Mayan Calendar

I know it's been a while - Christmas and shopping and baking and having fun!  Hope you're doing the same. We've had company too which has made it more like Christmas.  Our family is getting smaller, but we still get together and take time to remember our loved ones who are no longer with us.  Not only have we had our Family reunion, there is also the art world that I partake in and that's been busy too.  But it's slowly winding down so we can enjoy the Christmas season.

Of course, today was supposed to be the End of the World as we know it!  This morning the early morning sunrise was a little eerie when I looked out.  The lower skies were golden and the upper skies were filled with clouds making it almost look like a movie set!

 I saw a joke somewhere in the paper a few days back and it was two Mayans talking as they were working on their clay calendar.  The one says to the other, "This is really gonna freak some people out later just 'cause we ran out of room!"  ; )

This morning I worked on my last project for a friend:  Portraits!  She wanted them on matte paper, but it really didn't look that good.  The 5x7's and 8x10's black and whites I printed on Ilford Gold Fiber Silk paper which has a nice luster to it without being too glossy.  The 11x14's I ended up putting them on Epson's Glossy.  It's always a trial and error on the papers - for me anyway.  But I think she'll be happy with them.

I never got in the darkroom - hopefully after Christmas.  I've kind of been drawn to the painting again.  Oh boy!

Andrew Henry, Navajo Indian

I had previously mentioned in my blog that I was helping an out-of-state acquaintance who is a silversmith artist.  Well, the Executive Director of Placer Arts, Angela Tahti, Called me on Monday, and found a spot in the schedule for my artist friend, Andrew Henry.  It is TODAY!  So at 4:00 p.m. at The Arts Building, located at 808 Lincoln Way, Auburn, Andrew will give his presentation on his Navajo people who live in Canyon de Chelly and display his story telling jewelry.  Here is the write-up and photo of Andrew.

Andrew Henry, Navajo Indian - "Canyon de Chelly StoryTeller"

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona has a living community of Navajo people who are connected to a landscape of great historical and spiritual significance. Canyon de Chelly is unique among National Park Service units, as it is comprised entirely of Navajo Tribal Trust Land that remains home to the canyon community. National Parks Service works in partnership with the Navajo Nation to manage park resources and sustain the living Navajo community.

Andrew Henry is a silversmith jeweler and is in northern California for a brief visit this week. We are happy to have him come on short notice to give a presentation on his people and his story telling jewelry that he makes and will also have on display for sale.  

Please join with us this Wednesday, December 5th, at 4:00 p.m. at The Arts Building, located at 808 Lincoln Way, in Auburn. 

Photo courtesy of Colleen Miniuk-Sperry.

Canon T3i

Busy last week and weekend with High Hand Gallery.  Working there just with my regular schedule and then Friday was the lighting of the nursery!  Pretty cool, as I had missed it last year.  Then of course there's the resizing of images for Facebook and uploading them to the gallery's FB page.  Here are a couple:

Received a special order from a  friend  I used to work with at the county.  That was so good to see her.  They were admiring my Santorini images and wanted to send some to their friends over in Europe for Christmas.  I worked on them yesterday - getting them printed, matted and ready to take back to the gallery for pickup tomorrow.

I've also been spending some time working on gathering information for another out-of-state artist acquaintance. Working on outreach for him and contacts.  I'm hoping it will be helpful.  We'll see.  Need to get busy and work on my own supplies - like ordering supplies online TODAY!

My step-daughter purchased the T3i a few weeks back.  I have the T2i.  Now I can't get it out of my mind!!  I know the T4i is out, but I haven't done my homework on the differences between the 3 and the 4.  Don't know if I will or not - I just know there are 'deals' on the 3 right now.  The 3 does have additional creative options on it that I liked.  Hhhmmm, what to do!?

Black and White Images

Between working at High Hand Gallery and now this rain! Whew! It's a mess out there!  I have been quite busy.  Working on the two photo transfers, then matting them, finding the right frame!  And just when I thought I was done, I turned the last one over there on the right side of the mat is a 'BLACK SPEC"!  Oh, man, I hate it when that happens.  Now I've got to open up the back, get it out and put it back together - again!  Just when I thought I was done!

I've been working on some family stuff for Christmas - not everyone as they have run out of wall space! ; )  I also had a high school friend call me last night.  I had recently given her one of my France images on a card, and now she wants 3 more to make a little grouping in her home.  That's so nice that she wants my photography on display in her home.  And I delivered some artwork yesterday to two other girlfriends who purchased from me during the Studios Tour.

I have some printing of additional cards to do and take into the High Hand Gallery - running low.  It's fun to know which images seem to attract people:  Venice (several), Bodie Ghost Town, and Point Lobos (trees in B&W).  I'm also finding out that people are liking the metallic paper I'm printing on.  I'm really liking the Arista II photograde metallic glossy paper (ink jet).  I'm going to order today and will also purchase the 11x14.  I believe that's the only two sizes Freestyle carries for that paper.  A package of 20 sheets in the 8.5 x 11 is only $20 ($1/sheet).

I plan on getting back in the darkroom next week.  I may have an order for two images that I think I will go ahead and develop the images so I'm not rushed.  Even if they don't want them, it will be good practice as they are images that were never developed.  They were two of my earlier images from early 2000's - and I like the fact that someone found them on my website.  This is one of them.

Manuals for Photography Equipment

I guess I've taken off enough time for Thanksgiving.  It's back to the drawing board for me!!  Or, more like, back to photo transfers.  I will be working on the two commissioned photo transfers today.  I gathered up my water color tools of the trade, worked on the images that the clients sent me, so now I've got to actually CREATE the works!

These two projects have a tendency to be just a little on the complicated side.  Both clients sent photos that are of people.  Rather small images of people I might add, so I'm not sure how this is going to turn out.  It could turn out to be abstract art!  But not really, as these folks have their hearts set on realism.  I'll keep you posted on these projects.  And with all the shows over, I really need to get back in the groove of the darkroom!

I received an email over the weekend from a gentleman who was requesting a copy of the manual for the Vivitar Enlarger/Model E-54 that I have.  He apparently purchased one but had no manual.  So since it's only about 8 pages long I sent him a copy.  Told him it was his Christmas present! ; )  I believe in 'passing it on'.  However, if anyone is ever looking for a manual for an old camera or enlarger or anything pertaining to that realm, a good website is:  www.khbphotografix.com  or Tex's Surplus Sales.  These are how I found manuals for both my enlargers and for an older film camera.

Another item I wanted to share with artists is a website I found for a gallery in Scottsdale, AZ.  It is called Xanadu Gallery:  www.xanadugallery.com.  They have online free broadcasts (both live and archived) of various subject matters for artists.  Some of the recent sessions included:  marketing, how to package paintings for mailings, etc.  And you can always submit your works to them for representation, special gallery events, to name a few.

Gotta get busy now!

November Birthdays

Guess what kiddies, it's my $#! birthday!  Taking the day off and making the most of this rainy day!  I've had lots of phone calls with birthday wishes, then there's FB, and all the rest!  Even Verizon sent me a message on my phone!  What is up with that??? ; )

My sisters and I were all born in November, so we always celebrated birthdays together.  Pat on the left, Mama in the middle, me on her lap, and Carole on the right.









This next one, an old photo of our annual November celebration.  That also meant, one BIG cake!  The last one is from our European cruise last year!  Life is good!

High Hand Gallery, Loomis, CA

It's back to the drawing board for me.  I received the image from the client who commissioned me to do a photo transfer using her photo.  It's kind of a busy photo, but I am going to give it a try!  Also have been doing some printing for others who have purchased a particular print or two.

Thanks to a fellow artist friend, I will be hanging some of my images in the Sylvan Oaks Library for a spell.  That's pretty cool.  Get some exposure in another part of Sacramento County.  Transferred my matted prints yesterday back to the High Hand Gallery.  Construction going on there - hopefully it will get done this week.

