Angel

Dissatisfied with last night's angel, I took another shot and am reworking.

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008--All Rights Reserved

Lesson: Redo/edit any work with which you are not satisfied.

Returning to A Renaissance Style

CABBAGE
Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008 -- All Rights Reserved

The holidays are almost over and it is time to get back to shooting. Being away from the camera for more than one day, is not good. Tomorrow I will work with cabbages again.

Looking Ahead and Looking Back--Now

The New Year approaches and I look forward to looking back in time for inspiration. Renaissance and Medieval paintings teach composition and lighting. Light in art and photography is everything. Without light there would be nothing. To become a better photographer pay attention to light illuminating objects and scenes...warm light and cool...hard and soft...light and dark.

Suggestion: Keep a record of what you see. How are you moved? What are you feeling? Can you paint, write or take a photograph expressing these feelings and emotions? If so, do it!

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Afterthoughts:

Creativity comes in many shapes and disguises. A couple of nights ago, we had a spectacular dinner, at a friend's home. The dinner was a combination of taste sensations and savory flavors--creativity in action. The woman preparing this meal created a royal feast. Pumpkin soup, turkey, stuffing, gravy, exquisitely seasoned mashed potatoes, a three-layer jello cranberry salad, rolls, blackened brussel sprouts and a baked sweet potato casserole. Everything was made from scratch using natural ingredients. Never have I tasted food this good. She gave her all and the results were breathtakingly delicious. I am honored to have met this master of culinary arts. Kudos to you, Margaret.

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The Lesson: We must follow our hearts and go where they lead us. Fearfully stifling who we are (and what we think and feel) is lying to ourselves and others. If we do not dig deep into our psyches, the work is less than our best. It ends up being superficial, or even worse...boring. Authentic creativity is true and honest. Creativity needs freedom to express itself and we, as artists, need courage to share these truths.

Holiday Wishes To You and Yours

Meditation Bell

Living alone during holidays can be stressful. One way to cheer up is to find something that brings you joy. Years ago I began this practice and continue it today. What you choose does not have to be expensive. It can be a pine cone, a pebble or some fresh flowers. The important thing is that it lightens your mood.

My "special find" arrived yesterday from the Smithsonian.

Meditation is an important component in my creative process, as it helps me maintain emotional balance. Often I listen to sessions from a Buddhist retreat. The facilitator suggests sitting in a quiet, relaxing place and listening intently to the sound of a gong, or bell. Focus. Stay with the sound as the resonance trails off. The result is peace in the moment. The past is gone, the future is a mystery...all we have is the now...the Present--a time of giving and receiving.

Today, refreshed, I open the holiday box of ornaments and family treasures. A snow globe, the small Christmas tree, Mr. and Mrs. Claus purchased during my parent's first year of marriage (when they had no money), a musical wooden horse barn and my antique decoy ducks (wearing red velvet bows) perk up the decor.

Soon Bob and I will bake cookies. Several tins and a large glass apothecary jar are washed and waiting for sugary treats.

Happy Holidays!

Another Foggy Morning

This morning in a Photography chatroom, I was asked to do a high contrast photo of morning fog. (Please take note: my evasive hawk buddy is sitting in tree).

You all would have loved to see me shooting this morning. My old desk chair, was on the porch waiting to go next door since I am not using it in the office. So...this morning I rolled it down the driveway, plunked myself down in it and began comfortable shooting.

Photographs by Elisabeth Bacon 2008--All Rights Reserved

Experimenting with Soft Focus Portrait

This image represents, for me, today's grandfathers and reminds me of Norman Rockwell's style of painting, as well as that of some WPA artists. However, I realize this image is not in that league.

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008--All Rights Reserved

Foggy Morning

What a beautiful day! My kind of morning...fog drifts across the mountains and through the orchard.

Photographs by Elisabeth Bacon 2008--All Rights Reserved

Merry Christmas--Is Anybody Out There?

The holiday season must be keeping folks very busy. Visitor comments have dropped off and I miss hearing from y'all. Yooooo hooooo...come on in...put your feet up...have some coffee. And, if you can...before you leave...let me know what you think. Thanks!

