Artographs

From Another Perspective

2012-01-31T06:49:00.000-08:00

For a late January day the air was cool and crisp, but not insufferable, especially in the hills of Tennessee Sunday. It was so clear, I decided to click my camera to an f/11 setting to keep a nice depth of field and everything basically be in focus. A cloudless sky and near noon-day sun kept things brilliantly lit up. Composition-wise, I didn't really want the big tree situated in the middle, but I had no alternative; did not want to trespass and/or get shot while I was shooting!

Tennessee Ramblings

2012-01-30T07:38:00.000-08:00

It was a pretty day yesterday, so Pam and I decided to pack a picnic lunch and head up to Tennessee for a little photo/day trip. Zipped right by this one, then turned around shot several pics here. I guess the red paint hadn't faded too much after all to still be an eye-catcher. (Best viewed larger; be sure to click photos).

Included the old house in this one. Pam saw the old water pump before I did ( in silhouette down by the tree on the left).

This is a panoramic I stitched or photomerged from two shots to include the daffodils on the right.

Our Two Huskies

2012-01-28T17:11:00.001-08:00

They are from the same litter - Lila and Nia.

Masterson's Mill Pond

2012-01-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

Old mill pond dam, located about 1.5 miles from my home. It is the site of an old gristmill (you can see the remains of the wheel on the right).

Beard

2012-01-22T10:15:00.001-08:00

Up close and personal.

Facebook cover pic

2012-01-19T07:14:00.000-08:00

Since going with the new timeline on Facebook, I made a cover pic for it yesterday.

Sheer Red

2012-01-10T07:15:00.001-08:00

Another one from the archives.

Sarah In Red

2012-01-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Going back through the archives for this one. Sarah was a natural.

Meet Mr. Spot

2012-01-04T05:58:00.000-08:00

He came for a visit, but decided to stay. (Good thing too, 'cause I was greatly out-numbered with all these womens).

Bye, bye, Gabby

2012-01-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

We had to put Gabrielle to sleep this morning. She was almost 15 years old, and had declined in health the last several days. She couldn't get up on her hind legs and Pam had to spoon-feed her. Just couldn't stand to see her suffer anymore, so we called the vet to ease her out. Gab, we'll miss you, old girl.

Aquarius

2011-12-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

Getting more comfortable with the Bamboo pen and tablet. This is a rendering of my niece and the sign she was born under. Pam had black and white photo of Stephanie and ask me to do something with it.

One More - A Charmed Frenzy

2011-09-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

My son asked me on Facebook if these were different birds or did I snap a bunch and combine them. I told him yes they are different birds, but I did have to snap a lot to get the right one. They really are that chaotic. We have a orange tabby that devoured as least two yesterday that flew too close to her.

Emily III

2011-08-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Rummaging back through some of the DVD archives, I found this one of stepdaughter, Emily, and reworked it.
I would like to get her back to the studio some time soon, as I have a pin-up series in mind and she would be perfect for it, I think.

The Harvest Is Near

2011-07-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

Hybrid grapes that grow around the edge of my patio.

My Day

2011-06-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Father's Day so Pam said we would do whatever I wanted. So we embarked on what turned out to be an epic 3-state day trip/picnic adventure. This was taken at Pickwick Lake park, where we had lunch. I've just acquired a new Canon 7D (she's shooting with my old 5D) and it's a fantastic piece of work!
I purchased it with the intent of venturing into filmography, but it takes super photos, as well.

More Irises

2011-04-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Took these shots of irises that endured the overnight spring rain.

First Iris

2011-03-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

This is the first one to pop open, this spring.

Fruit & Friends

2011-03-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

I set this up, shot it, then worked from the photo. Gouache. Mats and frame were Photoshopped in later. 18" x 24" original resides in my mother's kitchen.

Window-shopping

2011-02-21T08:49:00.000-08:00

Lila looking at her sister, Nia, and Gabrielle outside. But she doesn't really want to go join them, right now.

Leprechaun

2011-02-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

I know St. Patrick's Day is a month away, but I've been working on this off and on for a while and just finished up on it. It's from a photo I took a few years back of my son, Crisco, whose favorite holiday is Halloween. He's an actor and musician, so he can get away with it easy enough.
Digital art, using Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch tablet. Background is Irish countryside wallpaper.

