Don Budy -- Teacher and Sculptor

Don Budy is not only recognized as an international sculptor with pieces in many private collections in Europe, but he is also well-known in the United States. He has completed many life size commissions for Municipalities as well as for corporate entities. His largest work is a twelve foot high representation of Snowshoe Thompson, an historical figure in Nevada and California in the late 1800s. The sculpture sits in the center of Genoa, Nevada, the oldest city in that state. 

A Colorado native, he was a high school art teacher for thirty six years, eleven in Westport, Connecticut, and twenty-five years at Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado. After retirement, he put his focus on sculpture, which he loves. His pieces are primarily realistic and figurative work, but he also enjoys doing non-objective pieces in clear acrylic, bronze and marble. He takes great pride in his attention to correct proportion, as well as good action, fun details and personalities. He enjoys portrait heads or life-sized works based on actual people. Following are just a few images of his works:

There are simply too many images for this first post. I will scan and post several more in the next few weeks. In the meantime, if you would like to visit Don Budy's site, please go to Studio 6211. If you wish to contact him personally, his number: 303-841-4395.

Made with Starbuck's Coffee

 

                                                            Barista's Dream 

This artwork sits in a Starbucks Coffee house in Denver. It was the creation of Stuart Wallace, local and international artist. He works with all mediums...but this piece was created using different strengths of coffee -- blond to dark. If you look closely, you will see faces appear through the swirling cream. Note the crown too! It's a large piece, approximately 7' x 4' ---unfortunately, no sooner was it hung in place than Covid-19 hit us all. After that, the coffee shop served only drive through customers -- can't wait to see it again in person. A second "coffee inspired" piece will be posted soon. It also hangs in the coffee shop. Its title: 71 Rings. It was inspired when Stuart visited the original Starbucks in Seattle. There he saw the coffee rings that had marked the tables. This particular piece has coffee and some watercolor. It's an interesting piece, but not as large. I'll post it soon.  

If you would like to see more of Stuart Wallace's work, especially the new series entitled, Celestial please go to: www.stuartjwallace.com.

Resurrection!

 It's been six years since I last posted. In fact, have forgotten how to post, insert photographs and text. Please forgive me if I make mistakes. My following posts will attempt to resurrect my blog with (hopefully) interesting recipes, fun topics, and general information. A neighbor, Don Budy, a well known sculptor in Denver will be my first post. 

Who Loves their vaVesta? –I Do!

I've had my vaVesta for several weeks now…and I absolutely love it! I sometimes wear it outside as a scarf…but more often than not -- I snuggle down into it for those long, uncomfortable overseas flights. Since I also have problems with arthritis, the arm supports are especially helpful when reading my Kindle.

Iron Butterfly, Maggie the Maurauder and the Iron Lady

Maggie Thatcher, the daughter of a shopkeeper became one of the most powerful women in the world. Not always liked, she was often referred as the “Iron Butterfly, Iron Lady,” and “Atillas the Hen” (because she was known to have a good cry when needed.) She also would rather wallpaper her kitchen than have dinner with the Heads of State.

Just lately, I’ve been thinking of the two most powerful women in my life…my mother and Maggie Thatcher. I remember telling my mother that I wanted to “help people during my lifetime” – her response – “Charity begins at home my love. If families took care of their own, the world would be a better place.” And another – “I’m scared of ghosts mummy.” Once more, her response was quick and to the point. "It’s not the dead that hurt you my dear…but the living.”

Follows just a few from Maggie:

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”

“In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.”

“I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”

“If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and would achieve nothing.”

“I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem, I'll get a grant.' 'I'm homeless, the government must house me.' They're casting their problem on society. And, you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It's our duty to look after ourselves and then, also to look after our neighbour. People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations. There's no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.”

The Wattle Wall/Enclosure

Sir Walter Scott brought the technique (wattle) back to popularity in England when he described such a fence in The Fortunes of Nigel, but the practice of using indigenous trees such as the willow and alder for use as fencing material is a centuries old custom. Although an ancient art, the following site gives us a detailed, practical account of how to make these wonderful (and natural) enclosures that would enhance any garden or orchard.

Go to:  http://www.alaskabg.org/Education-Learn/HowTo/WattleFence.pdf

Devil's Wine

In France the first sparkling Champagne was created accidentally; the pressure in the bottle led it to be called "the devil's wine" (le vin du diable), as bottles exploded or corks popped. In 1844 Adolphe Jaquesson invented the muselet (a wire frame) to prevent the corks from blowing out. Initial versions were difficult to apply and inconvenient to remove. Even when it was deliberately produced as a sparkling wine, Champagne was for a very long time made by the méthode rurale, where the wine was bottled before the only fermentation had finished. Champagne did not use the méthode champenoise until the 19th century about 200 years after Christopher Merret documented the process. The 19th century saw an explosive growth in Champagne production, going from a regional production of 300,000 bottles a year in 1800 to 20 million bottles in 1850.