"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

LANA, ARE YOU HOME?

The city of Wallace, Idaho recently celebrated the 100th birthday of one of their most favorite daughters, Lana Turner (or aka Julia Jean Turner).  I am going to guess there may be a few people reading this not familiar with Lana, but she was a famous (and also somewhat infamous on occasion) actress whose popularity was predominantly  in the 40's and 50's. She often played the part of a good girl gone bad, and sadly, life often imitated art in her case. Despite fame, hers was not a life to envy, even from her earliest years. After winding up in a foster home in California, she suffered abuse as a child, and like so often happens, that pattern of abuse followed her into adulthood.

 Lana Turner

Her childhood home still stands in Wallace and several years ago I took photographs of the house 'just because'.  I loved the style of the home, reminiscent of something you'd see in the old south.  Any grand ideas this home may have had though, have long vanished. 

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a wee bit of my art . . .

"BUT, DO YOU THINK SHE MEANT IT?"

4 x 4" Mixed Media Collage 

comes with a stand for display

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 CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

INAUGURATION DAY 2021

See the Eagle in the sky? This was our sky over Ajo the morning of Jan. 20th.  I don't think it could have been any more appropriate!

Shortly before the Eagle flew in . . .

'IN THE EAGLE THERE IS

ALL THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD.'

~ lame deer

HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU . . .

This funny fellow resides on my porch just outside the door. He gets to welcomes all our visitors.  

'HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU' 

Prints of this character can be found at the link below. 

Also available: totes, cards, mugs, and more.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/heres-looking-at-you-charleen-martin.html

And, the latest in wardrobe accessories  . . . 

Face masks!

(at the link below)

(more designs available. Just follow the link)

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/charleen-martin/shop/face+masks

'SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING'

4 x 4" Acrylic on canvas

For more information on this piece please click below

https://www.charleenmartinfineart.com/workszoom/3555878#/

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

These clouds remind me of my brain when the monkeys have gotten to it.

Stay in (as best you can in your circumstances).

Stay Safe.

Look around you.  All that clutter used to be money.

~ unknown

INNOCENCE AND HAPPINESS ....

SEEM TO GO HAND IN HAND.

LITTLE SISTERS:

'HAPPINESS IN THE MOMENT'

8 X 8" Collage on Wood panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

I started this as a companion to the one below but never quite finished it in time because the one below sold right away.  :)

 

("I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT, BUT BIG PEOPLE JUST DON'T BELIEVE IN MAGIC.")

And, the backgrounds do match, but obviously not in my photographs!

A sister is both your mirror - and your opposite.

~ Elizabeth Fishel

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

                                                         Photographer: Unknown

THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM OUTER SPACE!

CHARLEEN

FOR WHOM THE BELL(S) TOLL . . .

“I had an inheritance from my father,
It was the moon and the sun.
And though I roam all over the world,
The spending of it’s never done.” 

Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls

NJUGA ZA LOVE  (Bells of Love)

A Fun Piece for work or play.

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

A Friend saw this and cut it out of the paper for me.  I thought it would be fun to include it this time instead of a 'real cloud' conversation.  Sorry the clarity is not better ... :(

Charleen

FROM THE SHADOWS TO THE LIGHT...

FROM THE BLACK TO THE WHITE ....

OUT OF AUTUMNS SHADOWS

6 x 6" Acrylic on Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please click HERE

I did several Pointillist Pieces last year and both were Acrylic on a black background.  Years ago when I did several (much bigger than above) Pointillist Pieces I did them watercolor on paper.  Unfortunately I wasn't very diligent about photographing my work back then  SUCH a different look as you can see from the very bad photo :( above.  This is of the Arboretum  at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park.  The color was much more vibrant (Still is I hope!  This was sold many years ago) than what this photo shows.  But, you can get an idea of the difference between the two styles.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see an Eagles head down on the lower right.  That's what popped out right way but with so many clouds I know there has to be more.  :)

And, of course, for those of you old enough to remember . . .

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.
~ Neil Armstrong

PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER ...

OR ... BETTER YET, ON A PILLOW!  :)

I'm actually working on a couple of new pieces right now so I don't have new work to show today.  Letting spackle dry (for texture) on 2, letting backgrounds dry (and waiting for them to 'speak' to me) on another two, and slowly working on another one in Pointillism which will take a little while.  Did just finish a small piece that uses Pointillism, along with a little Impressionistic point of view, but I haven't photographed that yet.  I will probably show that next post.

These are two of the Pillows I have that are available in 6 sizes.  I love how both of these turned out.   If you would like more information on these please click on the link just before each pillow.

'SOMETIMES WE JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION'

For print and Pillow information Please Click HERE  (original also available)

'RUSSELL CROWE ... WHERE ARE YOU?'

