Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Witchy Cat

She looks as if she could cast a spell on you! This black and white photo of my tiny kitty Mercedes (now over the "rainbow bridge") became a magical image when solarized during the printing process. Nowadays, you can just do that kind of stuff in Photoshop.

Wiiiiilson!

Okay, this just goes to show you that you can alter pretty much anything. Here is a seed I found during my daily walk around the workplace building. There were a bunch of them lying in the street and I said, "hey, that looks like Wilson from the movie Cast Away!" So I took him in, painted him with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso and Dash of Red paint, then added a little Distress Ink to age him.

Rainy Weekend Organizing...

Rainy weather this weekend actually had me looking forward to organizing my studio a bit! I recently purchased a gorgeous seafoam green antique writing desk from my friend Robin (at a fantastic price, I might add!). And I decided to put all my beading and jewelry making stuff in it... since it did not fit in my regular organizational "system".

Because I use a lot of vintage jewelry, miscellaneous charms, found objects and random beads in all colors of the rainbow... it was quite a challenge sorting everything by how I would be using it. But it was definitely a great way to quiet the mind, and actually turned out to be quite the pleasure. Well, until I purchase more stuff, that is!

Unpredictable

Not even Madam Marie can predict what's going to happen with these crazy coastal storms here off the coast of New Jersey. Better just batten down the hatches and enjoy the ride!

Waaaaahhhh

Home sick today. Watching marathons of The Rachel Zoe Project and Project Runway.

Reflections

Sometimes, the reflection in the mirror seems brighter than what actually is. What's beyond the doors? Hope? Simplicity? Abundance? It sure looks pretty over there.

It's Still Summer Today!

One more day at the beach! Yay! 80 degrees, light northerly wind. Waves crashing. Seagulls cawing... ahh, it's still Summer today!

Time To Do...Laundry?

Oh, don't give me that innocent look! This is just one of the unexpected things I find when I look in expected places. You've gotta love the element of surprise. And hey, the cuteness factor doesn't hurt either.

If You're Around...Come On Down!

My employer Ranger Crafts, is having a two day Warehouse Sale and you are all invited!
When: This Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19 & 20, 9-4
Where: 15 Park Road (it's right off exit 105 on the Parkway!)
What: fabric and craft paints, all kinds of rubber stamping inks, glitter, rubber stamping accessories, and more... at 50%-75% off wholesale prices (yes, wholesale!) And you can enter to win some fabulous Ranger products too!
Who: anyone can come, but lots of great stuff for teachers, artists, and crafters!

Hope to see you there!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Junkyard Ghosts

This photo was shot in a really cool junkyard that had mostly cars from the 50's, 60's and 70's... a black and white photographer's dream! I used infra red film to shoot the original photo and then solarized the print during the printing process. The result... an ethereal image reminiscent of a Stephen King novel.

Art & Soul Virginia...Registration Now Open!

Yay! Today my favorite Art retreat opened for the Hampton, Virginia registration! If you love to be creative, love being surrounded by people who share the same enthusiasm for trying something new, in a supportive, exciting atmosphere, then I highly recommend you attend one of the Art & Soul retreats. I'll be teaching the opening night class with my friend and associate, Bonnie. And we'll also then become students for 4 days and nights of classes. Woo hoo!

Merm-Octopus?

In the arcade that goes through the old Casino building—between Ocean Grove and Asbury Park—they're doing some construction. How nice it was to see that they had a local artist—who calls himself Porkchop—paint this amazing mural on the temporary wooden structure.

Playing Around...

One of the perks of working for Ranger Crafts is that I get to play with all the new stuff. I just love the new Claudine Hellmuth Studio paints & mediums. I started playing around with painting this Maya Road chipboard house from my friend Patti. Wow! That's a lot of stuff to be thankful for... I'm pretty lucky.

Completion

Cupid, like a Spring angel, embracing the passion of the Soul.
A Spirit whispering to kindred beauty... breathing love to produce a man.
Manipulating Goddess and boy to discover their essential life together as soulmates.
To ache in her arms never after, beneath the purple lust moon.
Her Romeo, his Juliet... trusting urges.
Like delicate rain mist ironing the world smooth.

Tonight I went to an art critique group right here in my home town, hosted by woodcut print artist Paul Bonelli. Everyone brought items from their own genre... charcoal, pastels, watercolor, printmaking. I brought this book I've been working on. I took this poem and had started to turn it into an "illustrated" book, but lost steam when I got hung up on the visual manifestation of some of the lines.

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Fisheye View

Peeling paint. Tall, bare September trees. Lush Grass. Dark skies with little white puffy clouds.

This is one of my favorite photos because it only has a few elements and was taken with a "fisheye" lens. A fisheye is a wide angle lens that is so wide it creates the curved view shown here. I also liked the shadow below the chair... there are two tiny places where the sun shone through and it looks like two eyes.

Something Totally Spontaneous?

While walking the boardwalk in Asbury yesterday—taking photos, lunching and shopping—I ran across this acrylic painting at Posh Den. I was absolutely struck by the amazingly bright colors, simple shapes and asymmetrical balance of the piece. I simply had to have it. It would be a major purchase, being an oversized 4' by 3'... so I couldn't buy it right away. I definitely had to think it over, overnight.

Okay, so I did it! I stopped by the shop after work today and made it mine. I was enthusiastically greeted by multi-tasking owner Jamie Goldhagen and thoughtfully entertained while I awaited making my purchase. She informed me that the painting was done by a neighbor of hers in Bali... Nyoman Budiana. You go girl... keep up the amazing work!

It's now hanging in my living room, across from where I sit on the couch. I LOVE IT!

Surfs Up... Dude! Hurricane Hanna Still Speaks!

You never know what it's going to be like at the beach the day after a hurricane. So today, I went as an observer—with camera in hand—to photograph my favorite place. Several blocks away, I could hear the waves crashing, so I knew it would be exciting. Some of the waves had to be 10 feet high. It's all anyone could talk about.

Ocean Grove Giant Flea Market

Ahhhh... my favorite local flea market of the year! Almost rained out by Hurricane Hannah. But, alas my prayers (and those of friends... thanks guys!) staved off the rain until after 2pm. Only about a third of the vendors showed up, but it was just enough to get through, have lunch with friends Patti, Jackie & her hubby, and walk down to the ocean... before the rains came.

Belmar Arts Council Meeting

I went to my first monthly Belmar Arts Council Meeting tonight. They had a review of upcoming events and a poetry reading by Barbara Truncellito. Pictured here is the most recently painted side of the Belmar Arts Council building. Pretty cool, huh?

If You're Gonna Be Bad...

So, I decided to top off my dinner... a box of Totino's Pizza Rolls... with an ice cream sundae. Espresso Mocha Chip with hot fudge and whipped cream and a cherry on top of course... at my favorite Ocean Grove ice cream shop, Days. Not a great combination in the tummy... but both were very yummy!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Palace Clown

This photo is of a clown that was on the side of the now torn down Palace building in Asbury Park. I colorized it with Nick Bantock Dye Inks, aged it with Distress Ink, crumpled it and roughed it up with sandpaper.

Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone had a nice 3-day weekend, with no laboring this Monday. I spent most of my weekend by the sea. I am lucky enough to live where most people vacation. I count my blessings every day... one grain of sand at a time.