Behold, an Original ACEO by Amanda Makepeace.....

'Tree Frog' original ACEO, by the artist Amanda Makepeace

...and... it's mine.  All mine!

I was lucky to be contacted earlier this month by the lovely nature artist, Amanda Makepeace, letting me know I'd won a monthly giveaway via her Facebook Fan Page, Amanda Makepeace Arts, the prize of which being the above original ACEO.  What a wonderful surprise...!  Having long been an admirer of Amanda's art, I was thrilled to hear this good news.  As it stands I am privileged to own another original ACEO of Amanda's, from back when she and I were partnered up for  EBSQ's annual 'Ripped Off' show last year.  We had each created an original ACEO inspired by the other's work (written about in this blog post), which we then exchanged with one another other.  So it's grand indeed to now be in the possession of another of her works....!

Happily Mr. Frog made the long jury via the postal system up north by several states to me safely and soundly.  I snapped a picture of him upon his arrival:

Mr. Tree Frog says 'Hello'....!

And so the little fella joins my other Amanda Makepeace ACEO, 'Dragonfly Nights' (click for her 'Ripped Off entry description), which you can see below.  In any case I say two original works of art by any one artist definitely a Collection of said artist makes -- now here's looking forward to future opportunities to add more of Amanda Makepeace's pieces...!

Don't they make a lovely pair...?

Many thanks again, Amanda Makepeace.....!

'29 Faces May': Day 1, 'An ACEO Portrait of Julia Butterfly Hill"

My entry for the ACEO Theme Week Art Contest (click here for auction link)

The above is my official FIRST Face of '29 Faces May Challenge' (with 28 more Faces to go). It also happens to be my entry into this month's ACEO Theme Week art contest (a themed contest specifically for ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions and Originals), that begins the 1st of every month).  

The theme for this month's ACEO Theme Week is 'Butterflies'.  Well?  Knowing that I needed to come up with a face for the challenge today, plus the fact it happened to be the start of the Contest, it seemed only natural to combine the two (I think I did the same thing in the last '29 Faces' challenge).  Practical, right?  So all day (while I was out and about most of the day) I contemplated faces..., and butterflies.  I thought about Butterflies with Faces, and about Faces with Butterflies, and any manner of possible combinations.  But nothing really grabbed me...., that is until the name "Julia Butterfly Hill" popped into my head.  As you might recall, she was the famous protester that sat in a California Redwood tree for two years back in the '90's, in order to protect it from being cut down by loggers. I have visited the Giant Redwoods -- they are AMAZING.  So once that idea came to mind I knew exactly what I wanted to do -- a tribute portrait.....

The following is my entry description

"A Portrait of Julia Butterfly Hill"

 

My ACEO (2.5 x 3.5) entry for this month's ACEO Theme Week art contest (May's theme being 'Butterflies'), features a lovely tribute portrait of the famous environmental activist, Julia Butterfly Hill....

I admit I took liberties with this month's "Butterfly' theme, but it was Julia Butterfly Hill that came to mind when reflecting upon 'Butterflies'.  As a young woman in the late '90's, Julia Butterfly Hill performed an act of civil disobedience by sitting in an ancient California Redwood tree for just over 2 years, in order to protect it from loggers.  Her effort was successful, and she finally climbed down after it was formally agreed upon that the tree, which she named 'Luna', would not be logged....

Day 20 of the '29 Faces' Challenge: another entry for the Nibblefest Art Contest, '"Moonlight Sonata (Piano Recital)" ACEO

Day 20 of the '29 Faces in February' art blog Challenge!  And, I'm happy to say that with this posting I will be officially and properly caught up...!  My Face-du-jour, an ACEO, is actually another entry  painted today for the Nibblefest Art Contest (along with my other entry, 'MoonShadow'), the theme being 'Moonlight'.  

