It’s already August, and I’ve noticed the spiders are getting bigger. I’ve observed an interesting trend—my collection of spider photos tends to grow significantly in the fall. In a similar vein, my collection of Skylight Gallery displays is also expanding. It’s fascinating how the changing seasons bring both nature and art into sharper focus, definitely offering new things to admire and capture.

I happened to capture a photo of this young spider. I know what you may be thinking—the spider may already appear large in the photo, but in reality, it’s only about half the size of what we typically see in the fall.

I have a strong aversion to spiders, so it was quite unfortunate that this particular one nearly landed on me as I was entering my car. However, it was in the process of wrapping a large insect in its web, which reassured me that it had no interest in me, LOL. When I opened the car door, it disrupted their interaction, causing both creatures to go their separate ways as I shook them off my seat. It’s always an unexpected moment when nature gets that close!

July was an exceptionally hot month, with scorching temperatures that made it unbearable to stay outside—or even inside. Last week, on Monday, I decided to escape the heat by visiting some interesting spots. One of the places I explored with Matthew was the Skylight Gallery at the Aurora Town Hall.

In addition to the heat, we also experienced some intense thunderstorms last week. The storms, which occurred overnight, were so powerful that they felt almost dreamlike at first. But as it turns out, others felt the same. The shock-wave from the thunder rattled our windows and even shook the bed I was sleeping in. It was a surreal experience.

I want to point out that the comment about spiders has nothing to do with the Skylight Gallery. However, for some reason, the paintings reminded me of the approaching fall and, of course, spiders.

It’s almost August, and what you’re seeing here is July’s showcase at the Skylight Gallery, featuring Georgian Bay Landscapes & Beyond by acrylic artist Diane Soward. I really enjoyed these vibrant landscapes; it felt as though we were looking out a window and witnessing the stunning beauty of Georgian Bay. The rich colours and textures of the paintings brought the scenes to life, offering a peaceful escape from the heat outside.

I was happy to see that the backdrop panels were finally replaced with something more presentable. The new design really enhanced the overall presentation, allowing the artwork to shine without any distractions. It’s always great to see improvements that help elevate the gallery experience for everyone.

COMMENTS

Tom Yates said: August 6, 2012 at 22:21

“Anna, My wife June and I have been photographing Merlin’s Hollow this summer. David and I know each other from work we do on behalf of the Arboretum. After each shoot I have been taking images to them on a tablet so David and Dierdre could see what we have and choose images they would like to have as hard copy. Yes, they are not ‘computer-literate’, but they certainly are ‘garden-literate’. A couple of weeks ago I stole several of your Merlin’s Hollow images from your website, put ‘em on a tablet and showed them to the Tomlinsons. Yes, this was all news to them. Yes, they think it’s fine. Last week Dierdre asked if I could print a couple for her. She loves your artistry. I told her that the files would be too small to be useful anywhere other than the Internet. I’ll admit that I’m not ‘into blogs’. I have however been back to Living in Aurora a few times and like what you do and how you do it. We are of different generations but are both happy to live in Aurora and love photography. I like that. Tom”