For print and Pillow information Please Click HERE

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SITTING BACK AND TALKING TO YOUR COWS
~  Russell Crowe

~ 

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see an old Codger, with a handlebar mustache, winking at YOU!  :)


Charleen

I COULD USE A LITTLE NIGHTLIFE RIGHT NOW !

The title of this Piece made me realize it's been a while since I've been 'out on the town' (or to dinner ... or to a movie ... hmmm).  I'm starting to become one of those reclusive Artists that we hear about.  :/  Not!   I think its time my 'needs' to be brought up to my hubby. :)

ENJOYING THE NIGHTLIFE

5  x 7" Acrylic on Wood Panel

For more information Please click HERE

Clouds of the Day ...

This reminds me of the Crowds rushing in to Walmart on Black Friday morning!  Best to watch from a distance!

'Actually, my most favorite form of Nightlife is reviewing

the Best parts of my Day'

~  Charleen

A ROSE TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY ...

It is anything but bright here. Rain, rain and more rain.  A change predicted for this afternoon though.  Snow.  :/

IT WAS ALWAYS A YELLOW ROSE II

Small 4 x 4" Acrylic on Wood with stand for Display

More information can be found HERE

This is another in the '30 in 30' Challenge.  Just 2 more days left in the Challenge.  While I won't make all 30 days I will come close.  I took the pressure off myself this time ~ if I didn't make all 30 days it was o.k.  Made it a lot more enjoyable! 

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I included this section below in my monthly Newsletter, but since there are a lot of you that just get my Blogs I thought I would re-post it here too.  Perseverance: Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc. especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Here is a delightful example of perseverance. It's all about how one Womans determination, perseverance, and ... 1500 loaves of homemade banana bread, were able to bring smiles to homeless children in Uganda. To learn more about Jaajabarbs (Grandma Barbs) Home of Angels please click HERE. It's just proof positive that if you want something bad enough, with hard work and determination, just about anything is possible. For more information Please Click HERE  Christmas at the Home  ~  The Balloons are 'ornaments' on the tree  :) ***************************************************************************************** Cloud of the Day ... Now this is a stretch, but a lot of times when I look up into the clouds, it's more about a 'sense' of what I see, than what I actually see.  This time I looked at the photo and had the sense of a Great White Whale coming up out of the ocean.  :) IF SWIMMING IS SUCH A GOOD WAY TO STAY IN SHAPE ... EXPLAIN WHALES. ~ unknown Charleen

FROM THE GARDEN ... SORTA.

A COUPLE OF MORE MINIS. 
THESE ARE BOTH 4 x 4" AND EACH COME WITH A STAND FOR DISPLAY

'PINK POPPY LOVE'

'LADY G'

For more information on either of these Pieces Please Click HERE

'We may think we are nurturing our Garden but of course it is our garden that is really nurturing us.'

~  Jenny Uglow

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I see a Smurf !

Charleen

HERE A PEAR. THERE A PEAR ...

A few more Pears for your consideration ...  :) 
         (still working on the '30 in 30')

'SOMETIMES THREE IS A CROWD'

6  x  6" Acrylic on Wood Panel

'THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL'

6 x 6" Acrylic on Wood Panel

For more information on either of these Pieces Please click HERE

'EAT PEARS, FOR THEY POLISH THE HEART'

~  Iman Ali

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Snow Capped Mountains ...

Charleen

I WONDER ... DO YOU?

'THE IMPORTANCE OF WONDER'

6 x 6" Acrylic on Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

I saw 'late evening' when I did this and then another Artist commented that she saw an 'early morning mist'.  I love it when that happens.  It's always fun to hear how other people interpret your work.  Years ago I had a card company where we (hand) produced 3-dimensional cards.  One of the cards I designed had a big yellow schoolbus on the front (with a little boy pulling a litte girls pigtails inside the bus :).  On the front it also said 'You finally made it!'  On the inside you could interchange greetings.  I initially put in Congratulations because I designed it as a Graduation card.  But ... one of my Retail customers ordered it with 'Happy Birthday!' inside.  When I called to make sure it wasn't an error he said No, he saw it as a birthday card.  It had never occured to me to use it as a B'day card but as soon as he said it I saw it. 

As Knowledge increases, Wonder deepens

~  Charles Morgan

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O.K. I did something a little different today.  The first photo is my cloud photo .. wispy and hardly there.  But just for fun, this is the same photo as viewed through a Teleidsocope (not a 'Kaleidoscope')  Kaleisocopes work on the practice of seeing designs through bits of glass, seashells, etc.  Teleidoscope Designs come from what you are actually viewing through a series of mirrors.  Your trivia for today.  :)

Charleen