Feb 28, 2010 Crocosmia

The crocosmias' leaves are more abundant, larger, and extended.  To me, they are a reminder that sometimes forms need a little exaggeration in order for the entire structure to seem "real."

Feb 27, 2010 Camellia

The repetitive, overlapping petals of this camellia fade from the dark pink tips to light pink bases, making the edges that much more distinct as the petals splay outward.  

Feb 26, 2010 Heather

While this heather may look like a green plant with a dusting of light lavender, it is also a study in grouping.  The green branches are grouped together, each branch has a group of droplet shaped forms, those grouped forms create a mass of color, and thus the collective structure appears green and dusted.

Feb 25, 2010 Primrose

The lettuce-like leaves accent the bright yellow on pink of these primroses, but then white spots on the petals and leaves mar the quaintness.  More than prettiness, imperfections draw my attention.

Feb 24, 2010 Moss

Plush like a shag carpet, this green moss covers the surface of a rock
wall. It calls attention, and adds an interesting fuzzy outline, to
the negative space between the rocks.

Feb 23, 2010 Manzanita Trees

The burnt orange, super smooth, bark of Manzanitas looks like skin; it
fits tightly over the trunk and limbs, but the bark has wrinkles in
the "V" areas and around the branch scars. It is the imperfections
that draw your attention to the perfect smoothness.

Feb 22, 2010 Berries

Like balloons, these berries have bright, shiny, taunt skins that seem like they could burst at any moment.  The very smooth, almost industrial-polished, surface draws attention the forms set amongst the leaves. 

Feb 21, 2010 Popcorn Tree

Every spring a tree in my neighbor's yard suddenly explodes with thousands of snow white booms, providing a shocking contrast to the surrounding perennial and annual greenery.  It reminds me that an unexpected element can have a huge visual impact.

Feb 20, 2010 Daffodils

Each bloom in this clump of daffodils faces a different direction, adding a vibrancy to the overall structure. The flower's shape reminds me of a tunnel leading into a sunburst.

Feb 19, 2010 Fern

With their aligned leaves, fern fonds look rather regular.  But when you look at the whole plant regularity gives way to improvisation as the fronds explode in various directions. Hidden underneath are the pepper-like seeds.

Feb 18, 2010 Mushrooms

Crowded together with finely pleated caps and looking a bit like a "Cousin It" from the Adams Family, these mushrooms fascinate and repulse me at the same time.  They are beautiful forms but they bring to mind dampness and fungus. Which is a reminder that art can be unsettling at times.

Feb 17, 2010 Associations

The shapes of these blooms bring so many associations to mind--two people under an umbrella, a hat with legs, a set of earrings with a tiny cape over them, a bell with two clappers, etc.  It reminds me abstraction's power to incite associations and inspire thinking.

Feb 16, 2010 Rhody

The cone-shaped collection of pink petals, with their flouncy edges, come together to make this spherical rhododendron flower; stamens provide a point of focus for the flower's depth.  The tightly layered buds remind me of pine cones.

Feb 15, 2010 Birch Bark

The dark lines and swirls stretching across the white bark remind me of an ocean current map.  I imagine a sea floor covered in valleys, ridges and flat open spaces.

Feb 14, 2010 Pink Camellia

The deep green leaves of the camellia shrub make its light pink flower "pop." The central yellow stamens provide a complimentary color and interesting texture contrast to the form. 

Feb 13, 2010 Purple Crocus

The deep purple base of these croci set off the very light and striped purple flower. Small in size but huge in iconography, they mark the beginning of spring. Sometimes a very small organism has a big impact.

Feb 12, 2010 White Flowers

Instead of facing up, these white flowers hang down, showing off the green, inverted wine glass forms of the stalk and receptacle that are connected to the big, floppy helicopter blade leaves . They remind me of wind-inverted umbrellas.

Feb 11, 2010 Red Bush

What first appears to be a fuzzy red bush springing out of a green landscape is actually a form created from the sum of many parts. Each branch is a leafless vine-like stalk with a few dried and exhausted berries and emerging light green buds.

Feb 10, 2010 Barnacles

White on the outside and gray on the inside, these tiny barnacles have attached themselves to the valleys and ridges of this sea worn brick.  Even though they look like delicate serrated volcanos, each barnacle has a different shape and uniquely outlined crater.

Feb 9, 2010 Driftwood

The rocks embedded in and between the roots of this gnarled driftwood make a fascinating study in the contrast of materials, texture, and shape. Smooth and bleached, the wood is interrupted by the polished oval dark gray stones tucked inside.

Feb 8, 2010 Red Leaves

The water collected on these deep red leaves form almost bubble-like sculptures--triangular, oblong, and rectangular.  It reflects back an even more saturated red color while adding another texture to the spiky leaves' surfaces.

Feb 7, 2010 Bark

I found this piece of bark in the street after a rainstorm and was struck by the contrasting colors of the rust colored bark and ice green lichen.  I liked the way the lichen added texture, color, and compositional interest to the V shaped piece of bark.

Feb 6, 2010 Wisteria

Dried out vestiges of last spring can be still be found on the same plants just now budding. Last year I made a sculpture of wisteria; I like the way the cluster of blooms hangs so elegantly and how the many parts make up a whole form. 

Feb 5, 2010 Pink & Red

I've been on the look out for pink and red combinations in honor of Valentine's Day.  The trumpet-like flower clusters are a sharp contrast to the tiny bud (above and left), which is tight and green with bits of orange. It reminds me that ideas can start out small and rather constricted and then result in a work that is a bit chaotic but beautiful.

Feb 4, 2010 Crocus

Not yet open, the forms of these yellow, rain-soaked crocuses look similar to closed mussel shells mounted on a stick. I'm reminded that with sculpture, it is difficult to get top heavy work to stand.

Feb 3, 2010 Birds

This group of upright plants with feather-like blue-green leaves and drooping lime-green tips look a lot like a flock of birds. It is interesting to see how the leaves cascade out from the stem to create these forms.

Feb 2, 2010 Fungus

Striped on the top and smooth beige underneath, these fungi remind me
of oyster shells. I like how the different sizes sit next to and above/
below each other forming a series of balconies.

Feb 1, 2010 Cabbage

This cabbage reminded me of a flocked Christmas tree--so impossibly white. The leaves' lacey edges add a nice element to the overall tree-like form. And the surrounding blue, violet, purple, and rust foliage set it off dramatically.