Bodie Ghost Town 2012 Series

Change in plans for the KVIE entry.  I tried to have a canvas gallery wrap made locally, and it came back a complete disaster!  It was purple and not black and white at all!  Then called my "normal" supplier for canvas wraps back in Wisconsin and unfortunately they would not be able to get the wrap to me in time.  After stewing for a few hours, I just told myself I cannot get upset over this.  So I graciously wrote an email to KVIE and told them I would not be able to participate this year.  And I just let go all of the stress in one fell swoop!

Getting back to prints for the High Hand Gallery, I printed out two 13x19 images from my 2012 Bodie Series on Museo Silver Rag, cut double mats and framed them.  I have to say these are two of my best works ever and I'm really proud of them both!  It's just a waiting game to see how my public likes them.  I think I am in love with this paper - granted it's expensive, but the results are amazing!

Yesterday I printed out more prints for cards and cut mats for several other Bodie prints from that same series, on the Museo Silver Rag at 8 1/2 x 11 size.  They too came out quite impressive.  Today I finished all the cards as well as putting the prints in the mats, wrapped them all in cellophane sleeves and took them to the gallery tonite when we had our meeting.

Earlier today I took the time to watch a series of videos from Epson which were free for starters.  The first two were interviews with John Sexton and Kim Weston, both well-known photographers.  John worked with Ansel Adams and Kim is the grandson of Edward Weston.  In addition to the two interviews there are four instructional videos for printing on Epson's Fine Art Paper using Silver Efex Pro 2.  Here is the link if you are interested:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Landing/black-and-white-printing-tutorials-expert-interviews.do?RMID=PI_20130601_BW_Launch&RRID=3167862 

Times are changing at the High Hand Gallery.  They are introducing a POS System (point of sale).  Each artist is required to enter their inventory into this new system and each piece of artwork will then have a bar code affixed to it.  It will make documenting the sales easier with less room for error - ??  Needless to say I definitely need to get busy on this project!

I will close with one of the new Bodie images titled, "Bodie Remains":

Museo Silver Rag for Black and White Photography

This is just a short post for today - I'm tired.  Made it over to Aaron Brothers and managed to find some nice wood frames for the two Bodie Ghost Town images for High Hand Gallery.  I spent the day cutting double mats, cutting glass (I always replace the plain glass with non-glare UV glass as long as the frame lets me).  It makes a big difference, especially in a gallery with the bright lights.  These two images were the ones printed on Museo Silver Rag - and what a difference this archival paper makes.  I also have several Bodie images 8 1/2 x 11 that need to be matted, so I can take those into the gallery also.  I'm getting low on matted prints at the gallery.  I still have numerous digital images from Bodie from last year that I haven't even printed yet, not to mention film images!  I get a little carried away sometimes.  I think other photographers can identify with that.

Tomorrow it's my day to work again at High Hand Gallery.  Wednesday I'll be picking up my gallery wrap for the KVIE Auction.  And that event is most likely the last extra-curricular photography event for me for the year.

Canvas Gallery Wrap - KVIE Art Auction 2013

At the last minute on Tuesday I finally decided to go ahead and try to enter the KVIE Live Auction.  And so I did, and I got my acceptance email today!!  Pretty quick I must say!  While I was completing the entry form online, the rules dictated the size of the image to be at least 16x20.  My printed version in black and white on Museo Silver Rag was 13x19.  So, I immediately got on the Internet and ordered a 24x32 gallery wrap.  The artwork is due June 28th, so it's all falling into place.

Today after getting my car serviced for almost 4 hours, I headed over to Delta Mat and Moulding and picked up mat board, non-glare glass and more hardware for framing.  I've got my work cut out for me, literally:  double mats for the 13x19 images, and smaller for the gallery.  It's time to pre-cut some mats so I'll have them on hand.  New artwork for High Hand Gallery is due the end of June.

I'll be busy tomorrow night for the Auburn Artwalk and I'll keep you posted on how the awards go for Auburn Arts commission's "Celebrating Auburn's Past" juried show.  It's getting exciting - again!  Saturday it's back to working in the High Hand Gallery!

"Celebrating Auburn's Past"

I know I haven't posted for quite awhile.  Originally I was just worn out from that last High Hand event - The Artful Bra Show - but other than household chores and yard work I was starting to get back into action.  I did order the 13x19 Museo Silver Rag inkjet paper and it has arrived.  Then the power went out and my PC monitor went out and I couldn't recover it.  Found out it was dead but I did get 8 years out of it, so I guess that's good.  Purchased a new monitor not realizing it didn't have speakers like my old Dell monitor.  So had to go back to Best Buy and buy speakers.  I'm arguing with the guy, "...I just want plain ol' speakers - no fancy woofer..."  ; )  So for $35 I got some Logitech speakers with a woofer.  WOW!  I have a new stereo system!  Love it.  I listen to Pandora while I'm working - or CDs from my PC or sometimes from my boombox - heh heh!  So now I can put one of the speakers in the darkroom too!  I'm all set up  -- again!!

