And everything in between. A lagoon, a pond, a river, or a stream. Water flows. It is the uniter. It joins the earth with the air and tames the fire. Earth is the body of our planet but water is her blood.
I am on Patreon.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Right and Left Part III
And everything in between. A lagoon, a pond, a river, or a stream. Water flows. It is the uniter. It joins the earth with the air and tames the fire. Earth is the body of our planet but water is her blood.
I am on Patreon.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
It's a Writer's Life for Me!
When you read a writer's short biography on the back of a book have you ever noticed that there are rarely "boring" lives described there? Writers write, but we also live. Without living there really isn't anything to write about.
My biography would be something like:
Born in 1969, Dawn came home on Christmas Eve. Thankfully her mother stopped her sister from throwing her away and thus she lived. At the age of two Death tried harder, but from burns to scarlatina to chicken pox to stinky sinus steak she won with the aid of her family. This was also the time where her family picked up the habit, or maybe hobby?, of breeding and showing dogs. Dawn raised Dachshunds and ducked bullies until she went to college and sucked at studying. As an adult Dawn has traveled the Midwest, okay she moved from Kansas to Missouri, to Michigan, to Illinois; but it counts! She has created her own family while adoring the one she was born into as well. When cancer knocked on the door she kicked it out and turned the baby room into a rec room. She has recently been dealing with chronic illness, but in living a life long dream and moving to the Southwest she will be moving beyond that. Dawn owns and creates stone art with her family via Shadoe Stones and also paints, creates artistic photography and writes poetry because sleep is for wimps; happy, healthy, well rested wimps, but wimps nonetheless.
What would your bio look like? I know there are things I want to add to mine. I am planning on getting my massage license in Arizona and going to UofA to get a degree there. The degree I am looking at requires travel over seas and Switzerland is a trip I would love to take. I want to travel all over the country and the world. I want to be published not just in my writing but in my photography as well. I want to sell art and spend time with my family. I want to be happy. Live your bio every day; make your life what you want to see on the back of a book some day!
Patreon helps content creators create!
Patreon helps content creators create!
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Right and Left Part II
I am on Patreon.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Tumbling Rocks!
One of the things I picked up again when we started Shadoe Stones that I have loved my entire life is rock tumbling. It is not a fast process but the results are often unexpected and stunning. After we have moved I will go ahead and take you through the process with rough stones so that you can see what happens and how long it can take, but for now let me lay a little knowledge on you.
First off here is a kit for a beginner that I can recommend. While the price looks steep, please remember that we are talking about a system that is throwing rocks around the inside of it for close to a month or even more through all of the stages. You are going to want something that can hold up to it. On top of that this is a kit with the "polishing" compounds needed to make the rocks look good too.
One thing to remember when either purchasing or finding your rough rocks to tumble is how "hard" they are. If you have ever heard that diamond is the "sharpest" rock there is, then you have a basic start on the "Mohs Scale." A stone's Mohs number tells you how fragile it is. You should tumble stones in the same basic range together. One of the wonderful parts of tumbling is watching a rough stone turn into a polished tumbled stone. Tumbling breaks off the parts that aren't the specific stone you are working for and turns those into more grist for the mill.
A great way to find the Mohs number for stones is to look it up here where they also show you how to test an unknown stone for what it's number is. Where do you order stones to tumble? Ebay is a good source if you are interested in small batches or you can simply look outside. If you start wanting to tumble larger quantities I would recommend finding a local rock hound club and letting them help you with finding local stones. You can start your search for local groups to help you or your children here.
We will revisit tumbling after the move when I have my area set up. Remember that stones lay around forever so this is a hobby that takes time and requires patience. Please visit Patreon if you love what I do so I can keep doing it!
First off here is a kit for a beginner that I can recommend. While the price looks steep, please remember that we are talking about a system that is throwing rocks around the inside of it for close to a month or even more through all of the stages. You are going to want something that can hold up to it. On top of that this is a kit with the "polishing" compounds needed to make the rocks look good too.
One thing to remember when either purchasing or finding your rough rocks to tumble is how "hard" they are. If you have ever heard that diamond is the "sharpest" rock there is, then you have a basic start on the "Mohs Scale." A stone's Mohs number tells you how fragile it is. You should tumble stones in the same basic range together. One of the wonderful parts of tumbling is watching a rough stone turn into a polished tumbled stone. Tumbling breaks off the parts that aren't the specific stone you are working for and turns those into more grist for the mill.
A great way to find the Mohs number for stones is to look it up here where they also show you how to test an unknown stone for what it's number is. Where do you order stones to tumble? Ebay is a good source if you are interested in small batches or you can simply look outside. If you start wanting to tumble larger quantities I would recommend finding a local rock hound club and letting them help you with finding local stones. You can start your search for local groups to help you or your children here.
We will revisit tumbling after the move when I have my area set up. Remember that stones lay around forever so this is a hobby that takes time and requires patience. Please visit Patreon if you love what I do so I can keep doing it!
Monday, October 26, 2015
Right and Left Part I
I have mentioned in the past my fascination with water. Water comes in many different forms, even when it is liquid. There is no more basic a way of showing that then to compare and contrast the oceans. I have only been lucky enough at this point in my life to have seen the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. As I was well into my 30s when I saw the Atlantic for the first time, you will understand that that makes me quite excited and eager to see more.
Our photos today are of "The Left Coast" the Pacific in all of it's glory. From ice to steam, water means life. Let it surround you. Don't just see it, feel it. The pounding of the waves. The push and pull of the tide. The subtle lapping of the pools on the beach. Water is. Take a moment today and just be there with it.
Love what you see? I am on Patreon.
Our photos today are of "The Left Coast" the Pacific in all of it's glory. From ice to steam, water means life. Let it surround you. Don't just see it, feel it. The pounding of the waves. The push and pull of the tide. The subtle lapping of the pools on the beach. Water is. Take a moment today and just be there with it.
Love what you see? I am on Patreon.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Working with Artists, Being an Artist
I am surrounded by artists. Even the cat tries to paint. It can be harrowing. The days when only one of us is creating can be just as bad as when only one of us isn't. We do things like go to art museums and critique the layout of the paintings on our rare days off of work. If one of us is completely stuck the other two vary between trying to help and tiptoeing around the fact that we are on a roll. Being an artist is the truest form of masochism I know. Being an artist in a family of non-artists would be worse, but being an artist in a family of artists is not masochism it's certified insanity!
