A Collection of Beauty

 

 

A Collection of Beauty

I sometimes think that waterlilies are nature’s gentlest form of art.  I think when you take a look at these, you just may end up agreeing with me!

Twins

These two practically perfect waterlilies are twins of beauty.  Nestled so close together, they can even make one think of identical twins.  They are part of the International Watercolor Collection found in San Angelo, Texas.

Posing

This waterlily seemed to be just begging to be captured as a watercolor sketch.  Since I’m a photographer, and not someone with any drawing skills, I did the next best thing.  I converted a photographic image of this bloom into a watercolor sketch, by use of digital magic!  I should only be so lucky to be able to do this with paints and paper!

Reaching

This waterlily seems to be reaching up to touch the sky.  The lighting on it could not have been more perfect, showing off not only the bloom, but the waterlily pads as well.  Nature turns out such beautiful things, if only we take a moment to look.

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.

Beauty in the Texas Hill Country

Delicate yet Strong

There are some flowers that are so delicate, they seem to disappear in with the surrounding grasses.  However, if you spot them, they are a treat to behold.  The stalks are so thin, they seem as if they would break in the slightest breeze.  Yet, they are remarkably strong and stand up to the wind, bending but not breaking.

Prickly Poppy Portrait

Perhaps it’s the stems of these flowers that are prickly – the flowers certainly aren’t!  They are very soft and feathery looking, and moved gently in the breeze.  Growing up against a weathered fence post, they positioned themselves for a lovely nature portrait.

Texas Hill Blooms

Each spring, the Texas Hill Country is awash in wildflowers.  My husband and I were lucky enough to time our visit there so that we were able to enjoy wildflower blooms such as these strikingly purple blooms.  I believe the name of these treasures is Blue Phacelia.  Whatever their name, they made for a lovely wildflower portrait.

Waterlily Reflection

Deep in the Texas Hill Country, there is a farm called Wildseed Farms, near Fredericksburg.  Although the farm primarily focuses on various wildflowers that they grow and the seeds from those flowers that they sell, they do have a very tranquil pond with waterlilies.  This particular waterlily reflected the absolute serenity one could find there, with the water so still, the reflection is just about perfect.

Enjoy!

Note:  All of these images are available for purchase in a variety of formats and finishes via https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Perfectly Imperfect

When we were on a trail in the Florida Keys, I noticed this lovely palm branch.  Sometimes, Nature is so perfectly imperfect, as it is with this palm.  Can you see the small spot of imperfection on this palm?  Yes, I could have removed it via the magic of photo processing software, but I chose to leave it as is.  It reflects Nature in all its glory, totally unafraid of showing its imperfections.  We can all learn a lesson!

Enjoy!

Note:  This piece is available in a variety of finishes and formats via https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Ocotillo Bloom

My husband, Jeff, my most excellent photographer’s assistant, held the bloom of an ocotillo cactus in a better photographic angle to allow me to capture this image.  There was ever so slight of a breeze, which cause the bloom to sort of blur.  I decided to go with what Nature had given me, and transform this photo image into a watercolor abstract of the bloom.  The colors speak of springtime and the joy of nature coming to life again after the winter cold.  Of course, winter cold is a relative term in southern Arizona!

Octillo Bloom

Note: This image is available in a variety of sizes and finishes on my web site – http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Best of Maui – Part III

Here’s my last grouping of favorite images from Jeff and my trip to Maui.  The differences between all these images reflects the diversity of this island in the Pacific.  Aloha!

Sea Spray

There is such beauty in the ocean.  And such life and spirit as well.  This image reminds me of the power of the sea, and helps me understand the attraction it held for sailors, both past and present.

Soft Clouds on Haleakala

There is something magical about a Haleakala sunrise.  Part of that is the way the clouds look at dawn – I think they look almost liquid, as you can see in this image.  The foreground of the image is the actual crater, and the background is the light of the sunrise.  And, in the middle, are the clouds that look so liquid, soft and peaceful.

Spray

There’s nothing quite as fun-spirited as waves gently crashing against the shore, and sending up a spray to give you an unexpected shower!  It brings back thoughts of childhood, playing under the sprinkler as the lawn got watered. 

