Walk Into The Picture #5

Sit, Sip and Smell,  May 2017

Walk into the picture and smell the lilacs.  They are so irresistible aren't they?  In the spring when the flowers are blooming and the air is sweet and fragrant it's almost impossible not to harvest the flowers in the yard, isn't it?

 If you examine closely you'll see three different types of lilacs that have subtle differences, one from the other. The bleeding hearts are always so delicate that you may be afraid to touch them, so be gentle.

Can you help us name the little yellow buds?  My husband thinks they're yarrow but the pictures I see on the web don't match with yarrow.  We've been gifted with them for the first time this year.  Don't know where they came from or how long they're staying but I love them.  And given the decision to pull them or let them flourish, I opted for let them be.

Look at the three books from which you can choose, "Still Life," "Poem A Day," and "Michelangelo's Notebook."   Choose the one that calls to you.  Or, bring your own book and help yourself to the chilled glass of white wine.  Pearls always make any occasion better, in my opinion. You can pass or play.

I invite you to find a comfortable spot to sit and sip and smell the flowers.  Enjoy this moment of mindfulness.

 Fine Art Reproductions Available at Fine Art America:

  https://fineartamerica.com/featured/sit-sip-and-smell-may-2017-wendy-blomseth.html

Walk Into the Picture #3

Just For You, May 2015 

Walk into the picture and feel the warm sunshine.  It's been a full day for you and this is your time.  Just for you, you've poured a glass of chilled white wine so you can decompress a bit.

Come closer and touch the fragile petals of the flowers.  Smell each bud and notice the different unique smells of each one.  Which flower is your favorite today?  Does that gerber daisy in the center call to you?  Just enjoy it for a few moments.  Don't think about anything else.

Pull up a chair in sun, if you wish, or just on the edge.  Put your feet up and take a break.

This is your moment of mindfulness.  Enjoy!

"Just For You" still life image available for purchase at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/just-for-you-wendy-blomseth.html?newartwork=true

Roses and Wine

Roses and Wine, #2253, April 2017 

How lovely when a friend brings a bottle of wine to share with our dinner together and to add the perfect addition to this still life portrait.

Sweets

Sweets, #2034,  April 2017 

Sweets for my sweet sister who not only is a very sweet and kind person but also an excellent baker who brought a delicious blueberry cake for Easter dinner.

Love In Light

"Love in Light" Still Life, #9221

Love Still Life

Love Still Life #8489 

June 3rd Still Life

June 3rd  Still Life

Variations on the Sunflower Theme

Well, it appears that the sunflowers "got a hold on me" again this summer.

Is it their big "face," their bright colors, their tall stature in the vase? I think I best give this some thought.  It might be said that I photograph more sunflowers than any other flower.

Shown below is what photographers call a contact sheet, which is an old fashioned term, if you think about it now.  I'm not laying down actual negatives on a sheet of photographic paper to create identical size reproductions.   Oh well, no worries.

These are what I'd call "test shots. "  They are the result of two different weekends with two different bouquets, environments, backgrounds and more.  Take a look at how simple changes can result in subtle changes in the image as well.

Serendipity and Sunflowers!

What a fabulous coincidence! Serendipity! Fate!

As I was driving with Karl to the store at Moose Lake, I impulsively asked to be dropped off at the Moose Lake Flea Market and look for some fresh local flower bouquets.

I casually commented that I wondered if T.J.'s daughter was selling her home grown sunflowers up at his store, T. J.'s Country Store (Home of the Best Wurst)  in Mahtowa, MN.  But, no, we didn't have to drive up there today.  I was thinking that we'd go up there next weekend and buy some brats and bacon.

I got out of the car and walked through the row of vendors outside the Flea Market warehouse.  At the very last tent there was a family of three selling beautiful sunflower bouquets in glass jars. I commented to the group that I had wondered if T.J's daughter was selling sunflowers today, but we didn't drive up there, so how lucky I was to come across their sunflowers.

They all made eye contact with each other and the women said  "I am T.J.'s daughter, Sarah, and this is T.J.'s  granddaughter." Not wanting to be ignored the man jumped up and said "I'm T.J.'s son-in-law, Dave.
We all laughed at that one. They talked about their sunflower business, "Sunflower Sisters" and their  farm.  I relayed several compliments about their delicious brats, sausage, bacon and their sunflowers. Can you imagine that the next person who joined our friendly conversation was none other than the "J" in the name T.J., the wife of the owner.

I recounted my story of being held "hostage" by their bouquet of sunflowers I bought last year (August 2014). I must have taken 30+ pictures over three days up at the cabin. I kept making minor variations on the angle of the light, fruit, vegetables, serving platter, etc.

Still Life: Sunflowers in August,  2014  (available for purchase)

Sara said "Come up to the farm sometime and you can see all the sunflowers in the field."  Hopefully that will happen someday.

We drove home and Karl went to his easel, canvas and paint brushes to "work."  I went into the cabin aka my Studio Up North and set up a still life portrait commemorating our upcoming 16th Wedding Anniversary with today's sunflower bouquet and the wine bottle given by Betsy & Jack Doyle at  our 1999 wedding celebration. I'll be creating this into one of several different  wedding anniversary cards  for Karl.

Still Life: Sunflowers, Aug 15, 2015  (available for purchase)

I am very pleased with the simple composition and rich saturation in the colors, especially the flowers, of course.

But, tomorrow is another day and quite possibly, if the sun comes out for me, I'll be held "hostage" once again creating a new still life portrait being kissed by the morning light.

Fall Reflections

Fall Reflections, Oct 24, 2014

The fall colors this time of year are truly irresistible, especially when Karl brings home a lovely table arrangement for our dining room table.

But before it can sit too long on our table it needs to be photographed while it's still fresh.  And what doesn't finish off an arrangement better than reflective glass with some liquid in it!

Pickled Peppers

Fall Harvest, October 18, 2014

Pickled peppers, pumpkins and all things fall harvest.

I'm so lucky that Karl and our friends Allen and Judy spent the afternoon cutting up vegetables. I was worthless because the light was calling me and I was focused on creating fall photo.

We all have our talents and should play to our strengths.  LOL