Building the Base

Start with a nice base. Build this base  several layers in thickness. All the materials I use are from recycled boxes and old tubes of gift wrapping paper. I use a steel ruler and utility knife for cutting. Later, for a finishing touch, I'll add river rocks to weight it down even more.

Next, you'll want to roll some paper into 'bamboo' rods for perches. I use silicon glue where the birds can't reach and chew. I use non-toxic school glue on perches since I know they will be chewing on them.

Try to roll them evenly and add a generous amount of glue to the insides so they stick together.

I use old bills, junk mail and old class rosters for this part. Anything that is classified is great because birds make great natural paper shredders. No evidence gets by them!

Proper Terms and Construction

When I taught scale modeling to students I would start with this chart and lots of cardboard. Safety instructions are very important when working with knifes. The x-acto knife is a very useful tool but can be deadly to people who are careless with tools. Everyone received a 'baby step' lesson in types of joints so they could build the most professional-looking models possible. For 'bare' models the edges need to be clean and straight. If you plan on putting 'skins' on your scale model, you can use the easiest of all joining systems - the butt joint because your corners and edges will be covered. This is what I did for my bird's tree house. I knew my birds wouldn't be too critical of my engineering skills and they were planning on pooping all over it anyway!

 

Centering rulers are great for cutting the windows with a perfect measurement.

 

New Tree house - final version

This is the final version of my bird's tree house. It took them a while to get used to it. I have two tiny 'Parrotlets.' They are classified as the 'worlds smallest parrot.' Don't let their size fool you. Even though their brain is the size of a pea, they are remarkably smart. I've read that some can even talk. My two birds cannot talk but they do mimic some sounds that I make like the kisses I give them. They also respond to commands. If I say "take a bath," they start diving into their water dish. If I say "time to go night, night," they climb in their cage and go to their resting spot for the night.

When I first introduced the tree house, it startled them. Of course, anything bigger than them is frightening so I knew this would take some time. As you can see in the next few pictures, they adapted and learned to love it. They know that it is their tree house and a safe place to go when they are out of their cage. It's like their new vacation home.

Building a better bird house

These are my birds in their old bird house before we moved. I had so much to move that I decided to start over and trash the old bird house. It was very nice and served it's purpose well but most of the perches were chewed to frazzles or bent from the constant hopping they endured from my birds.

Over the next couple of days, you will see my new bird house evolve, with instructions for anyone interested in building their own extra tree house for birds.

Enjoy!

Johannes Gutenberg

A Classic Case of Copyright Infringement

The inventor of moveable type had a huge impact on the world even though he didn't receive much credit (or money) in his lifetime. In fact, I would be bold enough to say this man launched the Renaissance in Northern Europe. We tend to underestimate the incredible invention of moveable type and what it did for the western world. True - many presses were already invented and Gutenberg studied and modified existing models in order to create the first printing press. True - the ancient Chinese invented the first stamps (called chops) and therefore the invention of printing.

 I mentioned before; "...there are two basic ways to come up with a 'new' design. The first way is to create something so new and original that no other product on the market compares to what it can do. The other way is to improve upon a product design that already exists. We call inventors who tackle the first way, geniuses and we tend to ignore the other group." Johannes Gutenberg falls into the second category; he invented a totally new concept from two pre-existing concepts.

I also mentioned that we are in the beginning of the "Digital Revolution" and very much like the Industrial Revolution; we are repeating history's mistakes. During the Industrial Revolution thousands of inventions were ripped off from the original inventors. In fact, our first true copyright laws in America are created right after the Industrial Revolution. The United States government saw a need to protect these small product designers and developed copyright laws for the small business owner. The horrible reality today is copyright laws only protect large corporations or those who can afford to sue. There is even talk about lessening the laws protecting the common person from copyright infringement in the future. Ironically enough, in the midst of all this, even our own government was infringed upon by another country. I hope they now know how it feels!