Waikani Falls

This waterfall is also known as Three Bears Falls.  I’m not certain why the name “bears” is included, but it certainly is a lovely waterfall along the Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii.  When the waters from the mountains are full, this series of three falls becomes one very large waterfall.  However, I really like it this way.  It seems much more relaxed and gentle, and fits in with the spirit of aloha.

Windblown

It’s almost impossible to look at a sunflower and not smile.  They are such happy and cheerful looking flowers.  This image is of a field of them in Hawaii.  All their petals are quite windblown, but still they manage to look perfect – certainly better than I did after being out in this breeze!

Enjoy!

Note: This images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Best of Maui – Part II

This is the second grouping of images that make up my favorites from our recent trip to Maui.  Sit back, put up your feet, and take a look……

Grace

A waterfall in slow motion is truly the definition of the word “grace”.  Although there is power behind the flow, it feels as if it’s just gentle falling, kissing the rocks it passes over.  Its power is hidden behind a mask of grace.

Hana Highway Bridge

There are many bridges along the road to Hana, on the island of Maui, Hawaii.  Many of them have such character, as does this one.  The combination of rain, humidity, and warm temperatures are excellent conditions for creating a lovely rusty patina on the pillars of these bridges.  Add to that the vibrant green of the moss that then grows on them, and you have a sort of tropical Christmas reminder!

Hana Town Coast

The town of Hana is truly only the halfway point on the Road to Hana.  After all, one must get back to the beginning point of travel!  But, it’s nice to take a few moments to just sit and enjoy the rocky coastline of Hana, with gentle waters caressing the tree lined shore.  Another view of paradise.

Hawaiian Gold

As my husband and I drove around the island of Maui, Hawaii, we came across a field of sunflowers.  There was a gentle breeze, enough so that all of their sunny faces were turned in the same direction, as if they were all interested in what was going on in the next field over.  Combined with the mountain and blue sky in the background, it made for a picture-perfect setting.

Looking out to Sea

Walking along a beach in Hawaii, I came across this uprooted tree with its branches pointing out to sea.  It almost seemed to be watching for some lonely sailor to return home.  The gnarled roots of the tree are in contrast to relatively calm sea, and gentle clouds in the sky.

Old Sentry

There’s something about a large piece of driftwood that intrigues me.  Where did it come from, how did it get to this section of vegetation deserted shoreline?  And, more basically, what type of tree was it?  Whatever the answer to those questions may be, it seemed to be acting as a sentry, watching for any incoming travelers, and very content with its new role!

Peaceful

The sound of water as it gently flows over river rocks creates such a wonderful sense of peace.  If one just sits, listens and watches the flow of the water, all troubles seem to fade away.  Meditation with nature at its best.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of sizes and finishes on www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Abstract Art at White Sands

On a recent camping trip, Jeff & I visited White Sands National Monument.  We’ve been there before, but for me, every visit is like visiting it anew.  The sands shift constantly with the wind, so it’s like it’s getting created and re-created all the time.  Some of the images that I shot truly seemed like abstract, modern art and that reminded me of some Georgia O’Keeffe art I’ve seen over the years.  Now, I’m not anywhere the artist that Georgia was, but I was reminded of her for these pieces, so I decided to assign some of her quotes to them as comments instead of my own words –

Abstract Mountains and Dunes

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.”

Stark Horizon

“It was all so far away - there was quiet and an untouched feel to the country and I could work as I pleased.”

Simple Lines in the Sand

“I said to myself, I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me - shapes and ideas so near to me - so natural to my way of being and thinking that it hasn't occurred to me to put them down.”

Texture to Infinity

“I had to create an equivalent for what I felt about what I was looking at - not copy it.”

Lines in the Sand

“You get whatever accomplishment you are willing to declare.”

See the Wind

“I often painted fragments of things because it seemed to make my statement as well as or better than the whole could.”

Enjoy!

Foto Art Friday – June 9, 2017

Just Living…

This piece was inspired by a recent visit to a National Monument in New Mexico, called Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks.  As we walked the trails there, I came across this manzanita shrub bloom.  I believe the quote that I found mirrors what I often share with people – live your life to the fullest.  Don’t “just live” – seek to live your life to the fullest – seek beauty, experience all that you can and make yourself open and free to new things.

Just Living

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of formats on www.fineartamerica.com/prifiles/nadine-berg.