Like my other entry, I followed along again with the musical concept regarding the theme.  Thinking as I did of my mental of list of favourite songs with the words 'moon' or 'moonlight' in the titles or lyrics, one of the first things to pop into mind was, of course, Beethoven's beautifully haunting piece of piano music, "Moonlight Sonata".  The thought of piano music however, also happened to conjure up memories of my own piano days, when I took private lessons from the age of 7 to 14. While I do adore music, I freely admit I haven't much talent for playing it myself.  It didn't help matters I'm sure that I despised practising, but even worse to me  than that were the annual mandatory  piano recitals that, as a shy kid, I dreaded so very much.  I reflected a little bit on all of this as I painted my ACEO today:

"Moonlight Sonata (Piano Recital)", an original ACEO

 CLICK HERE FOR AUCTION LINK

My Auction Description:

One of my entries for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (the theme for February being 'Moonlight') is an ACEO featuring a young woman, dutifully playing Beethoven's beautiful 'Moonlight Sonata' on the piano during her music recital, as she steals a nervous glance at her assembled audience.

 I very much enjoyed this month's Nibblefest theme.  Being as that I love to listen to music as I paint, the theme of 'Moonlight' brought to mind all my many favourite songs that have the word 'moon' or 'moonlight' in their titles or lyrics.  One of the first songs to pop into my head was Beethoven's haunting melody, "Moonlight Sonata'.  Now, I have a confessions to make.  As much as I personally love music?  I was a terrible music student, having taken piano lessons for 7 years in my youth.  I hated to practice, and I especially loathed, loathed, LOATHED the annual piano recitals I was required to do.  They felt like sheer torture to a shy person like myself...!  My ACEO here reflects a little bit of those ever-lovely ancient memories...."

(For those unfamiliar with Nibblefest -- it is a friendly, monthly, themed art contest on Ebay that always begins of the first of every month, with all entries beginning with a starting bid of just .99 cents.  Fun times!)

''29 Faces' Challenge, Day 6: ACEO 'Happy Apple'

ACEO:  'Happy Apple'

Day 6 of the '29 Faces' Challenge already, and things are sailing along.  It was a busy one for me today on my end however, and so I needed something relatively simple to work on, and to post about.  I chose an old ACEO that I had started a long time ago, but never got around to finishing (do you sense a trend here or what?).  

As I recall, this was originally to be an entry into the monthly ACEO 'Theme Week' art contest, the theme being 'Anthropomorphic  Plants'.  Well I love me some anthropomorphic anything, but as a long-time vegetarian I confess I've always adored little faces on veggies and fruits -- so, that is what I based my three contest entries on.   His two companion ACEO entries I managed to complete and enter on time, but the clock ran out on this little fella....and then I just never got around to working on him again.  Until tonight that is.  And..., I'm happy to declare him done.  Done done done!   Yay!   (and please note he looks WAY better in person -- the lighting in my house is really ghastly at night and no good whatsoever for taking pics....)....

'29 Faces Challenge" Day 4: Frida ACEO

ACEO:  'Frida'

I can promise you that there was no way I was going to be getting through any month-long 'Face' Challenge without painting one of my favourite of all iconic countenances, that of Frida Kahlo's. 

Despite this however, it wasn't my intention to necessarily do so today.  I had actually spent a goodly chunk of time in the afternoon working on another painted rock.  Well, I call it a 'rock' -- when in truth it's officially a craggy chunk of concrete sidewalk  I found once years ago in the street when walking home from the grocery store.  I'd picked it up and immediately saw within it what I call a 'gargoyle', or perhaps a little 'demon'.  I recall I set out right away to coax him out with paint, but got stuck somehow early on and ended up setting him aside after making little progress, never to be touched again.  Until today that is.  I dont' know what in particular compelled me to dust him off -- he wasn't even included in the photo of my 'Pile of Shame' (AKA:  my collection of unfinished art projects) from the other day.   But work on him I did, and pleased to say I got reasonably far along (defining his face body parts) before needing a break.   Still, he did not get completed today so no little demon-guy photos....

Instead, once it was clear I wasn't going to be crossing him off the Finis! list today, I opted to switch gears and work on an abandoned ACEO.  The one I grabbed featured a 'face' all right -- something I figure I must have begun for the monthly, themed Nibblefest Art Contest at some point.  One of my infamous false starts -- it was either initially intended for the 'Imaginary Creatures' theme, or the 'Abstract', because it featured the portrait of a woman who was either a zombie, or some abstract expressionistic something-or-other.  In either case it was homely as all get out and as such no mystery as to why I'd given up.  Therefore I set out today to transform it into something else entirely -- and...I guess when in doubt?  Do Frida....

