Red-orange floral burst

Fancy old US stamps

I hadn't heard of Clara Maass, but Wikipedia says she gave informed consent in a study involving yellow fever-carrying mosquitos, and... it didn't go well.

Bell pepper fist

Monotype printing day

I've been making monotype prints for a while now.  I usually use opaque paints to make prints on black paper: I enjoy the bold contrasts and deep colors that approach gives me.  

After some planning (and restocking with transparent acrylics), I decided to branch out.  Transparent layers on white paper are also fun!  The thinner emulsion (Golden Open, in bottles) also lifts more easily, so it is easier to make patterns in it with tools.  I used every sheet of paper in the pad, and then played around a bit more with leftover paper from another project.

This was a good way to relax after recovering from a migraine AND having to do a bit of office work!

Gray on gray inspiration

I am one of those people who likes subtle, abstract paintings.  It feels inevitable that you will eventually see a gray/white layered painting from me based on this, and on eucalyptus bark and leaves generally.   (Photo taken on 01/09/21.)

Naturally shaped (not pollarded)

Eucalyptus (from Australia) are a popular tree in California, despite their habit of exploding when they catch fire.  (This is an ISSUE in this new, more flame-filled era.)  They are tall and lovely, and smell nice.  This particular one is also very naturally shaped (relatively unpruned) and perhaps young.  

We pollard certain kinds of trees here (cut them back rather violently to near the main trunk), and that can result in some dramatic regrowth, which is what the older trees in the back show in certain sections.  New, tree-shaped branches grow from the cuts, and since these trees are already prone to looking like multiple trees that start at different heights, that characteristic becomes rather dramatic.  At a certain point, it feels RISKY to walk below a tree with many trees branching out of it over your head.  

But this one feels smooth and safe.  (Photo taken on 01/09/21.)

Cherry red

Such gorgeous reds and oranges in this bark... (Photo taken on 01/09/21.)

Monotype printmaking continued

I am happier than a clam.  Not that the idiomatic expression about clams has ever made sense.  

Making textures

Unofficial test prints.  The first and third images are the same print in slightly different lighting.  These will likely each wind up as the first layer to a two or three layer print, and so may never be seen in this form again.

Monotype on vellum (testing)

Architecture school involved lots of translucent papers, especially drafting vellum.  I still love translucency, and decided to try monotype printing (using a gel plate) with drafting vellum.  (Note: this is a cotton product - there is no calf skin involved, I'm not THAT old timey.)  It is nice to see the plate through the paper, and I find the air bubble textures, where the vellum resists the paint, interesting.

Mirrors and foam

The beach was popular today, but in a physically distanced, safe, responsible way.  

Also: Slow Streets still has all of the Great Highway OPEN to pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and all other non-motorized recreation, which means the roadway was filled with more socially distanced exercise.  (It's always so strange to hear pedestrians speaking about the road being "closed," just because cars aren't on it...)

Foam line

One of my great moments of joy today was watching one of the two dogs at the top of this image lose its mind entirely while chasing blowing sea foam.  It was madness and happy barking!  I like sea foam, but that dog LOVES sea foam.

Streaked sky

It got up to about 54 degrees Fahrenheit today (12.2 Celcius).  I love the Bay Area!

This sky looks like a pastel drawing to me.  By someone with much more pastel drawing talent than I have ever had.

High sun

It was beautiful.  Also, the wind in my ears gave me a headache, because I wore the wrong kind of hat.  (I'm a FOOL!)

Fiery ice plant

I should learn to draw and watercolor these, since I am always so interested in their glow when they are backlit...

Less famous windmill

This is the Murphy Windmill in Golden Gate Park, along with a house associated with its keeper.  (You can read about this windmill here at Wikipedia.)  It was theoretically the largest in the world at the time of its construction in 1908 (because: Americans).  It was disassembled for repair for years, and so I'm still surprised to see this restored version.

Yes, I took too many photos of it, especially its blade-side.  (I'm sparing you those today.)  Yes, I'm just appreciating the scale and profile of it here, and the little family picnic scene in the foreground.

Misty near shore

Fuzz-edged

Living in California means perennials are always around, and something is always blooming, even in December!  Hooray for the Mediterranean Climate Zone!

December blossoms with red & green leaves

Serious postage variety

All in a day's mail: stamps from the UK, the Netherlands, and Taiwan!  

These kinds of stamp collages are a sign that my pen friends are rather SERIOUS about their mail.

Note that the Taiwan stamp on the right excited me too much, because it's a fruit I haven't tried.  The translated name appears to be "Thai wax apple," which is a specialty of Taiwan, but I haven't seen one in real life yet.