Imitation of Life

Roswell GA has great community art programs. Several times a year, the city parks and rec department offers classes at all times of the day on a variety of subjects. The instructor I ended up with the first time my wife forced me to get out and try a class was Maureen Engle. She is a fantastic painting teacher for all skill levels.

I'm addicted to Maureen's "Palette Knife Acrylics" class and have taken it three years in a row now. We just wrapped up the course for the Spring 2010 session, and there is a free student show at the Roswell Visual Arts Center from late May through early July.

Many of the current students have art posted there, so you should go take a peek if you're in the area.

Here's my favorite work from this year, an acrylic of a juvenile brown trout in a mountain stream.
Makes me want to go fishing or at least go take some more photos.

If your community offers public classes through the city, county, or university nearby, I urge you to take advantage. You just might find that you love to create!

Abbotts Bridge to Medlock Bridge

Two weeks ago, Mike Hendrix (who used to work next to me) and I hit the "artificial only" section of the Chattahoochee Tailwater near Duluth, GA for some catching up. Mike works for Red Hat, and loves his new job. I enjoyed reconnecting with him for the afternoon. Here's a nice wild brown that Mike caught and released near the Atlanta Athletic Club. Fish like this are not that common in my boat, and I was really excited. Once again, this fish reinforces the theory (which may as well be considered fact) that Salmo Trutta is reproducing in our river, and doing well.