Lava Treasures

 

Lava Treasures

Who knew that lava rock could produce such interesting landscapes?  Take a look at these from Craters of the Moon National Monument…

Gnarled Tree

This tree was found in Devil’s Garden in Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.  Although there is greenery in the background, everything is growing on lava rocks.  It’s interesting to see how much life there is among the rocks.

Living is not Enough

There are some beautiful flowers growing among the lava rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument.  And, from my perspective, they are quite inspiring.

Inside Tree

I think of lava as being fiery hot, like the lava in Hawaii.  But, the lava at Craters of the Moon National Monument, has long cooled into lava rocks.  So, the only lava red hot color I saw while wandering in Devil’s Garden, were the lines of orange red found inside a dead tree.

Perseverance

This image is demonstrating that the most fragile of flowers are very tough creatures, able to find life giving nourishment from beneath the lava rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Looking Up the Lava Field

It’s not often that one can find a lovely landscape in the midst of the lava fields of Craters of the Moon National Monument.  But here’s proof that it does happen.  Textured, craggy rocks, fragile looking flowers and mountains in the background.  Somehow, they combine into a peaceful landscape.

Enjoy!

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

                                    

Harbor and Shore Watercolor Sketches

While we explored along Digby Neck, Long Island and Brier Island, in Nova Scotia, we came across several scenes that were just perfect for converting into digital watercolor sketches….

Seaside Village

While traveling down the route, we had to take 2 different ferries to get down to Brier Island, and back.  We had an opportunity to see several small seaside villages, and this sketch represents all that is charmingly typical of them.

Along the Pier

As I walked along the shore of one of the villages (while waiting for the ferry), I saw several scenes like this – a pier that looks rather lonely waiting for the fishing boat to return.  If you look closely, you can see 2 seagulls perched on two pylons next to each other toward the outer portion of the pier.

Waiting for the Ferry

This pier scene has almost the opposite feel to it.  The bright colors, both on the pier building and the buoys in the lower left corner, add some festivity to the scene.  The chairs have a sense of excitement about them, like they are eagerly awaiting the ferry which is passing in the straight.

Barn on Country Road

Away from the water, driving the road that dissects Long Island, we saw this barn.  I wasn’t certain if it was deserted or not (all the buildings look rather weathered on the islands).  I did love the way it sort of nestles in the trees, and the way the telephone poles mirror the curve of the road.

Enjoy!

Lubec and Campobello Island Pencil Sketches

While exploring Lubec, Maine and Campobello Island, New Brunswick, there were some scenes that just needed to be digital pencil sketches.  Come take a look!

There was a small decorative footbridge in the campground where we stayed.  In front of the footbridge where a stream should be running, grew some wild irises, both white and blue.  I thought this made a charming small intimate nature portrait, ideally suited for a digital watercolor sketch.

Campground Irises

As we drove along Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada, I notice a boat that had definitely seen better days.  It was beached on the shore, and had been left there to decay.  I thought it made a nice sketch, and I thought of how often we tend to discard things rather than repairing them. Still, this discard made for a picturesque scene.

Boat Wreck

In a couple of other posts, you’ll see a reference to an old cemetery in Lubec, Maine.  Across the road from the cemetery, this lovely, small field of flowers put on a little show.  The trees added a nice compliment, as did the small peninsula point that looks like it could be an island.  Don’t you just want to go and sit in the field and just daydream the afternoon away?

Shoreline Flowers

Enjoy!

Footbridge in Somesville

On Mt. Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park, there is a small village outside the park, called Somesville.  This village has a charming footbridge that runs alongside the road through the village.  It has become one of the most famous landmarks on the island, and is captured here not as one of my photo images, but as a digital watercolor pencil sketch, also created by me.

Footbridge in Somesville

Note:  This piece is available in a number of different sizes and formats (including a variety of print finishes) via http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Digital Watercolor Pencil Sketches from Deer Isle, Maine

Deer Isle, Maine, is a smaller island made up of private homes of working class individuals, many of whom seemed to work on the boats, fishing for lobster, crab and other seafood.  The images that I took seemed to best capture the overall feeling of the area when converted to watercolor pencil sketches.