One More Lila

2011-02-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

Managed to catch her on the couch for just a minute.

New Edition

2011-02-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

This is Lila, Nia's sister, and she is our newest addition. She's 8 months old and we adopted her on the 30th of January.

Reflection of Emily

2011-01-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

Another one I took some time back of my step-daughter, Emily. Just a little work in Photoshop since this was a studio shot.

Sarah In Red

2011-01-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

I took this several years ago, but reworked the post production recently.

Kyra

2011-01-16T17:53:00.000-08:00

I've always loved art but never had so much fun, since it went digital! I have to admit, the tablet makes everything more comfortable than with a mouse, but still fun. It took a couple of days on this one, off and on. (Original is 18" x 24" @ 300 dpi).
I feel things will become easier and faster the more I work with it; like everything else in life.

2nd Snowfall

2011-01-11T06:01:00.001-08:00

Sunday was Pam and mine's 3rd anniversary and late that night we received this snowfall. Around here it measured 8 - 10 inches; much more than the Christmas storm. As of this writing, (Tuesday) it's Pam's second day missing work. Roads were graded yesterday, but the temperature is only expected to reach 31 today, so there won't be a lot of thawing or melting going on...

Just Wanted To Play, A Little...

2011-01-08T09:45:00.001-08:00

Playing around with my Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch tablet. Gotta get use to this!

R.I.P. Pumpkin

2010-12-29T09:41:00.000-08:00

This pic is of Pumpkin two years ago in the garden. We lost Pumpkin yesterday. She was Emily and Pam's 14 year old orange tabby, aka "Queen". She went down dramatically the past month from a butterball to fur and bones. We believe it was a combination of diabetes/kidney failure that did her in. Needless to say, Pam is devastated - these pets are family to her.
Here is how Pam stated it on her Facebook page, "It is not we who own our pets, but in truth, it is they who own us. I believe they are sent as little furry guardian angels to comfort us in good times and bad. When they go, they take a piece of us with them."

White Nia

2010-12-27T06:33:00.000-08:00

Nia is 7 months old now, and this was her first snow. She loved romping in it!

Christmas Morning,2010

2010-12-27T06:29:00.000-08:00

This is what we woke up to Christmas morning. Nothing unusual for winter, but this North Alabama. I can't recall ever having a measurable snowfall and white Christmas during my lifetime.

2010-11-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

This lane leads to Lawrence County Park, on the Tennessee River. It's at the site where General Joe Wheeler crossed the river during the Civil War. His daughter, Annie, had a huge monument placed on the bluff overlooking the spot, dedicated to him.

Surprise Christmas Gift

2010-11-20T06:40:00.000-08:00

My brother's girlfriend borrowed some my mother's pictures of Keith when he was younger and asked me if I could help her make him a Christmas gift. I scanned the pics, gave them rough edges, shot my wife's old red leather trunk from above, then layered the scans above it. I printed these three 11 x 14 and will mount them on foamboard. I think he will like them.

Mid-November Tennessee

2010-11-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

An unexpected treat-trip to Tennessee yesterday. It had rained the night before with a cold front coming through and the sun played hide/and/seek all day. But it's beautiful up there rain or shine and on our return trip, we passed this old crib right on side of the road; had to stop and shoot it. We saw a lot of other good shots but it was not the right time of day to take them and we didn't have the time to wait.

Autumn Is Here

2010-11-09T04:38:00.001-08:00

Made another trip to Lock A of Wheeler Dam, on the Tennessee River in Alabama. This was on the drive in.

Autumn Approaching

2010-09-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

I took a few shots of the feeding frenzy yesterday morning. My wife had filled it up early in the morning and I recorded this just before noon. It was empty by the time she returned home from work. We have two feeders.

Signs & Wonders

2010-08-31T06:52:00.001-07:00

It was such a glorious sunrise out my front door this morning, I had to try and capture it. With it being the last day of August and late summer waning, it was something I just didn't want to let slip by - you never know if this could be the last one you see.

Something beckoned me to turn around - what could possibly be of interest in the sky in the west? I turned around and was awe-struck! This is what I saw. AWESOME! I stood there for a while, with chill- bumps on both arms. And then I cried.

