Garden City Findings

Another day in the 'Little Blue House' hood and I'm feeling a bit cooped up...

What to do, what to do?

Grab the camera...

Load the dogs...

Take Sally (the mustang) to Garden City for a joy ride!

Searching for something to spark the brain and the heart...

What did I find?

Old, used.... Used, old...

Cars, doors, mailboxes and more!

Table Top Goodies

Friends, family, photography, music, drinks and one garbage filled ashtray...

Life, death, why?

Things happen for mysterious and sometimes very sad reasons.

We question...

We try to answer...

Life, death, death, life...

When, where, how, why, why, why?

More than likely their isn't an answer other than the harsh fact that everything that lives dies.

Sometime, somewhere, someway...

This diptych was made in memory of all of those who have come into my life, made a huge impact, then left too quickly for me to ever understand.

Photographing Metal

Since I've been home from school I make sure to challenge my eye and mind every single day. So far photographing metal art work has been my biggest challenge and I'm loving it! My dear and very talented friend Cindy Wolff has given me the amazing opportunity to photograph her beautiful art work. (This is one of many art works... More to come soon).

This challenge has given me more drive to open my own studio than any challenge so far. My living room is consumed by my photo equipment and it's working great... For now! I am limited to one strobe on a stand set off camera. I'm bouncing the light into my one umbrella and back out which then hits the many many white cards I have set up with the clamps I purchased from Harbor Freight. Thanks to RMSP I have one nice large piece of paper that I have pinned into the wall/opening that separates the dinning room and living room. I have the paper curved nicely up onto the table I use for my other art making activities!

The best part about this challenge is that I have realized once again how lucky I was and am to be a part of RMSP. Joe Lavine, our studio teacher is a life saver. Without Joe, his amazing teaching style, huge amount of knowledge and constructive criticism I would never have known how to set up anything to pull off a simple product shoot let alone a challenge like this.

I can't wait for the day to work with photographers/artists and assistants like I did last summer.

Eye Color

During my journey to find out just what it is that hits my heart I've discovered my love for the eye! A beings eye is unique to only them. The color, the shape, the lines etc. I love the fact that not one being is the same, not even identical siblings. Here's is a sample of my latest personal project that will more than likely expand throughout my artistic life.

First Snow

6:00AM alarm chimes... snooze... dream... alarm chimes again...

Wife up, dressed, ready for walk...

'Little Dog' cuddle, stretch, up, ready for eats...

'Big Dog' yawn, up, stretch, food...

Kitty patiently waiting, meow, food...

SAC up, dressed, feed four leggeds, step outside, snow...

Long Johns, thick socks, hats, hoodies...

Boots & Gloves - Wife, SAC, Big Dog...

Jacket - Wife, SAC, Big & Little Dog...

All bundled, walk...

SACS work day mornings... home, treats, make wifes protein shake and lunch, vitamins organized and packed, dogs tucked in...

Wife... shower, readies for work...

SAC outside...

Snow, broom, truck, start, heat, warming, 4 wheel, wife's safe for the drive to work...

Breathe...

Camera, tripod, remote switch, photographs!

My Only Blood Grandparent

Through the thick and thin of family issues, good and bad, my Gramma and I have made it out stronger than ever! I wanted to share the photographs I made this past summer on my first of four visits to the 'River House'. Gramma is my only blood grandparent that I have ever known. She is also my only living grandparent. I look up to her even with the bumps in the road that we have hit in the past. The past is the past, the present is here and we don't know what the future will bring.

I'm intrigued with family and relationships. It has been a recent discovery how important the family tree is to me. My Dad was adopted by the most wonderful woman who ever walked this earth, my Gram Rainy. They had a beautiful relationship and I feel as if I'm more like my Gram Rainy than I am anyone in my family. I have so much respect for my Grams choice to adopt my Dad and gives me hope for the choice that I have made for my future expansion of my own family. Thank you Gram for being such an awesome example and grandma to me, RIP.

The only thing that I feel like I'm missing is history. My history on my Dads side, is my Dad and our family who adopted him. I don't know anything other than he was born in Gridley, California. My history on my Mom's side is long and full and I am on the path of finding out just where at least half of me is from. For now I'm focussing on spending as much time with my Gramma as I possibly can. She's now 81 years of age and spunkier than ever! Thank you Gramma for being you and for wanting our relationship to grow.

Truth, life and relation.

I've spend many many hours sitting behind my Gramma while she curls her hair and gets ready for the day ahead.

Gramma taking a walk in her very manicured and beautiful 4 achre yard. Work done by her own hands.

Self portrait holding my families photograph taken in 1979, my birth year. This was taken in one of the guest bedrooms at my Gramma's 'River House.'