#143 experimentation

We got home from the fair last night at around 11:30pm, decided I might as well experiment as I didn't have any time to do anything else. Turns out handcolouring with pastels is not such a great plan...

#142 the bouquet

I accidentally posted on my studio blog, and decided I'd leave it! Here's what I said:

I photographed a job for a client, and the next day got the most beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered as a thank you, what a treat! So I did what any photographer would do, I photographed them!

#141 Callanish {two}

I love handcolouring the colour images, especially these ones where there is very little colour to begin with, think they come out so well...

Must be time for another Callanish story... when we arrived the sun was out & shining brightly, then it got cloudy and windy, then it started to rain, I laughingly said, 'gosh, we've had every kind of weather but snow' within minutes big enormous bits of hail started falling from the sky! We 'battened down' behind the big stones, my friend Mouse behind one, me behind another, and the only other couple there behind another. I took a video of us, but of course I'm laughing so hard I can scarcely breathe, the video bounces around erratically and you can't make out a word I'm saying!!!

#138 Goldfinch in Sunflowers

During last summer's excursion to the sunflowers, we had a calendar of sunflowers to give us ideas and inspiration. Well, the entire time was so magical, and we loved every bit of being there, but we started making jokes, well, if only a goldfinch would land right in the middle of the patch... and lo and behold, a goldfinch landed right in the middle of the patch, just like in the calendar! I was so excited, until I looked at the images later, and of course, all of the ones with the birds are the dead, nasty looking flowers! Still way, way, cool. Yesterday, I thought a border might bring your attention even more to the bird...

#101 wedded bliss

This is another of those portraits that came with the studio... Every time I look at it I think to myself, I need to sew some of those flowers. So today I did. Think it may still need a little something else. And like those other people, if you know these two, let me know, you can have them!

#100 Senior portraits

This is certainly pushing it, but I spent literally all day creating high school senior templates and cards for the upcoming class of 2012, and by the time I got home, walked the dog, ate dinner, I had nothing left in me. Not a creative drop. I could barely move. So it's not my finest day, and it's the closest I've come to cheating.

One of my favorite senior portraits on the beach from last summer is the front of my mini cards this year. Thanks Hannah!

#99 Jellyfish

I love jellyfish. I know that they're taking over the world, and causing all kinds of havoc in the sea world, but man, they're cool.

...and honestly, that's totally our fault, not theirs!

#97 portrait of fall

Just another of those days where creating took a seat, really, really, really far in the back... But I got to create senior portraits on the beach last night, what a gorgeous night it was for that! Sometimes living on Cape Cod is what it's all about.

#96 Solitude

I've always wanted to try encaustic painting, and I'm getting closer. I've bought myself a book (the International Encaustics Conference is in P-town this week, which started up my need to try it again, of course it being a very busy time at my studio, I didn't sign up for any of the classes, probably should have anyway!) So yesterday, I just did a little beeswax painting. Man did my art room smell soooooooo good, still does this morning actually! There were moments last night that I loved this image, by the time it was done I was certainly less enamored with it! So although this is supposed to be a journey using supplies I've already got, I can't use those big hunks of beeswax until I get a little resin, seems okay to me!

#91 & # 92 the couple

There are lots of great things about owning a photography studio, but to have one that has been such since 1957 adds a few to the list, like if you want an old photo to play around with, just go rummage around through the leftover prints which are still in the darkroom. Even though it hasn't been a darkroom for over a decade. No worries. You're sure to find something. Day one, oils. Day two, pastels. If you know these people, give me a shout, you can have a copy.

#90 Wisteria by night

I opted to watch The King's Speech rather than use that time creating, so once again, albeit by choice, I was trying to get it together at the last minute.

Decided it was another venture into painting with light, this time using the flashlight to 'paint the subject with light' rather than write with light. I love Wisteria, think it's one of the more romantic flowers going, Ray gives me such a hard time about ours. Only the one side is happy & prolific, the other side struggles a bit, but I love them equally and don't mind that the entire thing's a little wonky. I think it's beautiful. And through the painting and movement and inability to really focus very well, takes on a lovely, ethereal feeling. Bring this image into Photoshop for a little post production, and I think it could be really lovely. Maybe a project for one of my next 275 days.

#85 perhaps I should have waited...

for the next train...

#83 wishes

I love being a photographer, I have a great job. Taking portraits on the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod, really it's a great gig... But there are so many things I want to do... places I can't wait to go... I have so many dreams... so many wishes... for myself, my daughter, my family...

Today is part one, I'm going to create a 'wish board' for myself, just need to find some cork or something that I can use... (& buy some new ink for my printer too!)

#79 Sunny flowers

Last August I went with some good friends to the most amazing sunflower patch... we photographed for hours two days in a row... such a joyous thing to do to wander amongst sunflowers with friends! I highly recommend it!

#78 Long the summer day

oh I'm ready for those long summer days... I'm done with these long Cape Cod spring days...

#77 the boats

This is a Polaroid SX 70 manipulation I did ages ago, that I scanned and coloured today... To create the image, it's the type of film that pops out of the camera 'weeee eeeeh' and while the image is developing you actually move the emulsion around, creating a sometimes funky, sometimes ethereal kind of effect... I never got much of a chance to play with these before they stopped making the film, and when they were making it, I never could afford much of it at a time!!! The original was a slide I took in England at the New Forest, same time as 'a Single Boat'

#74 fields of...

is that Provence or the weeds in your front yard?

Won't be posting tomorrow, not because Blogger's down as it has been since yesterday, but because I'll be camping w/my Girl Scouts... fingers crossed my 'creation' will work!!!

#73 Please shut gate

we don't want to let all of the butterflies out...

#71 Thatched village v2

So all I was doing was lightening the oil a little, I just wanted to soften it a bit as it was drying while I was trying to figure out what I was doing today. Well, softening turned into pretty much removing (the problem w/using non-fibre based prints for colouring, it all wipes off pretty darn easily), next thing I knew, other than the acrylic painted windows & doorway, and dyes across the bottom, it didn't look much different than when it started. On my own behalf, I totally wasn't altering the same image two days in a row, but turns out I did. Today's effort was with dyes, so it's pretty much staying at least this colour this time!!!! (and I prefer it by far...) What do you think?

#70 Thatched village

I love the look of light oils in old hand-coloured photos, no idea how to do that, I've got the right supplies, why bother reading any directions! Maybe another day. So tonight we started with heavy oils, and dirty brushes, because I can't just stick 'em in the sink!