Photo Transfers on Water Color Paper

After working on the instructions for the matting and framing and being bored out of my gourd, I moved onto another photo transfer.  This time it was an image of a red hibiscus in the sun (taking inside the house) with a black background.  I have to say, I think it's the best one yet.  Not all images work in this medium - and this one is really awesome.  I barely added some water color to a couple of areas.  I think I'm getting the process down a little better:  soak the 140 lb water color paper in warm water for 30 seconds, increase the ink saturation to 'heavy', and I only pressed downward with the palms of my hands v. rubbing the palm of my hands across the page.  I find that tends to leave more blank spaces in the image and it pushes the image around to much.

After that I moved on to selecting four images from my European trip that were digital and changed them into black and white images, increasing the contrast a little more, printed them out at 3.5 x 4.5.  I had purchased some small antique frames last year and was going to put darkroom prints in them for sale at the gallery.  However, I decided to keep these little babies myself and I have to say they came out rather nice.  The frames are a light maple color and I used the same aged mats that were in them.  I arranged them with an etching of Venice that is framed and 11x14 that I already had hanging in the "Paris" guest room.  They look tres chic!  I love making art!

High Hand Gallery Artfest 2013

I made the decision to go ahead and participate in High Hand Gallery's Artfest slated for March 23rd and 24th.  This event provides an opportunity for artists to 'demonstrate' their artwork in progress.  Since it is hard to demonstrate photography processes (i.e., darkroom process, digital printing, photo transfers) in public I have decided to demonstrate matting and framing techniques.  It's not something I really wanted to do and I don't give lessons on 'how-to' photograph, but at least it's something that would be invaluable information for up and coming artists who need to know.  So there you have it.  I had already started writing procedures for cutting mats with drawings, so I've picked up on that and will finish the procedures for this event.  I will take my large mat cutter and other supplies to demonstrate mat cutting, and also demonstrate how to frame and close off an image with paper backing.

 

Photography of Barry Goldwater

Arrived home late last night from a five day trip to Arizona to see family.  One of the days we were there, my sister-in-law and her husband took us to Prescott, Arizona to see Barry Goldwater's black and white photography show at the Smoki Museum.  First of all I had no idea he was a master photographer, all I knew of him was his political career.  There were 21, 16x20 black and white gelatin silver images on display.  There were probably, in my opinion, only 5 or 6 really outstanding ones I thought.  I mean he was in the right place at the right time to be able to still take photographic images of the Navajo and Hopi American Indians, as well as other tribes.  My two favorites were "The Navajo" - the whole frame filled with the Navajo Indian's face, whose name was Charlie Potato; and, "Canyon Snow", an image taken in the Grand Canyon.  I wouldn't mind seeing more of his works, however.

There weren't really any big photo ops for me on the trip - other than the balloon festival we went to.  However, the wind came up on Saturday and so no balloons were up in the air when we were there!  Bummer!  I have been to two other balloon festivals in Reno, so it's not like I completely lost out.  We did walk around thru the Kids Rides and all the vendors.  Here's an image with one of the kids inside the plastic balls.  It was pretty fun to watch!

It was a long trip home - 10 hours to be exact!  And it's always good to get home to your own bed.  Today I ran around with errands and taking care of my husband who woke up with the flu today.  Tomorrow I'll get back in the studio doing something with photography, for sure! ; )

Color Photo Transfers

There is a lot of paperwork to do for a photographer's business, as well as paperwork involved with all the organizations one might be involved in.  So it is that time of year to get my information gathered, emails to send, other blogs to help with the posting, Facebook, etc., etc.  That's what I've been doing.  I did take a break and head down to the Big City and purchase a couple of frames for the photo transfers that I have been working on.  I'm trying to stay ahead of the game, and though I said I wasn't going to do any 'shows' this year - looks like I am!  That's what it's all about, right?  EXPOSURE!

