Let’s face it; no one goes tomato juice tasting

This is the last of my series on oaks in the Sacramento area vineyards. The most surprising response has been long time locals not aware of the abundance of grapes growing so close to the city. On the other hand if these were tomato fields, no one would be surprised. To me tomatoes and grapes are both agriculture products and each grow well in this district.

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s Brush Stroke Photography featuring high heel shoes  and famous places at Doug’s Art Gallery  http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

Two exhibits currently feature shoe art

The Girls Gotta Run Foundation has a fall exhibit at the Takoma Park Municipal Center in Takoma Park, Maryland. My work continues to do well for GGRF and this exhibit is no exception. If you are in the Washington DC area please stop by for a visit.

Starting today my work is open for viewing in California at Salons Within in beautiful Fair Oaks. There is a lot of variety in this display including some of my newest work from New York and Las Vegas.

Oak Tree in a Vineyard

The idea of these big oaks in the middle of a vineyard appeals to my sense of grandeur in the outdoors. They really look tall compared to the vines which in this case are about five feet tall.

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s Brush Stroke Photography featuring high heel shoes  and famous places at Doug’s Art Gallery  http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

Autumn Vineyard Scene with Oaks

This entire vineyard’s grapes were harvested leaving vines that have sort of a fresh haircut look. I could not find one bunch of grapes hanging. No matter, the setting was ideal with the dry leaves at my feet being pushed around by a gentle breeze. This was a very tranquil place to visit and I was breathing easy while taking in the orderliness of each row of vines contrasted by jumble of nearby oaks.

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s Brush Stroke Photography featuring high heel shoes  and famous places at Doug’s Art Gallery  http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

If you don’t visit a winery now, you will hate yourself later

The grapes are in, the wine making has begun in earnest. Today I thought I could find some vines with fruit but most everywhere near my house the harvest has finished. This is a great time to visit a winery. Okay, anytime is a great time to visit a winery but right now they have once a year tasks underway and that is interesting.

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s Brush Stroke Photography featuring high heel shoes  and famous places at Doug’s Art Gallery  http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

Who Else Wants the Perfect Place in a Small Town?

Most artists aspire to some kind of studio to create or write. The story of Jackson Pollack in his studio during the drip period in a rural area of Long Island is a great example. That would be the right mix of creativity and sense of place for me on a pleasant summer day.

Right now a spare bedroom with a computer is the best I can do but that does not stop me from dreaming. There are many places in California I see regularly that I would love to live. My Wonder Years (2-12) were spent in New Jersey and last month I managed to visit a beautiful community in the Garden State called Bedminster. I picked out a few places there to add to my wish list and managed to take a picture of this house because it caught my eye and seemed to pull me in with its charm.

I suppose everyone has a place or many places you would like to call home. As time goes on I’ll include more of mine in this blog.

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s Brush Stroke Photography featuring high heel shoes  and famous places at Doug’s Art Gallery  http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

New York Public Library – Inside View

The lions outside the front of the buildings are always the draw to this library for me because my mother had bookend copies on her shelf for as long as I can remember. They symbolized knowledge, learning, strength, and contentment.  Less familiar to me are the reading rooms inside. The artwork on the ceiling is wonderful, I just had to sit down and stare at it for a long time. The room was quiet and I had my flash turned off so I could be as discreet as possible while taking this picture.

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s high heel shoe art and famous places albums at Doug’s Art Gallery at http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

Times Square NYC version two

My first version of Times Square from the photo I took on my visit in 2006 has won me praise and print sales. Like most visitors there, I’m captivated by the crowds, colors, excitement, movement. This time I chose a photo that I took stepping onto the street in the evening while the signs were at their best. No distortions of the buildings on this version, the impact of the place was completely different this time compared to my visit just two years ago. Let me know which version you like best.

 

Want to see larger versions of this work? Check out more of Doug Dourgarian’s high heel shoe art and famous places albums at Doug’s Art Gallery at http://www.DougsArtGallery.com.

New York Stock Exchange NYSE

This one is a little different: I did not take the picture. The original is by artist Karin Jurick whose work I very much enjoy. She hosts a blog called Different Strokes From Different Folks where she posts a different photo about once a week for other artists to paint. The other artist’s painted version of the photo appear on the blog page. Be sure to check out some of those artists, the talent visiting that site is extraordinary. That blog does not accept any computer generated art so I’m posting my version of Karin’s photo here.

I wish I took this picture.  After all, I was a business major in college and just recently visited New York.  Since the original version is Karin’s, this piece is another blog only special, not for sale, no larger versions available on my web site. 

Greenwich Village Orange-Pink House

This place just grabbed me when I first saw it. The color just popped out to the street. The closer I got to it the more I realized it is an off beat color like kind of a base for pink. Certainly I would not want my own house that color but this does look good to me.

 

Since I’m in the neighborhood this next piece is relevant. The Little Italy street in Manhattan had special decorations up for a celebration. The corner restaurants with outdoor seating, umbrellas was very charming and I had a nice ravioli lunch at one of them. Unfortunately I’m not totally happy with the below piece because somehow it does not capture the essence of the neighborhood. It won’t be posted on my web site so the size is a little larger than normal for this blog.