tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71592343710708423892011-08-10T21:59:55.522-04:00Information, news and views according to artist and illustrator Elizabeth R. WhelanElizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comBlogger601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-16771025991626751172010-08-07T14:20:00.000-04:002010-08-07T14:20:18.203-04:00

This blog is being archived -- it's been an interesting experience to share with you my thoughts and activities during my time on Martha's Vineyard, and now as I am moving to a new location, a website and blog redesign is in progress as well. Thanks for reading - fair winds and following seas!

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-48103866794335183472010-05-22T13:31:00.006-04:002010-05-22T14:11:56.789-04:00

It's been a busy spring with more irons in the fire than usual, and one of those irons has involved my foray into portrait painting along with letterpress and other types of printing. Of particular note was the excellent Portrait Society of America conference in DC this April, which afforded not only the chance to meet, mingle with and learn from with some incredibly talented artists, but there

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-64787196685385837472010-02-10T06:53:00.006-05:002010-02-10T07:26:03.985-05:00

Today Dan Martino of Martha's Vineyard Productions answers Five Questions about life in the video/media world! Dan is an experienced producer, director and writer with a Telly award and an Emmy nomination under his belt. He has recently formed Martha's Vineyard Productions, which offers corporate and wedding video amongst other services. 1) You shoot corporate and wedding videos, and lots more

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-79629191659323813432010-02-01T12:37:00.009-05:002010-02-01T13:14:08.766-05:00

Today on the hotseat I have Dave Smith of DASECO Electrical in Vineyard Haven, whom I first met after outmaneuvering him for my current studio spot (he may wish to describe it otherwise..!) However he found something much more suitable shortly thereafter and has since forgiven me, and as it was his company that did the electrical work here I was able to see firsthand what a fine job his crew can

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-29851734929453886332010-01-26T18:20:00.014-05:002010-01-26T19:38:16.609-05:00

There are 28 local farms on Martha's Vineyard, and Island Grown Initiative is a grassroots non-profit working to support local food and farming on the island. Martha's Vineyard has quite an agricultural heritage and people like Ali Berlow, our interviewee today, are working hard to keep the growing traditions alive. IGI provides both infrastructure and support to the farmers and helps to educate

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-79321477753002927502010-01-22T18:20:00.013-05:002010-01-26T19:38:33.105-05:00

To say that Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway on Martha's Vineyard is a boatbuilding and repair business would be to understate the situation by far. Their gorgeous wooden boats of all sizes are classic in styling and solidly built, using traditional methods with nary a CAD program in sight. To watch a boat go from a pencil drawing all the way to launch is quite spectacular! Ross Gannon and Nat

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-35039847535805474412010-01-20T12:11:00.008-05:002010-01-26T19:38:45.953-05:00

Today I am starting a new blog feature called Five Questions. It's going to be another tough economic year, so I have created Five Questions as a way of introducing my clients and other small businesses to new audiences. If you would like to participate, send me an email! Here's our first business...VINEYARD SKY BEAD DESIGN1) Your jewelry has a real Martha's Vineyard feel to it, and the colors

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-77731324460428663672010-01-10T17:37:00.006-05:002010-01-10T17:53:15.183-05:00

This morning I awoke ready to paint -- there's a lot going on this year (already!) but one thing that isn't getting pushed aside is time to work on paintings and prints. Just a few hours at the easel or carving a block is intensely enjoyable, and clears my mind for the more business-oriented illustration and design work. Here's a painting I started years ago - I never got around to taking beyond

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-41027955685850103462009-12-10T11:48:00.004-05:002009-12-10T12:16:29.590-05:00

I get this trade magazine called Packaging World, and although I am not a packaging designer I do a reasonable amount of artwork for packaging and labeling, so it's good to keep up to date with trends. What has been fascinating to me as I have read this magazine over the past few years is to watch the behind-the-scenes efforts of the packaging industry to achieve more efficient, cost-effective

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-26387208660449603742009-11-22T14:38:00.005-05:002009-11-22T14:51:46.822-05:00

There's a blog that never fails to draw me in with its fabulous photgraphy from days gone by: the Shorpy Historic Photo Archive. It's really worth a look!What drew my eye today was this photo of Detroit in 1917. I've read two articles in as many days about the demise of Detroit, and as I used to live close by I saw a little of that downward trend myself. In fact the last time I drove through I