I have to say there are so many 'gift' ideas at High Hand Gallery!  Lauren Lane, wood turner, has small women's mirror encased in wood, small coffee scoops, and wine corks topped off with a turned wood top - you can get most of these for $20!!  Terry Accomando has some beautiful pieces of pottery that she's pretty much giving away - $40!!  You need to get over to High Hand Gallery and get your Christmas shopping done early!  Of course, even I have some matted prints ready for framing:  5x7s for $10; 8x10s for $35; and 11x14 giclee and digital matted prints for $150; 11x14 gelatin silver prints matted for $175!!  Not to leave out framed prints hanging in the gallery!

I was going through some of my images from Bodie that I took this year.  This is a digital print that I did some extra burning in on the sky - but that's about it.

Veterans Day Parade 2012

Yesterday was the end of the 3-day Autumn Art Studios Tour!  Let me just say, I was soaking my feet this morning!  Ouch!  It turned out to be a great weekend with some sales, met some new people interested in my works, met one gentleman who had placed a special order earlier this year and came by to meet me in person and check out my new stuff!  I received a commissioned piece, a couple folks wanted portraits, so all in all I think it was a productive show.  Plus a I might have a connection for a new venue!  I love it!

I just finished sending out thank you emails to all the people who showed up, and to those who purchased some of my pieces.  I thought I would be 'taking down' my temporary studio for this show today, but I don't have to break it down until a week from tomorrow!  That's so nice to hear.  I can leisurely get my energy back.

I'm pretty much done with shows, no deadlines for new work for the rest of the year, so that means I can get back into the darkroom and continue with my black and white film developing of Europe!  That actually won't happen for another week because of other family commitments.  But I will definitely be ready for that one!

Yesterday, however, was made interesting because of the added event of the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Auburn.  In fact, right in front of the Arts Building where I was.  Here's a shot of the artists gathered in front of the building watching as the parade was going by, and then there was this awesome patriotic dog out there too honoring our veterans! ; )

Studio Tour Layout

The first day of the Studios Tour is over and it was encouraging to say the least.  Have several sales and a commissioned piece too for a photo transfer!!  How fun is that!?  Here are a couple of photos of my studio setup I wanted to share with you this morning:

I've been hearing great compliments about my work like, 'wow...you do have an eye' and I lots of people recognizing the places I've been that they've been to also.  The temperature is really cold here today, so I'm taking down my small heater just in case I'm not warm enough!!  More later!

Autumn Art Studios Tour

Is it soup yet??  ; )  I've been like a yo-yo this week, back and forth to Auburn and Loomis.  Today I will be making the last trip and adjustments to my setup for this weekend's Autumn Art Studios Tour.  I've been saying all along AUBURN instead of AUTUMN!  Oh, well, no one's called me on it!

I have been doing some image printing for cards that I can put together while I'm at this event.  Also, printing samples of different papers.  I am on my way to High Hand Gallery right now to take photos for our upcoming cards to hand out for the next couple of months.

So with that said, I am posting a fall/winter image that I took a couple years ago that I just printed on metallic paper!  I've printed several winter scenes on this type of paper and they came out fabulous!

Black and White Digital

It's been busy, wrapping up loose ends.  Just trying to stay 'well' before the show.  I really won't know about my set up for the Auburn Art Studios Tour until Monday.  It's going to be interesting to say the least, but it is what it is.  I won't know how much hanging space I will have until then.  I will most likely have to bring my pro panels.  I will just make the most of it, that's for sure.  I still need to make my signage for the images, which means I need to figure out which ones I will hang and the rest will be in the back in boxes.  List of things to do:  pick up my print racks from High Hand, deliver new artwork to High Hand Gallery on Sunday, get my cash box ready, etc., etc.

We did get our Smart phones today, but I read up on both Intuit and Square for debit/credit payments on your phone.  Right now I don't think it's something I HAVE to have.  PlacerArts will take these types of payment for me and charge me 3.5%.  If I don't utilize it regularly (which I don't participate in  a lot of shows) it wouldn't be cost-effective.  There's a monthly fee of $12.95 (w/1.7% swipe fee) from Intuit which seems to be the better deal.  If you don't pay monthly, then it's 2.7%.  Square has a more complicated determination of payment from what I can see.  Bottom line:  I don't need it right now.  And I just need to learn my phone for now!

I finally rounded up images from the European Cruise and put those on disk for the Studios Tour to have running on my laptop.  And I had another project to get out for my brother-in-law - so that's done!

I will leave you with this image that I played around the other day.  I was ordering some 'free' stuff from Vista Print and used this digital B&W image from Santorini.  I added a water color layer, and then a film layer, and this was the result.

High Hand Gallery

I think I'm done with making prints and matting them for the Auburn Arts Studios Tour.  I started making cards, but I'm not going to make a whole lot of those either.  I worked at High Hand Gallery yesterday and when we had some 'quiet' time in the morning, I finished the cards up.  I work again tomorrow, so hopefully I can get some of the event cards addressed and ready for mail out.

Yesterday at High Hand Gallery, one of our artists, Kermit McCourt, came in to mark down some of his work!  He makes furniture from reclaimed wood and other items, that include:  tables, mirrors, wine racks.  He is taking his own show on the road next year and does not want to have to store his works that are currently in the gallery.  So if you're looking for a good deal on artsy small tables which make great conversation pieces, you should stop by the gallery and check it out for yourself!  Here's a photo of the wine rack which is also a bench, and you can see a sample of his mirrors in the next photo (upper left hand side, and lower right hand side).  These are just a couple of examples.

I'm running out of ink for the Epson printer, so will need to go buy more today.  And if I could just buy some large Clear Bags for the larger prints I won't have to frame them!  Just one more errand for me!

Auburn Art Studios Tour

Another busy day today.  Having a hard time which task to tackle first though! ; )  In regards to the Auburn Art Studios Tour, I did mail out the tickets with the programs to all those who indicated they were interested.  I haven't mailed out the postcards yet.  I'm thinking I need to add maybe a half sheet showing where I will be located...gotta figure that one out first before the mailing.  I did receive my order of photo cards that I ordered from Dick Blick.  Haven't printed out the images yet though.  For the cards, I will need mostly images from Venice, Greece and Spain.  I could probably put more 8x10's together for this show too.

I had a photo shoot this afternoon for an acquaintance.  She has a new granddaughter - 3 months old.  Cute too!  So I headed out to the country - farther out than my house believe it or not.  I'm glad it was in the day time as there is no way I would have found it in the dark.  They have more deer than we have, so one has to be careful driving!  It's these little side jobs that help pay the expenses, that's for sure.

Another item to possibly take of is upgrading my phone.  And then getting Intuit or one of those other apps that plug into the phone and takes your sales!  As you can tell, I need to study up on that.  Don't know if I'll be savvy enough to do it for this show. The Placer Arts will run charges thru their credit card system and only take 5%.  That's a good deal.  If I decide to go that route, I need to call a couple artist friends who use those types of apps.

Tomorrow is a free day and I plan on printing out card images and the 8x10's.  Possibly cutting more mats.  I'll get it done one way or the other!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TACY!!

I couldn't let this day go by without wishing a wonderful niece a special HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  May this year be the best ever!  I have so many wonderful memories of you as a little girl - your yakky doodle little voice and always that great smile!  Then of course in your later years, there was the red lips thing - but, I digress!! ; )  Love you so much!

Black and White Double Exposure

Ever since we got back from vacation, it's been like 'hit the ground running'!  Attended a meeting last night for High Hand Gallery on 'marketing'.  This seems to be the biggie right now for a lot of people in the art industry.  I recently joined LinkedIn at the urging of one of the gallery owners.  Just revisited my LinkedIn page to update the summary - deleting the first person text and making it more professional.  Setting goals is key in any business.  Writing a business plan is also a major task that we tend to procrastinate on!  That's for sure.

