Roadside Crosses

Blurred floral crosses
in my rear view mirror
A momento
of life
or death?
Who's to know...
I breathe
and pause
The End
The cause
as I change the station on the radio.

I once heard that roadside crosses were placed as a reminder to the dead.
A reminder to move on.
The one pictured on the left is in memory of a man named Hans-Peter, who lived in our little village. We were on the road right after the accident occurred. He was hit on his motorcycle. His aunt and his mother tend to the flowers weekly. It's difficult driving by knowing the cause.
Somehow this cross and flowers are not as blurry in my rear view mirror. Hans-Peter's roadside cross is a well kept memory in contrast to the other one with wilted weeds and broken pots.
A neglected momento too painful to maintain.

These photos I took on the way to Santa Fe on Valentine's weekend a few years ago.

These were well loved momentos adorned with Valentine flowers.

Lost hearts, but not forgotten........

I have always had a curious fascination with roadside crosses.

The placement and symbolism of a tragic moment.

How many notice them as they speed by dazed by their day and blurred in their rear view mirror?

Perhaps, now you will notice.

A Basket of Red Onions

A Basket of Red Onions

4 x4 each

acrylic on canvas

Mushrooms

Mushrooms

4x4 each

acrylic on canvas

garlic basket

A basket of garlic

each acrylic painting

4 x4

I am going to add some mushrooms tomorrow.

My booth is turning into a painted farmer's market.

Tomato crate

Today I took a crate for clementines and stained it brown. I used a wire brush to rough it up a bit, filled it raffia, and painted 9 little tomatoes. Each canvas is 4 x 4. I am getting so excited for my show. My mind is racing

with display ideas for my booth. I cant' wait to show you photos when it is all set up- just 3 1/2 weeks away.

Have a joyous weekend everyone!

Roman Forum

Roman Forum

12 x 28

acrylic on canvas

I found this piece of a colonnade at the Roman Forum. Yes, I was the crazy tourist lying on the ground taking a photo.

Painted on this long narrow canvas; it will fit perfectly over a door frame for the home lacking in architectural detail.

Pompeii

Pompeii

9x12

acrylic on canvas

This lonely urn was all that was left in the ruins of one of the many homes destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in Pompeii.

I took so many photos that day we spent in Pompeii. Each so rich with historical beauty.

But I have to say, if anyone has the desire to travel to Pompeii, they should go to Herculaneum instead.

Since Herculaneum is closer to the volcano than Pompeii, it wasn't destroyed as much as you would have thought. The pyroclastic flow was moving so fast, that by the time it had solidified, the town was already buried to a depth of 20 meters. The combination of ash and water lithified everything and ensured the conservation of all the walls in the houses and the artifacts.

We saw amazing mosaic floors and murals that were completely unharmed. The photo above shows one of those amazing murals. Just look at how rich the colors are!

I wonder if Rothko ever saw this?