Monday, March 22, 2010

Photo of the Week - "Feet" and a WIP update

When I learned what this week's theme was to be I knew right away what I wanted to shoot, but I would need a sunny (or at least dry!) day to do it.  The weather cooperated, so this afternoon I took myself out to the barnyard, got down on my tummy without anyone catching me at it, and shot this week's photo of "Feet".   (Back when Jake still milked in the afternoons, I could always tell about where he was in the job by the number of cow legs visible underneath the wall of the holding pen. Judging by what I see here, the milker has just started in on the second herd.)



A while ago I shared some practice watercolor sketches I had done of goldfish - I was so pleased with them that I decided to use some of them in a mixed media collage for my bathroom. First I painted and textured a canvas as a background, then I added the fish pieces. (Smarter people than I am will probably have already figured out that I should have applied the fish BEFORE the texturing, but oh well, now I know that too AND why, LOL.)



I decided that the fish stood out too strongly against the background, so I lightened the color a bit, then added wisps of silk torn from a hand-dyed silk cap over the edges. There are also some painted strips of cheesecloth along the bottom right - I wish they stood out a little more, but I will hit them up with some highlights when the medium dries.


I had hoped to finish this piece today, but there is so much medium holding everything down that I want it to dry undisturbed for a while before adding anything else. I have some little seashells that will be tucked into the folds of the cheesecloth, and also some micromarbles that are begging me to let them play with the fish. I really tried to avoid the micromarbles in this project, but I can't seem to help myself. :-)

9 comments:

Healing Woman said...

I love the "feet" shot. What a great photographer you are! Wish I had some cows..seriously, you are so lucky? to have a beautiful farm. (I know it's work)

Serena Lewis said...

Great 'feet' shot, Judi!

Your goldfish project is beautiful! The wisps of torn silk worked very well in tying the fish and textured background together. I'm sure it looks even more fabulous in real life.

Anonymous said...

Love the feet shot, clever girl! This is beautiful with the goldfish and I can't wait to see the finished project, it is always so hard to wait for things to dry!!

Jennifer Rose said...

the feet shot is great :D i really like your fish piece :D the colours and texture are really nice. and the fish facing us looks really quizzical and sad (but cute lol :))

MaryO said...

This theme was fun, but I don't know why I didn't guess that you would shoot cow's feet! LOL! I think that's what I would have done...if I had cows.
Anyway, your fish panel is coming along nicely. I'm anxious to see it finished!

BumbleVee said...

Yeh, I'll say.... you don't want to be crawling around on your knees in mud and cow poo.... just for a shot of the ladies... hahhaha.... but, I bet you would if you had to.

Your fishies look great...and I'm sure by the time it's complete...it will be perfect.... as usual with our fun stuff...somehow it still turns out even if we go about all ass backwards...well, most of it anyway.... but, then...who was it said if we don't make mistakes we never learn anything? ....

Shashi Nayagam said...

This is turning into a gorgeous piece. Wow!!!

J C said...

My first visit here so I scrolled. I never knew that cows would leap and frolic like that. What a delight to see. I love cows! And your warm angel is awesome! I'll be back. Nice to meetcha.

Norma Soulet (AZArtist) said...

Great shot of the Cows feet! I wonder if the Bulls could tell which one is their special gal by only looking at her feet? LOL
Love how your Goldfish piece turned out.

Hugs,