Epperson Artworks

Dandelion

2011-12-02T11:41:00.001-08:00

DANDELION: AN AMAZING HERB

Description...Dandelion is very common and easy to identify. Although, it can be confused with other plants that share a simalar appearance (see Sow Thistle). You only need to follow a few simple rules to identify this plant. First, make sure there is no main stalk, only flower stems. (Note: flower stems are hollow and can be either very long (a little more than a foot high!) or very small (only one or two inches in height) . ) Off of these stems grow lovely yellow flowers with numerous tiny petals. The flowers open when it is sunny, and close when it is not. Most gardeners are so furious with these "annoying, pesky weeds" that they don't ever stop to appreciate their beauty. Plus, little do they know, these plants probably contain much more edible/medicinal value than the vegetables grown in their garden (see below). Now make sure the leaves are green, deeply lobed, and hairless. They grow in a basal rosette, right off the root. Which brings me to the root identifictation. Dandelion has a brown taproot. Please note: the whole of the dandelion plant produces a milky sap when cut or damaged.

Edibility...The entire plant (and I mean the ENTIRE PLANT) is completely edible, safe, trusted, nutritious, and incredibly healthy. The only downfall: it is VERY BITTER. But, when young, it is less bitter. You can use the leaves and flowers to make a salad more exciting, throw it in sandwiches, make tea out of it, or just eat it plain. Experiment with this wonderful pant! Your body will thank you! The root may be used as a healthy coffee subsitute.

Medicinal Uses...BRACE YOURSELF for the AMAZING medicinal qualities this "pesky weed" has to offer:

Dandelion is a rich source of...vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, magnisium, zinc, and more. Impressed yet?

It also may be able to...prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse your skin and eliminate acne; improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus; and, at the same time, have no negative side effects and selectively act on only what ails you. But that's not all. There are many more health benefits that I'm not going to state here.

By now you may be thinking this is all too good to be true. But it's not! All you need to do is find a way to ingest this great herb, which is probably growing in your backyard right now.

Habitat and Range...Throughout the United States; found in lawns, fields and meadows, along roadsides, cracks of sidewalks, and disturbed habitats. Native of Europe and Asia. Very abundant and common.

Word Origin...Suprisingly, the word dandelion does not have anything to do with the yellow flowers. Dandelion is actually a french word that means "dent de lion" which means the tooth of a lion. This is reffering to the notched leaves.

2011-11-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

Another new beginning! Now relocated in Carbondale, Colorado (near Aspen) and I couldn't be happier. I am finally back in an art studio and able to pick up those

brushes again. Here's the latest painting I finished after starting it nearly a year and a half ago. More to follow!

Opening for Show at Boundary Bay Brewery

2009-11-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

Acrylics, Oils and Glicee prints, Nov. 21 - Jan. 1, 2010

Thanks to those who came to my opening this morning! It was a short but sweet gathering. People were happy to come in from the cold to warm up with coffee and croissants and talk about art.

Today it is obvious that fall has given notice and winter is decidedly approaching, right on schedule. Where do I get inspiration now that harvest is over and the weeks of gloomy dampness stretch out slowly before us? The Earth must tilt away from the sun a little more each day, the hours of daylight must get shorter and the nights longer, the weather grow colder and the landscape grayer before I can even begin to allow myself to dream of a new garden, a new beginning.

Where to get inspiration?

As people have done in these northern climates for countless generations, we must use this time to go within. The seasons gently offer this time of intropection, hibernation and an eventual regeneration. As the roots of plants and trees hold energy and strength to get through a cold winter, so must we go deep within for awhile.

Like the last leaf hanging on a tree, I'm a little reluctant to let go of the memories of sunny warm days!

Cascadia Weekly Article

2009-11-20T11:01:00.001-08:00

Read the article by Amy Kepferle, "From the Ground Up", written about my current art show at Boundary Bay Brewery in the November 18, 2009 Cascadia Weekly. Amy, I think you've perfectly described this show as well as my career!

Finishing Touches on "Pear Solo"

2009-11-12T10:04:00.001-08:00

I love pears! No, I really love pears. They are so beautifully shaped. They blush rosy and freckled under the ripening rays of the summer sun, getting sweeter, heavier, more fragrant as the season progresses. They almost beg to be picked and eaten, and practically volunteer to fall into your lap if you would venture under the humble branches of a well laden tree. And their succulence is...rapturous. Such are my thoughts when painting the simple, perfect fruit known as a pear.

Thanks to Matt Armendariz, a man obsessed with food, drink, & everything in between, for the use of his photograph. I finally got it done, Matt! Visit his awesome website:
www.mattbites.com
www.mattarmendariz.com

"Onion Basket", Acrylic on canvas

2009-11-07T20:23:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite paintings. It's an appropriate piece for this time of year, as the fall harvest sits in our pantry and Thanksgiving approaches on the calendar. I worked hard to recapture the essence of a magical moment. This painting took (what felt like) endless layers of paint, in thin washes, to give it the depth that was demanded.

Most times, I feel my pieces are never really finished. Not so in this case. I wouldn't take away a brushstroke or add another one.

Epperson Artworks

2009-11-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

Visit my website for more paintings!Epperson Artworks

Slideshow, "November Fifth"

2009-11-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

The blustery fall weather has been making its way from the dark stormy skies, onto my canvas! Check out my newest acrylic, November Fifth, in its emergence at my website, EppersonArtworks. Each day I work on this painting, I will be taking a photo and adding to this slideshow, so you can experience an unusual peek into this particular creative process. I don't know where it will end up any more than you do! Definitely half the fun in what I spend so much of my time pursuing art is the mystery and adventure of what chooses to come into form on my canvas. Hope you like it.