I thought I would post another one of my photo transfers here for you to feast your eyes upon - just to keep the interest level up on my blog.  This is an older image that I've had that I took in Monet's Jardin when I was in France in 2004.  Images with the blurred background (as in portrait mode) make for good transfers.  You know, one subject matter in the forefront, and blurred/diffused objects in the background.

I mat these in a single mat, with a 1/4" space between the mat and the image - giving it the illusion of a double mat.  Works pretty good.  This one I will be framing in either a fancy or plain gold frame.  At 11x14 frame size (image is 8x10), I price these at $125.  It's a good price I feel for a one-of-a-kind image.  I could do this one again, and it would come out totally different.  No two are alike.

I received an email last night from a fellow artist friend who had a client wanting an image of a row of birch trees for her home.  I rummaged through all my images - and trust me, I have tons of images of trees of every kind - but not ONE single image of birch trees all lined up.  Aspens, but not birch trees!  Cypress, redwoods, Japanese maples, tons of oaks (Live and Black).  C'est la vie!

Photo Transfers

For some reasons I switched over to photo transfers Saturday night, and continued with it on Sunday.  I wanted to paint, but not have to pull out all the paints, etc.  I figured I could still be doing something creative without a lot of fuss and mess.  I had success with two images.  A couple images I tried just didn't work - it happens.  Photo transfers aren't for every image that's for sure.  I was still being productive!  This final product was from an image of a hummingbird I took thru my studio window this past fall.

I want to go online and order some frames thru Dick Blick, and then get back into these photo transfers!  It's noon and I'm a little slow getting started today.  Go do some art! ; )

Enlargers

Yesterday was another day in the darkroom.  First of all I had this brilliant idea the night before to try out the Vivitar enlarger.  I have two:  the Beseler and Vivitar.  The Vivitar is used only for developing black and white prints.  I thought it was about time I tried it out and this way I would find out just how far off I might be in the developing of prints.  I was thinking there was going to be this MAJOR difference!  Alas, no difference, other than the diffused light was 'diffused' and so it took longer to develop a print.  I developed one that I had already printed out on the Beseler.  IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME, and really not even any better.  So after messing around with that for a couple of hours, I continued working on the third roll from Dubrovnik on the Beseler.  Developed three more and called it a day.  I'm sharing my favorite of the three here.  Again, another restaurant front that looked very inviting - "Restaurant Aquarius".

I did check my FB paper and it's good.  No problems there.  I did change the actual development time down to 2 minutes after re-checking with the manufacturer's instructions on Dektol (2-3 minutes).  Made sure I was being more precise on my transferring of the paper from one tray to another, checked my consistency of agitation requirements, etc., etc.

Dubrovnik in Black and White

Was in the darkroom all day yesterday.  I did switch to 8x10s to save money.   I developed 8 different images, and there are one or two that I really like.  However, as I viewed them later, I'm thinking that maybe something is still not quite right.  I am going to double check a few things:  1) my safe light and 2) check my paper for starters.  I feel like they're still just a tad muddy.  I had my #1 critic, my husband, come and look at them.  Of course, he said he didn't think they looked muddy.  Maybe I just haven't had an image with a lot of contrast - ??  I should try an image with both whites and blacks in it that seem to stand out.

I went online and you can find some great info from teachers, Freestyle Photo, Ilford web pages with step by step instructions and/or trouble shooting information.  Printed out a few of those.  Then looked into some of my photography books - and heck! Mine seem okay.  So what am I worried about?  I will do some trouble shooting before I do more printing, however, just for the 'my' record.  I'll scan in my favorite image from yesterday and share it here.

This image was taken at a little art shop that we came across as we took the walk along the top of the wall in the walled city of Dubrovnik (and we only walked half way around as it was very hot that day).  Those are either grape leaves or some other large leafed plant growing along the top of the building while providing some shade.  It was just a quaint little shop.

Today I worked at High Hand Gallery.  It was the second day of our re-hang.  Yesterday the walls were painted by the gallery members.  It was my turn to go in today and help.  Arriving at noon and four hours later I was bushed and actually every one else left and went home.  Long day!