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-49968432863740977762009-11-20T18:13:00.003-05:002009-11-20T18:22:27.156-05:00

This month I've had a number of inquiries about illustrating children's books. At this time I only accept children's book illustration work via publishers, but I can tell from my conversations with the writers that there are some misconceptions about the process of getting published. I thought it would be good to write something about hiring an illustrator for a children's book.If you know any

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-8000952094407689612009-08-17T08:23:00.010-04:002009-11-15T15:11:49.881-05:00

Along with the usual work at the studio, I've had the good fortune this summer to be able to spend a bit of time at the easel. This particular oil painting has attracted a certain amount of attention with passersby due in part to the blazing orange ground I used to start the landscape which actually is a snow scene, a view I have from my kitchen window in mid-winter on Martha's Vineyard.Here is

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-28152606372964794052009-07-23T08:23:00.007-04:002009-07-23T12:22:12.474-04:00

In the last few weeks we have seen an enormous amount of attention given to the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, people whose passing serves to remind us that everything 20th century is quickly sinking into the murky depths of history. Garnering much less fanfare but in many ways more significant is the death of John Barry, whose main claim to fame was bringing the product WD-40, '

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-67138483793636262072009-05-16T20:18:00.011-04:002009-05-17T13:35:53.402-04:00

First stickers, now t-shirts! We've got some new t-shirts in, featuring my wave design on khaki regular-cut tees and white women's cut tees, 100% cotton. Time to catch a wave! Click here to check out the shirts -- low-key, attractive and affordable! This 5-color screenprint was printed by the talented folks at Liberated Images in Peabody, MA. They'd done a print I'd designed for a local

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-51530907777790630172009-04-04T10:29:00.008-04:002009-11-15T15:12:04.086-05:00

I have to share with you the coolest screensaver I have ever seen! I watched it running on a friend's screen and immediately went and downloaded the software for my own computer. The screensaver comes from www.electricsheep.org, named after Philip Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep which was the basis for Ridley Scott's 1982 movie Bladerunner, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-13854456541456702152009-03-11T20:35:00.008-04:002009-11-15T15:10:56.149-05:00

I've been working on a site for Green on the Inside, a Boston based green living consulting business which offers consultations, product finding, and gives workshops and lectures. If you're looking for information about all things green, Jess Lerner is the go-to person! We have worked together on a number of projects for her business, including her logo, and one reason she contacted me in the

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-8278742364153533222009-02-17T08:12:00.006-05:002009-11-20T18:12:05.139-05:00

Just cutting up some sheets of stickers, printed for me by About Signs in West Tisbury! They will be available at the studio this spring and summer and are free to anyone who visits the studio. The stickers are 2.75" x 2.75", and adhere to most flat surfaces including car bumpers. Stop by and catch a wave!

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-84601111665894984792009-02-12T09:54:00.014-05:002009-11-15T15:12:34.037-05:00

I've had three clients in as many days ask me about the need for a presence on the social networking sites mySpace and Facebook, and the micro-blog Twitter. These are savvy, busy people who don't have a lot of time on their hands, and they were all vastly relieved to hear me say no, you don't have to. In fact, I am hearing more and more people tell me that they tried it and it just wasn't for

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-64328220432017454792009-02-10T08:29:00.005-05:002009-02-10T08:46:05.885-05:00

Our weather is much better than it was a week ago -- the snow has gone and although it was lovely, we're all looking forward to spring. The rowers are just coming back in from a rowing session in the harbor: a flat surface in the early morning calm. This photo was taken at about 7:30 a.m. after a gorgeous sunrise and you can see the ferry dock and the part of the town of Vineyard Haven in the

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-89799390553522038782009-02-10T07:51:00.014-05:002009-11-20T18:11:31.351-05:00

Finally, Patience has arrived! Not the calm, virtuous quality of patience, but my aptly-named new C-24 etching press, custom made by Conrad Machine of Whitehall, Michigan.It's been 6 months since I ordered the press, and as is the way with anything custom, good work takes time. I've had to exhibit more patience than I am commonly known to possess, and even more will be required as I learn to

