tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34826954117883277852024-02-07T20:24:49.625-08:00A Picture and a Thousand WordsA place for writing and art.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-26937311898857224242013-11-11T19:27:00.000-08:002013-11-11T19:27:42.551-08:00If you go on hiatus, you'd better have something to show for it...I'm back, after 7 months. Ouch. Good thing I've been up to several things.<br />
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Christmas is just around the corner (or seems so for those of us who make and sell our own greeting cards!) but until it gets here, I still have time to work on my <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/12751449-advice-from-ghosts-description">novel</a> to participate in National Novel Writing Month, co-host a <a href="http://www.sixdegrees.podbean.com/">science podcast</a>, and continue to draw <i>non</i> red and green things!<br />
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This may seem a tad unfocused to some of you. If that's the case, I'd say you probably don't know me personally! Sometimes the best way to operate is in all directions, and then who knows? After a little while, you just may achieve greatness in multiple areas at once.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchTsGAL1QsK9ehcStQJtcf2TkV3k-yH5bSY9llAV25pq5DRtHRPRuKBRnzErph9eUVvCw6bhvEHsAwAc5PrWsMK5DDHq1OIjVeUuN70QPVwc6_q6LDBbKoda_eYXAt_q6cvgIy6Ic0U-Z/s1600/Molly+the+Monkey+better+frame+saturated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchTsGAL1QsK9ehcStQJtcf2TkV3k-yH5bSY9llAV25pq5DRtHRPRuKBRnzErph9eUVvCw6bhvEHsAwAc5PrWsMK5DDHq1OIjVeUuN70QPVwc6_q6LDBbKoda_eYXAt_q6cvgIy6Ic0U-Z/s320/Molly+the+Monkey+better+frame+saturated.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
While I still sometimes feel I'm in the waiting period for this greatness, I do think I've experienced some small triumphs this year: one of my illustrations was published in an online newsletter and I've finished three quarters of my novel. Not exactly fame and fortune, but better than where I was a year ago.<br />
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I guess what I'm saying is, for all of you out there who are striving for similar things, remember why you're doing it. Not just for that brilliant, final end goal, but also for the journey. <br />
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Please comment and share your own successes. I'd love to hear them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-9540674042702237642013-04-08T19:37:00.000-07:002013-04-08T19:37:06.621-07:00Drawing ConnectionsIt's April of 2013, and I'm currently involved in more official projects at once than I ever have been. I love it! The newer element for me is that one of the projects is collaborative, something I haven't done in a long time.<br />
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Another new element is the type of project: a graphic novel. <i>That</i> is something I've always wondered if I should do, but have never had a chance or excuse to do. Again, I love it.<br />
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I began the project pretty gung-ho and have remained so since. It's been constantly pushing my skills as an artist (and my quirks as a slightly OCD perfectionist who loves to draw in ink). The writer whose work I'm illustrating, <a href="http://benabelm.blogspot.com/">Ben</a>, is rewarding to work with as well. I can't emphasize enough how different a collaborative project is for me, and how interesting it is.<br />
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This year is shaping up to be pretty productive, creatively speaking. Sometimes I forget how much I'm actually working on, and I have to remind myself not to feel guilty for refusing to take on more.<br />
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Some of you may already know about my novel in progress, <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/12751449-advice-from-ghosts-description">Advice From Ghosts</a>, and may have been reading my serialized posts online. I appreciate your support and feedback! John is definitely one of my favorite creations.<br />
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Although it's been on the back burner for awhile, I'm also formatting, organizing, and considering illustrating my other writing project, <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/3552154-treasury-of-fairy-tales">Treasury of Fairy Tales</a>. I've always thought that it's harder to illustrate my own work than to illustrate someone else's, and this project confirms that belief! Wish me luck.<br />
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In between everything above, I've been working on flyers to advertise for, and paintings to display in, a local show in July. The two projects are somewhat connected, but the styles involved are so different from each other that I can feel my artistic brain wrinkling up if I even think about them.<br />
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Finally, to mention a completed project, (what!?) I designed some T-shirts for my husband's band, <a href="http://strsacramento.blogspot.com/">Support the Rabid</a>. <br />
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So what's next? Keep drawing and writing like there's no tomorrow.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-26476161276739840772013-04-08T18:38:00.001-07:002013-04-08T18:38:44.882-07:00A little encouragement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0ywnv4xj_DNYmJiuTPl9udTJpbnEhMvJ8hrmhVxw5S3ibN-4ixAvjggSc71HZkuPs-UhduRmQnRp-Gs5b4dgdhcTDIaU44_RMw8YK_DpPnlLTMJQANct8HarobofiQzxDHcG3wqPAJXU/s1600/Writing+illustrations+glowing+pages+and+stars+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0ywnv4xj_DNYmJiuTPl9udTJpbnEhMvJ8hrmhVxw5S3ibN-4ixAvjggSc71HZkuPs-UhduRmQnRp-Gs5b4dgdhcTDIaU44_RMw8YK_DpPnlLTMJQANct8HarobofiQzxDHcG3wqPAJXU/s200/Writing+illustrations+glowing+pages+and+stars+JPG.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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As someone who is constantly writing and trying to get over the potentially paralyzing fear of submitting work for publication, stumbling upon this made my day:<br />
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<a href="http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs115/1105067856984/archive/1112975793536.html">"Why I Love the Library"</a><br />
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If you click the link above, you'll be taken to the Sacramento Public Library Newsletter, which features a section called, "Why I Love the Library."<br />
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Several months ago, I submitted my personal story to that section, and today I was happy to see that it had been published. The smaller of possible victories, maybe, but don't they say that the smallest ones are sweetest?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-11528937982396344952013-03-07T22:04:00.000-08:002013-03-07T22:04:53.795-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Traci Cook<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/31bda060-9091-41df-ac76-630eb0931b34/uploadedartwork/650X650/57c15508-0d62-41fd-bdb5-b3a6b29d3382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/31bda060-9091-41df-ac76-630eb0931b34/uploadedartwork/650X650/57c15508-0d62-41fd-bdb5-b3a6b29d3382.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Summers-Night_art?IMID=57c15508-0d62-41fd-bdb5-b3a6b29d3382" target="_blank">"Summer's Night" by Traci Cook</a></td></tr>
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Artist <a href="http://www.tlcookdesigns.com/index.html" target="_blank">Traci Cook</a>'s work represents a bit of a departure from what usually catches my eye--and I love it! Her art is so whimsical, but at the same time seems to have hidden meaning, like an illustration from a children's book that remains a favorite through adulthood.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a9312d2f-11c6-4e39-9ee9-65f19a0eaf75/uploadedartwork/650X650/35841094-a356-4d74-aed4-fce53f8f0ee9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a9312d2f-11c6-4e39-9ee9-65f19a0eaf75/uploadedartwork/650X650/35841094-a356-4d74-aed4-fce53f8f0ee9.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/A-Quiet-Brunch-at-the-Shrewsbury-Circus_art?IMID=35841094-a356-4d74-aed4-fce53f8f0ee9" target="_blank">"A Quiet Brunch at the Shrewsbury Circus" by Traci Cook</a></td></tr>
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As I explored Cook's gallery, I actually found myself wishing that she would illustrate, and perhaps even write, her own children's book. Her compositions are beautifully arranged. Color and shape dance from one corner of the page to the other, drawing the viewer in. The characters pop off the page with delightful, spunky personality. I'd have to say the piece that best displays this, and the piece that really caught my eye, is "A Quiet Brunch at the Shrewsbury Circus" (right). The title is fantastic, the robot is everything a robot should be, and who knows what that girl has up her sleeve? That is one story I'd love to know more about!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a9312d2f-11c6-4e39-9ee9-65f19a0eaf75/uploadedartwork/650X650/036dd2b7-b9bd-4e1c-852c-a883f229bf29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a9312d2f-11c6-4e39-9ee9-65f19a0eaf75/uploadedartwork/650X650/036dd2b7-b9bd-4e1c-852c-a883f229bf29.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/The-Birthday-Party_art?IMID=036dd2b7-b9bd-4e1c-852c-a883f229bf29">"The Birthday Party" by Traci Cook</a></td></tr>
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Cook has lent her talents to illustrations for Disney, Dreamworks, and EA Games. She has done commercial designs for Coca Cola, Bing, and Aflac, and has worked on video games like "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Rock 'em Sock 'em."<br />
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"Quite a resume" would be an understatement.<br />
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Cook is currently working freelance and encourages people to contact her if they want her to work on a project. So, readers, if you are finding yourself as enamored with Cook's pieces as I am, keep in mind that she takes commissions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a9312d2f-11c6-4e39-9ee9-65f19a0eaf75/uploadedartwork/650X650/c73cd1b9-eeff-4c52-aae8-82c240009ea5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/a9312d2f-11c6-4e39-9ee9-65f19a0eaf75/uploadedartwork/650X650/c73cd1b9-eeff-4c52-aae8-82c240009ea5.jpg" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Letter-Unsent_art?IMID=c73cd1b9-eeff-4c52-aae8-82c240009ea5" target="_blank">"Letter Unsent" by Traci Cook</a></td></tr>
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See more of Traci Cook's art:<br />
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<a href="http://www.tlcookdesigns.com/index.html">website</a><br />
<a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=4d1f41da-da37-4da7-a9e4-a5364d5f6b1b" target="_blank">prints site</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-56015887541760936042013-02-24T20:46:00.002-08:002013-02-25T22:08:02.771-08:00Planning a NovelAs I set my sights on completing my next writing project, I asked myself how I was going to map out a storyline based on a man who's lived for 250 years. That's right, the main character of my next novel is immortal--and John has had enough experiences to fill more than one book, and make a writer crazy! I decided to get the basic structure of the story together first, and then I'd know how to fully fill in John's timeline, which is a task nearly daunting enough for a whole other blog entry! <br />
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I've put so much time into planning out this story that I thought I'd share my efforts on my blog, and possibly give other writers some ideas for organization. I have to first say that I'd never have been able to put all this together without reading another writer's blog, <a href="http://thegracefuldoe.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/writing-a-novel-character-profiles/" target="_blank">The Graceful Doe</a>. Be sure to visit her blog and check out all her great ideas!<br />
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Since I'm nowhere near as organized as I appear to be, the outline of the story was not actually the first graphic I designed, but it was much easier to do after I did the (much more fun) character pages.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6xbYH_p1aG-k2Tk5Qf4dAZ4VALBh8IOt5S25ORA4XooKs7AQxnjGpCehEkNocKIydbXfgfXjfB399-ot9bn8fTTYTxScLrcTrMoOGf_UIOvAv3ssssGA5a8VJcKnM7BPc5W1vpvRWYSR/s1600/advice+from+ghosts+outline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6xbYH_p1aG-k2Tk5Qf4dAZ4VALBh8IOt5S25ORA4XooKs7AQxnjGpCehEkNocKIydbXfgfXjfB399-ot9bn8fTTYTxScLrcTrMoOGf_UIOvAv3ssssGA5a8VJcKnM7BPc5W1vpvRWYSR/s640/advice+from+ghosts+outline.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina Boyd. All rights reserved.</td></tr>