The best thing to come from this? I am working in many mediums that I haven't for a very long time. From my writing to my painting and even some of my crafting I am doing things that a decade ago I had "given up" for that sake of making money. We have recently in this family had an epiphany: Money sucks. Say what? Money sucks. We need it. Paying the bills without it is very hard, but the way we go about getting it? Yeah it sucks. Even when you are doing something you love, the money part of it sucks. We have made a deal with ourselves to do the things we love, make the art we make and work the jobs we have to work. Money is a necessary evil, but it need not rule our lives. We are always in the process of trying to make our art that thing that brings us that necessary evil. It hurts to make that exchange. We firmly believe that we make things with owners, they just haven't found each other yet. When the two come together and it is money keeping them apart...yeah, money sucks.
We write, paint, photograph, craft, meld copper, create jewelry, sculpt, play instruments, write music, sing, and are slightly insane. Some we do extraordinarily well, some we are still working on. The hardest part? Using the term art to describe what we have made, determining that it is good enough to be sold, and then allowing a price commiserate to the effort and materials we put into it. I use a very simple formula for pricing: 250% of materials in the piece + $10-$25 per hour used to create it. The price per hour varies mostly because our skill level varies in our respective crafts. You want Crimson to play piano at your wedding then you are going to help pay for her equipment, training and her time. Did I just pull these numbers from nowhere? Nope. There is a logic to it. 100% of materials is the cost of the materials you are holding in the piece. The next 100% goes to replace those materials. 50% is in profit-although if the cost of materials has gone up that eats into the profit. Oh and the cost of the trip to the site, yeah that does the same, don't forget about the cost to set up. I think you get the idea. The pay per hour is simply paying the artist for the time they put into a piece. The amount that is paid depends upon the time they have been performing an art and their skill level. Crimson has a Masters in Music, Piano Performance. Her price per hour is actually significantly higher then is listed above. You get what you pay for.
Seeing a piece you have made with the price tag determined by the above variable is both great and scary. You KNOW in your soul that it could have, should have been better; that it isn't worth the tag the price is written on. At the same time you KNOW that it is a stunning example of your work, quite possibly the best thing you have ever done, and way under priced. That is the dichotomy of being an artist. We support each other through that and giggle at the anxiety. We then turn around, a day later (or less), and do it ourselves. There is no relief from the thought that you might not be good enough and the thought you are doing amazing things. They are both in your head doing battle throughout every piece you create. It is calming them down and making them work for you that makes each piece worth it to the new owner.
Pictures of our gorgeous copper and gemstone bonsai on display at an event; because, everybody likes pictures.
The best thing to come from this? I am working in many mediums that I haven't for a very long time. From my writing to my painting and even some of my crafting I am doing things that a decade ago I had "given up" for that sake of making money. We have recently in this family had an epiphany: Money sucks. Say what? Money sucks. We need it. Paying the bills without it is very hard, but the way we go about getting it? Yeah it sucks. Even when you are doing something you love, the money part of it sucks. We have made a deal with ourselves to do the things we love, make the art we make and work the jobs we have to work. Money is a necessary evil, but it need not rule our lives. We are always in the process of trying to make our art that thing that brings us that necessary evil. It hurts to make that exchange. We firmly believe that we make things with owners, they just haven't found each other yet. When the two come together and it is money keeping them apart...yeah, money sucks.
We write, paint, photograph, craft, meld copper, create jewelry, sculpt, play instruments, write music, sing, and are slightly insane. Some we do extraordinarily well, some we are still working on. The hardest part? Using the term art to describe what we have made, determining that it is good enough to be sold, and then allowing a price commiserate to the effort and materials we put into it. I use a very simple formula for pricing: 250% of materials in the piece + $10-$25 per hour used to create it. The price per hour varies mostly because our skill level varies in our respective crafts. You want Crimson to play piano at your wedding then you are going to help pay for her equipment, training and her time. Did I just pull these numbers from nowhere? Nope. There is a logic to it. 100% of materials is the cost of the materials you are holding in the piece. The next 100% goes to replace those materials. 50% is in profit-although if the cost of materials has gone up that eats into the profit. Oh and the cost of the trip to the site, yeah that does the same, don't forget about the cost to set up. I think you get the idea. The pay per hour is simply paying the artist for the time they put into a piece. The amount that is paid depends upon the time they have been performing an art and their skill level. Crimson has a Masters in Music, Piano Performance. Her price per hour is actually significantly higher then is listed above. You get what you pay for.
Seeing a piece you have made with the price tag determined by the above variable is both great and scary. You KNOW in your soul that it could have, should have been better; that it isn't worth the tag the price is written on. At the same time you KNOW that it is a stunning example of your work, quite possibly the best thing you have ever done, and way under priced. That is the dichotomy of being an artist. We support each other through that and giggle at the anxiety. We then turn around, a day later (or less), and do it ourselves. There is no relief from the thought that you might not be good enough and the thought you are doing amazing things. They are both in your head doing battle throughout every piece you create. It is calming them down and making them work for you that makes each piece worth it to the new owner.
Pictures of our gorgeous copper and gemstone bonsai on display at an event; because, everybody likes pictures.
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Did someone say Research?
Researching for a new piece of writing can be as simple as looking at a map and as complicated as using the map. When traveling to the place you are writing about isn't possible it's time to turn to what others have written. While I use the internet I also know that about 50% of what is on the internet is crap with no basis in fact and no reference to reality. Why do I say this? Because the "I read it on the internet so it must be true" meme is based in that reality. Without the capability to follow the logic in some form of annotation such as footnotes or a bibliography question your source be it in print, face to face contact or on the internet. Wikipedia by the way is not a good source. Why does everyone from your English teacher to me say that? Because anyone can and will update Wikipedia; this gives it questionable content.
My favorite place to verify what I find on a Google search that doesn't have a backstory to it? Right back on Google. If all of the "facts" lead right back to the original author then sadly it's time to start over. Without independent verification the facts are not real. Unless you are writing Science Fiction or Alternative History it's best to have your facts straight.
