New Moon in the New Year

Last night, a sliver of orange hued new moon graced our evening sky. Here are s few snapshots of the lovely sight.














This is the first new moon in the new year. A comfort for people in the turbulent time.


Related posts on Art · 文化 · Kunst: 
- The Moon, Mars and Venus
- The Moon, Venus and Jupiter
- Full Moon in an Early Morning
- First Full Moon in "Year of Horse"
- New Year's Greetings - Moon Rise and Sunset
- Getting Ready for the "Supermoon"
- More on Night Sky

Another Award for a Drawing

In the era of social media and instant gratifications, it is often very lonely and despairing to be an artist or a writer.  Solitude, dedication, monkish life yet often yields no rewards.  Occasionally, a sort of recognition is like a shot in the arm and can propel an artist to renown his resolution.

Yesterday, I received such encouragement, or a kick, from the online art community/arbiter, ArtSlant.com - my recent colored ink drawing, was awarded its 5th 2012 Showcase Award.





Ink Drawing Night City 3
Ink on Paper
Completed in 2012


So far, I have been recognized three times by this panel - two for my oil paintings (see image below).  Drawing really is a byproduct of my endeavor but it is gratifying to know that even so, my drawings do have some merits.

 

Now, I must work harder.


Related posts on Art · 文化 · Kunst:
- "Diptych - Dawn" Won Another Award

- Editor's Choice Award for "The Song of Orpheus" - Artist Portfolio Magazine
- Editor's Award on Artist Portfolio Magazine, Published by My Art Contest
- One More Award from ArtSlant Showcase Competition
- Honorable Mentioned in A Juried Competition

Getting Ready for the "Supermoon"

Getting ready for the supermoon tonight!

According to San Francisco Chronicle, "the biggest and brightest full moon of the year arrives Saturday night as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual."

"Saturday's event is a 'supermoon,' the closest and therefore the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. At 11:34 p.m., the moon will be about 221,802 miles from Earth. That's about 15,300 miles closer than average."

"That proximity will make the moon appear about 14 percent bigger than it would if the moon were at its farthest distance, said Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory. The difference in appearance is so small that 'you'd be very hard-pressed to detect that with the unaided eye,' he said."

"The moon's distance from Earth varies because it follows an elliptical orbit rather than a circular one."

I was so impatient that I started to shoot photos last night - impatient for sure, but also startled by the natural beauty.  Get ready for the supermoon tonight!

Trees at Night

The year 2011 is near its inevitable end and it's always a bit sad to bid farewell to the old year and hopeful and anxious for the new year.

A group photos I took in my deck of trees at night perfectly illustrated that kind of emotion: