Truck in Snow (at U.T. Gardens)

Truck in Snow (at U.T. Gardens), a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The University of Tennessee Gardens are part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. Some 4,000 annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, trees, shrubs, vegetables and ornamental grasses are evaluated each year. The gardens are open during all seasons and free to the public.

Winter might not offer any blooming flowers to look at, but you can never tire of appreciating a 1948 Chevy truck... even a rusty one!

The View

The View, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Pull over the car; enjoy the view; and take a picture.

By the Lake Repainted

By the Lake Repainted, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Originally a wood-block print, this time around: oil and acrylics layered on canvas. The path by the lake gets a whole different feel than before.

Biking in the Smokies

Biking in the Smokies, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road provides bicyclists with excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and exploring the various 19th century pioneer homesites. From early May until late September each year, the loop road is closed to motor vehicle traffic on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, allowing bicyclists a relaxing time to enjoy the cove.

Abrams Falls

Abrams Falls, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

It's a 2-1/2 mile hike from Cades Cove through some moderately difficult, lovely terrain, but the effort is well worth it to get to the remotely serene Abrams Falls. Though the falls is only twenty feet high, it is created by an incredible amount of rapidly flowing water which offers so many unexpected surprises that Backpacker.com debatably lists it as one of 'America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes'! So, use some caution as you enjoy this natural attraction in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Once Upon a Time in the Valley

Once Upon a Time in the Valley, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Some have chores to do, others like to watch the work being done.

-((Dan Lawson’s farm resides in the Cades Cove valley within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and dates back to 1856... or so.))-

Once Upon a Time in the Valley

Once Upon a Time in the Valley, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Once Upon a Time in the Valley
Some have chores to do, others like to watch the work being done.

-((Dan Lawson’s farm resides in the Cades Cove valley within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and dates back to 1856... or so.))-

Alfred Reagan's Tub Mill

Alfred Reagan's Tub Mill, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Along the Roaring Fork Nature Trail sits the homestead where Alfred Reagan once farmed over a century ago. Besides farming, Alfred also was a miller, a blacksmith, a shopkeeper, a carpenter, and a preacher!

Capturing energy from relatively low volume, high velocity streams, tub mills were well suited to the Appalachian mountainous terrain and could produce about a bushel of cornmeal a day.

A Visit to the Cemetery

A Visit to the Cemetery, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Visitors often take a solemn moment to view and analyze centuries of history pertaining to those who have come and gone before, such as at the Primitive Baptist church cemetery located in Cade's Cove.

Cade's Cove Blacksmith

Cade's Cove Blacksmith, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Cade's Cove Blacksmith
John P. Cable ran both mill and farm and eventually decided to become a blacksmith as well. Many people brought grain to be milled by using wagons pulled by mules and horses and these animals needed their metal shoes reset about every two months, thus keeping the blacksmiths quite busy. Additionally, the blacksmiths made all sorts of metal products for the home and farm, including plows, nails, adzes, axes, chains, hinges, bolts, hammers, hoes, bits, hooks, broadaxes, kitchen knives and drawknives.

Express Yourself

If you want accuracy... use a camera. If you want expressive, creative interpretation... use your artistic talents and abilities.

The John Cable Grist Mill

The John Cable Grist Mill, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

A few of the early Cades Cove pioneers built water-driven grist mills to grind corn and wheat grain into meal. Since most pioneer families had to grind corn meal at home in small tubs which yielded just a bushel a day, mills like John Cable's were able to make life easier and more efficient... and yield a source of income for their owners!

Bear Sighting

Bear Sighting, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Any time you visit Cade's Cove and take the long scenic drive throughout the cove, there's always the hopeful expectation of seeing a bear, deer or other natural wildlife. Most of the time you're not let down.

Becky Cable Homestead Backyard

Becky Cable Homestead Backyard, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The most visited section of Cade's Cove is where the Becky Cable Homestead sits. It's really not the house that garners the most enthusiasm, but the various rustic barns, sheds, mill, and other outbuildings.

John Oliver Cabin

John Oliver Cabin, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

I've rendered the John Oliver cabin at Cade's Cove many times over the decades. It just pops out at you as you drive around the bend. This is probably the most minimalist, less detailed painting of it yet.

The Old Mill

The Old Mill, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The Pigeon Forge old Grist Mill once served an important purpose in the community, now it's one of many tourist attractions in the highly visited Smoky Mountain region.

Loop Road Church

Loop Road Church, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

As you drive, bike, or hike the Cade's Cove loop, stop and visit the church on the hill.

