She said YES...Capturing the beginning

When choosing a setting to photograph a newly engaged couple it can be important to get to know they clients. Do they have any fond memories, and important places.  Some of those fond memories can be connected with the first moments they met and laid eyes upon each other.

Luckily my most recent engagement shoot was of one of my oldest and dearest friends Amber and her fiance Andrew. I myself have fond memories of their first encounters.  I remember very vividly her stories about this guy named Andrew that she met in one of her classes at school.  For her it was LOVE at first sight!  It was not long after their first meeting in a class at Georgia State University that their blooming relationship began. Because,   Georgia State University in the heart of down town Atlanta was the start of the rest of their life together it was very important to include these important locations and memories in their engagement photos.

We started the afternoon off walking around Georgia State's Campus and reliving many memories. Then headed over to Little Five Points not far from Andrews college apartment.  Little Five Points is a great eclectic town in the heart of down town Atlanta which allowed form many urban shots as well as a few natural shots in the near by parks.

Precious Gifts

There is nothing better than getting to share in the joys of an expecting or new mother!  I’ve recently gotten to share in this joy with two lovely women:  Molly Howard, and Amanda Skrobot.

Molly is expecting a bouncy baby boy in October, and Amanda recently had a beautiful baby girl. Being able to bring children into this world is such a wonderful gift, and I am glad that I have the chance to represent that through my photography.

                                                 

Jack of All Trades

I want to do it all!!  If only I had the time, space, and money!

I spent this weekend in Helen, Georgia with my parents.  Helen is a cute little German  town nestled in the foot hills of North Georgia. One of the great things about Helen is the surrounding areas are filled with artist, especially potters.  Georgia has many artistic roots nestled into the red clay in the surrounding areas.  Face Jugs have been a craft perfected in North Georgia over many years, and because of this Potters flock to this area.

There is a cute little pottery shop called Mark of the Potter that sits on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.  Visiting this shop flood back memories of my time spent in a Pottery studio. I don't claim to be a master at the pottery wheel, but it sure is therapeutic. All I could think about all weekend is how I would love to take some more Pottery courses again, so that I can get back on that wheel.

Then we entered the next shop, one dedicated stain glass. Through out the shop were many different glass techniques.  I had the chance to take a glass fusing class a few years ago, and loved the experience.  In this shop all I could think of was buying a glass kiln and creating my own glass pieces.  It did not help that my Dad worked with stain glass in the past, and was feeling the same bug to get back into a glass studio.  I had to immediately come home and hang-up the glass plates I made a few years ago.  It is finally time for them to be displayed!

How can I choose just one, when there are so many amazing art forms out there.  Is it possible for me to do it all?

Check out my new possible logo...

Tell me what you think.

Proud just like a Mama

As, I may have mentioned before, I have been teaching art for three years now.  Two years at the high school level, and one at the elementary. Teaching is full of its challenges and rewards.  There have been many moments in my teaching career that I have wondered why I am doing this, and then there are the moments that make everything worth it. It is those worthwhile moments that I live for.

One of those moments came to me in an unexpected place the other day, 

during a girls night surrounded by close friends. 

The date was set, we were excited to get together, but the inevitable question always arises: What should we do?  Dinner's great, but what do you do for the rest of the night? Movies don't allow socialization, and we knew we did not want to just sit around watching TV at someone's house...

A trend has started popping up across Georgia...Places where mainly women can go to drink wine with their girlfriends and be guided by an instructor to paint the painting of the night.  I've done this before, and had fun; but for an artist it's not really challenging. It's what I like to call, follow the leader art. Great for non-artist! Regardless it's still a great thing for me to do with my friends who don't normally paint or create.  Although, there was one problem none of us liked the painting that night. Why spend $30+ on something I'll probably paint over, and the other girl's wont hang in their house.  So I got the big idea to pack up my art supplies, and do our own version of this, but each of us got to paint what we wanted.  I wasn't sure how this was going to work considering they haven't really painted since elementary school. I was pleasantly surprised!  All three of us turned out with very different awesome paintings, and they did all the work themselves with minimal assistance.  Getting to see their results really gave me that proud mama feeling!

This was what I was able to complete during our time together. 

