Beach Rose

No one loves the New England shoreline

as much as Rosa Rugosa does - 

loves the sun and wind, the sand between it's toes, 

but more so

the inclement fogs, fresh rains and snow,

and the long dark nights 

under cold starlight,

with the sound of salt water

lapping on a stony shore,

underlined by the smell

of drying Rockweed.

This is a 4.5" x 5" watercolor drawing on professional grade card stock.

Cottontail

Standing Cottontail

wary and alert

will literally turn tail

toward predator eyes, 

a bait of white fluff

nothing to fill a belly.

This is a 4" x 4" watercolor drawing on professional grade paper.

Red-Eared Slider

The Turtle

is a philosophy embodied: 

Contain Oneself

Be Observant

Let the World Unfold Around You

Make No False Moves

This is a 3.5" x 5.5" watercolor drawing on professional grade stock.

Agave Parryi

Agave Parryi,

Century Plant,

at home on Wilson Mountain 

high above Sedona.

This is a 5" x 7" watercolor drawing on professional grade card stock.

Sleeping Angel

The statue of an angelic cherub

sleeping in the garden on Cottonwood Trail, 

a gift from a previous resident. 

A sketch of a furry friend 

who now sleeps with the angels.

Tiny wildflowers on a doorstep,

a light touch of earthly grace.

Three vignettes on one card.

The Great Swamp

Who made this place

of wandering water?

Maze of pickerelweed, 

sweet spicebush and skunk cabbage,

where guideposts 

of red maple,

not-quite drowned,

wait for the chisel 

of the architect-engineer

 in his glossy brown

beaver coat.

This is an original watercolor, ink, and acrylic drawing on professional quality paper stock, approximately 4.5" x 4.5".

FrOGS

Meandering stream

bordered by watery alcoves 

of cool shade

under heart leaves

sentient bubbles 

of amphibian eyes

spy.

Friends of the Great Swamp

know this sanctuary

of the soul

guard and celebrate

this heavenly earth.

This is an original watercolor, ink, and acrylic drawing on professional quality paper stock, approximately 4.5" x 4.5".

Pickerelweed

Pontederia cordata,

pickerelweed, lanceleaf, heartleaf, 

steam side shelter to

frogs, snails, turtles, 

and of course pickerel,

suspended in cool shadows

 waiting to taste tiny swimmers.

This is an original watercolor, ink, and acrylic drawing on professional quality paper stock, approximately 4.5" x 4.5".

Spatterdock

Nuphar lutea,

yellow pond lily,

spatterdock, cowlily, brandy-bottle, 

common names for an alien flower

of toybox yellow

a plastic knob on a rubber rod,

pond's eye,

for sequestered mud turtles

a periscope.

This is a watercolor, ink and acrylic drawing on professional quality paper stock, approximately 4" x 5".

Rose of Sharon

This is my artists meditation 

on the Rose of Sharon and Painters Pallet 

that grew in my Connecticut garden,

a flower from a Hong Kong Orchid Tree,

Pomegranates (the most Cubist of fruits),

and my sweet little "Bee Box",

a small ring box of turned wood 

with a gold bee stamped on its lid.

These four original watercolor drawings are done on professional quality card stock, which has been folded into a 5" x 7" greeting card. The blank card, signed by the artist (yours truly) and matching envelope are available for sale through EBay.

Little Horse Trail Below Chicken Point

•

Finally made it back to Sedona, and celebrated by purchasing an America the Beautiful Senior Lifetime Pass.

The Red Rock Ranger District Visitor Center, where the pass was purchased, is just up the road from Little Horse Trailhead, and easy walk that leads to the foot of Chicken Point, 

a popular Pink Jeep destination. 

My ticket to the Great Outdoors.

 "Little Horse Trail Below Chicken Point" 

is an 8" x 10" acrylic painting on panel.

Making Headway

Months later, in a house in Phoenix, the Arizona room is converted into an art studio. One last improvement needed before it can be used: air conditioning. Until then, the office doubles as a studio.