Dirty Art

Yesterday we looked at the simplest of shapes.  Today we look at the places where art occurs - simple places, mundane places - our cars. How do car windows intersect with art? We don't think of them as walls where we can hang canvases.  Scott Wade does.  He has become famous for his drawings which are created using the dirt found on car windows.  Being from Texas, there is lots of it there. He's known internationally as The Dirty Cart Artist.  Here is his story on how he began: "I lived on a long, dirt road in Central Texas for over 20 years. Since our cars were always dirty, I would often “doodle” in the dust on the rear windows of our cars. My father was a great amateur cartoonist and I must have picked that up from him, because my natural tendency was always to draw funny faces. I started experimenting with ways to get shading. At first I would use the pads of my fingers and brush very lightly to get “grey” tones. One time I was chewing on a popsicle stick, and I tried using the chewed up end as a brush. I liked the effect, so I started trying paintbrushes, and eventually developed the techniques I use today. Nowadays, I use a rubber “paint-shaper” tool and assorted brushes (and of course my fingers)." His site is http://www.dirtycarart.com  Here are some great examples of his work. There are a lot of people with Scott's creativity and innovation. I took a look for other mediums that people use to create art.  Here's the link - the pictures are essential to the STORY.  What kinds of things have been used to create art?  chewing gum jello garbage plastic carry bags medicine bottles vinyl records discarded lottery tickets pantone paint chips We have a Strasburg Train picture today, and it reminds me that there is 'smoke art'.

Steam Day Today

Time.com kept track of the best April Fools Day pranks.  You can scroll through them here.  The first one on the list is the return of Texas currency.  The bills are called Texas Redbacks and have Willie Nelson's face on a ten dollar bill. Our pictures today take us to Strasburg Railroad (2015) showcasing the conductor and locomotive.

Angel Voices

I always look at cemeteries in search of angel statues.  They are remarkable and very interesting to photograph.  This one was in Strassburg, PA.

My nearby cemetery has a most unusual Japanese Maple tree that is twined around a headstone.  Everything about it looks like a human form, embracing the headstone.

Strassburg Railway

Our visit to Strassburg in May 2014 was a rainy one.  There were flash flood warnings throughout the surrounding area.  So I thought you'd enjoy seeing the rain in these pictures taken in the railway yard.

Strassburg Wheels

The Strassburg Railway in Strassburg PA is a great visit for anyone.  The steam locomotives are amazing, as this photo shows - the wheels, gears and all sorts of mechanical parts to make things work. 

There is lots of peeling, weathered paint there. There was a little bit of wear and tear on the ground that made a nice abstract.