Kieran's Art

 Change is the only constant     Original artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 This was once the stomping grounds of the dinosaurs, now only fossils. Fierce predators that ruled for millions of years over dales and hills. All that changed when a massive asteroid slammed into Earth - Kaboom! Nothing lasts forever, does it? The climate change spelled their doom For decades, this mighty Oak stood tall and proud through thunderstorms Now new seedlings spring up to fill the vacuum as the land transforms _Change is the only constant_, so try to be adaptable not too conservative As one gets older it becomes harder to do so but it beats the alternative

  Ode to the Crazy Ones Artwork and original poem inspired by the once-in-lifetime wildlife photo by Gautam Khirade.  Here's to the crazy ones who give their all to hone their craft Wild life photographers who wait patiently in the cold draught For that once in a lifetime photo that captures the raw side of nature That freezes the frame to encapsulates life's struggle sans literature You have to be ready because there are no second chances or retakes The reward is a moonshot that brooks neither excuses nor mistakes What we fail to see is the hours spent without any immediate rewards They do it for the love it, neither for the recognition nor the records Footnote: Here is the photo that inspired today’s artwork

 The wonderful Pomegranate   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by another seasonal favourite fruit, the wonderful pomegranate The Norman invasion of England gave us words from French that fits our needs Any round fruit was 'Pom' giving us the name Pomegranate or fruit with seeds Today's artwork celebrates 5000 years of cultivation that was beloved of kings Each of the hundred of juicy seed sacs or arils pulls at your very heartstrings Sparkling like rubies, each seed is gift wrapped in a translucent sarcotesta The tough rind protects the sweet contents even as the seeds swell for a fiesta The rind also has most of the antioxidants; traditional medicine uses it dried So when you enjoy a pomegranate remember the are many reasons to feel satisfied

 Sailing ... a metaphor for Life   Loose watercolor and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 I find myself returning to sailing ... there's something very stark Each outing is as unpredictable as life itself, on which we all embark Navigating through the day, you suddenly trim the sail to go full speed And just as quickly you starting luffing up, proceeding slowly if you need You can't master sailing or life, reading books. You have to experience it Life too requires us to cast out into deep waters, takes courage and grit Being open to learning from your mistakes can make all the difference Between learning the ropes to success or drowning in your ignorance

 The delicious Persimmon     Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by the seasonal abundant persimmon harvest in my neighborhood at this time of the year Each Fall season, the tree sheds all its leaves to reveal its golden orange fruit It's like an early Christmas tree festooned with golden globes - how very astute This is nature at work, the early fruits that ripen emit faint trace of ethylene A catalyst for the fruit nearby to accelerate the ripening process like a machine Right on cue racoons, squirrels and flocks of birds swoop down for a sugary feast Disbursing the seeds far and wide, nature’s way to make sure a few survive at least Persimmons go back two thousand years in Chinese culture but are now everywhere We love the Fuyu variety which is both sweet and crisp and juicy beyond compare

Eruption of Mount St Helens  Artwork by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by a History Channel article.     This day in history … Eruption of Mount St Helens on November 22, 1842. Known locally as _Lawetlat’la_ or “the one who smokes, Mount St Helens erupted  in vast columns of white steam spewing ash, with eyewitness accounts reporting ash fallout as far as 80 km away.

 Beach Walk   Original artwork and wistful poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 The gentle sound of waves lapping on the beach washes all my stresses away I pause to breathe in the invigorating breeze as it sweeps up the sea spray  Throwing caution to the wind, I stroll barefooted bursting bubbles of foam  A raft of sea otters frolic playfully amongst the kelp they call home  It's such a treasure to find a quiet deserted beach that is pristine clean Far from the madding crowd, where you can soak in the ambience that's serene Luckily we have such a spot where we can be one with God’s creation  Tell me what is your favorite way to be in nature for relaxation?

  Rooster booster   Original artwork and whimsical poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Are you having a bad hair day? Just listen what I have to say! Nobody ever seems to care at all. Nobody waits for my wake up call. What’s with all these smart phones ? Their alarm chime have no backbone. I’ll just keep on keeping on, for sure. The lady hens simply love my coiffure

 Leave with Zero   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by th homily of the day by Rev Fr Brendan McGuire of St Simon's Church, Los Altos CA encouraging us to circulate not accumulate our gifts of talent and time. Consider this tree that started as a wee seedling nourished by the rain It flourished where it was planted, weathering storms over and over again   In time the sapling spread it's branches giving shelter to birds of the air To make no mention of it's abundant delicious fruit would simply not be fair     Strangers would rest under the shade of its branches when it got really hot Not thinking about how the tree kept giving all it had, even if wasn't a lot     A powerful lesson for us who came into this world and will leave it empty handed Leave with zero, for if can take a U-Haul to the graveyard, there t'will be stranded

 Sunset conversations with Daddy   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, recalling fondly the many evenings spent just with my father in 1987 I’ll never forget the fond sunset chats with my father Osmond, ever After an easy evening ride to the hills overlooking the Mula-Mutha river His voice was soft and gentle like the cool summer breeze His thoughtful comments, full of wisdom, put my angst at ease. It wasn’t so much what he said, but more how he made me feel. Like he understood how and I felt even before I could reveal. He listened without interrupting; never once losing interest. My troubles were his troubles, he only wished for me the best! Our conversations have long been lifted on the wings of a dove  What remains with me is his calming presence and never ending love.

