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

CATCH YOUR DREAM . . .

REACH OUT. THEY ARE WAITING.

'THE TREES WATCH AS
THE DREAMS FLOAT AROUND THEM'

12 x 12" Acrylic over an Acrylic pour

for more information on this piece
please visit my website at:

www.charleenmartin.com

We were out for a desert ride Sunday with some friends and came upon this fellow.  I'm pretty sure I posted a similar photo about 2 years ago when we first found this Cristate.  It's a Saguaro with a deformity at the top.  Or, maybe all the others are deformed with their perfectly round tops, and this is how they are suppose to be.  :)  But, there are only 4 (that we know of) in the area of the Sonoran desert right around Ajo.  They don't know what causes this ... lightening, a cancer, or possibly even frost.  This is two angles on the same saguaro.  They are considered Iconic symbols of the Sonoran Desert.

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

                                             indi behrendt

No, that's not me.  :) 
It tells a great story though, don't you think.

Photography takes an instant out of time,
altering life by holding it still.
~  dorothea lange

Charleen

ARE WE EVER ALONE . . .

Not very often!

'ALONE . . . BUT NOT'

(This little piece was bought by a couple who are traveling full time across the U.S.  They buy small pieces of art wherever they go and put them up all over their RV.  They are remembrances of where they have been on their travels.  They said even their cupboard doors are covered!  Honored to be part of those memories.)

'DESERT CONVERSATION'

For more information on this piece please visit my website at:

www.charleen martin.com

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 CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

Amazing to think that on any given day you can look up at the sky and see a whole new painting, free of charge with no hidden fees.  Videos too, as the clouds can change form and move around as you watch.  Bring out the popcorn and the wine.  Time for one of the most beautiful shows on earth.  

Once you have tasted the taste of sky, 

you will forever look up.

~  leonardo da vinci

MAY, THE MONTH OF BLOOMS ...

I'M SO INTO THINGS BLOOMING THIS MONTH THAT I HAVE A ONE TRACK MIND.  WE LEFT THE DESERT IN APRIL WITH EVERYTHING IN BLOOM ONLY TO COME HOME TO STILL COLD AND GLOOMY DAYS.  WE HAVE FINALLY HAD SOME NICE WEATHER AND FLOWERS ARE STARTING TO SHOW THEIR BEAUTIFUL FACES.

'TO BLOOM, SHARE YOUR INNER SUNSHINE'

This little Piece is 6 x 6" but the small painting (2 x 4") of the Wildflowers  on the right of the Sun/Birds is actually a separate painting that I attached to the  6 x 6 canvas.  So ... it is actually a 'painting on a painting' making it 3-dimensional.  Almost impossible to show that here but it really looks nice.  I tried to photograph it to show the dimension but it just didn't work.  I guess this is one of those 'you'll have to take my word for it' times.

 

For More information on this Piece Please Click HERE

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Since I am on a Flower kick how about these ... both beautiful and funny!  I received them the other day as part of an email from a friend.  I would love to give credit to the photographer(s) but have no idea who he/she might be.

White Egret Orchid

(Habenaria Radiata)

Hookers Lips  (now who named this one!??)

(Psychotria Elata)

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

How about a Fire spewing Dragon?!!

(This is compliments of my friend Indy Behrendt who, besides taking cloud photos for me in her off time :) is also a silversmith.  If you like Silver and Copper Jewelry Click HERE )

"Always speak politely to an enraged Dragon."

~ Steven Brust     

(song-writer, fantasy/fiction writer)

Charleen

QUIET GOES THE NIGHT ...

BUT COLORFUL GOES THE DAY  ...

A little over a year ago we were down in Nevada and took a day trip over to Red Rock Canyon, about a 45 minute drive from Las Vegas.  We are back down here again and decided to take another trip to Red Rock yesterday.  Last year it was a bright sunny day. Yesterday was very overcast. I couldn't believe the difference in the colors of the rocks between the two years. Yesterday the colors seemed so much more vibrant.  I think last years Sun may have washed out the colors a wee bit. Not so yesterday.  See for yourself ...

 You can't see them, but these wonderful, face-painted, old crags are filled with hikers and rock climbers.  A great place if you like doing either.

 This is just one of a few houses painted/stained to match its surroundings.

Amazing isn't it.