I love painting with others around. I feel less anti-social that way. 

And these two painting were painted by two people who haven't painted since elementary school.

Aren't they amazing!?!

The Flood Family Photos

I had the pleasure of photographing the Flood Family a few weeks ago.

When photographing on location a photographer always hopes that the natural lighting will work in the photographers favor, but that is not always the case.   When I arrived on location the lighting was perfect, but I knew that this would not last for long a storm was fast approaching. Luckily we had a covered area that we could keep dry or semi-dry, and continue the shoot without having to reschedule.   With the help of my new 35mm lens I was able to capture the detail even in a low light situation. 

Challenges of Non-objective art

I love working non-objectively it suits my impatient nature at times.  It allows me to work much quicker then if I were painting something that required a lot more details. However, non-objective art creates some very unique challenges. I'm never quite sure when to call a non-object piece of art work finished...

Tell me what you think?  Does it need anything else?

I really love the process that I went through in creating this painting.  This piece was commissioned, but the only requirements given were that it needed to be non-objective, similar to the painting I have over my couch (can be seen in an earlier blog: Fear and Loathing Art Making), and it needed to include blue. I started the yellow back ground months ago but was not ever really sure how I wanted the painting to end up. It was not until I found the rectangular, rusted metal object on the left side of the painting that inspiration hit, and the rest is history.

The Certainty of Uncertainty

“People who need certainty in their lives are less likely to make art that is risky, subversive, complicated, iffy, suggestive, or spontaneous….Simply put, making art is chancy-it doesn’t mix well with predictability.”

-          Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Art Making , By: David Bayles & Ted Orland

Describing me as risky or spontaneous is not the words that I would use.  I am just not that type of person, but I am an ARTIST.  In many ways I always knew my personality inhibited my creativity or more so my willingness to put myself out there. I became a teacher because it was safe, and not as risky as some of the other career choices that I could have made.  That’s what this blog is about for me, it to help me learn how to put myself out there.  I have ideas stored away in my sketch book waiting to come out, but then there is the part of me that wonders who would buy it, and if no one is going to buy it and I don’t have a spot for it in my home then what is the point of making it?  My practical side always gets in my way…

It’s time to ignore my practical side for a moment, and give the creative side a chance.  And you know what?  I’ve actually been doing just that.  I started want of those ideas stored away in my sketchbook, and am finally finishing a painting that I’ve been promising to a friend. Maybe this will be an Artful summer for me after all.  (That’s what I told all my students as they left for summer break…”Have an Artful summer.  When you get bored pick up some are supplies and create.")  Maybe I will actually practice what I teach this summer.

This is the idea from my sketch book that is now getting turned into a painting.

More pictures to come of the paintings in progress...

Fear and Loathing Art Making?

Trepidation, insecure, nervousness, or fear are just some of the emotions I experience almost any time I set out to create an art project.   In many case I allow these feelings to hold me back, and I am tired of it.  You would think an art teacher who has completed a BFA would be a little bit more secure with her art making skills.  But in many cases I feel as though I came out of college less willing to create artwork then I did when I entered.  For a time teaching became my art, and many ways it still is.  This is officially my third year teaching, but unofficially my fourth; and for my first two years teaching consumed me.  Even my dreams revolved around teaching.  I thought of little else. Every thought dealt with projects, lessons, behavior management, etc.  I was more concerned with challenging my students then I was with myself when it came to artwork.  Helping my students work through their fears was more important than working through my own fears.   Of course in many ways teaching strengthened my own personal fears when it came to artwork.   I taught at the high school level for three years with several amazing art teachers who cultivated some of the most amazing talent in high school students I have ever seen.   And, I promise I am not just saying that to say it; I’m saying it because it is true.  Year after year our school would continually rank high in multiple art competitions.   Being surrounded by talent can make you a little insecure about your own talents.   Although, I knew then as I know now that to be a better teacher I should be a continual learner, and creator.   I’ve been reading this book Art & Fear: Observation On The Perils (and Rewards) of Art Making by David Bayles & Ted Orland.  I’ve actually owned this book for two years now, and have put off reading it for some time now because of my own personal fears.  I know this book is going to force me to confront them.  However, it’s not just the book that has been forcing me to confront my fears it has also been external sources, such as MY HUSBAND.   I love my husband, he is a wonderful man…SHHHHH…Don’t tell him I said that, it might ruin his image : ).  My husband has been begging me to create artwork for years to the point where we have even gotten in arguments about his constant encouragement.    There have been a few times I have given in and allowed his gentle pushes to motivate me, and lately his motivation has been growing inside me.  Over two years ago his motivation inspired me to paint a non-objective painting that we have hanging over the love seat in the living room.   This painting is lucky to be where it is now, because it was almost painted over.  For what seemed like months after I had painted it, the painting sat hidden from sight.  It was not until support of a friend who begged to take a peak did my feels began to change, soon after the painting was hung up on the wall.   I receive more compliments about that piece of artwork then I do about any other painting or photograph in my house.  In fact I have two people right now who have asked me to paint them a similar painting.  To this day I still see my faults in that painting, but in truth I am always my worst critic. Maybe, I abandon pieces and call them failed to soon.  I am learning to except that even the failed pieces are essential to development.  No artist is perfect, and every artist makes mistakes (Bayles & Orland).  The famous words that I tell my student’s everyday and for some reason I have hard time listening to them myself.   In response I am Thankful for my supportive family and friends who encourage and motivate me and are willing to be patient as I work through my artist block.   Diane and Crystal your paintings are coming….

