Today Is A Good Day (Photo Walking in the Flats in Appleton, WI)

One of my favorite things to do is going on a photo walk especially when its a spontaneous one.  A lot of the work shown in my portfolio is a result of a photo walk. Below are the photos I took with my i-phone on a beautiful day in the flats in Appleton, WI.

                                                                    A moment of zen

Today is a Good Day - (A Cook-Out at The Draw in Appleton)

I made this poster using an old fashioned printing press at the Draw with some help from artist Lori Vandenberg

I try to strive to start out with this thought in my head when I start my day. When I am positive most of the time it ends up being true. If I start my day in a negative mood it often stays that way. Saturday, June 4 ended up being not only a good day but a fantastic one! This is part one of two blog entries.

The top of The Draw in Appleton, WI 

Today I visited The Draw in Appleton for a cook-out to celebrate the opening of the new bridge on Lawe St. Everything was donation based and the food and Stone Cellar root beer was yummy. So what is the Draw? Located in a very cool old building in the flats The Draw has studio spaces for local artists and musicians, a gallery and plenty of room for events. I find it to be a more laid back approach to the art world. Below are photos of some art from the gallery, and a peek into a few of the studios (they were open for the public to see). For more information about The Draw click  Here .

Yin-Yang Youth by EC Wold (borrowed photo from her website, could not get a good photo as it was behind glass and framed)

Look Up by Jacqueline Johnson (to read the wording click on photo)

placard for Look Up with more from the artist

Identity Crisis by Brian Tellock

one of the chairs to be auctioned off at a fundraiser for Celebration of Hope in Wisconsin Click here for more details

Sleeping Fox by Laura Schrampfer Chapeau (one of the tenants at The Draw)

Wooden cattails and a peek of the view of the river

Roperite

A view from the River Level in the Draw

A pretty light fixture in one of the studios, I liked the shadows it was casting

Z Glass Studio

Letters for the letter press I helped do the poster on

Print and Be Merry studio where I did the poster. Thanks for the instruction Lori Vandenberg!

A painting done by Laura Schrampfer. This was hanging inside her studio, AmazInk Tattoos

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into The Draw.

Rebirth of a blog

Like a phoenix this blog has risen from the ashes of the photography blog it was before. I still have much work to do on it so please bear with me. My goal is for this to be a fun site to reflect on all that I am blessed to be a part of and witness. I will be posting photos of the live bands I see, art I come across, shows I am able to attend where I work. More on that later. For now, here's a picture I took just a couple days ago:

Taken on a walk near my home, I liked the contrast of the soft and pretty with tough and strong

Located in Oshkosh by the lake, this is a fun place to listen to some classic tunes from the 50s

A look back

I have realized that its been awhile since I posted here. Much has happened. After my August show (which was a success, and I was invited back!) I had another Art on the Town joint showing with another artist at Thrifty Tickets Thrift Store in September. That did pretty well. I was able to keep my work there until after Christmas and sold 10 pieces and a few cards as well.  My winter work sold the best.

I also purchased a new camera, the NEX-5R/ It has these amazing apps on it like the watercolor app used in the picture above. Its fantastic for floral closeups too like the one below:

 

 

 I will continue to explore these apps which also include an HDR app and a "soft glow" app. Lots of fun in store!

 

In March my work was able to be part of two events. One was a silent auction for  Flanagan's Beer and Wine Festival that raises money for various auctions. Another was in a joint gallery showing with

many other female artists for the Wine, Women and Art event.  I was one of four photographers. (two of the three pieces I submitted were selected!) Some of these women have been at their craft for over 30 years and it made me wonder where I will be in 30 years and why am I in such a rush?    Its okay to slow down and figure out who I am as an artist.

Here we go!

Onward and Upward!

My first solo art show is tomorrow....and I am excited and petrified all at the same time.  My supporters tell me they love my work, I have sold a few pieces, they have done well at silent auctions on 3 seperate occasions, and yet a part of me wonders am I good enough and am I ready?

And then I realize....its not completely me and that the natural talent I have is a gift from God which I am so thankful for! So...why not trust in Him and know that everything will turn out all right!  Forget about the nay sayers, put the doubts aside and take a deep breath....here we go!

Wedding Photography and me

 

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a wedding with my friend Kathy of Eygabroad Photography. I had been asked by the bride specifically because she is a fan of my work. I hadn't done this before, but she trusted me and wanted my artistic vision. In fact the ones she loved the most were the art renderings like the one shown above. I asked my friend Kathy to help because she is a portrait specialist and has done weddings before. Needing a model and knowing that the bride and groom and the location would be perfect, she agreed. The bride now had two different approaches to choose from. The bride and groom's family and friends loved her work.  No suprise there, she has put in alot of study into wedding photography and knows what gets the wow and will get the wow everytime. My goal was to please the bride who fortunately wanted and asked for my art. But this brings up the question...do I want to pursue wedding photography? Can I please other brides and still do what I do best?  Or am I too different, too edgy, too artistic? Art is so subjective does it belong in this form?  Here are more examples of wedding photography but with my artistic twist.

Wedding Dress in Black and White 

Centerpiece

A romantic moment

...Starring Corbin and Kelsey

With Love

With these rings we are wed