I worked in my studio all day yesterday staying focused on getting ready for the upcoming Auburn Art Studios Tour.  I was able to borrow some lighting, so that issue is resolved.  Then I just sat and wrote out a looong list of what I needed to prepare prior to the tour, and what I needed to bring the day of.  It's going to consist of major work since I will be moving an abbreviated version of my studio down to the Arts Building.  They will be providing some panels for me to set up, but I may also need to bring my personal pro panels.  Then there's the print racks, cards, matted prints, framed prints, gelatin silver prints.  I will also bring my two major cameras and I'll need to update my laptop so that I can display my website on it.  I might even do a slide show.  I also thought of taking photos of my studio and have them on display too.  I could add that to the slide show.

I was looking thru my recent Bodie images this morning and one of my favorites looks like a double exposure, but in reality it was the signage inside the Bodie Hotel, with the glass reflecting the mountain and sky which had great clouds that day!

 

Auburn Art Studios Tour 2012

We're back from a week trip to Connecticut to visit the family!  Nice trip, great weather, and we won 2nd Place in the Soto Family's 4th Annual Chili Cookoff!! ; )  Got a trophy to prove it too!

Getting back to business, went to the informational Potluck Dinner last night for the Auburn Art Studios Tour that is slated for the weekend of November 9 - 11th, 2012.  I was scheduled to have a specific room at the Arts Building when I signed up, but they let me know things had changed.  I will now be located down a hallway, which wasn't what I signed up and paid for, however, I will make the best of it.  Now I need to think about lighting, because the lighting in there is overhead fluorescent!  Grrr!  I don't have any lighting which now leads me to another expense, unless I can borrow some.  So today I have my work cut out for me, as I will be driving down to Sacramento to pick up more supplies:  ClearBags, mat board from Delta Mat & Moulding, pick up my large format prints from High Hand's Large Format Show which is now over.  I'll be able to place these two large gallery wraps in the Auburn Art Studios Tour.  I also am going to place an order with Dick Blick online for more Strathmore cards.

Will get back to the blog manana!

Freestyle Photographic Supplies

I received my Freestyle Photographic Supplies email with the 'latest' photography news the other day.  A lot is going on in the photography supply business!  Freestyle reps just got back from Cologne, Germany to attend the world's premiere photographic imaging fair - Photokina 2012!  One of the news items that caught my eye was that Canson and Hahnemuhle are making available their digital inkjet papers with four deckle edges.  I'm excited about that one, as you know I like trying out new papers! ; )  

Another 'paper' item is coming from Awagami, a Japanese company that produces 21 different and unique paper formulations.  Some of the papers are handmade and are produced from a Japanese Kozo mulberry root - which is a green product, as it reproduces/replenishes very rapidly.  This one really excites me as it gives the feel of handmade papers!  Nice!

Ilford also has announced two new fine art 330 gsm matte inkjet papers  - Galerie Prestige Gold Cotton Smooth and Galerie Prestige Gold Cotton Textured.  These will be available January 2013.  In addition, another new paper that gives the look and feel of a fine art black and white print - Galerie Prestige Gold Mono Silk (270 gsm).  These are all inkjet papers, of course.  (Note:  gsm definition:  Grammes per Square Metre, or thickness of the paper.)   If you'd like to read the whole article follow this link:  http://www.freestylephoto.biz/industry-updates/october-2012/snapshot.html

Another Bodie shot from this last trip last month.  This one is digital.  I did increase the brightness on this one about 10 increments.  I think I have a film version - I couldn't find it right now, but will look for it and see what the differences are.  Because there ARE differences!

Studio 49, Auburn, California

Today was delivery day!  Delivered three framed San Francisco pieces to Studio 49 in Auburn.  Also, made the art signage for the rest of the pieces in her studio.  It looks fabulous in there.  Next I delivered the canvas gallery wrap to High Hand Gallery to replace the one I took over to the Arts Building in Auburn!

I am completely done with all projects for other people! ; )  Now I plan on cutting mats for the next hour until a TV show comes on that we like - Elementary.  A recreation of Sherlock Holmes.

I was going through the Bodie images from a few weeks back and am still marveling at the clouds that day.  I am posting one that doesn't really have any clouds in it.  It's just the transom over a doorway and the colors were pretty awesome.  Again, it was just a great day to take pictures.  The transom looks like it has curtains, but if you look closely, it's basically a curtain of years of spiderwebs!

I received an email the other day from a gallery in New York City:  Agora Gallery, located in the heart of New York's famous art district - Chelsea!  The Assistant Director of the gallery had come across my website while doing research and was apparently looking for new artists.  She told me she really liked my Venice images.  The gallery would represent me and I would of course pay them representation fees...  It sounds exciting, but I'm not exactly rolling in the dough.  As I said, it's a lot to think about.  So I think I will go cut mats for now! ; )

Bodie Ghost Town

I've been working feverishly on projects for other individuals.  I believe I am done with all that for now, as continue to cut mats so I can mat individual images for the upcoming Auburn Arts Studio Tour.  I dropped off my framed image of "Venice at Sunset" to The Arts Building Gallery.  They will hang one piece from each individual artist who are on the tour, in the main Arts Building Gallery on Lincoln.  That is also where 'my studio' will be located.  I will give you more details later as it gets closer to that November date.

Tonight I worked on our vacation pictures, which included another visit to Bodie Ghost Town.  This time it was ALL ABOUT THE CLOUDS!!  Awesome day!  I only used my Canon T2i digital camera - didn't even attempt to bring out the film camera.  C'est la vie!  Still came out quite good.  I programmed it for monochrome with an orange filter, at 100 ISO.  As you can see it was quite a sunny day.  I didn't think I could capture any "new" images from Bodie - Boy! was I wrong!

We also went back to Yosemite and were at June Lake (where we camped).  This is a shot I took on the first morning we were there.  There were numerous fishing boats with Honda motors all lined up ready to be rented.  I couldn't resist the symmetry, the green colors on the lake, and the orange-red color on the side of the building reflecting in the water.  Very cool!

KVIE Art Auction 2012

I know, but I've been busy - as in real frantic busy!  Cutting mats, framing, photographing babies, photographing still life (commissioned piece)!!  Egads!  But TODAY was the icing on the cake for me!!  My gelatin silver print of White House, Canyon de Chelly, AZ was up for bid on KVIE's Art Auction for 2012!!  Talk about nerve wracking!  Deep down inside you just want someone, just one someone, to bid on your piece!  Well, I got more than I had anticipated.  It was a BELL RINGER!  In other words, I made the value of the piece -- AND MORE!  Plus a lot of good things were said about my piece: taken with 'film - old school'; and Russ Solomon, founder of Tower Records and accomplished photographer, apparently was 'very excited' about the image!  That just made my day - made it worth all my efforts towards my photography art.  My husband and I both had tears in our eyes afterwards!   Most importantly, I do thank my husband again for building my darkroom!  That is the MAIN KEY to my whole journey!  Here's a shot of the moment KVIE got the final $275 bid on my piece, and an image of the actual piece.  It was a little distorted in the TV shot.

I also received numerous emails congratulating me and my girlfriend called me when it was all over to share in the excitement with me!  Thanks Rochelle!  And now I am going to get back to working on digital photos for the commissioned work of photographing candles in different settings - without depicting Christmas!  Egads, can we get any more specific!? ; )

Bodie Ghost Town

Another camping trip to the outdoor wonders of the world under my belt!  Good to be home.  Visited June Lakes, Yosemite, and Bodie Ghost Town!  Again!  That's three visits to Bodie for me.  And I actually got 'different' shots of Bodie in its 'arrested decay' status.  I could probably go there several more times and still get different points of view.  There was one thing that caught my attention - other photographers with long lenses shooting into the various buildings thru the windows.  I didn't get it?  Why the long lenses?  Is there one lens that goes from 50 - 350??  What were they trying to capture?  A little spec of dust?  A different point of view, maybe?  I just shoot with my 50 or 55mm lenses for a more crisp shot.  I haven't even downloaded any images yet.  I did take my film camera, however, I only used my digital camera.  We were with family and I didn't want to take up too much time (on my own) and be rude!

