Archive for the ‘Art and Culture’ Category
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Oct
23
Posted by Mark Clawson
Ron Kasprisin is a watercolor artist who paints out of his studio on Whidbey Island which is just north of Seattle. “An Officer and a Gentleman” was filmed at the Naval Air Station on Whidbey and at Fort Worden on Bainbridge Island just a short distance away.
In the mid-1980s, architect Ron Kasprisin AIA received a request by publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold, NY, to revise an out of print book by Arthur Gupthill entitled “Color Illustration and Rendering”. Not soon after, Ron, a pen and ink artist with no background in watercolor painting, signed a contract to do a completely new book on watercolor entitled “Watercolor in Architectural Design”.
Ron then embarked on a self-taught journey into the wonders of watercolor painting, relying on numerous workshops with renowned painters such as James Godwin Scott of St. Louis, Deanne Lemley of Seattle, Carol Orr of Port Townsend WA, and in particular Eric Weigardt of Ocean Park WA. These master painters guided Ron’s development and enabled him to reach his present successes.
Ron Kasprisin is a Professor in Architecture and Planning at the University of Washington where he also teaches watercolor painting in spring and summer quarters. Ron lives on Whidbey Island on Puget Sound at Kasprisin Ridge Studios where he teaches watercolor workshops. He recently added two live-in artist studios on his property.
Ron is also the owner of Kasprisin Ridge Vineyard where he is growing central European red wine grapes with his yellow lab Whidbey at his side. Hopefully, he will soon be able to share the fruits of his labor.
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Apr
09
Posted by Mark Clawson
As most of you know I really enjoy posting on this site. Sometimes I can’t do it as frequently as I would like. Part of the pleasure comes from meeting with you individually or in the space called the internet.
Mike Malandra is one of those people and we made contact due to his interest in the Southwest and his desire to move the Mount Charleston area outside of Las Vegas.
I find that Mike is a photographer and with his permission he has allowed me to share a few of his photos and thoughts on nature.
Michaels Mission Statement:
As I get older I find myself turning to nature for my personal and spiritual growth. My relationship with the natural world is becoming a greater part of my everyday life. I find myself drawn to places of mystery where I can feel at peace with the power of the earth’s spirit.
Over the years I have learned to use my photography and painting to express my passion for nature. It is my mission to communicate the mysterious connection I feel when photographing and painting nature’s creations. I hope viewing my work gives you the same emotional response I feel when creating it.
Through my art work you will see the beauty of our world. As you view each photograph, I strive to show you this world through my eyes. Enjoy the photos, but I challenge you to do more. I challenge you to go out and experience the wonders of nature for yourself. You will find it is worth protecting, and it is worth preserving!
I have read Gary Zukav’s “Seat of the Soul” and I thought that this quote was quite appropriate based on what Michael has said.
“Our species has become arrogant. We behave as though the Earth were ours to do with as we please. We pollute its land, oceans and atmosphere to satisfy our needs without thinking of the needs of the other life forms that live upon the Earth, or the needs of the Earth. We believe that we are conscious and the Universe is not. We think and act as though our existence as living forces in the Universe will end with this lifetime, and that we are responsible neither to others nor to the Universe.”
Just something to think about, hope you enjoyed Mike’s photos!
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Jan
16
Posted by Mark Clawson
Larry and Kathleen Cragun are the founders of the Neighborhoods Undressed Network and they attended an Inman Real Estate Event in New York City. Their neighborhood site is Issaquah Undressed much like here in Las Vegas. Issaquah is a city just outside of Seattle, Washington. I wanted to share Kathleen’s thoughts and her beautiful pictures of New York city.
The following is from her post:
Larry and I just came home from a week in New York. Larry rushed to upstage me by getting his hands on the pictures I took first but I get the last word if just for today! The Big Apple is a big change from Issaquah as you might imagine. Our main reason for going was business, attending Inman Real Estate Connect. We like to keep as current as possible on everything affecting real estate nationally AND locally. It was a conference of meetings and panels of experts in many areas, the Bears, the Bulls, the ups, the downs, the good news (yes, there is some) and the bad news and changes that are occurring, but more about that later. We had two days of fun before getting serious. FUN FIRST.
Our hotel room at the Marriott Marquis was in Times Square. Our windows looked right out onto the Square. This photo is from our room. The only thing that was a teensy bit uncomfortable was that thirty story tall woman who looked right into our window!
