august 8, 2017

08-08-17 "rosebud 1"
08-08-17 “rosebud 1”

digital photo

Today I took three photos of flowers on our Rose of Sharon shrub in front—all in different stages of life. Here is the first. The other two will follow later in the week.

august 6, 2017

08-06-17 "Wheel of Fortune (excerpt)"
08-06-17 “Wheel of Fortune (excerpt)”

I have not been doing much visual art in the studio lately. But for a few weeks this summer, I have been participating in a writing MOOC (free online class) from the University of Iowa that has spurred me (by assignments) into writing poetry again. Since this writing has become more regular work than the visual right now, I decided to upload some short excerpts of new poems as daily/weekly janes! Here is a small piece of the longer “Wheel of Fortune.”

july 17, 2017

07-17-17 "barks"
07-17-17 “barks”

digital photo

I don’t know if these pieces of shedding bark are related to the death bugs, but I found several of them along my walk where the lacy dead leaves were. I like the shapes, and the patterns on the face, and the possibilities for future artwork. I might have to bring a little bag with me on my next walk!

july 14, 2017

07-14-17 "three leaves"
07-14-17 “three leaves”

digital photo

On my walk earlier this week, I saw these leaves all over the place but I told myself I would stop back later in the day to pick them up. To no one’s surprise, given the heat this week (and my spotty memory) I never returned to get them. So, on this morning’s walk, I stopped and collected them (and some other natural things) for photographing and possibly working into collages some day. Here is the first of what will probably be a mini-series. I’m sad for the leaves (and the trees from which they fell), but they look kinda cool this way.

july 11, 2017

07-11-17 "pods"
07-11-17 “pods”

digital photo

Remember those milkweed flowers? Well, this is what they’ve become. Little pods that will grow bigger and dry out and become the plant that I remember as a child in the field out back. And I saw a monarch butterfly near this plant among the coneflowers that surround it. Hope that’s a good sign!