Rear View

Rear View, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Mowgli's story is in Junglebook, the Ogle cabin is at Junglebrook. This is the rear view which is seldom depicted in images, though if you're heading to the brook, you must head down this backdoor path.

Cade's Cove Barn

Cade's Cove Barn, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Every time you visit Cade's Cove you see something new... along with something old!

Believed the Serpent's Lies

Believed the Serpent's Lies, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

'Believed the Serpent's Lies' created for Fallen from Lofty Heights video.

Disdain What You Embrace

We often get the concepts of embrace and disdain mixed-up. When regarding our personal life, the result is that all hell can break loose as we take pride where none should be and have guilt where we are truly guiltless. Eventually we defend our reversed feelings through a veil of deception.

Artbreak: The John Oliver Cabin by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: The John Oliver Cabin by pdw ( tAaOS )

The John Oliver Cabin

The Cynic's New Year Song

‎2012, we're glad you're gone.
2013 won't last too long.
It too will end and then pass on.
In just a year we'll repeat this song.

Artbreak: View from Top of the World (before 9/11) by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: View from Top of the World (before 9/11) by pdw ( tAaOS )


View from Top of the World (before 9/11)
Opening scene of 'Fallen from Lofty Heights' video.

Artbreak: Humbleness by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Humbleness by pdw ( tAaOS )

Humbleness is rarely rewarded, and even scoffed-at disdainfully by the arrogant, but it's benefits are far reaching. It greatly contributes to the character and wisdom of it's practitioner; it makes them more spiritually aware; it's effects reach out to other folks and makes their life better; and is a chief trait and key to entering the kingdom of God.

Yes, it's quite hard to be authentically humble when living in a world which seldom rewards it, nonetheless it is an important trait to be sought-after at all costs! Be humble.

Artbreak: The River Flows by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: The River Flows by pdw ( tAaOS )


Beauty all Around,
The River Flows.
Here's one that has nothing to do with hands.

Artbreak: Sustained by the Hands of God by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Sustained by the Hands of God by pdw ( tAaOS )


Sustained by the Hands of God.
Several of the Fallen from Lofty Heights renderings deal with hands in action.

Artbreak: Enriched with Golden Sod by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Enriched with Golden Sod by pdw ( tAaOS )


Enriched with Golden Sod.
Several of the Fallen from Lofty Heights renderings deal with hands in action.

Artbreak: Fashioned from the Ground by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Fashioned from the Ground by pdw ( tAaOS )


Fashioned from the Ground.
Several of the Fallen from Lofty Heights renderings deal with hands in action.

Artbreak: Fallen from Lofty Heights (title card) by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Fallen from Lofty Heights (title card) by pdw ( tAaOS )

One week ago I started the art process for Fallen from Lofty Heights video. Today I finished the 16th rendering... perhaps a new record for me... an advantage to being unemployed.

Artbreak: Weak by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Weak by pdw ( tAaOS )

When I say one thing but do another,

I'm not always showing my hypocrisy.

I'm just showing my weakness.

Voices

Voices, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

With some people there's always the real authentic truth... and then there's their version of the story!
(Art from 'Fallen from Lofty Heights' music video)

Conclusions

Conclusions, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Just because you have experienced something does not mean you have arrived at the correct conclusion.

Just because you have NOT experienced something does not mean you have arrived at the correct conclusion.
(Art from 'Fallen from Lofty Heights' music video)

Artbreak: Voices by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Voices by pdw ( tAaOS )

With some people there's always the real authentic truth... and then there's their version of the story!

(Art from 'Fallen from Lofty Heights' music video)

Artbreak: 'Believed the Serpent's Lies' by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: 'Believed the Serpent's Lies' by pdw ( tAaOS )

'Believed the Serpent's Lies' from the second verse of Fallen From Lofty Heights video.

Artbreak: Adam in the Garden by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Adam in the Garden by pdw ( tAaOS )

I woke up inspired to begin my next video, 'Fallen from Lofty Heights' and then completed the first rendering for it... 'Adam in the Garden'. The next several art pieces will take place in the garden and will be quite colorful.

No Worry Mate

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)

Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.

Doomsday

For the second time in only a dozen years people are laughing at the doomsday which never arrived. It's okay to do a little scoffing and laughing... the events leading up to the date just didn't align or justify all the publicized hype. But that said, be sure you're never too cynical or short-sighted that when the events do point to that coming day, you're sitting back and not prepared for it. There's no excuse for being deceived, but there's also no excuse for not being ready (and no, I'm not talking about building a fall-out shelter).

