Autumn Brew

Autumn Brew, Oct. 12, 2014

Autumn brew, fall apple harvest and colored leaves all elements of our short little road trip to Bayfield, Wisconsin.

The morning light was so bright and crisp I couldn't resist creating this image first thing Sunday morning and taking a sip or two of the variety of beers.

Vases, Light & Shadow

Vases: October  2013  (available for purchase)

As I go through my photo archives of last year's initial experiments with still life compositions this image keeps calling me.  I cannot tell you how beautiful the lines and colors are in that center rear vase that is made from wood. 

I love it!  The other pieces are lovely on their own but the vase is so singularly striking and precious.

When I started to collect items for this still life I wasn't 100% sure what I was going to photograph.  I went through Karl's collectibles upstairs in his man cave and pulled these items from a variety of different corners and shelves.  On their own they were nice but together they really complimented each other.

It feels important to document these collectibles that he has accumulated over the years so they are remembered in an image so that  they have a second life beyond their short life on our shelf.

Light & Shadow images on display

Bottles on Green, #8740, September 2014 (available for purchase)

I am so excited to announce that the day has come to select a few of my recent Light & Shadow still life photography series images and share them with my local community and online.

Join me

October 4, 2015 - Opening Reception

October 16, 2015 - 6:30 - 8:30p.m

KBEMfm Radio hosts GALLERY GROOVES, music and art

November 1, 2015 - 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Meet and Talk to The Artists Closing Event

Vine Arts Center

GET BEHIND THE WORK, II, a member show of the

Vine Arts Center

2637 - 26th Avenue South, Mpls., MN  55406

www.vineartscenter.org

Last Door Standing In the Wood

Red Door, October 10, 2014

Ahhh. The Red Door, how did I love thee let me count the ways.
Karl relocated the door from a friend's property in Trade River, Wisconsin fifteen years ago and installed it in the back woods at the cabin.

It has always been the doorway to the woods and countless friends have been photographed with their hand on the door knob with the question always "Are you going in the forest or out of the forest?"

It has suffered through the hottest summer days, strongest winds and deepest snow storms.

Two days after it received a fresh coat of red paint it fell over for the last time.
The impact of the heavy, wet wood pushed it apart at all the seams.
I loved it.

Next spring when I look out to that spot I'll imagine it still there.
I'll remember all the friends who have put their hand on the door knob and walked on.

Ceramics on Blue, Light & Shadow

Ceramics on Blue, #8649, September 2014  (available for purchase)

Blue, blue, blue.
I don't know exactly why I wanted this image to be so blue but typical black and white seemed so, typical.

The surrounding area was actually very green and I guess that made me go so far on the other side of the color spectrum. It was the brightest time of the morning when the sunrise light is the harshest but if I was shooting film, the film would have soaked up the light like a sponge.  Digital image capture isn't quite as loving but I've learned to love the harsh contrast and what photographers call "blown out highlights."  If we were shooting film, they wouldn't be blown out or, if I was bringing a suitcase of special filters I could tone it down. But I don't want to for this effect.  Got sun?  Love it!

All these ceramics  have been used for floral arrangements up at our cabin at one time or another, except maybe the one that is my husband Karl's ceramic wine glass.  Rarely used for drinking if I remember correctly.

Ahh, the painting with light and color in the glorious moments of sunrise.

It doesn't get much better than this (unless it was sunset.)

Still Life with Fruit

Still Life with Fruit, #8740: September 2014

What an awesome experience to transition to a new photography series that excites me just as much as some of my past work.  I guess an artist CAN change.

After two decades of focusing on the beauty of the human figure in various locations and lighting patterns I've discovered the quiet beauty of  the still life as a serious body of work, not just an occasional random portrait.

No surprise really, if one looks at the countless number of floral studies I've done.  Again, simple beauty and about as minimalistic as one can get.

But now, let's add quantity, quality, light, shadows, reflectors and a life time of experience and see what comes up.

Let the journey begin.

Invite to Light and Shadow series images on display

I am so excited to announce that the day has come
to select a few of my recent Light and Shadow still life photography series images
and share them with my local community and online.  

JOIN ME
October 4th - Opening Reception

October 16th 6:30 - 8:30
KBEMfm Radio hosts GALLERY GROOVES: music and art

November 1st - 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Meet and Talk to The Artists Closing Event

Vine Arts Center

GET BEHIND THE WORK, II MEMBER SHOW

2637 - 26th Avenue South, Mpls. MN  55406

www.vineartscenter.org

Cat In The Light

Cat in the Light, Sept. 2014

Still life, Cat in the Light was not intentional. Not planned. But simply a few elements that came together on a bright, well lit Sunday morning in late September.

Not a high brow, well thought out fine art composition.  The light makes it, truly. Nothing else is really important but I'm thankful for every little bit of fall color that is evident.

Books for Vacation

Checking out books at the Library

Checking out books at the library.

How many books do you take along with you on vacation?

I've got 4 printed books (3 art, 1 poetry)
and 3 eBooks (1 fiction, 1 art, 1 business)
I know which one I probably will never open.

I think that's enough.

(photo created at the main downtown Mpls. Hennepin County Library.)

The Light. The Lens. The Love.

Still Life: The Light. The Lens. The Love. July 2014

The Light. The Lens. The Love.
Truly a labor of love to create this still life portrait.

We all have our challenges to create our art work. Yes. I believe it.

These roses were a gift from Anne P., a friend and a client. I loved them when they were freshly presented to me. But since that time they had been moved around several times and were no longer fresh when I finally had the time and the natural light available to create the still life.

As always, I experimented around with 10 different variations of light at sunset aka "the golden hour" and finally fell in love with this one.

