#116 – Simplicity 3
I am coming to believe that sometimes the most beautiful things are the simplest and smallest things. The subtle colors above draw me in Continue reading #116 – Simplicity 3
Tag: Artsy
#90 – Windmills Of My Mind
I have been in a playful mood lately, or maybe you could call it infantile creative mood. I have been on a serious search for Artsy tools and so far have found ten good ones. This mosaic was made with one of them. I tried to clear my mind of anything of this world and just go crazy with my iPad pen. When I was done it looked like I was trying to draw a windmill. I have been watching House Hunters International quite a bit lately, so maybe that had something to do with it. It was fun just … Continue reading #90 – Windmills Of My Mind
#103 – My Pride & Joy…
When I retired at the age of 54 after thirty years in a corporate world and moved back to Indiana, I was considering two options. To get another IT job at a college in the area, or opening up my own business in making custom furniture. I chose the second option, and I’m glad I did. Woodworking had been a life-long passion, but I never thought it as a business. Up until then, I had several woodworking shops. One I even had custom built on the back of the garage. It was my dream shop for the two years I … Continue reading #103 – My Pride & Joy…
#94 – Ode To Van Gogh – My Mind’s Eye
For this mosaic, I want to talk a little about AI (artificial intelligence) and how it relates to “My Mind’s Eye”. I am a techie, but even I am getting a little disturbed about the constant presence of AI in my life. Maybe the most disturbing thing is AI is that it is becoming more and more dominant as the days and months go by. I realize that this is new stuff that will eventually settle down to some established state, but right now it just seems too pervasive. Some say that AI will replace artists, but, I kind of … Continue reading #94 – Ode To Van Gogh – My Mind’s Eye
#48 – Oh, The Kid In Me… Disney World, Lion King
My wife wasn’t too excited about it, but for our 30th wedding anniversary we went to Disney World. When I told her about the idea, she blurted out, “Disney World is for kids”! I replied, “you ought to know by now that I am a forever kid.” Anyway, we spent five beautiful days in a very fantasy place. Looking back, I think the highlight of it was the performance of Lion King. Even though I couldn’t hear the music, the constant drum beats across my chest were enough to keep me in the mood. Instead of trying to describe all … Continue reading #48 – Oh, The Kid In Me… Disney World, Lion King
#104 – Wordless Wednesday – Flowers On Flowers
#79 – Madagascar Palm
Who knew that full-size trees also had thorns. This picture was taken at the Indiana University Biology Greenhouse. The tree was about a foot in diameter and probably 20 feet tall. Continue reading #79 – Madagascar Palm
#106 – Wordless Wednesday – Purple Mountains Majesty
#102 – Wordless Wednesday – Unfocused But Beautiful
#75 The Thing About Orchids
It has been a while since I posted an artsy mosaic, so here goes. Almost all my life I have had a green thumb, but that was mostly the outdoor variety. I had my first veggie garden before I was 8 years old. Of course, I don’t specifically remember all those early childhood dates, but I do use one reference to establish the date. In 1955, my mother abandoned us to looker for greener pastures, and I do remember not too long before that is when I was raising radishes, green onions, and leaf lettuce in a small plot in … Continue reading #75 The Thing About Orchids
# 42 Wordless Wednesday – Mount Rushmore
#97 – The Adventures Of Youth… Colorado Mountain Top
I was a 30-year-old single guy when I took this adventure. It was on a mountain top in southwestern Colorado, although I don’t remember exactly where now. I spent the year before outfitting my recently purchased Chevy van as a camper. My freshly minted roommate and I left Indiana one morning and were at the 10,000 ft elevation twenty-four hours later. That same day, we hiked to the 12,000 level where this picture was taken. Even in my youth I discovered that doing that so quickly was not a smart thing to do. We camped out that night and were … Continue reading #97 – The Adventures Of Youth… Colorado Mountain Top
#95 – Red, Yellow, Green
