St. Paul Catholic Church

I don't attend this church, but I do walk past it fairly often. We had a thaw and then it got very cold--there's not much snow, but don;t let that fool you!!

And here are two new pigment marker pieces:

1)"Parking Lot, Downtown Detroit, night, with people mover":



Click to view larger

2)BB in pigment markers:

Two new shots from the Ford Museum

I spent several hours at the Ford Museum and took dozens (hundreds?) of pictures, and I will be sharing some of these with you in the next few days (weeks?). To see more shots from the Ford Museum, click the Ford Museum link below.

The second picture was taken in the airplane exhibit. But I neglected to write down the name of the particular sub-exhibit.

Skywatch Friday, Pier Park

These pictures were taken before dawn, at dawn and just after dawn at Pier Park. This morning (as I write this), my 15-year old son woke me earlier than usual and wanted me to drive him to school because it was abominably cold out. And very windy—bad wind chill. Normally he walks. And he was wearing his pajamas. They aren’t very warm.

So I got up, dressed warmly, put on wind pants and drove him to school—then drove down to the lake where I saw, in the dark, that the ice was piled up along the lake wall—frigid-looking but beautiful.

I drove to Pier Park and got there at 7:36 AM—it was still dark and the park was closed but the attendant let me in when I told him I just wanted to talk a walk.

I’d bundled myself up but was still shocked by the cold. Brr—and the wind tore through me. But I walked through the dark and the slow growing of predawn light until gradually it was nearly light out—and then I witnessed the dawn over the frozen and partly frozen lake and bays. It was lovely. I took lots of pictures with my tiny digital camera. I walked over the frozen sand of the lake and the frozen docks past the frozen boats slips and up on to the viewing platform and around to the gazebo. I was out for about an hour and some man came looking for me, because it was so cold the parking attendant was worried about me—also maybe worried because a couple weeks ago, a local woman parked by the lake and walked into it and was never found. It was so cold they said she’d have died of hypothermia in about ten minutes—and it’s colder than that, today. Oh, how I hate to think of her there . . .

But I was okay—my hands hurt when I took pictures, because I couldn’t do it with my glove on.And I couldn’t take the time to be precisely careful about the pictures.

I had a warm car and a warm house to return to, but I worry about the homeless in this bitter cold. And the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I took lots of pictures ad will be sharing them over the next few days (or weeks?)

And here are two of the new art pieces I've been doing:




The first is called "At the Black Canyon of the Gunnison" and is made with Christmas markers. It is 8 x 10, on watercolor paper. The second is gouache--I was just fooling around testing the transparency/opacity of the gouache. I haven't had time lately to post my art.

Neighborhood Snow Persons

One next door and one across the street. Made during the thaw--now it is frigidly cold again.

Detroit Skyline from Belle Isle

It was a hazy winter afternoon, low light. I thought the skyline looked a bit romantic in its gloom.

Belle Isle Willows

Belle Isle is famous for its old warped willows. They are everywhere on the island.

And V, here is the same tree, a litle more "noir" for you.

The Belle Isle Bridge, with swans

Here's the bridge across the Detroit River from Detroit to Belle Isle, which is a Detroit City Park. Taken in the late afternoon on a dark hazy winter day (last weekend).

The Red Footbridge over Nashua Creek on Belle Isle

Here it is again. Different, so different, with every season! This is a favorite spot to begin a Belle Isle hike.

The Ice Palace at Dusk

Here's another shot of the Ice Palace on Belle Isle (Or, Ice Tree, as Moxie calls it) taken about 15 minutes earlier than the previous one.

The Ice Palace at Dusk

We visited the "Ice Palace" (sorry about the name) on Belle Isle at dusk on Sunday night. It had been warm for several days and you can see some parts of the Christmas trees that the ice is built on and the water spraying at the tip. Above the group of people toward the left, you can see the Renaissance Center and downtown Detroit and in the center distance, the lights of the city of Detroit. It looks far away but it is actually very close.

Renaissance Center at Night, Entrance

Renaissance Center at night, entrance. This is considered by many to be the center of downtown Detroit. You can see the people mover structure up above.

The People Mover Structure at night

The "People Mover" is a monorail type thing above the streets in downtown Detroit. I took this picture of the structure the People Movers travel on Saturday night. We were not at home yesterday and I am behind on commenting, for which I apologize.