Sincere Prayer

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on meaninglessly as people of false religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
(Matthew 6:5-8)

Repeating the same words over and over like a magic incantation is no way to ensure that God will hear your prayer. It's not wrong to come to God many times with the same requests- Jesus encourages persistent prayer. But he condemns the shallow repetition of words that are not offered with a sincere heart. We can never pray too much if our prayers are honest and sincere. Before you start to pray, make sure you mean what you say. (Life Application notes)

Artbreak: Guilt by pdw ( tAaOS )

Artbreak: Guilt by pdw ( tAaOS )

A well executed 'guilt statement' can take the wind out of anyone's sail and guaranteed to make them feel their worst. A fist to the face is touted as unaccepted abuse, but statements of guilt are practically never categorized as abusive... even though their effects can damage for a lifetime.

Christmas? What's That?

Christmas? What's That?, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

What Christmas is Actually About
One day in the synagogue in Nazareth, as was the custom, the time had come for Jesus to read. He walked to the front of the synagogue, opened up the scroll, and began to read from Isaiah: " 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord' " (Luke 4:18-19).

When He had finished, He sat down and said, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (verse 21). In no uncertain terms He had declared Himself to be the Messiah! He alone would fulfill a prophesied mission which no other person could accomplish. He alone would provide a way out from our hopeless spiritual condition. His public ministry had begun!

Positive Thinking

Positive Thinking, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Positive Thinking
When denial is mixed firmly-in with an attitude of positive thinking, the result is a philosophy which has very little credence or true meaning behind it. Positive thinking is a frame of mind which should only be loosely practiced; quickly shelved when compassion and empathy are needed; not used as a cover-up; and never practiced with blinded eyes.

You can have an attitude of positive thinking all you want, but don't flaunt it to someone who views very little positive in the world you inhabit.

My Art is Available at FineartAmerica

caricatures greeting cards

What's Wrong With an International Job Market

What's Wrong With an International Job Market

Since I've been using 'Freelance.com' to bid on graphics, art, and illustration jobs, a trend stands out as being quite noticeable. Here is an example of the types of international bids being returned for practically any type of freelance job:
$110... from Japan
$100... from USA
$90... from Europe
$85... from Australia
$80... from Canada
$10... from India
etc, etc, etc.

What!? $10 from India!!!
Yep, consistently unbeatably low.

So, I do some research and find out that an incredible 45% of all Freelance.com jobs are going to bids from India.

Becoming a Wal-Mart greeter sounds better all the time. I promise to smile, compliment, and not be too grumpy!

How Good are We?

When someone does something so positive and nice that it makes the national news, the standard response is “It makes you feel good about the world.” The down side to this statement is that most news items are so bad that an uplifting item is quite rare and stands out as unusual. The more you think about it, a good news item makes you feel even worse about the world, not good about it, since this is the way the world could be if we weren’t the way we normally are.

Cell Sell

Cell Sell, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Cell Sell
“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?" says the Sovereign Lord. "Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live." (Ezekiel 18:23)

If you think God is only referring to lawbreakers locked away in some prison cell, then you sell God far too short. He desires for each and every one of us to turn, follow and pursue Him, and begin to live.

Cell Sell

Cell Sell
“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?" says the Sovereign Lord. "Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live." (Ezekiel 18:23)

If you think God is only referring to lawbreakers locked away in some prison cell, then you sell God far too short. He desires for each and every one of us to turn, follow and pursue Him, and begin to live.

Morality

Morality
If you take God out of the equation, it's not a matter that you've now eliminated morality, it simply means you have broadened or narrowed it's scope to the place that it becomes viably debatable and unsubstantiated, and could include or exclude anything you want it to. Arguably, no one is an expert or authority on that type of morality and there's very little wrong with breaking the law on a legal system based upon it. But when morality is defined by a higher authority, then it becomes set in stone; is unchangeable; fulfills a much higher purpose; and transcends time, place, culture and people's immediate whims. It now becomes an anchor to laws which have an authentic authority allowing them to be unarguably enforced and obeyed.

You can easily diminish or eliminate morality from your life, and perhaps believe you are none the worse for doing so, but the very nature of morality insures there will always be a price to be paid somewhere down the road, and at that point you will wish you had adhered to it back when you had the chance.

