Color Sunset Photography

Sorry to keep you waiting...personally delivered my sister-in-law's framed images she purchased from me.  All the way to Lake Havasu City, Arizona!  Long drive, but we had a great visit.  Helped her hang the photos up and they really look great in her living room.  The first night we got to Barstow and had to stop and spend the night.  We were tired before we left - so need I say more?  It was windy there, but when we left the motel to go eat dinner there was this fabulous sunset.  Of course I had to run and grab my camera very quickly as these images don't last long.

My husband's sister and husband put on a little party with about 14 friends coming over to greet us and she said, 'to see my artwork'!  That was really outstanding in my book.  Very thoughtful.  We got to see their friends some of whom we know, and also the grand kids who are now teenagers.  They do have a little sister who is just a doll!  I'll post a photo of her tomorrow!  Today I am working at the High Hand Gallery, so if you're in the vicinity, come by and say 'hi'!  I'll be back in my studio manana getting back on track!

Digital Resizing

Yesterday proved to be quite productive despite me having vertigo!  After scanning in photos for my husband, I was able to start resizing the European photographic images and got thru most of them.  I only have three more cities to do:  Rome, Florence, and Barcelona, Spain.  What a job that was - I worked on it for probably five or six hours!  I'm resizing them for my website which I haven't updated since the beginning of 2011.  This blog takes some time, imagination, and selection of a photo.  I try to do most of my postings in the morning, but sometimes that doesn't work.  My next step is to upload them to my website, which is another event in itself!  That should take another couple of days and that's just the uploading of the photos.  Then there's the dialogue and the pertinent/historical information that I add to each image.  But I am getting there!

This image is from the isle of Santorini, the town where all the blue domes are that you see on calendars.  I've had several myself.  I thought there would be more of those blue domes than what I saw.  There's really only about 10 if that many.  However, every view is beautiful and I'll post more from Santorini as we go along.  Again, by the time we got to any of our destinations it was already somewhere between 10 a.m. and high Noon.  Not good photography-wise.  But you've got to make the most of it when you do get there.  I guess I don't need to mention that it was so bright up there on top of this island, and then you're dealing with bright white reflections!!  My film black and whites were not so good even after shutting down the lens, but I did get a couple that I might be able to work with.

Perils of a Photographer

When I worked on Sunday I got all my updated prices on my photography.  It was storming that day so we did have some traffic in and out, and sales weren't bad either.  It was one of those days that most of the folks already knew what they wanted.  Either they had been in before, or were looking for gifts.  I took my oils and painting in with me, so Paula and I both worked on our paintings that afternoon.  There is a new retail shop located in the sheds now, called "The Vintage Bricoleur".  They re-purpose items and one side of the shop has re-purposed antique silverware made into necklaces, bracelets with added beading and such.  Very nice stuff I must say.  A lot of other antique items.  I saw a set of four Colonial small frames that had pictures of Thomas Jefferson's home in them -  I believe it's Monticello.  However, what I saw were four small darkroom prints in them!  ; )  That would look really cool!

Unfortunately for me, I woke up today with vertigo!!  Ugh!  It seems like I tend to get this from time to time.  I hate it.  So I won't be doing a lot of stuff today except maybe scanning in some old family photos for my husband.  Yesterday I worked on photography paperwork - it's that time of year, and also cleaning up my desk area.  Looks neater in here now.

I was looking through my European cruise photos and saw a photo that reminded me of a near mishap!  Ahh, the perils of an intense photographer!  I was so involved with the beautiful scenery at this monastery that we stopped at in Paleokastritska, Greece.  It was up at the top of a mountain, overlooking the ocean, and the monastery was pristine white, and I'm looking thru my viewfinder as I'm climbing up the stairs, oblivious to anyone and anything, and ... I trip on the uneven flagstone flooring!!  Then I'm taking off, bent over, almost running, but not wanting to fall with my two cameras (yeah, let's save the cameras and forget about our body!), and luckily for me I actually stop when I come up to the group of people in front of me!  A young girl says to me, "wow, you could've gotten hurt!"  No @#$! Sherlock! ; )

Matting and Framing

Well this so-called Google Chrome is nothing but a big pain in the you-know-what, if you ask me!  Nothing like going around in circles to get to my blog..  I liked my old version of blogger - not this one!  That only took another half hour to get online today.  How does one complain to Google?

Today I spent all morning matting and framing.  I finished up my sister-in-law's order, so that is done!  My son gave my husband a beautiful print of an original drawing by the artist Dan Brewer who also re-signed the print.  It is titled "Bartering to Pass", and consists of a cowboy on a horse bartering with an Indian on foot.  It's done quite well and my husband loved it!  I had ordered the frame and ended up not matting it because I didn't think it needed one - it stands out all on its' own.

