Friday, March 21, 2008

Illustration Friday: pet peeves

Most of my pet peeves center on nature vs. development. I don't go along with the idea that every piece of land needs to be owned and developed. I love buildings and homes but the idea of ownership gets blurred. We are custodians of land that we should nurture and love. The animals are getting pushed out, the bees are having problems and yet we continue to develop. I know the animals adapt somewhat (Hawks living in Cental Park) but as I hear them each day calling out to each other I am grateful they have a place to fly, swoop, mate and teach their young. Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Park are threatened with closures for lack of funds. This is a small dimensional painting I made quite a long time ago "Night Hawk 2" and it is my submission for Illustration Friday's "pet peeves".

37 comments:

Gillian Mowbray said...

I absolutely agree. If we don't control our population we will kill our wildlife and then our own species - that's the crux of the matter. Our concrete-covered planet will survive us but then what?

Gorgeous artwork, Val. x

Anonymous said...

Bal: Beautiful piece. I was a hawk once, but I prefer to be a puppy. Love, Bad Dog

Unknown said...

Hi Val..what a great read and I am in total agreement...love your dimensional painting...perfect!

Cheers,
Diana

Ginger*:) said...

Your illustration is beautiful and your sentiments and thoughts are well placed. I love these colors and the texture and shading you have created.

dinahmow said...

I just wrote a blog-whinge on this very subject!
All the same, I think we can stand a few more Val-Houses!Especially in this colour!

Teri said...

So very true!

isay said...

ohh hawks, i love them! The colors in your dimensional painting is so beautiful that it actually give a way to your sentiments and thoughts....

studio lolo said...

How very, very true. I worry about the animals and their loss of habitats all the time. If only we all had the same missions and vision. At least we try! Very nice piece Val ;)

Anonymous said...

Val, I couldn't agree more, esp about the bees. Without them, we will truly learn what a food shortage is...Beautiful illustration as always!

a : )

NANCY LEFKO said...

beautiful.....the colors are wonderful...

Anonymous said...

I think there's something else that developers need to consider, as well...as people keep reproducing and increasing the need for more construction...where are we gonna grow our food?

I see acre after acre of orchards, farmland and wildlands paved over and built on, and I wonder...what are we gonna do for food when we've used up all the space for homes and businesses?

And such big homes, too! my GOD. A person only needs a couple of hundred square feet. A family of 3 should only need 70 square feet. But I'm seeing 'homes' built that could house a small town! 15 THOUSAND square feet...for 2, maybe 3 people! ICK. Who needs 3 dining rooms??

love,
cat

Anonymous said...

typo: 70 sq. feet should read 700 square feet. heheheh.

Roberta said...

Wonderful piece of work!

It always makes me sad to see a plot of land being cleared. How can they not think about all the displaced creatures.

emilayusof said...

Beautiful piece! I hope somebody will come forward and help raise fund for the state parks.

Anonymous said...

that's true. many property developers pay no heed to what's happening to the animals and the environment as long as they get huge profits. beautiful illustration!

SLW said...

I feel this...New Jersey is the garden state, but now with so many farms being sold to developers it is becoming the subdivision state. It's tragic, but how can you blame these people who have worked so hard for years, and are now getting wads of money thrown at them?

Great idea for this week's topic. Thanks for your comment!

Mia Charro said...

Beautiful, very poetic. I like the eagle upon the building watching everything.

Anonymous said...

Valgal,

I have seen this painting a million times and never thought about it that way. Of course ya know i love it~ It used to be in my office, but mom decided it should go in the family room and that's where it is (couched between two other really cool pieces of yours....)

Anyway, I love this one -- brings together your cool view of architecture and the bird is so unexpected. We get lots of comments on the piece.

Love you lots!

xoxox,

--dd

Faruffa said...

This illo is very beautiful and so interesting the perspective.
I also match the sentiments you exposed.
I wish you a Happy Easter :o)

Anonymous said...

Gee, I really like this post. It's something I care a lot about.

The illo is so sweet.

Anonymous said...

I'm right there with ya...it's making me sad because our little suburb is getting completely filled up, no more open spaces :( This is very nice!

Anonymous said...

Val, I couldn't agree with you more! Since I have moved to this semi-rural part of NW CT almost 6 years ago, I have seen so much land bulldozed and developed with cul-de-sacs filled with McMansions and yet another big box store. Yuck! It seems like every piece of untouched land is falling prey to the greed of devlopers. Your piece is very touching and and powerful... it does show how creatures adapt, but I am certain they are happier in their "natural" habitats.

emilayusof said...

Hi Val! I've got something for you over at my blog:
http://emilayusof.com/?p=1272

Fida Abbott said...

Hi Valerie,

I know your Blog from Emila Yusof. You are such a great artist. I love your paintings.

Congratulation!! You got something special from Emila.

Have great day.

Fida in PA

Josh (musarter) said...

I whole heartedly agree with your pet peeve, having grown up in San Diego, CA. I was so saddened by the development there that is was instrumental, at least one of the contributing factors, in my moving to another state.

Anonymous said...

You are speaking to my heart right now. Living in Valencia, CA, I've been seeing some very beautiful terrain get replaced by more and more tract housing. Where will he wildlife go? Our water supply is already stretched. The traffic on the commute to L.A. is getting worse every year, just to name a few issues.

I heard a new development of 55,000 homes at the bottom of Newhall Pass got thwarted by the City Council. It gave me hope that maybe there are some folks in government with some sense. Also made me feel like it's time to get involved in some way and stop waiting around for someone else to do something.

Thanks for a thoughtful post and beautifully, poignant illustration.

van dyke said...

Nice illustration and good colors. I also agree with your sentiment.

Fida Abbott said...

Thank you Valerie for visiting my Blog. I have added you at mine so I can be easier to visit here anytime I want it.

Regards from PA,
Fida

thefridayfrog said...

this one of the first, (and still one of my favorites) of yours that i had ever seen. love the colors and comp and the idea...maybe we'll figure it out someday, vallie......after we have cut down all the trees and the birds just don't come back. i hope i hope we figure it out waaaay before then.

Dot said...

i love the colors and the style of this one. nice job!

erin said...

"we can't just let nature run wild" said gov. walter hickel of alaska. i believe nature is the universe's art gallery. always love your illos!

thedoodlegirl said...

Superb use of color and a great thought to go with your illo.

Krimo said...

Lovely piece, Val.
I agree with you on Nature vs. Development and I hope that we realise before it is too late.

Tony LaRocca said...

I agree - I grew up in Basking Ridge, NJ, and every time I visit my parents it seems that more and more forests & farmland are being developed for houses.

Ellen said...

Great job Val! Though I think development will happen what we need is to hire environmentally minded developers people to design them!!!

Kim de Young said...

I really love the colors! Your post made me kinda sad. In the town where I grew up they displaced the ground owls for car lots.

Digital Scott's Illustrationblog said...

Preach it!!!