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-11180431984630142282009-01-19T11:41:00.001-05:002009-11-15T14:41:35.987-05:00

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-77277814931756724402008-12-14T10:11:00.016-05:002009-11-20T18:12:27.899-05:00

This fall has been a particularly busy one; my clients are concerned about the economic situation and as a freelancer I have been devoting as much time as possible to preparing their marketing materials for the new year. Amongst these projects has been a recent and rather unusual one: a commission to produce three large paintings for the opening of an eco-friendly store in Vineyard Haven which

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-49386319705436340692008-09-16T11:04:00.008-04:002008-09-16T12:03:21.051-04:00

Anyone following the record-breaking Sotheby's sale of Damien Hirst's work this week can't help but be stunned by the extraordinary sums of money being spent on the equivalent of flea market junk.The sale is groundbreaking as Sotheby's, and other auction houses, do not generally auction new art. In this case however, they requested that Hirst assemble new works for this sale and the results have

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-67643858064658467492008-09-15T15:55:00.007-04:002009-11-15T14:49:18.500-05:00

If you're an illustrator or collector of illustrations who is in the Mystic, CT area any time soon I recommend that you take a quick trip 4 miles down the road to Stonington, CT, and spend an hour perusing the excellent antique and collectible prints by famous (and not so famous) illustrators from America's past available at a lovely small shop called Great American Illustrators. These include

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-46445989191363389402008-09-14T14:22:00.019-04:002009-11-20T18:12:42.704-05:00

When I developed the wave as a symbol for my business I had no idea how popular this image would prove to be. Many new clients tell me that not only were they compelled to call me because of the artwork on my site, but also because they loved the wave! So here's a little info about how the wave came to be.I've always loved living by the ocean so when I first began freelancing (quite a while ago!)

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-84096040609428843502008-07-12T17:41:00.009-04:002009-11-15T15:13:38.230-05:00

And yet another Illustration Friday! This week's word is 'foggy' and I've decided to post this illustration that recently appeared in Good Old Boat magazine.This dory, a type of small fishing and rowing boat, was pulled up amongst the reeds on a foggy lagoon. I loved the colors and shape of the boat against the indistinct background and did this gouache sketch on a colored Canson paper.

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-34580191233917613792008-07-04T19:47:00.005-04:002009-11-15T14:51:10.158-05:00

I haven't participated in Illustration Friday in a while, so today I jumped back in with this quick sketch for the theme 'Sour'. (Click on the drawing for a larger view.)

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-67486677955333612552008-06-14T16:19:00.010-04:002009-11-15T15:13:52.383-05:00

I received a Dan Waters greeting card today, a favorite printer/artist/poet of mine who lives and creates in West Tisbury, on Martha's Vineyard. In past years he letterpress-printed, folded, packaged and sold greeting cards that were very popular, in that they featured not only his block prints but also catchy poems and pithy commentary. The enterprise grew out of hand, however, and Dan pulled

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-76312838393232456832008-06-14T14:14:00.004-04:002008-06-14T14:31:58.495-04:00

This photo comes from the Phoenix Mars Mission, inwhich the Phoenix Mars Lander is studying soil samples and providing oodles of data about Mars on a daily basis. As the teams of scientists and researchers release images and info to the press, they include occasional weather reports such as this one. This was the weather on Mars on June 11th, 2008, quite a contrast to what was being experienced

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-37545706384919508622008-06-02T11:25:00.007-04:002008-06-02T14:59:07.182-04:00

FIRE:In case you missed hearing it in the news, the USDA has just this past week released "The effects of climate change on agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity in the United States," a report that gives a practical look at what we can expect to see happening across the United States in the up-coming decades based on climate change already underway, as a result of

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-84816752463722975552008-05-31T16:06:00.005-04:002009-11-15T15:10:36.155-05:00

This is a familiar scene to anyone taking the 6:00 a.m. ferry from Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole. Some days it feels odd to take the ferry to the mainland -- like traveling to a distant land! No wonder the locals refer to it as 'going to America'. If you're a resident of the island you get a discount on the cost of ferry transportation to and fro with your vehicle. That means a round trip for me

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-40526201448249422662008-05-29T17:21:00.006-04:002008-05-31T16:43:52.923-04:00