I'm going to re-establish my prices for my photographic images, which means I will be printing up new labels for my work at High Hand Gallery.  One of the many things I learned early on when I went 'public' with my work, was that an artist should be consistent with their pricing.  So increasing my prices at High Hand will definitely make me more consistent.

Good news! I went to my second oil painting class yesterday - and I think I'm getting the hang of it now! It was a lot more enjoyable this session and I was able to put down some oil on half the painting. Last night I finished up putting the portraits I took of the High Hand Gallery artists on CD's which only took me about 40 minutes for 16 CD's. Then this morning I stopped at the gallery and dropped them off. I put them on disk mainly because I have satellite internet connection - bad scene. I would have been here for days trying to email them out. But here's something for you bloggers, I updated to Google Chrome. So I'm not very computer literate when it comes to figuring out programs. I downloaded it, but shouldn't it come up by itself for the blog? It didn't. There is a shortcut on the bottom menu bar and that's how I was able to get into my blog. I tried my normal way of getting to the internet to my website blog, and '...my browser no longer supports my blog.' So as long as I went to the Google Chrome shortcut I could get to my website, then my blog. Why did I ever click the update button for Google Chrome? I spoke with two of my fellow gallery artists when I was there, and they were commenting on my new Venice images and thought that my prices weren't high enough. That's funny that they brought it up, because I was just thinking that to myself recently. I do put a lot of work into taking the image in the first place, developing or uploading, printing it just so on fine art paper or developing them in the darkroom on fiber based paper, cutting my own archival mats, replacing the glass with non-glare glass, and framing them in a professional way with the proper backing and wire. So that is a lot of work, time, effort, expertise, etc.! You don't have to sell me on this subject! ;)

Matting & Framing

Yesterday I began working on the three 11x14s that my sister-in-law ordered: two from Venice and one from France. I usually cut my own mats, but I purchased the mats for her from Aaron Bros., as well as the frames. I use Aaron Bros. when I'm in a pinch! The reason I don't buy from them all the time is that the frames aren't the best. The ones I purchased weren't wood, but rather plaster with gold paint. They had the 'Old World' look to them to go along with the images. Well, the plaster broke off on the corner of one of them, so now I have to go purchase another one. I know they won't let me exchange, they'll say I dropped it. Whatever! And I wasn't able to replace the the plain glass with non-glare because they must put the glass in first, then finish off the 'plaster' work which makes the opening less than 16x20! Oh well, she wasn't really expecting the non-glare glass anyway.

Last night I was checking my supplies to make sure I had enough Cd's to put the High Hand Gallery portrait photos on for the artists. I won't be emailing them the photos as the files are rather large and we have satellite! I would be here for days trying to send photos. This morning I will start putting the photos on the Cd's and then later this afternoon I have my second oil painting class. I don't know about that class. I'm not really in the mood for painting. It seems I have to be in the mood to paint - and oil has such a big learning curve. We'll see.

Portraits in Color and B&W

A few weeks ago I offered the High Hand Gallery Artists the opportunity to have their portraits taken and/or with their artwork...yup! I sure did! High Hand has a blog, so we needed photos to go along with the artists bios. So photos took place yesterday, all day long, which was also our first "Artful Sundays" at the High Hand Gallery. It was a happening place let me tell you. We also had some great keyboard music by Wayne Baxley who just happened to play with my uncle's band for over 25 years, known as the George Bruno Big Band. And if that wasn't enough, candle making classes were going on too in the back studios. I like it when they're making candles, it smells so wonderful!

I set up my lighting and backdrop panels in the back area where we wouldn't be disturbed and I could turn off the overhead lighting when I needed to. It went fairly well and I ended up taking 16 artists' photos out of 31. Not bad. At first I was taking the portraits inside, but during a break I started wandering around and found a back wall of the sheds that would be a great backdrop with natural lighting, which is what I love working with. I had searched on the drive into Loomis looking for a natural backdrop setting and there were some brick walls, but we would have to walk back down the street a couple of blocks. So the back wall turned out to be perfect!

Needless to say, I wanted to finish these up and be done with this project, so I've been working on them all day. I just finished and I think I need a hot pack on my neck. I told the artists not to expect truly professional portraits, as this is not being done in a studio (I'm landscape, remember) but that I would do my best. Hope it works out for them (and me!) Here's Unni Stevens who is an oil painter. She's extremely photogenic!

ICC Profiles - Again!