Let's get back to the incredible story of Johannes Gutenberg. One might think that he had a great start because he built on two already existing ideas. This deduction would not be true. He spent over 10 years studying the mechanic of wine, cheese and olive presses. He also had to invent an alloy (a combination of at least two metals) that would withstand the intense beating of a press, minute after minute, each and every day. He also had to invent an ink that would not 'bead' up on metal. He used a linseed oil base that was sticky enough to create an even coat on metal. Each one of these inventions took over 10 years, lots of money and time. This is why inventors (even today) live very humble lives and have to solicit capitalists for money. (And they have to do this while inventing!)

I've created a timeline of Johann's struggles. (You can click on the image to read it) The sad fact to this story is that on the night when his famous 42-line bible was going to be printed, bound and distributed, he was locked out of his own print shop. The man who 'legally' seized the shop hired his assistant and by doing so, stole all Johann's secrets. Johannes Gutenberg could do nothing but sit back and watch someone else become rich off of his invention. Within three years after the invention of moveable type, thousands of printing presses were created all over northern Europe which kicked the Renaissance into its peak.

You would think such a sad story would end with this horrible mistreatment but that is not true. Johannes Gutenberg was such a master of inventions; he quietly created another print shop and press and began mastering copperplate engravings. Some say he trained with a famous (yet anonymous) artist called the "Master of Playing Cards." Some say that Johann himself was the Master of Playing Cards but finally learned to keep his mouth shut until the inventions were straight off the press and in the public's eye.

(timeline of Gutenberg's struggles - by dianne curtis)

Small Change

Small Change

I've seen a lot more homeless people on the streets in the past few years. This is an issue that really gets to me. I've been so close so many times to being homeless myself that I stare at these people with fear and compassion. I was guided to start a practice last year when I quit smoking. I now use the ash tray where my cigarette butts used to go for a change compartment. When I see a homeless person I grab some change and hand it to them. I'm not there to judge who deserves the change and who doesn't. That takes too much time and negative energy. It doesn't really matter if they need it, deserve it or what. They're asking so I'm there to give.

I've met a lot of homeless people this way. I'm shocked at who is homeless on the streets these days. One woman my age was sitting on the side of a freeway one day and I gestured for her to walk up to my car. I handed her a few dollars in change and noticed she had a black eye. She saw me look at her face and replied, "I was robbed and beaten last night." I broke down right on the spot. It's like a wave of pain rushed over me.

Another time I handled the situation a little better. This man with a dog had made his 'camping' spot in a strip center near my home. I would see him every day and give him my small change. One day I saw him crying. I'm used to seeing homeless people a little hardened by life so I had to find out his story. I went home and made him two peanut butter sandwiches (one for him and one for his dog) and grabbed a ten dollar bill out of my purse before rushing out the door. When I walked over to him he wasn't crying any more instead he looked angry. I handed him one sandwich and put one on the ground for his dog. He replied "She won't eat it. She's real picky." He was right. The dog sniffed the sandwich and walked away.

I handed him the $10 bill and his face perked up right away. He then grabbed the other sandwich and began eating it. I wanted to ask him why he had been crying but I didn't have to ask. He spoke up and said, "Do you know what someone said to me?" I listened. "They told me that it was cruel to keep my dog on the streets with me. They said I should give her up!" I looked at the dog that was walking around freely with a leash dragging behind her and stated the obvious. "Well, if she wanted to run away, she would. I don't think you're cruel at all." He was grateful that I validated him and he then affirmed, "She eats before I do! I make sure she has food every day."

I talked to him for a little while and then went home thinking about how judgmentally cruel some people can be. This guy was having a tough time on the street and someone suggested he give up his only companion? It was hard to believe. I kept giving him money every time I saw him.

A few weeks passed and I saw him outside on a summer day. He told me that someone had offered him a job digging ditches in the "hot sun." I looked at him and stated the obvious, "Aren't you in the hot sun anyway?" I don't think he even realized this before my comment. I didn't see him again after that.

I think he took the job.

