Make It Interesting...

I recently participated in a photography show where the focus was the non-traditional art of photography.  There were artists represented that either combined photography with other mediums (for example, mix media) or they had a unique perspective to their photographs.  I fell in with the latter of the two.  It was an honor to be included with such a grouping of talented people.  I have often seen how photography has been overlooked as an art medium, because it is not something that the artist creates.  I disagree, wholeheartedly.  The group that I had the privilege to show with are a group of photographers who have transformed the medium to another level.  It is the type of photography that I love, I love to transform an image, to draw the audience and to have them wonder "how you came up with that idea" or "what does it all mean" or more simply "wow."  One of the pieces that I submitted (I was honored to have three in the show) created that drew more attention than my other works.  It is an image of the Reid & Murdoch Building located on the Chicago River, the building is iconic because of the red brick which is such a contrast to the rest of the scenery along the river.  It is also the current home of the Encyclopedia Britannica headquarters.  Most people asked why it looked so familiar and what was the meaning to the other elements in the photograph.  I explained that it was the angle of the shot and I wanted to create a piece with this shot because of the different characteristics, from the red brickwork and the iron bridge that both appear in the shot.

Here is the original image:

And the piece entitled "River Walk:"

"River Walk" (c) 2012

Painting Nature...

I have really developed a true love for nature photography. I will always remain faithful to my first love of architecture and structure, but recently I have decided to challenge myself to embrace other subject matters.  I began painting again and rejoined a watercolor class after a three year hiatus.  I stopped painting because I felt that my skill level just wasn't developing, that I was painting too much for what I thought it should look like as opposed to what I thought should feel like.  I could not find myself in my work.  It was then that I picked up a camera and began my odyssey in photography. What photography taught me was to let go, let loose and discover my art.  The lesson that I learned from my photography, I have applied to watercolors.  My painting has truly developed from where it was three years ago.  I paint for me and how I envision the subject matter to be.  I also found that I should paint what I love, that being nature.  Not to say that I won't paint other subject matter when I have the feel to do it, but I want to really hone into my first love.


Seeing that I am painting lots of flowers, I decided to also work on that skill set in my photography.  Really stretching the look and feel of the image itself.  I am really focusing on bringing painting techniques and style to my photographic art.  Below is a new piece and example of what I am trying to do in both my photography and painting.

"Thistle" (c) 2012