Mark Powell’s Bird Drawings

So, forget the expensive tools of the trade.

No concern for India ink, fancy brushes, chisel tips or sepia.

Not a care as to nib size, or whether the pH is neutral.

To create his spectacular bird illustrations,

Mark Powell used...

wait for it...

a lowly Bic ballpoint pen.

Seriously.

Black. 

Medium point.

Now, in the United Kingdom, the place Mark calls home,

ballpoint pens are known as biros,

after Mr. Biro, who invented them.

As far as the paper upon which he draws,

it's from Mark's collection of antique envelopes and ephemera

dating back as far as 1756.

I appreciate how well it provides each piece with integrity and character,

along with a rich sense of history. 

Here's Mark's website and Facebook page.

Images used with direct permission from Mark Powell.

Elizabeth Rosen Art

A successful painter and graphic designer, Elizabeth Rosen has quite a flair for art. 

What grabs me most are her 3-D mixed-media collages and sculptures.

She pulls together collections of items in a quirky way that is hard to resist. 

And for quirky folk like me, that equals pure, lighthearted fun!

You can find Elizabeth's work
on her Website
and on Etsy.



Images used with direct permission from Elizabeth Rosen.

Give Thanks

megan wright design co.

With an "attitude of gratitude" as my goal,

not only just for today, but for every day,

I wish you and yours a

Happy Thanksgiving!

~LuAnn

10 Thanksgiving Myths Dispelled

david galchutt

Thanksgiving.

A solemn holiday focusing on the gathering of family,

a traditional meal of turkey with all the traditional fixings, 

and the appreciation of every gift with which our Lord has blessed us.

Did I mention tradition?

Well, thanks to todayifoundout, who supplied us with this infographic,

we find that many of the things we thought to be 

traditionally Thanksgiving are not so traditional after all.

But that's OK by me.

Please pass the sweet potatoes.

[Source: Today I Found Out]

American Gothic Parodies

bycommonconsent

American Gothic is one of the most recognizable paintings
as well as one for which hundreds of parodies have been made,
with subjects from aliens and cartoon characters to political figures.
Here is just a handful of the spoofs for your enjoyment!

kilkenneycatart

powerpig

artsonia

hohumcards

amyvaknin

coolcosplay

squidoo

worth1000

In 1930, artist Grant Wood chose to paint an Iowa farmhouse that intrigued him because of its unusual arched window in the Gothic style. (So that's where he got the name of his painting!)

He chose his sister and his dentist as models to portray 

the pitchfork-wielding farmer and his spinster daughter.

They're shown in this photo next to the finished piece of art.

avenuetrim

The Clever Doodles of Javier Pérez

Javier Pérez is a graphic artist from Ecuador, 

whose imaginative drawings caught my attention.

Get ready to smile at his fun & clever creativity!

Wanna see more? 

Check out Javier's website. 

Images used with direct permission from Javier Pérez.

Annapolis, Maryland

Woo Hoo - road trip!

What a fabulous day in Annapolis, Maryland!

Such a congenial downtown atmosphere! 

Authentic brick streets and sidewalks.

Snappy streetlamps.

Festive flags.

Pure charm!

Here's the historic Maryland Inn.

Dead ahead is Annapolis Pottery.

Click here for a stand-alone post on this terrific shop.

You know me and my "pottery love"!

The Governor Calvert House, another historic inn.

 Harry Browne's for a delicious lunch.

So many enticing shops! Here's Evergreen Antiques.

The folk art of Natalie Silitch.

Blue Crab Antiques.

We were beside ourselves in The Annapolis Bookstore!

(Check out my post here!)

Here's me, absolutely lovin' Annapolis!

In the background is the Maryland State House.

The pride of Annapolis is the United States Naval Academy.

The Flag House Inn Bed & Breakfast.

We enjoyed seeing the boats come in and out of the harbor.

A peaceful place to sit and people-watch too.

My husband and I had an all-around super day in Annapolis.

Check out this site to plan a visit of your own!