Treasurers of Lost Dutchman Mine

 

Treasures of Lost Dutchman Mine

No, we didn’t find the mythical Lost Dutchman Mine in the area around Apache Junction, Arizona.  But we did see some treasures the area had to offer!

Sunrise at Lost Dutchman

One morning, while camping at Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona, we happened to be up and about just as the sun was rising over the Superstition Mountains.  Although the sky promised a sunny day, the west side of the mountains and shrubbery was still in shadow, creating a very serene, peaceful scene.

Desert Bloom

Along the road called the Apache Trail, just outside of Apache Junction, Arizona, I spied this lovely example of the sort of “desert bloom” one can see in the high desert climate.  Enough moisture for this tree to get a good start on life, but not enough to sustain it in the long run.  The ruggedness of the area, and the dry, barren look of the tree, just seemed perfect for a black and white version of this scene.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and formats from my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

 

Lagoon Series

 

Lagoon Series

While at a Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Arizona, Jeff and I went for a morning stroll among the series of lagoons in the park.  Although we didn’t walk around all of them, it certainly has given us a reason for a return trip – to see what the rest have in store for us….

Fall Morning

As Jeff and I walked a path around some lagoons at a state park in Arizona, the air was calm and the water still.  The fall colors of rich gold, green and touches of brown radiated a warmth that couldn’t help but infect the spirit.

Calm Morning

When the weather is turning from summer to fall, a walk on a calm, clear morning will cure just about anything that ails a person.  If you look closely, you can see a fisherman on the shoreline.  When I walked by him and asked what he expected to catch, he replied “Nothing”, with a big smile on his face.  Somehow, I don’t think he was there for the fish.

Nature’s Calm

It’s not often that I’m in the perfect place at the perfect time to get such a wonderful reflection of nature.  The reflection of the mountains, trees, and grasses are offset by the cattails in the foreground and the moss on some sunken logs..  It’s a perfect start to the day.

Morning Constitutional

Even the ducks have to get some exercise; in their case, it was on the way to breakfast!  The warm sunlight lit up the mountains and the treetops, while the cool shade enveloped the ducks and presented a nice contrast to a serene scene.

Mirror

Sometimes the most enchanting views are right at our feet.  That was the case with these sea grass plants.  The morning was perfectly calm, and allowed for me to capture what looks to be a mirror image of the grass.  It’s almost mesmerizing in its simple elegance.

Enjoy!

Note:  Each of these images is available in a variety of sizes and formats from my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

 

Arizona Relics

 

Arizona Relics

The Southwest is a great location for finding old treasures, relics from the past.  Here are three we came across while driving down a road close to where we were camping.

Deserted Home

This deserted cabin was set a bit back from the road, just like a nice home would be.  Although, to be honest, I’m not even sure the road I was on was even there when this place was built.  Still, I do like the way the tree sort of frames the cabin, and the green hills behind it.

Not so Easy Rider

This car was sitting alongside a road down which we traveled.  I think it was meant as a sort of advertisement of a junk yard back from the road by about a quarter mile.  I’m not generally drawn to old cars, but this one seemed to have a bit of character still clinging to it – like it knew it was “hot stuff” when it was in its prime, and didn’t feel like it lost too much of that!!  The lines are fairly classic, and it looks like it was a snazzy turquoise color – and a convertible, to boot!

Past Life

As my husband and I drove along a country road, we saw a deserted cabin, one of my favorite photography subjects.  I captured what I felt was the spirit of the cabin, and then decided to create a digital collage, because a simple photograph just wasn’t enough.  I can imagine someone living there in the past, perhaps reconciling the books of their small ranch in an aged ledger.  I can also see them writing to family in far away towns or cities.  As the seasons change, birds call out a welcome or farewell.  To us, a simple life.  To them a full life worth living.

Enjoy!

Note:  Each of these pieces are available in a variety of formats and finishes, from prints, to masks, to journals and everything in between!  Visit my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Country Samplings

As Jeff and I drove around the Eagle Nest area, we traveled down a dirt road that had several picnic or campground sites available for the taking.  At a couple of these, I was lucky enough to see these wonderful blooms.

Eye Level

Yes, I really had to get down to eye level with a sunflower – and it was well worth it!  The day was perfect – no wind so I could really capture the sunflower’s simple beauty up close!  It reminds me of laying in grassy meadows when I was a kid.

Shoreline Blooms

Along a small creek, I happen to notice these blooms. They are so small, they would be easy to miss.  I’m glad I was moving slow enough to notice them.  I really like the small tree branch behind it.  The rustic feeling of that contrasts nicely with the delicacy of the bloom.

Enjoy!

Eagle Nest Wonders

 

Eagle Nest Wonders

Although there were some lovely sights in the area around Eagle Nest, these two stood out for me.

 
Sunflowers and Tree

While driving down a country back road, I saw these happy sunflowers, backed by a beautifully shaped tree.  The scene was too pretty not to capture and share.

 

Rain at Eagle Nest Lake

Eagle Nest Lake is largely surrounded by the state park bearing the same name, near the town of the same name in New Mexico.  Although lovely to see up close, sometimes the only way to truly appreciate something is to take a step back, and that certainly seems to be true in this case.  Rain in the distance accompanied by sun makes the scene just about perfect!

 

Enjoy!

Sampling ofDaisies

 

Sampling of Daisies

I took many photographs of daisies around our campground in Red River, New Mexico, and after processing all of them, I thought these were special enough to be highlighted in my gallery in Fine Art America.  Take a look…

Faces Lifted

This bunch of daisies just seemed to be destined to be a digital watercolor, so how could I argue.  Found alongside the road in our campground, their happy faces just seemed to love the sunshine on a late summer morning.

