Dragons!

Dragons! I absolutely love dragons. I don't fear them at all, if fact I revere them. I feel that these creatures carry the universes ultimate knowledge with them. I feel that they are involved in the pursuit of knowledge and higher thinking, not pursuit of princesses. So when painting dragons it is done with love and fun. I would love to come across a nest of them like this and discuss philosophy, art and the need for good cheesecake. Robin

Andean toucan

Andean Toucan When I finally get the opportunity to take photos, I take hundreds of one subject to get one that will work for a painting. It must have a unique point of view, must be natural, something that the animal actually can do. It should not normally be posed etc. This photo was a unique shot that still showed the timid nature of the bird and still allowed for full appreciation of it. This time I created a red background to frame the bird to its fullest beauty and have a little fun with the bird’s energy. The Andean Toucan can be found in my area in Banos, Tungurahua Ecuador, which made it all the more interesting to find them. Unfortunately, I have only found one and it was in the Banos’s Zoo. This toucan is not nearly as big as some of its relatives but I love the plumage and of course the beautiful colors of the beak. Robin

Up Close and Personal: Ocelot

Up Close and Personal: Ocelot On my birthday, a day I don't normally care neither here nor there of, I took this opportunity to spend it with my son. His gift to me that day was a day of good fortune of pictures and opportunities to take pictures. When you go to zoos there are times when you just don't get good photos or the animals just don't seem to want to have their photos taken. The ocelot pen is one that you can only view from the top, not the sides, kind of strange really. Between my glasses getting in my way and my short stature of just under six feet tall, my taller gangly son went to get a better angle of photo for me, while he did this the lens cap of my camera dangled and one of the Ocelot couldn't resist the chance to play. Holy cow, it even jumped up into the camera, almost knocking it out of my son's hands, all the while Dane kept taking photos. I have the most amazing shots and all for my b-day.. ... a day which normally is no big deal, but the photos were AWESOME!!!! Dude!!! I also have to say that I am a real wild cat lover. I feel that these animals require protection as well as their territory. I also have a great respect of the indigenous peoples here in the jungle but greater education for them in terms of understanding the need to protect their home is greatly needed. I went to visit one of my friends in the city of Puyo when one of her "foster" kids came to show me with great pride in his eyes a purse that he had made. It was made of Ocelot. I was almost sick. My friend noticed my stricken face and said "Oh yeah your one of those people who like animals. Oh well." I could have understood if it was for food, part of a ritual or passage of rites but this was for none of that. This was for the joy of killing. My heart still aches every time I think of it,.... Please be a voice for those who cannot speak Robin

Regal in Ecuador: Cougar

Regal and In Ecuador: Cougar(puma) While visiting the zoo yet again, there were the cougars of the zoo sunning themselves so regally. They come in different shades of color but the more red of the two, stole the show. It lay there like royalty basking in the sun. I chose the background of symbols often used in the Ecuadorian pottery to frame this majestic and honorable being, Ecuadorian pottery also being majestic and honorable, they seemed to fit together. Robin

Dolphins in the Light

Dolfins in Light
So, when dust(mote) travels in sun beams and lights up it creates magic. For me, when diving, when light beams travel in the water, it creates magic as well. However, the scientific part of my mind notes how the physics of light travels in straight lines and then on top of that the prism effect can cause the light to divide from all encompassing white light, light that is composed of all the colors into fractions and carry beams of light of only green or blue or whatever. Yes, my mind is a very busy place and yes, questions of the universe prevail in my mind. But whatever, can you imagine that since the dolfin perceive things different than us, it only makes sence that they percieve light different than us as well, especially in their own envirionment. Is this how they perceive light and are we the ones who can't see what is right in fromt of us?
Robin

The Gentle Smile: Galapagos Tortoise

The Gentle Smile: Galapagos tortoise And there I was, again in the zoo in Quito, watching and photographing. Going to a zoo and watching is important when I want to take pictures. I settle in and try and get a feel for the animals and what is happening rather than just charging in there and click away without any kind of awareness. I like to invest my time in allowing for observing and interaction that might take place. So there I was....watching....waiting ... when a gentle soul of a man walked right up to a tortoise and started petting and stroking the tortoise's head, lovingly, kindly. The tortoise was in rapture, so also so was the man. They had made a connection..... One that I wish other people would just take the time to do too with other creatures. I joyfully watched this take place when I felt someone staring at me. So I turned and looked behind me, and there watching me with approving eyes and slight smile was another tortoise. I also had made a connection. Thank you for the opportunity, gentle old man. Robin

Spick and span: Ocelot

Spick and Span: Tigrillo/Ocelot I love these animals. I love the grace and elegance but these creatures are not soft and gentle herbivores. To keep these guys happy and healthy they require....meat. What you don't see in the picture that I happily left out was the picked over bones and excess meat that he couldn't finish or was saving for later. This Tigrillo/Ocelot is taking care of business, post meal. What I love about this picture is the contrast between the black and yellow stripes with the pink of the tongue. What was also fun for me was that the low lights of the picture are blue. Shadow is not always grey/Paynes grey. So with honesty, I tell you this picture is clean up after supper, we all need to do it..... So there you go. Robin

Color of the Forest: Grison

Color of the Forest: Grison This was a much unexpected opportunity. I had gone to the Refugio de los Monos (the monkey refuge) in Puyo when this little shy guy showed up for some photos. No one knew what it was, only what was obvious and that was that it was a part of the weasel family. So after visiting with a biological physicist friend of mine, and showing him the pictures, he informed me that although he had never had the opportunity to see one, he had read many books and had remembered that it was a Grison. I asked around of the locals and other informed people and no one else knew. So with pictures and paint in hand, I take the opportunity to introduce you to the Grison one of the rain forests forgotten lesser known creatures. Robin.

spidermonkey, mom and baby, painting

Monkey Knot/spider monkey
So there I was yet again, observing the monkeys when baby had an insecure moment and curled up into mom. At one point, you couldn't tell where one began and another started. After a while the Dad showed up too, and then the knot became bigger and more complicated. Just goes to show you, Dad's can get insecure too.