Getting back to the grind with lots of art questions to be answered.  In other words, I need to make phone calls for upcoming events. Tonight my husband and I are attending the KVIE Art Auction "Preview Gala"!  I'm so excited about the auction next weekend.  My gelatin silver print of 'White House, Canyon de Chelly' will be on Channel 6, Sunday, September 30th, between 12:30 and 1 p.m.  Right in the middle of the day.  I hope it captures some one's eye and they just have to have it!

Hopefully by tomorrow night I will be able to post an image from the trip.  Got to get busy!

High Hand Gallery Artful Sunday

Today I have a few hours in my studio and I plan on cutting mats for upcoming shows.  Yesterday was my day to work the High Hand Gallery - so not much time to do what I needed to do!

However, I mentioned I had prepared some cards for someone who had written a book, did some patch quilts so these images could be put in the book, but also for use to sell as individual cards.  I was concerned about her response to the finished product and hallelujah! she loved the results!  The colors were matched to her liking and basically was extremely pleased.  End of that project!

Had several individuals interested in my canvas gallery wraps at the High Hand Gallery's Large Format Show yesterday.  They loved them...no purchase!  However, one will come along.  They were amazed how the perspective of the images of Venice just drew you into them.   'Did I alter them?'  "Did I put a layer on them?"  No, these are as they were taken.  Just happened to go out early in the morning (which wasn't always the case on that particular trip to Europe!).

Must get busy as I will be on my way to High Hand Gallery again today to take photographs for our Artful Sunday Reception at 3:00 p.m. with Storytelling by Maureen Gilli and her artist friend with "Mask, Movement, & Mime"!

Auburn Art Studio Tour 2012

So, yes, I am home now and busier than ever.  I worked on a project the last two days for an artist I met.  She wanted images taken of her patch quilt artwork so that she could make the scenes into cards.  It wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be, but I got it done.  It took several shooting sessions to get the colors right.  I could tell by talking to her that she was looking for someone who could do the job precisely, which always puts the pressure on.  Then I put both large images and the small card images that now had her signature inserted at the bottom, on a CD.

I will be starting to work on gathering the framed images, matted images, and cards for the Auburn Art Studio Tour that is happening in November.  I know it seems far away, but we start hanging in early October.  I will most likely need to cut mats and print out more new images.  I'm thinking of removing some of framed images so I can have the frames available if a buyer in interested in purchasing the frame too.  The frames I'm referring to are metal anodized - so easy to work with and I don't have to worry about putting on the acid-free paper backing.

I just went and checked my stock on hand and I have a good 20 prints, mostly color.  I do have mat board to cut more mats.  Now I just need to get started.  I really want to get started on that new darkroom process (chromoskedasic sabatier), but first things first!

Freestyle Photographic Supplies

I have to tell you what a cool, fun day I had at Freestyle Photographic Supplies in Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard.  I usually order from them online, but I am down in socal visiting my sisters and I told them I want to go to Freestyle!  I had gone thru my catalog and marked all the goods I needed and found interesting to purchase.  Thank goodness I did that.  That place is like a candy store to me!  We really lucked out as we got a one on one tour of the place and I received several photography lessons on processes I wanted to try!!  That really made my day - I'm still smiling!!

We were first greeted by Michael and he helped me with his knowledge of the various papers and processes, namely:  chromoskedasic process.  It claims to put the 'fun' back in the darkroom process.  You start out with a black and white print that has been freshly developed but not yet fixed.  Then an activator and stabilizer is used under normal lighting conditions (not in the dark).  The chemicals in the presence of light produce deep red-browns, blues, yellows, oranges, greens and even purple.  Michael started telling me the process and then out comes Eric Joseph who is the Senior Vice President of Merchandising and product development.  I mean his "job" is to search out and find available alternative processed for photography, and sometimes creates an old age process utilizing current product/chemicals.  So Michael and Eric then proceed to show us their upcoming employee show, since we are from out of town and won't be here when it is set up for viewing.  Awesome, absolutely awesome.  Then Eric took us in his office to share with us some of his work utilizing the different processes he has developed and/or that are out there for anyone to try!

I could go on and on just about the papers.  I've always had an interest in the results achieved from utilizing the various papers and have tried numerous - but THERE ARE SO MANY MORE OUT THERE!!  I learned how the papers are actually cut.  Here I was always concerned that I'm wasting paper when I'm printing an 11x14 on say 11x17.  I love the 11x14 size and Epson paper at that size is hard to find.  Michael tells me paper is made in large sheets, and then the different sizes are cut from that original sheet.  Apparently the 11x14 is an odd size and the manufacturer wastes paper as cutting that size leaves wasted excess.  I never imagined that the paper was processed that way.  And then I also found out that Epson doesn't even make their own paper!!  It's made by various other companies (Canson, Hahnemuhle for example)! 

So this is what I bought:  the chemicals for the Chromoskedasic Sabattier process as well as additional Arista Ultra FB glossy paper.  Using this paper (v. other FB papers) for this process results in more silver rising to the top of the paper creating a more dramatic finish.  So I will try both papers and see for myself.  I also picked up some Arista II Photograde Metallic glossy inkjet paper (this is going to be so cool)!  And finally I purchased some Arista II OHP Transparency Film to make some 8x10 digital negatives.  They can be used in various other processes.  The one I was interested in was the cyanotype.  I have to tell you, I have always thought that if you made a good print of any process, it doesn't mean it has to be HUGE to be great.  Big is not always better.  This was reinforced today when I saw all the beautiful prints displayed today and everyone did their own innovative processes and nothing was over 16x20.

All I can say is that I'm going to bed happy, excited, and recharged.  And if you would like to check out these and the many, many more available processes out there, go to their website:  www.freestylephoto.biz.

High Hand Gallery Masked Fusion

Some of you may be wondering what the heck is going on with me...well, it's summer and we've been going on some trips in California, that's what we do.  Then when I get home I'm pretty busy with getting back to my art business.  It's always something.

I have all my artwork turned in to High Hand Gallery for its Masked Fusion show (September and October), as well as the two pieces for the Artstock show in the High Hand Fruit Sheds (also for September and October).  I did get accepted for the Auburn Studio Tour this November; that will be my next challenge.  The KVIE Auction is this month also!

In addition to these events, I also have a couple of side photography jobs in the works:  One for web photography; one photographing artwork for a teacher I met and preparing the images to make cards; and a commissioned piece, sort of, to photograph product and possibly turning it into a piece of artwork - as in a photo transfer for a High Hand Nursery publication!  That should keep me busy!

When we went out of town we landed in Moss Landing at a KOA right at the ocean.  We took our kayaks and kayaked in the Elkhorn Slough which goes inland for about 6+ miles.  It was so much fun. We had great weather, as it was sunny for four of the five days we were there.  The day before we left it was overcast and cooler than it had been.  I walked the dog down by the docks and the mist shrouded the boats and almost looked black and white.  So I ran back and grabbed my camera and clicked off a few shots.  Here again I'm going to mention that fog and digital cameras really don't mix.  The digital camera likes to remove what it may think is detrimental to an image - so the actual image of what you are seeing with the naked eye, is not what you see as the fog is removed by the digital camera, as though it's critiquing your work for you!  Oh, please!  Don't do me any favors.  So the images below do not show the full extent of the mist, but there is a little bit left for one to ponder.