Perfect

It’s not often that I find an absolutely perfect daisy growing alone, separate from the rest.  The simplicity of this image is very striking to me.  You can almost meditate while gazing at it.

Blown Away

As I was photographing daises while on a camping trip, the breeze began to blow, as it tends to do.  I waited patiently (well, semi-patiently) for the breeze to pause, and when it didn’t, I just decided to go with the flow, and see what portrait I could get.  I like the feeling of motion; it reminds us that nothing stays the same in Nature.

Enjoy!

Note: Each of these pieces are available for purchase at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Alamosa Cabin Series

 

Alamosa Cabin Series

While in Alamosa, Colorado, we came across some deserted cabins when visited a bird rookery and sanctuary, which was empty, given that we visited outside of migration and nesting times.  However, the cabins made the trip more than worthwhile!  Have a look –

Farmhouse and Tree

 

Farm in the Distance

 

Home in the Meadow

 

Stand Alone

Enjoy!

These pieces are available for sale in a variety of sizes and finishes, including notebooks and masks, via my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

 

Castle Creek Series

 

Castle Creek Series

These images were taken at the end of a dirt back road in Southern Colorado, at a creek named Castle Creek.  They are all taken from the same vantage point, and yet reflect how different the river can flow over the rocks.  There’s probably a metaphor for life in there somewhere, but it escapes me.  I’m just enjoying watching the river.

Flow

 Rough Passage

View Through the Flow

Enjoy!

 

Each of these pieces is available for purchase in a variety of different finishes and formats from my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

New Art Additions

As I was looking through my art files recently, I came across some art that somehow escaped me posting it both on my blog and in my online gallery at Fine Art America.  How could that happen?!?  LOL!!  In any event, here are a few of those pieces, for your enjoyment (I hope!).

Otherworldly Sunrise - Tauranga

When on a cruise to the southern portion of our world, I stepped out onto the balcony from our stateroom early one morning, and was greeted by this incredibly low-key sunrise.  It’s a bit of a misnomer to call it a sunrise, for, as you can see, the sun is actually quite high in the sky.  It’s the cloud cover that painted everything in sort of a golden grey.  I felt as if I had stepped into another world.

Beautiful Monarch

One day, when I was exploring, I came across a Monarch butterfly perching delicately on what I believe is some Queen Anne’s Lace.  The photo image was nice, but converting it to this digital sketch really captured the feeling I had while watching this fragile looking beauty.

Times Past

I was playing around, trying a bit of a new technique with my digital art, and ended up with this piece.  I began with an image I took several months ago, while driving along a new “photo op loop” as I think of it.  The image spoke to me of a past time in history, and I worked with a distressed background and some specialty brushes to enhance that message – a written note, back when everyone learned to write in cursive (however horrid our handwriting might have been!), and an old clock face, before digital numbers told us the time.  All are examples of times past, as is an old windmill, used to pump water for the old farm house it inevitable stood close to.  There are few of those reminders left, and I feel bad for those who live in a more urban environment where “progress” had demolished these parts of our history. 

Hidden Story

The old barn that is the focus of this piece, reminds me of lives all around us that have portions of them held close, and hidden to much of the world around them.  People may share a portion of their life story with us, but many people have pieces that they don’t share, that remain hidden.  Sometimes, it’s embarrassment, other times, its fear of judgement, and there are times when some things are just too painful to keep reliving.  This piece is an acknowledgement that all of us have those hidden stories within ourselves.

Beautiful Places

This digital watercolor piece started out as a casual photo image of my patio table with some flowers to be planted, a watering can, and a pair of gardening gloves sitting on it.  It evolved into a sketch which was digitally framed and became part of a larger piece with a lovely quote about gardeners to complete it.  It is something that will always remind me of the spring planting season!

Enjoy!!

Note:  These can be found on my online gallery and are available in a variety of finishes and formats – you can visit there by clicking on this link – https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/Nadine-berg

Texas Past

This piece is a tribute to the history of Texas.  I’m not talking actual history – rather, it’s the type of history that is apparent when one drives secondary or country back roads – deserted homesteads and cabins.  Whenever I see these deserted buildings, I can’t help but imagine how different the lives of those that once lived in those building were from ours today.  Handwritten correspondence, ledgers to keep track of sales and purchases, the ebb and flow of the seasons – all of these were very much different from what we experience today.  Time passes and the past is the key to our present and our future, however different they may be. Pay attention.

Enjoy!

Note:  This piece is available  in a variety of formats and finishes at my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/texas-past-nadine-berg.html?newartwork=true

Foggy Morn

One thing about camping next to a golf course – when it’s foggy, it’s hard to see the little flag that identifies each hole, and so they don’t get in the way of some lovely early morning foggy images.

Enjoy!

Morning Views

One morning the show was right in front of us!  The morning sunrise was spectacularly gentle!  Here are the various views of our morning show……

Enjoy!!

Jamaican Treasures

These images are a few truly special ones from our trip to Jamaica.  For different reasons, they will have a special place in my memory of our recent trip.

Red

Jamaica has such lovely flowers, and this is one of them – a beautiful red hibiscus.  The color is so vivid, it almost seems liquid!  These flowers are readily viewable throughout the resort where we stayed, and will always be a special memory of a wonderful place.

Turtle Reflection

This appears to be an abstract painting of some type.  But, no, instead, it is an image of palm trees and other foliage reflected in a pond in Jamaica.  And, in the center, is a small turtle, sunning himself on a log.  Imagine being able to call this wonderland home!

Arching Palm

The vantage point for viewing this palm was eye level with the top of the tree.  I was able to capture this beautifully arching palm branch and convert it to a painting.  I felt that it highlighted its grace better with a soft painting effect.

Enjoy!

Note:  All pieces are available for sale and shown in my gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.