Black and White

DUSK

Forget-Me Nots

Everything begins with thought. The hardest part of the work often is the planning. Would like to work out a forget-me-not series. Will make sketches first. Texture has been brought out in this black and white rendition.

©Elisabeth Bacon 2009

All Rights Reserved

Forget-Me-Nots

FORGET-ME-NOT I

©Elisabeth Bacon 2009

All Rights Reserved

FORGET-ME-NOT II

©Elisabeth Bacon 2009
All Rights Reserved

Am playing with a concept...will continue this theme tomorrow. Have not achieved what I am looking for, so will try again. Will make some preliminary sketches tonight.

REMEMBER: Try Again and Again

Basics

Andrew Wyeth painted his boots walking Pennsylvania's slopes and fields.

The other night I looked down and became fascinated with the texture, mystery and form of old moccasins tossed aside on an oriental rug.


What stories they could tell of Amish country, Chicago, Philadelphia, Delaware; of hawks and falcons, cemeteries and ancestors; steeples, museums, artifacts and doorstops. They meander through moments of joy and sadness...knowing there is more to come.

©Elisabeth Bacon 2009

All Rights Reserved

Clarification

ARTIST'S STATEMENT DEFINING JOURNAL PURPOSE

WHAT IT IS...

This journal is written by me, for me, to be shared with artists and photographers. It is a motivational tool where I plan, then share. It is a record of an adventure--a journey.

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Comments from fellow travelers are welcome, but not necessary.

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This journal is NOT written to compete, or be part of, an online popularity contest.

Waiting

Am dealing with life and death matters. Sitting here like a deer in headlights waiting.

Hello?

Is anybody out there?

Sure would like to hear from some of the silent "stopper-byers."

While I am vacuuming and carting away "stuff," please say hello and if so moved share what you are doing. Are you out shooting, have you chosen a theme to motivate you? Are you painting? Sketching, singing, dancing, composing music? I would love hear. Please leave a link to your journal so I can visit.

P.S. Can hardly wait to get back to creating...shooting...and working in Photoshop. Every time I take a break, I miss art terribly.


Remember: Be good, do good, then do better.

Under the Weather

Not feeling great today, so will keep this short. I have been sorting through books, arranging furniture and doing heavy cleaning. The dust may be getting to me. When it comes to deciding which books to keep and which to give away, my brain goes numb. How often do we reread the books we have? Answer: Not very often. Reference books will stay; the rest will go. Guideline: if it can be replaced, or found in the library, let it go.

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Last week's television episode of Obsessed had a segment on hoarding and I began asking myself questions. Why do we hold on to, or want, some things and not others? Is there often an emotional attachment--a memory?

Do the things we collect hold a deeper significance/meaning? Is there a reason we collect what we do?

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Are photographers addicted to photography? And...artists addicted to art? Why take photographs? Paint? Why do we choose the subjects we choose? What makes an artist decided to be an artist? What prompts this desire?

When did you start doing the craft you love to do? Why? Does the desire go deeper than surface accomplishment? What are you trying to say? What is the significance?

What are we learning, or want to learn?

Poppy Card in Process

This afternoon I continued fooling around with a poppy image. I didn't get very far, however the foundation is shaping up.

POPPY CARD PHASE I
©Elisabeth Bacon--All Rights Reserved

Patterns and Textures

While Bob was shooting a small waterfall, I began looking around for something different. Found several areas of focus. Here is a fern closeup and a study of shadow:

Play Day

There is nothing I enjoy more than having a play day. After looking at the grass textures in black and white, I decided to include a color copy here. Playing is an excellent way to learn what works and what doesn't. There is something quite beautiful about grasses. They are worthy of study.

Card Update, Signs and Textures

Subdued card color for printing. Somehow the bright colors were too bright and garish.



It pays to carry a camera all the time. Went to have oil changed and spotted these usual symbols created (I think) during a roof repair. These remind me of ancient writing (oriental chops).



Next coming out of store saw a hillside of texture:

Card

Revised Template from Graphic Authority used as background for Dad's Card.

Usually I do everything from scratch...today I decided to use a template. Anytime I use anything other than my own designs, I give credit to the company and/or designer. This is a departure for me, but it was lots of fun changing the original template and making it partially my own.

