Color Resources

A visit to the paint manufacturer Gamblin Artist Colors' website is well worth the time. Their site has useful information such as a post about three secondary colors that can be mixed together to make the primary trio of yellow, red and blue--very interesting even if somewhat muted.  Visit Gamblin's video.

First Decent Carrot

If I weren't so excited, I would be embarassed to admit that after over 20 years of dedicated gardening and  some market farming, I finally got a decent carrot--over 12 inches long and 1 1/4" wide. Veteran gardeners out there will no doubt scoff at that, but after years and years of misshappen gnomelike pest infested roots, to get even just a 12-inch carrot is an event worth painting. Here's a photo of the painting in progress. It is different now, but gives the idea.

Sticky Solution for Ticks

A foray into the gardens for a plein air painting inevitably results in a tick hitchiking a ride. I wrap my water bottle with a few rounds of masking tape making an easy solution. I tear off a two inch piece of tape, catch the tick with it and then fold it up. Scotch tape works, too. This beats having to try to touch the tick or find some way to kill them. They don't have the leg strength to get free from the tape.

Here's a fun experiment. Put your hand  behind a tick that is walking around. It will immediately turn around toward your hand. Could they somehow be used to identify a heat source in a scientifically critical situation and thereby redeem themselves?

No ticks today. With temperatures in the high 90's, I'll be in the cool air of the studio!