'29 Faces' Challenge and Unfinished Business

So, as mentioned in my earlier post, much of my aim for this '29 Faces' Challenge is to use it as motivation for finally finishing up a  hoard of hanging art projects I have sitting around here, annoying me as they do with their unfinished states.  I'm afraid I'm notorious for diving into ideas and concepts before they're entirely hashed out -- then when I get to a point where I might become slightly stuck because things weren't thoroughly thought through, I set the project aside, for 'later'.  With every intention of getting back to it of course, but...well, you get the picture:

A Whole Host of Unfinished Business

The above is a pile of projects I have in various stages of incompletion, many of which were started years ago with the best intentions..., and yet here they sit, unfinished and orphaned.  As you can see we have quite the variety of mediums here -- from aceo's, to paintings, to 3-D papier mache, even painted rocks.  The photo doesn't lie -- plenty 'o' FACES here (and it doesn't even include my forgotten stash of dead and broken Barbies which I'm in the process of altering).   None of it officially completed, none having ever been photographed nor uploaded nor listed anywhere.  Nothing signed.  ALL of it just sitting around, undone, taking up precious studio space while mocking me.  Nagging me.  How great it would be to tie up these pesky loose ends, for once and for all!   And so, this is in large part my objective for this Challenge -- wish me luck....!



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'ACEO Theme Week' Contest, and '29 Faces' Challenge

'The White Witch of Narnia",
for ACEO Theme Week (click for auction link).

It's the 1st of February! Which is likely significant for any number of reasons (day before Groundhog's Day perhaps?), but at least two of them would be: (1.) it's the start of the monthly 'ACEO Theme Week' art contest, and (2.) it's the first day of the '29 Faces' art blog challenge. And because I wanted to participate in both events, being the practical sort, the logical thing for me was to combine the two. The contest theme this month is 'Winter Wonderland', therefore my entry features both 'Winter', and...a 'Face', choosing as I did to feature the "White Witch' of the chilly, wintry Narnia. In any case, this, my first Face of the challenge, was my project for the day.  The following is my auction description:

~"The White Witch of Narnia"~

My entry for this month's ACEO Theme Week (TW) Contest is doing 'double duty' for me. While I had an aceo to do for this contest, I also needed to create a 'face' for an art blog challenge I'm participating in, called '29 Faces' (a Face for every day in February. See my blog for more info). Overlapping these two goals, my entry features the evil and vain 'White Witch' of Narnia, who has cast a spell of perpetual Winter and eternal snow upon that magical land.....

The tale of 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is set during WWII, therefore my White Witch reflects the era, looking like a 1940's Glamour Girl. She sports an icicle tiara, and holds between her gloved fingers her preferred object of bribery, a piece of the sticky-sweet confection, Turkish Delight.....




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More January Nibblefest Art Contest: 'Letters, Symbols, Numbers' Theme....

ACEO: "The Scarlet Letter" (click for auction link. Please also click here to see all NFAC entries -- art starting at just .99 cents)...

My second entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest is based on the old novel, 'The Scarlet Letter' (probably a pretty straightforward take on the 'Letters' theme, eh?). My listing description:

~"The Scarlet Letter"~

One of two ACEO original entries by me for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (--the theme for January being 'Letters, Symbols, Numbers') features that much maligned, but ever steadfast, female protagonist of early American fiction, the infamous Hester Prynne of "The Scarlet Letter"..... Here we see Hester, her baby swaddled in her arms and her back against the wall....

Harken back to your high school literature class and that classic tome by the novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorn -- poor Hester has had the misfortune of giving birth to an illegitimate child while her estranged husband is well out of the picture. Her suspicious neighbours in her tight-knit puritan community turn upon her and punish severely, with public humiliation and shunning, as well as forcing her to permanently sport a large letter "A" (for "Adultery") upon her dress. Adding insult to injury is the fact that her seducer, the village pastor, is actually going along with the leading this vengeful pack, too spineless and cowardly to confess his own part in the wrongdoing. And yet, despite mounting pressure to give up the name of her partner in crime, she remains silent, all the while trying to maintain a life for herself and her daughter with as much decency and dignity as possible....

January Nibblefest Art Contest: 'Letters, Symbols, Numbers' Theme....