Entitled

I just drove through, and shopped in a part of town where it seemed like half the cars had 'handicap passes' hanging from the mirrors. The skeptic/cynic in me refuses to believe that so many young, healthy-appearing folks are honestly handicapped. It's easier to believe that there's just a lot of dishonest entitlement folks living in those neighborhoods. Now, that assessment makes total sense.

(I also noticed that the closest handicap parking spots are just not close enough for the dishonestly handicapped... they have to park in the 'no parking' zone in order to get close enough!)

One Hit Wonder

"One Hit Wonder". This is a term that gives much of the world yet another chance to hate America (at least dislike us). We take a musician who had only one big hit on American charts and never followed it with another and then we assume they weren't good enough to release any other mega-hits. We give them the belittling title of One Hit Wonder even though this performer might actually be an international superstar with a huge following in many parts of the world.

The perception is that once again Americans are being arrogant and unconcerned about the rest of the world, where the reality is that we are probably nothing more than ignorant about many global affairs. But hey, that's another story!

Prepare

Some extreme conditions which result from your decisions prove far better than others.
Example: It is much more comfortable to sit there holding a coat on your lap because it proved too warm than it is to sit there shivering and freezing because you didn't bring your coat along. Preparation is valuable and worthwhile, whether needed or not.

Should Be Yours

"That's your thing" might prove to be the most regrettable sentiment you ever hold.

Hurricanes

Watching news... a woman who is a victim of hurricane Sandy makes the statement "Who would have ever thought that in the United States of America that someone could be without power for eleven days!?" I instantly yell at the TV "I sure have no trouble believing it." That's life. Perhaps she's finally living in the same universe as the rest of us.

I'm not being heartless in the least. Her sentiment only emphasizes one of our fallacies in putting confidence in either big business, or especially in big government... unexpected catastrophes only show us how quickly our best efforts prove ineffective. We can never put full confidence in the endeavors of humanity or we will consistently be let down and experience just how greatly we fall short.

DNA DOA

We tend to think that life can only happen in a physical/material world simply because that is the arena in which we live and are familiar with, but we tend to ignore that life makes no sense in a universe of dust and rock and would not even be here in the first place unless given from the location of where life is natural and derives from.

Are we simply physical bodies housing an intricate brain which is capable of thought, or do we possess a physical body which is the home and tool for the much more important life which is temporarily housed within? Science has done an excellent job of understanding the physical body but miserably fails at getting to the real operations behind the tissue and DNA.
Give credit where credit is due... but heaven forbid if you simply stop there!

Digital Law

One of the greatest dangers of the digital age is we tend to think and act as if many of the laws, warnings, and principles from ancient times are outdated and no longer apply. Unfortunately, this is one error that is not comprehended or fully understood until it is too late. And if we would take history more serious, we would see that in every civilization where similar thinking and actions took place, these same unrecognized principles proved to be their downfall.

New President

I lift up the president and pray he becomes wise, moderate, and pleasantly temperate in his second term!

A Better World

Too many people say they want to make this world a better place but in reality are mainly interested in making it into the kind of place they personally want it to be. The abstract aspects of 'better' is what keep it from becoming a better world for all people.
Many lose out in a selfish person's 'better world'.

Election Day Prayer 2012

Remember to say a sincere prayer before voting from the list of candidates, and once again before pulling the lever. This is one of those prayers that is most definitely a "Your will be done, not my own." And later, accept the outcome no matter what it might be... you have done your part! Don't be smugly elated or despondently depressed.

Don't Say It

We now live in a 'bite your tongue' world. This is supposed to be an improvement but I'm not convinced it's better to look the other way about some important things and be confrontational about other things which really don't matter.

A Politically Correct Conversation

Confession:
Sometimes I just hate a politically correct response within a conversation. When this happens, it makes me wonder… did I say something which this person has taken offense at? Did I say something which made them answer in the currently correct way that we are supposed to think on that issue? This is especially irritating if the conversation had absolutely nothing to do with their remark. It's as if they are throwing in a buffer for fear the conversation just might head in that direction.

Heaven knows we hear far too much of the societal news media telling us how we're supposed to feel and think about certain hot issues! We sure don't need to hear a person who we are conversing with suddenly throw-in the same old jargon that gets stuffed down our throat far too often. The way I interpret an uncalled for politically correct response is that it's now time for that conversation to come to an end. The other person has now quit being authentic and they feel that an acceptable pseudo-brainwashed response is needed… for some odd reason.

So, uh, do you know what I mean? And please, try not to be too politically correct in your response… it's not always called for.