0 Nibblefest Art Contest: An Edgar Allan Poe Inspired Painting, "The Raven"

My entry for June's Nibblefest, a painting inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven"


A tribute to Poe, painted on vellum and permanently mounted onto an old/weathered 3.5" x 9" x 1.5" found and reclaimed piece of wood....

Ah, Nibblefest.  The fun and friendly monthly art competition rolls around yet again!   To tell the truth, I'm a little shell shocked at just how quickly the past four weeks have WHIZZED by (a little too fast for my taste --please, if the rest of the summer flies past like the past four weeks have, it will be over before I even realize it!).  Nevertheless the passage of time marches on, and with yesterday being the 20th I did manage to come up with an entry for the June theme, 'Feathered Friends'.....

Oh, Poe.  But of course I would be tempted to take any opportunity to create a wee tribute piece to this classic American author.  I mean with a  theme like 'Birds', who could resist...? Indeed I've always admired Edgar Allan Poe's lifesworks, having read and shared many of them to my own children and students over the years (my FAVORITE-favorite of ALL his tales being, 'The Cask of Amontillado". Which I will happily read aloud to ANYONE who asks).   The following is my auction/entry description:

"...When thinking about 'Birds' as a theme this month, one of the first things to pop into my head was Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, "The Raven" (probably because my daughter is reading a lot of Poe this summer).  It's one of his most well-known pieces, still to this day, having been published innumerable times over the long years, and this in spite of  the fact the poem did not actually prove all that lucrative in his own lifetime.  Nevertheless, there is still something very compelling about that old raven, sitting (always sitting), quietly above the chamber door -- that is, except to every so often utter the word, 'Nevermore'.  

Pretty smart crow I'd say.....!

Very bad side view pic displaying the extra thick (1.5") painted edges.

A picture showing the back of the old, weathered piece of found wood that I used for the painting.  So thick that none of the holes went through to the front, but the rugged state really adding to the overall character of the piece (note I sealed up the entire back with several thick coats of varnish)

Nibblefest Art Contest: Great art starting at just .99 cents...!

UPDATE:  
Happy to announce that my Poe tribute painting/entry, "The Raven", won First Place in June's
Nibblfest Art Contest -- a big and sincere Thank You to all my lovely bidders....!

Detail: Nibblefest Art Contest: An Edgar Allan Poe Inspired Painting, "The Raven"

0 Hiking at Turkey Run State Park....

 A Happy Father's Day today to all my fathered friends....!  

We will be spending the day with extended family (including my dad) -- dining out together, then gathering at my parents' house for dessert (I'm multitasking and making a Banana Cream Pie as I type!).  So it's promising to be an enjoyably busy day today -- always fun.  In fact, get-togethers with my extended family, lively bunch that they are, are ALWAYS guaranteed fun.  Case in point, here are some pictures from what we were all doing exactly a week ago today (to the minute!), when my kids and I spent the day hiking with family and friends at a beautiful state park just a little over an hour's drive from us.....

We were a group of eight....

It was a gorgeous sunny day, and perfect for hiking in a beautiful wooded setting.....

My own little corner of the U.S.A. isn't known for being particularly scenic.  No hills, no lakes, no rivers -- in fact it's fair to say it's downright geologically challenged....!  That's why we're lucky to have such lovely terrain accessible and not too terribly far from where we live (about an hour and quarter's drive).....

My daughter trying to NOT get her feet wet....

I love all the rocky ravines....

It was a warm and humid day, but relatively cool and pleasant in the canyon's shade.....

My son was easy to spot in his red shirt....

My nieces scrambling over cliffs (note they are dedicated workout queens and half marathoners who are in MUCH better shape for this sort of activity!)....

Lots of uphill hiking (huff puff)....

In all, a wonderful way to spend a sunny summer Sunday.....

Hiking up the creek bed made for slippery going at times -- happily no mishaps though!

A pretty little gurgling stream....

We opted for the designated 'rugged' trails, which included in some cases going up and down ladders.

Kind of freaky really -- just don't look down as you climb....!

There were also stairs on the trail.  Lots and lots and lots of stairs.....

More stairs, of stone.....

Navigating around big rocks....

As well as fallen logs (with my son hanging out on one)...

Hiking along the rock walls....

We haven't had our usual amount of rain this spring, so the river that runs through the park was quite low....

After hours of hiking, the sun is getting low in the sky....

We wrapped things up before leaving for home with a stop at an old, historical house that is park of the park complex  -- in any case, what a great way to spend the day....!

Detail: Hiking at Turkey Run State Park....