'Shelter' by RLHall

Original Photograph by RLHall artfulexpress all rights reserved

Title derived from the definition of 'animal shelter' for a barn and 'shelter' as a synonym for a tree. Not too imaginative, but it will suffice...

Shot this today while out riding the country roads to gather some natural materials to use in my creative projects. Collected some Sycamore bark, and a lovely tree branch that I plan to 'refinish' and hang from the ceiling of my art room at the house. I'm sure it will soon be decorated with interesting creations.

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Using Findings & Recycled items to Create

Photo titled 'Odds & Ends' by RLHall artfulexpress all rights reserved

I am itching to begin really experimenting with works using found or recycled items, and have many ideas rolling around in my mind for small projects. I am collecting all types of materials and odds & ends for that purpose. I would also love to design and install a large outdoor sculpture of this type in the meadow on our land. I think I would like to incorporate one or more windmill/propeller type objects and perhaps lightly tinkling wind chime creations as well. Bringing motion and sound to a flowing and naturally blending work of art. A wind sculpture of sorts...if I were really creative I would design it so that it provided electricity as well!

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Main Cabin's view of trail to my Creekside Studio at our weekend retreat

Photo by RLHall artfulexpress all rights reserved

Though not a very good shot, this is a view out the back windows of our main cabin. You can just barely make out the snow covered trail that goes down to my creekside studio coming in at the right, almost halfway up the pic, extending over and then around a curve between the pines. Though my studio is nearly finished, the rest of the work will have to wait for spring - as we are trying to get the major work on the main cabin done by then. We are hoping to be able to spend more time up there with an actual cabin to stay in overnight on our weekend retreats. Then it will be easier to finish up the smaller jobs still left to do. I have so many project ideas, I can't wait to get my studio up and running! See photos of my studio further below in blog...

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Main Cabin under construction

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This photo shows the front end of our main cabin as seen from near my Honey's 12' x 30' woodworking shop. He worked all through the recent cold spell to get the cabin all framed and dried in. There will be a deck along this end of the cabin, which extends around the left hand corner to where the front door is. The view of the old apple orchard is mostly blocked in this pic by the wood shop building. The view from the cabin windows and deck from this end will be of the meadow and edge of the woods out past the woodworking shop.

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Main Cabin Under Construction

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This photo shows the back end of our main cabin, from down the slope. The cabin is composed of a 24' x 24' main room which will have a small efficiency kitchen on one side, with a small bathroom between the kitchen and our 12' x 12' bedroom addition shown here. The bedroom's taller full glass wall will open onto a private 12' x 12' deck.

Birds Trying to keep warm

Original Photos by RLHall artfulexpress all rights reserved

These little guys visit the feeder every day, and stuck around nearby most of the day during the recent cold spell. In the winter we get mostly Juncos, Cardinals, Chickadees, Blue Jays and Nuthatches...

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Creekside Studio under construction

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I'm sorry to say I've been neglecting this blog for months... but...
we have been busy on our new land, and I'm proud to say that I now have a 'Creekside Studio' in the works! We have transformed the above old shack (1st 2 shots - before) into a small studio. It isn't completed yet, but check out the 3rd shot (after). We had been searching for wooded land and we fell in love with this plot the first time we walked down the rough trail to the creek. The minute I spotted the old dilapidated shack - I pictured my studio. My Honey wanted to tear it down and start anew, but I would have none of that! I wanted to keep the character of the weathered wood and the way it blended in with the natural surroundings. And best of all, it sits next to a beautiful creek and is surrounded by forest...see further photos below...

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Creekside Studio under construction

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View from the trail. Before and after shots. The 'Shack' as we still affectionately call it is 10' x 16' inside. The large lower windows are above my work bench, and there is a window on each end of the bench as well. The small upper window looks out from a small writing loft...see further photos below...

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Creekside Studio under construction

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View from the back. Before and after shots. We added lots of windows for light, and for the view of the outdoors. The 8' x 10' porch will be screened in, and have an entrance stoop on the other, front end, as well...see further photos below...

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Creekside Studio under construction

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These pics show the areas on each side of the full glass door, leading out to the porch. We luckily found the door at a second-hand store. We've painted the interior white to enhance the brightness inside for work purposes...see further photos below...

Creekside Studio under construction

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These views show the relaxation area of the studio. Though the project isn't completed yet, we've moved some furniture into the more finished areas, since so far this is currently the only building on the property. Soon a prefab outbuilding constructed by the Amish will be delivered and placed at the top of the hill, serving as my Honey's woodworking shop, and as a temporary shelter until he builds our small one bedroom cabin. It will be situated in the clearing near the wood shop, by the old apple orchard...see further photos below...

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)

Creekside Studio under construction

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These photos show my small writing loft, hastily furnished. A laminated hardwood floor has been installed in the loft and in the relaxation area below. My art workbench beneath the loft will be laminated white, with the little sink at one end. The floor in the work area will be linoleum for easier cleanup. The loft 'ladder/stairs' are in place but still need to be varnished. I've gathered cabinets, etc. which will need to be painted, before I can start bringing in some supplies from my other art room at the house in town. I will post further photos upon completion of our building project. I'm lucky to have such a creative, capable and generous carpenter sharing my life!

Any comments are more than welcome, please feel free to express any thoughts by clicking on the small purple comments link below ;)