Why do you (or I) do all of this? To make our story more believable. If you are writing about Christmas in Australia you should probably know it happens in the middle of their summer not winter. It hurts the believably of a story for it to have a glaring error that isn't explained. If in your AH Australia is now in the Northern Hemisphere it would make since for Australia to have Christmas in winter, in our world not so much.
I have a new and excellent source for my research: The Oxford Press, combine this with your local interlibrary loan program and you are going to know everything about EVERYTHING! Currently I am researching for my NaNoWriMo book "Live" and I am reading about Ancient Egypt, China and Greece; Medicine, Farming and Preaching; New Orleans, Mexico City, and London. The background I give myself now will fill my book with authentic details so that when the story happens people are following it and thinking about it.
If you do know something to be true or you are an expert in a field then, of course, you don't need to research it...or do you? Sometimes double checking your facts doesn't hurt. My family has bred and shown dogs for over 40 years. My Mother worked as a vet tech for a significant portion of that time. If I am working on a story about dogs there are going to be parts I can and will write about with complete confidence. Those parts do not need to be double checked, I KNOW them. Then there are the parts I know, or think I do. If there is even a little bit of uncertainty then you should double check your facts.
Here's a great thing about fiction that turns all of what I have written on it's ear: It's NOT supposed to be true. If a fact doesn't align with your story AND you can give a plausible reason in your story that it is not true in your world then who cares? If you don't have a plausible reason but it doesn't jar the story then who cares? Just remember that the person who cares could be a reader or worse a publisher.
My favorite place to verify what I find on a Google search that doesn't have a backstory to it? Right back on Google. If all of the "facts" lead right back to the original author then sadly it's time to start over. Without independent verification the facts are not real. Unless you are writing Science Fiction or Alternative History it's best to have your facts straight.
Why do you (or I) do all of this? To make our story more believable. If you are writing about Christmas in Australia you should probably know it happens in the middle of their summer not winter. It hurts the believably of a story for it to have a glaring error that isn't explained. If in your AH Australia is now in the Northern Hemisphere it would make since for Australia to have Christmas in winter, in our world not so much.
I have a new and excellent source for my research: The Oxford Press, combine this with your local interlibrary loan program and you are going to know everything about EVERYTHING! Currently I am researching for my NaNoWriMo book "Live" and I am reading about Ancient Egypt, China and Greece; Medicine, Farming and Preaching; New Orleans, Mexico City, and London. The background I give myself now will fill my book with authentic details so that when the story happens people are following it and thinking about it.
If you do know something to be true or you are an expert in a field then, of course, you don't need to research it...or do you? Sometimes double checking your facts doesn't hurt. My family has bred and shown dogs for over 40 years. My Mother worked as a vet tech for a significant portion of that time. If I am working on a story about dogs there are going to be parts I can and will write about with complete confidence. Those parts do not need to be double checked, I KNOW them. Then there are the parts I know, or think I do. If there is even a little bit of uncertainty then you should double check your facts.
Here's a great thing about fiction that turns all of what I have written on it's ear: It's NOT supposed to be true. If a fact doesn't align with your story AND you can give a plausible reason in your story that it is not true in your world then who cares? If you don't have a plausible reason but it doesn't jar the story then who cares? Just remember that the person who cares could be a reader or worse a publisher.
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Painting
I have been inundating you with my poetry, earlier this week was even kind of dark and sad. Today we are going to talk painting. When I paint I am not going for a specific look. That just occurs. I know how to start, I know when to finish; but in between I am freaking out because I have no idea what I am doing.
Sound familiar? It is not a new or unique problem. If it was I doubt we would have any artists of any medium.
“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, and some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people”
― Edgar Degas
Small and large, minimalist and so not. These two paintings only look like they are from the same artist because I signed them. Yet they make the same statement in their way. I let the art stand for itself most often and try not to impose my view upon the viewer. To me these are both about beginnings. Sometimes simple, sometimes messy; starting over is the only way to move on. We all start over every day.
Sound familiar? It is not a new or unique problem. If it was I doubt we would have any artists of any medium.
“A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, and some fantasy. When you always make your meaning perfectly plain you end up boring people”
― Edgar Degas
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| Dragon |
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| Malestrom |
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
A Bucket of Fun!
Last week on Crafting Tuesday you barely got anything, because I had a tough week and didn't have much time for crafting. This week you are going to get some links! Why so many links? My amazing friends shared the with me when I was having trouble deciding what to do with all of these pine cones! So let's get started!
Martha Stewart
Craftaholics Anonymous
A Fanciful Twist
Why didn't I do any of these amazing things? Because they all, everyone, require more than just some pine cones and some ingenuity. Did I try? Yes. Did it work? Nope. Why no pictures? Because I am too lazy to go into another room to get my tablet and photograph crafting disasters. I have some nice painted cones that I will probably mix with the lilac scented wax ones from last week into a bowl for decor in a bathroom this winter. Other than that Operation Bucket of Pine Cone was a total meltdown.
However, I did do a thing! Last weekend I purchased a hand drum. Similar to a tambourine but no cymbals. This one boasted a natural skin that I was dying to paint. A field of grass and a field of stars with borders painted in red and yellow for fire and air. The paint improved the tone of the drum and now I have to decide if I want to play it or sell it.
Over the next couple of weeks I will be highlighting some amazing folks who do crafts. One or two of them are much more than crafters, but would never see themselves that way. Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Martha Stewart
Craftaholics Anonymous
A Fanciful Twist
Why didn't I do any of these amazing things? Because they all, everyone, require more than just some pine cones and some ingenuity. Did I try? Yes. Did it work? Nope. Why no pictures? Because I am too lazy to go into another room to get my tablet and photograph crafting disasters. I have some nice painted cones that I will probably mix with the lilac scented wax ones from last week into a bowl for decor in a bathroom this winter. Other than that Operation Bucket of Pine Cone was a total meltdown.
However, I did do a thing! Last weekend I purchased a hand drum. Similar to a tambourine but no cymbals. This one boasted a natural skin that I was dying to paint. A field of grass and a field of stars with borders painted in red and yellow for fire and air. The paint improved the tone of the drum and now I have to decide if I want to play it or sell it.
Over the next couple of weeks I will be highlighting some amazing folks who do crafts. One or two of them are much more than crafters, but would never see themselves that way. Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Sometimes it Hurts
Too Soon
The Mother cries
For the life She had to take
For the hearts She had to break
Not because it was his time
Not because it was our time
But because it was Her time
So gently She weeps
As the tears roll down our cheeks.
