Thursday, February 26, 2009

these two girls...

Diana and Holga are my new best friends! Last night I picked up my first roll of film shot on each of these two old-fashioned, plastic "toy" cameras and I'm thrilled with the results.

First up is Diana:

And then of course, there's Holga:

Granted, you hardly have any control over things such as focus and lighting, and forget about trying to view your shots instantly like on a digital to see if they're any good. But given that this was my very first try at using these cameras, I'm quite pleased. Can't wait to experiment some more!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

lens baby

About a year ago, I bought a new digital camera along with this magical thing called a lens baby. Being a novice to photography, I was attracted to the promise of instant artistry to my shots. Let me tell ya, this baby does not disappoint!

To prove my case, Todd and I stopped off at Camp 18 along Highway 26 on the way home from a day at the coast. I spent almost an hour taking photos of old, rusty logging equipment. You gotta love the instant gratification a digital camera can give you these days – check out some of my faves from that afternoon:

Being a graphic designer, I'm naturally drawn to typography, especially when it's so cool and weathered like this:

Look, my and Todd's initials:

Am I weird to love old, rusty things with flakey paint? Probably, but I don't care:

Yes, no beach shots in this series; that's because I didn't take any with my digital camera. We did play around with my new Holga and Diana F+ but shooting on good, old-fashioned film means I have to wait a while to see whether any of those shots actually turned out. Stay tuned...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

trash to treasure

It's no secret that I absolutely adore anything vintage. My house is filled with pieces that we've picked up at various stages of our lives and at various venues. Old tool chests and suitcases mix with a classic Dutch watercolor landscape inherited from my great-aunt along with the old coffee grinder I grew up with.

So it's no surprise that I find myself drawn to try and create something new and exciting out of other people's junk and discards. However, before I could try my hand at any kind of art assemblage, I had to have a palette of sorts to work with. And finally, after months of scouring Etsy and Ebay, antique malls and flea markets, I've created my palette:


Yes, I admit – it looks more like an unorganized junk drawer but if look closer, you'll find my palette is actually quite organized and inspiring (at least to me):


While my physical palette consists of anything and everything that catches my eye and piques my imagination, my color palette somehow stayed quite neutral, all quite by accident.


In case you're wondering how in the world I might combine some of this junk I just showed you into something new and exciting, let me show you a few pieces I've been working on.

This one was inspired by an old, beat-up office clip board my friend Amy brought me. Boring no more, wouldn't you say?


This next one started with this old, rusted salt shaker top that Todd found while at the Clark County antique show. It just begged to have wires sticking out of the holes.


This next piece I could almost see in my head as soon as I spotted this old baking pan at a vendor's booth:


And finally, I've posted about these "frozen Charlotte" dolls I found on Etsy last year. This one begged to be turned into a little guardian angel:


Can't wait to see where this assemblage journey takes me next... Needless to say, if you're cleaning out your attic and come across something you think is old and useless, don't toss it – maybe you can turn it into something special instead!

Monday, February 9, 2009

birds of a feather

I've talked before about how much enjoy meeting new artists when I'm exhibiting at a trade show with Cecily Ink. Well, last month I had the distinct pleasure of spending four days across the isle from CJ Hockett, one of the most amazing wildlife photographers ever!


I've been meaning to post about CJ's work because I now am the proud owner of one of his beautiful bird prints. Rather than wait until I find the perfect frame to show it off, I decided I'd share his talents with you now.


All these gorgeous images were taken by CJ with his mega-sized telephoto lens. I especially love the strong, graphic composition of his shots and the often monochromatic color palette. Plus, some of his images have this wonderful watercolor-like quality that makes you wonder whether it's a photo or a painting.


While he specializes in birds (photographing a lot of his subjects right in his backyard on Whidbey Island, WA), CJ has captured a variety of wildlife, mostly native to the Northwest and Alaska.


If you live in Portland, you can find his work at the Audubon Society of Portland. If you call Seattle home, keep your eyes peeled for local art shows where you're sure to find CJ and his wonderful wife Renee displaying his art. Or check out his website for the full visual feast!


CJ HOCKETT PHOTOGRAPHY
www.cjhocket.com • 360.720.2019

Friday, February 6, 2009

calendar wallpaper

My apologies for not posting this tidbit sooner: the new February desktop calendar wallpaper is here! It's been patiently waiting for you to find it at Cecily Ink's website – simply click here to download. Thanks for the reminder, Maria!