play a part in the images changing to the default hat format, I saved all the original images to the .png format, and after I finished with the artwork I made sure to save them in the ,png format.
Some of the artwork I have posted are 2-3 years old, and they never had changed before. It is really hard to nail down, as some of the same artwork I have posted here in this group I also posted in the Anishinaabe group. Some of the artwork in the Anishinaabe group will change to the default hat in that group, but, not here, and vise versa. And the changes are totally random in that they don't always change. So it is really hard to nail what is causing the changes to the ground. TiG thought it might have something to do with Jamroom, but, that is not easy to figure out either, as in what might they be doing in Jamroom that could be randomly changing the format of the artwork.
I may change the format of the artwork to the .jpg and see if it still changes to the default hat. But, that is a lot of work to do, and there is no guarantee that it will resolve the problem either.
RW, I dragged the image you posted to my computer, opened it in Photoshop Elements, copied it, saved it as a .jpg and posted it here in its original size.
And this one, I simply changed the .png to .jpg leaving the rest of the file name unchanged! That's all I did and here it is.
For what it's worth, I never saw it change to the site hat thing. I see your Valentine's Day image. Is everyone but me seeing a hat?
If that is so, then the inconsistencies here are really strange, because if Raven has been consistent with her format, then why is it that only one or some but not all switch to the hat, and why is it that you have not seen the hat for the abovenoted picture but others do?
Maybe it's a browser or OS thing? I'm using Google Chrome on Windows 10 Professional. No idea what everybody else is using.
It also works on my android tablet. No hat there.
Ruffled leaves ? There's beauty in decay.
White Birds of Paradise
You're not only observant, but capable of seeing and capturing the beauty of nature that many mght overlook.
Thank you, Buzz !
The red on the last one is striking. Are they all like that on the underside?
I did edit the color on that one but only slightly.
It really depends on the light, the position of the leaf and it's age. They're all different.
Yes, there is. Your photos are showing it.
Great photos, Pat, and indeed there is beauty even in decay.
Love the last one.
I actually have a bird of paradise I planted several years ago. It has never grown over a foot tall. It doesn't die off yet it never really grows. It bloomed once in probably five years.
What is your climate like ? Maybe it's too cold.
We are pretty mild but end up freezing about once or twice a year.
I do have a banana that manages to grow. The leaves end up looking like the leaves above.
I can't stop playing with this software. Took this picture earlier...
And did this to it...
Well done, Dig.
I can't believe the things this Paint Shop software can do.
I got it free, too. It came with my camera.
Free is good especially when it does what we see here.
So now you are capable of taking an ordinary, even mundane, photo, and turning it into a work of art.
Thanks to that software. Not so much me.
It's a little skimpy on frame options, though. I need to see if I can find some free ones as vectors somewhere and import them. I want some nice wooden ones.
You are doing a great job with it, Dig. Your choice of framing is very complimentary to the image.
Thanks, RW. I used a black one at first, but noticed it didn't really match. I thought the gold one was much better.
You did make the right choice, and for the right reason. IMO, the black frame would have been a bit too stark for the softness of the image. And the gold one brings out the colors of the squirrels fur and the color of the surrounding leaves.
Really great.
Thanks. Did you watch your snow video? That squirrel is in it.
Yes, I did, and I LOVED it!!! It is so beautiful to see the snow falling, the amazing birds, and the squirrel. I really appreciate that you made the video for me. Thanks a million!
This is a photo of America's first Prima Ballerina, Maria Tall Chief considered by many as one of the finest ballerinas of all time. She was part of the ''Five Moons'', five Native American's from Oklahoma that became some of the most famous ballerinas of all time. Their legend lives on as they were instrumental in the field.
I have this photo, framed and in our home.
Cool. I didn't know about that.
I just remembered to ask if you've been watching The Expanse? An Ojibwe Anishinaabe woman named Cara Gee plays an important character in it. Every time I saw her in an episode I told myself to remember to ask, but then I always forgot, of course.
Here's an article about her if you're interested: The Expanse’s Cara Gee Talks Indigenous Representation
Drummer is bad ass.
Thanks for the link, Dig. I haven't seen The Expanse but I saw her in the latest version of Jack London's, ''Call of the Wild''. I'm a big Jack London fan.
Beautiful !
That is a truly amazing photo.
pat, G, this particular photo of her is, IMO, stunning. It just speaks to me.
Stunning is an understatement. It speaks volumes to me.
Maria Tall Chief was my Mother's favorite dancer. She was indeed tall and somewhat gangly in a way, but, she made up for it in her beautiful grace and poise in her dancing. No other ballerina could compare with her. And the performance shown in the photo here is one of her best ever.
Did you know that her last husband (she had 3) was nicknamed "Buzz"?
I didn't know that, Buzz.
Taking off a bit ahead of schedule for Monday.
A thank you to all … the GROUP gets better all the time.
A fellow countrybird. In the Spring, it will "Fly Away Home" as in the movie.
Good morning & Happy President's Day.
These are on paper and I think they will work well in plain, black mattes (which I ordered yesterday).
© A. Mac/A.G.
Those are excellent, Mac. Very well done.
I've already commented on why I like the top one, in which I can see many images. The bottom right on shows a man high-stepping while waving a ribbon, and the left is an undersee image with miltiple Dali-type fish.
Though it was unintentional, even I see a shore bird, an octopus, a small blue fish … that's just how it turned out.
I am marketing the image as you see it.
Clearly, it's an octopus. No doubt.
And spouting its dark blue ink as well.
A truly beautiful painting, Mac. Love the variation of the different colors and how they intermix with each other. Very well done.
That one almost looks like it was painted on transparent glass. There's an illusion of being able to see past it, as if it was on a window. That's pretty neat.