Blood Tells
I am not a mother
Yet I am their Mom, their grandma and
I was his Great Grandmother
We only met twice,
Yet he was my baby
Blood is not the only connection
Family is of the soul
He will be missed
Another piece of my heart
taken early
Dad
My heart hurts.
My stomach turns.
My tears fall.
I miss you.
You were my rock.
You were our shelter.
You are Dad…
And you are gone.
I remember
And I weep
I ache
And I burn.
I know you walk beside me.
I wish I could feel your hug.
You would love him too.
It’s what makes me so very sad.
Tomorrow is forever
Today will go away
The past is a fading memory.
Stay in my heart
Know my dreams
See my joys
Feel my sorrows.
Kiss my hurts
Heal my wounds
Patch the scrapes
I miss you
I love you
I need you
Father
Poetry comes from a place deep inside me. Sometimes it hurts. I cry while I write, but I still get it out. Why? Because sometimes it is supposed to hurt. You don't get away with living life without pain. Sometimes life hurts. There is nothing wrong with that. It is the way it is supposed to be. Sorrow is how we heal. Let your life be a life.
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Poetry
Looking back on the many posts I have already made, I was surprised that there were not more posts about my poetry. I do not write poetry often, mostly because it comes to me whole in a flash. There is no outline, deliberation, editing. I just have my piece. I had better write it down quickly too or it will be gone...just like it arrived. I have spent many a late night writing piece after piece. I have a love hate relationship with those nights.
My first poem in over 10 years was also my first real writing in that long. I had sequestered myself from my friends and the urge to write had gone with them. At the time I thought it was for the best. I regret nothing for I love where I am today, even with the challenges I have, but I did miss it.
Every Night as I lie in your arms
Your breath touches my skin
Passion flows in my veins
Love lives in my heart and
Wonder lights in my head
For it is every night that I lie in your arms…
I wrote this piece for Sar. He opened my heart and my mind in so many ways; we were particularly awful to be around as the New Relationship Energy pumped through us. That one caught all of that, plus my excitement at writing again.
There are things you cannot share
things you do not dare.
There are things that make you sad
when all you wish is to be mad.
There are things that stop you in your tracks
and make others turn their backs.
There are things you wouldn’t show
that no one truly wants to know.
It’s best if these things stay hidden away
forever and a day.
A promise broken, a promise kept
broken hearts under rugs, swept.
There are things I wish to say,
if only I could find a way.
What I want
What I need
Who I love
Who I am
How I live
How I talk
Where I play
Where I laugh
Why I care
Why I write
What matters?
Who fears?
How said?
Where cautioned?
Why judge?
Ask
Learn
Know
Live
My first poem in over 10 years was also my first real writing in that long. I had sequestered myself from my friends and the urge to write had gone with them. At the time I thought it was for the best. I regret nothing for I love where I am today, even with the challenges I have, but I did miss it.
Every Night as I lie in your arms
Your breath touches my skin
Passion flows in my veins
Love lives in my heart and
Wonder lights in my head
For it is every night that I lie in your arms…
I wrote this piece for Sar. He opened my heart and my mind in so many ways; we were particularly awful to be around as the New Relationship Energy pumped through us. That one caught all of that, plus my excitement at writing again.
Secrets, the next poem, actually has no story. Well other than the one where everyone tried to figure out what I was hiding. Honestly it just came like many others, it had no hidden meaning to me. Does it to you?
things you do not dare.
There are things that make you sad
when all you wish is to be mad.
There are things that stop you in your tracks
and make others turn their backs.
There are things you wouldn’t show
that no one truly wants to know.
It’s best if these things stay hidden away
forever and a day.
A promise broken, a promise kept
broken hearts under rugs, swept.
There are things I wish to say,
if only I could find a way.
I don't know what style I would call my poetry. I rarely worry about rhyme, thinking more about the rhythm of the words. I often use short phrases and repeated patterns, not words always, but repeats in the look and feel of the phrase, to get impact. You can see that in my final piece today.
What I need
Who I love
Who I am
How I live
How I talk
Where I play
Where I laugh
Why I care
Why I write
What matters?
Who fears?
How said?
Where cautioned?
Why judge?
Ask
Learn
Know
Live
The more I write the better I write, or at least the better I think I write. I hope you are enjoying the blog!
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Creating a World, Creating a Universe, Creating a story
“A writer is a world trapped in a person.” ―Victor Hugo
Lately I have been doing a lot of world creation. Everyone goes about this completely differently. The way that is right for you, is the right way-for you. I am not here to tell anyone how or what to do I am here to show you what I do and offer it as an alternative or a starting block.
Depending on the setting I will either start with research or a map. If I am creating a world from scratch as I am with Dragur, my RPG idea, I start with the map. There is going to need to be research as well; but the map is the impetus for the action in this case. The amount of resources available and what those resources are drive the story. Even if the map is largely in my head at first, it is the map that creates the world. With "Live," my settings vary and I am looking at a very character driven story line, the map is there but research is needed to flesh it out. I already know that it will begin in Ancient Egypt and move through to a future life on Mars. I need to know what those worlds look like so that I can describe them to my reader and take them there. Tasting the sand and the salt of the sweat that a slave will drink to prevent dehydration while working copper mines in a desert, where he knows the names of the Gods, but not the name he was given years ago. All maps need research, all maps affect a story, it matters what the world looks and feels like to your characters; so it matters to the reader, as well.
When you are creating a map out of whole cloth as it were, you will need one of two things: 1. artistic skill or 2. a good program! There are a lot of great programs out there, I state again that I don't get paid by manufacturers I am just sharing the ones that work for me. A great free website resource is donjon world creator. If you have the ability to purchase one or more programs then go here, do not pass go, these guys are amazing! A good program will even save a good artist some time and trouble. I have also had fun in the past of simply taking a random world and creating a story that fits it. Even if you never do anything with the story it is a great exercise at world building. When you are setting your work on Earth you have the advantage of having a map already made, and the disadvantage of the possibility of making a mistake. For instance, did you know that Tucson, Arizona has a two month monsoon season, but is still considered a desert? These are the kinds of things you need to know about where you set your novel so that if someone is reading it from that part of the world they recognize their neighborhood.