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With the help of Adobe InDesign CS5 (Thank you, <a href="http://benabelm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ben</a>), I spent a lot of time planning out my character pages, right down to what their bathrooms looked like.<br />
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As I completed these layouts, I constantly referred to what I've never been able to do without: a "To Do" list:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBUOo5LjsawhQtMN6gsnOQAe6J-DZRxbFm8UP_3jV1B6Bxi8VL8sDixE5OZBxDGnaa6VIdc2ddAZz1J92poCLwYpi7_dA63_sbnUvUg4F3kaZX3i7KIG5LclCwwUOLJytCyGnzimdfF6I/s1600/to+do.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBUOo5LjsawhQtMN6gsnOQAe6J-DZRxbFm8UP_3jV1B6Bxi8VL8sDixE5OZBxDGnaa6VIdc2ddAZz1J92poCLwYpi7_dA63_sbnUvUg4F3kaZX3i7KIG5LclCwwUOLJytCyGnzimdfF6I/s640/to+do.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The timeline was the most important piece for keeping my sanity, and the storyline was much less overwhelming after I made it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina Boyd.<br />All rights reserved.</td></tr>
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Finally, after designing a cover, I was able to upload part of the novel onto my current favorite site for sharing my writing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYLfkwMbGImbk9gRpdZomVknzkQBJt08ekabMxY7EqGnzibDAzDa1aljjuJ0rSTaKlw5E9Zow4Tlb9KsbSpTQrvWp04o6ZRugfUL1Ac8MjjQWlntTXMJ0nf1L7Ic1rrCBHuM4WnFxF503/s1600/Advice+From+Ghosts+cover+067+wattpad+sized+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYLfkwMbGImbk9gRpdZomVknzkQBJt08ekabMxY7EqGnzibDAzDa1aljjuJ0rSTaKlw5E9Zow4Tlb9KsbSpTQrvWp04o6ZRugfUL1Ac8MjjQWlntTXMJ0nf1L7Ic1rrCBHuM4WnFxF503/s1600/Advice+From+Ghosts+cover+067+wattpad+sized+JPG.jpg" /></a></div>
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Needless to say, putting together this kind of detail can be time consuming, but after doing it I really felt that these characters and the story they told were real. I also achieved the main goal I had in doing all of this, which was to plan, plan, plan, and then be free to write to my heart's content without worrying about inadvertently creating plot holes.<br />
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I hope this is useful to all you other writers! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can read the first two chapters of my novel <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/12751449-advice-from-ghosts-description" target="_blank">here.</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-11851731491185594522013-02-16T20:14:00.001-08:002013-02-16T20:14:33.567-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Emma Uber<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/ebe47ab0213a2d96e11abb6d09ba1f4d/tumblr_mhvfkm9e3J1qm5yazo2_r1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/ebe47ab0213a2d96e11abb6d09ba1f4d/tumblr_mhvfkm9e3J1qm5yazo2_r1_500.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://emmauber.tumblr.com/post/42531016437/rosette-oil-on-canvas-8x10" target="_blank">"Rosette" by Emma Uber</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Artist <a href="http://emmauber.com/" target="_blank">Emma Uber</a> is truly inspiring. I came across one of her pieces by accident one day and was immediately struck by its vivid colors, but when I followed the image back to its source and began reading about Uber on her site, her encouraging story struck me even more. It is one with which all artists can sympathize:</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"Mere days before she was discovered, Emma Uber nearly gave up on her dream of being a professional artist... The 30-year old artist in Adelaide, Australia had a quiet Tumblr page, but few sales, and Emma had few expectations that her prospects would change....</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">'</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">I was creating all these paintings that were just sitting in my house. I had friends saying ‘you know, you’ve got good paintings there.’ I thought ‘maybe if I just get rid of them all, it would somehow stir something up, and I’ll be able to look at it, and go ‘I feel better, all those paintings are gone, I can get on with whatever I’m supposed to do.' </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsdlgrTwhn1qm5yazo1_r2_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsdlgrTwhn1qm5yazo1_r2_400.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://emmauber.tumblr.com/post/40585551451/emmauber-prints-now-available-flowerbed" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Flowerbed" by Emma Uber</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">And yet, despite all the reasons telling her to start over, Emma decided to give her art career a little more time.</span><span style="line-height: 17px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">It was good that she did. In early April of 2012, a blog called the Cool Hunter picked up her work and featured it. Within hours, Emma was inundated with hundreds of new followers to her Tumblr page, and an intimidating amount of new attention." ~<i>http://emmauber.com/story/index.php </i></span></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Uber's work is always eye-catching, often breathtaking, and nothing short of fabulous. As I explored her site that day, I found piece after piece to fall in love with. I have always had a particular weakness for portraits, especially of women with flowing hair--there's just so much texture and line to celebrate!--and Uber's pieces never disappoint. Each painting is a perfect blend of realism and the abstract, and each painting has a magical feel to it that whimsically blends foreground and background together. Color and passion leap off the canvas as one, framing Uber's portraits with unforgettable character.</span><br />
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mafv4oYykS1qm5yazo1_r1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mafv4oYykS1qm5yazo1_r1_400.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So, having completed my journey through Uber's colorful world, I invite other viewers to explore it too. Take a few minutes, lose yourselves in her paintings, and experience the joy of her art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">See more of Emma Uber's work:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://emmauber.com/" target="_blank">site</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.shopstudioremy.com/emmauber/?sort=featured" target="_blank">shop</a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-17195529592741582962013-02-05T19:33:00.001-08:002013-02-05T19:33:31.056-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Adriana Mekan<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/fbf7e68e-17c3-4ebd-9d84-75425d73b4f5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/fbf7e68e-17c3-4ebd-9d84-75425d73b4f5.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Disambiguationcolor_art?IMID=fbf7e68e-17c3-4ebd-9d84-75425d73b4f5" target="_blank">"Disambiguation" by Adriana Mekan</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://adrianamichelle9.wix.com/am/intro" target="_blank">Adriana Mekan</a>'s style immediately caught my eye. From luxuriant color pieces like "Tree of Souls" to iconic graphic works like "<span style="color: #073243; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Transanencephaly</span>," Mekan proves again and again that design could be her middle name. Each composition I looked at was just begging to be displayed in a coffee shop, or tattooed on an arm, or featured in a book. The versatility of her images was amazing.<br />
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It is easy for the viewer to get lost in the intricate, hypnotic patterns and the meticulous line work that characterize Mekan's pieces, but the <i>feel</i> of each piece is just as intriguing. Every line, every color, each tiny movement, all contribute to a strong emotion that bursts from the page as vividly as the art itself.<br />
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When I first came across Mekan's gallery, I wanted to know, right away, about the artist behind the work. Her style is incredibly distinctive, but there are still many nuances within it to be explored. Mekan's beautifully created imagery is like an interesting conversation you'd overhear in a crowded room. It invites you to listen for awhile, and then you <i>have </i>to jump in and participate.<i> </i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I asked Mekan about her work and creative process:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/b007e6f4-87ad-4bef-93c3-1901e188dae8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/b007e6f4-87ad-4bef-93c3-1901e188dae8.jpg" width="217" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/ArenaoftheWretched_art?IMID=b007e6f4-87ad-4bef-93c3-1901e188dae8" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Arena of the Wretched"</span></a></td></tr>
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<i>How do you promote your work? </i></div>
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I promote my work through several different ways. I try and keep up my appearance on the internet through social networks and art sites such as Imagekind and Deviantart. I have a few Facebook pages to share and promote my work as well as a Tumblr. Outside of the E-world I keep in touch with the local artist community. (I live in Denver, CO) I hang my art up in galleries when I get the chance and take part in events when they come up.</div>
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<i>One of your galleries is called Art After Midnight. Can we interpret that literally, and what inspires you in those late hours? </i></div>
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Art After Midnight has a few meanings in addition to the fact that I feel it just has a nice ring to it. I generally feel more motivated late at night when I cannot sleep and I think these late hours have had a bit of influence over my dark style. My initials are also AM which could be seen as ante meridiem from the 24hour day. You know, am/pm. :)</div>
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<i>Discuss the artists who have been most influential to you.</i></div>
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This is a slightly difficult question considering I find new artists almost every day that inspire me. I have always been a huge fan or the Old Masters, DaVinci, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, etc. I also really enjoy the subconscious approach of the surrealists. My top favorites at the moment I would say are Zdzislaw Beksinski and Peter Gric. I think those two have very unique styles completely different from anyone else. I enjoy how Beksinski draws from his dreams and the rather opposing constructive work of Gric that comes from his architectural experience.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/a7dc1443-6da2-4362-a558-ff622f232895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/a7dc1443-6da2-4362-a558-ff622f232895.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Tree-of-Souls_art?IMID=a7dc1443-6da2-4362-a558-ff622f232895" target="_blank">"Tree of Souls" by Adriana Mekan</a></td></tr>
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<i>When did you first feel successful as an artist?</i></div>
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Haha. :) What is "success"? I would say I still have moments where I don't feel like I have gotten as far as I would like to. On the other hand I have moments where nothing matters and I am just painting for myself. I think to let go of expectations completely and just enjoy the process of creation would be where any artist would find success.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/cce341a7-8261-45b4-a2aa-98ac8eb7ff34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/d34c98df-e048-4fec-b94c-7e6bd62aafd3/uploadedartwork/650X650/cce341a7-8261-45b4-a2aa-98ac8eb7ff34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Transanencephaly_art?IMID=cce341a7-8261-45b4-a2aa-98ac8eb7ff34" target="_blank">"Transanencephaly" by Adriana Mekan</a></td></tr>
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See more of Adriana Mekan:<br />
<a href="http://adrianamichelle9.wix.com/am/intro" target="_blank">website</a><br />