Nia

2010-07-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

5 Months
Well, just as I figured sooner or later, I wouldn't keep up with the once-a-week shots, 'cause Life happened. I guess I'll just hit the high spots from now on. These last two shots were today - at 5 months old. Nia was spayed yesterday (today is actually the 23rd of October). The bandages were from having dew claws removed from her back legs. She has come through pretty good, though. Glad that's over.

18 weeks
17 weeks
16 weeks
15 weeks

14 weeks
13 weeks
12 weeks

11 weeks
10 weeks
9 weeks
8 weeks
7 weeks
6 weeks
5 weeks

We've adopted a little female Siberian Husky, named Nia. It is my intention of chronicling her march to adulthood each week. We'll see how that turns out....any comments would be welcomed!

Emily

2010-07-24T07:56:00.001-07:00

Just a few of the many shots we took of my step-daughter, Emily, when she came by the other day. She is a cosplayer and used a blonde wig she has. Emily is really a brunette. Her mom helped with the lighting on these.

More Flowers

2010-06-22T07:41:00.001-07:00

Working in early morning light and in macro. Click on pictures for a larger view.

Hydrangea

2010-06-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

Another practice with filters, masks, layers, etc., in Photoshop to enhance photos. A camera is only the beginning. I work in manual mode, sometimes using manual focusing, as this is what it takes to learn the interrelationship of shutter speed, aperture settings and ISO speed. Working in digital affords this possibility whereas film photography couldn't.

Wireless Lighting

2010-06-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Not much going on today, and the heat is on outside, so I thought I would get a little practice done with my wireless speedlites. Not the greatest subject matter, but hey, I'm the only one here. I have a big mirror in the studio, so I shot myself. Also, learned a little more about working with Camera Raw files in that when opening them up to convert to 16-bit and increase the size first. Then, do the magic and open in Photshop.

Remembering Dad

2010-05-31T16:07:00.000-07:00

My dad was a hero. Even if he had never gone to war, he would have been a hero to me. He joined the Navy at seventeen years old and all the action he saw, as represented above, happened 6 to 9 years before I was born. If he had not made it, I wouldn't have known the difference, but he did and I'm here to remember the legacy that he and countless others left to us to live in the greatest country this world has ever known. I'm proud of him and the others for their sacrifices, as we celebrate another Memorial Day.
He was a member of what is called the "greatest generation"; I believe that. Ours, and succeeding generations will never live up to that title because we have been raised in privileged status. Never having to endure the hardships of life that a Great Depression delivers. But that is what builds character and an easy life can never do that.
Thank you, Dad, for what you did for me, and all that generation: I salute you, and God bless you.

Left Hanging...

2010-05-25T08:00:00.001-07:00

In the cool of the early morning, I like to get the outside chores done - like watering the garden and flowers. The older I've gotten, the heat and humidity that comes naturally to the Heart of Dixie in late spring and early summer has become increasingly intolerable. While I was outside this morning, I was noticing several items that catch my eye every time I venture out.
I've known of this old country farmhouse all my life, and when it became available, I purchased it several years ago from the surviving children. The original owners have passed on, and, as it was a farm, there are a lot of memories left literally hanging on rusty nails and pegs. These are a couple of them. I have often wondered just what all the old keys went to - they don't fit anything around here, now.

More From The Garden

2010-05-20T10:36:00.001-07:00

We thought all the blooms of the Coral Red Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) were gone, but this morning I saw more blooming so I snapped a few shots of it. Did not know it, but the red honeysuckle is native to America while the pungent white grow-everywhere type is Asian. The red is not invasive while the white is.

Pam has a lot of different color combinations of these little ones in her flower bed. Dianthus is of a genus that includes the pinks and carnations.

Mini Cooper

2010-05-17T17:43:00.001-07:00

Emily dropped by today. She just received her new car (well, not brand-new, but new for her), a Mini Cooper, Saturday, and wanted some pictures of it to put on her Facebook page. It's a cute little thing!

Sunday Morning Fog

2010-05-14T12:14:00.001-07:00

Did you see it? It rolled in silently on little cat feet.

