2023 Flower Explosion Has Begun

Once again, the 2023 flower explosion has begun at our house. Our home becomes a florist delight between the middle of April and May. We have a multitude of flowers that bloom at different times during this period, making the view out our front door exquisite. The funny part is we didn’t know about the flower bushes in front when we purchased the house 25 years ago.

We initially saw the house on New Year’s Day. We subsequently purchased it in January 1998 and moved in February. We got a huge surprise that spring. All these different kinds of flowers bloom. The house provided us with a beautiful wedding gift (May 9). Since that first spring, mother-nature has welcomed us each spring with an orchestrated display of flowers.

Rite of Spring

It’s the rite of spring when the bare trees of winter which allows you to see the neighbors change quickly. At the end of March, like magic, the buds start to grow. The trees transform our house into a canopy of green during April, a shaded, secluded oasis.

First to arrive are the tall red tips with their purple flowers. They announce the coming of spring. Then it’s the azalea show, starting with white azaleas by the front door and baby pink on the east side of the driveway. The baby red roses make their appearance to break up the azalea string. The grand finale is the enormous azalea bush in front of our house. When it blooms, it displays a monumental amount of azaleas flowers.

Because of their beauty, I go out and photograph the flowers each year. Over the years, I’ve probably taken over a thousand pictures of the flowers in my front yard. Here are a few images from this and last year’s bloom. As this year’s flowers bloom, I’ll take more pictures and provide a follow-up blog entry. To see more examples of my photography and digital painting work, go to the Gallery section of my website. Enjoy

Article Sale to Digital Copywriter

On April 13, Digital Copywriter, an online publication of AWAI, published my article “Using Online Tools to Improve Your Writing and Your Rankings.” The article discusses writing tools that I use when I’m writing. These tools include Grammarly, Hemingway, and Yoast, and I explain using these writing tools helps make you a better writer. Click the following link to read the published article.

Artist of the Month

As a reminder, I’m my art group, Manassas Art Guild (MAG), Artist of the Month (AToM) for April. Being AToM means I’m displaying my digital art in five stores around the city of Manassas. I’m showing my digital art in the following stores:

• Ground Central Station Coffee Shop
• The Things I love
• Weinegar’s Sweets & Treats
• Calico Jack’s
• The Art Factory (inside the Art Center)

When visiting the city of Manassas, stop by these stores and coffee shops and enjoy the treats while looking at my digital paintings. All paintings are for sale, and contact me for more information.

“Where Am I” Banner Update

An update on the 2023 version “Can You Find Me?” banner contest. In my last blog entry, I explained the assignment was to find the banners and email me at psmolens@pbsstudios.com. The offer still stands! The first one to email me with the correct location gets a matted print of the banner suitable for framing.

Fairfax Art Show

Hurry before they take it down this month! Four of my digital paintings are still up at the Winter 2023 “A Tribute to NOVA Fine Artists” art show at the Stacy C. Sherwood Rotary Gallery inside the Fairfax Community Center. You can also see the art online at the Artist Coalition of Fairfax website.

PBS Studios

PBS Studios is a feature and content writer/photography/digital painting company that’s written and published over a hundred articles for newspapers, magazines, and online publications. I’ve also had many other photographs published as illustrations in commercial and textbook publications. As a digital photo painter, I’ve displayed my work in shops, libraries, galleries, restaurants, commercial buildings (including Manassas City Hall), and banners.

Check out the gallery section on my website, www.pbsstudios.com, to see digital photo paintings and other examples of my work. Please Note: All photographs and digital images are for sale, and you can purchase my digital paintings directly from me or online through my Etsy Store. For more information, Please send me an email at psmolens@pbsstudios.com.

It’s been a busy time for P.B.S. Studios. In addition to taking care of Linda, a lot of things have happened since my last blog entry.

Randy and Angie’s Wedding Painting

As promised, I delivered their wedding digital painting portrait to Randy Earl and Angie Carrara. When I heard about their engagement, I told them I would like to do a digital painting of them as a wedding gift. Life happens; we never get to do an “engagement” photograph/painting. When their big day arrived, they said I could use one of their wedding pictures,

The digital painting is based on a beautiful photograph created by their wedding photographer, Mike Freeland (thanks, Mike, for the permission to use the reference photo). I selected a profile of Randy and Angie image of them standing in front of the pale backscreen at Harris Pavilion utilizing the sun providing the backlighting – this was an easy choice. Everyone loved the composition. I hope this digital painting will bring you good memories of that perfect day.