KVIE Live Art Auction 2012

I really don't know why I am in this 'enter a contest/competition' mode!  I spent the majority of the day yesterday trying - unsuccessfully I might add - to complete my profile on the Placer Arts website.  I needed to complete this in order to be on the Auburn Arts Studio Tour in November.  They found a spot for me in the Arts Building in Auburn.  I will have to go down there today and try to finalize the deal or I won't be able to get in.

Good news!  I received an email yesterday that KVIE extended their Art Auction 2012 for another day and my gelatin silver print of White House, Canyon de Chelly, AZ was accepted for the LIVE AUCTION!  I am so stoked.  The preview gala event is scheduled for September 24th and that should be a great evening too, mixing with the other artists and several I know!  My husband and I are planning to attend.

In between working on the computer I have been putting coats of varnish on the Santorini painting I did, as I plan on entering it in the Large Format show.  Hopefully, it will get juried in as it is not 3' in one direction, but 30".  I'm going to submit it as a group with my 24" gallery wrap of Santorini.  They look great together.  I just have to finish completing my entry sheets and gallery signage today as I want to take them in with me tomorrow when I work the gallery.

Big Canvas Prints

My two gallery wraps arrived yesterday!  The images make you feel as though you are THERE!  I'm pretty happy with them.  One less thing on my list.

This morning I have been putting dates on my calendar for Artstock (September), Auburn Studio Tour (November), my work dates for High Hand, etc., etc.  It's going to be a busy rest of the year - not to mention personal trips planned. ; )  Just when I think I'm going to leave the 'art world', I get rejuvenated.

Here is one of the two images I received yesterday as gallery wraps:

I seem to be having a problem uploading the other gallery wrap image.  No matter what size I put it at, it wants to go horizontal, when it's a vertical image!!  Grrrr.  I didn't have that problem before with my old PC.

I'm kind of caught up right now, with the exception of making labels and inventory lists.  It's still been fairly hot in my studio and I really hate to start up the darkroom which means I have to start up the A/C which jacks up our electric bill.  I did make several cards yesterday to take to High Hand Gallery.  But I am definitely ready for this cooling down that is supposedly coming our way.  I'm ready for winter - not fall - but winter!

Artstock at High Hand Gallery

I have still been working through some of the issues with my new PC set up.  But I won't talk about that.  Yesterday was Artful Sunday at the High Hand Gallery and apparently the heat was still keeping people at home.  Two more weeks for this show and then it all comes down for Artstock, the Large Format Show with Masked Fusion for September and October.  It's going to be hectic for everyone at the gallery as this is a huge undertaking.  Artstock Large Format portion will be out in the fruit sheds at High Hand, the masks will be inside, as well as the new artwork!  That's a lot!

Today my gallery canvas wraps should arrive.  I hope they came out perfect as there is no time for returns and re-dos.  Once they arrive, I'll be able to envision how they look with the painting I did - to see if the painting is actually show worthy!

I was able to finally get my Epson printing working and started printing out card images.  Some of my slots on the rack are empty, so time to replenish.  That's a good thing.  I did purchase a large canvas but haven't even started on it other than putting coats of Gesso on it.  I can't seem to get back in the painting mode.  C'est la vie!

I was online reading Freestyle Photographic Supplies website, looking up papers, specifically at Epson Exhibition Fiber Inkjet Paper that apparently boasts matching silver halide papers.  I've tried the Epson Fine Art Paper which has a great texture to it and I've used it for both black and white and color prints.  Really loved the results.  I think I may have to try this one.  I am heading down to southern California in a few weeks and would love to stop in at their store on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood!  That would fun - but it could also be extremely tempting for me to 'buy'!  The one reason I was looking up papers is because I was really looking for the metallic silver paper.  Arista-II RC Photograde Metallic Inkjet Paper 13x19/20 sheets - Metallic Glossy is the size I would purchase - it's $55 a box!

Blue Moon Gallery Show - "Collectively Speaking"

Saturday was the Blue Moon Gallery show, "Collectively Speaking", the group show of all the Blue Moon Artists. Needless to say if you live in the area, it was blazing hot. My car said it was 109 when I arrived! But there was a great turnout despite the heat. I was able to meet some of the artists that I hadn't met yet, as there are several new additions. Two of the three gallery photographers were on the center wall - myself and Jim Klein. It was a good space! I spoke with several people who wanted to know the circumstances surrounding the images. That's always a good sign when they want to talk to you. I got there on time, before there were too many people, as I wanted to get a shot of the display.

This morning I was still trying to get my PC up to par so I could even post on my blog!  I just this minute got it fixed.  Just uploading the photos off my Canon too a couple hours this morning.  This is crazy!  It wears you out mentally, to where I feel I'm brain dead.

I don't know what I'm doing next today...my gallery wraps from Big Canvas Prints should be delivered tomorrow according to their schedule.  I hope those turn out.  

New Computer

Was able to pick up my new computer this morning. It wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be as far as getting rolling again. I had a lot of programs to load back up onto the computer. It took me all day. It's 7:35 p.m. and I'm still not quite right with MSN - yet. Then I had to help my husband with his pc and upload some of his photos from his camera to the pc so I could help him with Facebook! I am fried to say the least. All I can say is: computers are like MEN. You can't live without 'em, and, well you know the rest! Ooops, did I say that?? I'm done for today. Manana!

Computer Issues

Well I think my computer bailed on me  I'm writing this post from my husband's pc.  Now I have to call and see if it's salvageable.  Be back later!  Grrrrrr!

Acrylic Painting

It was hot, the Olympics was on, it was hot...and I just couldn't get in the darkroom.  I was feeling a painting coming on - didn't know what.  My husband was working on a photo project of his own in the dining room, so I dragged all my paints out to the kitchen and started setting up.  Printed out some of my Europe images and selected one from Santorini.  Sometimes this happens to me and I just go with the flow.  I started Friday night and finished up yesterday.  I think I'm done with it - who knows.  I'll let it sit awhile and see if anything else jumps out at me that I need to add to or 'fix'.  I already did some perspective modifications as I went along.  It's funny what you don't see initially, and then come across it again and - 'hey, that's not how that goes!'.  I freehand draw.  I've tried using a tracer projector as some artists do, but that just isn't me.   That's more work than it's worth, and I don't really want it to come across as perfect or realism.  Although, that's exactly what I end up with, but it's NOT PERFECT.  And I like it that way.  It looks a little stark in this photo, but there's more subtle dimension in person.  You can't see the detail in the rocks down below at the ocean and there is a sailing vessel to the left of the dome.  The ocean detail is washed out - maybe I should just take another photo!

Tomorrow I drop off my images to the Blue Moon Gallery for the group show "Collectively Speaking".  This Saturday is Second Saturday and the opening.  I did a mailing, but will also send out emails.

Got my act together and ordered the two canvas prints for the September and October Show "Masked Fusion" which is also large format, and of course the masks on display which are for sale made by the High Hand Gallery artists.  Whew!  This is some crazy stuff.  I'd really like to get this painting juried in and hung with my photographic images in the large format show.  I'll think about it.

Blue Moon Gallery Show "Collectively Speaking"

Picked up the cards for the Blue Moon Gallery show scheduled for Second Saturday, August 11th.  I did a mailing of which I haven't done for a while - well, I haven't had a show for a while so there you have it!  Got those in the mail yesterday.

Worked on more images and making a selection of which ones I was going to have enlarged for the canvas gallery wraps!  I ended up going with two more images from Venice.  Two at 36x24 - had to be 3' in one direction.  I'm hoping I can also hang my two smaller ones with these two larger ones for the Artstock Show - Large Format at the High Hand Gallery in September and October.  Now that I have the wraps ordered I can get back in the darkroom.