<a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=10a81a6d-28b1-4e06-8d97-740da9db8f0a" target="_blank">prints site</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-14020515024118047492013-01-10T21:35:00.003-08:002013-01-10T21:35:49.716-08:00Nose to the Grindstone...I've been a bit behind on my blogging lately, mostly because I'm editing a novel to enter in the <a href="https://www.createspace.com/abna" target="_blank">Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest</a>. To be honest, it's quite nerve-wracking, especially as I sit here reading pitches from previous winners and wondering if my story even compares! But the whole point of entering all these contests is to push for excellence in my writing, so I suppose the nail-biting is worth it.<br />
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Submission begins January 14th. Wish me luck!<br />
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<i>A girl. A quest. An unexpected ending...</i><br />
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This was definitely her. </div>
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He smiled to himself and raised his voice. Now there was a reason to say what he had been yelling all morning. She wouldn’t be able to miss him.</div>
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Crowds moved around her neatly, immersed in afternoon shopping and selling. The general hum of conversation was muted here, prim and restrained, which made the voice rising above it even more noticeable.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “Evil is here! It has reached us even in this fair city! What is its root, you ask? No one knows where evil comes from, but we all feel it when it strikes!”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “Crackpot,” Rain muttered to Hunter as they passed the youth standing in the middle of the path. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>“If we continue to ignore it, we’ll never know what’s behind the eyes watching us from the shadows.”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> Rain turned on the spot, mid-step.</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “What did you say?” she asked.</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> He looked surprised that someone had actually been listening.</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “I’m sorry,” he said politely, “I wasn’t aware that people usually paid much attention to crackpots.”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “Only if they’ve got something interesting to say,” Rain replied, undaunted. She patted Hunter and he sat down beside her. “What do you mean about the eyes?”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “You’ve seen them, haven’t you.”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “What makes you think so?”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “No one else has listened to me, let alone come up to me to talk about what I’m saying.”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “Someone pointed them out to me,” Rain explained grimly. “I left home to get away from whatever was watching me there.”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “Where are you headed?”</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="Apple-tab-span"></span> “To find my father. He's traveling, and I have to warn him before he starts to head for home.”</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-33361135552931385492012-12-31T18:52:00.001-08:002012-12-31T18:52:29.645-08:00The Art of ConnectionsI used to abhor science--even more than nature abhors a vacuum! I defined myself as an artist, and at least during my high school years that definition did not include science.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjSHMZKx-O-sipKw8WN5EEuCIskSrWRdBm0vHo2K3gsxpMl078ClCxGW2ZkF8XRclBU08b5RDJOrnDzlosS1haBM9awKnj_0sg2v7yuBgFJ-CI6VpddnLVySN5m5jXQyrAG-7mclJ_ncQ/s1600/Creativity+unframed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjSHMZKx-O-sipKw8WN5EEuCIskSrWRdBm0vHo2K3gsxpMl078ClCxGW2ZkF8XRclBU08b5RDJOrnDzlosS1haBM9awKnj_0sg2v7yuBgFJ-CI6VpddnLVySN5m5jXQyrAG-7mclJ_ncQ/s200/Creativity+unframed.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Creativity-art?IMID=8b6b17d9-6b31-49fa-9369-13669c17acab" target="_blank">"Creativity" by Nina Boyd</a></td></tr>
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Looking back on that time now, I'm almost sure I hated science so much because it didn't come as naturally to me as the worlds of drawing and writing did. I probably could have cleaned up if I had been the type to charge classmates for essay-writing services, but balancing equations or memorizing the parts of a cell? No one could have paid me to do that!<br />
<br />
Nowadays, I'm buying the <i>National Geographic</i> magazine, browsing the <a href="http://hubblesite.org/" target="_blank">Hubble Telescope site</a> for fun, and checking out library books by <a href="http://mkaku.org/" target="_blank">Michio Kaku</a>--<i>and</i> reading them! I suppose just like my high school interests, my long-dormant appetite for science is still very one-sided...<br />
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Well, at least it's there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/07/telescopes/mcnally-photography" target="_blank">Photo: Joe McNally</a></td></tr>
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The photo to the left is a stunning shot of the monitors at NASA's Advanced Supercomputing facility in California--but it's also so much more than that. The silhouette of an anonymous scientist points at images of the heavens, which are so far away and yet so close. They literally glow with possibility. The photograph is truly awe-inspiring, and in <i>National Geographic</i> is aptly captioned "Window on the Universe." The seemingly endless nebulae that were once unreachable now virtually reside in our backyard.<br />
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Space has a way of simultaneously commanding respect and inviting exploration. Looking at this photograph, how can we not stand in awe of humankind's never-ending quest for knowledge? How far we came, once we found our way.<br />
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The image makes me think of cavemen, and which of them might have been the first to try to illustrate nature. Which one of them stood in front of a cold, stone wall and reached up to make that first mark, enriching humanity's purpose forever? Doesn't art, in its ever-expanding nature, provide a platform for exploring new worlds? A single mark can take us so far, whether in the name of art or in the name of science. It's all connected. If you want to draw inspiration, all you need to do is look up.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-44801795402109847212012-12-25T16:19:00.000-08:002012-12-25T16:19:21.878-08:00News from the Writing Front!I have finally, <i>finally</i> found a website to use for my writing. This site is great: easy to use, accessible everywhere, and has a very organized look to it. The best part is the virtual lack of formatting involved in posting stories. Other sites I've used are intended as print on demand services, and the writer/poster has to do quite a bit to conform documents to various printing requirements. While the end result can turn out shiny and impressive, I haven't found lots of readers willing to buy an expensive product from an unknown writer. This leaves the writer with a great looking book that may never be opened.<br />
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<a href="http://a.wattpad.net/cover/3484666-256-177081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a.wattpad.net/cover/3484666-256-177081.jpg" width="204" /></a><a href="http://wattpad.com/" target="_blank">Wattpad.com</a> is really targeted more at online readers. An uploaded story can be shared as a complete work or posted in serialized form, and can gain readership instantly. Thank you, <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI</a> newsletter!<br />
<br />
I'm proud to share a novel on my page that many of my friends are familiar with. Please visit <a href="http://wattpad.com/Stories_by_Nina" target="_blank">my wattpad page</a> to read <u>The Lady and the Minstrel</u>, or check out my short stories.<br />
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What's next? Immersing myself in new book cover designs....oh, Christmas, when you're over I won't be leaving my art table for weeks!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-16861731847423779682012-12-06T19:47:00.000-08:002012-12-06T19:47:14.663-08:00Another Thank You...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcGFvsiq5hgKOeMRx_Kvmj_zktHVXwF43IUeJ-k0aRrPbpP4W4lXhNUURZET2e8U6hRVhVSZyfPl51g7VmfLu6CTnKIJjqZnX3AW-jJ5RYPt8gw3dx_7by-WsiWLtKlAWw_G5Bp-d2e4K/s1600/Train+unframed+clearer+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcGFvsiq5hgKOeMRx_Kvmj_zktHVXwF43IUeJ-k0aRrPbpP4W4lXhNUURZET2e8U6hRVhVSZyfPl51g7VmfLu6CTnKIJjqZnX3AW-jJ5RYPt8gw3dx_7by-WsiWLtKlAWw_G5Bp-d2e4K/s320/Train+unframed+clearer+JPG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another big "Thank You" to the second person to purchase <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Train_art?IMID=467828a1-52ba-472e-9434-42660a77aa94" target="_blank">Train</a>. What a lovely early Christmas present! There is nothing more encouraging than affirmation that your work is appreciated. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Marilyn-in-Black_art?IMID=494797f6-8335-4d95-9c38-1bb76c8a04fe" target="_blank">see print</a></td></tr>
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Imagekind always
has a sale of some sort, particularly during the holidays. Today you can save 25% on your order, so
browse my <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?mid=34E11B0C-479E-45F6-A40A-4AFDEC3287AA" target="_blank">galleries</a> to find the perfect gift for anyone on your list!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFRDsCbo5Hv3Um7-T6t7ZcbGqlD3WnD9BAlHLFoPd-nddTL1Ql0VW3H78G2NT8bHGDgVphKx9NhTmbSxkzRa4UUHnkLjxUdlciug134qgduZy7bInChbfzA0jAqJxGXHRRD5XvrUwzEsG/s1600/Flower+Fairy+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFRDsCbo5Hv3Um7-T6t7ZcbGqlD3WnD9BAlHLFoPd-nddTL1Ql0VW3H78G2NT8bHGDgVphKx9NhTmbSxkzRa4UUHnkLjxUdlciug134qgduZy7bInChbfzA0jAqJxGXHRRD5XvrUwzEsG/s200/Flower+Fairy+JPG.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Flower-Fairy_art?IMID=17ac1d0e-f245-4cc1-947f-9a0c063bb2fb" target="_blank">see print</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n0AiS_EhVAev6GhluADgSiCsmD-8BZMpOyJLeUTMkkE12ykysZP89fA9LFr09CkvqHff6p6amujY1YDmpZr0YRtoE2U7Y14Q87KSKlmP-7iSS3SnGrp3b7qJEaxx4hXw_uLRENHRUy5G/s1600/Lemons+and+Eggs+framed+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n0AiS_EhVAev6GhluADgSiCsmD-8BZMpOyJLeUTMkkE12ykysZP89fA9LFr09CkvqHff6p6amujY1YDmpZr0YRtoE2U7Y14Q87KSKlmP-7iSS3SnGrp3b7qJEaxx4hXw_uLRENHRUy5G/s200/Lemons+and+Eggs+framed+JPG.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Lemons-and-Eggs_art?IMID=1f4ccd45-614f-4cae-afeb-92d83863b568" target="_blank">see print</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU3Dy9UG90LKcOnKxnq0plGjKPZuCWLOar3R5FVB1PYcRB5J_R9X3Xp1X7Uc5_ipkJ7_7zmLasoXvAQn7ODsDW5pdFVJRXDOWCsS4Z_zQc9em4JToNcFlXZmFBECYNpza3gqop4Eb6Cmb/s1600/Oranges+original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU3Dy9UG90LKcOnKxnq0plGjKPZuCWLOar3R5FVB1PYcRB5J_R9X3Xp1X7Uc5_ipkJ7_7zmLasoXvAQn7ODsDW5pdFVJRXDOWCsS4Z_zQc9em4JToNcFlXZmFBECYNpza3gqop4Eb6Cmb/s200/Oranges+original.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Oranges_art?IMID=14763efc-b176-446d-b734-9d90b4873be3" target="_blank">see print</a></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-59269120040021247342012-12-01T18:47:00.003-08:002013-01-02T18:04:39.267-08:00I, for one, would miss the Post Office...<br />
"The Post Office is really good at what it does, we just don’t need it.
No more than we need a good horse shoe, or small offset printing press
(or newspaper, magazine or CRT monitor.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sCyy7wTfeippkAl_sW_85Zhjzlc7Sgd7W1MEb1K6SX6vVuRTWrXyrkxGWouqB9YCJIkxBb_6zInkeOlUmi9vDQAolgUKZsejKviS5DBx4Pau25GIL78HAHSgZey2EFx-ZmWwi1-QCpBb/s1600/Christmas+Candle+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sCyy7wTfeippkAl_sW_85Zhjzlc7Sgd7W1MEb1K6SX6vVuRTWrXyrkxGWouqB9YCJIkxBb_6zInkeOlUmi9vDQAolgUKZsejKviS5DBx4Pau25GIL78HAHSgZey2EFx-ZmWwi1-QCpBb/s320/Christmas+Candle+JPG.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/christmas_candle_cards-137944634925200436" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
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"The boomer generation will wax nostalgic about the post office.
We’ll weave in “mail” stories with others about days before ubiquitous
air conditioning, when all we had was AM radio in the car and 3 stations
of black & white television at home. It will be fun to reminisce.<br />
But our children, and certainly grandchildren, simply won’t care.
