Ciuin

I have decided to illustrate a children's book.  It's a collection of public domain nursery rhymes.  There isn't much to add here other than it has begun and i'm in the stages of cleaning up my sketches... thats phase 1.  

Then they will be scanned into the computer, cleaned up some more for line work, transferred to watercolour paper, touched up,  and then painted.  That's phase 2.  I'm nearly there.

Then the hard part begins...  very simply because i don't really know where to go next.  So it shall be an adventure!  i'm pretty excited though.  It's really difficult to get the time in to really get this moving.  It started off with a good amount of momentum, but now work and generally life has gotten in the way.

Tips? Pointers? Words of wisdom?  I'll put the sketches up once they've been cleaned up and as I paint the final illustrations I will put them up here as well- however none of them will be available in prints yet.  Maybe down the road, but not so far.  As for the originals... well  I believe i'm going to be giving an original sketch away with the first bunch of people to get the book.  I haven't decided what to do with the original paintings yet.  I'm sure i'll change my mind several time along the way.

.... as i said... here we go!

Here's an interesting article to think about.  Granted it's just being investigated right now, however the idea that photographing domestic farm animals will be punishable by fine and/or prison time is almost laughable.  And could happen.  

Here's the link to the article:

www.theglobeandmail.com/life/t…

In the end the question behind everything comes down to whether or not it's thought that farmers are exercising their right to privacy or if everyone really does have dirty laundry they don't want aired.  What do you think... is everything going just a little too far or is it about time farmers that are trying to stay on the right side of prtection laws stood up for themselves?

From another perspective- are artistic photographers going to have to carry some sort of proof of identification in order to defend their picture of the little chicks following around a small child with feed?  How else is the law going to go about differentiating between undercover activists and someone who just wants to capture a moment from the other side of the fence?

It really has literally been months since i've wandered around this site let alone uploaded anything.  And so i resurface with the submission of "Walking through the Woods".  Not exactly a mind blowing specimen but i absolutely love the way the shadows and highlights came out of the piece.  It really makes you understand the layers of fungi clinging to the side of the fallen tree.  There is so much texture to it, i couldn't help but want to take a photograph of it.

It's been a busy time the last little while- hopefully this will mark the return and exploration of more artistic endeavors.  Who knows!  I know that it's getting to be about that time when I put together a calendar for christmas time and haven't even given it thought let alone taken a new arsenal of photos to sort through for the months.  Time to get going and find some beauty around me.  Or maybe i'll just marathon it and do a series based on various pin-ups.  There's always the thought that i could venture outside of the photographic realm and create some fuzzy little creatures for each month.  What do you say?  

Either way, i am in desperate need of integrating myself back into the world of art so feel free to link me to any images, artists, or ideas you think i would appreciate.  The uninspired me wants to delve back into the realm of creativity!!

That is all.

I don't know how many people have been following what is happening with the G20 currently going on in Toronto, and quite honestly I haven't been paying rapt attention... but personally- if protestors really want to be heard, this really isn't the way to do it.  In the 50's and 60's and 70's, when the only way to make a movement was the be there in person then more power to the people who faught tooth and nail to do so.  Such is not the case anymore.  We live in a time where mass movements of people are not heard.  There is already a premptive strike planned and a clash is bound to happen, no matter what any organization says.  This age answers to the mass media, not the mass physical presence.  The hoards aren't ignorant, but neither are the opposed- and resorting to yelling in the streets seems to be very similar to beating sticks against a computer.  You have to fight the way your opposition does or progress will never be made.
Could you imagine if the police randomly threw rocks and bricks into the crowd? Or if the candidates set fire to a home of an innocent bystander?  Why is this acceptable for protesters?  Ohhhhhh-  right, because they're 'protestors'.  You know what else goes along with that stigma?  Rash, unorganized, ignorant, petty, selfish...  shall i go on?  Don't get all pissy on me- I have faught for causes I believe in.  And I do believe that protests serve a purpose.
However- when you have candidates representing countries all over the world coming to your country, your city, is this really what you want them to experience?  Do you want people to be awed by the level of maturity your protesters bring to the fences or do you want them to be appalled by the terrifying behaviour and the vacant streets?
This was brought on my the break news bulleten of protesters lighting a police car on fire...


And you think this is going to make them take you seriously?

You may or may not have noticed, I tend to go through a bit of a photographic hibernation during the colder months.  I find it extremely frustrating to deal with batteries draining super fast, fogging lenses, strange lighting and reflection, and of course- chilly fingers and toes.  For those that might be in the same boat as me I spent a lot of the cold months researching ways to get around this.... regardless of the fact that the blustery cold got the better of me and I stayed where it's warm when it snowed!  hahahaha.  Here are a few websites that I found pretty beneficial:

Quick Tips: www.photographybay.com/2009/12…
Surviving yourself: www.boston.com/community/photo…
Equipment Problems: photography.about.com/od/takin…

If anyone has found any other tips or useful websites and/or forums- feel free to let me know what they are!!  I'm always looking for another insight.

.... next, Shooting in the Rain?