| Visions of Earth |

National Geographic

Each month for the past 6 years National Geographic magazine has featured the most amazing photographs, in their magazine and on their website. The photos are apart of a series, Visions of Earth. Here are some of my favourites from the series that have been taken over the years. I’ve also included the original words, as they help with the storytelling of the image. – AMAZING!!!

Tanzania—After two weeks of in-mouth incubation, a school of perhaps 200 cichlid fry—each less than half an inch long—swim free of their mother, searching for a plankton meal in the cerulean waters of Lake Tanganyika.

Belarus—Naked on an 18°F day, Valentsin Tolkachev clears an icy canal for swimming. The 69-year-old started the Optimalists—a Minsk-based club with 200-some members—in 1989 to promote hale activities in rural settings.

Indonesia—See dusk in the Dampier Strait through a half-submerged lens and glimpse two distinct worlds. Under a cloud-slung sky, fishermen work on wooden boats. Beneath a mirror-calm surface, waters flash with baitfish.

Zambia—A lone bull elephant breakfasts at first light near the precipice of Victoria Falls. With the Zambezi River near its seasonal ebb, once submerged walkways—and fresh foraging possibilities—present themselves.

Kenya—Aimed skyward from photos atop a train, the eyes of women pierce a rooftop landscape in Nairobi’s Kibera slum. The display, part of a global art project, paid tribute to women from Africa, Brazil, India, and Cambodia.

United States—Seen from a satellite, the 2,600-acre “boneyard”—a 64-year-old depot at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson, Arizona—looks like parchment lined with toy planes. The site stores some 4,000 aircraft.

United States—Like a glass sculpture forged in the Pacific’s eternal churn, a four-foot-tall backwash splash—the result of two waves colliding in the shallows near Kaena Point on Oahu, Hawaii—refracts the saturated glow of dawn.

South Africa—Green tree pythons coil when comfortable. Though this snake is a pet in Pretoria, the species is native to northern Australia and New Guinea. In the wild its coloration lends cover for a life spent mostly in trees.

New York City—Secret prize on the urban game board, a miniature garden brightens a Rockefeller Center rooftop seven stories above midtown traffic. Four gardeners labor eight hours a week to keep its lawn and hedges trim.

Weslaco, Texas—Ruffled, tiaraed, and manicured, twins Vanessa and Veronica Del Toro wait to leave for their quinceañera reception—the 15th-birthday party that, in Latino culture, marks their coming of age.

| Pretty Things |

found here

found here

found here

found here

Work by Beth-Emily Gregory and
Alecia Lanzlinger-Groom
Exhibiting at Cube Gallery Salamanca
08/02/11 – 28/02/11

- New work -

I’ve been working on the illustrations above for a little while now. There for a small exhibition in Salamanca, Hobart that I’m organising with my business partner from Floatingworld – Alecia.

Our inspiration has come from the landscape and geometric shapes and organic forms found in nature.
My pieces are a limited edition triptych set – individual size is 210 x 594 mm and the three together is 630 x 594 mm
I’ll be selling them as a set or individually. I’ll post when they are on my etsy stall. :)

I hope everyone is well and that all are safe and sound in the QLD area -
been thinking of you over the last couple of days and my friends in the areas.
For those that have been following the art4heart project we managed to raise a total of $5305.00 – which is truly amazing.
I’ll be doing a write up about the project on the art4heart blog very soon. I’ll keep you posted on that too.

Anyone been to New Zealand lately? and know of any cool touristy things to do there – Oh Lord of the Rings/Hobbit huts, that could be fun.
xxx

Hello everyone I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I certainly did relaxing and staying FAR away from client work. I got to focus on a couple of my own projects over the break it’s been refreshing picking them up again.

The image above is one of the projects that I had to postpone due to the madness before Christmas. This little guy is a Rufous Fantail and he’s going to be in a set of 4 which I am creating for the lovely Signed & Numbered shop I can’t wait to complete the rest.

On another note… Please visit next Monday as I have some rather exciting news that I’d like you all to be involved in. Stay Tuned as I wouldn’t want you to miss out. Have a great weekend

x

So… I’ve been working on this owl for a little while now, he’s nearly complete. While working on him I rediscovered ink and graphite watercolour pencils and I’m in love.
I’m still mucking around with the composition as it’s still a little unbalanced but once that’s finalised he’ll be done, dusted and printed. He’ll be in a series of new illos for an upcoming market. I’ll be illustrating some other animals other than birds for the series. CRAZY! I know but I’m feeling adventurous.

I thought I would share a little section from an illustration that I have been working on for a client. I can’t give to much away as, we still have a few bits to finalise before it’s complete.

My computer died a couple of weeks ago R.I.P little buddy! So I haven’t really had the opportunity to post stuff. It’s been a real struggle doing work without one. I should be up and running on a brand new machine soon. YAY!
Other news, where to start I’ve been pretty busy with work, catching up with friends etc… I’m really glad to have my partner, Tom back after 5 weeks. He’s been overseas and it’s really nice to have him home. I miss the snuggles so does our cat.

i hope everyone is well and happy! xxx

♥♥♥ Oh… how I love these shots: Brightly coloured illustrations with monochromatic
photography and the lovely lady ‘Erin Wasson’. ♥♥♥

‘Erin Wasson plays both designer and model for the fall lookbook of her collaborative collection with RVCA clothing. Lensed by David Mushegain, Erin poses in front of a whimsical backdrop of colorful illustrations drawn by Alia Penner. Evoking a sense of casual cool, the images reflect the laid-back spirit of the autumn range with its focus on denim, tees and accessories.’

Words from: Fashion Gone Rogue.

Here’s a little peek at an image I have been working on. I’ve been using textured paper to draw on lately and I’m really liking the surface and the texture/depth that it creates with the pencil. Can’t wait to finish it.

Done and dusted.
HUMMINGBIRD – 2010
For all of those that don’t know, I made a little competition in April. Where you could write what sort of bird you’d like to see me draw next. I put all the entrants into a bowl and picked out the winner whom was the lovely Bec. Bec wanted to see me draw a Hummingbird.  If you’re out there Bec I hope you like him.
YIKES now I’m a little nervous. Gulp…

I know a little disturbing posting about dead things.
But how incredible are these images! I found them while doing research on Hummingbirds.
I was struck by the beauty captured in the images, much so that I had to share them.
The composition is pretty incredible as well.
Not to mention the sheen and simmer of the feathers.

I hope to capture some of this magical beauty in the image that I produce for Bec.

These images are from flickr.
A lady named Liz (a.k.a: photoartist3) took these photos. Unfortunately I don’t know much more about her, other than she has many more brilliant shots. See for yourself. x

I hope everyone is having a brill day. I have been feeling a tad under the weather of late. I’ve had a few days at home recuperating, which has been nice. I think this afternoon if I’m up to it I’ll start Bec’s image. I’m way to excited to leave it for much longer.