Gratitude to Theo

If it wasn't for the brother of Vincent van Gogh, we would not have this lovely and extremely famous image called "The Starry Night." We don't always realize what the art patron does for the artist. I know in my own work, I still need encouragement even after all the years I've been painting. Every so often, someone says something so ignorant or insensitive and I just want to throw down my paintbrush and say, "what's the use?"
I'm sure Vincent felt that way many times. We have all heard of the many struggles this poor man suffered all his life and yet painting was the one thing that calmed his tortured soul. This is why the brother of this great artist means so much to our world. We forget how much he did for his Vincent. We forget that Theo was a great art dealer and had a great eye for fine art. Without these great patrons, there would be no great artists. Even the Italian Renaissance would not have existed without its patrons. I would love to see a day when the patrons towards the arts are abundant like it was in the time of the Renaissance masters.
Vincent van Gogh did not have the Renaissance environment in his time. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes a country to raise a great artist. Without the great patrons to the arts, the artist suffers. Vincent had his brother's best wishes and somehow this one person was enough to keep him going. That's amazing if we think about it. How many times have you become discouraged with your own work? We all need a Theo.

M.C. Escher

I spent 12 years working for a school that taught computer aided drafting and design. I was not an AutoCAD artist so I taught the basics to these students like drawing and illustration. We studied different perspectives extensively throughout the semester. I knew very little about Isometric perspective when I started but I loved simulation video games and knew that isometric played a huge role in the designs of city building games.

One of the best things about teaching is perfecting your own skills while you teach. I insisted on mastering the principles behind isometric tessellations very much like M.C. Escher did when he was alive. I have read some of Escher's biographies and I've showed several documentaries on his life in my classes so Escher's style is very dear to me.

For me, Isometric perspective is like a game, turning and twisting those cubes into impossible structures and unbelievable dimensions. I can see how Escher must have been in his own world most of his life. When an artist creates any kind of landscape, they get to go there. In fact, I've never had the need for travel the way most people do. My idea of a great vacation is staying at home and creating art. (I'm sure this sounds very boring to most but to me, it's heaven on earth!)

These are some of the Isometric Tessellations I've created. They take a long time to 'map out' so the originals are not for sale.

"The Golden Hour"

Photographers know this moment. It occurs twice every day no matter if it's been raining or sunny. Long before photography, we called this time, 'twilight.' Even the early renaissance masters knew that this was a magical time of day when the suns colors were brilliant. 

The sky takes on a gradient rainbow and everything is bathed in a golden highlight. 

Grab your camera and head for the outdoors when you see the sun setting behind the horizon. Your pictures will turn out wonderful, but hurry...

 

...you only have a 30-45 minute window before all the magic is gone.

The Mysterious Dr. Byrd

"What is he up to this time? The mysterious Dr. Byrd creates quite a questionable stir, staying up late in his laboratory working on secretive experiments. Is that a chart of a human or bird on the wall? Is he making humans into birds or birds into humans?"

The original painting for this print was inspired by many things: my love of vultures, my love for Sci fi, and my love for the macabre. I'll address each one of these muses separately.

Vultures have always fascinated me. When I was younger and a group of us were driving to Mexico for Spring Break, we came across a group of vultures picking away at a carcass in the middle of the highway. They were so bold they would not move for us. The driver had to slam on the breaks to stop from hitting them. I wanted to take a picture of them but they wouldn't stop long enough for me to get my camera out. The driver screamed at me, "No way am I stopping! Vultures are nasty!"

Vultures have been called "nature's environmentalists." Imagine how messy this world would be without vultures. The ancient Egyptians believed that the vulture brought your soul to heaven. They probably drew this conclusion by seeing a group of vultures picking away at a carcass and then flying up into the sky.

A black vulture is featured in this painting, much like the ones an Egyptian would find in the desert. I've dressed him up in doctors' clothes to reference Dr. Frankenstein, one of my all time favorite books. Mary Shelley was way ahead of her time, like many science fiction writers and I've mentioned her famous book before. (See my writing on Edvard Munch.) Dr. Byrd also represents Dr. Moreau. I love H.G. Wells and "The Island of Dr. Moreau" is my favorite of all his works.

Monsters make great horror stories. They are symbolic for the unknown and the mutant. Many monsters in stories are the cause of humans' wrong-doings which gives the monster a relationship to our own societies. I believe those are my favorite monsters although I do love the legends of Bigfoot and the Thunderbird. I would like to think there are still species this large that we have not discovered. 

This print is available on ebay:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251633041574?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649