I've seen similar skies during full moon in July many other years. But not every year.

Moon and Cloudy Sky, July 14, 2011

Copyright © 2011 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved

Night, like a painting...

Night, Like a Painting, July 24, 2010

Copyright © 2010 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved

Sometimes a painting looks like a photograph. And then, sometimes a photograph looks like a painting. This one, of the Cascades, in some ways reminds me of a watercolor, in other ways of an oil. I took the photo yesterday.

Like a Watercolor, Jan. 21, 2010

Copyright © 2010 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved

Sun Breaks

Today the visibility from the Viewpoint was greater than yesterday. I'm not saying that's better or worse--just different. Yesterday I was there around dusk, and there was a lot of haze in the air, so today the colors were brighter and less blue. There was a woman in a white top sitting on the far bench under the laurel tree. Her longish hair was strawberry blond. At first she was the only other person at the Viewpoint, but then a group of three came walking in, entering at the south end of the park. They all had on black shirts. Two were women and one was a man. One woman had on a black top, as well. It was decorated with silver studs--like something you'd see at a rodeo. Another woman had on a light blue top--a jean jacket, I think. And the man had an olive green shirt, it seems to me, although here my memory is less clear. The woman under the laurel tree began eating a banana. A man came walking along the neighboring street, with a dog on a leash, and then entered the park from the north end. It seems to me he was dressed in brown, and that the dog was brown, too. And I think both man and dog were on the skinny side.

There wasn't much sun, but every now and then, in the distance, there would be a sun break, and that made for a very beautiful effect. The muted shades of green, blue, red, orange and yellow were suddenly made bright, contrasting with neighboring shades of the same hues retaining their muted quality. And then it would all flatten out again, as the sun break moved on and away--the result of a certain amount of breeze. It was a beautiful scene and would make for a beautiful painting.

Two White Poodles Again

Just as I was getting to the Viewpoint today, around dusk, I heard someone calling me name. I looked all around, and then realized it was a crow cawing. Sometimes they sound so human. Then I saw a woman I've spoken with at the Viewpoint before--the owner of two white poodles. One is five months old, and the other seven years old. I think I got this a little wrong the last time I wrote about them. They're the big, energetic kind of poodle, not lap dogs. Their heads are round, and they have no topnots or anything like that.

I kept trying to capture the beautiful dusky blues around the bay, and beyond, but my camera wasn't cooperating very well with me. But I'll remember how they looked. What a beautiful painting this would make!

Tortoise Shell

When I stopped by the Viewpoint just now, the moon was hidden behind the clouds, but you could still see where it was, since the clouds weren't too thick. There was an interesting, tortoise-shell effect. It would be wonderful in a painting but hard to do.

Thirty-Two, Two and Four

 

Burning Bright
Copyright © 2009 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved

archival felt pen and watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold-pressed paper; 4" x 6"

The main walkway at the Viewpoint consists of sections of concrete divided by wooden slats. There are thirty-two of these slats. The two smaller walkways at the south end of the park are also made up of sections of concrete divided by wooden slats. Of the two, the walkway that points a bit to the west, going out of the park, has two slats, while the walkway that points a bit to the east, going out of the park, has four slats.

I've mentioned the moon any number of times, but I've neglected a planet--the one I saw shining bright as could be as I looked south over the Viewpoint tonight. It's Jupiter, I believe.

Blue Genie

Blue Genie
Copyright © 2009 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved 
archival felt pen, watercolor and gouache on Arches cold-pressed 140 lb. paper; 4" x 6"

When I was at the Viewpoint this evening, I noticed that the five lights that illuminate the park after dark do cast some light onto the trees growing in the ravine below. You don't much see this cast light unless you walk under the laurel tree, where there's no light shining in your eyes, our you walk right up to the edge and look outwards, towards the view. I'll have to deal with this further.

White Sky

There was a little breeze at the Viewpoint when I stopped by about an hour ago. There were no unusual effects that I could discern. The sky was more or less white. I picked up a few stray cans and had a short conversation with someone I know, as he came passing by. Each time I see the Viewpoint, it's a painting in my mind.

100 Paintings

My grandfather was a Sunday painter--a very passionate one. He once told me, "To call oneself an artist, one must paint a hundred paintings." I took it to heart. I can never paint enough paintings of the Viewpoint.