A nurse tree is one that provides shelter and a certain level of protection for other young plants; in this case, a saguaro cactus. Here, a palo verde tree in bloom offers shade to the cactus, enabling it to grow to a large size without getting burned in the scorching desert sun. (The tree is also giving shade to a desert cottontail bunny-rabbit!)
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| The Nurse Tree 8" x 10"/20cm x 25cm |
Mark Junge
It's no secret that my favorite season of the year is autumn, when trees seem to be huge flowers that bloom in radiant colors.
Autumn Splendor is the latest painting that shows my idea of what fall looks like (which it doesn't in the desert where I live!). Complete with some mallards, my favorite species of duckies.
The location is imaginary -- but it's a place I'd love to see. Enjoy!!
www.MarkJunge.com or www.SouthwestSpaces.com
Happy 2023 to all the humans and the little (and big) critters on the earth!!
Following is a painting I just finished showing a Bullock's oriole that once graced a desert willow we had at our previous residence. We only saw him once, long enough for me to grab a few photos of him before he took off.
Bullock's orioles are the western version of Baltimore orioles which prefer the eastern part of the country; in fact, where their respective ranges overlap, the two are known to hybridize. Ornithologists have an ongoing debate over whether or not these two birds are really the same species.
The world has some incredibly beautiful birds, and I expect to be painting some of them over the next few months. A gallery owner in Ohio asked me to place some bird paintings in her gallery. That could be a great opportunity to show in a part of the country I've never been to yet!
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| Bullock's Oriole 8" x 10" / 20cm x 25cm |
We'll see how this all works out. Hopefully for the better!
Mark Junge
Well, what th...
I finished a painting a couple of weeks ago, and I haven't written about it yet!! Until now!
Duck Pond (note the two duckies!) is a scene featuring Mount Sneffels in Colorado. It measures 18" x 24" / 45.7cm x 61cm. The mountains are close to what they actually look like; the foreground is a mix of reality and imagination.
The autumn colors tell us this must be mid-late September. The Colorado high country is spectacular at that time, and I miss seeing it.
Enjoy!!
Mark Junge
www.MarkJunge.com or www.SouthwestSpaces.com
