Hiatus

I've started work on a new series...

A few things have changed.

First of all, I've decided to no longer be an abstract botanical photographer. I still love photography and I really like that I am able to quickly create an artistic image, but something has been missing. Maybe because it is so immediate, I feel like I'm cheating and I don't appreciate the final product as much as something that takes a little more work. 

Last night I stopped by San Clemente Art Supply and picked up a 36" x 48" canvas and some gesso. Earlier this week, I pulled out my painting supplies. So my plan is to create an oil painting. As far as the subject matter, I have been reworking a photograph I took while paddleboarding just off the Dana Point Harbor. 

A lot of people have created seascapes/oceanscapes and during some research this week I came across the dramatic work of Ran Ortner. In one of the interviews he mentioned something about art not needing to be clever, but honest. He is also a surfer that finds a special connection with the ocean. 

So my plan is to create a series of work using the process of SUPPP (Stand Up Paddle Photography and Painting.) I'm sure that some of the photographs will not require a stand up board, but it will be my main tool for accessing the vantage points I am looking for.

I came up with a title for this series while half asleep this morning - Isolated Connection. After I woke up, I picked up a new book off my book shelf titled "Proof of Heaven" and in the first few pages the author describes a connection to something while experiencing the solitary activities of flying a sailplane and skydiving. I experience this same connection while in the ocean. I also like the word solitary. So now my new series will be titled:

                                          Solitary Connection

Symmetry

Symmetry

As I continue my research about symmetry, many small moments in my life have been leading me to learn more. Since I have been studying and photographing botanicals, I have been sensitive to observing these qualities in my life. Recently, I have been learning more about composition and have become fascinated with Fibonacci.  Studying Fibonacci in nature is incredible. From plants to animals to humans, they all exhibit some of the ratios he discovered.  I have also started a new series of black and white botanical photography experimenting with multiple exposures. I am trying to create images that contain symmetry and I keep testing out different concepts.

One concept comes from a fond childhood memory. While at an art festival, I remember buying a small handcrafted kaleidoscope with my own money. I loved looking at the colorful patterns and noticing the mirror like images. 

Last night another concept came to my attention while reading an article in a local newspaper. The article mentioned the work of Johannes Kepler and his discovery of symmetry in crystals. Upon further investigation, I learned that all snowflakes have six points because of hydrogen bonding. A similar structure in nature is honeycomb. The hexagonal structure of the bees home is one of only three shapes that can fill a plane without leaving any spaces and Kepler thought this might be a reason why a snowflake has six points. Coincidentally, my daughter found an old piece of honeycomb in a tree that she wanted to keep for her fairy garden. It is this kind of precise design in nature that both Kepler and I see as evidence of God's design.

Now the question I ask myself is, how do use this information as inspiration for my art? I will continue to strive to discover the answer to this question.

While researching Fibonacci I found this information: (Perhaps some future subjects)

3 petals                  lily, iris

5 petals                  buttercup, wild rose, larkspur, columbine

8 petals                  delphiniums

13 petals                ragwort, corn marigold, cineraria

21 petals                aster, black-eyed susan, chicory

34 petals                plantain, pytethrum

55, 89 petals          michelmas daisies, the asteraceae family

Salvia Leucantha

I recently finished editing my images of the Salvia Leucantha (Mexican Sage). I am very pleased with the results and the final images are intriguing to me. I am amazed with all the new life forms these symmetrical images create.  I'm looking forward to creating some more images similar to these with other botanicals. 

New Series

After experiencing artist's block for the past few months, I finally started experimenting with imagery for a new series. I decided to combine individual stems with the multiple exposure technique I was using with my bouquet series. After a lot of trial and error, I came up with the above image. This came about after being perceptive of a few daily life experiences. The first experience was returning from a vacation to discover that our house guests left a purple calla lily plant. My original thought was to photograph the entire plant but once I started working in the studio, this plan changed. I was then reading an ad in a photo magazine about a very large pano print that was stitched together from multiple photos. I realized that by combining several high resolution images, I could create a much larger image. The image above can be printed at 40" x 60" and someday I hope to produce some of these large images. Another life experience that has led to this style has been my recent fascination with design and symmetry. I even purchased an old spirograph kit that I remember using as a child. Finally, I read a quote about black and white photography that stuck with me. "Black and white photography is like reading the book and color is like seeing the movie." 

I recently had this image on display at the San Clemente Art Gallery.

More Corporate Art Consultants

I have continued contacting some Corporate Art Consultants. Last week I contacted twelve and I have heard back from three. One is from Texas, one from Colorado and one from Chicago. None of them have requested to purchase anything, but time will tell. At lease I'm getting some positive feedback and it is fueling my desire to continue to produce artwork and contact more potential consultants. 

Back To Business

This week I got back to working on promoting my art after taking some time off. At the beginning of the week I sent out an email and postcard to about 15 different Art Consulting Organizations. I was pleased to hear back from three of them. One requested some additional information and another requested a portfolio CD. I feel that the world of corporate art is where I will find some success with sales. I would be happy to make sales to anyone and I don't mind if my work is in an office building or a hospital instead of a museum.

Art Show First Place

"Beverly 4" received the first place award for photography in the San Clemente Art Gallery Spring Show. Even though it is a small show, I am still honored to receive this recognition and it gives me motivation to continue doing what I'm doing.