I continued to clean out the last of the shelving units - just about there! Went back into the darkroom yesterday and finished the contact sheets for my son. Because each one of his rolls of film were different speeds, my 'basic' menu for timing of contact prints worked for most of them with the exception of one in particular that I re-did five times in order to get something on it, but finally after exposing it for 45 seconds I think I got it the best way possible! I hope he doesn't have anymore rolls for me!

I talked about downloading the ICC profiles for Ilford Galerie papers after speaking with the guy at the camera store. So I downloaded them, printed a sheet of 3 cards (even though the product sheet said it was not recommended for Epson UltraChrome K3 inks), then I also printed the same on my HP All-in-One printer. Examined them side by side: the HP sample was more vivid color wise than the Epson sample. And the HP print is nice and dry, whereas the Epson is still not sure what it wants to do. Next time I go back to the camera store I will share the product sheet with my friend, and then purchase the right product!

Today I need to go back to Dela Mat & Moulding and pick up a frame and some white 4-ply mat board. I forgot to stock up on the white that I use for back mat. Then I plan on getting back into the darkroom for MY images!!

This image is I'm posting today is from Corfu, Greece. I just loved exploring all these little towns. They were so quaint and even though there were at times lots of tourists, it still seemed like you had taken a step back in time and at least I felt transformed to another time and place. Don't get me wrong - I like all the amenities we've grown accustomed to in making our lives so easy - but still...

Painting with Oils

Yesterday morning I headed out to purchase my supplies at Delta Mat & Moulding. I ended up ordering a frame, purchasing lots of 4-ply Crescent mat board, and only two other items on the list. The tacking iron was outrageously priced at $80. I'm going to have to look for a used one. Then on the way home I stopped at High Hand Gallery to take some pictures of the new artwork that was hung last week for the next two months' show: Journeys. That only took about 20 minutes. The hard part was posting them to High Hand Gallery's Facebook page. Satellite Internet is not the quickest medium. I got them uploaded after refining them to my liking - so that is done!

Yesterday I also started cleaning out my three large shelving units that go from floor to almost the ceiling. It's so easy for them to get jammed with stuff that doesn't belong in there. Also, I wanted to get rid of all my old clear glass that I originally purchased before I started using non-glare glass; plus the glass I remove from over the counter frames I buy that I replace with the non-glare. It was a good 200 lbs of glass. My husband said he'd take it to the glass contractor he knows so it could be recycled. I still have one shelving unit to clean out. But it looks a lot better.

Today I start my oil painting lessons! My husband gave me this gift on my birthday last year and it's time to begin. Sunday I went out and purchased my supplies: the oils and disposable pallet. I have the rest of the required supplies: table easel, brushes, and pallet knife. This morning I need to figure out WHAT I am going to be painting. I'd like to paint something from my European cruise. Maybe the hillside of Italy with the water in front. That's my task this morning. Learning to paint with oils is something I've always wanted to do, but at the same time I have photography nagging at me in the background! What's a girl to do? ;)

Photography Supplies

Every now and then I go back to my images from my European cruise. That sure takes a long time to go thru and see what you really have as viable pieces of artwork! I just finished Croatia the other night. I didn't think I'd ever get done with those. I have to say there are a lot of good ones. I just love the architecture - it's so old and mysterious, and the streets are so worn and smooth - the doorways, well each one is inviting. I guess that's why people like doorways and gates - they're inviting and in Europe they are just plain quaint. Next folders I'm moving on to will be Corfu in Greece. I keep thinking if I ever get thru printing images from each folder it will definitely be a miracle. And to think those are only the digital ones. I still have my black and white film images!! Speaking of black and white, here's one of some kayakers in the bay at Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Yesterday I sent out an email to the High Hand Gallery artists that I will be taking photographs of the artists for the gallery use this coming Sunday at the gallery. So last night I started receiving responses to sign up for a scheduled time. I'll be at the gallery pretty much all day for that project, plus it will be our Artful Sunday. What is Artful Sunday you ask? This is our 2012 version of Third Saturdays which used to be held in the evenings. I think this new change up for Sundays from 2-4 p.m. will be more successful since people will already be out and about at the gallery. Looking forward to the change.

This morning I started working on my list of supplies I need from Delta Mat & Moulding. It's getting long which equals $$$!! But I feel like I'm getting a lot accomplished this past week. My studio needs some organizing - AGAIN! Doesn't take long to get that overflowing look!

Moving Forward!

I called the Blue Moon and yes I could change out images. Yesterday morning I drove down to Sacramento and changed out the two that were there. In exchange I took the two large Venice color images and she really liked them. Plus she took another framed 8x10 of the Gondolier on Break which was the color image with a layer of colored pencil over it. I also picked up a framed photo transfer from the High Hand Gallery that had a spelling error!!! Egads! I hate that! Fixed that last night and will take it back today.