My NFAC ACEO entry, entitled "Ophelia: Rosemary, that's for Remembrance" (click for auction link. Note the image above looks so much better than the photo I had to use for my listing).

With the holidays behind us and things settling down a little around here, I was really motivated to enter this month's Nibblefest Art Contest. For December's I'd "cheated", so to speak, by entering an older piece that fit the theme with only a little stretching, and November's Nibblefest I'd missed entirely, nada. And so it was that I was anticipating getting something together this time around. While I wasn't necessarily mad about the theme, "Letters, Symbols, Numbers", it seemed likely enough. Still, as the 20th of the month quickly approached I found myself without any real direction of where I wanted to go with this -- just what was my take on "Letters, Symbols, Numbers" anyway? Usually something-or-other pops into my head pretty quickly, but here I was just drawing (pun intended) a total blank. A few false starts in the studio revealed nothing and wasted my time. The 20th came and went, and I was ready to just talk myself into letting it go this month (again). That is until two ideas finally came to mind that I actually liked and felt I could work with. Not to mention that it still wasn't too late to get in on a 5-day auction (never mind that I forgot to actually set my "5-day auctions" for 5-days, so they'll be running a little past the official end of the contest. Oops!)....

This first idea came to mind when I was pondering the concept of 'Symbols'. I was thinking of things around us that have symbolic natures to them, when flowers. with all their various meanings in olde folklore, came to mind. Which in turn lead me of course to 'Hamlet' (my favourite Shakespeare) and Ophelia and how in her highly confused and disturbed mental state she begins spouting off to anyone who will listen various flora and the concepts they represent. I thought about simply portraying Ophelia with all her pretty flowers and herbs -- but that seemed a little obtuse. In the end I chose to write her memorable "Rosemary, that's for Remembrance" line in script on the ACEO, and so we have 'Letters'...

Here is my auction description:

One of two ACEO original entries by me for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (--the theme for January being 'Letters, Symbols, Numbers') features a character from what must be my personal favourite Shakespearean tale, the story of "Hamlet". Here we see Ophelia, Hamlet's girlfriend, climbing a willow tree that overhangs a small brook, shortly after she has recited one of her most memorable lines in the play....

Ophelia is very much in love with Hamlet, but his recent disturbingly bizarre behaviour has upset everyone at Elsinore's court, and she's no exception. Then he went on to seemingly abandon her, and that after (kind of accidentally) murdering her own dear father. Sheesh, with so much heartbreak is it any wonder she's become unhinged? She's been wandering about singing, playing with her flowers and not making a whole lot of sense -- telling the king and queen, "there's Rosemary, that's for remembrance". And now sadly, it wont be long before the branch breaks in her little tree, and she herself will become but a Memory, much to Hamlet's despair.....

EBSQ's "Ripped Off' Exhbit

ACEO: "Blue Blaze" by Patience


I participated in a fun annual, themed EBSQ exhibit last month, known as the 'Ripped Off' show. To participate, members partner up with one another, choosing from amongst each other's portfolios a piece with which to use as inspiration to create a new, original work of art -- or in other words, a piece to 'rip off', but with express permission of course! (read the prospectus of the show here). I was invited to pair up with the wonderful nature artist, Amanda Makepeace. Agreeing to create ACEO's, the above is what I came up with, based on her painting of a blue bird entitled 'Resplendent Blue'). The following is my artist statement;

.....My partner for this year's EBSQ 'Ripped Off' show challenge was the wonderful nature artist, Amanda Makepeace. It wasn't easy choosing among her many lovely portfolio pieces, but finally I settled upon her watercolor painting, 'Resplendent Blue'.....

As a bird lover, having my own little pet cockatiel for over half my life now, I was attracted to the avian subject matter, in addition to the striking color. I also admired Amanda's simple, understated, and elegant composition, as anyone familiar with my artistic style knows I myself tend toward detail (and often lots of it). Thus I thought it a good personal exercise to attempt her more subtle approach with a simple, unadorned background. Unlike Amanda's bluebird, painted with watercolors in mid-flight with outstretched wings, mine is painted in acrylics looking over its shoulder in a relaxed, perched position -- the same posture that regularly greets me within my own pet cockatiel, every single day.....