I am often extolled by someone to do something 'while I watch TV'. Recently my dentist, an accountant and a few friends have each suggested that certain activities could be done almost without thought if performed in this manner, and it has me quite baffled.First, any of the said activities would be done faster and more effectively if that TV was turned off. Secondly, I don't have a TV, so in my

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-84680914245836037842008-04-24T17:47:00.006-04:002009-11-15T15:10:19.621-05:00

Well folks, I have been saying that I'd be seriously parking the car when gas prices topped $4.00 here on Martha's Vineyard, and wouldn't you know in the last 3 days some unknown sussuration from a butterfly's wings elsewhere on our planet (thanks, Konrad Lorenz, may you rest in peace!) has caused the price to go up another $0.20. (For a look at prices this week around the island, look at the

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-65253433480443219072008-04-09T08:09:00.005-04:002008-04-09T08:42:21.056-04:00

Most graphic designers appreciate good packaging, and particularly if a bit of thought was been put in to adding some value for the consumer beyond the visual. And there are some cases in which the packaging and the product are fine but the added value is what really sells the item! A case in point is Salada tea.From a tea connoisseur point of view I have no idea how Salada stacks up -- when I

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-28249501238407621112008-04-07T13:39:00.007-04:002009-11-15T15:10:00.138-05:00

This was one of the not-so-blue Vineyard days, but I love the color combinations that show up on a wet day such as this. The deep red-brown and orange tones of the leaves will soon be overtaken with grasses of all sorts, and poison ivy! The bare oak trees, quite short so close to the shore, make wonderful patterns against the pale sky.As I walked past this field the mist rolled in with the warm

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-68707711712849220542008-03-17T11:41:00.028-04:002009-11-20T18:13:37.879-05:00

Okay, so what's a NEPA award? NEPA is the New England Press Association, and every year most news groups such as this host a conference and an awards ceremony when honors are given to selected columnists, editors, photographers, editorial illustrators, etc., for pieces they have submitted for consideration. Awards are given in many categories for the different styles of newspapers: dailies,

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-21580228086131982772008-01-17T09:04:00.002-05:002009-11-15T15:09:39.555-05:00

It's remarkable how many times I am asked what we do here all winter on Martha's Vineyard. The idea of a coastal island in winter conjures up images of huge cold waves crashing on rocks, dark gray skies and menacing clouds with scenery that almost begs to be ignored in favor of warm living rooms and cosy kitchens.And yet for a New England coastal area a Martha's Vineyard winter is surprisingly

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-49253882852780443762007-12-26T11:20:00.002-05:002009-11-15T14:53:47.740-05:00

I must admit this photo was taken about a week and a half ago when we still had snow! As I look outside today there's not a patch of snow to be seen, more's the pity. I enjoy a good snowfall when seen from inside a toasty cottage with a cup of hot coffee at the ready! I do have a lot of sympathy for anyone working outside for the winter or in cold conditions, but I can't say I would want to trade

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-55711870076187979932007-12-15T12:09:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:09:16.151-05:00

Wacom's new line of tablets, Cintiq, is really hitting it's stride this season! Just yesterday I received three emails from other graphic artists asking questions about the Cintiq. The technology sounds almost too good to be true, even if Fast Company magazine did include the Cintiq 21UX (price around $2,500) on their seasonal Wish List. A Cintiq tablet is a pen-based tablet that doubles as a

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-20798048329488647272007-12-06T07:53:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:07:38.932-05:00

I was listening to MVY Radio at my studio in Vineyard Haven, working on an assignment into the evening and marveling at the quiet roads outside my window; what a difference a few months makes! MVY was playing some great local music when all of a sudden a particular song made me start to laugh; it was "The Vineyard Shuffle" by Corinne de Langavant.(To listen to this song and many others, go to MVY

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-28369726242035157332007-11-29T21:41:00.000-05:002007-11-29T23:32:37.731-05:00

No, that's not a typo, it's yet another one of the incredible deals to be had in the Martha's Vineyard Times Bargain Box! I thought the free car I had written about a few weeks ago was remarkable, but this really takes the cake:FREE 4 BEDROOM,2 BATH HOUSEGingerbread house with hardwood flooring throughout. BBHW heating. Insulated too! Come take it away, $100.Of course the problem here on the