 Strawberries Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by the intense flavor of garden-fresh strawberries ripen in the California sun Strawberries are not berries but aggregate accessory fruit with seeds on the outside The seeds give a crunchy feel perfect when mixed with the sweet tangy receptacle inside Those tiny dots on the surface are 'achene', each an independent fruit with a seed That soft white flesh has natural fruit sugars, antioxidants and is flavorful indeed The unique aroma comes from over 350 volatile compounds, one in particular, furaneol It has a very unique caramel-sweet scent that human noses sense no matter how small The intense red colour and the strawberry's shape tugs evokes feeling of romance Dipped in chocolate, garnish cocktails or eaten with cream - love at first glance

 In the fog   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025   Not much stirs on a cold winter morning on these misty hills. The thick fog lies heavy like a damp blanket, sending chills. On the ridge, a virile Mule buck cautiously sticks out its head. Its impressive rack of antlers, his calling card, signals dread. It's rutting season, so the buck jealously guards the deer in esterus  Younger bucks watch from afar, eager to see if they can be prosperous Sadly, a hunter in camouflage and a high-powered scope becomes restive Isn't it cold-blooded murder? Shoot with a camera, live and let live.

 Earth, Wind and Sea   Artwork and original motivational poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 It's true, isn't it? When worlds collide, then out of the confusion, Life burst forth unexpectedly, adapting and evolving in profusion. The hostile seas that crush rocks into sand particles harbour seaweeds. Crabs, shrimp and mussels exist in abundance with so much algae as feed. Flocks of migratory terns and plovers stop by to refuel before they fly. These are Nature's hot spots, vibrant biomes that amplify and magnify.   Lessons for us who face difficulties with bravado that says, 'I won't quit!' When the going gets tough, the tough get going. It takes courage and grit.

 Aurora Borealis   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by the rare sighting of Aurora Borealis at lower latitudes caused by a massive Geostorm triggered by unusual coronal mass ejection Every once in a while, the aurora borealis lights up the night sky   A mesmerizing display of shifting patterns, a true feast for the eye     Some say it's spirits dancing in delight, others say it's Divine presence.   It's charged solar particles colliding with Earth's atmosphere, in essence.     Red colour from high-altitude oxygen particles, green from those down below   Solar particles colliding with lower altitude nitrogen set the purple aglow.     The Book of Wisdom reminds us that even as we marvel at nature's wonder,   To not think of our Creator would be nothing short of a callous blunder.

 Reflections  All is flux, so learn to live in the here and now   Don’t be distracted by the why or the how     Let go of worldly worries that suck out all the joy   Learning to savor God’s creation is the real McCoy     The wind whispering sweet nothings with no one in sight   Mischievous clouds streaking across in broad daylight      Living oblivious to creation is not the way to live at all   Slow down to let God's creation charm and enthrall

 Who’s the Bird brain? Original painting and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, a nod to the scientific study that slowed birdsongs to 1/10th or 1/20th speed, resulting in humans realising that “simple bird chirp” is in fact a rich sequence of notes, trills, and microtones imperceptible to the human ear. Marvels of creation! Loose painting of a bird after a drink of water Staying hydrated before the day becomes hotter Its senses attuned to the slightest sign of danger A sneaky cat hiding in the thicket, a game changer Their keen eyesight distinguishes ultraviolet light Distinguishing more colours than the human eye sight Its ears tell pitch differences far beyond our hearing Tiny brains process complex songs - advanced engineering Before you demean it, saying 'bird-brained,' think again. This marvel of creation is quite the master of its domain.

 Lofty Mountain Peaks   Artwork and pensive original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 Lofty mountain peaks, the abode of the Gods. Lovingly caressed by gentle, willowy clouds. Silent spectators to man's feeble actions. Vainglorious attempts are mere distractions! Building dams and bridges... all for nought. Pipe dreams that invariably crumble and rot. Come ye with a pure heart, enjoy God's creation. You are guardians for future generations

 Not ready to be cast aside   Artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, food for thought This world seems to be in a hurry, even if it doesn't know where it's headed.   "Full speed ahead, out with the old and in with the new", so say the hotheaded.     Having run the proverbial race, it is notions like this that seem a tad outdated.   Take Delft ceramics, for instance, a timeless work of art, elegant 'n understated   Hand-painted when craftsmen deftly wielded the brush, breathing life into ceramic     The pears, too, seem past their prime, but that's when you think of a new dynamic   Look beyond the texture, and you find a lucious flavour enhanced with wee sweetness   If you don't know how to appreciate it, then all you end up seeing is obsoleteness     The Japanese tradition of _Keirō_, calls for respect for elders in their silver years.   To learn from their wisdom and experience, joys and sorrows, laug...

