'THE SKY DRESSED FOR THE EVENING'

mini 4 x 4" acrylic on panel

comes with a stand for display

'ALONG AJO LOOP'

6 x 8" Acrylic on board

comes with a stand for display

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And then, a few photos from my morning walks around Ajo . . .

Morning traffic in Ajo.  

I love this photo.  I like how the difference in the textures, and colors, play against each other.  Simply stated.

                             

This fellow reminds me of an old Sea Captain, looking out over the sea, wondering what the next day is going to bring.

I caught this just at the right time.

There is a lot of 'rust' in Ajo.  And, most of it creatively used.

Out on Ajo Loop.  Same road that the old Sea Captain is on, and where the inspiration for the second painting above came from.  The morning light on the Cholla (in front) was perfect.  Not exactly my favorite plants, (there's quite a few varieties) but when the sun hits them just right, they absolutely glow.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

Now we know where the Queen of Hearts went.  

But . . . where's Alice?!

          THE MAD HATTER: 

          "Have I gone mad?"

          ALICE: 

          "I'm afraid so.

          You're entirely bonkers.

          But, I'll tell you a secret.

          ALL THE BEST PEOPLE ARE."

To All you 'Best People'

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Dio Las Muertas

www.charleenmartin.com

IT'S ABOUT TIME, SHE SAYS . . .

I know, it's been awhile.  I sort of took the summer off.  Not actually planned, it just seemed like there was a lot going on and I didn't get into my studio nearly as much as I would have liked to.

Part of my 'excuse' was a 6 week camping trip through parts of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.  It was a great trip. We got to see family, friends, and a lot of very beautiful country.  We didn't get to see everyone, or everything we wanted to, but we felt fortunate to see who and what we did.  

I thought I would share a few fun things from the trip with you this time. 

'THE LOOK'

6 x 6" Acrylic on canvas

(I both gave, and received this look, numerous times on this trip!)

  

'POTATO FAIRY' 

A potato plant I found in the woods was hugging a Cactus, 'Eves Pin', a Desert plant that is originally from the Peruvian Andes. This was in amongst Pines, Alligator Junipers and who knows what else.  Wouldn't the history of how these two met be interesting.  :)

'THE GATHERING'

Doesn't it look like she is just extending her arms, offering  protection.

Chiricahua, National Monument,  AZ

'THE BUTT TREE'

'LOVERS'

New Mexico trees just seem to be very 'expressive'.  ;)

HUBCAP ART

How about a little Hubcap Art from Silver City, N.M. 

This planter wound around a small corner park outside a Gallery downtown.  Note reflection of the building across the street in the last hubcap.

'THE SKULL'

Sounds like a 60's TV Show.

This what welcomes you to town in Hall, MT.

(the whole tree is actually covered in various and creepy (sorry, no getting around it . . . just creepy!) skulls.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Dolores, CO.  I'm not sure what this is going to be when it grows up.  Truck? Bus? Train?

UH . . . O.K. I GET THE HINT!

No, he really didn't want his picture taken!

Devils Canyon Campground, N.M

CREATE

We took a hike in an almost empty campground up in the mountains outside of Durango, CO.  This little gem was on a path down to the river.  No one was around, just a little 'creative' surprise, someone left for others to enjoy.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

This was the sky that welcomed us back to Ajo the day we arrived home from our trip.  Take your choice . . . rain or sun?  Obviously the Weather Angels were having some discord as to whose turn it was to plan the weather for the day.

Unfortunately we were turning into the rain. 

'The Beauty of Butterflies

is that they allow us to dance with them'

4 x 4" Mixed Media Collage

I hope the rest of your day is great!

Charleen

DREAM ON . . .

'DON'T BE AFRAID TO FOLLOW THAT DREAM'

6 x 6" Acrylic on canvas . . . with a lot of movement going on!

Maybe sometimes with a little trepidation, but don't let it get away.

I'm still out and about walking just about everyday with trusty camera in hand and I have been fortunate to get a few more nice shots that I thought I would share with you.  Some of you may have seen some of these before.  If so, I hope you enjoy them for a second time.

this photo is from behind the baptist church in ajo

One of my favorite photos taken over the last few weeks.  

This piece can be interpreted in so many ways.

'Death is not the greatest loss in life. 
The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.'

~ norman cousins

from a small strip mall on our main road

Self explanatory :)

marcellas restaurant, ajo, az

I wonder how many people ate here and never noticed all the mis-matched fans?

main street ajo, az

Al Capone and his buddies must have been to town.

around the corner and down the street :)

How often do you get a burro, (looking at me!) a Raven and a flowering Saguaro all in one photo?  This looks to me like something from the old west.  And just to show you what it looks like in color:

Not nearly as much personality as in black and white

(in my humble opinion).  I love the black and white version,

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

'slow dancin', swayin' to the Music

no one else in the whole wide world . . .'

  Morning sky over Ajo, May 20th, 2021

Have a great weekend everyone!

Charleen

'DANCING UNDER THE MOONLIGHT'

These gals were just waiting for the music to start!

10 x 10 Acrylic on Acrylic Pour

For more information on this piece, Please click HERE

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On my morning walks around Ajo, I see some fun, and sometimes unusual, facets of Ajo life.  I post my morning walks on Facebook so if you follow me on FB, then there is a good chance you may have seen some of these photos already.  If not, I hope they bring a few smiles . . .

His Mother should have taught him not to scratch his butt in public.

The Sun peeking around the Palm

Sun Star Plant. Isn't the color delicious!

"Whadda ya lookin at?!"

Brittle Bush over the wash. 
I took out all the color and then just put back the yellow.

The rich color of a Bougainvillea

From the top of my street looking down to our Plaza at the end of the road.  Are the clouds mirroring the road?

I love how the morning light makes this plain, old alley look like a magical place.

And you never know what you'll find walking down some of those alleys.

Things are starting to bloom!

It's your road, and yours alone. 
Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

~ rumi

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

This was last nights sky as seen from our front porch.  No color changing here, this is just as it was. Stunning.

  Stay well . . .

Charleen

 

"QUICK! WHERE'S MY CAMERA?!"

I've been focused lately on trying to get a line of cards together for the Gift Shop/Gallery in the Sonoran Desert Inn and Conference Center here in Ajo.  The Inn is literally a little gem located here in the midst of the Sonoran Desert. Visitors from all over the world come to unwind in the renovated, old Curley School classrooms, now turned into Modern Day Suites with full accommodations, and/or take advantage of the Conference Center.

The Cards below are from a Series I've done called 'Ajo Skies'.  We happen to be blessed to have wonderful Sunrises (and Sunsets) that I can quite often capture right off my back deck. These are some of my favorites (although I have many!).

'Mesquite Moon'

'Night on the Desert'

'No Bird soars too high

if he soars with his own wings'

'Once you have tasted the taste of sky,

you will forever look up.'

'The Last Whisper of Day'

'Fractured'

'Don't forget, Beautiful Sunrises need Cloudy Skies'

ALL OF THESE CARDS CAN BE FOUND AT   ajoartisans.org

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

And since we are on the theme of beautiful skies, here are a few more . . .

This reminds me of Morse Code . . . 😕

This looks like the water is aglow from the Sunset.  

Only, there is no water, and this is a Sunrise.  😉

This sky is so hot it's smokin'!

"What makes photography a strange invention is that its primary raw materials are light and time."

~ john berger

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  🍀

Charleen