Wednesday, November 17, 2010

A Study in Texture


Tufts of grass undulate and hopefully hold tasty morsels for a hungry coyote.  I love how this looks soft yet scratchy at the same time.
This building facade in downtown San Rafael seems superfluous, but I find myself fascinated.  How wonderful that the architect decided to add these aerodynamic rock-studded panels.  The repeating pattern sets an imposing tone by visually elongating the height of the building.


First grass, then rocks and now grass with rocks!  I know the owner of this garden meant for the rocks to suppress the weeds, but the harsh edges of the rocks are softened by the thin blades of grass and create layers to the surface.  Serendipity. 


How funny to have come across this composition of gravel and Fescue a week later at Osmosis spa in Freestone.  It's the varying sizes of grasses that really captured my attention, spreading as if they were a contagious condition.


This fuzzy fence at the Pierce Point Ranch in Pt. Reyes combines two of my favorite textures:  weathered wood with the ruffled softness of mosses and lichens.  Here's a detail.


I love the juxtaposition of the deep, clear lines of wood grain and the tiny details of the different plants growing on it.  The closer you get to look at it, the more you see.  It also doesn't hurt that it's following my favorite new color palette that I can only describe as faded dull. 

9 comments:

  1. Hi Christine
    Texture of all kinds ... and my heart goes pitter-patter. Artists gain such inspiration from textural elements in the natural world, that can then translate to original works!
    Alice
    aka Bay Area Tendrils ...

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  2. I just love the fence! The other pictures are nothing compared to the fence. I want a fence like that!

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  3. I often forget texture because I'm so drawn into color. What a timely reminder as I'm planning the fall garden changes....

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  4. I love the fuzzy fence - it looks like it is wearing designer knitwear!

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  5. yummy textures. this is why we love northern california.

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  6. I think I've photographed that very same fence!

    By the way, I still have your seed saver book.

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  7. Love the textures! I love the fence the best though.... :) I imagine lichen grows very vigorously in the humid foggy Point Reyes.

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  8. When I try for texture photos, then look at the photo I'm often disappointed. What was so special about that bit of gravel? Texture in the garden is definitely something I think about but am not so good at creating. Mother nature does such a nice job, though. I like Byddi's comment on the designer knitwear :-)

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