It’s not uncommon to see lobster traps stacked up on the docks, waiting for the fishermen to take them out and drop them in the sea.  In this piece, you can see the traps on the left side.  Many seem to be yellow, altho I don’t know the reason for that.  

Lobster Fishing Harbor

As we drove along the backroads on this island, there were several scenes like this one – very calm and peaceful.  I could imagine myself deciding to lay in the grasses on the shore, and read or day dream or nap for a few hours! 

Deer Isle Shore

This was a bit of an unusual site – a sailboat leaving from what seemed to primarily be a fishing port.  I loved to watch it seemingly silently glide through the port waters, making its way to the sea from the safe waters close to shore.

Sailing thru Port

This small village seemed to be purely a fishing village.  No lobster traps were in sight.  It also seemed like most of the fisherman were out for the day.  What an idyllic setting.

Deer Isle Fishing Village

Away from the salt water harbors of this island off the shore in Maine, was a small pond.  Near the pond, almost hidden in the tall grasses, was this lovely blue iris – a treasure for anyone having the time to wander the shore and look for it.  Lucky me.

Blue Iris

In a fresh water pond across the village from the harbor, there were some waterlilies that dotted the surface.  They just seemed to invite a person to sit and have some quiet reflection.

Water Lily Pond

Enjoy!

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

Watercolor Sketches from Acadia National Park

There are many beautiful sights to see in Acadia National Park.  I decided to take a few of the images I took and convert them to watercolor pencil sketches.  Please, take a look….

Happiness

How can you look at these tiny daisy-like blooms and not want to smile.  They look so happy and cheerful.  They were nestled in the green grass and other foliage growing at the Sieur de Monts Spring area in Acadia National Park.  There is a garden there that contains all the flowers and other plants that grow in Acadia, as a sort of sampler of what can be seen.

Pitcher Flower Bloom

The bloom of this flower is generally hidden, as it faces downward toward the ground. This bloom was coaxed into a face-up position for a moment to allow me to capture its beauty.

Egg Rock Lighthouse

There are several lighthouses off the shores of Acadia National Park, and Mt. Desert Island, the island where the main potion of Acadia is located.  This lighthouse can be found just off the shore and in Frenchman Bay on Egg Rock Island – hence, the name.  The island got its name from a time when early coastal settlers used to gather seabird eggs on the island.  That practice stopped due to a couple of the bird species nearly going extinct, due to that practice.  The island is so small, the actual light house beacon was built on top of the keeper’s house to conserve space!

Along the Shore at Otter Cliffs

The waves can crash against the rocks at Otter Cliffs and create what I’m sure must be a dramatic scene.  However, on the day I was there, the seas were relatively calm.  They still created an intimate landscape portrait of the shoreline that I captured in this peaceful sketch.

Enjoy!

Note:  All of these images can be found in a variety of sizes and finishes (including tote bags!) on my site at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – February 3, 2017

Falcon Flight

For this piece, I merged two different photo images – one I took of a lonely country road in winter, and the other of a falcon I took a year  or so ago.  I decided to give the falcon top billing, so to speak, for this piece, just because the image of him with his wings totally extended is so magnificent.  To add a bit of interest to the background, I blended in a page of Asian text, and then added some grunge effects to the piece overall.  I truly believe it allows the grace of this bird to be spotlighted in a wonderful way.

Falcon Flight

Enjoy!

This piece is available in various formats via www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg

Foto Art Friday – October 7, 2016

Autumn Day

It’s getting to be that time of year again – autumn.  My husband and I were in the Moab, UT area, driving along a mountain backroad when a beautiful autumn colored scene appeared.  In the mountains, the air was crisp, but not yet cold – in short, a perfect early autumn day!  I decided to savor the memory of this time in this piece.  Hopefully, you live in a place where you, too, can enjoy the colors of autumn!

Autumn Day

Enjoy!

This piece can be purchased from my Etsy online shop at www.etsy.com/shop/photoimagerybynadine