Industrial Storm Rising- Digital Art by Tracey Grumbach

Industrial Storm Rising

This art was created from a photo taken while traveling up 95 North on my way to New York City this summer. This image was created to portray my thoughts and feelings about the condition of the environment in our country (adding pesticides to the environment that kill our pollinators, spraying our food with glyphosate, chem trails from airplanes, cloud seeding...the list goes on) and also on a more personal level, how those with chronic illness have to live their lives wondering if today will be a stormy day or a good day. It makes it almost impossible to make plans in stone and requires one to live his/her life by "playing it by ear." I hope you've enjoyed this look into Industrial Storm Rising...and hope you noticed I did NOT add birds to this one. On purpose, of course ;)

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and I will catch you on the other side.

xo

On the Water's Edge

This image was inspired by a kayak trip along the Gunpowder River and then into Foster Branch. My husband and I dropped in at Mariner Point Park, paddled around the park's peninsula and into the more quiet and still water areas, away from the large motorboats.  I was thrilled to see many of my favorite birds, the osprey. One was even flying above our heads carrying a fish in its talons. It eventually perched in the branches of a dead tree and we paddled off into a cove to watch it eat from a distance. I wish I had my Canon 5D with my 400 zoom with me, but it was just way too choppy to risk it.

We also saw tons of turtles resting on driftwood throughout the river. Great blue herons were out and active. It was hysterical watching them watch us. They thought they were hiding in the tall marsh plants along the shore, standing ever so still except their eyes tracking us paddling by. It truly is a beautiful park and one of my favorite semi-local places to spot all kinds of birds.

The weather was questionable and the wind was blowing at quite a tilt. A storm was brewing in the distance. We pulled out just as the first claps of thunder were sounding. By the time we loaded the truck with the kayak and our supplies, the sky let loose.

If you ever have the chance to visit this park, either by land or by river, I highly suggest it.

xo

The Wheel

It is the season of carnivals,
Rides, spinning, twirling,
laughter, games, joy.

It is the season of storms,
thunder booming, rumbling
lightening, striking, igniting.

When it is good it is overwhelming.
When it is bad, it is frightening.



Can you see the man in the center of the wheel? He was putting the ferris wheel together preparing for a week long carnival in Park City, Pennsylvania. I didn't see him when I originally took the reference photo, but my daughter noticed him when I first showed her the picture. So, I kept him in the final digital painting because I thought he looked awesome up there. That man has a crazy job, I tell you.

I did notice, however, that part of wheel, the top section, was not fully constructed yet. I could have finished the wheel digitally by adding in that last section, but I loved the incomplete look and feel of it. So much in life is incomplete, is it not?

I will be ordering limited edition prints of this piece in the next month or so. If you would like to own Wheel, please use the contact button to pre-order.

From my family to yours, have a happy, safe holiday. Independence Day should be a day for celebrating, not injuries!  Be safe!