Not at all. And we better remember to keep the stories short, so they
can be related in 140 characters or less if we want them saved for
posterity!"<br />
~<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2011/12/06/why-the-postal-service-is-going-out-of-business/2/" target="_blank"><i>Forbes</i> <i>Magazine</i>, "Why the Postal Service is Going Out of Business"</a> <br />
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There's something to be said for receiving Christmas cards in the mail. During most of the year, my mail box is filled with unwanted ads, even more unwanted bills, and the occasional notice from a vet or dentist office that's designed to look like a personal letter. While I communicate constantly with friends and family through texting, email, and phone calls, none of this compares to the magic of holiday cards in the mail box once December hits.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/oh_christmas_tree_greeting_card-137249695525276385" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
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I love getting Christmas mail, and I love sending it. Aside from the fun of actually designing and drawing my Christmas cards, I also look forward to dressing them in envelopes, sealing the flap with a Victorian Santa sticker, and completing the package with a Christmas stamp before I leave it in the care of one of those vanishing blue mail drop boxes--all very old-fashioned, I'm sure, but as much a part of the season to me as hot chocolate and wrapping presents.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/christmas_candles_with_ribbon_greeting_card-137228817006537767" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
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So say what you will about the irrelevancy of the post office, <i>Forbes</i> <i>Magazine</i>--I'll continue mailing Christmas greetings out of Sacramento to family and friends, whether they live in Lodi or Los Angeles--and unlike a fast easy text, although instantaneous, a personalized, individually created message that takes two days or more to reach its recipient is a true cup of cheer.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-_dkIVrxLri3ZDGpPbSckcC7uWixLXV_ZUW5UkX83bSRV28tavdM4mjTQMB2HJRKguf01J-dFbesE7Ir1by3uiKbRVWwS_Ho5tBClAxsUL5k3ZyfQyn14AMguxqmHToqhlBA4cZO7oZY/s1600/Snowman+santa+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-_dkIVrxLri3ZDGpPbSckcC7uWixLXV_ZUW5UkX83bSRV28tavdM4mjTQMB2HJRKguf01J-dFbesE7Ir1by3uiKbRVWwS_Ho5tBClAxsUL5k3ZyfQyn14AMguxqmHToqhlBA4cZO7oZY/s320/Snowman+santa+hat.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/snowman_with_santa_hat_card-137251860310315315" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/ninasart/gifts?cg=196119379582803415" target="_blank">View all my winter greeting cards</a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-68996564495341122102012-11-23T21:46:00.000-08:002012-11-23T21:46:26.296-08:00Our Fellow Artists: R. Christopher Vest<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/c13cdc6c-c09e-476d-a28c-ef6b6b947229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/c13cdc6c-c09e-476d-a28c-ef6b6b947229.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/sunrise-on-the-marsh--sandhill-cranes_art?IMID=c13cdc6c-c09e-476d-a28c-ef6b6b947229" target="_blank">"Sunrise on the Marsh 2: Sandhill Cranes" by R. Christopher Vest</a></td></tr>
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Artist <a href="http://photo.net/photos/chrisvest" target="_blank">R. Christopher Vest</a> creates painted photo montages of all things nature: whether his subject is landscapes, wildlife, or domestic animals, his camera and tablet bring that subject to life and celebrate its natural beauty.<br />
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Something that makes Vest's work so eye-catching is the nuanced degrees of realism. As the viewer looks at a piece, he or she might reflect on how beautiful the lighting is, how perfectly an animal is posed, how delicately a leaf is turned in the wind--and as the viewer continues to look, more and more of the piece's painted aspects emerge, showing just how fine the line can be between a photograph and a painting.<br />
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Vest lives on a farm in Colorado, and is working with his partner Cathy to restore the land while also operating a small animal shelter. Like so many artists, his life outside of his art still seems to inspire his pieces.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/7ccb1700-3dc2-4097-9ac5-0a39f4dd22c8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/7ccb1700-3dc2-4097-9ac5-0a39f4dd22c8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/african-starlings_art?IMID=7ccb1700-3dc2-4097-9ac5-0a39f4dd22c8" target="_blank">"African Starlings" by R Christopher Vest</a></td></tr>
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I asked Vest about his creative process and life as an artist:<br />
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<i>Describe your technique of painted photo montage.</i><br />
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I coined the phrase 'painted photo montage' to describe my process of
building images with both digital painting and photography. It seems
there is a bit of bias against this evolving medium from pure
photographers and painters. While photo-manipulation is accepted in
computer gaming and in the movies, in the fine arts realm we still have
some respect to be earned to get beyond the notion of trickery
accomplished by the pushing of a button in Photoshop. I like to remind
folks that many of these techniques were pioneered around the turn of
the century (that would be 1900, not 2000) by a group of photographers
called the "photo secessionists" organized by Alfred Stieglitz. The
movement strove to bridge the perceived chasm between photography--
which was thought of as merely a documentary medium-- and fine art. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3ImzyHMX1ZMivIfaD9okKal8UFix1On9pMQc6PthnHf9Il3px5Njkn6j8qTNzK20nj4ERX69t9v-HjEg5O8ZlEXpY0ItNU74mvOFqwAelSNOHeZ6p4m9BiFw_D0S26NumLRzEGP90rQU/s1600/Kuehn+%2527Ein+Sommertag%2527%252C+1898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3ImzyHMX1ZMivIfaD9okKal8UFix1On9pMQc6PthnHf9Il3px5Njkn6j8qTNzK20nj4ERX69t9v-HjEg5O8ZlEXpY0ItNU74mvOFqwAelSNOHeZ6p4m9BiFw_D0S26NumLRzEGP90rQU/s320/Kuehn+%2527Ein+Sommertag%2527%252C+1898.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Ein Sommertag' by Kuehn</td></tr>
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Many of the core elements that are contained in modern Photoshop
software were in fact done by hand by these skilled artisans in the
darkroom. This includes dodging and burning, layering, masking and overt
manipulations in the form of "sketching" upon the plates as shown in
this Heinrich Kuehn piece "Ein Sommertag" produced in 1898. It is not
immediately evident what medium this picture is. I find the
beauty--especially the contrived textures-- of such early works of
manipulated photography to be highly inspiring, though of course I use
full color and thankfully don't have to bathe my images in chemicals to
develop!<br />
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My explorations into making photographs "better" began
with bird portraits, so we'll use my avian art as an example. The world
is crowded these days with skilled photographers using enormous lens
and expensive cameras, strobes, tripods, guided safaris to exotic lands
and vast disposable income to produce brilliantly detailed pictures of
birds. I have no such state-of-the-art gear, and neither the purse nor
patience, so my soft-focus pictures by comparison would be of little
interest unless I undertook to improve or evolve them. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/2ab0d6d5-b5fb-4499-9b6b-77a6fe864a3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/2ab0d6d5-b5fb-4499-9b6b-77a6fe864a3b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/moonlight-snipe_art?IMID=2ab0d6d5-b5fb-4499-9b6b-77a6fe864a3b" target="_blank">"Moonlight Snipe" by R. Christopher Vest</a></td></tr>
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In brief my procedure is to use the lasso and magic wand tools to pull
the bird (or an aspect of a landscape as the case may be) out of the
picture. I will then both re-paint the bird with my drawing tablet and
to create for him the scene i want him to inhabit. I take landscapes
too, plus pictures of foliage, skies and endless sundry textures all
archived with keywords so that I can search for them thematically. <br />
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assemble-- in PS layers-- the constituent parts of my picture. My
textural and design components are woven throughout the image: fading in
here, inverting there, both in front of and behind the subjects. There
is a great deal of trial and error. My pictures typically have at
least a dozen layers set at various opacities and effects, and with
multiple masks. Which is not to say that being a complex amalgamation is
the point. I do not want my image to fool people with a seamless
photographic manipulation: I want it to be obvious that the image is the
product of imagination as well as digital equipment. A typical question
I get is "Is this a photograph or a painting?!?". Like the
secessionists, my simple answer is "yes."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/bcf1cfd5-9a22-416b-beb3-ab3cd67fb771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb37b4f0-3cc1-4c1e-a128-ea71f0cf8d60/uploadedartwork/650X650/bcf1cfd5-9a22-416b-beb3-ab3cd67fb771.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/colorado-forest-scrub-jay_art?IMID=bcf1cfd5-9a22-416b-beb3-ab3cd67fb771" target="_blank">"Colorado Forest Scrub Jay" by R. Christopher Vest</a></td></tr>
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<i>How do you promote your work?</i><br />
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I do almost nothing to promote my work. This may in some way account for
my lack of success. I do have a licensing agent and a couple hundred
images out there supposedly striving to gain royalties, but in this
economy 5 per cent of doodly-squat doesn't produce the lucre to bribe a
wino. I have entered a few juried shows and paid the submission fee.
Your money vanishes and you don't get a critique or any sense that your
art has even been gazed upon, however briefly. You don't get a coffee
cup or a tote bag for the "donation"-- you don't even get a thanks. I
had a gallery show but the response was tepid and shortly thereafter the
gallery burned down. Maybe God is trying to tell me something. I
joined an artists' website but then learned they already had 95,000
artist members. Cynicism aside, I think that unless you're Andy Warhol
or Cristo with the personality to electrify the world, I think that
there must be some value in being understated. Popularity is a fad: an
entire school of fish will move as one toward a bright shiny object, but
true explorers (art buyers) enjoy the glory and self-satisfaction of a
true discovery. I guess I must await my patron Magellan or Captain Cook.
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<i>Where do you draw inspiration?</i><br />
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<i> </i>In the meantime there are sunsets and songbirds, the passing of the
leaves and the coming of frost; I appreciate little glimpses of, and
momentary appreciations of strong light and shadow. Sometimes they meld
into the elixir of creativity, more often they get lost along with the
car keys. I run an animal rescue ranch, thus my day is more about wags,
barks and vacuuming dog hair than about trying to outshine or outsell
those other 94,999 artists. But like all artists, I'll keep on making
pictures as long as I'm able, knowing that one day I may need to explore
the creative possibilities of waiting tables or driving a bus.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/ae37e4de-3eb6-4b25-b256-015fabf78daf/uploadedartwork/650X650/fb624113-b25f-4ffc-9d4e-e542d1535434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/ae37e4de-3eb6-4b25-b256-015fabf78daf/uploadedartwork/650X650/fb624113-b25f-4ffc-9d4e-e542d1535434.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/polar-bear-family-variation_art?IMID=fb624113-b25f-4ffc-9d4e-e542d1535434" target="_blank">"Polar Bear Family Variation" by R. Christopher Vest</a></td></tr>
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You can see more of R. Christopher Vest's work at his <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=95c17db1-1bf9-4c42-a5bf-db46d3152a50" target="_blank">prints site</a><i> </i>or his <a href="http://photo.net/photos/chrisvest" target="_blank">photo gallery</a><i>. </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-43332939794884600632012-11-22T17:29:00.001-08:002012-11-22T17:29:06.286-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Erin Ashley<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/19f913e3-f186-4ea9-9c76-9812aae78e84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/19f913e3-f186-4ea9-9c76-9812aae78e84.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/DAY-DREAMS_art?IMID=19f913e3-f186-4ea9-9c76-9812aae78e84" target="_blank">"DAY DREAMS" by Erin Ashley</a></td></tr>
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"I begin my work without any preconceived ideas at all what the finished work is going to look like. I like the idea of each painting being a journey, ending at a beautiful destination. My paintings are made with lots of color and textures, bringing out the old with the new."<br />
~ <a href="http://erinashleyart.com/">erinashleyart.com</a><br />
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Artist <a href="http://www.erinashleyart.com/" target="_blank">Erin Ashley</a> has a hand (or brush) in everything, it seems, with a resume that includes designing a logo for Cartoon Network, selling work to Dream Works Studios, displaying art at a castle in Italy, and having art shown behind the scenes on the Rosie O'Donnell show--to highlight a few items! Her work is full of texture, boldly proclaiming itself to the viewer with thick lines surrounding layers of mixed media. Once Ashley's portraits have the viewer's attention, they invite further exploration of all the unseen layers: both on canvas and in meaning.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/5f877e02-7321-460c-babb-508fa79e7a41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/5f877e02-7321-460c-babb-508fa79e7a41.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Lost-Love_art?IMID=5f877e02-7321-460c-babb-508fa79e7a41" target="_blank">"Lost Love" by Erin Ashley</a></td></tr>
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Ashley's art is at once contemplative and joyful, celebrating the composition of line and color, form and shadow. Each stroke appears to have fallen on the canvas exactly where it was meant to fall, but is actually the result of several strokes covered by several more, building towards a final painting that would have as deep a history as the earth's layers, were we able to peer down to the core.<br />
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I asked Ashley about her process, both in the studio and in self-promotion:<br />
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<i>Where do you draw inspiration? </i><br />
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I see abstracts in so many things, it could be anything from an old
dumpster to the way a shadow forms on an object. I don't really search
for inspiration, it just comes to me in a natural kinda raw way; I don't
think you can force inspiration, you have to feel it first and believe
in what you see and create like you want, never questioning yourself
or your talent.<br /><i> </i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/126aafeb-020e-43a0-94b6-f7a116148365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/126aafeb-020e-43a0-94b6-f7a116148365.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/ENVY-_art?IMID=126aafeb-020e-43a0-94b6-f7a116148365" target="_blank">"ENVY" by Erin Ashley</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>How do you promote your work?</i><i></i><br />
I promote my work on a few art sites but mainly my art publishers do a
lot of my promoting through selling my art prints in major stores,
catalogs, magazines etc..<i> </i><br />
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<i>Describe your workspace.</i><br />
<i></i><br />
My workspace is in a 3 car garage. It's clean at this moment but that's
because I worked on it yesterday. Normally it is a disaster! I am a very
messy painter, when I get into a piece there is no stopping me and
paint goes everywhere, I use the floor sometimes as my palette tray..