World building isn't just about maps. When you are writing fiction you have the ability to create an entire world, even on Earth, and you will people this world with the creatures you create. Are they human or human like? What is precious to them, who or what do they compete with for resources? Do they see themselves the way others see them? How are the creatures in your galaxy governed or are they? Did I just say GALAXY?
Yes, I did. When you write a book, or create a game world, there is always the possibility of sequels or new modules, etc. We have even seen authors writing two unrelated series pull them together and show that they were in one universe the entire time; i.e. the Anne McCaffery Pern and Ship series. Even without that possibility, for me, knowing the world and the universe that my characters are born into helps me breathe life into those characters. If a dragon from a lush vegetative area were to come upon a plain how would it react to the sky? Would it have wings? Would it know how to fly if it does? Even if that dragon never sees a plain or the sky, knowing how it would react helps you make that character one that the reader cares about.
Things like a planet having more than one sun or moon are going to affect things like deities, cycles of seasons, the way the people approach math and the sciences. Are they able to see stars or is it constantly partially lit in their world. If you never see the stars are you driven to fly? Are you driven to get to the stars? Your characters, in this book, may never consider these things; I believe that it is your job to at least have a basic idea what the rules of your universe are. Do Newton's laws work or Asimov's law or even better yet gravity? We long to fly because we are held down. Would a creature who can't touch down without assistance dream of walking?
Build your foundation well and the story grows from the questions. Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
The American Dream
Often artists work in "cycles." You read one of my poetry cycles earlier in the colors blog. Today I am sharing my American Dream photographic cycle. One of the best things about this shoot is that it was completely unplanned. My husband and I were driving to visit his children and stopped at a rest area as the sun was setting. Here was this farmer working to get his crop in while he could still see and very obviously wearily making his way home as the beauty that surrounded him played out it's daily routine as well.
Farms were, from the beginning, what the American dream was all about. Owning your own land. Growing, breeding/herding, and bartering for the things that sustain your family and your community. That was the American dream. My paternal grandfather was a farmer. My father was not. The "baby boomers" were a generation of professionals. The American Dream changed. The family farm is now replaced by corporate farming and hobby farmers. There are still family farmers, but they are the minority now. I was caught by the juxtaposition and I hope I caught it as well. The American Dream changes, it is supposed to, over time; but in truth it is the same as it always was. To live a life free from strife and that makes the future a good one. Is the sun setting on that too?
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| The Job |
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| Going Home |
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| Promise |
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| The Farm |
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| Sunset |
Farms were, from the beginning, what the American dream was all about. Owning your own land. Growing, breeding/herding, and bartering for the things that sustain your family and your community. That was the American dream. My paternal grandfather was a farmer. My father was not. The "baby boomers" were a generation of professionals. The American Dream changed. The family farm is now replaced by corporate farming and hobby farmers. There are still family farmers, but they are the minority now. I was caught by the juxtaposition and I hope I caught it as well. The American Dream changes, it is supposed to, over time; but in truth it is the same as it always was. To live a life free from strife and that makes the future a good one. Is the sun setting on that too?
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
What DO You do With a Five Gallon Bucket of Pine Cones?
My family is moving! We are relocating to the great Southwest. Tucson to be precise. We don't know when yet, but Sar has the job and we are ready to go! Before we do though there is one craft project that has been lurking in the craft cabinet for so long I don't even know when we collected them. A five gallon bucket of pine cones. I know that one of us probably said oh we can do something with them. They are pretty and they smell good. Then they sat, and sat...and well you get the idea. We have been in this house for just over two years, I don't know how long this bucket has been sitting; I'm just hoping we didn't move them from Michigan!
So step one: Waxing nostalgic...if there is one thing that I am never short of it is candles...right up until I need/want them for a project. I did manage to find four. They were even in Lilac my favorite scent. I melted the candles (5 minutes in a microwave safe bowl for four votives) and rolled the pine cones in the wax. I then poured the left over wax over the nine cones I had managed to coat.
Result? My house smells amazing right now. Light purple is not darker then brown and thus the cones just look a little shiny.
So step one: Waxing nostalgic...if there is one thing that I am never short of it is candles...right up until I need/want them for a project. I did manage to find four. They were even in Lilac my favorite scent. I melted the candles (5 minutes in a microwave safe bowl for four votives) and rolled the pine cones in the wax. I then poured the left over wax over the nine cones I had managed to coat.
Result? My house smells amazing right now. Light purple is not darker then brown and thus the cones just look a little shiny.
I haven't tried burning them yet, but I have been told that they will make great fire starters...and they will smell great too! That's all I am going to have for this week due to time constraints. Hopefully we will have much more next week.
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Pain, the Fourth "P"
I have insinuated on here several times about my illness and that I am "stuck" at home. Let me clarify of what I speak.
1. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. While I am uncertain if that is what is the whole of what is going on, I am coming around to the fact that it is at least part of it. Fibro means joint aches and pains and so much more. Today I am dealing with the fact that my skin hurts so bad the touching things (like the keys of a keyboard) sends pain to the receptors in my brain. Being stubborn doesn't help me here.
2. I have what are called complex, complicated migraines. I have been suffering from migraines daily for a while now. When combined with the above it means that the hair on my head hurts today. Not like man I drank to much last night hurts; nope this is holy hell my hair is too heavy on my skin hurts. My life is a true joy of finding new ways to have migraine symptoms. Seizures, parathesia, edema, blindness, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, hot and cold flashes; the list goes on...and on...
3. All of the medications for the above have taken away my hunger. I don't get hungry. I just eat when I take my pills because that's what the doctor told me to do. I like food, but I don't get hungry...and when I do eat sometimes it doesn't taste the same way...
4. Prior to my doctor telling me to eat when I took my pills I had lost 20 pounds because I wasn't eating at all unless it was put in front of me.
5. Since then they said that I have gained 40 pounds.
6. That was only a couple of months ago, so I went in for an ultrasound of my liver and another MRI of my brain.
7. Oh yeah I have a brain tumor. It's benign they think. It's the kind you get when you have had a migraine every day for almost a year.