Article Sold

This past week I received an email from the editor of the AWAI publication called Wealthy Web Writer announcing she accepted my manuscript about SEO online tools. The plan is to publish the article in May

“Where Am I” Banner Update

A quick update on the 2023 version “Can You Find Me?” banner contest. In my last blog entry, I explained the assignment was to find the banners and email me at psmolens@pbsstudios.com. The offer still stands! The first one to email me with the correct location gets a matted print of the banner suitable for framing.

Fairfax Art Show

Just a quick reminder that four of my digital paintings are still up at the Winter 2023 “A Tribute to NOVA Fine Artists” art show at the Stacy C. Sherwood Rotary Gallery inside the Fairfax Community Center. You can also see the art online at the Artist Coalition of Fairfax website.

PBS Studios

PBS Studios is a feature and content writer/photography/digital painting company that’s written and published over a hundred articles for newspapers, magazines, and online publications. I’ve also had many other photographs published as illustrations in commercial and textbook publications. As a digital photo painter, I’ve displayed my work in shops, libraries, galleries, restaurants, commercial buildings (including Manassas City Hall), and banners.

Check out the gallery section on my website, www.pbsstudios.com, to see digital photo paintings and other examples of my work. Please Note: All photographs and digital images are for sale, and you can purchase my digital paintings online through my Etsy Store. For more information, Please send me an email at psmolens@pbsstudios.com.

Daisy, My Constant Writing Companion

Trying to write a tribute this morning is difficult because Daisy, my constant writing companion, is not here anymore. Our cat, Daisy, passed away on Thursday.  She joined her brothers and sisters, Sophie, Turk, Sugar, Spice, Buddy, and Sarah in the big kitty box in the sky. According to the vet records, Daisy was 15 years old.

So many memories of Daisy fill my mind. It’s been a challenge organizing them for this tribute. Daisy became a model for my first digital painting feature article in Creative Photoshop. I expanded that feature into a chapter of my book, “Digital Photo Painting using Adobe Photoshop.” Her portrait (the original print sits on my office wall) emulates a watercolor painting. She is also the cat sleeping on my ottoman in the photo accompanying my article in The Writer Magazine.  

Daisy and her brother Andy came to us from Nancy Nelson, Linda’s good friend and a fellow BRUU member who passed away suddenly in 2011. At the time of her death, she had three cats – a kitten and two long-haired older cats (Andy and Daisy). Rarely did you see them when visiting Nancy because they lived under the bed. Many wanted to take the kitten, but no one wanted the two three-year-old cats. Although we already had three or four cats at the time (I’m not sure of the timeline), Andy and Daisy were added to the mix.

Daisy was a great writing companion. When she was younger, to be close to me, Daisy would sometimes jump up to the top of my high-backed office chair and, after a few stretches, would lie down and fall asleep. Her motor would be running (I’m not sure if it was purring or snoring – but it was loud), almost like she was letting me know she was happily enjoying herself. I could hear the constant hum even with the headphones and quiet music. When Daisy woke up, she would walk down my chair and commonly sit on my laptop keyboard as if to say, “It’s time for you to take a break and feed me!” I’ll miss that!

Over time it became apparent that Buddy and Sarah were Linda’s cats and Andy and Daisy were mine. Daisy would follow me around the house. Once settled into my Ikea Pong chair, Daisy often parked herself on my ottoman between my legs while I wrote and created digital paintings. When I moved to my office, she would follow me down the stairs and park herself on the couch – always watching me. She became my constant companion during those early-morning writing sessions,

One of the challenges of having a long-haired cat is the fur can mask physical problems. Daisy’s weight loss was not noticed until it was too late. I had always thought it was because Daisy was too much of a lady. Her demure attitude let Andy, Buddy, Sarah, and, most recently, Sunshine would jump in front of her at the food bowl. Although there was always dry cat food available, Daisy would often wait until the others had finished eating before Daisy would eat.

When we suddenly realized Daisy had lost a lot of weight, we tried to put her on a protein-enhancement diet of soft cat food. Then I noticed Daisy was only eating the gravy, not the meat.

On Wednesday evening, Daisy jumped up and parked herself in my lap for a long time. Settling in a while purring, she looked up at me as if to say, “thank you for being my dad.”

Thank you, Daisy, for being my companion. You made my life better!

In addition to taking care of Linda, this past month, I’ve been busy with many Current Writing & Painting Projects. Below are the latest.