I also had a lesson from one of the clerks at the camera store on the ICC profiles! I am such a novice on digital. I told him I had purchased the wrong box of Ilford paper and he said I could still use it. What I needed to do was to go to Ilford.com and actually download the ICC profile to my computer! It's not just changing the printer settings, but the ICC profiles also have to be downloaded. I'll work on that one when I start printing. I really would like to have someone come and spend a day with me on digital printing and sizing.

Last night I made up my 'list' of things to get done in regards to my photography. It's a little on the long side. One of the items is to work on large format images in one form or another. The High Hand Gallery has an upcoming show later in the year for large format, and I had mentioned I wanted to order some images from Magnachrome in 16x20 - maybe even larger. Then in March we have a Shed Sale coming up and I am definitely participating. Artists can have a booth with all their overstock for sale!! I could use some cleaning out! Here's a picture of the No Hands Bridge photo. It's not the transfer, but the original photo.

Just another day in the life...

For the last three days I've been working to mat and frame four images: 2 - 11x14's and 2 - photo transfers. I was trying not to be rude since we had company visiting from out of town, and I would come out to my studio either early in the morning or in the late evening. I also had glass to cut for the two smaller images. I did manage to finish them, but unfortunately it was too late to hang in the High Hand Gallery. Today I'm calling the Blue Moon to see if I can change out the two I have in there right now, with the two new large Venice framed photos. If that doesn't work, then I think it's time for me to call another gallery!

Attended the High Hand Gallery's meeting last night. It was a long one as we discussed events for the whole year. The one good news is that our Third Saturdays monthly event will now be Artful Sundays held once a month during the day light hours of 2-4 p.m. A lot of the artists have been wanting to change it to the daytime since most people don't really like to come out at night. I think this will be a positive change for us.

Even though our company has just left, today the contractor is coming to finish running the heating and air ducts out to my studio, so I need to hurry and cover my desk area and other surfaces. Hopefully that won't be real messy!

Matting & Framing

The new year started out great! I went back in the darkroom and finished developing the last three rolls of my son's film. I wanted to be rid of all my old projects hanging over my head! I was so thrilled. Right now we have company for three days, but I will be making his contact sheets for him soon.

Yesterday morning I went down to Loomis to the High Hand Gallery and worked for a couple of hours or more helping to take down all the art work, and then patching the walls, getting it ready to be painted. There were probably 8 - 10 artists there helping, and I'm sure more came after I left. We have 31 artists right now, so if everyone came for a couple of hours to help get the work done, then it's not like such a humongous chore.

After I left the gallery, I headed out to Aaron Bros. to pick up frames some new images. I usually purchase my frames from Delta Mat & Moulding, but when and if I'm in a pinch I buy from Aaron Bros. Later in the evening I started matting and framing and still have more to go. But in the process, my sister-in-law asked to see some of my European photos and she loved them so much she put in an order for three matted and framed pieces!! Sweet! She picked one from Burano, Italy, Venice, Italy, and Trinite Sur Mer, France. I like it! I've got to get busy!

HAPPY 2012!!

Today is the start of something new. A chance to start all over, a chance to reinvent one's self, if one so desires! And I so desire!! There are so many things on my list, as I'm sure you have a list too. Time can be short, or long, or 'of the essence'. What we do with our time is what makes the difference. I know of a couple of artists who have artistic drives 24/7. It always amazes me. I'm not in my studio or darkroom 24/7, but when I am in here my mind swirls with ideas, as some of you who read this blog may know about.

This year for me is going to be about production and presentation of artwork. That's my goal for 2012. My blog is mainly about photography and its many processes, some that cross over too. There will be times when you'll have to read about painting too though.

My plan is to get my European photographic images matted and framed and branch out to other galleries. I'll take it one step at a time. My plan is to: 1) move new images to the Blue Moon in Sacramento; 2) branch out to another gallery in Roseville; and 3) larger prints to the High Hand Gallery. it may not seem like alot here in print, but it IS. Staying focused is another priority. Keeping a balance in my life - as in 'juggling' all my responsibilities. Now that one is HUGE! ;)

This image looking out from the walled city of Dubrovnik to the ocean's bay that I've posted today is somewhat symbolic - for me and YOU. It's a window of opportunity to motivate me and YOU: A portal to your dreams, your new year, and what you want to accomplish! I challenge you to go after your artistic dreams and desires. You can't go wrong. There's no way you can make a mistake - there are no mistakes, only life lessons! So just go do it!