I spent the last weekend organizing my iPhoto Library so that it’s easier to find what I want here at RJsMosaic. Putting 18,000 photos into about 20 different boxes is no small challenge, but due to my Aspie traits, I am up to it. During all this work I came to the realization that I have an affinity towards stoplights. The art and structure, especially this one, fascinates me. This picture was taken while I was visiting one of the Wright Brother’s sites in Dayton Ohio. There is so much to see in Dayton, I will have to get back … Continue reading #95 – Red, Yellow, Green
#80 – Wordless Wednesday – Simply Green
#81 – Huge
Here is another post of a huge plant I found at the Indiana University Biology Dept greenhouse. This guy was crowding the 12 ft ceiling. The “Elkhorn” label was for a plant in the foreground, not this one. I’m going to have to go back and find this guy’s name Continue reading #81 – Huge
#100 Turning Back The Odometer… And Other Such Things
(An Artsyfiied picture of RJ – wrinkles and gray hair what there is of it) Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved. ― Will Rogers I recently saw an image of Cher, and it was obvious that she has had dozens of plastic surgeries. She is five months older than I am, but she refuses to show her age. As this quote from Will Rogers says above, NOT ME. I want people to know I am … Continue reading #100 Turning Back The Odometer… And Other Such Things
#77 – Yin Wang Again…
I think it is about time for another Yin/Yang story. Looking at the flower basket above immediately reminded me of this topic. For those of you who might not be familiar with this topic, I give you a short explanation … Continue reading #77 – Yin Wang Again…
#41 Oriental Poppy?
I think the flower above is an Oriental Poppy, but if I am wrong, please let me know. But, this flower was the cause of one of my most serious fights with my wife in our 35 years of marriage. It came in 2003 and totally surprised me. We were in our homestead three years, and I decided to help my wife with some weeding of her flower beds. Before I go any further, I need to tell you that my wife was a SERIOUS flower gardener. Back to the story. When I saw some thistles growing in her beds, … Continue reading #41 Oriental Poppy?
#91 – Indiana Limestone
I love finding 100-year-old murals during my travels across America. This one was from a nearby town of Bedford, Indiana. They claim to be the “Limestone Capital of the World”. I don’t know about that, but I do know that … Continue reading #91 – Indiana Limestone
#44 – One Man’s Trash…
I know I am using plenty of clichés here, but I think you get the idea. Go to the big city, and they spend big bucks to keep the above flower out of their lawns. Being basically a country boy, I love the diversity of a country lawn. It is not just one boring plot of the same old grass. I remember when we first moved into our country homestead in 2000, there was a yard pump in the side lawn with wild violets around it. When I left in 2021, almost the entire 3 acres were covered in violets … Continue reading #44 – One Man’s Trash…
#83 – Most Treasured
#89 – A Mosaic In A Mosaic
I think this is one of my most artsy photographs I have taken. It is kinda in the vain of my many reflection pictures. But, this one was taken through a large window in the Terminal Tower building lobby in Cleveland, Ohio. Below is the exterior view of the building. Continue reading #89 – A Mosaic In A Mosaic
#86 – The Most Mysterious
Just when I think I have photographed the most complex “Into The Depth” flower, another one come to take the “Most” title. If I were to make an abstract painting that described the complexity of my mind, it would probably closely resemble this picture. Just so you know, this picture was not modified in the least from when it was taken. Continue reading #86 – The Most Mysterious
#78. Lego Beauty
I have found out that Lego is not just a bunch of blocks, but instead it is a creation yet to be discovered. It took about 4 hours to build this 771 piece LEGO Icon Succulents. It was a very peaceful 4 hours. Yes, I know this is a “kit” that has probably been sold to thousands of different people. But this is just what I needed almost a year ago to finally push me in a different direction. It was the beginning of the process, and I’m certainly glad it happened. Continue reading #78. Lego Beauty
#58 – A Beautiful Entourage
These flowers remind me of something entirely different. What makes this bouquet so beautiful is the variety of individual plants that make it up. Yes, a dozen roses tell a story usually involving love, but a beautiful variety of flowers such as above shows us that diversity of life is where all the beauty resides.
