A Christmas Homage

GOD JUL

The church bells ringing tonight for Jul (Christmas), as in Yule Log, comes from pre-christianity and is celebrated the 24th by eating pinnekjøtt, salted lamb ribs.......we made BBQ baby back ribs, and dancing around the christmas tree.

Authentic pepperkaker from IKEA, Chrismas Tulips, Homemade egg nog (only store that had it was sold out), Nisse, a gnome like santa, and mushrooms, Julegrøt - a warm porridge that Norweigans leave out for Nisse.

Elfin Lakes

Last weekend Three of my friends and I went up to BC to visit Cam.  We hiked a trail in Garibaldi National Park up near Whistler called Elfin Lakes.  After a foggy snowshoe hike through the woods we emerged into the most beautiful clear sky crowned with mountains.  After much celebration we arrived at a cabin at the end of the trail.  The cabin holds about 40 people a night but there were only about 20 that night.  We woke in the morning to candied bacon cooked in beer.  It was ^peak^ needless to say.

A Walk in the Woods

 Maddi and I along with a group of friends went on a hike to some natural hot springs.  Unfortunately the springs where currently overrun by nudists...  (only in oregon).  The guys did get in for a bit (thanks for the speedo Caleb) then we hiked around in the mossy woods.  I had a Saul type conversion experience as well... no its just that we don't get much sun so I had to take the chance to bronze up.  

just doing my homework... another fall at trinity

to become the animal you are inside

sometimes you have to fall in leaves

or serenade starbucks 

or get dirty pulling logs out of the forest,

making some sweet furniture from doug fir felled to save rare oak meadows

Reed Thanksgiving dinner in Tulsa

Mary, David, Marcia and Sarah seated at the Thanksgiving 

feast served on Grandma's china and consumed with her classic 

silverware.  Mary selected the glassware, napkins, tablecloth; 

Hal cooked the turkey and fixin's with superb help from Mary 

and Sarah; and we each enjoyed the food, fellowship and a Packer win!

Newport Beach

Weekend getaway trip to Newport beach.  Enjoyed the frigid rain and wind of the oregon coast.  Hung out with Maddi and some friends of hers from Coeur d'Alene who were in for the weekend.

Fall along the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Texas

The bronze color of the cypress needles contrast with the green leaves of oaks, willows and populars still clinging to their autotrophic machinery in the last vestiges of the autumn sunlight

Reeds' Rockin' Concert

Hal and Mary were on the floor of the 2 Friends concert by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith.  Good time and good sounds; a mixture of contemporary Christian, country, instrumental, and vocal.

Fiery Fall

Fiery staghorn sumac soaking up the last rays of autumn with their remaining anthocyanin photosynthetic pigments

Skog

I found myself in the forest today.  Another good day in the office......

Alpaca

Recent painting of a local alpaca.  I wanted to capture the unique quality and character of these creatures expressively and freely.  I used my texture more extensively in this piece which added interest but also frustration.  I also tried to incorporate similar colors from my landscape to connect the animal to its land.  My next painting is from a model and I think I will take a break from grassy textures.

Festivities

Little snapshot of some apartment life.  Last sunday we celebrated Jay's birthday with a home cooked bountiful feast including beef from Ryan's family's cows, halibut from Ryan's fishing trip, and of course apple pie.  From upper left to lower right: dishes with the two couples, apple pie, pile of bro flesh, and me creepin on miss Maddi Mularski.  We tried to get a better couple photos but this is the best we got.  Love for you all to meet her sometime!  This post is also to show that I do more than just make art and do have a social life.

The eyes of Hal are always upon you!

Mary's creative glass-topped insect display table

Family, I sent two photos to the blog email as I can't post them on the blog? Not sure why but it won't let me upload from my iPad? Love dad

Manscape

This self-portrait was done by looking in a mirror rather than at a photo.  I incorporated twine into the texture of the beard and hair, and also used a quick loose brushstroke to give the surface energy.  I enjoyed the colors and brushwork
but darn my proportions! Oh well, can't win them all.  My beard has since been removed but will be in full bloom come holiday.  My next painting is the first of a series of dramatic portraits of farm animals. 

Conquering Islands

8 Months Pregnant

Sunday Bike Trip to Talgje

By ferry to the island of Talgje in the constellation of little islands of Boknafjord.  A medieval church from the 1100s sits at the islands zenith.  Christianity from abroad didn’t initially penetrate far into the pagan mainland, small stone medieval churches are scattered across the highpoints of these outlying islands.  Today sheep, tomato greenhouses, large oak trees and fish farms thrive in its microclimate.  

au sable council meeting oct 1, 2011

soap left by Caleb and Jean in ASI cabin 2 years ago! 

flying over Lake Michigan shoreline

Louie's pond bench

Dr. Dave pontificating about Sphagnum moss at the Bear Lake bog

Louie's pond

bright fall colors against the blue sky of northern Michigan