Variations on A Theme

Dad fell and broke his hip. Today I will create a card for him using bright colors to raise his spirits.

There are several ways to create cards. I like printing out a fine image on photo paper and gluing it to card stock using a ph balanced glue. The image can be signed and dated in the lower right hand corner of the border. Using the actual image gives a card and a gift. The recipient receives a signed original.

If I decide to use a template for the card, I will post the results.

Love This "Look"

Caught these Cosmos blossoms in early morning light and enjoyed playing with this image to create a variety of moods. I especially like this soft, feminine floral portrait.

After Dusting

Well, so much for schedules...hung a couple of pictures, did some pick up and put away and dusted a little bit...took some shots and here is one result:

HOUSE LEEKS

Setting Up Daily Schedules

Don't you just love addictions? I am addicted to photography, Photoshop and computers. So...

Today the plan is to set up a schedule for housework, errands (like buying groceries) and creative endeavors. My usual day begins with coffee...gawd...have to have my coffee, then take pics, do a post, or work on pics from the day before and post, or...be inspired by a quote and post. Some of these procedure will stay the same, however finding time to work on photographs is becoming a problem. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Being a morning person, I like to do my creative work when fresh and rested. Total involvement in the process makes the hours fly by. Suddenly, it is time for dinner and I am still writing, organizing, or cropping, etc. Not sure how to resolve this dilemma other than to set an alarm for when it is time to stop. Will try the alarm technique today. Will also try to limit my time online. Am going to get off NOW and dust (or write, or play with photographs...).

If any of you have any suggestions, please share. Would love to hear how y'all get through daily chores. Thanks!

TIP:

Wait for commercials. Amazing what a person can accomplish while watching (or more appropriately NOT watching) television.

Getting In Synch

Didn't do altered art images yesterday, however....got a couple of good shots.

COSMOS

DINNER BELL

IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY

(Taken through window screen...unusual effect/texture.)

SEPIA COSMOS

Techie Challenges and Change

Yesterday and today have been challenging. The reason is: I changed something and messed up. Change usually is a good thing, yet occasionally it isn't. So, when change throws you a curve, the only thing to do is correct the mistake.

The same is true with your craft. If something isn't the way you want, go back and do it again and if necessary, again.

Knowing your equipment and materials is crucial. Practice. You have to know what you are doing to do it well. What happens, over time, is the knowledge is absorbed and becomes part of you. Then, creativity is free to play and experiment.

Today my Photography Muse is on vacation. She so enjoyed our vacation, she may still be in Pennsylvania. To encourage her return, I will play with photography, painting, pasteup and alter some of my images dramatically.

Suggestion: Play with your craft today. Do something fun.

P.S. Will post altered images later should anything spectacular show up!

"How do I know what I think until I see what I say." --E.M. Forster, novelist

What do I think about art and imagination? Without art, the world would be a dry, parched desolate place. Without imagination life would be unbearable. In school, being known as a daydreamer was a bad thing. The kid staring out the window might be considered an under achiever. Yet without dreams, how can anything new be accomplished? First comes the dream (the dream, the desire), next the goal, then the plan. Every brilliant artistic endeavor is a trip--a journey into (hopefully) uncharted waters. Where are you going? What would you like to do? What tools do you need to get to your destination? Where do you start? What places would you like to visit along the way?

Suggestion: Make a list of things you would like to try...things you would like to do. Pick one thing and do it. Completing tasks, one at a time, promotes positive self esteem. You did it. Congratulations. Interesting things can happen while "tasking..." you may learn something, you may discover a new way of doing things, you may have a good time.

Whatever your craft, include things you love. Is there a process you would like to learn? Get busy exploring and learn it. Experiment. What works? What doesn't? Keep a journal.

AIM HIGH. Make your goal challenging and meaningful--something that lifts you up, gets you out of yourself and raises your consciousness. How do we achieve this? We work from the heart and enjoy what we are doing along the way.

When you stand back, view a project without emotional attachment (using detached observation) and say "wow," you have succeeded.

"To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art." --E.M. Forster, novelist