Understanding Candlestick Analysis

I need help! Over the past years, I’ve been trying to understand the stock market. I’ve read some books, magazines, and online articles about investing in the stock market. I need assistance in understanding Candlestick Analysis. Recently, I’ve seen Candlestick Analysis graphs in Stocks and Commodity magazine, among other articles I’ve read, and I do not know what the candlestick represents in the chart. Does it mean a range?

Can anyone provide me with a basic understanding Candlestick Analysis graph?

Although I want to learn and understand the process, so I’m asking for assistance – I’m hoping to write a column about the subject.

Art Show Wine and Cheese Inaugural Reception

Just a quick reminder to everyone, you can join other artists and me at Art Show Wine and Cheese Inaugural Reception. It’s being held next Saturday, February 11, from 5:00 to 7:PM. While there, you can see my four digital paintings. The reception and art show are at the Stacy C. Sherwood Rotary Gallery inside the Fairfax Community Center. The Stacy C. Sherwood Rotary Center is located at 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, and the art show The Winter 2023 “A Tribute to NOVA Fine Artists” is presented by the Artist Coalition of Fairfax, the art show and runs through March.

 

PBS Studios

PBS Studios is a feature and content writer/photography/digital painting company that’s written and published over a hundred articles for newspapers, magazines, and online publications. I’ve also had many other photographs published as illustrations in commercial and textbook publications. As a digital photo painter, I’ve displayed my work in shops, libraries, galleries, restaurants, commercial buildings (including Manassas City Hall), and banners.

Check out the gallery section on my website, www.pbsstudios.com, to see digital photo paintings and other examples of my work. Please Note: All photographs and digital paintings are for sale. Please send me an email: psmolens@pbsstudios.com. Payments are arraigned through my square account through PayPal, check, or credit card.

Art Show Opening in Fairfax

I’m proud to announce that I have four digital paintings in the art show opening in Fairfax this weekend, at the Stacy C. Sherwood Rotary Gallery inside the Fairfax Community Center. Presented by the Artist Coalition of Fairfax, the art show, The Winter 2023 “A Tribute to NOVA Fine Artists,” runs through March.

The four digital paintings that were selected to be in the art show include:

• Pelican Painting Digital Painting,
• Winter River with Deer,
• John Smolens Out Digital Painting
• Manassas Town Hall

Stacy C. Sherwood Rotary Center is located at 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA.

Stop by the community center gallery and see incredible art created by Northern Virginia artists. While at the gallery, you can vote for your favorite paintings (shameless plug – vote for mineJ.) Visit the Artist Coalition of Fairfax website to see and vote for your favorite artwork online.

RIP to Musicians

As the baby boomer generation (of which I’m on the back end) ages, many musicians we grew up listening to recently died. So much so that Jimmy Vaughan needs to add lyrics to his famous song, “Six Strings Down.” 

A recent internet search, look at the list of recent passing:

• David Crosby
• Jeff Beck
• Christine McVie,
• Glenn Fry,
• Ian Tyson,
• Loretta Lynn,
• Meat Loaf,
• Jerry Lee Lewis,
• Olivia Newton-John
• Vangelis,
• Ronnie Spector

I’m sure I’ve forgotten many other great musicians.

Although they have passed on to play in the greatest band ever in the sky, thankfully, we have ways to hear the creativity these musicians created. Music our generation has been listening to for decades.

Banner Back

It took a while, but I finally got my banner back from Historic Manassas. It was not in the original shipment of banners from the City of Manassas Public Works to Historic Manassas. Thanks to the efforts of Kelly and all the people at Historic Manassas who found and returned the banner. 

In 2022, the City of Manassas selected my tribute to the late Dan Gibson, the Canadian who created the CDs combining his wildlife recordings and beautiful music. Over the years, I have purchased many of his Solitude CDs, which I listen to when I write and paint.

At the end of October, they replaced all the banners with winter banners they had from last year – how about a winter version of the banner contest, Historic Manassas, for next winter?

Now I have to find wall space for the banner!

PBS Studios

PBS Studios is a feature and content writer/photography/digital painting company that’s written and published over a hundred articles for newspapers, magazines, and online publications. I’ve also had many other photographs published as illustrations in commercial and textbook publications. As a digital photo painter, I’ve displayed my work in shops, libraries, galleries, restaurants, commercial buildings (including Manassas City Hall), and banners.

Check out the gallery section on my website, www.pbsstudios.com, to see digital photo paintings and other examples of my work. Please Note: All photographs and digital paintings are for sale. Please send me an email: psmolens@pbsstudios.com. Payments are arraigned through my square account through PayPal, check, or credit card.