Eating out in New York is EXPENSIVE! It was so shocking we decided to try out McDONALD’S across the street. After a few tries at that we went back to the Marquis food. So what if we can’t pay our mortgage!
The Sushi Bar in the Marquis. We didn’t try that. I have never met a sushi I liked. To me the only good sushi is a cooked sushi and I think that is considered blasphemy! Nice bar though.
M & M’s are really big in Times Square, I mean really big! They have their own store and climb up the Empire State Building and the Statute of Liberty. Stuff like that.
Walking down Fifth Ave we saw where the devil buys her clothes,
And other interesting sites like Rockefeller Center, magnificent churches juxtapostioned against modern skyscrapers, sculptures and ice skating rinks and more.
At Central Park we rested our feet and let Joey and Eddy do all the work. The Plaza Hotel is in the background, it is undergoing renovation.
This is one of those granite rock formations that let the Manhatten skyscrapers come into being.
Below is my favorite picture of the park.
We were sobered by our visit to the WTC site. Construction is going full speed on 4 new buildings and a permanent memorial. It seems like yesterday.
On the way to Lincoln Square:
I really can’t quit without a few photos of and from the Empire State Building. We could hardly believe that for four days the daytime temperatures were 60 degrees. We brought heavy coats, gloves and scarfs. We didn’t need them. It also wasn’t too busy at the Empire State Building so we didn’t even have to stand in line more than a few minutes. Our view was at first sunny, then as the sun went down, glorious sunsets appeared and then we stayed until it got really dark. The end of a perfect day.
Well, not quite the end. You haven’t lived until you see the Toys R Us store in Times Sq. They have an indoor giant ferris wheel plus a life sized dinosaur that moves and growls. This may have been Larry’s favorite place.
I didn’t get to the important info from Real Estate Connect. I will do that in a post tommorow. I promise. Posted by Kathleen
Pretty special, that’s why I wanted to share.
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Dec
05
Posted by Mark Clawson
You might consider purchasing your Nutcracker tickets soon. A great way to celebrate the holidays, perhaps starting a special family tradition. This production of the Tchaikovsky masterpiece is at the top of the list for enchanting seasonal entertainment.
The Nutcracker – December 14 – 27, 2007
Friday, December 14 at 8 pm Saturday, December 15 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, December 16 at 1 pm & 4:30 pm
Tuesday, December 18 at 8 pm
Wednesday, December 19 at 8 pm
Thursday, December 20 at 8 pm
Friday, December 21 at 2 pm & 8 pm
Saturday, December 22 at 2 pm & 8 pm
Sunday, December 23 at 1 pm & 4:30 pm
Monday, December 24 at 1 pm
Wednesday, December 26 at 8 pm
Thursday, December 27 at 8 pm
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Aug
01
Posted by Mark Clawson
This is a piece that I have put together on a close friend from Seattle, Washington. Ron Kasprisin is a watercolor painter and paints out of his studio on Whidbey Island which is just north of Seattle. “An Officer and a Gentleman” was filmed at the Naval Air Station on Whidbey and at Fort Worden on Bainbridge Island just a short distance away. There were also a couple of scenes filmed for “War of the Roses”.
In the mid-1980s, architect Ron Kasprisin AIA received a request by publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold, NY, to revise an out of print book by Arthur Gupthill entitled “Color Illustration and Rendering”. Not soon after, Ron, a pen and ink artist with no background in watercolor painting, signed a contract to do a completely new book on watercolor entitled “Watercolor in Architectural Design”. Ron then embarked on a self-taught journey into the wonders of watercolor painting, relying on numerous workshops with renowned painters such as James Godwin Scott of St. Louis, Deanne Lemley of Seattle, Carol Orr of Port Townsend WA, and in particular Eric Weigardt of Ocean Park WA. These master painters guided Ron’s development and enabled him to reach his present successes. Ron Kasprisin is a Professor in Architecture and Planning at the University of Washington where he also teaches watercolor painting in spring and summer quarters.
Ron lives on Whidbey Island on Puget Sound at Kasprisin Ridge Studios where he teaches watercolor workshops. He is also growing central European red wine grapes with his yellow lab Whidbey at his side. I’ve posted a few of his paintings for your enjoyment and his link is located under Arts and Culture and My Friends in Seattle. If you have any comments, just click the comment box. Ron reads this blog and I’m sure he would like to see your comments as well.