you get the idea.<br />
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<i>How do you decide when a painting is "finished?"</i><br />
A painting is finished when I stand back stare at it, leave and then
look at it 15 minutes later. If something is bugging me and just doesn't
feel right, it's not done.<i> </i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/88193fe5-0cfa-461d-8f8d-140674029626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/7c565f63-d03e-40a6-8fac-6a8c1f6ee072/uploadedartwork/650X650/88193fe5-0cfa-461d-8f8d-140674029626.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/One-Heart-Too-Many_art?IMID=88193fe5-0cfa-461d-8f8d-140674029626" target="_blank">"One Heart Too Many" by Erin Ashley</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You can see more of Erin Ashley's work at her<a href="http://www.erinashleyart.com/Site/Welcome.html" target="_blank"> website,</a> her <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=cb578c72-4b1a-4619-8f1c-a1ecebd42fc6" target="_blank">prints site,</a> or by watching her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BMlgwhocl4" target="_blank">slideshow on Youtube.</a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-52599938453570207502012-11-18T10:23:00.000-08:002012-11-18T10:23:13.147-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Michael Creese<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/abbb0fe0-335d-4f2a-bea1-a52a729c41fd/uploadedartwork/650X650/f8f3e891-4c32-41a6-b65c-d06021833d27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/abbb0fe0-335d-4f2a-bea1-a52a729c41fd/uploadedartwork/650X650/f8f3e891-4c32-41a6-b65c-d06021833d27.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Paint_art?IMID=f8f3e891-4c32-41a6-b65c-d06021833d27" target="_blank">"Paint" by Michael Creese</a></td></tr>
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Artist <a href="http://www.michaelcreese.com/" target="_blank">Michael Creese</a> has created a body of work that is simultaneously striking and meditative, inviting the viewer to imagine the world slightly differently. Whether in compositions showing the creative process, or exploring the human psyche through intensely dramatic portraits, his paintings are at times almost three-dimensional, even in print form, because of the thick strokes he employs to create these colorful canvas worlds. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/abbb0fe0-335d-4f2a-bea1-a52a729c41fd/uploadedartwork/650X650/9824d39e-23e1-43ca-829b-80907bf0ab4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/abbb0fe0-335d-4f2a-bea1-a52a729c41fd/uploadedartwork/650X650/9824d39e-23e1-43ca-829b-80907bf0ab4e.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Pandora_art?IMID=9824d39e-23e1-43ca-829b-80907bf0ab4e" target="_blank">"Pandora" by Michael Creese</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Normal-C0">"Color and composition are two key elements to my creative process, but the application
of paint is perhaps the single most important factor in defining my style, from loose
brush strokes and rich texture to an almost frenzied use of palette knife marks.
The colors that I use are frequently blended directly on the painting, adding liveliness
through visibly distinct transitions in color and shade." </span><br />
<span class="Normal-C0">~michaelcreese.com</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLPbHhPZR12GOmfxlJE0SpYBdAzHLjtzY1z5wjYroFzjBc098Nez0H49zDsL_FoxUOZ4xppYtruDoBJgq9Hx42XRFGikW2oDOYOZWLK4Luv4CRHts7NAhQ8McgRvDjpY2mdSum6GMEjHl/s1600/St+Tropez+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLPbHhPZR12GOmfxlJE0SpYBdAzHLjtzY1z5wjYroFzjBc098Nez0H49zDsL_FoxUOZ4xppYtruDoBJgq9Hx42XRFGikW2oDOYOZWLK4Luv4CRHts7NAhQ8McgRvDjpY2mdSum6GMEjHl/s320/St+Tropez+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://barclaybuterablog.blogspot.com/2010/04/barclay-butera-home-st-tropez.html" target="_blank">Creese's paintings as part of a designer collection</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Normal-C0">Creese has quite a prolific career as an artist, having developed that much-sought-after balance of unique compositions and marketable paintings. He has a long list of gallery exhibitions to his credit, including showings in places like New York and Pennsylvania. His work has been reproduced and sold as ceramic and marble tile murals. He has even had art used in a set design for an SNL comedy skit. But what's more impressive is his ability to consistently create interesting paintings with an instantly recognizable style. A visit to Creese's print gallery is almost a walk through the subconscious, full of impressionistic portraits and landscapes that seem to be hovering between two worlds, always characterized by cloudy, dreamlike whites and deep, thoughtful accents of color.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/abbb0fe0-335d-4f2a-bea1-a52a729c41fd/uploadedartwork/650X650/6395b912-f736-4a1e-af56-67de3e946c75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/abbb0fe0-335d-4f2a-bea1-a52a729c41fd/uploadedartwork/650X650/6395b912-f736-4a1e-af56-67de3e946c75.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Origami-Rose_art?IMID=6395b912-f736-4a1e-af56-67de3e946c75" target="_blank">"Origami Rose" by Michael Creese</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Normal-C0">I asked Creese about his life as an artist, wondering how he reconciles his surreal style with practical process:</span><br />
<br /><i>Do you draw any inspiration from your surroundings?</i><br />
Pretty much everything. TV, print, internet, and everyday life. It's all around.<br /><br /><i>How do you promote your work?</i><br />
I sell originals on eBay and at Starbucks, and I also sell prints
through various print-on-demand sites such as <a href="http://imagekind.com/">Imagekind.com</a> I have also had
my prints sold in major retail stores. Imagekind is a great place to
display your work and get it noticed by gallery owners and print
publishers at the same time.<br /><br /><i>What's the best and worst thing about being an artist?</i><br />
The best thing is that it gives you a real purpose in life. It's great meditative and reflective time. The worst would be that you can't put down the brush and your social
life therefore suffers due to this. You sometimes lose track of normal
existence.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>You can see more of Michael Creese's work at his <a href="http://www.michaelcreese.com/index.html" target="_blank">personal website</a> or at his <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=b4d1b761-537e-4d80-8b11-eb859dc16170" target="_blank">prints site.</a><br /><br />
<span class="Normal-C0"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-42393733297339418082012-11-12T12:16:00.001-08:002012-11-12T12:16:35.441-08:00The Grimm Revival...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-k6Vi1L7eqVNkzDzKj-1EklMadihFr_FhYjlzMsNAztdUz39xTYoBVdJXJxGTYfuGzChpWE7liuild2zlKrp51FKY9Nz2lkRkeYULoOhQgHk4e2wGeP2CV2g2Ms6Rri96jMELVb1lWij/s1600/9780670024971_custom-8d89888c4bd8c3d8a6273e90d162cdb20a3860d5-s15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-k6Vi1L7eqVNkzDzKj-1EklMadihFr_FhYjlzMsNAztdUz39xTYoBVdJXJxGTYfuGzChpWE7liuild2zlKrp51FKY9Nz2lkRkeYULoOhQgHk4e2wGeP2CV2g2Ms6Rri96jMELVb1lWij/s320/9780670024971_custom-8d89888c4bd8c3d8a6273e90d162cdb20a3860d5-s15.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.philip-pullman.com/latest.asp" target="_blank">Philip Pullman's latest novel</a></td></tr>
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As I sit here with a Macintosh Apple candle burning, listening to the wind chimes outside, and getting ready to edit my own fairy tale, I am distracted by the most delicious of distractions: someone is re-writing the tales of the Brothers Grimm?<br />
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None other than <a href="http://www.philip-pullman.com/" target="_blank">Philip Pullman</a>, author of <a href="http://www.philip-pullman.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=51" target="_blank">The Northern Lights</a> (better known in the states as <u>The Golden Compass)</u>, of the series "His Dark Materials." Although I heard bits of that story secondhand while passing down the hall as my mother (who also sent me the link to this news) read it aloud to my little sister years ago, the parts I did absorb were so imaginative and wonderfully <i>dark</i> that I began reading the story myself. I especially liked Pullman's style because he did not water down or flatten his evil characters in consideration of a younger audience. Fantasy stories, like life itself, are full of complex motives and people, and should not pretend otherwise.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BUE3qm4kMgm39ELXZcgpF81QiapKRgze4mx_q9pmyPq5DDZRhJFH9Sp9NQPHDb180ayT18TVcSyNKyar_d5J8ZgOkLyzE5GW7raq_v7TBzytEjOpBL_Gj0k3S21PmVMeGUS-JL8GAXDU/s1600/Spring+Maiden+5+18+10+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BUE3qm4kMgm39ELXZcgpF81QiapKRgze4mx_q9pmyPq5DDZRhJFH9Sp9NQPHDb180ayT18TVcSyNKyar_d5J8ZgOkLyzE5GW7raq_v7TBzytEjOpBL_Gj0k3S21PmVMeGUS-JL8GAXDU/s320/Spring+Maiden+5+18+10+087.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Spring-Maiden_art?IMID=20d070ac-0467-4894-badc-b43b90128540" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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I have always loved fairy tales, particularly their ability to take simple morals and weave them into entertaining, magical stories that have lasted long enough to be published, and published again, over many years. Therefore, I can't wait to read this newest collection, especially as its author seems to have a keen understanding of why those fairy tales work so well:<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/11/11/164432853/philip-pullman-rewriting-the-brothers-grimm" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/11/11/164432853/philip-pullman-rewriting-the-brothers-grimm" target="_blank">(<i>from NPR interview with Rachel Martin)</i></a><br />
"[The
Grimm fairy tales] move very quickly. There's not an ounce of narrative
fat in them. They go very, very swiftly from event to event. And
another thing is you see very few adverbs in them, so I'm trying to cut
down on my adverbs. You choose the right verb, and you don't need an
adverb to qualify it."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj0AhSts_bvbyM82rOpU1PDZOPIzNn5kPXzPNnsgQgY1qcKyQgcBmmKLxNHmhyphenhyphen7kGRYO0d-W4sa2v4iGMLh6cHluv3bB9H6XRr-BvIU40EegBnb5a1U8tcRWUio_en2CY7L6kV9tBJIlp/s1600/Golden+Lady+best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTj0AhSts_bvbyM82rOpU1PDZOPIzNn5kPXzPNnsgQgY1qcKyQgcBmmKLxNHmhyphenhyphen7kGRYO0d-W4sa2v4iGMLh6cHluv3bB9H6XRr-BvIU40EegBnb5a1U8tcRWUio_en2CY7L6kV9tBJIlp/s320/Golden+Lady+best.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Golden-Lady_art?IMID=8add6beb-2e54-4d80-af27-321101a6d9aa" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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Pullman's book re-tells fifty of the fairy tales, which include some of the lesser-known stories. I personally am looking forward to his take on "Hansel and Gretel" and "Cinderella," since those two tales, which have been changed again and again to be "more fitting" for today's children, are particularly violent with dark imagery. I always picture Pullman's worlds filled with windy mountaintops, veiled characters, and danger seeping through every wall. Much more akin to fairy tales than brightly colored forests with singing birds and dimpled children skipping about!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsb6GAnAdAv8DhAe1pbabd8nh407wr2co3OwJakHM0KH9aK_RWM-M2vkAOzH9ihh8Rh9ppgcxbBt9T81BJ5h7yn3GJavbFiG1I3JoUdo7mDTP-at5Jyfk4oEq4emG6FdE-6r2hlYdP97Oo/s1600/Sun+and+Moon+5+18+10+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsb6GAnAdAv8DhAe1pbabd8nh407wr2co3OwJakHM0KH9aK_RWM-M2vkAOzH9ihh8Rh9ppgcxbBt9T81BJ5h7yn3GJavbFiG1I3JoUdo7mDTP-at5Jyfk4oEq4emG6FdE-6r2hlYdP97Oo/s320/Sun+and+Moon+5+18+10+100.jpg" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Sun-and-Moon_art?IMID=9fd2e043-bfc2-45d5-a262-9b57aac29eee" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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This will definitely be a book I have to own--my apologies to the library, but I'm sure I'll be wanting to pull this off my own shelf many times for one reason or another!<br />
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get back to editing my own humble story, and possibly cut out a lot of the adverbs.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-11018646611109696322012-11-11T14:34:00.000-08:002012-11-18T10:24:49.879-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Blenda Tyvoll<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/87b14841-8de2-4a0b-979f-4729fd464e63/uploadedartwork/650X650/c0b1ee9b-c031-4aae-9b9f-7bdf407e3e55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/87b14841-8de2-4a0b-979f-4729fd464e63/uploadedartwork/650X650/c0b1ee9b-c031-4aae-9b9f-7bdf407e3e55.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Sunrise-Sunset_art?IMID=c0b1ee9b-c031-4aae-9b9f-7bdf407e3e55" target="_blank">"Sunrise Sunset" by Blenda Tyvoll</a></td></tr>
