Monday, November 19, 2012

The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace (4x6'')

This is a new painting, inspired by Persian miniatures and the beautiful mosaics from the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.  I called it "The Summer Palace" because of all of the flowering bushes and full, green trees.  It seems like a lovely place to live during the summertime.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Stormy Weather Arts Festival

I am happy to announce that two of my paintings were accepted into the Cannon Beach Gallery's annual juried Miniature Show!  The Miniature Show is part of the the Stormy Weather Arts Festival in Cannon Beach, Oregon.  The Miniature Show will run until 1 December 2012.  The weather was quite stormy.  CJ and I got soaked as we walked from gallery to gallery admiring all of the awesome work, despite the fact that we had an umbrella!  Even with the weather being as stormy as it was, we had a great time.

The Griffin (2 7/8'' x 2 7/8'')

The Firebird (2 7/8'' x 2 7/8'')

At the Cannon Beach Gallery

CJ and me at Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach




Thursday, September 20, 2012

Portland Zoo

This year for our anniversary CJ and I went to the Portland Zoo for the day.  We packed a picnic and had a blast!

Lion (currently marking his territory)

Zebra (we waited forever for this guy to come out from the feeding hut)
Giraffes (quite fun to watch these tall fellas walk around)

Hippos (CJ's favorite)



Adorable Black Bear

Beaver (my favorite)

Us!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Research Trip - Turkey 2012

This year we continued our research on theaters in the Roman World that are contemporary with the theater that we are excavating in Afamia, Syria.  Unfortunately, due to the violent political situation currently unfolding in Syria, we were unable to excavate at Afamia this year.  In Turkey, we visited theaters in the following sites: Troy, Assos, EphesusThe AsklepionPergamon, and Iznik.  We were also able to visit a few other archaeological sites in Edirne and Istanbul (Hagia Sophia, The Sultan Ahmed MosqueIstanbul Archaeological Museum, Topkapi Palace Museum, The Hippodrome, and the Basilica Cistern).  This post displays some of the pictures taken from our research trip to Turkey.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Hagia Sophia Dome and Prayer Hall, Istanbul

Mosaic of Christ in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Prayer Hall, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

In the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Mosaic of Mary and the Christ Child flanked by Emperor John II Komnenos and Empress Irene in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

View of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) from the Hagia Sophia

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul

Sultan Ahmed Mosque Domes, Istanbul

Prayer Hall and Domes, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul

Obelisk of Thutmose III at the Hippodrome, Istanbul

The Hippodrome, Istanbul

View of the Marmara Sea from Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

Topkapi Palace

Iznik Tiles at Topkapi Palace

At the Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern

"Tree" Column at the Basilica Cistern

Medusa Head Column Base at the Basilica Cistern

Selimiye Mosque, Edirne

Selimiye Mosque Dome, Edirne

Selimiye Prayer Hall and Minbar

Fun Trojan Horse at Troy

East Gate, Troy VI

Landscape Around Troy

Ceiling Fragment at Troy

Kitties in Troy (can you spot them)?


Ramp, Troy II

In front of the ramp, Troy II


West Sanctuary, Troy VIII

The Odeion, Troy IX

Sea Kitty at Assos

Theater at Assos

Theater at Assos

Western Gate, Assos

Temple of Athena, Assos Acropolis

Island of Lesbos

Hudavendigar Bridge, Assos

Great Altar of Zeus and Athena, Pergamon 

Trajaneum, Pergamon 

Poppies in the ruins of Pergamon

Temple of Dionysos, Pergamon 

Pergamon Theater

The Acropolis, Pergamon 

View from Pergamon Ruins

Asklepion Porticoed Street, Pergamon 

Asklepion Theater, Pergamon 

Asklepion Theater, Pergamon 

View of Asklepion, Pergamon 

Porticoed Street, Ephesus

Library of Celsus, Ephesus

Porticoed Street and Library of Celsus, Ephesus

The Terrace Houses (and Kitty), Ephesus

The Terrace Houses, Ephesus

Hagia Sophia, Iznik (site of the Second Council of Nicaea AD 787)

Hagia Sophia, Iznik (site of the Second Council of Nicaea AD 787)

Hagia Sophia, Iznik (site of the Second Council of Nicaea AD 787)