Ecosphere

We now have an Ecosphere - a self-contained and self-sustaining environment filled with active micro-organisms, small shrimp, algae and bacteria, housed in a glass sphere of filtered sea water. It looks bigger in the photo than it actually is (about 4" in diameter). The shape of the sphere makes interesting magnifications of the small shrip scurrying around the tiny globe. In Denver you can get these at Talulah Jones. Thanks Amy!

night_train_to_munich_sea, originally uploaded by janvaneyck.

Earth and Moon from 114 Million Miles

In the lower left portion of this image, the Earth can be seen, as well as the much smaller Moon to Earth's right. When MESSENGER took this image, a distance of 183 million kilometers (114 million miles) separated the spacecraft and Earth. To provide context for this distance, the average separation between the Earth and the Sun is about 150 million kilometers (93 million miles)...more here.

Starling Mystery

The deaths of 75 starlings which appeared to fall from the sky and crash land on to a driveway in Somerset has mystified the RSPCA animal charity.

From the Weekend

Photo taken by Lorna Cochrane on Mount Evans yesterday.

Anne Truitt

Anne Truitt, originally uploaded by barao_alexandra.

"When I painted a chair recently, I noticed that I put the paint on indifferently, smoothly but without particular attention. The results were satisfactory but not in any sense beautiful. Does the attention in itself with which paint is applied in art actually change the effect of the paint? Does the kind of consciousness with which we act determine the quality fo our actions? It would follow, if this were true, that the higher the degree of consciousness, the higher the quality of the art. I think it likely. Training in art is, then, a demand that students increase the consciousness with which they employ techniques that are, in themselves, ordinary."

~Anne Truitt, February 3, 1975

Recent Inspiration: Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Relaxation Room

Another still from the "Avalanche" episode of Captain Scarlet.

Might Makes Right

Stills from one of my favorite shows, Captian Scarlet.

Lower Dens

I saw Lower Dens play the Larimer Lounge last night and it was really exceptional. One of the best shows I've seen all year. I'm itching for fall weather and this music was just right - soft and warm. I highly recommend their new album.

photo by Jana Hunter (of Lower Dens)

Jacob Maris, "Schelpenvisser"

Schelpenvisser (Jacob Maris), originally uploaded by jpa2003.

La Push Beached Tree

La Push First Beach tree Twilight Series, originally uploaded by bike4freedom2.

Via the Telegraph UK: "This huge piece of driftwood washed up on the beach at La Push, a small community in Clallam County, Washington. La Push, surrounded by the lush forest of the Olympic National Park, is located on the northwest coast of Washington's most westerly peninsula, at the mouth of the Quillayute River. The tree is a Sequoia Semper Virens, or Costal Redwood, only grown in Monterey, California. It would have travelled hundreds of miles before being washed up on the beach at La Push."

New Desktop Background

This was also taken up at Loch Lomond on a hike yesterday.

Rachel Whiteread - Torso

Music for Your Weekend

Cults 7" - free download at bandcamp. Fun summer music.

, originally uploaded by kateoplis.

Some flowers from Loch Lomond

These were all taken up around Loch Lomond today.

"Half-Seeing" drawing

"Half-Seeing", originally uploaded by nathanabels.

I started this before the painting, but set it aside to finish the painting and as of today - finished the drawing.

"Half-Seeing", Charcoal and Ink on Paper, 22x30"

Boy With Owl

William Degouve de Nuncques, Boy with Owl, 1892

William Degouve de Nuncques - Nocturnal Effect

William Degouve de Nuncques - Nocturnal Effect, originally uploaded by naezdok.

William Degouve de Nuncques - Nocturne in the Parc Royal, Brussels

William Degouve de Nuncques - Nocturne in the Parc Royal, Brussels, originally uploaded by naezdok.

Another new Aerial Photo

I am working on new paintings and drawings too, but nothing ready to post yet.

Film from Yellowstone

Here's some kinda dusty scans of a few of the photos we took with a plastic Diana camera and 120 film while in Yellowstone.Photos copyright Nathan Abels.

New Aerial photo

I took this photo somewhere over the front range this afternoon. Check me out:(I was wearing oxygen for a high-altitude flight)

Albert Pinkham Ryder

Albert Pinkham Ryder, The Sheepfold, Oil on Canvas, 1870

"If Bierstadt's and Moran's vistas trupeting national opportunity represent one extreme- landscape as expansive, public declaration- Ryder's small nature notes seem to have imploded, leaving a small, silent, concentrated core."

~From Albert Pinkham Ryder by Elizabeth Broun

More Matthijs Maris

Matthijs Maris

Matthijs Maris

Maris, Matthijs, Extase, Charcoal on Paper, 500 x 340 mm

This guy is quickly becoming one of my favorite 19th Century artists.

Maris, Matthijs (1839-1917) - 1887 Monumental Conception of Humanity

Maris, Matthijs (1839-1917) - 1887 Monumental Conception of Humanity (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam), originally uploaded by RasMarley.

, originally uploaded by coolhandluke.

Thomas Moran in Yellowstone

While in the Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone, we went into the visitor center which now houses Thomas Moran's easel, palette, glasses and chair (pictured above). It was interesting to see the work on the easel in process.They also had several reproductions and a couple of original works by Moran.

Thomas Moran, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 1871

Back from Yellowstone

I've been in Wyoming for the last week exploring the Yellowstone area for my third time. We traveled over 1600 miles and took over 800 photos (including film - coming soon). We got some fantastic photos - some taken by me and some by Lorna - see the set below:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

a few of my personal favorites:

New Work - "Reverberation"

"Reverberation", originally uploaded by nathanabels.

Acrylic on Panel, 16x20" - for an upcoming show at Artlink gallery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Going on a blogging hiatus for a short bit. Be back before you know it.