I also finished the mask for the Artstock show.  This year several artists have given classes for making masks.  Don't know why or how I got finagled into that, but I did.  I made a Samurai mask.  All the masks that the High Hand Gallery artists made will be on sale during Artstock (inside the gallery) and 50% of the proceeds will go to the gallery to help pay for future events.  At first I was just going to submit the mask all by itself, but after seeing some of the other masks made by the other artists, I needed to kick it up a notch! I ended up framing it by mounting it with screws onto the backboard after covering the backboard with handmade paper.  Then looking up the Japanese writing for "Samurai Warrior" and writing that out and adding that as part of the image.  What you can't see is the black frame around it.

Now I'm off to the darkroom to improve some of the previous images I've already printed out.  I think my self-imposed deadline of getting all 11 rolls of film developed 'this summer' was overly rambunctious (for lack of a better word)!  I mean, it takes some well-known photographers a good week just to get one image perfected!!  With that said, I'm going to take my time to perfect my images.

Gelatin Silver Prints

As I mentioned I had re-printed all four of the gelatin silver prints that are currently hanging in the High Hand Gallery.  Yesterday I went by at the end of the day and picked up all four framed pieces so I could replace them with the new ones.  Then when I got home I'm comparing the two and I was having a hard time seeing any real drastic improvements.  I called in my husband and told him I needed his help.  And he did help me.  He pointed out the blacks in the shadows were blacker, and that the whites were whiter and crisper - not washed out.  Okay, okay, I can see it now.  Sometimes when I get too close to my work I'm not 'seeing' it.  Today I'll replace the images and then take them back tomorrow morning and rehang them.  Done.

(I don't think I ever mentioned it, but I am legally blind in one eye (20/200) without my contacs.  And apparently, I have cataracts brewing in them too!  Oh, yeah, not to mention the 'floaters' in my left eye!  Lucky me!  I'm at that age you know.  So you can see why I am trying to work in the darkroom as much as I can.  I figure I've got another 10 years though before I lose my patience in the dark!)

I've also been collecting images in a folder on my computer that are 'possible' gallery wraps.  I'm going with color on the gallery wraps.  Again I'm going to have to get my husband's input to help me make a selection.

This image here I found in my Morro Bay folder that I didn't remember taking.  I think if I did some burning in on the clouds in Photo Shop that it would be kind of a cool photo.  The figures, which were young boys, remind me of 'carrot people' when you are painting in water colors!  If you paint, then you know what I'm talking about!

Color Enlarger Contrast

I guess I should back up this week and let you know what's went on.  I attended the potluck and bowl glazing party at the Blue Moon on Monday and it was a lot of fun.  Glad I went.  I finally met Chris Max Thompson, resident ceramicist at the Blue Moon.  If you go to Facebook and look up Chris Thompson you can see the bowls.  Whomever was taking the 'snapshots' really didn't do that well of a job, as there were numerous pictures of people who probably aren't going to like their picture, of which I'm one! ; (

Tuesday I worked at High Hand Gallery and that just made me think harder about what images I might want to use as a gallery wrap for the Large Format Show.  I want to share something with you about the previous day I worked at the gallery a couple of weeks ago.  I met a gentleman who was interested in playing music for the gallery at any of the events and he gave me his card.  He asked what artwork I did and I showed him my photography, right?  Then he tells me was and is a photography teacher at Sierra.  Yikes!  I took him over to where I had several of my darkroom prints hanging and I asked him to basically critique it.  I knew that they weren't perfect and I honestly wanted to fix them.  He was very polite, said I had a good eye (that's good), as I told him how I was developing, the timing, the developer, the enlarger, the paper.  He told me to crank up the contrast and I should be good.  I told him the Ilford FB paper says (for a color enlarger) to increase the magenta to 45.  That always scared me.  I've only been on 20.  And as I mentioned earlier, I had also changed my timing to 2 minutes in the developer just like the instructions on the Dektol package recommend!

So I finally got in the darkroom to try out the new contrast number - and I am so pleased!!!  I don't know why I can't follow instructions, or why I get scared.  I mean what could happen?  You end up with an overexposed image and you have to throw it away?  These are the stumbling blocks of my own.  I feel sometimes I'm moving along at 'baby steps'.  I think I've learned a lot from just listening to someone in the know how.  Apparently I needed some reassurance.  I can't tell you how much better the images look.  I redeveloped all four images that are currently hanging in the gallery and I'm definitely changing them out!!

After that, last night I spent a couple hours just looking at some of my images from 2010 and 2011 for making a selection from, to enlarge to a 3' image.  Even making a rather LARGE image scares me.  But I can do it.  The 2' images I previously had made into gallery wraps came out great, so what am I worried about??  ; )  Good luck with your own 'baby steps'!!  I genuinely mean it!

Thousand Bowls Feed the Hungry

Another camping trip last week - this time to Willets in Mendocino County.  Great weather and a wonderful time with the family.  No scenic photos taken really - just family snapshots!

Back in the studio regrouping again.  Taking care of some gallery business.  Attending a potluck tonight at the Blue Moon Gallery for all the artists.  That should be fun.  It's also a 'workshop' of sorts as we will all be making a clay bowl for Chris Max Thompson's project, "Thousand Bowls Feed the Hungry'.  So this should be interesting.  All the bowls made will be sold at the gallery to feed the hungry in local Sacramento area charities.

I realized that my images I had planned on submitting for High Hand Gallery's Artstock Large Format show in September and October aren't really large enough and don't meet the criteria!  I need to get on the ball and figure out what I will order in the way of a gallery wrap and/or the print on metal I've been talking about and doing nothing! ; (  I've been trying to select an image or two and I'm having a hard time.  I'm not liking any of them!

More later...I'm just getting back in the groove.

"Any photographer worth his salt has 10,000 bad negatives under his belt."  Ansel Adams

Framing

Bit the bullet yesterday to go back down to Sacramento - way out into Sacramento - to purchase the mat board I needed from Delta Mat & Moulding.  Had lunch with my son to make it an even better trip!  Today I'll start cutting the mats and frame the three images I need for Blue Moon Gallery.

It is suggested by many that an artist should have a 'signature' style to their framing.  For black and white images the mainstay for photographers is probably a simplistic black frame. (Nothing to detract from the image.)  I have been using black anodized brushed metal frames for the last five years.  Then I started framing in the anodized brushed satin pewter metal frames for my black and whites, and I really love the look.  I'm probably going to stick with those as my faves.  Trying to stick with the same mat board for me is another story.  I guess I really could stick with the same shade of white if I didn't live so far away from my supplier.  I've had mat board shipped to, but then you're paying for the shipping.  It's all about keeping costs down too, and having the money to purchase enough to have stock on hand.

Having metal frames makes it easier for re-using them vs. a wood frame that has the protective paper backing on it.  That's a big hassle to strip it off, remove the matted image, replace with your newer image, and re-frame with the paper backing.  With the metal frames you just have to remove the metal spring clips!  Easy!

Another reason I switched to metal, was because galleries weren't always that careful when they were hanging the artwork or taking it down!  I saw a woman hanging artwork with tons of bulky rings on!  I cringed when I saw her as I had wood frames.  Yikes!  I just got tired of having too many damaged frames that I couldn't use anymore.  No one wants to purchase an image with a damaged frame.  And I did have one instance, where the buyer wanted me to replace the frame just for that reason!  And I did replace the frame - at a cost to me.  Damage control - it's pricey!

"Real Photography begins when we let go of what we have been told is a good photograph and start photographing what we see."

Darkroom Supplies

I headed into Sacramento and purchased the 11x14 FB paper as well as more Fixer yesterday.  Spoke with  my friend Chris Buckley who said his first "Beginning Digital Photography" class went very well with about 11 people.  His next scheduled class for this same subject is now scheduled for July 29, 2012.  He also will give one-on-one classes if you're interested.  Again, here is the class website and info:  www.MirthToEarth.com/PhotoClasses .  I could probably take one of these classes too!

