Bodie Ghost Town 2012

Busy week amidst the smoke up here in the foothills.  I finished cutting mats and framing some of the new pieces for the High Hand Gallery's next re-hang on Monday.  These are all from the Bodie Ghost Town Series of 2012; all of which I have never printed.  It's interesting that I almost passed up some of these images, as I didn't (or couldn't) see their true value.  That happens sometimes.  Once they are enlarged, it's like WOW!  ; )  Take this one for example.  I had no clue about the colors in this shot.  They are so subtle, that I had to see the whole thing enlarged.  But then again, a lot of the time I really do see in black and white, so it takes me awhile.  These colors lend even more so to the antiquity of the whole image.  I love it!  These images were printed on 13x19 Museo Silver Rag and that paper just makes them so much more beautiful.

Of course, there's always the making of the labels and the inventory list.  Working at the gallery tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get it done manana! ; )  I will also be bringing home the majority of my European framed pieces, as they will be in the October Auburn Artwalk.  

I'm really looking forward to fall and winter as I am anxious to get back into the darkroom.  It's been way too long, but it's also been way too hot in my studio to close that door.

High Hand Gallery's Artstock Show!

I know it's been quite awhile since I wrote on my blog.  This summer has been crazy with trips to various places and for various reasons.  But I am here now and busy back in the studio.

Getting ready for High Hand Gallery's Artstock 2013.  It is a large format show with artwork at least 3' in one direction and larger.  I'm working today at the gallery, and several artists are in the shed putting up the artwork for this show right now.  My contribution to the show are three 2'x3' black and white gallery wraps of Bodie Ghost Town.  Here's one titled, "Bodie Beast".  It's a car as you can see, but I have had so many people try to tell me what 'make' it is, and I've gotten everything from Ford, to Chevy, to GMC, to Pontiac.  So I'm calling it:  BODIE BEAST!  It is a close up and the first thing you notice is the right fender with the black hole where the headlight used to be!

High Hand Gallery is also getting ready for the new re-hang inside the gallery for September and October, which means I need to print out a couple more prints of Bodie Ghost Town.  Color prints definitely; at least two large prints of 13x19, and then some smaller 8x10s of what I will have hanging.  Need to print now in order to give them time to dry before I frame them this weekend.

I've been on trips travelling around, but not necessarily for art's sake!  In October I will be on the Auburn Artwalk in Naturopathic next to Roper's Jewelry on Lincoln Street in downtown Auburn.  I will be having my artwork from Europe and I will be able to leave it there all winter until the first Artwalk next year in April I believe.  So that's a great opportunity to be able to hang there during the holidays and have greater exposure!!

John Sexton and Kim Weston Part IV Interviews

I received the Part IV of the Sexton / Weston interviews yesterday from Epson.  Just finished listening to both of them, which prompted me to immediately drag out my archival boxes of B&W prints that I have developed int he darkroom and review each one of them again!  I'm still not there - at least that's how I see it after looking at Sexton and Weston's prints.  My photography is mostly scenic - vast expanse of landscapes and cities.  I think I want to reign in on some of that vastness and possibly focus on getting closer to a subject.  I do that with people, so why not do that with scenes.  Pick one object to focus in on with the rest in the background.  Well, I guess I actually do that now.  But listening to those interviews re-inspire me to do better.  And I wouldn't mind taking a workshop from either one of them!  It's funny, they both love to go where I love to go - Point Lobos.  Not sure if I've been to Weston Beach??  Maybe I have and just didn't know it.  Now I want to go again and find out where it is!  Here's the link if you'd like to hear the last session:  http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Landing/black-and-white-printing-tutorials-expert-interviews.do?RMID=eml_pi_072413_BWPart4&RRID=3167862

I had the opportunity to paint with my granddaughter over the weekend.  That was a fun evening.  We both whipped out an acrylic painting.  I have to say hers was the best!  It's both celestial and oceanic looking.  Beautiful blues and purples.

Still contemplating whether to have another gallery wrap made for the Artstock Show coming up at the end of August.  I have time.  I should get busy on that project.

I was busy over the weekend working on photos I had taken at a friend's shower.  Everyone was asked to wear something 'yellow'.  The images came out really beautiful just for that reason.  Yellow is very warming!  Now I just need to put them on disk and send them out to her and I'll be finished with that project.  

Black and White Gallery Wraps

I finally made a decision to use one of my very own VIVID black and white images from Bodie Ghost Town Series instead of worrying about whether or not I had a vivid color shot!  I'm all about black and white, so I'm sticking to it!!  And that's it!  I'm actually the image I last posted of the small out building on a hill in Bodie with a sky full of vivid white clouds all across the top.  Once I decided on the image, I went online to Big Canvas and ordered a 2 x 3 ft canvas!  I have not ordered a black and white image from Big Canvas to date, the images ordered were always color.  So I'm anxious to see how it turns out!  I mentioned in an earlier post that I had ordered a black and white canvas wrap locally and it came back purple!  So, as far as I'm concerned, this project is done!

I received an email yesterday from Epson that the third interview sessions were now available online.  Again, here's the link if you were interested in listening to more photography info from John Sexton and Kim Weston.  http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/Landing/black-and-white-printing-tutorials-expert-interviews.do?RMID=PI_20130710_BW_Part_3_N&RRID=3167862

Another site that I found interesting (I still wish I had been born at least a decade sooner for this) was in regards to a "Call to Photographers" contest from One Life.  Not only is it a contest, but it's a website that allows photographers, artists, musicians, much more, to showcase your work, your art, your passion.  I think you might want to check this one out:  http://www.onelifephotos.com/?f=ol2013_pdn2

Bodie Ghost Town 2012 Series

This heat has been so bad this past week - but this morning's coolness is a nice reprieve.  At least I can come into my studio and sit down for awhile at my PC.

I did complete my inventory for High Hand Gallery.  Haven't heard back from the administrator, so I'm assuming it was okay.  Next step is he will print out the labels and I will affix them to each piece of artwork.

Yesterday I finished matting and framing two new 8 1/2 x 11 (full frame) size images of Bodie Ghost Town.  These are for the Marketplace Gallery in Auburn.   I had planned on taking them down to the gallery, but I think it was closed for the holiday.

Last night I was trying find an image to match the theme "VIVID" for the Large Format Show coming up on the last day in August and runs thru October 6.  Vivid, I guess I don't really do vivid since I'm pretty much looking in black and white.  However, once in a while I shoot some colorful shots.  I need some opinions from some other people.  I asked my husband, but he didn't want to be the only person being asked.  I think I'll send out some images to a few artists and see what their opinion is -- eesh, do I really want to do that? ;)
Whatever I am going to do, I need to do it fast or I won't be in the show at all.

Here are the two images I just framed:

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.