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-85178218493741727502007-11-24T15:06:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:07:13.398-05:00

We're getting some new pathways through West Tisbury, and I for one am very pleased about this. For this past year walking along the West Tisbury-Edgartown Road to catch the bus has meant scuffling at the side of the road in dust and weeds, and hopping over towards more grass as the traffic zipped by. Now I'll get to walk along in style, only hopping out of the way of bicycles!A lovely path is

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-1234352050082758442007-11-23T08:37:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:06:56.033-05:00

This week I found an interesting clue to the etymology of one of the road names in West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard. The island towns have a convoluted history when it comes to names and boundaries: for example, what is now known as Vineyard Haven was until recently called Tisbury (and still is in certain circumstances) and long before that was known as Holmes Hole.The particular road in

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-3817714103097212752007-11-16T16:08:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:08:17.272-05:00

It's not often that something good and free manages to get even better, but the Pandora Radio Music Genome Project has done just that! Internet radio got off to a rocky start when bandwidth was an issue and more recently there has been a kerfuffle over music licensing fees, but as more computers can access with better connection speeds people are discovering that there's nothing like being able

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-59423459191990564802007-11-14T07:53:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:06:26.401-05:00

A ride to the fishing village of Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard yesterday gave me the chance to take a photo of this 17-foot high sculpture created by Jay Lagemann. Named the Swordfish Harpooner, it stands over the dunes and sea grass at the beach and has been in it's place since 1994. Here's a little of what the artist has to say about the sculpture: "The image of the Swordfish Harpooner came to

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-57975000268830007722007-11-11T11:42:00.001-05:002009-11-15T15:06:08.570-05:00

I was driving to the landfill this morning and enjoying the trip more than I did in the summer; a couple of nights below freezing renders the garbage a lot less smelly than on a warm sunny day! The sun is shining brightly, the sky is a clear Vineyard blue, and there are still enough leaves on the trees to give the whole landscape a warm autumn glow. And very little traffic! Drivers are behaving

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-58251300931025301662007-11-03T17:07:00.001-04:002009-11-15T14:55:25.122-05:00

We're getting a bit of weather today from the storm Noel. The National Weather Service issued a number of warnings, including one that said:THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN THIS REGION. THIS STORM SHOULD BE TREATED AS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE.So I went for a drive! Realizing from the NWS notice that the winds referred to would come after 1500h I went to check

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-70273581785004372522007-11-02T15:22:00.001-04:002009-11-15T14:55:01.579-05:00

This horse keeps an eye on the morning traffic from a safe vantage point on State Road in Vineyard Haven. She makes a pleasant addition to the drive into VH and pays close attention to the cars and bicycles cruising by. What a lovely surprise to see a couple of foals with her this year, also taking up position near the stone wall!I took some pictures today and she stood calmly posing. I am sure

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-77705485174648481512007-10-25T09:06:00.002-04:002009-11-15T15:05:13.771-05:00

These guinea hens eyed me with caution as I approached for a photo op. I have seen this crew crossing the road frequently, bustling along in single file. Guinea fowl are of African descent. The youngsters are called keets, and here you can see 4 of them along with some adults. Most of a guinea hen's diet consists of insects of all kinds including ticks. They don't scratch the dirt to find their

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-5341103907668304672007-10-21T10:06:00.003-04:002009-11-15T14:56:42.136-05:00

Last week's Illustration Friday theme was the word 'extremes' and this week's is 'grow,' so I have combined them in this sketch to show a couple of plants that represent nature's extremes which are growing in my garden! (Click on the image to see a larger view.)Monkshood (Aconitum carmichealii), also know as Aconite or Wolfsbane, is a beautiful plant which grows to about 4 feet tall, with deep

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-16331194278670270142007-10-19T19:43:00.001-04:002009-11-15T14:59:22.699-05:00

For those of you interested in wooden boats here are some other pictures taken while Nat Benjamin's schooner Charlotte was having the masts stepped for the first time this week.The masts waiting for the crane at R. M. Packer's in Vineyard Haven.Charlotte tied up at the bulkhead. Nat Benjamin (pink shirt) is in the background.Back at the Gannon & Benjamin dock Myles Thurlow works on the standing

