Donald Diddams
The Art of Digital Art
By the Sea
Posted on March 27, 2010
Offshore Reef -- 2010
Much of St. Croix is fringed by an offshore reef. On windy days or when there is a swell running large waves will crash on the reef. While the inshore waters remain relatively calm, the usual dark line at the horizon becomes snowy-white. On this afternoon some low clouds were drifting nearby, echoing the colors of the shallower water near shore.
Illusions can creep up while standing quietly on the shoreline. The lone palm tree in the image below dwarfed the few chairs and sunbathers on either side. When the sun ducked behind a cloud softening the shadows, the otherwise bald beach seemed a fairyland in blues.
Fairyland in blues -- 2010
Head to Toes
Posted on March 20, 2010
Sittin' in the sun -- 2010
People can be interesting from all angles. I was listening to a scratch band playing at a benefit in the forest when the man in front of me removed his hat. The graphic image created by his orange shirt and glistening scalp totally distracted me from my intended goal of getting some images of the musicians.
A similar thing happened with the dancing woman in the image below, whose billowing skirt and shuffling feet as she danced near the curb distracted me from my intended subject. These images illustrate how “distractions” can turn out to be serendipitous — and why it is important sometimes to disable one’s left-brain focus in order to allow the right-brain to take over.
Dancing Feet -- 2010
Faces
Posted on March 13, 2010
Dancer - 2010
These two images are from a street festival. The man was a dancer and performer. He stood out with his serious clear-eyed gaze and spear held so close. The woman was a spectator… of sorts. She was so excited and having a good time just dancing on her own up and down the street! And best of all, her curved pink sunglasses almost perfectly echoed the shape of her wide-open smile. If only we could all find such joy so easily.
Havin' a good time -- 2010
Ways
Posted on March 5, 2010
Stairway -- 2010
Stairways, doorways. Ways in and out. Their graphic qulaities attract my eye, and the ambiguity of where they lead teases my mind. These were both in one of the many interior courtyards in old Christiansted.
The courtyard has a few small offices along the back wall and a suite of offices in one of the buildings above. The center, open to the sky, had been the site of a now defunct restaurant (business opportunity anyone?). The door with the round window was behind the bar and had the patina of long and frequent use by many hands. It seemed to look back at me as if wondering where all the people had gone.
Doorway -- 2010
St. Croix — Hotel Caravelle Artwork
Mocko Jumbies
Donald Diddams 