Even still I notice my imperfections in this painting.

Day 9 and 10: Near and Far

I found the far shot to be particularly challenging because I had to control the lighting to expose the background without over exposing the trees in the foreground. 

Day 7 and 8: Shadow and Light

I have to admit smoking has never been my favorite habit, but I have always found photographs of smokers to be some of my favorite.  There is just something cool about catching that puff of smoke in the air. 

Day 6: Loud!!!!

This weeks assignment was loud.  I know eggs are typically not very loud, but I felt they suited this weeks assignment because of their loud colors.  These bright Easter eggs bring me back to my childhood, and remind me of the very noisy Easter egg hunts that would occur.  Lately I've been thinking a lot about children and Easter egg hunts.  Of course at school I'm surrounded by children all day, and in addition most of the teachers are either parents themselves or grandparents of young kids.  Many teachers discuss the holiday events, and how they frequently center around their children, and I'm continually reminded that my life is very different then theirs.  Although,I want children some day, that's not something I'm too upset about at the moment. I'm really excited about have the free time or limited free time to focus on my artwork at the moment.  I can enjoy children through the one's I get to photograph, and my students at school!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!!

Here are a few of my favorite infant photos that I have taken:

Day 5: Quiet

Conveying quiet without sound becomes more about emotions.  In many ways quiet can be associated with a sense of relaxation and calmness. This can be displayed through the true relaxation of a dog when he/she receives the attention of his owner.

 This is my brothers pit-bull Bella.  Unlike many of the stereo types out there about pits she is one of the sweetest most loving dogs out there.  How can you not love that face?

Day 3: In

At this point in my life I am finding myself trying to do it all.  I am currently getting my masters in education, and recently singed up for this online photography class. In addition to trying to complete assignments I joined beth V photography's class late into her lessons and am extremely behind, because of this I'm already aware of all the lessons up to number 10.  Number 9's assignment is "near", and I found this particular assignment to be really inspiring and challenging in a positive manner. So there for you will see many close up shots to come...

"In" - headed into the right corner pocket

although if missed this shot could fit assignment 4: "Out"

But to make my husband happy the model in this photo, unless I was distracting him to much all his shots made them in their desired pockets.  **Wink, Wink** 

I am still trying to find the perfect photograph to fit "Out".  Assignment number for will be skipped for now.

Day 2: New

Refresh

Photography has been in my life since I was a young child, really before I could even remember.  My father has always had a creative side, and like me experimented with many different art mediums.  His passions transferred down to me as I inherited his old camera in high school, when I began taking photography classes at school.  Thanks to the amazing art teachers that I had I knew then that I wanted to teach, and continue to explore photography.   Now it's time to refresh that knowledge...http://bethvphotography.blogspot.com/

Day One: OLD

The old bridge located near whole 7 on the Innsbruck golf course in Helen, Georgia