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What better way to celebrate our fall weather than with the paintings of <a href="http://blendastudio.com/" target="_blank">Blenda Tyvoll</a>? Her treescapes are particularly striking, with stark, delicate frames offset by vibrant, dynamic backgrounds. Each painting is a joy to explore, containing that painterly quality of thick, rich strokes while simultaneously embodying a graphic style as well.<br />
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Tyvoll's paintings are a journey of color and symbols, and a careful eye will see layers upon layers of work creating the space within them. Her compositions are so simple and yet intricately woven together by vivid, seamless textures. The heart of Tyvoll's paintings are their backgrounds, and the viewer should take time to drink them in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/87b14841-8de2-4a0b-979f-4729fd464e63/uploadedartwork/650X650/5ca7a493-79ea-46e5-8f73-a0716e978559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/87b14841-8de2-4a0b-979f-4729fd464e63/uploadedartwork/650X650/5ca7a493-79ea-46e5-8f73-a0716e978559.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Twilight-tree-of-Life_art?IMID=5ca7a493-79ea-46e5-8f73-a0716e978559" target="_blank">"Twilight Tree of Life" by Blenda Tyvoll</a></td></tr>
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"Painting can be easy, effortless and very satisfying. I scrape, add
layers, glaze and stamp my surfaces in order to achieve a unique
texture of paint and color."<br />
<i>~Tyvoll</i> <br />
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"My style is defined as original, intuitive, and imaginative, creating
paintings based on an emotional response to a subject. The most
consistent elements in my work are simple shapes and harmonious color. I
want to express to the viewer a unique perspective of life by telling
my story, using the language of paint and brush."<br />
<i>~Tyvoll</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/87b14841-8de2-4a0b-979f-4729fd464e63/uploadedartwork/650X650/992fb8d1-a2a8-40cd-932b-9216f2048596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/87b14841-8de2-4a0b-979f-4729fd464e63/uploadedartwork/650X650/992fb8d1-a2a8-40cd-932b-9216f2048596.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Love-Birds-in-a-Tree_art?IMID=992fb8d1-a2a8-40cd-932b-9216f2048596" target="_blank">"Love Birds in a Tree" by Blenda Tyvoll</a></td></tr>
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Tyvoll lives in Portland, Oregon, on a cut flower and Christmas tree farm. She participates in the <a href="http://www.blendastudio.com/blenda-studio-blog/upcoming-open-studio-all-weekend-long.html#.UKAcpWeZhmx" target="_blank">"Open Studios of Beavercreek Tour</a>," during which artists open their studios to the public to display all means of arts and crafts. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blendastudio.com/storage/Victorhill-Farm-4.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1351920007719" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://www.blendastudio.com/storage/Victorhill-Farm-4.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1351920007719" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blendastudio.com/blenda-studio-blog/category/open-studio#.UKAgv2eZhmw" target="_blank">Open Studios</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This year the Open Studios took place in October. At the giftshop of <a href="http://victorhillfarm.blogspot.com/p/home.html" target="_blank">Victorhill Farm</a>, which she co-owns with her husband, Blenda displayed some work that was the result of collaborating with two other artists, shown opposite.<br />
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You can see more of Blenda Tyvoll's work at:<br />
<a href="http://www.blendastudio.com/home/" target="_blank">http://www.blendastudio.com/home/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-10610801464357825592012-11-11T13:26:00.000-08:002012-11-11T13:26:05.449-08:00A Thank You<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG37tsDsFFNbbETeaYqFwi5fr6ezTP6yg2RzGyCUJPFeHzrtTohViblfJKyiRbtVZr8yf_a9H8qjtW4XMN_2dVcQ9JV7U0UPzmvsamhUE7GJw0ri1YvEhoZ207LKDiZQkKN9leQwPL57D/s1600/Train+unframed+clearer+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFG37tsDsFFNbbETeaYqFwi5fr6ezTP6yg2RzGyCUJPFeHzrtTohViblfJKyiRbtVZr8yf_a9H8qjtW4XMN_2dVcQ9JV7U0UPzmvsamhUE7GJw0ri1YvEhoZ207LKDiZQkKN9leQwPL57D/s320/Train+unframed+clearer+JPG.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Train_art?IMID=467828a1-52ba-472e-9434-42660a77aa94" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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Thank you to whoever purchased my "Train" print from my <a href="http://www.ninasart.imagekind.com/" target="_blank">prints site</a>. It's always encouraging to know that people enjoy more than just <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/ninasart/gifts?cg=196119379582803415" target="_blank">my holiday cards!</a> I had a lot of fun creating these simple scenes for children. It's nice to see they're appreciated.<br />
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See more colorful art for children:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcv5KmGm5dYCiGBfQsFnPLzMcg3LQJYKMxS3G9YGJQjnF34lbQZiVe6h2ajommspqr7QV-2mBYRJPm2XGyIq97n1G0Ap4jGzwXqNaDaGpSyd-8HDBXHDEKMxlf3d27OldxrLuzW1yv7mA/s1600/Sailboat+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcv5KmGm5dYCiGBfQsFnPLzMcg3LQJYKMxS3G9YGJQjnF34lbQZiVe6h2ajommspqr7QV-2mBYRJPm2XGyIq97n1G0Ap4jGzwXqNaDaGpSyd-8HDBXHDEKMxlf3d27OldxrLuzW1yv7mA/s200/Sailboat+JPG.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Sailboat_art?IMID=68b72e6b-de8c-445a-86de-cda43cfe9371" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsriTFfKNXxP_HtxbQHCZc6KGk2uSDXBrnBV4lxccWiMfPmxItzZdbzaan6pJszrAyoLpqvb7Uxy7FcfpAx7x5cDvZvbasW2jeXlkwNOJItjn936_fOdJ05H3gZXsGMavk4K8TE2XEV6gy/s1600/Pirate+fresco+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsriTFfKNXxP_HtxbQHCZc6KGk2uSDXBrnBV4lxccWiMfPmxItzZdbzaan6pJszrAyoLpqvb7Uxy7FcfpAx7x5cDvZvbasW2jeXlkwNOJItjn936_fOdJ05H3gZXsGMavk4K8TE2XEV6gy/s200/Pirate+fresco+JPG.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Pirate_art?IMID=814c8a8f-b003-4f85-bda0-5bc475ffcb0a" target="_blank">See print</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpZPkAeOv_cL4l_cbJ5ze-ItqnZ6BwrrW2Vpqozv1F0UnLplC_h5w4kPOU0RrWc2YTpnXXnJ9nPFzTMPob8uqF2PPtYK7d5w8JkU5fGBurymY7sZGP8q96cKNuNI4tEjt1qvYg4aOFfDX/s1600/Silhouette+girl+framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpZPkAeOv_cL4l_cbJ5ze-ItqnZ6BwrrW2Vpqozv1F0UnLplC_h5w4kPOU0RrWc2YTpnXXnJ9nPFzTMPob8uqF2PPtYK7d5w8JkU5fGBurymY7sZGP8q96cKNuNI4tEjt1qvYg4aOFfDX/s200/Silhouette+girl+framed.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Silhouette-Girl_art?IMID=bbe4a208-6b99-4a37-a946-63394fc81f58" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeS2Zw4BzNXZR6VveAP1JRiLXtDKyY1eMs27zaZ8eg1pP0IbhiqTgitVXEivJoKUV4Hvb_c1XZJtKL3R-nb-xvmTM-EWeqabVZChf1ejbAuPdz7O9HJmWZn8m7X8lhQB5JF10bygAnHkeF/s1600/Macaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeS2Zw4BzNXZR6VveAP1JRiLXtDKyY1eMs27zaZ8eg1pP0IbhiqTgitVXEivJoKUV4Hvb_c1XZJtKL3R-nb-xvmTM-EWeqabVZChf1ejbAuPdz7O9HJmWZn8m7X8lhQB5JF10bygAnHkeF/s200/Macaw.jpg" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Macaw_art?IMID=0dffdc57-8e73-4e71-81bb-c4b4d70daa98" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-64978958463782902382012-11-10T14:27:00.000-08:002012-11-10T14:27:04.738-08:00In Celebration of the Cold!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GIU7Q87oxiomHP1UH0ouhU91S1zZ_c61DK-u2L3E8Q_x6Aj8SwC_RMR7NuiKZzwnv0dNTYvPzce31xZVQsz8U26GO6ijPJkwWG12AEsSlmJzZDFqt35CBOTpZCl61x8lnyS_-QzrhqoA/s1600/Toy+Solider+card+no+website.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GIU7Q87oxiomHP1UH0ouhU91S1zZ_c61DK-u2L3E8Q_x6Aj8SwC_RMR7NuiKZzwnv0dNTYvPzce31xZVQsz8U26GO6ijPJkwWG12AEsSlmJzZDFqt35CBOTpZCl61x8lnyS_-QzrhqoA/s200/Toy+Solider+card+no+website.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/toy_solider_card-137160009771791021" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
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Here in northern California, we are <i>finally</i> experiencing colder weather
for longer than two days at a time, and it's made me want to decorate
the living room with candles, put pumpkins on every possible surface,
and start making new Christmas cards.
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Actually, I'd already done most of those things before the weather turned, but now I feel justified.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFMXJuACJiy17rZOx8r4VvCxxOl2_-sAqcjrgfgq5FS6VTDx6b9vvTlUEArjRw7mz0ISHZvUfW_c9kMMp6uaMEuf9fpkc2zCTf2Upe2uWRzzUo5N1_ZRpViNTnyC0k7B0UmuNoKRhtpcK/s1600/Nutcracker+card+no+website.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFMXJuACJiy17rZOx8r4VvCxxOl2_-sAqcjrgfgq5FS6VTDx6b9vvTlUEArjRw7mz0ISHZvUfW_c9kMMp6uaMEuf9fpkc2zCTf2Upe2uWRzzUo5N1_ZRpViNTnyC0k7B0UmuNoKRhtpcK/s320/Nutcracker+card+no+website.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/nutcracker_greeting_card-137979938939740263" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
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Now that Halloween is over and the wait for Christmas has begun, it is also perfect story writing weather (see my <a href="http://www.idratherbescribbling.blogspot.com/2012/10/cooler-weather-cozy-blankets-disaster.html" target="_blank">October 21st entry</a>) and when I'm not doing that, I'm thinking about taking down the pumpkins, wondering why it's so hard to come up with Thanksgiving card designs...and then eventually giving in and making Christmas cards!.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83ZtbA8zOnAwgE85FeOoZkCOCImK3GfZFy664ztiexVe7CFxRzGqWPzu_Gu6xu76BzA3c5lph2V3CTqDxTdaASu4gGvDrjPguQ4bYmcUOVL8njqm9P9tESmhCm5DAMY2KzkoiOVKr6kxu/s1600/Santa's+Sleigh+frameless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83ZtbA8zOnAwgE85FeOoZkCOCImK3GfZFy664ztiexVe7CFxRzGqWPzu_Gu6xu76BzA3c5lph2V3CTqDxTdaASu4gGvDrjPguQ4bYmcUOVL8njqm9P9tESmhCm5DAMY2KzkoiOVKr6kxu/s200/Santa's+Sleigh+frameless.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/ninasart/gifts?cg=196119379582803415" target="_blank">50% off cards this weekend!</a> <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-55876885426277260592012-11-10T13:08:00.000-08:002012-11-10T13:08:08.637-08:00National Novel Writing Month<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz939TYuSYALiYjOlM_6QERN6tGt6hzpezw-qbmLel2K5x111LSlCYStyhQAzujnoJpLBUUvJfhkSl4zS9f3OoaEXVMKcKrzWavQa71rPLYbZTtovVT4wRpB3g4lfNAs73uAxb-giBMlsb/s1600/Autumn+Leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz939TYuSYALiYjOlM_6QERN6tGt6hzpezw-qbmLel2K5x111LSlCYStyhQAzujnoJpLBUUvJfhkSl4zS9f3OoaEXVMKcKrzWavQa71rPLYbZTtovVT4wRpB3g4lfNAs73uAxb-giBMlsb/s320/Autumn+Leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Autumn-Leaves_art?IMID=aa094f68-3bf7-49bf-be62-6e06143c80a4" target="_blank">See print</a></td></tr>
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I've been researching a lot of writing websites lately and have discovered that November is <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month</a>. November has become quite a busy month, what with Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Movember, and Vegan month! I feel like I should've known about National Novel Writing Month over those last two, but what can you do?<br />
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<a href="http://d3bhawflmd1fic.cloudfront.net/r-05d89c65/images/header.png?1351908009" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" src="http://d3bhawflmd1fic.cloudfront.net/r-05d89c65/images/header.png?1351908009" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black;">Anyway, good old Facebook had a resource or two in this department: a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nanowrimo" target="_blank">NaNo page </a>with
hundreds of posts (all of which were helpful and well-written!) by
writers striving toward this month's goal of 50,000 words. A few days
ago, the topic of the comment thread was how to stay motivated through
this process, and how to keep yourself from giving up on your novel.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Some of my favorite suggestions for that all-powerful writing tool, brainstorming, were:</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">(from official NaNo site) </span><br />
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<i><span class="userContent">Friday's
writing challenge: write a personal ad to catch your novel's eye.