I took a few photos of the Joshua Trees in the area. I love their crazy poses.  I will try and include more of  those in my next blog.  

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And, now some other color.  Just can't compare to Mother Natures Palette ...

QUIET GOES THE NIGHT

9 x 12" Acrylic on wood panel

https://charleenmartinfineart.com

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see Ol' Woman Wind huffing and puffing and making more clouds for me to imagine with.  :)

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Rocks and water, etc. are words of God.  And so are men.  We all flow from one fountain Soul.  All are expressions of one Love. 

John Muir

Charleen

THERE'S 'MAGIC' IN THE AIR TONIGHT ...

MAGIC ...

I don't think this is quite what Phil Collins had in mind when he wrote his debut solo 'In the Air Tonight'.  In fact, after reading about it, the song was all about the anger he felt after a divorce from his first wife in 1979.  Amazing example of how channeling our emotions, even negative ones, can be put to work in such a positive way. 

'HEARING THE SOUNDS OF MAGIC IN THE NIGHT'

12 x 12 Acrylic on Wood panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

This is a little different for me.  The background, once again, was just a randomly painted background which sat for several weeks before deciding to add the tree.  Added the tree and the Moon and then it sat for a few more weeks before the barn and the Buck were added.  I have painted deer before but its been ? years.  Almost all the animals I've done in recent years have been Collage.  Way more whimsical.  This was a fun change.

And ... just in case you want to hear a little music here is the link to Phil Collins singing 'In the Air Tonight'    Phil Collins   (sorry, you'll have to skip the ad to get to this)

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

This Sunset was taken by our daughter from atop the Space Needle in Seattle.  I don't really see any 'shapes' in this one (ok. maybe a 'Goldfish' or two up there' :) but I do see the Skyline itself on fire, or ... is it more like a Tsunami of fiery waves starting to crest on the Horizon!  Can Supergirl stop them?!  O.K. I see at least a short story happening here.  Better go while I'm in the moment.

A little humor.  (And I do mean little.)  For some reason I could not get the photo below enlarged without distorting the whole thing so it was not readable! :/  A friend sent me this (Thank you Darlene!) and she thought we might enjoy it.  Just in case you can't read it, here it is ...

I wonder if clouds ever look down on us and say

"Look. That one is shaped like an Idiot!"

Your smile for today.  :)

Charleen

A LITTLE CHANGE FOR FALL ...

I thought I would get my Blog in to the Spirit of Fall.  :) 

It's definitely different than my normal Black Background.  Let me know what you think!

AUTUMN IS A SECOND SPRING, WHERE EVERY LEAF IS A FLOWER.

~ Albert Camus

'THE FIELDS SPEAK THEIR PEACE'

6 x 8" Acrylic on Wood Panel

More information on this Piece can be found HERE

This reminds me of our time living in Mount Vernon, WA.  It was predominantly all farming with miles of beautiful Tulip fields blooming in the Spring.  (It still is that way) 

  http://www.tulipfestival.org/multimedia
photo: Michael Brannan

We moved up there when our oldest daughter was in eighth grade.  At the end of the school year she came home and announced she wanted to go to work in the fields like the rest of her friends.  It seemed that most of the kids her age went to work rogueing spinach, picking beans or gathering bulbs out of the fields.  At 12, she was a year younger than most of her classmates but even at 13, I couldn't imagine her going to work in the fields.  As a New York City girl, work for me at that age was called 'babysitting'.   After much begging, pleading and our investigation, we relented.  Off she went the first day.  Her job was to walk the rows in the tulip fields and pick all the bulbs out of the dirt that had been loosened by the plows.  They got paid by the bulb.  If I remember correctly, it was 2 cents a bulb.  At the end of her first day her friends Mom dropped her off back at home. Covered in mud from head to toe, our daughter was literally unrecognizable.   One or two tears streaked down through the mud on her face and out came the statement "I don't want to go back!" 

After getting cleaned up, having dinner, and with things not looking quite as bad, we sat down and had a talk.  I explained how it cost money for companies to put you on a payroll and train you.  How, if she quit, they would then have to do the same thing all over again with another person.  That wasn't really fair to the company.  Her Dad and I said since she has made this commitment to the company we wanted her to stay for two weeks.  If, after the two weeks she still felt the same way, she could quit.  Besides the obvious moral to this story, I will tell you that at the end of the two weeks, and after having received her FIRST PAYCHECK, there was no longer a hint of her wanting to quit (even at 2 cents a bulb!)  It's always amazing what a little incentive can do!

