BoisCanot Artwork

What is bois cannon?

Native to tropical America, bois cannon is also known as the Trumpet Tree/Trumpetwood and Snake Wood. A relative of the breadfruit family, this tree can grow to a height of 20 m or more!

The hollow trunks and branches are home to ants which appear if the tree is disturbed! Not overly shady or dense, the leaves of the bois cannon are 'whitish' underneath.

Why Tropical? (Why Not?)

'Our Lifeline'.
Quite Simply, many tropical environments are the lifeline of this planet. They also have an abundance of air purifying plants.

Visual Interest.
Apart from that tropical foliage is beautiful to look at. Contrasting shapes are everywhere! Fine bamboo leaves appear to 'clutter' the landscape, in comparison to the 'singular', big, broad banana plant leaves. Colour is another story!

*Therapeutic value.
Plants are soothing. Let's face it, 'green is good'.
* Vibrant Life, Nov-Dec, 2003 by Victor M. Parachin(No. 11, below)
24 ways to reclaim peace of mind: World events seem more stressful every day. But here are two dozen ways to find peace when life is most challenging.

*11. GET BACK TO NATURE. Most people discover that spending time in the outdoors is a remedy for almost any soul sickness. Take advantage of this natural therapy by gardening, hiking, mountain climbing, or simply taking a leisurely stroll through a nearby park.

(A-n-d getting back to thatsbamboo (above), for just a moment, do check on the products derived from bamboo as well!!)

Art related information follows environment and nature related information.

Information on the natural (tropical) environment serves as an introduction to the overall subject area featured later in the artwork.

Areas of interest include the tropical environment, plants, nature and gardening! This is followed by Art ... Drawing ..

This section features colour pencil artists. It precedes some cp resources should you feel a bit inspired!

Elizabeth Patterson has a great 'aquatic art gallery'.

On the subject of nature, and from 'one leaf, boiscanot, to another' .. here is an absolutely wonderful drawing by Dee Overly! (landscape gallery).

And while on the subject of leaves, and before we move on, I must share this blog. I just LOVE it! It is Val Littlewood's Pencil and Leaf. Oh, and she also has an illustration of 'leaf surfaces' (just in case you were wondering! ;0).

For even more information, & while we are on the subject (of leaves that is), the University of Florida has posted a glossary of leaf shapes and flower parts with an impressive list of botanical line drawings.

Moving on to another artist now ... There are colour pencil artists ... and then there is 'Jennifer'. Jennifer Maestre also 'works with'(!) colour pencil. See what I mean.

I began to add a few bookmarks to 'del.icio.us' ... this was one interested me, when I first came across it.

Here's an excerpt;

'The legal definition of "toxic" is determined by animal testing whereby evaluators give a single "dose" to each of a group of rats.

If less than half have died after two weeks, the product is labeled "nontoxic."

According to this system, as Dr. Michael McCann, former executive director of the Center for Safety in the Arts points out, even asbestos could be deemed nontoxic.'

Toxic Art Materials What Every Artist Should Know By Nate Orman.
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Michael McCann's own book on the subject can be found on Amazon (immediately below).
Read more about Artist Beware: The Hazards In Working With All Art And Craft Materials And The Precautions Every Artist And Craftsperson Should Take, here >
Is Your Art Killing You, Your Family, Your Pets?

Happy Earth Day!

In 1963, former Senator Gaylord Nelson's deep concern for the 'environmental health' of our planet grew. This concern was the beginning of our celebration of Earth Day, as we know it today. Read more about Earth Day.

From *cookies to tree planting ... Here a few links to celebrate Earth Day.
*(These lovely cookies were available since last year, 2008).

Lear more about Earth Hour BeFair

In an effort to track information (& for the preservation MY own sanity!! ;0),
I have numbered my 'Contents'. For details on updates, simply refer to content number (if needed). Updates are usually 'casted away', and stored here.

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Update for March 2009! (I know, I know .. ;0)

@ module # 6 > Sustainable travel > updated for you, are the folllowing -
1- Tropical Nature Travel &
2 - Planet Green/ Travel & Outdoors
You can 'meet' Natasha Carvell at Planet Green.

Under artisitc, we have gourds & pavements!
1 - For gourd's sake > gourdaments and,
2 - Pounding the pavement? (well not exactly)
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Update for Thurs, Dec 11/08 'WIP'> be fair - see content nos. 6 & 7

And speaking of Christmas ...

I know that the lens (Be Fair) below is a 'wip', however there are some good fair trade/charity links worth knowing about, for the Holiday Season.

Take a look @ Contents # 6 & 7 Be Fair (Trade)

(Be Fair (Trade) -> http://www.squidoo.com/befair)

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For Monday, Dec 8th/08,

> From Zazzle ...
BoisCanot's 2008 Seasonal image > Poinsettia, has been selected as one of Today's Best on Zazzle!

This means it will appear on the Zazzle homepage for the rest of today and it will also be added to the Today's Best Awards Showcase.
Visit BoisCanot at Zazzle today!

> And .. it's a housetree - not the other way around! See why the 'housetree' almost detroyed the arm of 'Mattias Adolfsson' ;0)

> Check out the 'soft sculpture' among other things at ReForm School.

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I have been busy ;0), but here's 'the cast' -
For Oct 23/08

> Who is Shawn Bentley? What is Orphan Works? Copyright concerns? Peek at the IPA 'blog' here.

> Nice idea - 'Buddy System for your Life'

> Check out the art (!!!) @ 'smashing mag'!!

Note: Re: my updated website? Have no fear, my drawings are still there! (in spite of the new 'licensing' direction).
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for Fri, July 18 08 (#30, fyi ;0)

Have you seen the 'smarthouse'? Check it out at Rainforest Alliance!
(# 5 > under Rainforest Alliance)

Check out > learn to draw @ Drawspace (all levels!) & Mindware coloring books for 'big kids' (both at # 11 Drawing Resource Centre).

Mind mapping! (# 27 - Other Sites I like).

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for JUNE 16/08 (Module 27!)

>> Store update > at Cafepress See Contents # 21
- (next 'on the map' Zazzle, ecrator (under construction) as mentioned in content 22

>> It may be silly, but the concept is good. We all need MORE LAUGHTER!! Especially after reading all that stuff in the above links @ updated module -> 'Other sites I like' - #26 !! 'Laughing is good for you' ...

>> Ecoluxe Travel (on TV) @ Sustainable Travel Content #6

>> I must be a bag lady ??? These are not as fashionable as the last entry (below, June 4 -> 6/08) but definitely planet friendly!!
'Ecobags Canada' is a proud partner of Carbonfund.org, offsetting all of the carbon emissions resulted from our shipments through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation.

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Hi, I'm back from 'walking the show at 'Surtex' ..

for June 4 -> 6/08 ...

>> If you haven't visited my website, I added a few more images as requested (flickr)! Here's 'Hanging Around'. A variety of heliconias, are quite popular in the exotic cut flower industry.

>> 'Rubixcubism'... as if solving the Rubik's Cube is not challenging enough! Check it out ..

>> After that, it would be a good time to check on the 'little people' (#12 - Other Art Related Websites)

>> #9 ... the University of Florida has posted a glossary of leaf shapes and flower parts with an impressive list of botanical line drawings ... (above, no. 9 - Let's draw, draw, draw).

>> I discovered these shopping bags! 'Envirosax'. They are environment friendly of course and sooooo appealing. This is their website.