Friday, June 27, 2008

Almost there

I had intended to post before we left on a camping trip, but now I'm glad I waited because I see that this piece isn't quite finished after all.




I am pretty happy with it for the most part, though I curse the moment I thought that #$%^&* octopus would be a good idea. I am about out of ideas as to how to make it look better, but oh well. I see I also need to add a few more highlights to the seahorse and a little more depth to her hair.

Hmmmmm... a bit more green in her tail might also help to set off the jewel a bit better. That jewel and those bubbles were SO much fun to paint!

I've already started another piece using this technique. It is VERY different, as I am DETERMINED to break out of my "pretty" mold. I'll post a WIP photo here soon.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Happy Father's Day

I hope Father's Day was filled with the joy it ought to bring for everyone who reads this. I know there are bad fathers out there, so perhaps for some the day is painful instead, and oh! I am so sorry! But I am blessed with a wonderful Father of my own, and blessed again to be married to the wonderful father of my kids. I don't tell them how much I appreciate them nearly as often as I should, but I hope they know how much I love them anyway.

Another blessing of the day was the special music number at our church. One of our men sang Stephen Curtis Chapman's "Cinderella" while 3 sets of dads and daughters danced. It was so beautiful and touching I had to bring along the new camera -- I hope I didn't bother anybody. Look though... no flash!


Who WOULDN'T want to give this darling little princess a big twirl?


These waltzers looked as if they were floating. The grace and ease with which they danced was a pleasure to watch.

Alice danced the part of the 3rd daughter, the bride-to-be. I confess... I cried.



Jake isn't much of a dancer ordinarily, but he held his end up. Aren't they a beautiful couple? He's going to have a hard time of it when he real Wedding Waltz plays, and I don't mean with just the steps.

I'm so glad the clock hasn't quite "struck midnight" for us just yet.


Tuesday, June 10, 2008

I have a new camera...

...and I am beginning to wonder if I am smart enough to use it, LOL! Actually, I am becoming more confident with my "eye" every day, but remembering which settings to use (without having to stop and think about it...) well, I'm not there yet. I will keep at it though. I may never be the next Annie Lebowitz, but it won't be for lack of trying.

The other night we had an evening from Eden dropped into the miserable excuse for spring that is Oregon in 2008. Jake told me that there were ducklings on the lagoon, so we took advantage of a lovely evening to walk out to see if we could spot them.

Our first mistake was to take Sailor the dachshund with us for the walk. (Seriously... what WERE we thinking! Ducklings... and a dog? aghhhhh...!)

We hadn't even cleared the barn yard before he spotted a cat and went into full voice! (That's Chrissy, the Calf Barn Cat. Does she look at ALL worried to you?)


Jake's legs are much longer than mine, so he got quite a ways ahead of me as we walked up the hay alley to the gate that would let us out into the lagoon field. I like that "artyness" of this shot. (Oooh, it's in focus too!)



I was playing with my telephoto lens... this cow was a good 6feet away from me, but just look at all the detail captured in her face. She is a sweetheart Jake says -- you can see it in her eyes -- and I can almost smell her sweet grass breath from the photo.


When we got across the field to the lagoon we saw 2 nests of ducklings floating peacefully on the water with their parents, but by the time I got my lens to focus, they were half way across to the other side. The adults have long since flown away...


In an effort to try to end around and get a better shot, Lydia took Sailor under control. Too late. The ducklings were GONE! (We thought we saw where they went, but by the time we got there... nothing.) I still love this picture though. Can you SEE the tension in Sailor's body and how badly he wants to leap down and give chase? As if a dachshund could ever run fast enough to catch... anything, LOL!


As we walked back to the house, I decided to take a shot of Mt. Hood, seeing as how it was actually visible for the first time in months. I knew about the foreshortening effect of the telephoto lens, but I had no idea it would bring the mountain THIS close. This will be something fun to play with in the future.



One last treat for the evening... a guy in a personal aircraft flew by over our heads. My old camera would never have gotten a shot like this.


I know I have a lot to learn, but I am looking forward to the lessons.


Saturday, June 07, 2008

Finished?

I set myself to finish this painting today, and I *think* I did. I'm not sure. I'm going to let it sit for a few days and then look at it again to see what there is to see with fresh eyes. In the meantime, here it is: "Blue Butterfly Spirit: a tribute to Laurel Burch."



I have worked on the mermaid collage since I last posted photos. I'm teaching myself to use a new camera though, so I was happy enough to get a decent photo of just the ONE painting today.

I do have one last little Being to share though. Remember the mask I made for my daughter's prom? Her best friend since first grade elected not to wear a real mask, but to do her make-up in such as way as to suggest a mask. I was completely blown away by the photos, which immediately suggested a doll to me. I don't have permission to post her photo yet, but I can share this cloth-over-clay mask. Meet "Diana, a Dance Sprite".

The mold is "Elodie Whisper", from an original sculpt by Sherry Goshon. Darn it, will I EVER learn to catch an accurate photograph of an item embellished with Pearl-Ex?
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