#74 – Chaos (Double Memory)…
This mosaic was taken on the shores of the Great Lakes. Indiana only has a minute segment of shoreline, but what it has is beautiful indeed. It is at the very southern end of a 317-mile Lake Michigan. Most of the weather in this part of the country comes from Canada, so I suppose that is the reason that many of the rocks and pebbles accumulate at the southern end. To me, this mosaic kinda looks like organized chaos. I especially love the blue rocks scattered among the others. Continue reading #74 – Chaos (Double Memory)…
#73 – Old Fashioned Containers Tell A Story
One of my favorite things to look for when I visited local or regional museums were containers. Back in the day before TV commercials, magazines, and such, the primary way to get attention to their products was by creative packaging. This picture was taken in the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. I will give you more details about the park in a future mosaic. For this mosaic, I just what to focus on the containers I found there. Each one tells a story of it’s own. Continue reading #73 – Old Fashioned Containers Tell A Story
#70 – Red and Green & White All Over
One of the advantages of living in a college town is the number of artsy sources in the community. Last month I visited the IU Biology Dept green house for the first time. I was warned ahead of time that it is a “working” green house, so expect hoses and wet concrete. Most of the flowers were one steel-grated tables, not elaborate presentation as most conservatories are. But, that was perfectly fine with me. Continue reading #70 – Red and Green & White All Over
#30 – Fascinated By Glass
I don’t remember when my fascination with glass began. Maybe it was my first visit in the 1980s to a museum in my wife’s hometown, Neenah, Wisconsin, named Bergstrom-Mahler – Museum of Glass. There are literally thousands of pieces of glass art. I will save any more details of that museum for future mosaics.
#8 – High Plains Barn & Silo
I mentioned a few posts ago that I am hankering to do another purely analog mosaic, but before I do that I need to close out my early attempts in that mode. I have been across the high plains States numerous times, but like Indiana, many traveling through the High Plains just breeze through it without stopping. The most prominent thing about this area of the country is that it is WINDY. Maybe I should stop here and give you my definition of “High Plains”, that is Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming, and South Dakota, and central Kansas. In hindsight, it was … Continue reading #8 – High Plains Barn & Silo
#55 – Wordless Wednesday – Pink Beauty
#3 – Pen & Ink Plant
One of my first attempts at analog artsy Continue reading #3 – Pen & Ink Plant
#21 – The St. Lawrence Fisherman
It’s been thirteen years since the Canada trip.How could time have flown by so fast?It was a month-long adventure that I won’t forget.Especially that sunrise along the St. Lawrence Seaway. We were traveling in the hinterland between cities.We were determined to follow the Seaway to its source.It was getting dark, so our attention was for a place to sleep.We feared we might have to sleep in the car. Then suddenly a small sign appeared on the side of the road.We were desperate so we took a chance.The person in the small shack labeled “Office” only spoke French.But his wife knew … Continue reading #21 – The St. Lawrence Fisherman
#53 – Four Things That Draw Me In…
Now that I am beginning to populate this new artsy site, I have discovered that there are certain types of artsy that draw me in more than others. Those are Containers, Flowers, Texture and Reflections. I am a regular visitor of historic sites and almost all of them have an old-fashioned general story filled with containers. Flowers are probably the main reason for RJsMosaics. Their beauty, variety, and mind-boggling intensity fascinate me. The closer I look, the more I am entranced. Texture, specifically brick walls, as shown in today’s M53-mosaic. I don’t really understand this one, so I will let it go … Continue reading #53 – Four Things That Draw Me In…
#12 – Artsy Bird – 1st Vector Attempt
I need to show you my early attempts at vector graphics, so that you know how far I have come since then. This was my first serious attempt at using a combination of vector and raster graphics. The photo from which this originated was of a bird in the birdbath at our homestead home of 20+ years. At first, I was going to do the whole scene, but then decided to Simplify and just concentrate on the bird itself. All the various colors you see are filled-in vector shapes, while all the scratching used a raster app. I don’t think the result … Continue reading #12 – Artsy Bird – 1st Vector Attempt
#9 – Stone Walls
I have always been fascinated by stone walls. This one was at one of my favorite places to visit at Pleasant Hill Shaker Village near Lexington KY. This mosaic was made via the analog method using marking pens. It was very tedious work drawing all the stones, but I think the result is one of my favorites in the analog mode. I will limit this post to artsy, and reserve the story of Pleasant Hill for a future post, or posts. Continue reading #9 – Stone Walls
RJ's Mosaics 