Describe yourself and the kind of novel or characters you're hoping to
fall in love with! "Melodramatic fantasy writer seeks plucky heroine to
star in a soon-to-be-best-selling novel. Must love overly long
descriptions, excessive use of adverbs, and plot holes. No dragons."</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="userContent"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="userContent"><span class="userContent">We dare you to anthropomorphize an inanimate
object in your novel. Maybe it's a couch that's hiding a dark past.
Perhaps it's a tomato with a grudge. The sky's the limit! Or maybe the
sky has a secret past?</span> </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="userContent"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="userContent"></span></i><span class="userContent">(from a poster on the Facebook NaNo page)</span></div>
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<i><span class="userContent"></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]">Throw
something at your protagonist - and make it bad. Setting it up and
figuring out a resolution will keep you writing! I talk about this and other tips for keeping on track and finishing Nano at
<a href="http://popcorntheblog.com./">popcorntheblog.com.</a></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="_wk">
<i><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="_wk">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]">Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll continue to work on one of the three stories I'm editing right now....but first, I might distract myself at <a href="http://www.plot-generator.org.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.plot-generator.org.uk/.</a></span></span></span><i><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="_wk">
<i><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]."><span id=".reactRoot[463].[1][2][1]{comment10151199929339299_23822147}..[1]..[1]..[0].[0][2]..[0]"> </span></span></span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-60436861793626589382012-11-04T16:35:00.000-08:002012-11-18T10:25:30.692-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Svetlana Novikova<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hof91Cye-wVtYomXB5_i0QBItuA1evPMUdd-JxBq8Lcr-5mTn8SmQkOPs4s0CCmbGQ1Bi-Az9YyVCL4ex4uKZCda0oqBtAiJqGeB_ExWd9Ux2TW9QkU0JTvBbhRGQaitR-a7gnNqm-E9/s1600/woman+portrait+watercolor+sunlit+svetlana+novikova+painting+small+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hof91Cye-wVtYomXB5_i0QBItuA1evPMUdd-JxBq8Lcr-5mTn8SmQkOPs4s0CCmbGQ1Bi-Az9YyVCL4ex4uKZCda0oqBtAiJqGeB_ExWd9Ux2TW9QkU0JTvBbhRGQaitR-a7gnNqm-E9/s320/woman+portrait+watercolor+sunlit+svetlana+novikova+painting+small+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.svetlananovikova.com/large-multi-view/Figurative/1707111-1-4652/Figurative.html#.UJcD72eZhmw" target="_blank">"Young Woman" by Svetlana Novikova</a></td></tr>
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In a previous entry, I mentioned my bias toward realistic pieces that had fantastical undertones. Artist <a href="http://www.svetlananovikova.com/" target="_blank">Svetlana Novikova</a> embodies that style in her work, although the elements of fantasy are a little more subtle.<br />
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Color either explodes from or hovers dreamily around her work, almost becoming the painting's subject itself. It characterizes her style and demands attention, whether in effervescent cityscapes or surreal glowing portraits. The color never overwhelms, but enhances each piece.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KccUdnBDcJRPUz8SEFiug4DkMeIdMLxaSDlIwn7ZqlFcgE9ylaVejBm1YHMO67_kn3-FtZnKnaXjj5B67ApylTYsb4XoCiWImbvl139OLE49orOGNyFTHt32oQD8oxqzVaYhL_FJnm2r/s1600/impressionistic+austin+night+cityscape+skyline+painting+svetlana+novikova+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KccUdnBDcJRPUz8SEFiug4DkMeIdMLxaSDlIwn7ZqlFcgE9ylaVejBm1YHMO67_kn3-FtZnKnaXjj5B67ApylTYsb4XoCiWImbvl139OLE49orOGNyFTHt32oQD8oxqzVaYhL_FJnm2r/s400/impressionistic+austin+night+cityscape+skyline+painting+svetlana+novikova+small.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.svetlananovikova.com/large-multi-view/Cityscapes/1390481-1-4588/Cityscapes.html#.UJcE-GeZhmw" target="_blank">"Austin City Skyline" by Svetlana Novikova</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Novikova was classically trained in Russia and later pursued a degree in the U.S. Her personal website mentions <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">several of</span> </span>her credits, from magazines to murals. In looking at how involved she has remained in art, I had to ask Novikova how she manage<span style="font-size: x-small;">s</span> it.<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>What are 3 things you've done to get your art out to the public?</b></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">1.
I post my artwork on various art sites (Youtube, Flickr, Redbubble,
etc). I have a fan page on Facebook, and post artwork and updates
there as well. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2. I periodically participate in local art shows, and keep in touch with other artists.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">3. I donate some of my artwork to different fundraising events.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">4. I always have my business cards/flyers with me to give out.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>How much time a week do you spend painting or drawing?</b></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I
usually have a pretty busy schedule parenting and teaching art, but
when I get some time, I try to paint at least once or twice a
week. Ideally, I would like to paint everyday.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><b>Do you have an official space set aside as a studio, or is it more informal?</b></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I have a small studio at home, it's
pretty informal. </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.svetlananovikova.com/"><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: times new roman; font-size: medium;"><b>www.SvetlanaNovikova.com</b></span></a></div>
<i>Custom Portraits, Paintings, Prints </i></div>
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/svetlananovikovaart" target="_blank">www.Facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>svetlananovikovaart</a><br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.svetlananovikova.com/" target="_blank">http://www.svetlananovikova.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/svetlananovikovaart" target="_blank">www.Youtube.com/<wbr></wbr>svetlananovikovaart</a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
Look for more of "Our Fellow Artists" to come! </div>
<div>
If you are an artist interested in being featured on my blog, please email me at:</div>
<div>
<a href="mailto:www.artworks.by.nina@gmail.com" target="_blank">www.artworks.by.nina@gmail.com</a> </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-39553530660101652452012-11-04T15:43:00.001-08:002012-11-04T15:43:45.652-08:00Can We Skip Thanksgiving?I just have to say I'm looking forward to Christmas so much more. Even though the thermostat is still reading between 70 and 75 degrees, I'm having that after-Halloween wishful thinking of snow, desire to bake hundreds of cookies, and urge to wrap everything in sight!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToJwHrGaqWfgSt6gebquBiMs63pjehbBnV7feJkwMfzJAZTN0It6fioxjgYZ8qxiMzEGPEBsD3m_IG4Kh9E3JZcF5tYvElFDc0mBrUKQvFqlpZoiPPZYFBGgplC3O_xCkMMIeHBvjwlAr/s1600/Gingerbread+Man+JPG+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToJwHrGaqWfgSt6gebquBiMs63pjehbBnV7feJkwMfzJAZTN0It6fioxjgYZ8qxiMzEGPEBsD3m_IG4Kh9E3JZcF5tYvElFDc0mBrUKQvFqlpZoiPPZYFBGgplC3O_xCkMMIeHBvjwlAr/s200/Gingerbread+Man+JPG+046.jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Luckily, our Christmas culture lends itself naturally to artists, and I have been busier than Santa's elves making cards and prints of all things Christmas.<br />
<br />
Okay, okay, I'll back off a bit on the joy.<br />
<br />
Going around town during the holidays is another one of my favorite ways to enjoy the season, and I thought I'd share my new Christmas cards as well as some places where I enjoy Christmas.<br />
<br />
Old Sacramento has long been a favorite, with stops at:<br />
<a href="http://www.artcollab.com/files/IMG_0.jpg" target="_blank">Artists' Collaborative Gallery</a><br />
<a href="http://www.evangelines.com/" target="_blank">Evangeline's</a><br />
<a href="http://www.taylorsartandsoul.com/" target="_blank">Taylor's Art and Soul</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW7YynJANgk3G2QiDLE3FDV45qm0ImyJWNQmuyWuBPMrjtuxAtR6aNkcJuXupve8E2sqT2oGmmCrqPpcZ_RMzZcjYX7ndvw_m1OsQY0sVohnPnxUB_XTJGjNXuMS0zTQTWEob1IhEbOL5/s1600/Snowman+santa+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwW7YynJANgk3G2QiDLE3FDV45qm0ImyJWNQmuyWuBPMrjtuxAtR6aNkcJuXupve8E2sqT2oGmmCrqPpcZ_RMzZcjYX7ndvw_m1OsQY0sVohnPnxUB_XTJGjNXuMS0zTQTWEob1IhEbOL5/s200/Snowman+santa+hat.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/snowman_with_santa_hat-137251860310315315" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGgtjUS-YYJ2uhIMcmX_3iWf0ZB4dNvqJ871DqNXBWJJjwcd84Pvx2dxUKkjmhN51iNjym_rVoFgD8pN6bLw0i0aZMQmH6kPnrc8pMbelFAuswvVmNbuCIPdpQc8SUpJ60YqrHvlYSAz6/s1600/Christmas+Cookie+card+JPG+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGgtjUS-YYJ2uhIMcmX_3iWf0ZB4dNvqJ871DqNXBWJJjwcd84Pvx2dxUKkjmhN51iNjym_rVoFgD8pN6bLw0i0aZMQmH6kPnrc8pMbelFAuswvVmNbuCIPdpQc8SUpJ60YqrHvlYSAz6/s200/Christmas+Cookie+card+JPG+031.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/christmas_cookie_card-137156731478623366" target="_blank">See card</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you're willing to venture outside of our capital, however, another worthwhile stop is <a href="http://www.hagginmuseum.org/store/" target="_blank">The Haggin Museum Store</a> in Stockton. Christmas keeps itself small but bright here, with clusters of handmade ornaments and quaint Santa Clauses perched stoutly atop the tables. You won't find any brash bargain signs or harried sales associates here, and you are free to enjoy the delicate displays as though time itself had stopped.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I have to warn you to expect many more Christmas posts this month and next month. What can I say--it's the most wonderful time of the year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Browse my holiday cards below:<br />
<embed flashvars="feedId=0&path=http://www.zazzle.com/assets/swf/zp/skins" height="300" src="http://www.zazzle.com/utl/getpanel?tl=My%20Zazzle%20Panel&at=238120189524272000&cn=238120189524272000&st=date_created" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/">make custom gifts</a> at <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/">Zazzle</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-38813109702877761812012-10-31T19:24:00.003-07:002012-10-31T19:24:44.024-07:00Resources for Writing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVk_L4c1O2bcnKpz5zdrav4qI7b4kwSdS4f_ho5zEi7lL05WOG-upJvgzQymG_BWjfOLX3hJWOMlj-SYxz3b0qsKop5gp0X_Wcu1qQEyWu-QCtMwvJbb2vQMSU8RLwmoIibIx2PwEnyGJm/s1600/Downloaded+pics+DECEMBER+2011+294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVk_L4c1O2bcnKpz5zdrav4qI7b4kwSdS4f_ho5zEi7lL05WOG-upJvgzQymG_BWjfOLX3hJWOMlj-SYxz3b0qsKop5gp0X_Wcu1qQEyWu-QCtMwvJbb2vQMSU8RLwmoIibIx2PwEnyGJm/s320/Downloaded+pics+DECEMBER+2011+294.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/GalleryProfile.aspx?gid=6ba64109-49ce-4a79-9009-e21c25e12f40" target="_blank">See more of my photography here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I keep a pretty insanely full writing binder of resources, inspirational items, and advice from different sources, in the hope that they will all lead me down a path to somewhere!<br />
