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Most people go to Vegas to gamble or see a show, not me I go there to rejuvenates my artistic juices. I was not disappointed as I’m always pumped to photograph this city. There are all kinds of people to see but I just walk around and look for interesting subjects such as the many displays the casinos have. In the Bellagio they have a garden with some of the best artistic gardening I’ve seen. I took maybe a hundred photos there. Then on to Casers Palace just all kinds of artwork and statues. But today I was looking forward to the new City Center, not complete yet but getting close and open to the public. Las Vegas is having just as much trouble getting tourists as anywhere else and I for one can see the smaller crowds. I live very close so I go down there a couple times a month see a show and I never pay for a room. This time it was a photography trip and my last stop was the new Cleveland Brain Institute. Now I for one can see why its not in Cleveland but right here in Las Vegas. This is the only place where people aren’t lined up scratching their head and saying what the heck. They don’t see it as anything strange, I Do! I can say I came home today with a new high and a lust to get back to art.

One of the benefits of living in Southern Utah is the abundance of Art Festivals through out the year.
Just about every month one is going on like the Kayenta art show in the winter to big ones like St George and Park city in the spring and summer. Sometimes I get involved in the quick draw contest , other times just enjoy the many artist in this area. Last week I visited the Santa Clara Art Fest and was not disappointed with the talent involved. One of the premier artist in this area, Roland Lee was a participant and he did not fail to impress me and many others attendees. He did a water color of the area that was stunning. He holds art class’s in St. George from time to rime. But on this day not only was he painting but was explaining what he was doing and I took advantage of the free lesson.
If you ever get the chance join these art shows and quick draw contests do it. I feel it more fun than just having a booth at a art show. When ever I can, I paint during my art shows. It draws in the customers and helps the day go by faster. It seems as though I sell more also. We enjoyed two days at the Santa Clara Town Hall for the third annual New Visions Art Show. All the artists were present for a terrific indoor show and sale, plus an outdoor "quick draw" event on Saturday. Each artist had all day to paint and at the conclusion a silent auction was held for the completed and framed pieces. The bidding was fast and furious as the show wound down to the final seconds.

We got out a little earlier yesterday (May 6) morning to go exploring Snow Canyon State Park about a mile or two up the road from our house. It was another PERFECT day to be outdoors! Not a cloud in the sky, only a few remnants of jet streams being slowly carried away by the wind against the azure blue background. Oh, I do love it here!

John and I were both armed with cameras, mine a little less professional than his gorgeous new Nikon! Yep! A camera and a water bottle was all we needed! Okay, maybe comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat (optional, of course!)

We parked next to the transport vans of the television show “The Biggest Loser”. The contestants were up there with their trainers for a nice, long hike! The show purchased a fitness center just down the road from us for the contestants to use. The contestants were a nice and friendly group, as were their guides. The hiking trails are very scenic with outrageous views!!! So none of them appeared to mind the exercise.

There is a HUGE area of petrified sand dunes that are absolutely beautiful! The formations are amazing…like carefully calculated works of art. The dunes almost appear to have become petrified immediately with perfect formations softly carved and then suddenly turning to stone. We couldn’t get enough photos, because all of it was so amazing to view. A beautiful natural art gallery! We spent most of the day there hiking and photographing.

We took a short break to go home for lunch, then drove back up later to get more photos with the sun casting shadows on the formations and looming mountains in the background.

Exhausted at the end of this day, but worth every aching muscle !

John and I spent the whole day inside Zion National Park today! …and a gorgeous day, it was! Of course, every day is a gorgeous day up there, considering one is amid some of the most beautiful natural settings in the world!

Today, the annual Native American drum and flute festival was going on, with displays of Native American crafts, food, and music! I really LOVE the flute and drum music! There were fabulous handcrafted flutes and drums displayed for sale, and, of course, performances of the same, by talented musicians.

We, of course, HAD to eat a delicious Navajo taco and Indian bread! There were also handmade items, such as, vests, hats, flutes, etc. for sale. Interesting encounter with a couple of other women who were eating at the table behind us in the park…one of them asked if she could take a photo of us with our camera. As it turned out, she lives just “up the road “ from us! I guess she just thought, “ what a nice couple”!

We really wanted to stay for the evening flute and drum performance, but I was feeling a little “under the weather”, most likely due to having way too much fun this week!! I guess we’ll just have to re-visit next year and attend the performance!

Zion is one of the most hauntingly beautiful places we have seen. One literally has to come close to doing a “back-bend” in order to look up at the giant mountain formations!
This place is a “little bit of heaven”! If you have never seen Zion National Park, you should definitely put it on your “to visit before I die” list!! We go up there a few times a year, since we live close by….and never grow tired of it!!

I like to go for hikes in southwest Utah in search of things I can photograph and paint later in my studio. I bring along 2 cameras 1 digital and 1 film plus many filters and lens including macro and a tripod. I bring a film camera for 2 reasons, one for infrared and 2 because I have 2 close up flashes for it. I also bring along a small spray bottle this can really enhance floral. I'm not as frugal on taking pictures like I was when it was my livelihood with the cost of film and processing, the digital camera has cut that down a lot. This flower was one of many I took in the Tempi Po Op Trail in Santa Clara River Reserve. On this day I was out looking for Petroglyphs in the prehistoric ancestral Puebloan farmstead ruins. I am surprised how much there is to see in southern Utah and even more so because it is so close to my home. Being spring the desert is all abloom so I was able to get a lot pictures for reference later on. I'm always very careful not to disturb anything we find although I photograph everything I can. By the way this is the desert so bring water to drink.

When I retired I thought I would have all the time to refine my painting! Then 4 little girls (angels) came into my life and I became a babysitters for my own daughters. I prefer to call myself a person who lost his heart to children. Now 33 years after I had my last child I am blessed to be a child myself. I never liked growing up. My wife always said I was just a big kid, and I am. I remember over 30 years ago someone was at our door in Cincinnati. My wife answered it, then called out to me and said some kids where outside and asked her if I could come out and play. Life has been grand! :-)

Photography versus Painting. In my profile I state I was a photographer for more than 30 years. I started painting during that time and stepped away from my first passion (photography). Recently I have been doing more photography as this area I live in (Southwest Utah) is so full of beauty that I am torn between painting and photography. This time of year is very exciting with spring flowers abloom and the desert coming alive. For now I will do a lot of hiking around this area, hoping to capture things that I can later paint. Here is an example of a cactus flower close up that can be used later as a great inspiration to paint and as an interesting abstract to enjoy right now. I encourage all of you to pick up a camera and explore your other creative outlets, such as photography. As painting takes a lot of time, so does photography. You really need to concentrate on composition, color,- and balance. Good luck -this may just get your creative juices flowing again!