I also started to cut the mats for the three 13x19 images I'll be framing.  I'm not real happy with the mat board I purchased from Aaron Bros. I like mat board that has a little texture and the one I purchased doesn't but it was the closest to the white I wanted.  I had some light gray mat board on hand that I cut to see if that would look good with the black and white images - now I'm not so sure about either one.  I normally would purchase my mat board from Delta Mat & Moulding.  It's just so far away - all the way over off Hwy. 50!!  I should have done it yesterday.  Instead of 4-ply, maybe I should bump it up to 8-ply and do away with double matting.  However, cutting 8-ply is harder to cut and I'm not as young as I used to be!  What to do...

Yesterday I also was looking online for the prints on metal.  I need one more large print for the upcoming Large Format Show at High Hand Gallery starting in September.  And right now, several online companies who provide that technique (www.MagnaChrome.com being one) are having sales thru July.  MagnaChrome had the better prices I believe and you don't have to give them your whole life's story to order.  Either a large print on metal or a large print on metallic paper which I would still have to have someone else do.  Wish I had a larger printer.  Still thinking about that one.

Kodak TMAX 400

Sunday was another darkroom day...and it was wonderful.  If I didn't have to eat - I could probably just live out here! ; )  I finished up the second roll of Croatia.  Had some good ones with just the first print, and then there were the harder-to-please-my-eyes ones that took 3 or 4 times, and possibly they're still not right.

I made a major change in the darkroom over the weekend.  I use Kodak Dektol developer and I've been developing for 3 minutes for FB prints, even though it says 2 minutes on the packaging.  It was my timing I came up with from all my various notes and books, etc., etc.  I have noticed that sometimes I felt my prints had a slight dingy look to them, not muddy, but yellowy.  I tried troubleshooting this problem - but to no avail.  So when I'm mixing up new Dektol on Sunday, I decided I'd try the two minutes and see what happens.  I think it solved the problem - hopefully.  I guess I should do what the packaging says in the future!
It's also very hot these days, so I am storing the Dektol in the fridge in the garage.

All the prints from this weekend are dried and pressed.  I did go back and re-print one that I have hanging at the High Hand Gallery as a 'test' to see if I could tell any difference in the developing.  The white is much whiter in the print, so I will probably change that one out. I'm not sure if I'm going back in the darkroom today as I'm out of 11x14 glossy.  I have matte paper at that size - I'm just not feeling it right now!  I'll go eat breakfast and figure it out in my head.  I could cut my mats and frame today those three 13x19 prints for the Blue Moon Gallery show in due in August.  Here's Streets of Croatia:

 

Darkroom Processing

Finished up the re-printing at 13x19 size on Epson Premium Glossy.  Yesterday headed out to Aaron Bros. to purchase the frames I needed.  They were having their Buy One Get One for a Penny deal, lucky me.  No pre-cut mats at that size, so I purchased the necessary 4-ply mat board.  A double mat would be good - we'll see how that goes.

Today I finally got back in the darkroom.  Started on the next roll of film from Dubrovnik, Croatia.  Out of the six images I printed at 11x14, there's really only one that stands out, in my own opinion.  I'll do more tomorrow.  I need to keep on it as my goal is to finish these rolls before summer is over.  Times a wasting!  So right in the middle of developing, I receive a phone call from the Placer Arts League that today is the day to pick up my framed pieces as the show is OVER!  Dang it!  Now I had to stop what I was doing and drive into town in 95 degree weather!  Not my favorite thing to do.  Just went and did it and got it over.  Came back and headed back into the darkroom.  I just cleaned up and am all done for the day.

Earlier this morning while still in my PJ's, I uploaded the photos I took yesterday over at the High Hand Gallery.  Worked on them and then uploaded them to High Hand Gallery's Facebook page.  If you ever get on FB, go check out this next show titled, "Cool Expressions".  I think it's the best hang ever since I've been there.

I'm leaving you with this photo I took from inside our camping trailer when we were at Manchester Beach last week.  It's a little quail.  He was pecking around for the longest time - I had time to go grab the camera!

Digital Printing Papers

I'm in a dilemma.  A printing dilemma.  I had already printed out the images for the Blue Moon Gallery show on Ilford Smooth Fine Art Paper.  Then the gallery emailed me and said they wanted to change one of the images to a different one I had submitted, which was okay with me.  It's only paper and ink!  I then printed out the newly selected image on Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy - and now I'm loving the GLOSSY paper AGAIN! So now I'm thinking:  go back and reprint them all out on Glossy.  I've always been a lover of the glossy look, and like I've stated before, not everything looks good on the Smooth Fine Art Paper.  It's almost a hit-and-miss for me.  So that's what I'm a gonna do!  ; )

Stopped by High Hand Gallery to see the newly re-hang for the next two months and to see if my labels had been placed for me in my absence last week.  My word - the artwork in that place just gets better and better.  Plus I found out we have two new artists:  Miles Metzger the bronze and stone sculptor, and Sharon Prince, who hand carves some amazing gourds!  I'm definitely going to send out an email to all on my list to go check out the artwork.  It is truly amazing!  I need to get on the bandwagon!

Here's another image from Manchester Beach State Park shoreline.

Back to Work!

We have just returned from a week's vacation on the coast at Manchester State Beach.  The weather was gorgeous all week - we couldn't have asked for a better trip!  I wasn't real anxious to take pictures as the main purpose of the trip was to relax.  And relax we did.  It was wonderful.  I did manage to capture some images of the coastline at sunset and in the morning as we drove up and down the area.  But, as I said, it wasn't for the photography.  And if you're a photographer, you may know how hard that is sometimes NOT to grab the camera and start clicking away.

While we were there, I received a phone call from someone who had visited the High Hand Gallery.  He was also a photographer.  He started out saying how 'normally' photographers don't really compliment another photographer's works, but he had to call to tell me he thought my color digital prints were outstanding!  Gee, that was nice of him!  Wanted to know what printer and inks I was using.  Of course, I said the Epson R2400 which uses eight archival inks.  Anyway, that was a nice little diversion -- and compliment for me.  These comments and/or compliments from individuals you don't even know is what keeps you going sometimes.

Since we got home late last night I wasn't able to attend the Artists' Reception and Awards Ceremony for the Placer Artists League that I had entered two gelatin silver prints from my Gladding McBean Series.  My photography friend, Jim, emailed me to let me know out of four photographers who had entered the juried show, two received awards -- and we weren't them!  ; (  Whatever!

So I got busy and started looking at my calendar for what was coming up, which is mainly the All Members Show at the Blue Moon Gallery in August.  Today I printed out the three images that were chosen by the Blue Moon Gallery.  I wanted to get them printed to give them time to air out and dry.  I'll definitely need to buy some frames for these three as I'm pretty much out.  Since they're digital 11x17's I'll need to get the 20x26 frames.  Moving right along!

I'm thinking of getting back in the darkroom tomorrow.  But here's an image from the trip.  The evening fog was starting to roll in a little bit!

Photography Labels

My family left yesterday morning and it's back to a quiet house and normal routine.  What a whirlwind visit, but then it's always like that!

Yesterday was the baby shower that I was taking photos for.  It turned out great, everything went smoothly and I got the photos taken.  I think after I work on them I will head over to Walgreens (week after next most likely) to see what kind of DVD layout they have for baby showers.  I used Walgreens Wedding DVD for this same friend and it came out pretty awesome I must say.