My recent project is the Auburn Arts Commission's Call to Artists for "Celebrating Auburn's Past".  I worked on a collaboration piece with a fellow artist/friend Rose Kirby.  I took the black and white photos of historical buildings and landmarks in Auburn.  She took the printed photos and collaged them, added acrylic paint to create "Rattlesnake Dick" who was one of the most wanted men in the early 1800's.  She entered it and it got juried into the show!!  The awards ceremony is this upcoming Thursday in conjunction with Aurburn's Artwalk from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at City Hall.  Awards will be made at 6:30 p.m.  Here's a picture of the artwork:

  With the recent heat - it gets pretty hot in my studio - even though it has central H/A.  Today is nice and cool - I think I might be doing some printing on the Museo Silver Rag.  I do have to bring in new artwork for July and August.  I have one framed photo transfer and I think I'll print some Bodie images.

Museo Silver Rag

For a busy night last night, I didn't sleep in much this morning!  The Artful Bra event happened last night and all the tables were filled with guests.  The live auction went well.  Both my entry of the bra made out of photos sold in the silent auction, and the one my husband and I made sold in the live auction.  That was good - I was worried I was going to have to buy my own! ; )  Which I would have done.  I really like the photo bra.  I am resting today and all next week.  A lot of energy goes into an event like that one and I am pooped to say the least.

I don't think I have an ounce of any creativity in me at this moment.  But it will come.  Just not today! ; )  Here is another image from Bodie Ghost Town that I printed on Museo Silver Rag.  Hope you're having a great Memorial Day Weekend.

High Hand Gallery - 5th Annual Artful Bra Show

I'm still here! ; )  So much going on in the art world.  Saturday was the Art in the Park and it was a beautiful day, however, just not enough foot traffic, as well as too many other competing events that weekend.  Glad it's over.  I am seriously re-thinking these art fairs where I have to lug my equipment and framed images around - maybe go to selling on the web.  I have a lot to think about on that one.

Getting the last minute paper work done for the Artful Bra Show.  I designed the show's program and took it to the committee chair for review.  With one minor adjustment, it's ready for printing.  I have one more trip to the gallery this morning to finish taking photos of the last of the bra entries.  Then I'll just have to make up bid sheets for those and post the images on High Hand Gallery's Facebook page and I'll be done for the week.

My girlfriend who is an acrylic painter sent me the picture of our 'collaboration' of a project for the Auburn Arts Commission's "Celebrating Auburn's Past" event.  I took the black and white photos of historical places and buildings in Auburn.  She incorporated them into her black and white painting of Richard Barter aka Rattlesnake Dick!  He was one of the top 10 bad guys of the old west.  Her painting of him is so awesome.  She said it's not done yet, but when it is I'll post the image here.  She is doing such a great job!  It was her idea, so kudos to her!

Next on my own artwork agenda, I will be buying more mat board and then cutting mats for the beautiful black and white prints of Bodie that I made earlier in the month.  They are absolutely gorgeous on the Museo Silver Rag paper.  You gotta try it out for yourself!

High Hand Gallery's Artful Bra Show - 2013

Been working frantically to finish up the bid sheets for the Artful Bra Show at High Hand Gallery.  So far, 51 entries, but that number will increase after tomorrow.  My husband and I made another bra entry over the weekend and he's actually finishing up with the last touches right now!  I'll post a picture when we get it done.  I know there are other artists that have already submitted additional bras.  The bid sheets entail including an image of the bra on it and the artist's information.  Then printing them out and attaching them to foam core board.  I'm half way done.

Yesterday I gave my first class on photo transfers and it went really well.  It's really not a hard process to begin with, but since I've worked out all the major bugs, it's a streamlined process for newbies.  The lady really enjoyed the class, gave me compliments on my instructions/patience/my 'eye', and said that my class really increased her knowledge on the process.  She learned a lot she said, as she had already made some transfers on her own. She was also going to send other people my way!  Awesome!

Today I'll finish up the bid sheets.  Tomorrow I head back to High Hand Gallery to take additional photos.  I would like to invite you to the Artful Bra Show on Saturday, May 25th, silent auction at 5:00 p.m., with the live auction starting at 6:30 p.m.  There will be wine and hors d'oeuvres and plenty of bras to bid on.  All the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Here's our artful bra creation from my husband and I.  It's called "The Key to the Cure" - a door with old keys hanging off the cups which were made out of wire mesh, and the key in the doorknob is PINK!