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-65872122675715772392007-10-18T21:26:00.001-04:002009-11-15T15:04:46.374-05:00

This image caught my eye as Bill Benns and I flipped through the photos he had taken today. It's a shot of the top of a mast for Charlotte, a 52' schooner that's nearing completion over at Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway. Charlotte is Nat Benjamin's boat and was launched a few weeks ago in a very festive manner! Bill is one of the shipwrights who built the boat along with Nat. Since then many

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-7655897501334468372007-10-17T20:40:00.001-04:002009-11-15T15:04:20.792-05:00

I had a fantastic day a few weeks ago taking a couple of friends on a whirlwind tour of Martha's Vineyard that involved most of the island and most of the bus routes!We started off bright and early, leaving Vineyard Haven on the No.13 bus to have breakfast in Oak Bluffs followed by a stroll around the colorful cottages and the perimeter of Ocean Park. Nice to see it in the fall when everything is

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-79306099377064280572007-10-15T08:18:00.002-04:002009-11-15T15:02:09.330-05:00

I was quite surprised to discover the vast swathes of posion ivy that cover many areas of Martha's Vineyard. When I started walking the nature trails I kept seeing a lush plant growing everywhere, as a bush, ground cover, vine, etc., and although it was a lovely shade of green I couldn't help but notice it's three-leaf structure. Surely this couldn't be posion ivy, the dreaded plant I had been

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-39181345520340247252007-10-12T20:47:00.001-04:002009-11-15T15:03:50.822-05:00

The ad reads: "1998 SATURN: FREE / Title and keys in the car. Has flat tires and needs a jump start. Do not call, just pick up. --- Street, Edgartown."The back story is unknown; it could be a disgruntled owner or a charitable act. In any case it's a good example of the type of ads you find in the Bargain Box section of the Martha's Vineyard Times, where items priced under $100 are sold. The

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-47915449415198581672007-10-11T23:11:00.001-04:002009-11-15T15:03:32.351-05:00

The theme for Illustration Friday this week was the word 'Open'. (Hundreds of artists participate each week uploading their concepts for general viewing. The idea is to encourage creativity outside the workplace or commissions, and artists display old and new works depending on the theme.)To illustrate 'Open' I have chosen to do a rough sketch of the Gannon & Benjamin boatshop building that sits

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-22634696472669247602007-10-10T18:33:00.001-04:002009-11-15T15:01:19.900-05:00

I was delighted to discover that one of my favorite illustrators, Edward Gorey, had lived on Cape Cod in Yarmouth Port, MA before his death in 2001, and that a museum has been created in the house where he lived. Last month I took a trip over to see what it was all about. (This is a jaunt that requires a vehicle, because the Cape Cod bus system does not get close enough to make that a viable

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-72050821114085861142007-10-09T13:34:00.003-04:002009-11-15T15:02:25.940-05:00

These beautiful plants were photographed on one of the nature trails on the island. All these vivid colors, and nothing over 2 feet tall! We don't see the intense color changes in the trees that one does on the mainland as we have lots of oak and pine, and few maples. However the wildflowers, shrubs and vines such as Virginia Creeper add some pizzazz to the unique palette of Vineyard colors.

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-75772926398551546102007-10-08T14:00:00.003-04:002009-11-15T15:03:04.211-05:00

We're having a nice cold wet day today, exactly what we need! It's been a very dry summer here as in many parts of the country, and the plants are enjoying the respite. As the leaves fall from the trees we'll see a lot more of the lichen on the bark and branches... and stone walls, gravestones, etc. Lichen is a small but florishing form of plant life. The trees are covered with it in certain

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159234371070842389.post-61077651342048550062007-10-07T14:10:00.003-04:002009-11-15T15:02:43.944-05:00

Here's a photo I took in the Sepiessa nature preserve last fall. Martha's Vineyard has a system of land conservation that has resulted in some fantastic places to hike, kayak, horseback ride, walk the dog, etc., around the island. The hard work by the members of the conservation organizations and the monetary support via a percentage of each real estate sale/purchase over the past 20 years or so

Elizabeth Whelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07314724172644212264noreply@blogger.com