Making more cards this morning to take over to High Hand Gallery later today, as well as delivering my four gelatin silver prints from Venice and Burano for the re-hang for the next two months.  Last night I realized I hadn't typed up my inventory list, let alone the labels for each of the photos for the back of each image, and then there's the label for the walls too.  Just those little things alone took me an hour and a half.  My normal format for the labeling on the back of images is this, which also includes an image of myself:

Maria Soto Photography

B&W and Color Landscape Photography

"Title of Piece"

Name of 'Series'

Copyright:  2011   Year Printed 2012

Gelatin Silver Print

Website:  www.mariasotophotography.com

Email:  ArtisticEye@MSN.com

Phone Number

Heard from Blue Moon Gallery on what images they selected for the August group members' show.  I'm just waiting to hear what size they want.  I heard from High Hand Gallery last week that I had sold a large print too!! Lucky me!  This is one of the images selected for the Blue Moon August show.

Portrait Photography

Sunday I was down at High Hand Gallery for Artful Sunday, but also had scheduled four artists for their portrait sittings.  I had made this offer as a free portrait sitting so the artists would have an image of themselves they could put up on the High Hand Gallery web page, and were also free to use it otherwise.

It was basically a really hot day in the sheds, let me tell you!!  There isn't any air conditioning for starters.  What they do have are six foot wide or so water cooler fans but they are located out in the sheds, not in the gallery!  There were several places I could take the photos against rustic back drops and that is what I used. I generally prefer natural lighting and even that was a little risky when it came to 3:00 in the afternoon.  But it all worked out fine.  I was able to get some fairly good shots in and most importantly, the artists were pretty much pleased with what they saw on my camera's LCD monitor.  Here is one of Patricia, who agreed to let me post it here!

Yesterday I spent the majority of the morning and early afternoon uploading the portrait images from this shoot, to the computer, working on them, and copying them to disk for each artist.  I will drop those off at the gallery tomorrow.

I also have my gelatin silver prints from Europe ready to deliver to High Hand tomorrow for the new re-hang  for July and August.  And I will drop off my one image to KVIE on my way to the airport to pick up my sisters!  We'll be having fun this week!

Photography Competitions

I've had a couple of hectic days getting ready to submit gelatin silver prints into various art auctions and competitions.  I finally got in to the KVIE Art Auction this year and submitted White House, Canyon de Chelly.  The last couple of years I didn't find out about this event soon enough.  Just made the deadline on this one.  It will now be juried to see if it makes it into the live auction or the silent auction.  That event isn't until September and I need to deliver my framed image before July 1st.

Then my photographer friend Jim happened to mention on Thursday that the deadline for the Placer Arts League deadline for their open juried art show was Friday.  I had received an email for that event, but got so wrapped up in the State Fair competition I totally blew it off.  I picked two gelatin silver prints I had printed last year from my Gladding McBean series and turned those in yesterday.

Thursday night my granddaughter and I went to the Auburn Art Walk.  That was pretty exciting.  First of all we went to City Hall where the Mountain Quarries RR Bridge photography show was.  There were quite a few entries.  My images did not receive any recognition!  Then we headed down to Lincoln Street and I ran into several of my fellow High Hand Gallery artists.  One of them was showing at the Club Car and he had already sold three paintings!!  Good for him.  The showing at the Placer Arts Building was "Under 30" and there were many great pieces of art work.  Young people are so imaginable and ingenious!  Loved it.

On Thursday morning I did cut those mats for the four gelatin silver prints I'm taking to the High Hand Gallery next week and framed them.   I'm completely out of white 4-ply mat board and will need to purchase more.  But right now, I am so done! ; )

"It is so much harder to make a good black and white photograph than a color one."

Gelatin Silver Prints

I was back in the darkroom yesterday and my day wasn't as great as the day before!  I got stuck on three of the last images on that first roll of film.  I think I only printed one that came out half-way decent.  The streets of most European towns as some of you may already know, are narrow and the buildings are tall.  In most instances it's very limited or subdued lighting even in the middle of the day.  I guess I could have brought out the flash, but it's really not my style, not that I can't do it - I actually didn't think I needed it. Well, as my husband says, "It is what it is!"  I guess I can say I'm done with that roll and I'll move on to better images of Dubrovnik, Croatia in roll #2.  If I compressed the time spent on developing that first roll, I would have to say it took me 30 hours total (or six days in the darkroom).

However, today I am taking a break and will need to cut some mats specifically for the darkroom prints as I'm taking in four new images to High Hand Gallery that I've developed from this European series.  This will probably be one of the only days I can devote to just cutting mats. I'm thinking of bringing home the two gallery wraps and maybe some of the photo transfers.  I mean I say I specialize in gelatin silver prints, however, I currently don't even have ONE hanging!!

Tonight is Auburn's ArtWalk and I would like to go into town and see the Mountain Quarries RR Bridge photography display that I have two images hanging in there. I think I'll take my granddaughter with me.

"If you find, while reviewing a proof sheet, that you do not remember taking a particular photograph, print that one first.  It will be the best photograph on the roll."

Burano, Italy in Black and White

Busy weekend with family and friends.  However, I did manage to finagle my husband into cutting out that one last drawer for me so I could staple in some plastic screen and voila! I now have three racks for drying my FB prints!! I also had some down time and went to YouTube to check out any videos they might have on the darkroom - just to see how everyone else is doing it!  Let me tell you, there are some real sloppy photographers in the darkroom out there!  I mean there is no reason for any one to have dirty, filthy, black trays!  They make cleaners for just that purpose!  Anyhoo, the videos erased any of my own doubts of knowing the process, that's for sure!

Today I headed into town and picked up some more chemicals and paper and storage boxes for 8x10 and 11x14 prints.  When I got home, I mixed up the chemicals and headed into the darkroom.  I have one more image on this first roll of film that includes Venice, Murano, and Burano, and a couple images of Croatia then I'll have finished the first roll from Europe.  Then I'll only have 12 more rolls to go!!!!!!  LOL!  But my favorite print today was one from Burano.  That's the town where the houses are painted bright vivid colors - and here I was taking images in black and white (as well as color).  The picture is the front of a house with two windows with flower pots in each window on either side of the doorway.  The doorways on Burano isle are somewhat left open, however, they cover them with a curtain, and it's the curtain that is so elegant looking.  It's brilliant white with folds in the drapes and it just looks elegant! Again, you can't see the whole image, like all of the windows or the bottom of the drape that has scallops on it, but here it is:

I almost didn't print this one out as I thought it looked overexposed.  Well, I was there in the middle of the day and everything was so dang bright!  But, as it was, it came out faboo!

Yesterday was the day I went and picked up all 18 framed images from the Latitude's Restaurant from their two month hang for Auburn Art Walk.  Then I headed across the street to City Hall and dropped off my two images of No Hands Bridge for the next two month Auburn Art Walk!

I wanted to mention that my friend Chris Buckley who works at the camera store I go to, and a fellow digital photographer, are giving a "Beginning Digital Photography" class on Sunday June 17, 2012.  If you'd like more information you can visit www.MirthToEarth.com/PhotoClasses  That's my 'share' of the day!

Venice in Black and White

The prints pressed well last night - I must have gotten them when they were not so wet and yet not so dry!  So, basically at the right time!  Unfortunately, I keep forgetting that my scanner is only 10x12" so I can't capture the whole 11x14 for you, but it gets most of it.  Here is one I took early in the morning in Venice and the Teddy bear holding the wine bottle really got me!  Someone was having fun the night before.

What you can't see is the doorway to the right is where I did some dodging so you could still see a little something of what was inside the doorway.  But I liked the whole scenario with the barrels and the vine and leaves, and the texture of the brick wall staircase.  Out of the six prints, I used eight sheets of paper and that was just about enough with the chemicals.  They were just starting to get spent.  Because of the larger size, you have more silver halide particles left in the chemicals than you would if you were developing at 8x10 size  I probably could have gotten twelve 8x10 prints with the same amount of chemicals.  And then there are others who would argue that scenario too! ; )  So be it!

Today I have other things on the agenda, but hopefully back in the darkroom on Saturday!