8. There are also 3 holes in my heart; but they haven't caused any of this, because my heart is completely healthy.
Five years ago I was in the best shape I had been in since I was an adult. In the time since I have fought, and beaten, cancer and have dealt with what are honestly beginning to seem like the side effects from that. They didn't give me chemo or radiation. I had four, count them FOUR, surgeries in eight months. I went out after three of them and worked, in one way or another, for at least a week. The third was the only in patient surgery, but I have been told all four were major surgeries. By the end of that year I was exhausted. I have never been quite the same, I stopped working that same year, so neither have our finances.
We moved from Michigan to Illinois just over 2 years ago. We rented a tractor trailer from a specialized company and packed/unpacked ourselves. I did most of the packing by myself due to work commitments that Sar and Crimson had. Our things filled a 28' trailer. I had some amazing help at the end of our time in Michigan; but a significant portion was just me. I had knee trouble when we got to Illinois so our friends here helped us unpack. I haven't been myself since. I have trouble carrying 15 pounds around the house. Standing and walking can be an issue. I am now taking anti-depressants and anxiety medication because of where that kind of pain and debilitation took me.
Some days I can't get out of bed. Some days I can and then have to go back. I am never just fine. I do the things on this blog despite the pain. I want a little beauty in my life again so I am taking it. This isn't a story of someone triumphing over their disease. This is the story of someone living at subsistence level with their disease.
1. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. While I am uncertain if that is what is the whole of what is going on, I am coming around to the fact that it is at least part of it. Fibro means joint aches and pains and so much more. Today I am dealing with the fact that my skin hurts so bad the touching things (like the keys of a keyboard) sends pain to the receptors in my brain. Being stubborn doesn't help me here.
2. I have what are called complex, complicated migraines. I have been suffering from migraines daily for a while now. When combined with the above it means that the hair on my head hurts today. Not like man I drank to much last night hurts; nope this is holy hell my hair is too heavy on my skin hurts. My life is a true joy of finding new ways to have migraine symptoms. Seizures, parathesia, edema, blindness, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, hot and cold flashes; the list goes on...and on...
3. All of the medications for the above have taken away my hunger. I don't get hungry. I just eat when I take my pills because that's what the doctor told me to do. I like food, but I don't get hungry...and when I do eat sometimes it doesn't taste the same way...
4. Prior to my doctor telling me to eat when I took my pills I had lost 20 pounds because I wasn't eating at all unless it was put in front of me.
5. Since then they said that I have gained 40 pounds.
6. That was only a couple of months ago, so I went in for an ultrasound of my liver and another MRI of my brain.
7. Oh yeah I have a brain tumor. It's benign they think. It's the kind you get when you have had a migraine every day for almost a year.
8. There are also 3 holes in my heart; but they haven't caused any of this, because my heart is completely healthy.
Five years ago I was in the best shape I had been in since I was an adult. In the time since I have fought, and beaten, cancer and have dealt with what are honestly beginning to seem like the side effects from that. They didn't give me chemo or radiation. I had four, count them FOUR, surgeries in eight months. I went out after three of them and worked, in one way or another, for at least a week. The third was the only in patient surgery, but I have been told all four were major surgeries. By the end of that year I was exhausted. I have never been quite the same, I stopped working that same year, so neither have our finances.
We moved from Michigan to Illinois just over 2 years ago. We rented a tractor trailer from a specialized company and packed/unpacked ourselves. I did most of the packing by myself due to work commitments that Sar and Crimson had. Our things filled a 28' trailer. I had some amazing help at the end of our time in Michigan; but a significant portion was just me. I had knee trouble when we got to Illinois so our friends here helped us unpack. I haven't been myself since. I have trouble carrying 15 pounds around the house. Standing and walking can be an issue. I am now taking anti-depressants and anxiety medication because of where that kind of pain and debilitation took me.
Some days I can't get out of bed. Some days I can and then have to go back. I am never just fine. I do the things on this blog despite the pain. I want a little beauty in my life again so I am taking it. This isn't a story of someone triumphing over their disease. This is the story of someone living at subsistence level with their disease.
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Inspiration Photography...or...Wow that's pretty, now to remember why I took it...
Most often when I am inspired to take photos it involves the obvious. Why does one take a photo of the sunset? Because it is beautiful. The same can be said of almost any large scale "nature" photo of mine. Then there are the ones that it's not true for.
This is a random collection of some of my raw work. The one with the date on it was even taken with a different, "lesser" camera. All of these photos will, or have, become art in a different form; some you have even seen in this blog. Every one of these was taken because it was the texture of the subject that appealed to me. Unlike a "pretty" photo I rarely had any idea at the time of taking the picture what the finished product would look like, I just knew there was something interesting here and I wanted to have a part in making it come alive.
It is rarely difficult in photography to find a subject that is interesting, pretty, or even beautiful. The difficult part is not even having the skill to take a good, even a GREAT photo, with time and dedication it will happen. Having your camera with you, knowing that NOW is the time to get that shot, and then seeing it in the proverbial darkroom; these are the things that make an art photographer. Did you see that lead? Having your camera with you. Not your camera phone. Not your point and shoot (while my husband's point and shoot did take one of these, so I have to watch myself there). Nope, having your CAMERA with you. Very few photographers travel without their cameras. We might miss something.
The difference between a hobby photographer and a professional photographer is, technically, simply the charging of fees. In truth, it is much more complex. In this age of digital anyone, everyone it seems, can take a good photo-and does. I am not even going to use the line about a GREAT photo. Not this time. A hobbiest though, will have taken, and deleted, many more photos than a professional. The professional has learned when to take the picture (or pictures) and that deleting often loses you a shot that might have been good with some thought behind it. A professional will take 100 to every 1,000 of the hobbiest. More of them will be good and yes, some of them will even be great (it is possible for a hobbiest to take a great photo...I know this and don't go there often). There are "professional" photographers who are really hobbiests and there are hobbiests who only lack the equipment to be professionals. I have seen iPhone photos that were better than some pros work; not because of bad pros, but because of amazing hobbiests.
Take the photo, sometimes it is done at that point. Sometimes it is not. Art is knowing when it is done, and taking the steps or not taking any steps, to get it there! Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
This is a random collection of some of my raw work. The one with the date on it was even taken with a different, "lesser" camera. All of these photos will, or have, become art in a different form; some you have even seen in this blog. Every one of these was taken because it was the texture of the subject that appealed to me. Unlike a "pretty" photo I rarely had any idea at the time of taking the picture what the finished product would look like, I just knew there was something interesting here and I wanted to have a part in making it come alive.
