Elegant Sandwich Border

My border for Mena's sandwich advertisement board this season derives from Indian textile prints. The advertisement has been simplified as well. Pancakes are now standard fare at the shop, and have a permanent sign on the wall. This allows me to announce the new steak and egg sandwich in larger letters. There's always something good to eat at "Bagels, Deli, and Donuts." Chalk markers on Masonite board, about 30" x 20".

Wine porch and view

Keswick Vineyards was one of the places I visited on my trip. Their people were exceptionally friendly and hospitable. A black and white cat greeted me as well. The weather was perfect and visitors sat out on the porch and sipped. As with most of these vineyard venues, the hosts set up tables with umbrellas so that you can sit outside if you want. I sat under one of these and drew these two scenes. In between the trees was the Blue Ridge and a slope full of ripening grapes.

If you are a Christian, especially a Catholic Christian, wine is a sacrament. The Bible is filled with references to wine, grapes, and vineyards. Catholics (and Eastern Orthodox as well) believe that Jesus mystically made himself (his blood) into wine. Every time I go to a vineyard, which has been made as beautiful as possible by its owners, I think I'm in a little bit of paradise. This goes for other religions, too. Muslims are prohibited from drinking wine in this world, but the righteous ones in the next world, says the Koran, will be able to drink heavenly wine in beautiful green gardens with water flowing through them. And Christians got much of their wine symbolism from Jewish writings and rituals such as the kiddush cup of blessing. Wine is religious! Therefore I am being spiritual by visiting vineyards.

Vigneto Virginiano

"Three Fox" Vineyards is less than an hour's drive from my residence. This was my wine destination for Saturday. This idyllic place is situated on many hilly slopes which are the right terrain for vineyards. The winemaker/owner is Italian and so many of the grapes and wine styles are Old World. I tasted the goodness and got to talk Italian with him. "Vigneto" means "vineyard" in Italian. My favorite wine there was "Gatto Bianco" ("White Cat"), a Chardonnay/Viognier blend. I sipped this wine and did this colored pencil drawing of the vines in the bright sunlight.

Surakosai Sketch

Surakosai, in my NoantriWorld. Some have nicknamed it the "City of Crystal," others the "City of Reason." It's on the eastern coast of Trinacria, what is now Sicily. The city is a center for business, imports and exports, high tech development, and increasingly, tourism. The waterfront was originally a fishing village, and then an industrial area, but now after 200 years, it is adapted for entertainment and tourism. The large bubble-like thing you see to the left is the Convention Center, and the high building to its right is the 100-story "Tananoantri Tower," the tallest building in Noantriworld. The three green buildings to the right of the image are "Aquamarine Place," historic architecture by the nouergist architect Apsou-Ari. In the hills in back, you can see a number of mansions as well as the Nouergic Institute, which is the highest building on the slope.

This is a very rough sketch and not meant to be anywhere near a proper illustration. Photoshop, about 3 3/4 inches by 2 inches.

Back at Poplar Hill

The people at the Inn on Poplar Hill gave me a scrumptious breakfast out on the deck, while I listened to birds singing. Later, before I left, I drew a line sketch of their porch and the garden greenery, along with "Sequoia" the cat dozing. I have colored this in with Photoshop, trying to emulate watercolors with some success. The green flag on the porch has the symbol of the "Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia."

Drawing is Pitt black pen on sketchbook page, about 7" x 10".

Weather in Wytheville

The weather was unstable during most of my trip, with rain showers almost every day. The grey weather took the shining gold-green color out of the August vegetation but I didn't mind, I had a softer range to work with. This is a study of the Blue Ridge from Wytheville (pronounced "With-ville") which I did while sitting on my car's tailgate in a hotel parking lot. Drawing is about 7" x 3".

I love doing landscape art, but there seems to be an ironclad painting consensus that the only proper landscape paintings are those that are done "plein air" that is, on site. I visited galleries full of nice landscapes, all of them done outdoors. I was told that one artist was so committed to getting the proper viewpoint that he donned hip waders like a fly fisherman and took his painting easel out into a river! If I followed this rule and never used photographs, then these would be the only landscapes you would get from me, since I am just too lazy to schlep a whole acrylic painting kit and easel outside. Not to mention the damned yellowjackets. I have to get back to doing other types of artwork anyway.

Blue Ridge Evening with Bedbugs

On my way south I chose an old mid-century motel, not a big-brand deal, with a grand view of the Blue Ridge, which I drew here in the evening. Later on in the motel I lay down on the bed to relax and within two hours had discovered to my horror that the bed was infested by bedbugs which had bitten me many times on my neck and arms. I hurriedly packed my stuff, went to the management and told them about the bugs. They gave me my money back but were indifferent to the bug menace. I cleared out of that bug-ridden place late at night in pouring rain and drove another 25 miles before I found another hotel (this time a big chain place) that was bug-free. I was not only horrified but terribly ashamed that I had had to deal with these filthy bugs. I tried as much as I could not to bring any bugs with me and I hope that I didn't contaminate anything. I left the bug-exposed clothing in the car. After that night I didn't see any more bedbugs but I closely inspected every place I stayed lest I find more of them. I suffered badly from the itching and pain of the bites and only allergy pills relieved the itching and the reaction.

I strongly recommend that anyone who travels inspect their bed in any lodging for these pests. This is the second time I have found bedbugs in a hotel room this year, including some in a well-known chain. This pestilence is now common even in expensive places. The management will lie to you that there are no bugs or tell you that you brought them with you, and they may not be taking any action against them.

I didn't let the bug bites deter me from making art or drinking wine, but the shame and the humiliation remain.