The Huntress/aka/The Pole Cat

2010-05-14T08:25:00.001-07:00

Sydney, on her perch, searching for her breakfast this morning.

Early Morning Pansy

2010-05-13T05:56:00.000-07:00

Dew-dripping. Pam had just left for work and called to tell me this little one needed some exposure, so I propped it up on the toolbox of my truck for a little attention. (As always, click on the pic to get a larger view)

Created: 5/13/10
6:43:32 AM

Canon EOS 5D
EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens
ISO speed 50
Shutter speed 1/40 sec
Aperture f/5

Home, Sweet Home

2010-05-07T08:45:00.001-07:00

I took this early this morning, right after the sun came up. This is facing southwest, back toward Moulton.

Red Honeysuckle

2010-05-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

I like this plant. I try to take a few shots every year of it's life.

Irises

2010-04-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

I went out early this morning to take a few shots of Pambi's flowers. She transplanted them last year and they bloomed but not nearly as abundantly as this year. We didn't even know we had any white ones. They just don't last very long.

The Sign

2010-03-27T15:17:00.001-07:00

March 25 was my birthday. It had been overcast, then stormy all day. Just a gloomy, stay-inside kinda day. The sun finally broke through, and as I was passing by the front window, this caught my eye. It was the brightest, biggest rainbow I have ever seen. No lie. I grabbed my camera and ran outside to snap a few shots. This was straight across the road from our front yard. It was also the closest one I've ever seen. When God gives you a birthday gift like this, He gives it abundantly.

Kinlock Falls

2010-03-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

It's been at least 33 years since I was here. Used to slide down the slick rocks into the pool below. Everyone does it; see the rope on the right side of the falls? You should Google "Kinlock Falls" and check out the rich history behind it. Located in my home county of Lawrence, in North Alabama.

Green Tomato Wine

2010-02-28T14:34:00.000-08:00

Been working on this off and on for a little while. Finally reached the point today and told myself, "Stop". 18" x 24" acrylic and pastel pencils on 140 lb. watercolor paper.

Bear Creek

2010-02-24T04:40:00.000-08:00

It was a very warm day for February, so this past Saturday Pam and I drove down to Haleyville, Alabama on a picture-taking jaunt. These are some of the shots I took on Bear Creek, just below the dam.

Old School

2010-02-21T17:19:00.001-08:00

I wound up finishing this one first. It's 18" x 24" acrylic and pastels on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper. That's Pam's old Argus camera on the left and mine on the right. My grandmother gave it to me when I was in college and it was what I learned photography on. I used it to take reference photos for my earliest charcoal studies. The negatives were from another camera I had 30 years ago.

Works in Progress...

2010-02-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

WIP 1, 2, 3. The first two are for a composition I call, "Green Tomato Wine", the last one is, "Old School". Almost finished with GTW, and still working on Old School. They are mixed mediums, mostly acrylics, with final accents of pastel pencils.

Faith, Hope...

2010-01-09T11:14:00.001-08:00

A cold day in January, 2010, Crisco wanted some shots out by the fire for his portfolio.

I Was Raised In Sundown, TX....

2010-01-02T06:13:00.000-08:00

Since it was the first day of a new year, my wife, Pam, wanted some new pics of me and said she wanted the theme to be a seasoned, grizzled look. I guess for the time being, I fit the bill, so we set it up. I'm more comfortable behind the camera, but tried to follow her promptings in the poses. She shot quite a few shots in this session, but I am only showing a couple here. She did a fine job, but I told her the subject matter was wholly lacking.

Shiloh

2009-11-09T06:43:00.001-08:00

Pam and I took a day-trip to Shiloh National Cemetery, in Tennessee this weekend, while the weather was so beautiful. It was a great day for taking pictures and having a picnic. This first pic is a monument from Iowa. It had to have cost a fortune. The bronze statue was larger-than-life.

There were cannon everywhere.

All flags were at half-mast as this was two days after the killings in Texas at Fort Hood.

The dead trees were indicative of the somber mood here - the living among the dead.

As we were leaving, we noticed this beautiful ginkgo tree shedding it's leaves. It was huge.

Borden 2

2009-11-04T07:10:00.000-08:00

On our way out, we stopped to snap a few more of the colors.

This is upstream from the last pic uploaded; same rocks from a different perspective.