It is rarely difficult in photography to find a subject that is interesting, pretty, or even beautiful. The difficult part is not even having the skill to take a good, even a GREAT photo, with time and dedication it will happen. Having your camera with you, knowing that NOW is the time to get that shot, and then seeing it in the proverbial darkroom; these are the things that make an art photographer. Did you see that lead? Having your camera with you. Not your camera phone. Not your point and shoot (while my husband's point and shoot did take one of these, so I have to watch myself there). Nope, having your CAMERA with you. Very few photographers travel without their cameras. We might miss something.
The difference between a hobby photographer and a professional photographer is, technically, simply the charging of fees. In truth, it is much more complex. In this age of digital anyone, everyone it seems, can take a good photo-and does. I am not even going to use the line about a GREAT photo. Not this time. A hobbiest though, will have taken, and deleted, many more photos than a professional. The professional has learned when to take the picture (or pictures) and that deleting often loses you a shot that might have been good with some thought behind it. A professional will take 100 to every 1,000 of the hobbiest. More of them will be good and yes, some of them will even be great (it is possible for a hobbiest to take a great photo...I know this and don't go there often). There are "professional" photographers who are really hobbiests and there are hobbiests who only lack the equipment to be professionals. I have seen iPhone photos that were better than some pros work; not because of bad pros, but because of amazing hobbiests.
Take the photo, sometimes it is done at that point. Sometimes it is not. Art is knowing when it is done, and taking the steps or not taking any steps, to get it there! Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Writer's Block
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” — Mark Twain
Breaking writer's block is a question of maintaining a habit, in my opinion. The habit is to write. Every single day you write. Something, anything, everything. If all you are writing for 30 minutes to an hour is a mess of silliness it is still writing. Eventually you will find the thing that makes writing what you want to write possible, or you won't. This blog is full of my opinion, please understand it is my opinion only and what works for me. Try it or not, at your own risk.
Sometimes what we want to write isn't what we are supposed to write, no matter how hard we try to make it so. The characters won't cooperate, the plot drags, and nothing will go quite right. Then in a moment the secondary characters flare and discover this amazing thing that changes your story completely, dramatically; making it a different story. Not a better story necessarily, but definitely a new one. You may never get back to the old one, then again you might. Don't get rid of the notes. You may have 20 or 30 stories waiting to be told within the confines of a story that didn't work.
Writing seems like wrestling with demons to some, to others it is the equivalent of a language enema, dumping their soul onto a page to heal themselves. To me it often seems like another life lived. I am writing what I know to be true for the characters, as though they are alive in another dimension somewhere and I am just writing their biographies. If you have ever had trouble with a character you understand; if you haven't you never will. Characters have boundaries, places they won't go, no matter how well you write the scene it will read wrong. Allow the scene to write itself, but don't let a poorly drawn character hijack a story either.
I am a strong believer in research as I mentioned last week. I also create an outline for the stories before I write them. Often later parts of the outline grow to the point that I am basically writing up the book. It is my process and when I get involved it will come pouring out of me. Sometimes it will dry up. Dead stop. Not a bad character, not a poorly chosen theme; but a block, no clue where else to go with it, I normally have a plan for the beginning, middle and end of the story long before I start. Writer's block, for me, is when I lose the path from one to the other.
That is when I start creating keyboard diarrhea. I just start writing anything and everything that comes to mind. I use my time that I have set aside for writing doing so; always, to maintain the habit. During a block I will spend a day, or two, not working on the story, unless the dam breaks of course. After a few days like that I will then spend time going over all of what I have written. If there is not inspiration for the current book, but there is for another I will change tracks; and yes this means I have a lot of half written stories, but sometimes in life stories don't have nice neat endings and I have a lot of stories that I did finish this way as well. If there is nothing I will spend more time with stream of consciousness writing. I will repeat this pattern until I am back into my writing.
Finally, know that there are times when writing isn't necessarily typing or writing; it is reading, talking, watching. When I say to spend each day writing, I mean to spend time ON your writing every day, write something-even a grocery list with flare is writing!-every day; but don't forget to live as well. Living life is an essential part of writing a story. Never forget to forge ahead with your own story or you are much more likely to lose inspiration, for your spirit will run dry.
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
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| Or you could just torture your cat... |
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Life ain't easy
It isn't meant to be.
A quote: The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things. ~Henry David Thoreau
Today I wrote this:
A quote: The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things. ~Henry David Thoreau
Today I wrote this:
Living easy isn’t living
Going with the flow
From one day to the next
Means being just like everyone else
Life is hard
It is supposed to be
Easy Lessons are learned easily
The hard ones are supposed to hurt
So you can point at the scar
And say it was worth it.
Live life HARD and live life.
I am going to share a secret with you...for me it's last week. (cue shocked face and dramatic music)....bom bom bom bom....
I write these pieces at least one week in advance so that if it's a hard day or a hospital day I don't have to worry because you will be reading a blog! My job in all seriousness has become this blog and creating things for it.
Some hard truths for me have happened in the last 5 years. Some of the best things in my life have happened in the last 5 years.
I have had cancer. I survived cancer.
I met one amazing freaking woman. I have been seriously ill for the almost three years since we met. ( I met the freaking amazing man in my life just over 5 years ago...so he is doomed to not make it here by a technicality).
I have had a migraine every day for the last 9 months, prior to that and now I have been dealing with unexplained body aches and pains that put me in the hospital twice last year. I am slowly learning to take care of myself and rediscovering my arts.
The friends we moved closer to slowly drifted away, my husband was unable to visit the children we moved closer to because of our financial situation, and we have been dead broke almost from day one of our move. We moved out of Michigan.
We are going to be doing the most difficult thing, due to our finances, that I can think of (including those things above). I get to do something I have wanted to do pretty much since I can remember.
So what is that last thing? I finally get to live in the Southwest! Sar got a transfer with the VA and we are moving to Tucson! Whoot, Whoot! Sadly, we aren't doing this for kicks and giggles; but for my health. The weather is much better for me there and Crimson can get her DMA there as well. It's win/win/win.
The only lesson you learn from an easy life is...yeah nope.
