Food in the Desert

The shape and color of prickly pear is amazingly attractive. 

I'm attempting to paint this patch:

Now, I'm not sure who eats these.  Some research is warranted. But I'm wondering if anyone ever kept thirst and hunger at bay from a meal of the fruit. 

You can find recipes here:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/prickly-pear-zmaz76soztak.aspx#axzz38f1nTglW 

Apparently, the fruit can be made into jelly, wine, and a host of other things.  I think I've see the fruit at Fiesta markets. 

Yellow House

I'm starting with a simple shape in this yellow stucco house.  It will be enough of a challenge to try the perspective of the steps and the tree shadows.  

I added a cat to the porch, and cats in the windows.  This house begs cats to show up.  

Well, it all looks a little crooked and unfinished, but I can keep working on this challenge.  I feel energized by attempting something outside of my favorite color ranges. 

It's probably time for a lesson in "painting stucco houses" on Youtube.  I'll search.  But I always prefer to take a stab at it myself so that I know the questions to ask. 

I 

Not Trees

My daughter K. says it's time for me to paint something different, something architectural maybe.  Something Else.  Something that is Not Trees.

But I love trees!  And water.  Calm spaces.  

But that is exactly why I need a change.  I'm going to start with finishing my desert. My son would like this one, since he spends a lot of time in the desert. 

Then, let's try a still life. I love the contrast between the oranges and the blue wood. 

Architectural, huh?  I haven't done any buildings for awhile.  Little cabins don't count as buildings. 

Hmmm. 

Maybe this.

Or this. The detail on the steps is like lace.  

I've started the yellow one.  I think it needs cats. 

Cypresses at the Frio River

This week, we were painting at the Frio in the Hill Country.

We were painting the outside of our double wide trailer, not daubing at canvas with Acrylic.  Nevertheless, I took a swim and also a good look at the cypresses in summer.

Their greenery is unexpectedly lush and soft looking.  The cypress height is alway the most stunning, compelling feature, but in summer, their leaves--needles? --are so feathery.  Bare branches extend beyond the green.  It's very hard to capture in paint.

The really great feature of this is that there is water in the Frio!  Texas has suffered through several dry years.  We've had a lot more rain so far this summer. 

I noticed that the tips of the cypress are darker than the trunk.  The water reflections are usually smooth and calm, but if there is wind, it's wavy. 

There is something soothing about sitting by a stream. Or painting a stream, or viewing a painting of that body of water!  It's as if cares are being washed away relentlessly.  

The water is the Frio is always cool.  You can look up the flow, river temperature, etc. 

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=08195000

We also saw more inspiring flora and fauna: 

Prickly pear--my intrepid friend borrowed her husband's pen knife, and we tasted the meat.  They taste sweet, but seedy, like pomengranite. 

I would like to paint the cacti, too!