Halloween

2009-11-03T05:57:00.000-08:00

Top photo is from Borden Creek Bridge in the Bankhead National forest, North Alabama. The next photo is newlyweds - Crisco and Linda - celebrating Halloween.

Family Fun

2009-10-05T05:46:00.000-07:00

Crisco's best friend, Super Steve, came over the other day and since the weather was so nice, we decided to have a shoot. (That's little Kyra in the last shot; future model)

The Wedding

2009-08-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

Crisco and Linda were married Saturday, August 22, 2009 in Frazier Park, Decatur, Alabama. It is a small, secluded park with a Japanese theme. The time of day and weather were perfect for pictures and when I get the chance, I'll add some more.
In the second photo is Super Steve, Crisco, Linda, and Marilyn.
In the third photo, with Crisco and Linda, is Kyra, Linda's little one - she's a doll, and I'm her Poppa Mike!
In the fourth photo; just Linda and Kyra by the fountain.
In the next photo is Linda's sister Celeste and beside Crisco is Super Steve.
The last one is little Miss Kyra. It was a good day.

2009-08-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Amber Falls Winery and Cellars

The Pavilions

Old Smokehouse on the site

An old home on the way to the winery

Pam and I took a road trip to Tennessee again, this weekend, and wound up visiting a winery on Ridgetop road in Hampshire, Tennessee. If you're in the area, you have go by a check it out. Meet Tim, who was super helpful in allowing us an abundant test-testing of their fine wines. Pam enjoyed it so much, she forgot to add her last name when filling out the visitor's card! They truly are a "must see"!

(You can just "Google" Amber Falls Winery, and learn all about their operation)!

A Little Bit of My Work

2009-08-04T08:26:00.001-07:00

My wife, Pam, is an artist, too, so one day we both felt creative and it resulted in this. She had been telling me of some work she had done before with body painting so she worked on herself and I set up some lighting and shot several shots. Just a little post-production (worked with her eyes) and there ya have it! (Click for larger view)

2009-08-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Glenda, a lady I use to work with, brought her grandchildren by for a family shoot. The little girl was shy at first, and when she had a reflective moment, I snapped this shot. It really was a good one for post-production work. (Click for larger view)

2009-08-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

This is my niece, Anna, who came by for a Christmas-time portrait. I like to give most of my portraits an artistic touch at post-production time. (Click for larger view)

2009-08-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Crisco came home for Christmas and we had a father-to-son talk. (jk; this was an experiment with wireless strobes).

2009-08-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

This was painted in '95. I call it Fruit & Friends. I bought the items, set the shot up with lights using my old Minolta XD-11 film camera, and worked from the print as reference. This was also gouache and pastels. The original is 18" x 24" and hangs in my mother's home. (Click for larger view)

2009-08-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

I painted this one of my son, Crisco, when he was two. It is gouache and pastels. The original was 18" x 24". His mother has it framed in her home. (Click for larger view)

2009-08-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

I've done quite a few house portraits in my career; this was a surprise birthday gift for a dentist from his wife. I had to shoot the reference pics (in winter; in fact, the fountain was frozen), mount the paper to the board and paint it in less than a week! I LOVE deadlines! Gouache & pastels.

Jeep Project - Posting #2

2009-06-13T17:11:00.000-07:00

I started by working on the tires and wheels. Crisco had bought some used tires and wheels locally two or three years ago when we had dropped the lift. I liked the wheels, but didn't really care for the tires. My brother, Keith, had a set of tires he had taken off "Old Rusty", and had stored at our Mom's place. He let me use them as they were the right size - 15". It seems they set the Jeep off pretty well. (Click on pics)
Check out my other blog at zillion2one.blogspot.com for a step-by-step instruction of applying decals to this Jeep.