All very much fun, and a big thanks to Amanda for teaming up with me! To see her own take on one of my pieces, go here -- she 'ripped off' my 'DragonFly Moon'. I love what she came up with, and because we traded, I am now privileged to possess a beautiful, original work of art by Amanda Makepeace...!

Nibblefest!

"ACEO, Pear Share" (click for auction link)


We are in the month of August. Really??? Seriously how can it already be August, much less the 20th of August? And yet so it is, which can mean only one thing (besides my Mother-in-law's birthday today)...Nibblefest Art Contest!

The contest theme for this month was 'Farm'. Well for whatever reason I didn't think I was particularly inspired by the theme, and consequently stalled and stalled -- and yet when I finally did settle down to work (at the 11th hour), it all came together quite nicely and quickly in spite of myself, and I ended up liking and enjoying what I came up with (will I never learn?). In any case, here is my entry/auction description:

"....A family friend has a wee hobby farm, complete with a small orchard. Every autumn I am invited to head out to the farmstead to pick as many fresh apples and pears as I can manage. With the bounty I prepare homemade sauce and pie filling, canning and freezing up a storm, as well as filling up my dehydrator with batch upon batch of sliced apples, all to enjoy throughout the rest of the year. And so I brace myself -- the harvest season is nearly upon us once again...."

Next month's (September) Nibblefest Art Contest theme is to be 'Ode to Blue'. Interesting enough (-- and perhaps for once I could actually attempt to get my entry done ahead of time...?).....

The Nibblefest Art Contest Rolls Around Again....

An ACEO entitled, 'Catch a Falling Star', the theme for July being "Imaginary Creatures' (click for auction link)...



Nibblefest Time! For those not in the know, the Nibblefest Art Contest (or, NFAC) is a fun and friendly, themed monthly art competition, hosted via ebay. All entries must pertain to the theme somehow, AND be listed with a starting bid of .99 cents. My entry for this month is an ACEO featuring a young woman who, to her surprise and delight, has been lucky enough to catch a fallen star.... (To see all of this month's lovely themed Nibblefest entries, click here)...

Nibblefest Art Contest for June: 'Things WIth Wheels'

My ACEO entry, entitled 'The Pottery Wheel'....(click for auction link)

I had fun with this month's Nibblefest Art Contest* theme, 'Things With Wheels'. One of the first things to pop into my head upon thinking of 'Wheels', was the art of pottery and the pottery wheel. I've had limited experience with the technique myself -- but my daughter will be taking a pottery class later this summer, and I'm looking very much forward to seeing what treasures she brings home....


(*Nibblefest is a monthly themed Ebay art contest that begins on the 20th of each month, with all entries starting at a mere .99 cents).....

Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC): 'City Music'

My NFAC aceo entry, 'City Music'....(clicky)


The 20th of the month was several days ago, and that can only mean one thing...: The Nibblefest Art Contest!

It's amazing just how quickly this monthly event can roll around, and May was no exception. Although I can't really say the contest sneaked (snuck?) up on me this time (as usually happens), since I was fully aware of the loooooming deadline. It wasn't so much 'sneaky' this time around, as much as it was 'tricksy'. The theme for this month, 'Village or Townscape', really had me dragging my feet for the longest time. I just didn't think I was particularly inspired (blah), and in fact was rather tempted to possibly just sit this one out. That is, until I finally forced myself to settle down at the 11th hour and come up with Something, when to my surprise an idea just sort of painted itself as I reflected upon town/city life.....

The following is my listing description:

"This ACEO entry for May's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (the theme being 'Village or Townscape') features a busker on a bridge, with the view of a cityscape behind her.....

Having lived in the megalopolis of Chicago for several years, one of the things I remember fondly about city life were the snatches of music I would encounter in the subway or on the sidewalks by the buskers -- those street musicians known for setting up little corners for themselves and performing for donations by passersby. The music was always something I could appreciate, especially upon negotiating my way home from a long day of work downtown -- and I always tried to give a little something in return, if even only a few pieces of change from deep within my pockets....".

ACEO, "Bossy Blossom", Nomination for 'Most Unique' Award

"Bossy Blossom"

It was a nice surprise to learn that the second of my two ACEO entries into this month's ACEO Group 'Theme Week' art contest, the theme for May being 'Flowers', has been nominated by my peers for the 'Most Unique' award! Good luck to all my fellow nominees...voting is happening now -- Fingers crossed!