One for Monday..
A masterpiece a day keeps the savages away.
Maybe better said "A masterpiece a day keeps the philistines away."
Thank you very much, Buzz.
I was able to photograph this guy in our bird bath this afternoon.
Not sure, but looks like a Wood Thrush.
I really don't know. The beak and markings indicate that it could be some type of Thrush. I was just lucky to go outside when it was there.
On the subject of bird baths, here's mine at the moment, but the trellised honeysuckle behind it is definitely not in bloom.
A new member of the Polar Bear Swim Club.
Nice. Quite an opportune shot.
I have birds freezing to death and dropping out of trees, and you have them playing in water with plants blooming in the background. Lol.
I feel bad for the freezing birds.
Purple finch with a little snow on its head.
I'm seeing what you're doing with your photos and I'll bet you're as happy as the proverbial....
It's fun. I've encountered a problem, though. I keep trying different series' of adjustments until I find something I like, but then I forget how I got there. I should start taking notes.
I've had that problem as well at times, Dig. Sometimes I am working for one thing and get a totally different result, and as you say, I can't remember how I got there, and I can't undo the result I don't want if that happens to be the case. Problem is, if I like the unexpected results, I can't remember how I got there so I can't repeat it.
It's frustrating. I've been trying to repeat the look of the squirrel photo in 39 , but I just can't hit on it exactly.
The software displays a whole page of info about individual pictures, even more than the camera does; it would be nice if it would also display edit history.
Lo and behold, it does! I just found an 'edit history' tab!
Apparently, I can save images and delete them from the program workspace, and then reopen them later on and the information is still there.
How cool is that?
Now, if I can just decipher the technical log lingo...
Looks like we're heading into Tuesday and still going strong!
Good for us.
Juvenile Female Cardinal in Winter
© A. Mac/A.G.
I didn't think the Holy Father allowed female Cardinals yet. Looks like a record number of comments for this group - obvously it's a great place to hang out.
Great conversations, great artwork, great songs, great company.....what is there not to like and fully enjoy here?
Very nice photo, Buzz. Looks like a happy family of ducks.
Are they ducks or geese?
They look like ducks to me. But, then, I am not an expert on either one, so it could be geese.
Well, for sure these are ducks so I guess the others are geese.
Looks like they have black bills. Could they be trumpeter swans?
The Greylag Goose, a native of northern and central Eurasia, has been domesticated and raised for meat for over 1,000 years. It can be white, completely gray (like the wild form), or somewhere in-between. Dozens of domestic breeds exist, with lots of variation in size and coloring. (In some the coloring is sex-linked, with females having gray patches and the males always white!)
Many escape their domestic situations and end up in the wild.
Thanks for the info. Those were in the wild, one of the first photos I took with my new camera with the 30X Leica lens zoom, which was needed because all they were from eyesight were a few little white specks in the water. Of course the photo was toyed with, using the engraving tool.
Woke up to -15 today. At least the sun finally came out. More snow tonight.
That's cold. I've never experienced that weather. Nice photo!
Having been born in and spent most of my life in Canada, that weather is nothing new to me. My brother and I once built an igloo in our back yard and slept in it overnight - once. LOL We used to flood the lower second back yard to get a private skating rink.
I can't say that I've experienced many lows like yesterday's.
I don't envy you.
I'm sure the deer wasn't phased by the weather.
I doubt they like it, but they looked alright to me. So far the sapsuckers are the only thing I've noticed having obvious problems. Even the robin that's hanging around didn't seem phased by it. I guess they're more hardy than I thought.
Got my COVID shot today. I will be doing an art show or two maybe, when things get back to more or less ”normal”; I did a few back in the 70’s with my more traditional (oil) paintings, and in the 80’s, with my photos. The abstract stuff is marketed on-line as well.
Here is how I’ll be marketing the abstracts on paper (4” x 6”) in mattes and sealable clear bags.
I'm getting my second Covid vaccination tomorrow. I have heard a number of people say they felt a fever for a day or so after the second shot. I hope that doesn't happen.
I don't think we've seen the painting on the lower left before. It's spectacular!
The lower left painting is the newest and getting closer to where I want to be. I like the individuals areas … but not the overall composition.
I had my second last Saturday. Very sore arm and muscles and a low grade fever. All disappeared in 36 hours.
Got my first vaccination last Friday, and the only things I an experiencing tiredness and very annoying itching. Hopefully, it will level off by tonight so I can get some sleep. But, so far no pain or soreness in my arm, no fever and no aching muscles.
It's been a few hours since I got my vaccination. So far, so good. My arm was more sore after the first shot 3 weeks ago. I hope it stays this way.
I'm not entirely sure yet that I will even bother getting a vaccination. I live in a City-State of about 32,000 square miles with a population of about 32 million which has been Covid-19 free for at least nine months save for two or three imported cases months ago, and I will not be travelling anywhere.
Those are really beautiful paintings, Mac. The frames add a lot to the paintings as well.
Good luck with your enterprise.
Great Snowy Owl in northern MN. photo by Conrad Tan.
Bet it would be just as much at home in Texas these days.
From yesterday — the morning temperature, a frozen dawn, and the only way to spend a morning like that.
Got a few more inches overnight, but I haven't gone picture hunting yet today.
LOL, Kav.
That's cheating.
Okay, you don't need the warmth, you can get the sight and the sound, but you can't get the sweet smell.
I know, isn't it great...LOL
A home I owned and lived in for almost 20 years had 3 wood-burning fireplaces and a gas one - We bouught a half-cord of wood at the beginning of each winter. Those were the days - the sight, sounds and warmth will never be forgotten.
Sounds real nice, Buzz. A little feel-good nostalgia.