Jeep Project - Posting #1

2009-06-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new project on an old item. Namely, an 1985 Jeep CJ7. I had purchased this Renegade in '99, and it was in relatively good shape. Replete with certain amenities as wide 33" tires, 2" body lift, hard top; it was eye-candy. The large tires proved it's undoing, however. Right after buying it, my son, Crisco, came to live with me. Being 15, he had contracted the driving bug, so guess what? He had only driven automatics up to this point, so the 4-speed took some time to acquire a proficiency at handling the beast. It didn't take long for a toll-taking on the rear end resulting in a broken axle. He developed a feel for it after a while, but after he and I had moved to Decatur and he was attending Austin High, the motor slung a rod. After a rebuilt-motor, removal of lift and large tires, it was cheaper and easier to handle. But looks-wise, this is what it was reduced to. Crisco got a job and moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama and had a more-dependable car, but needed more money than he was making down there. He called and wanted me to see if I could sell the Jeep. I didn't want to let another one get away from me (this is the fourth one I've had), so we bought it back. So, now I'm attempting to return it to it's former state of glory, little by little. I will try to keep you informed of my progress with pics. (Click on pic).

Out The Front Door

2009-06-03T07:54:00.001-07:00

I'm a little late in getting this out, but this was after the storm we had back on March 10; golf ball-sized hail you can see there in the front yard (Click on pic). You are looking at the storm as it is moving away, toward Decatur.

Azaleas

2009-05-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

This shot of my Mom's azaleas was taken on Easter, 4/12/09. (Click on picture for a closer view)

Lense

2009-05-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

Playing around with Illustrator and Photoshop. Lense was done in Illustrator with a series of gradients and then imported into Photoshop.

Steph's First Prom

2009-05-28T07:15:00.001-07:00

Steph's boyfriend, Jeremy, was a senior this year, and it was her first prom. We had plans on going to the park on the river in Decatur, Alabama to shoot some outside shots. As plans usually go awry, and in the commotion and hustle and bustle that is the confusion in such instances, time ran short and darkness fell. We did not have time to go across town to the park. Luckily, I had brought a couple of strobes and wireless transmitter; but no tripods. So, two sisters-Steph's mom and Pam-held the strobes for me, and we shot in their apartment. Background of some flowers in Texas was added later and Photoshopped a little. They were pleased with the result.

DCA III

2009-05-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

Crisco's brother and his wife commissioned me to paint a portrait of their son, Trey. I think the photo they sent me was when he was around two? This was also an 18" x 24" mixed media - gouache/pastel. I've heard she's pregnant, again.... Congratulations!!

Crisco At Two

2009-05-27T07:57:00.001-07:00

This is an opaque watercolor I did of my son, Crisco, at the age of two (he's now 25). His half-brother and sister had had portraits made at about the same age by an old gentleman in Florence, Alabama. He did them the old-fashion way; much like old senior portraits were done at that time. A black-and-white printed on a canvas board, then tinted with oils made to resemble an oil painting. I couldn't afford the price at the time, so I painted one myself from some pics we had made from a photographer in Decatur. Crisco's mother has the original 18" x 24" framed in her home.

Once A Home

2009-05-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

I shot this pic back in '02, I think, in North Alabama, close to the Tennessee River. It has since been torn down. It stood the test of time for well over 100 years, but driving by one day about a year later, I saw it had vanished. I wonder sometimes if the photos I took are the only ones ever taken of it's life. In my childhood, this was a common sight in Alabama; Times, they are a'changin'. (And not for the better, I'm afraid)

Essence Of Innocence

2009-05-27T07:30:00.001-07:00

Glenda, a lady I worked with once at a print shop, brought her grandchildren over for Christmas pics last year and this little one made for some memorable shots. As I've stated before, a camera is just another art tool; a means to an end. Each shot should evoke something from the viewer; hopefully, this one does.

Fruit & Friends

2009-05-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

For those who don't know, I thought I would give a small sampling of the things that interest me. "Fruit & Friends" was created in '95. All this stuff was purchased, and set up on the kitchen table. A work light was set up to the left and the burgundy backdrop was a bedsheet. I took the shot with my old Minolta XD-11, then worked from the print. This was a mixed media - opaque watercolor (gouache) and pastels. For traditional artwork, this is my favorite media.

View Of Brushy Lake

2009-05-26T10:14:00.001-07:00

2009-05-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

These are some of the photos I took (yesterday) Memorial Day, '09. It was a muggy day, and Pam and I were fortunate enough to catch some shots between rain showers. This last one was at Sipsey Picnic Grounds, in Bankhead National Forest; the first three were at Brushy Creek.