New Fall 2014 Semester Begins with more to come.....

Exciting time in the progress of the Botanical Study with the new Fall Semester starting.  The project is now a two semesters long as an Independent Study for Academic Distinction.

Summer is over and tomorrow I will be meeting with my sponsor,  Martin Amourous to go over my next steps.  Have lots to tell him already.  Be looking for a future Facebook Page to LIKE

I now have installed my first research exhibit on campus.  It is in the Newton Gresham Library 2nd Floor Dan Rather Cases, with my artwork and initial discoveries.

Please come for a look and feel free make comments about the project on my blog.

Also, sign up to become a blog Follower and see what I will be doing next and where.  

Until Next Time.

Blessings,

Red Cedar in Evans Complex-Botanical Study SHSU (Initial Discoveries)

Last week the weather could not have been nicer, lows in the 60's and highs only reaching the upper 80's because of a cold front that came through to welcome in the Fall season.  Love those cold fronts after our Hot, Hot Summers.

Happy to report my initial sketch is coming along nicely, but I have not finished rendering this really beautiful, and amazing tree, but wanted to check in with everyone. 

Stopping to closely examine the trunk and leaves of this large, old tree really was rewarding.  I do not know how many times during two semesters I hurriedly passed by this natural beauty trying to make my 8 o'clock English classes.   Sadly I never really stopped to discover how many interesting twist and turns the trunk make.

This is one of the many reasons I am excited about doing this project. My class days on Sam's campus, like other students and faculty mostly is filled with running from one class to another.  Therefore, I really do not get a full sense of the beauty that surrounds the campus.

Here are a few more pictures showing some of what I saw while sketching last week.

Red Cedar Tree- Wonderful Specimen

Tree Magnificently Towers above the Evans Complex

Just some of the many Knot Holes that wrap around the trunk

Hopefully, my project will inspire you to slow down a little more and enjoy the Art made naturally all around us.

Check in soon, as the next post will include pictures of my sketches of this important tree.  

Until Next Time.

Blessings,

Botanical Study-SHSU (First Sketch Assignment)

The heavy rains today did not dampen my meeting with Scott and Josh. In fact our visit went exceptionally well.  I really appreciate their shared enthusiasm for my ideas.  We were able to strategize and discuss in more detail what should be my next steps.

I have my first tree to sketch.  It is the Red Cedar Tree that lives right in the middle of the Evans Complex building. 

 I had heard the story that the building was built around the tree, but did not know why this was such an important tree, it was our original tree in the oldest University tradition, the "Tree of Light" ceremony.

I hope to begin my sketching sometime this week.  If you see me outside working, be sure to say hello.

Until Next Time.

Blessings,

Botanical Study-The Beginning

Everything has a beginning and this project is no exception.  This idea arose out of a need to make a Honor's College contract with my Advanced Drawing professor, Martin Amorous.  He and I met to discuss what I could work on to fulfill these requirements.  Out of our brainstorming session came the idea of mapping and botanically sketching certain trees and flowering plants on our campus grounds.

In doing some preliminary research, I discovered there was a need for such a project, it had never been previously attempted.  A few years ago, a Biology professor had taken it upon himself to tag important trees on the campus and mapped their location.  Unfortunately, these tags have either been grown over by those trees or squirrels destroyed them.

As they say, it takes a village to raise a child, the same applies here too. Several people have graciously agreed to help in anyway to see this project be successful.  Barbara Mason, the University Archivist, who is a wealth of information was my first contact.  The other two key people are, Scott Doezal, our Grounds Maintenance Manager, and Josh Mizrany, our University Arborist who also is a native of Huntsville.

My goal is to document this project in several different ways which include a sketchbook, site map, and this blog.

Love to have you join me in this Lewis & Clark type adventure.  You can follow along and not miss any of the excitement by joining this blog as a follower, or to receive e-mail updates.  Look for these forms on the right hand side of the blog page.

Until Next Time.

Blessings,