I hope it is obvious that the lens theme spanned a variety of technological eras.
All of which I've lived with and loved at various times. Even my iPhone had to get in the picture because that is my image capture device now more often than it should be.  And I wanted to bring in my oldest camera because the camera, like the roses, were past their prime, but both still loved, nonetheless.

All About The Light

All About The Light, July 2014

I was laying in bed thinking about making a still life picture, got up, dressed and saw the light coming in from the east window into the purple room aka the guest room.

I quickly grabbed a couple of things, like my camera and my tripod, and hid a couple of other things.

Here's my first photo of the day. It was ALL ABOUT THE LIGHT.

Technology: too little, too much, just right

Okay, I've downloaded the Blogger app to my iPad mini (again.)  I think I did this before but disabled it for some good reason, I'm sure.

So let's see. Technology? How much is too little, too much, just right? To manage a group art exhibit what do I really need / want.  Who else will be on board with it anyway? Just me?

I honestly don't know. Here's my inventory of technological resources  for the moment:

(1)My Desktop has all the standard Word, Microsoft Office, Excel, plus my trusty old Adobe Photoshop and Picasa.
(2) the iPhone I'm trying to minimize the app installations now that my old phone is pretty filled up.
(3) It's this nifty little iPad Mini that will need to be monitored a bit, I supposed, so I don't go overboard with apps and RSS feeds from too many "how to manage a group art exhibit" websites. LOL
(4) I also need to study up on Evernote.  I know a biz woman who uses this to the max for team projects, which might be comparable to this effort.
(5) I'd like to give some thought on how I will use Facebook and Twitter, of course, and possibly LinkedIn.
(6) We'll see. And of course, I'll be creating, editing and manipulating digital images that I'll be exhibiting for the show.

All technology demands.
All great learning experiences.
Coincidentally today, for the first time in a year, I put on the t-shirt that says,
"The journey is the destination."

I would say that managing a group show and participating as an artist myself will certainly be an amazing journey. 

I'm ready.

Art Exhibit:Worse Case Scenario - Why Nobody Came

WHOA: I found this site while researching  "art exhibit promotions."
She (Allyson Stanfield) has everything and more.

Nothing like posting the bad news, Wendy.

"WHY NOBODY CAME"
http://www.artbizblog.com/2014/04/why-nobody-came.html
by Allyson Stanfield, April 2, 2014

But it's perfect because I always like to think BIG PICTURE, best case/worse case scenario and then plan accordingly.

So make note of this and don't let it happen for the Art Salon For Fertile Minds group show.

Art Exhibit Tip: Know Your Audience

Thinking and researching all the fun details of putting together an art exhibit.

Here's 10 Ideas for How to Promote Your Local Art Show or Group Exhibition
http://emptyeasel.com/2013/09/17/10-ideas-for-how-to-promote-your-local-art-show-or-group-exhibition/
Thank you  www.EmptyEasel.com

Fortunately, I know my specific audience:
Artists who have been engaged aka visited the Art Salon For Fertile Minds between inception, February 2011 until the approximate exhibit time in 2015.

woot hoot!
I'm excited!

Curating an Art Exhibition

I've given this a lot of thought and I've decided that I want to commit to curating an art exhibition sometime in 2015 consisting of the artist members of the Art Salon For Fertile Minds.

My goal is to curate an art exhibit with members that encourages
*personal creativity and group collaboration between the members,
*community engagement among local residents and, for myself,
*a new goal to create 5 - 10 new fine art images that follow within the same theme
*a platform  to display and sell new images reproduced on canvas

I think the artist members are ready to take on the challenge and would welcome the opportunity to work toward a fine art show for many of the same reasons I do.

Yes, I can.
Yes, we all can.

See the Beauty As We Age

Since February 2011 my husband, Karl and I have hosted a monthly gathering called the Art Salon For Fertile Minds.  Essentially we have recreated the essence of art salons from the 1920s in Europe and later occurring in the US.  Until very recently, we were truly a discussion group.

At the suggestion of our member, Becky W. and the enthusiastic support of some of the other members we are now adding in a "show me" element.  We are adamant that we are not there to "critique and criticize" people's work.  We allow the show me element as another way to deepen relationships, get to know each other and have a greater appreciation for each artist's talents and artwork.

At the February 12, 2014 gathering we showed "art from the heart." Members brought poems, paintings, photography, collage and more.  I showed images that were true labors of love and important to me. 

Still Life: Valentine's Roses, February 2014  (available for purchase)

These roses were a delight to receive from my husband, Karl for Valentine's Day and later, to photograph.  For several days I moved them around the house to capture the sunrise light and sunset light and also to enjoy their aging process.  This still life on our library table was the final one and my favorite because the flowers had started to brown around the edges which give more texture and definition to their whiteness.

Isn't that a bit like real  life?  We change over time and hopefully develop a new beauty as we age and start to brown around the edges.

I hope you agree.

Valentine Variations 2014

It sounds like a musical performance but it's not.  Instead it is Valentine Variations of a lovely bouquet of white roses that I received for Valentine's Day.  It is a gift that I enjoy and photograph many different days in many different ways.

Love - Still LIfe

Thinking of LOVE

Thinking of a  LOVE and Valentine's Day theme still life.

Originated because our Art Salon For Fertile Minds friends put forth an art challenge.  Create something that represents who and what you love.

This says it all for me except that the cats are there symbolically.

Fruits and vegetables still life

Fruit and Vegetable Still Life

While husband Karl was cooking a delicious Egg Drop Soup in the kitchen,
I was working in the dining room.  I painted the backdrop canvas and then borrowed some food from
his kitchen so I could create ...

Still Life with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Makes me hungry looking at it.

Meraki