Every 3 Years

For the last three years I have been listening to the same song over and over. I like the song a lot, so I listen to it all the time. It’s a great song; I like the artist, I like the music, I like……..alright, I admit, I’m getting tired of it. But, I bought the song to listen to it and so I do.

For the last three years I have been watching the same movie over and over. I like the movie a lot, so I watch it all the time. It’s a great movie; I like the acting, I like the camera work, I like……alright, I admit, I’m getting tired of it. But, I bought the movie to watch it and so I do.

For the last three years I have been eating the same thing for breakfast day after day. I like what I’m eating a lot, so I eat it every breakfast. I like the flavor, I like the ingredients, I like……alright, I admit, I’m getting tired of it. But, I bought the food to eat it and so I do.

For the last three years I have been wearing the same style of cloths day after day. I like the cloth a lot, so I wear them. They are great cloth; I like the form, I like the material, I like……alright, I admit, I’m getting bored of wearing the same cloth. But, I bought the cloth to wear and so I do.

For the last three years I have been reading the same book over and over. I like the book a lot, so I read it again and again. It’s a great book. I like the writing style, I like the message, I like……alright, I admit, I could enjoy reading a new book. But, I bought the book to read it and so I do.

For the last three years I have been looking at the same artwork on my walls day after day. I like the artwork a lot, so it stays on my walls. They are great works of art; I like their colors, I like their moods, I like……alright, I admit, I’m getting tired of seeing the same art on my walls. But, I bought the art to hang on my walls and so it does.

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Four Seasons

One of the things I really enjoy about living in this part of the country (north-central PA), is having four distinct seasons. So when I received an inquiry from a customer about doing a four-seasons arrangement with trees being prominent, I was very pleased. My client had already selected three pieces from my gallery on-line and wanted me to work up some options specifically for spring. After sending her several thumbnail images, she made her choice.  But still a bit uncertain, she needed something else.

It always helps to be able to visualize an art arrangement on a wall, so I sent her a mock -up image of the pieces she selected. Not only did she have a better sense of how the selection would look together, she loved my specific arrangement. As an artist, it is rewarding to me that I can both create works that speak to people, and assist in how they will live with the art they purchase.

Resolute!

For many in America, the Bald Eagle is the symbol of freedom and strength. These magnificent birds represent both qualities well. They are also however symbols of what happens when Americans stand up to the greed and short-sightedness that causes great environmental harm. Once Endangered, these birds have made a great comeback. They represent a resolute attitude by those who understand that we live on a planet where our actions have consequences. When I see these majestic birds in my own backyard, it gives me hope and a sense of determination to fight so that this experience may be had by our children.

This image is available as archival 7×10″ and 10×14″ Limited Edition prints from my gallery on-line.

 

What’s New is Old Again……

I sometimes feel transported back in time by the simplicity of the rural landscape around me. I can imagine that it is the middle of the Nineteenth Century with no wires, no automobiles, no cell towers. On a wintry day with snow on the ground, the landscape becomes even more stark. Working with the most modern of photographic tools, I still felt compelled to create a monochromatic piece suggestive of old glass-plate days and wonky lenses.

Thinking Spring

It’s always exciting and fun to have a new project for a client. This current request for a four seasons collection had me considering works depicting spring trees. The image making process for me is always intense, so each trip through my collection of images brings back memories and emotions.

This image was made in Bucks County, PA early in the morning from a position where I could place the sun behind the early spring buds. Their rich colors were emphasized by the the back lighting, a polarizing filter, and contrast development in Lightroom.

It’s kind of nice to be thinking about spring on a cold, windy winter day.

More Peanut, because……………you’ll see

My ongoing photographic series on barn cats continues with this new image of Peanut. Sometimes, the personality of an animal just strikes a chord. Peanut seems to engage in behaviors that scream cuteness. She finds ways of putting herself into places and situations that are associated with innocence and youthful curiosity.

One of the nice things about this project for me is that I live with this small colony of cats on a daily basis. I get to experience their antics and make use of those experiences to create images that speak to larger concepts.

This image is the result of both my relationship with this cat colony, and an understanding of this particular kitten. My goal with this project is to create imagery that speaks to human emotions as experienced through other animals. Whether it is a kitten curled up in a bowl or a human baby curled up in a basket, the emotions are the same.

I had initially approached this situation on my stomach working eye-to-eye as I typically do in this project. But I realized that the true impact I wanted would best be achieved looking down on Peanut and graphically using the roundness of the two bowls. Roundness is a soft shape which is consistent with the desired feeling I wanted in the image.

Peanut and the Bowl is now available as a Limited Edition pigment giclee print from my gallery on-line.

Meet Peanut…..she’s Great!

For the last few years, I have been working with the cats that live on our farm to create images that speak to their lives and personalities. I’ve been trying to make images that are authentic, honest, and representational of their hardships, and everyday lives. The work I have been offering as prints as part of my “Barn Cat Series” have been well received. This year, one of my favorite barn inhabitants gave birth to a wonderful little girl that has been an absolute delight. We have named her Peanut. She is tiny for her age and engages in behaviors that literally have made me laugh out loud.

I keep a close eye on her to see what new adventures and discoveries she might have. To create images that are personal and of her world, I must work at ground level. When possible I like to be at a level even a little below hers, as when she is on a raised garden bed, or porch. Sometimes however, emphasizing her small size by working from above is the best way to speak to her vulnerability.

This print is titled Peanut and the Bottle and is available on my gallery on-line HERE