On Strike: Pelican

On Strike: Pelican I love pelicans, they are real opportunists. They hang out on the fishing boats and areas where the fishing boats are unloading fish in hopes to steal an easy lunch. I can't believe that stealing is easier than catching your own but there you have it. I love that the sea has colours that call to it. The optical illusion that is created by the living liquid is a sight to behold. Robin

Science of Flight: perigrin falcon

The Science of Flight: Peregrine falcon In the science of flight there are eddies where the air ripples and flows over the wings of the bird. This is how my mind sees how the air passes over the wing if air was visible. The background is painted to look like concrete. Concrete being a symbol for how the laws of physics do not bend. But I also painted the concrete to have a gauzy look to it to give the impression of air. Robin

Yingyang Ocelots

Yinyang Ocelot This photo comes from the magic photos that my son Dane took for me on my birthday. I am not one to enjoy bought presents; I am one who far more enjoys gifts of time or thought of caring where someone made something for me. This is one of my favorite gifts, a moment in time well shared. This painting is also in honor of a friend and inspiration Rob "Shoe" Glenesk. He once gave me the most wonderful complement I have ever received for a painting. He said, “Not a brush stroke was wasted." Rob often paints from an overhead view, invoking spiritual sensation and experience in kind and gentle fashion. So for him I say, not a thought or moment was wasted. Robin

Prayer of Hope: Wooley Monkey

Prayer of Hope: Woolly monkey I had visited the Refugio de Los Monos (monkey refuge) in Puyo. Here the people that own the land are passionate about the care for the animals that they have the opportunity to rescue. It is an honor to visit this center and spend time with the animals. While I was thinking of the gift of love that these people have given, some of the monkeys climbed up me and gave me hugs or cuddled. There was a woolly monkey who cuddled right into my neck and started purring. It was later when I saw the same monkey stand at the base of my daughter, Rachelle, looking up at her in hopes of a hug. Sometimes, waiting for the right time gives you the best photos. So here it is, Woolly monkey looking up and only wanting, hopefully, love. Robin

Elizabeth: Spider Monkey

Elizabeth: Spider Monkey Elizabeth is a lovely monkey from the Refugio de Los Monos (monkey refuge) in Puyo. She is an elegant and loving lady. She sits often without even thinking about it in repose and a gentle glamour that just can't be taught. She has more elegance and grace in her than I have. I definitely can learn a great deal from her. Robin

Pink Flowers: Spider Monkey

Pink Flowers: Spider Monkey Here is Elizabeth the Spider Monkey from the Refugio de los Monos (monkey refuge) in Puyo. She is pure elegance. She poses without thinking. In fact, the photos that I have of her all look posed, but that is her, in her natural state. She simply is who she is.

Sitting in Anticipation: Coatimundi/Cuchucho

Sitting and waiting in Anticipation: Coatimundi I love these beings. When I saw my first one, I couldn't believe my eyes. There it was scampering toward me with glee. It was in the zoo in Tena. The job of this Coatimundi was welcoming committee. Since writing this, that zoo was damaged by flooding and since then, that part of the Amazon has been affected by drought. These are huge signs of global weather change. The extensive uncontrolled logging in the Amazon is hugely responsible for the drought conditions in the jungle. This Coatimundi painting was taken from photos from Refugio de los monos in Puyo. It is news like this that makes me sad to be human. Since then I have been in several other refuges and also been delightfully greeted by the Cuchuchos/Coatimundi. On occasion I have seen them get cranky. If they remember you and if you were unpleasant to them they will let you know. I have never experienced that but they did come scampering over to me for protection when they met someone they did not like. My son made a few connections with them and he found that a nice scratch behind the ears will help to make a friend forever. He also found that if you try the same move on a human ... not so much. We very much need to become speakers and protectors of those who can't. Robin

Squirrel Monkey's Jungle

Squirrel Monkey's Jungle I loved doing this painting for a number of reasons. I love the monkey; they are fast delightful, naughty and playful. Any being that delights in being a bit naughty deserves protecting. They are not without defences though. Those teeth of theirs can deliver quite the bites. The second reason I love this painting is that I fractured the jungle colors and feeling into geometric shape and then fit the monkey right in. I can see that this is how a squirrel monkey would see things, as they move with such speed that they would have to break down their vision in broad shapes as they passed by on their fun time. Robin

Putting on a Happy Face: Dolphin

Putting on a Happy Face: Dolphin When I can get too into what I am doing or get far too serious about something, I have found ways to make me lighten up. This is very important for me as I believe have your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground. One of the things that I do is look for wonderful faces. The dolphin has an ever-loving face and one that is filled with fun and naughty instigations. The clever dolphin plays even as they feed and hunt for fish. They will get the job done but darn it they will have fun while they do it. This is what we all have to remember in our stress filled lives. Hence enjoy the playful and fun-loving dolphin and learn. Please also support the anti-dolphin hunts, protect those who cannot protect themselves. Robin