This morning I finished addressing Christmas cards and will take them to the Post Office today. Oh, oh...I changed my mind again. I like the FROST FRAKTUR image better than the ornament. Folks receiving the real-life Fraktur card will be able to frame it. Here is my online adaptation:

Card by Elisabeth Bacon 2008--All Rights Reserved

And... I must say:

I wish you the happiest holiday ever and the very best in 2009. May all your dreams come true.

A Portrait

THE GRANDFATHER

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008

All Rights Reserved

Little Bits of Light

The string of lights arrived and now our front door wreath glows. More lights are on order. Lights lift my spirit.

WREATH

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008

All Rights Reserved

A Woman Can Change Her Mind

Woke up this morning with a head cold. Darn. Well, life goes on... so... I started experimenting with card possibilities. I like the first image best (red and green didn't cut it)...So...Here is the result:

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT

Card and Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008--All Rights Reserved

This, too, may change.

This shot is a perfect example of shooting when sick. Don't do it folks...the image will always be less than your best. Perhaps I will retake this card image and replace, as soon as I am up to shooting again.

Christmas Card Beginnings

Today the process of Christmas Card creation began. I am late this year. Printed out the foundation image and did some test cards. Soon this image will be bedecked with gold ribbon, framed and adorned with glitter. Tomorrow the ornament will be pasted on card stock and the finishing touches added.

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008--All Rights Reserved

Today's Photo

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon--All Rights Reserved

Sepia

Have wanted to take this shot for some time. Finally got around to it. Am fascinated with clean, stark images processed in black and white, or sepia.

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2008

Reality Is. During this holiday season, I get to reminisce about past Christmases, snow, candles, church services, choirs, solos, O Holy Night, parents, grandparents, children, shopping, baking and Christmas trees. My Reality expands to include What Was in What Is.

Crayons Galore

Crayons, crayons and more crayons--120 of them. Wow! The joy...the excitement...childhood memories flood in...the smell, the colors--a plethora of glorious rainbows in wax. I am filled with anticipation. Ta-da...time to begin:

And more Ta-da:

Elisabeth Bacon 2008

All Rights Reserved

At times, it is fun being BOLD.

For Today: Play!

Speaking Out

Written in remembrance of walking away.

Why do some folks stay in abusive relationships? Some are afraid to leave, some don't want to admit to making a mistake and some actually derive a hidden pleasure from being the underdog. The victim often gets approval and pity from friends and family. They become important through negative instead of positive attention. Some actually believe they don't deserve better.

However, a bully can only continue being a bully if his, or her, behavior is accepted and endured. The only way to fight back is to decide not to put up with this negativity. Mental and emotional abuse is as detrimental as physical mistreatment and can have long-lasting effects. Get smart. Walk away. Get away and stay away.

It has been said, "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem." So, if you aren't happy, then only you can choose to change. Develop a legitimate plan, then follow through. Only you are responsible for you. This is true in all areas of a person's life. No one is responsible for you, but you. If you don't take care of yourself, who will?

The lesson learned from close proximity to abuse is one learns the telltale signs. When confronted in the future, a red flag goes up in your head. Pay attention to that red flag. It means, DANGER. Listen. Run. You don't need it. You don't want it. No promise is worth selling your soul.

One way to combat negativity is: Say "Stop It" to yourself, or out loud if necessary, when dealing with negative thoughts and behavior. Instead, surround yourself with people of like mind. We have a choice. We are in charge. We are alive. We are here and we have a right to be here. We are worthy of success, health and happiness.

One more thing...The myth that an artist must be unhappy to be creative is not true. One can be creative and happy. In fact, the most creative people I know are happy and have the freedom to create anytime anywhere.

My wish and prayer for the New Year is that the abused will realize their worth, stand tall, and walk into a world of creative good.

Remember: Be Good, Do Good and then Strive to be Better.
Believe in Yourself. Be Creative. Be Grateful. Love life. Life is good.

Challenges

Challenge 1: Typing with a cut finger poses a huge challenge. Who would have thought creating a bound journal could be hazardous.

Challenge 2: Working with images in Photoshop is more fun than working directly in a bound journal. Am considering doing pages in PS and pasting them in journal.

Journal Page 1 with Type:

RENAISSANCE REVISITED

Photograph, Layout and Design Created by Elisabeth Bacon 2008
IlShakeFest Font ©1995 Illinois Shakespeare Festival

Note to Self: Permission Requests Required