Framing, Framing, Framing!

Today, and I mean all day, I have been framing the photos for the Tantric Cafe in Sacramento. That's 18 in all!! Since some of them have been stored, I thought it would be better to open them from their frames and clean up the glass and re-do the backing. So that's what is taking so long! I've got a couple more to do and then I saw that I had made a boo-boo way back when! One of the photos matted in black, I accidentally used the wrong side and you can vaguely see the brand name stamped along one side. It is vague, so I guess no one ever did see it, but I can, so now I will be cutting another mat - can't have that.

Anyone have bunions out there? ;) I'm gonna have to soak my feet tonight. I'm posting one of the photos of the Downtown Sacramento series that I framed. I took this shot in 2001. It was what was left of some color artwork placed over a condemned building, and in black and white it was pretty awesome!

SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS

Finally got around to uploading my San Antonio Mission series to my website. I took photos of all five remaining missions, however, the Alamo photos were lost - I have no idea where they are! Who stole them or what! ;) The ones posted are Espada, Concepcion, San Juan and San Jose. So go immediately to Galleries on my website and see for yourselves.

Making all my notifications via: email, Facebook, and my Blog takes alot of time. I think I can connect my Blog to Facebook, but I don't know if I'm really sold on doing that.

I'm still working on the chemicals. I think what I will do is write what I think they should be (or what I want to use) and run them by my friend who used to have a darkroom and he also shot the same film I do: 400 TMAX. He'll know for sure. And then I'll be ordering them.

The other little task I have sitting here is to 'tally up' all the costs of building this new art room and darkroom. Hhhmmmmmmmm....do I really want to do that!?

Darkroom Chemicals

I have finally taken the time to sit down and write out what my next steps are in the whole realm of the photography world. First of all, I do have the large number of photos to put together. I need frames for the NYC ones - 6 ea of 11x14; and then there are the Sacramento ones, which will be mostly 8x10s, maybe one 11x14. I got the impression that the owners of Tantric want some that are abstract in a way - so I've got those. The San Francisco photos are already framed.

Then I need to order the chemicals and I can do that online also. Most of the chemicals are in powder form. I have to admit I was never involved with mixing the chemicals in school for the print developing, so I actually had to study up on that issue. And I'm needing three more 1 gallon containers, and I think I'm going to spring for a separate small timer (in addition to the GraLab timers) and I'll be needing a proof printer. And that should be it!

And lastly, the one item that has nothing to do with photography: the guest bedroom (my old office). I shampooed the carpet in there this morning and it came out great. Ron was surprised. I had glue on the carpet from overspray of photo mount! ; ) Oops! So I need to get that done soon as we're having company. All in all, I'll be busy!

Painting

Today I ended up painting my 'old office'. It took about 3 and 1/2 hours of painting after I taped off the room. It came out really nice - it is a light coral color. And I have hopes of decorating it in SouthWest design. Tomorrow I will start painting the trim and doors - that's the hard part! Other than that I am whipped! good nite!

Multi-Tasking

So did I ever mention I was a multi-tasker?! Well, I am. Always working on more than one project - but getting everything done too I might add. Today I went to the paint store and got paint for my 'old' office that I will be turning back into a second guest bedroom. And I need to do that pretty fast as we are having family come up the end of May! I spent time yesterday prepping the room: removing all the switch plates, patching the nail holes, and cleaning the baseboard and ceiling light and fan. I'll be painting the room a soft coral color with two shades lighter for the trim and doors; the trim color is more of a beige color.

My husband and I joke about our 'decor'. We call it the "Chinese-Cowboy" theme going on as I am Asian influence and he is definitely Western! And the Chinese did help build the American railroad, so it's a good match. We'll put his saddle in there as well as some Western artworks that he did. And my sister Pat is donating one of her American Indian paintings that she is not using. I have high hopes that this room will definitely be the South West room!

I also bought a Plantation white shade for the studio as it is facing south and will be getting sun in the summertime. My husband gets to put that up. Tomorrow I have some ordering to do: paper supplies and developing supplies. Busy, busy!

Lost Negatives

My goal yesterday was to pull out all the photos that I will be using. The San Francisco ones are all matted and framed and ready to go; NYC photos are matted, just need the frames; and Sacramento........well, I spent half the day searching thru my negatives, over and over again, came really close and found a couple negatives of the series but not the ones I needed! Drats! I must have put them somewhere safe! Yeah, right! So, now I do have a backup which are some B&W photos of Sacramento. I had done a "Then and Now" series of B&Ws of historic downtown Sacramento and I'm hoping that is what I will be able to use! Either that or go out and take new ones. But I've given myself two weeks to get this done. So there you have it!

The phone repair guy came out too and fixed the phone connection in the art room, although it's actually in the darkroom - which still works. I definitely don't need two phones. Now I just need to go out and buy a wall mount phone.

New Photography Venue

This morning I drove down to Sacramento and met my girlfriend Charlene at the Tantric Urban Bistro. Her friends, Mike and Cindy, own the Tantric Urban Bistro at 1215 K Street, downtown Sacramento. Really down to earth folks. After showing them some portfolios of mine and also my website galleries we decided to hang B&W photos of San Francisco, New York City/Central Park, and most likely color photos of downtown Sacramento. I lived in downtown Sacramento for a year in 2001 just a couple of blocks from this restaurant. On the weekends, specifically Sundays, I would head out early in the morning and walk the streets clicking off shots of the early morning sun in the city. I really enjoyed that. I even have some photos right next to this cafe! It's pretty ironic if you ask me!

Here are a couple of photos that I will be hanging in their cafe!

Darkroom Supplies Arrived!

