Every Day Architecture and Imaginary Architecture

I am fully on my way towards being a registered architect. I have 90% of my hours completed and as soon as I can afford those study materials I am investing, cramming, and diving into those crazy exams. (It feels good to be getting close.)

I work on parking plans, calculate percentages of pervious surfaces, research building and zoning codes, calculate exiting capacities, determine required fire ratings, work out building programs, get caught up in the difference between the frame sizes in curtainwall versus storefront systems, respond to building permit comments, review shop drawings and answer RFIs.

The amount of time I spend actually drawing buildings takes up a surprisingly small percentage of my work day. So when I come home I like to draw imaginary buildings, or colorful houses, or fanciful gardens. It feels a little bit silly, and a little bit childish, but…then again…not really. It feels light and makes me feel a little bit fanciful myself.

I get a little break from the desk-ridden drudgery tomorrow. Early morning jobsite visit – I love buildings in the demo phase. It’s fun to see everything come apart before it comes together into a (sometimes fanciful, sometimes not so, but always very) real building.

(Cotton Candy Key West Houses)

1,000,000 Leaves - Nos. 100-203

I am not a very precise person. I have dreams of drawing those botanical illustrations that you see in thick-papered pretty coffee table books. I am thinking my hands just don't do that. But we'll see - I have 999,797 more leaves to practice!! (These I drew in my sister's garden.) -Cherry Tomatoes – Approx. 15 leaves -Blue Plumbago – 9 leaves -Roma Tomatoes – 6 leaves -Marigolds – 16 leaves -Spearmint – Approx. 48 leaves -Little Pink Weed Flower – 10 leaves

Dashing Through the Snow...

I have officially begun my Christmas shopping. I am a nut, I know, but the opportunity presented itself... So, in the holiday spirit - when you do you start buying Xmas Cards? And do you actually manage to mail them all out before the big day? I've got to get in the holiday frame of mind so I can be prepared when the holiday greetings flurry begins! Also - I need ideas for calendars. Last year I did "Sunny Days of 2010" which was well received. I may do another Sunny Days, but I want to have a couple themes for customers to choose from. What do you like to see handing on your wall?

Summer in Florida -

You live for that brief crispness after a storm when it feels almost-cool on the breeze. There are brief flashes in your mind of a leaves changing color and feeling chilly in your Halloween costume. Then you realize fall barely happens here and that summer should be enjoyed in all its lingering glory.

I love those storms that don’t quite clear the air, too though, and that leave the afternoon warm and muggy (as opposed to hot and muggy). Call me crazy but I do enjoy the humidity…I don’t think I’d do well in the desert.

Walking down the sidewalk, you pass an overripe mango that fell to the ground and is perfuming the air with a musky tropical sugar smell. And you take your flip-flops off to walk through the puddles because, who wants to walk in wet shoes?

What Do YOU Think?

So...I painted this ladder, and I thought it would make a fun card. And I still think so, having printed it. But...what occasion would beg for someone to give someone a card with a ladder on it?? I can only come up with "Climbing the Corporate Ladder" for someone who just got a promotion. What other occasions can you come up with??

Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme

So...I am working away on my million leaves, and trying to figure out how exactly to count the leaves. For example...the parsley below...I'd say seven. Pretty straight forward. The sage...one...simple. The rosemary...I've got 11 little twigs coming off of the bigger twig...so, 11? Or do I count each teeny little needley leaves? Hmmm. What do you think?