Abandoned Detroit VI

Many of the abandoned houses in Detroit get burned. Whether to collect insurance or just pure vandalism, I don't know. This is another on Canyon near Balduck Park. I walk by this house nearly every day.

Abandoned Detroit V

Everywhere you go around here, houses are standing empty--and where are the families who lived in them? This one is on Rolandale in Detroit. Not a bad neighborhood at all. :-(

Here's another new artwork, as yet unfinished. I'm posting it because I am too busy to finish it right now, may report it when I have time to work on it more.

Confronting the Shadow or The Myth of Unconditional Self-love, by Detroit artist Mary Stebbins Taitt. (Click image to view larger.) This is a digitally altered painting--I "smudge-painted" over a water color.) I am probably not done with it yet, but because I am working on that fellowship application, I have to set it aside.

Abandoned Detroit IV

Foreclosures are rampant in Detroit because of the economy and the trouble with auto industries. This house is on Canyon in Detroit, one of many. It's in (or at the edge of) the Copper Canyon area, which used to be a bit of an upscale neighborhood.

Here's a new sketch of hubby.

Biker Buddy, Resting, by Mary Stebbins Taitt. Markers. Quick sketch. Click to view slightly larger. (Detroit artist at work.)

and another set of new sketches from last night:

Last night I was fooling around doing an experiment. I did a value study of BB's face in our normal diningroom lighting using markers and then colored it with markers. It's not a great portrait (it doesn't look as nice as he really looks!), but it was a good experiment. Click to view slightly larger.

Captured Shadows

Seen in a yard along Canyon in Detroit.

Not getting out much

These slides at a local school (On Canyon) have not seen much use, even though the playground gates are standing open--the kids aren't getting out much and either am I. In spite of the sunshine--which we had earlier then it turned grey.


Here is my newest art piece, a water color painting of my friend Scott at Silk Creek. Click imaf to view larger.

hothouse coldhouse

These hothouse tulips are displayed at the Village Market. Our house is pretty cold! It will be a while before our tuips are in bloom. So sorry I'm not getting out much!

in and out

Inside the Village Market, flowers bloom. Outside, SNOW. (Upper left).

And here is one of my two newest art pieces, a picture of my husband BB done from memory while he was at work.

I'm not getting out much between the snow and my Fellowship application. So sorry.

The Ice Palace

At Belle Isle, They pile up Christmas trees and fun water over them to form an Ice Palace--the kids (and adults) love to visit it--sometimes there are caves inside it. Sorry the icture didn't come out that well.

SNOW, snow, and more snow

It's been snowing every day. I've got to get out and shovel! AK! It's pretty, though!

Looking down at the tops of the trees, LOL

Sometimes when the sidewalks are icy and the roads bad, we walk at the mall. I always liked looking down at the tops of the trees when I went mountain climbing, but this will have to do for now.

I've been working on a fellowship application which is taking all my time, but I needed a break and painted this somewhat silly picture last night:



It's called "Veloce" or "The Girl with the Scarves."

salt

Reflections in the parking lot after salt was applied to the snow.

Oops

Oops--this was on display in a window at the Eastland Mall on Vernier in Detroit. (All the other manikins had their clothes on properly.) (I used to have nightmares like this when I was in high school!)

Mini-Police

This is at a mall along Jefferson. Jefferson runs along the lake front and the Detroit River.

Notice the melting snow!

At the Maritime Museum on Belle Isle

Sailing through the snow at the Maritime Museum on Belle Isle and two of my recent watercolors. The second one is new yesterday.

Belle Isle Conservatory: Amaryllis

Of course I took a lot more photos, but I am trying not to post too many because my last Web Album filled up. :-(

The conservatory is wonderful on a winter day!

Dodge Park

Clinton River and shadow of bridge (look closely).

Ice Fingering out into Lake St. Clair

During the early winter, the ice comes and goes on a whim of weather. Later, it comes to stay. Taken From the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.

The Ford House Muskrat

This muskrat was fairly tame and happily foraging for food along the shores of Lake St. Clair on the Ford House grounds.

The Ford Willows

May the bud of your new year grow into a lovely blossom! Happy New Year!

All along the edge of Lake St. Clair where the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is located are these gnarled old willows. They are also found everywhere along the shore of Belle Isle. If you look closely in the lower right, you can see a tiny bit of the roof of the Ford Mansion.

Click image to view larger.