This is just too exciting for me! The darkroom supplies arrived today in two boxes and it was just like Christmas!! This is like a dream come true...wanting a darkroom for years and I finally get to this point...thank you very much to my husband - hell, I never thought I'd even have a husband again! ; ) This room is just so beautiful - I could live out here. I'm going to have to be careful about staying out here too long! Everything is coming together...all I need now are the chemicals I think. Once I do a walk thru I'll see what is missing if anything. Lord knows I have about 10 rolls of exposed film to practice with that has been waiting to be developed. And then I know my son has lots of B&W film that needs to be developed too. Every photographer should go thru this - it's exhilarating and I just can't stop smiling. Thank you God!

Darkroom Supplies Order

This morning I took a couple of hours to sit down and order my darkroom supplies from Freestyle. It was big job, but I got it done. They should be delivered in 3-5 days. Since I placed my order early this morning, it should have been shipped out today too.

Later this afternoon I finished the touch up on the paint in the art room and darkroom, so now that's done. Now I need to get busy and get some portfolios updated and ready to show to a cafe in downtown Sacramento. A girlfriend of mine from my old job set this up for me! That was pretty considerate of her. I have no idea what they may want. However, I do have some photos I took of downtown K Street Mall when I lived in midtown in 2001. I used to get up early in the mornings on the weekends and go wander around the streets and take some shots. I think that was the best part of living downtown - going out and exploring. Whatever they end up wanting, I'm sure I can go out and shoot it if I don't have it.

Darkroom Supplies

Today I was busy pricing the rest of the supplies that I will need in the darkroom. I already have a lot of the major components like the enlargers, trays, beakers, developing tanks, timers, safe light; however, there's alot more to be had. So I've been listing those other items and pricing them out: tongs, paper safes, grain focuser, apron, film clips, squeegees, changing bag. Once I order this, the only thing left will be the chemicals!!

Yesterday I put two coats of sealer on the linoleum tile squares in the darkroom. It looks nice and shiny too. I have a little touch up painting to do and that should be all that's left as far as the construction punch list goes.

I'm also contemplating building my own hanging film dryer! I think I can do it. The one I was looking at from Freestyle is basically a vinyl hanging shoe bag! It's not even equipped with heat for drying. So I'll keep you posted on that one.

Sacramento Second Saturday

Saturday morning was all about moving the rest of my equipment into the new art room, like the PC, printers and scanner. Ron had to go under the house and reroute the PC cable, and he did a great job! It worked! Then I rerouted myself out into the vegetable garden -- I know, way different scenario -- and my son came up and helped me while we weeded and turned the soil under and got it ready for ANOTHER big storm this weekend. But I did get the soil covered - I just don't want to weed it again. Then as I'm wrapping it up around 4:30 p.m. I realize it's SATURDAY!!! Oh, my gosh, I've got to go and try to get myself cleaned up and head on down to The Doiron Gallery for her Last Hurrah!

Well I made it downtown Sacramento and it was a great evening. She has alot of new great art: acrylic, water color, photography (moi), and sculpture, scarves, jewelry. It was very upbeat and exciting. I'm posting a couple of photos from Saturday. Best wishes to Joyce Doiron on her last month and a half before she retires!!

Second Thursday and More

Last night's Auburn Art Walk was pretty productive, plus I was able to see some long time friends! The weather was great and I think people were anxious to get out and about. My photos will continue to be on display at the Kerry Terese Salon & Gallery for at least a couple of months.

Now this Saturday in Sacramento I will be down at The Doiron Gallery for their Last Hoorah! from 6 - 10 p.m. They will participate in the next two Second Saturdays, so yuo've got time to get over there too. Again they are located at 1819 Del Paso Boulevard, across from the Bank of America.

So in between getting artwork ready for these two shows, I'm still moving in. Almost there. I've got to move my PC and printers and scanner in - 'cause it's driving me nuts to keep going back and forth. AAaaaaaarrgh! But I'm posting some photos of the move in for ya! I'm also going to put in a futon and place it under the three photos of the SF MOMA at the far wall.

Auburn's Second Thursday Art Walk

I would like to invite you tonite to the Second Thursday Art Walk here in Auburn from 6 - 9 p.m.

I will have my B&W BODIE GHOST TOWN Series on display, as well as some of the color photography of Bodie. I will be at the Kerry Terese Salon at 164 Sacramento Street (upstairs from Awful Annie's). I hope you will come out and immerse yourselves in the art world! I will also have on display some of my Hawaiian themed acrylic paintings of Maui and Oahu.

Come out for dinner and then enjoy the art! There are 30 venues displaying art in Old Town (that's where I'll be), as well as n Downtown on Lincoln Street. See you there!

Moving In

The last two days I have been moving in, and moving in, to the art room! Organizing, cleaning, categorizing, labeling, hanging photos - you name it! I'm almost there, but still not quite. My computer and printers are still in my old office and Ron has to add some brackets underneath the work space. The sink plumbing in the darkroom got connected. Now Ron is going to build a wall unit that I can hang the film from to dry. I still have to bring down the darkroom trays and equipment, and Ron brought down the enlargers for me.

This is just too much fun! I'm tired now, but tomorrow I'll post an updated photo of the room.

Darkroom Day 38 and 39 - Finis!

Wednesday the carpet came in and the room and the hallway look fabulous. It looks so finished - my husand said it looks better than the house! Then on Thursday, Gary came back to work with Ron on putting up the final workspace area for the PC and scanner, printers, etc. The electrician showed up and put up the light fixtures, the fan, and got all the electrical outlets completed. So the only thing left is the sink to hook up to the plumbing! I'm posting some before I moved in photos so you can see the whole finished product!!