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY . . .

Can you see the Eagles head just peering out from the clouds on the left? 
This is another one of those that if you look hard enough I'm sure a whole array of
animals would appear.

CHARLEEN

FLOWERS FOR A SEPTEMBER DAY ...

Sometimes when we want flowers in our lives we just have to paint them ourselves.  I randomly painted this blue background and then needed to decide what I was going to paint on it.  Flowers seemed to be in order. 

'A BOUQUET FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON'

6 x 6 x 1.5" Acrylic on canvas

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

Most of my flowers outside are bidding me adieu.  I do have one little Rosebush that does seem to be loving the weather ...

and even my Rhubarb hasn't abandoned me yet ...

but this once lovely 'Summerina', which I just bought a few days ago, and which I thought I would get at least a few weeks of enjoyment out of, obviously did not like the 29 degrees we had the other night :(

Fortunately it's a perennial so I'll still plant it and hope it comes back next year.


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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

A FISH BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL A FISH.



By all these lovely tokens September days are here,
With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer. 
~  Helen Hunt Jackson

Charleen

IMAGINATION IS ...

 ... THE ONLY REAL MAGIC CARPET YOU NEED.

LITTLE SISTERS:  "I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT, BUT BIG PEOPLE JUST DON'T BELIEVE IN MAGIC ..."

8 x 8" Mixed Media Collage

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see Mr. Gorilla kissing Mrs. Gorilla  :)

'YOU DO NOT TEACH THE PATHS OF THE FOREST TO AN OLD GORILLA'
~  African Proverb

Charleen

DISCUSSIONS ... MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT ...

LET'S GO WITH AFTERNOON.  :)

'AFTERNOON DISCUSSION'

9 x 12" Acrylic and Pastel on Wood Panel

I really love the colors in this, just not as loose as I want to be.  Too many years of cutting tiny pieces of paper for my Collages and fitting them together like a 1000 piece puzzle.  Maybe I need to go buy a couple of children's 10 piece puzzles and practice putting them together so I get the feel of larger/looser!  

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

'THE KISS'

A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech

when words become superfluous.
                                                                         ~   Ingrid Bergman

Have a Great Day!

Charleen

'TODAYS PICK' MAY BE TOMORROWS MEMORIES ...

I think most of the time when we do something different, or a little bit special, we are not really thinking that it will be tomorrows memory but that so often happens, doesn't it.  We pick a few flowers, put them in a jar, and bring them to a neighbor.  She's having a bad day and that small gesture changed the whole day for her.  It totally changed her memory of that day. I 'imagined' that these flowers had a story like that.  :)

'TODAYS PICK'

6 x 8"  Acrylic on Wood Panel

For more information on this Piece Please Click HERE

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

Well, let's see.  I see a Doxie's head.  My Aunt and Uncle had several Dachshunds. When one would pass they'd get another.  They were all named 'Doc'.  And, they all got to eat Pepper steak (made for them) off a Fine China dish.  :)

I also see waves crashing against the shore (Actually reminds me of the Devils Punch Bowl on the coast in Oregon), stormy skies and the sun trying to fight its way through.

“When everything is at risk, good judgment, not haste,
makes the difference between life and death. Panic is the enemy.” 

                                                                                   ~ Greg Iles, The Devil's Punchbowl

Charleen

HAPPY SPRING!

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE! 

FRESH FLOWERS TO HELP CELEBRATE THE DAY . . .

Just wanted to share a smile with you ...

'SMILES IN BLOOM'

4 x 4" Acrylic on Wood Panel

WHAT'S AROUND YOUR CORNER ...?

'ROUND THE CORNER, CATCH THE PENNY.'

12 x 12 x 1.5" Mixed Media on Wood Panel.

As you can see, I went a little abstract.  This is one of two that are quite similar and could easily be hung as a set.  Can you find the Penny?  :)

Both of these can be found on my Website at www.charleenmartin.com

IN THE SPRING I HAVE COUNTED 136 DIFFERENT KINDS OF WEATHER

INSIDE OF FOUR AND TWENTY HOURS.

~ Mark Twain

(isn't that the truth!)

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see Oscar the Grouch!

Charleen