Light and Shadow Original imaginative artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, as a nod to the joys and challenges of painting light and shadow Every photographer knows that to get good photos, you have to understand light   Light and shadow can be your biggest asset, creating magic if you get it right     Au plien air artists also struggle with creating realistic-looking shadows   I love creating imaginative paintings where light influences what I compose     But the master of shadows was undoubtedly *Eratosthenes*, a librarian by trade   At noon on the summer solstice on 240 BC, an object in Syene didn't cast shade     Meanwhile, north of Syene, at his library in Alexandria, the shadow was 7.2 degrees   As a librarian, he knew the distance between the two was 800 km; the rest was a breeze     Using simple geometry, he calculated the circumference to be between 35 and 40 thousand.   Modern advanced satellite-aide...

 The Scourge of Invasive Species   Artwork and pensive poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, echoing the urgent need to be more thoughtful guardians of this world so that future generation can also enjoy God's beautiful creation What's not to like about a cuddly rabbit skipping merrily in the wild ... hmm, plenty. Let's see   In 1859, Farmer Austin released 24 rabbits on his Victoria farm for sport, to run around carefree.   'To breed like rabbits' shouldn't surprise you that they have multiplied into hundreds of millions.   Wreaking havoc on the fragile Australian ecology that continues unabated, hurting even civilians.   Rabbits are voracious feeders and soon denuded the grass, causing the collapse of many native species.    To try to right this wrong, scientists tried targeted biological warfare, which spread through faeces.   Paradise parrots, bilby and numbat all but vanished from the face of the earth while rabbits thrived.   Dingoes,...

 Owl: The ultimate stealth hunter   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by the owl nest we built 3 years ago to counter the post-COVID rodent explosion In the eerie silence of the night, an owl sits motionless, listening for the slightest sounds.   Somewhere in the darkness, a rodent cautiously sniffs the cool air to see if danger abounds.     In a game of Russian roulette, it skips quietly over a branch and lands on a leaf with a crunch.     Oops, because that's all the owl needed to turn its head 135 degrees ... hmm, something to munch!     Its laser-sharp eyes zero in on the spot despite the pitch darkness, and it glides effortlessly   Without flapping its wings, it homes in on the rodent, its talons outstreched rather perilously     The rodent catches movement from the corner of its eye and, in panic tries to scurry to safety.   Razor-sharp claws end its misery as the owl swallows its ...

 The Migration of the Monarch Butterfly - defying science in stunning fashion   Original artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025 - Be warned, once you see the millions of Monarchs you cannot unsee it. Visit https://youtube.com/shorts/WwlWgK-mHjI Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is special for the people of Michoacán in Mexico.   Each year, millions of Monarch butterflies end a 3000 mile migration to meet here alfresco.     The annual arrival of monarch butterflies at this precise time has become a symbol of hope   Imagine millions of wings fluttering in unison in the misty oyamel fir forests - total dope!     The dense forest canopy filters out the scorching sun, heavy rain showers and nighttime frost    Giving the butterflies safety in numbers, their treacherous 3,000-mile journey will not be lost     Scientists are baffled; butterflies usually live for 6 weeks, so how come four generations know?   Evolution ...

 Mediterranean cuisine   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, a nod to one of my (and a billion others) all-time favourite cuisines   So let me ask you this question - foodies or not, "What are your top five world cuisines?"   No, it's not a trick question, and there are no right or wrong answers, so you can come clean     For me, there's nothing like Mediterranean cuisine - it speaks of freshness and earthy flavours   Olive oil is like liquid ambrosia of the Gods that adds just the right touch that you can savour     Add to it fresh herbs bursting with flavour like oregano, basil, rosemary, garlic and thyme   And you can't go wrong, whether it is a hearty soup or a wholesome pasta - add a twist of lime     Traditional meals cooked with love, shared with family and friends with wine, cheese and bread   Each region has it's own preferences but it's the universal appeal that makes it so widespread

 Bloom   Artwork and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, inspired by a chat with a friend who keeps chickens You gotta hand it over to creation ... consider the bloom on the eggshell Say what? Bloom? Yup, you heard right, bloom is the egg's invisible citadel.   This protein-dense coating on the outside of eggs seals harmful bacteria out Preserving and safeguarding the precious contents for a month or thereabout   Small wonder then that the eggs in nature stay safe and viable until hatched   Naturally, the bloom of waterbird eggs has a waterproofing element attached     Industrial farming has no patience for nature's wonders; eggs are washed clean   Enter the need for refrigeration and the spectre of salmonella - how obscene!