<br />
A few days ago I decided that this binder wasn't quite bursting at the seams <i>enough</i>, so I researched some writing prompt ideas. I came across a pretty helpful site that I'd like to pass along to any other aspiring writers out there: <a href="http://www.pw.org/" target="_blank">www.pw.org</a>, the Poets and Writers Magazine--incidentally, as I look back at the site now to include their links here, I see that their New York office is closed due to Hurricane Sandy. How crazy that something so huge can be happening just across the country and our California weather is still so mild.<br />
<br />
The Poets and Writers Magazine has several resources other than the <a href="http://www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises" target="_blank">writing prompts</a> I came across the other day. There is a <a href="http://www.pw.org/blogs/prize_reporter" target="_blank">blog</a> about upcoming writing contests, a <a href="http://www.pw.org/classifieds" target="_blank">classified section</a> with calls for manuscripts, an <a href="http://www.pw.org/constant_contact/signup" target="_blank">E-newsletter</a>, and a whole host of other things to explore. I'm having trouble pulling away from it to continue writing here!<br />
<br />
I thought I'd share my favorite writing prompts, plus my response to one of them:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Erasure poem</b>: find a text that branches out from your regular reading material, underline words or phrases you like, and then white or cross out the rest. Use the remains for inspiration.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>You and Me</b>: write a poem to your past or future self to warn or reassure, and ask questions without answers.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>A Universal Message</b>: everything you encounter today could be a sign from a greater power. Write a poem connecting these seemingly incidental occurences.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Start a Collection</b>: take a week to collect photos, small objects, favorite passages, and overheard conversations. Keep your collection in a shoebox. At the end of the week, take everything out and use the ingredients to write a story.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Art of Arbitrary</b>: open any books from your shelves and choose words at random. Write down 10. Use this list to write a poem of 5 couplets without using the first person.</i><br />
<br />
My choice was pretty clear. Since I tend to be rather painfully organized and a creature of habit more often than not, I was attracted to forcing a little randomness (plus I have <i>a lot</i> of books to choose from!).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf6tpfiv5pKqWptPJJ5fnLHt_o3Iyd_irnK3f-g0SA7qVzlL2zsf9sckyBw7f6Y3PT6TJE1bX0CbvREAUzQLSK88uP_nVLDZRX-oqmVBd_90YLeZ8MMFHT0eIuCOIefbIqvwr_Dcm4B9x/s1600/Sunrise+4+10+10+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf6tpfiv5pKqWptPJJ5fnLHt_o3Iyd_irnK3f-g0SA7qVzlL2zsf9sckyBw7f6Y3PT6TJE1bX0CbvREAUzQLSK88uP_nVLDZRX-oqmVBd_90YLeZ8MMFHT0eIuCOIefbIqvwr_Dcm4B9x/s400/Sunrise+4+10+10+215.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/GalleryProfile.aspx?gid=6ba64109-49ce-4a79-9009-e21c25e12f40" target="_blank">See more of my photography here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"Distance"<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Nina Boyd</span><br />
<br />
Upon a gath'ring ceremonial<br />
they formed 'round a god made corporeal<br />
But now rejecting the light,<br />
lonesome orbs spin from sight.<br />
The vast skies unwind<br />
Free from temporal bind.<br />
Planets tumbling into blackness<br />
Dodge chaotic, cosmic madness<br />
An ordered universe is gone<br />
We look up and see only space.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-6498330056412858262012-10-24T22:55:00.000-07:002012-10-24T22:55:27.452-07:00"What Do You Do?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYp3Ac2yIchn3PErDjWbxWo9TSPDfz6hyOCmOidUYKjvdPsedpFuVEFaLntb94SV83Eb-S9VGeRxSKhOTy2V6QtkTwyNb6F_jSrOcYUkhQMMSYZF5xJBHahm83ph95N5IHfoCK-6tBE0i/s1600/6x9+Alice+in+Wonderland+Art+Jam+par.+430.1+Nina+Boyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95rdt9GTRijFa1CRkvtgt__NWlhsZ9gWNu9Jq6gZ6yFqO32YV6ZGsr7BSWzHwM4gOME6mui3fme3uOMgGuriCLh-Bh5W9sjant9q7Wfm32opFU3cqObymRo4rlbKlzMjJOeihn5B-j8JM/s1600/6+x+9+Alice+in+Wonderland+Art+Jam+par.+524+Nina+Boyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95rdt9GTRijFa1CRkvtgt__NWlhsZ9gWNu9Jq6gZ6yFqO32YV6ZGsr7BSWzHwM4gOME6mui3fme3uOMgGuriCLh-Bh5W9sjant9q7Wfm32opFU3cqObymRo4rlbKlzMjJOeihn5B-j8JM/s200/6+x+9+Alice+in+Wonderland+Art+Jam+par.+524+Nina+Boyd.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2564199476041&set=a.2397056657575.124461.1585765695&type=3&l=35b41a1900&theater" target="_blank">Alice in Wonderland Art Jam</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been thinking a lot about how I answer the question, "What do you do?" Even though overall I like my "nine to five," as they say, I don't consider it self-defining by any means. What, then, compels me to answer that question by filling in the blank with this job? What keeps me from proclaiming myself a writer or an artist, and instead makes me define myself by what I do to pay the bills?<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYp3Ac2yIchn3PErDjWbxWo9TSPDfz6hyOCmOidUYKjvdPsedpFuVEFaLntb94SV83Eb-S9VGeRxSKhOTy2V6QtkTwyNb6F_jSrOcYUkhQMMSYZF5xJBHahm83ph95N5IHfoCK-6tBE0i/s1600/6x9+Alice+in+Wonderland+Art+Jam+par.+430.1+Nina+Boyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYp3Ac2yIchn3PErDjWbxWo9TSPDfz6hyOCmOidUYKjvdPsedpFuVEFaLntb94SV83Eb-S9VGeRxSKhOTy2V6QtkTwyNb6F_jSrOcYUkhQMMSYZF5xJBHahm83ph95N5IHfoCK-6tBE0i/s320/6x9+Alice+in+Wonderland+Art+Jam+par.+430.1+Nina+Boyd.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice in Wonderland Art Jam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've come to the conclusion that I can't fairly call myself a writer or an artist until I start becoming those things <i>more</i>--that is, until I actively spend more time producing art than I spend at my nine to five.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
That's one of the reasons I started this blog. It has helped me become more prolific, and made me feel like part of the art world again. Now when people ask me what I do, I can honestly say I'm a writer and an artist. I may not be a <i>published</i> author or a <i>famous</i> artist, but I'm closer to both of those things than I was even two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7samEBjqx6LKZhlTj0UHKr75y_7hoa10OOFU3wxKKOTn6VEmDhcf2pNTtg_7tn_JHKxXMtg4gXTK3xka58koa_g3JYIzcIsK4p_dzaWRNmU5vyrswwJXsc6mQhK0nN5vRVID74aDo6shD/s1600/The_God_II_by_StarlitGardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7samEBjqx6LKZhlTj0UHKr75y_7hoa10OOFU3wxKKOTn6VEmDhcf2pNTtg_7tn_JHKxXMtg4gXTK3xka58koa_g3JYIzcIsK4p_dzaWRNmU5vyrswwJXsc6mQhK0nN5vRVID74aDo6shD/s320/The_God_II_by_StarlitGardens.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pentaclemagazine.co.uk/" target="_blank">As seen in Pentacle magazine</a></td></tr>
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So I guess that's really how I can answer the question. What do I do? I add to my body of writing and artwork to bring me closer, one step at a time, to success. Not because I'm paid to do it, but because it's who I am.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246870196411177049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3482695411788327785.post-68272373930422884862012-10-22T21:18:00.001-07:002012-11-18T10:25:48.770-08:00Our Fellow Artists: Matt Beard<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb666dbd-9ace-4852-a007-722eb9ec8be6/uploadedartwork/650X650/c7ccd30b-5602-48f4-9f00-f5ac79f74c91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/fb666dbd-9ace-4852-a007-722eb9ec8be6/uploadedartwork/650X650/c7ccd30b-5602-48f4-9f00-f5ac79f74c91.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Birds-Eye-View_art?IMID=c7ccd30b-5602-48f4-9f00-f5ac79f74c91" target="_blank">"Bird's Eye View" by Matt Beard</a></td></tr>
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I have always loved color, and <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=efd77d1b-5ee8-41d2-9d38-dda1de3b274a" target="_blank">Matt Beard</a> does it well. An artist living in Humboldt County, he seems very influenced by nature, especially the ocean--and what better inspiration for color than those California waves? I thoroughly enjoyed browsing all of his galleries, noticing in each one that his landscapes all seemed to reflect the rhythm and texture of waves--even landscapes that had minimal water in them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/4013c2e2-9755-46a8-b179-b71fcab50456/uploadedartwork/650X650/a287416f-2e1b-41d9-9cf4-8887ab7874b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/4013c2e2-9755-46a8-b179-b71fcab50456/uploadedartwork/650X650/a287416f-2e1b-41d9-9cf4-8887ab7874b1.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/4013c2e2-9755-46a8-b179-b71fcab50456/uploadedartwork/650X650/a287416f-2e1b-41d9-9cf4-8887ab7874b1.jpg" target="_blank">"Redwood Roots" by Matt Beard</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/9f8353ef-459b-402e-a600-06a50fc175cb/uploadedartwork/650X650/072604fc-3567-42c5-a207-a75425ca718b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/9f8353ef-459b-402e-a600-06a50fc175cb/uploadedartwork/650X650/072604fc-3567-42c5-a207-a75425ca718b.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Shoebox-Series--_art?IMID=072604fc-3567-42c5-a207-a75425ca718b" target="_blank">"Shoebox Series #4" by Matt Beard </a></td></tr>
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Ironically, in my search for pieces that demonstrated remarkable use of color, it was Beard's ink work that caught my eye. Once I saw his line work and excellent balance of black and white, I had to see if he also worked in color. I'm glad I kept browsing his site, because I found some truly breathtaking compositions, handled with bold, graphic simplicity. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/5d4a9ce3-cd98-4543-8a29-5d9ce8bc42ab/uploadedartwork/650X650/045d67a9-76ed-4aaa-8ac9-0b9c7f5ea7de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/5d4a9ce3-cd98-4543-8a29-5d9ce8bc42ab/uploadedartwork/650X650/045d67a9-76ed-4aaa-8ac9-0b9c7f5ea7de.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Afternoon-Mourning_art?IMID=045d67a9-76ed-4aaa-8ac9-0b9c7f5ea7de" target="_blank">"Afternoon Mourning" by Matt Beard</a></td></tr>
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Each piece is unique, but has that unmistakable signature style we as artists try so hard to develop. Plus, not only are the pieces rendered well, they also invite the viewer to explore the world. They are a great tribute to <i>places</i>, and the feeling that permeates those places. Matt Beard really captures the essence of each landscape, whether it's redwood forests or rolling waves.</div>
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<i>You can browse all of Matt Beard's pieces <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=efd77d1b-5ee8-41d2-9d38-dda1de3b274a" target="_blank">here.</a></i> </div>
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