ACEO Group Theme Week Contest, for May

My ACEO painting, "Frida's Flora' (click for auction listing)

Here we have my ACEO entry for the monthly ACEO Group 'Theme Week' Art Contest, the theme for May being 'Flowers'. With a theme such as that (and so suitable for this time of year --- ahhhh, Spring! Finally!), I had to think of a person who surely adored flowers in all their forms and glory just as much as I do. "Frida's Flora' features that ever-inspiring and passionately iconic artist, with flowers in her trademark uniquely-dressed hair....

Nibblefest Art Contest: 'Carnivale'

My ACEO entry, 'Carnivale' (click for link)....


Yet another bout of the Nibblefest Art Contest rolls around! It does have a way of doing that. And yet somehow, despite the fact it always begins on the 20th each and every month, and I participate on a regular basis, the deadline for this thing STILL has a pesky way of sneaking up on me. Every. Single. Time. Nevertheless, I did manage to get all my entries completed and entered in a timely manner this evening for this month's contest (the theme for April being 'Dragon'), including the above ACEO, entitled 'Carnivale'....(and as you can see, I took a more liberal/less literal approach to the Theme with my entries this time around)...

ACEO Theme Week Art Contest for April

ACEO: 'Welcome to Narnia' (click for auction link)


My entry for this month's ACEO Theme Week Art Contest, the theme for April being 'Doorways'. It's titled 'Welcome to Narnia', and features that magical old Wardrobe, with wee, little 'doors' that actually 'open' to reveal the white, wintry world of Narnia beyond...!:





Behold, Narnia -- Complete With Beckoning Lamppost...!


I was a hopeless bookworm as a child. There was little I adored more than devouring tall stacks of books checked out from the library, reading for hours at a strestch in pleasant, peaceful solitude (often in my own treehouse). As such I can well recall plowing through the "Chronicles of Narnia" series, by C.S. Lewis, in pretty short order, somewhere around the 6th grade. 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' was my favorite -- with the idea of the old cupboard in the big rambling house offering a portal into a fantastical land of talking animals, a wicked ice queen, and perpetual Winter (and yes, I have seen the films -- but still prefer the books!) piquing my youthful imagination. I suppose that's why the idea for this entry popped into my head as it did, and turned out to be so effortless to execute (even though ACEO's can be pretty small to work with ;-). In any case, I was very glad I managed to participate in the ACEO Theme Week contest this time around -- since I got busy and missed last month's TW deadline (Theme Week always beginning the first of every month)....

Another Treasury!

ACEO Portrait of Edgar Allen Poe, as featured in this EBSQ Team Sampler Treasury (click for link)


Yet another pleasant surprise today! Delighted to find my wee little Poe portrait being included in this fine Etsy Treasury featuring fellow EBSQ artists as created by Theodora Demetriades.

It feels especially timely for me too, as it was only two days ago that I was coincidentally reading what must be my most favorite E. Allen Poe short story aloud to a small group of high school-age literature students. I adore reading aloud anyway, but being able to interpret my favorite Poe tale, 'The Cask of Amontillado', all while adding my own personal touches of light drama and pregnant pauses, to a receptive and accommodating audience was especially fun! There's just something about that particular potboiler, clever and moody character study that it is, complete with foreshadowing, foreboding, macabre humor, reverse psychology, suspense, irony, treachery, and of course the requisite creepily gothy and angst-ridden Poe ending, that has stuck with me all these long years after first reading it when I must have been around their age. In any case, just my little homage to that masterful, classic American poet and storyteller, and honored to have it featured in this way -- thank you, Theodora.....!

"Spring"

Ahhhhh, Spring....

And indeed yes, it truly IS Spring, though the recent chilly temps we've been enduring currently here in Illinois would surely have ANYONE believing otherwise (teeth chattering as I type). Regardless, I was delightfully surprised this morning to discover my little "Spring" ACEO above was featured in today's 'Must Have Monday" collection via the EBSQ blog -- thanks EBSQ...! (click for link) (My ONLY regret is not having a more accurate picture of it -- it's not at all as washed out in person as it appears here. Why oh why is it just SO difficult to get accurate/decent images for the web??? Oy...!).