Everyone has a story, thus everyone lives a hard life. Your definition of hard only applies to you. My life has sucked for my health and finances. My life has been utterly amazing in the way of my closest relationships and artistry. The glass is only half of anything if you don't freaking drink it. Drink up! Make the most of what you are given and give the most you can!
I gave you a poem and a quote! That is a MWF "P" with some sage advice. Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Where I realize that Crafting Tuesday is going to be HARD!
So yeah...crafting hmmm.
In all seriousness, last week's post did result in me picking up the quilt and getting started again. I also remembered a very good reason that I haven't crafted much lately-I have different priorities for my money right now. Housing, food, you know; the little things. I have everything I need to finish the top layer of my crazy quilt, but I am going to need some fabric and batting to finish it up. One step at a time!
I do however want to give you some excellent resources for crafting here as well as getting myself up and doing. Crimson is a knitter and she has some webpages and knitting tutorials that she uses that deserve to be shared. She started knitting just over a year ago and is already doing large projects and lace. This is all self taught with the internet as her guide. It can be done! Once it is done you should probably share it!
Ravelry-Facebook for the crochet and knitting community. There is more to it than that though. You can find free patterns, keep track of future projects and even post photos of completed projects!
Drops-Think natural fiber yarns are too expensive? Think again. They have regular sales and have really soft, pet-able yarns as well as wool and cotton. They are a British company so remember to think in dollars not pounds!
Very Pink-Knitting tutorials and more.
Also make sure to search YouTube! Crimson has done some amazing work and she is just getting started!
Between knitting and sewing Crimson is hoping to save us some money by making natural fiber or mostly natural fiber clothing for us. Not just clothing, though; as there are patterns for "poofs" and even chairs on Ravelry. This is something I am planning on helping with!
Once upon a time I was in a group called 4H. I loved 4H on a lot of levels, but being a kid, I had to complain about it. Being me I also had to postpone projects until the very last minute. One of the projects that we did as a family was macrame. Each of us had a macrame project or two every year. We used jute cord most of the time (except for one sister who was allergic to the jute, she used cotton cording). Trying to find the Jute cord again has been a trial. I remember it coming in a wide variety of colors (about 5 or 6) and in a much thicker cord than what I can find. If you have any referrals send them my way!
Next week: What exactly are you going to do with that 5 gallon bucket full of pine cones? Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
In all seriousness, last week's post did result in me picking up the quilt and getting started again. I also remembered a very good reason that I haven't crafted much lately-I have different priorities for my money right now. Housing, food, you know; the little things. I have everything I need to finish the top layer of my crazy quilt, but I am going to need some fabric and batting to finish it up. One step at a time!
I do however want to give you some excellent resources for crafting here as well as getting myself up and doing. Crimson is a knitter and she has some webpages and knitting tutorials that she uses that deserve to be shared. She started knitting just over a year ago and is already doing large projects and lace. This is all self taught with the internet as her guide. It can be done! Once it is done you should probably share it!
Ravelry-Facebook for the crochet and knitting community. There is more to it than that though. You can find free patterns, keep track of future projects and even post photos of completed projects!
Drops-Think natural fiber yarns are too expensive? Think again. They have regular sales and have really soft, pet-able yarns as well as wool and cotton. They are a British company so remember to think in dollars not pounds!
Very Pink-Knitting tutorials and more.
Also make sure to search YouTube! Crimson has done some amazing work and she is just getting started!
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| Sar wearing one of Crimson's first projects-Navy Watchcap in Black |
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| The beginning of her first commissioned piece. I already have 1 of these, it is dubbed the "Warm Circle." |
Between knitting and sewing Crimson is hoping to save us some money by making natural fiber or mostly natural fiber clothing for us. Not just clothing, though; as there are patterns for "poofs" and even chairs on Ravelry. This is something I am planning on helping with!
Once upon a time I was in a group called 4H. I loved 4H on a lot of levels, but being a kid, I had to complain about it. Being me I also had to postpone projects until the very last minute. One of the projects that we did as a family was macrame. Each of us had a macrame project or two every year. We used jute cord most of the time (except for one sister who was allergic to the jute, she used cotton cording). Trying to find the Jute cord again has been a trial. I remember it coming in a wide variety of colors (about 5 or 6) and in a much thicker cord than what I can find. If you have any referrals send them my way!
Next week: What exactly are you going to do with that 5 gallon bucket full of pine cones? Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Monday...
First off a little family promotion: If you are interested in some good fiction and better advice please tune into Crimson's blog. Interested in the Shadoe Stone's product line? Remember that we don't have a webpage yet, so see us on Facebook. Finally, my mother is an amazing crafter and has turned her crochet into an amazing business on Facebook, Handmade by Phyllis by name.
Now onto our Monday...
3Ps is the MWF theme, we are only a few weeks in so there isn't much feedback and even less of a conversation about what you would like to see more and/or less of; so I shall continue in what has started. Please always feel free to comment here or contact me directly.
Speaking about black and white photography and poetry by colors in the last few weeks inspired this piece. Sadly, it did not photograph well from my tablet. The texturing of the paint is part of what makes my works compelling, if you believe they are at all, and in this one the red seems to be climbing out of the black and grey.
Now onto our Monday...
3Ps is the MWF theme, we are only a few weeks in so there isn't much feedback and even less of a conversation about what you would like to see more and/or less of; so I shall continue in what has started. Please always feel free to comment here or contact me directly.
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| Shades of Grey, Dawn Cowan |
Color is great for making things pop out at you. While the grey-scale photo with a red rose is almost trite now, the opposite is just as effective if properly done. A riot of color is great, drop in a grey-scale aspect and suddenly you have stillness within chaos. My favorite play with color in photography though is when the colors are soft and still crisp and clean. A photo shot in the night shadows, with spots of light for instance.
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| Spanish Moss at Night-Dawn Cowan |
I have almost run out of my "found" acrylics and I am done with the canvases afforded to me by the sale (except, maybe, the one I am painting over) so I am done with painting for now. It makes me sad when I can't get out what is in my head. Okay fine, it pisses me off that it's money that is causing the problem.
I have dreams about the amazing things I can do with canvas and paints. I drool over wall sized canvas and buckets of acrylic paint. I would adore being able to create mixed media art pieces using my camera, paintings and some of my craft work. Heck, I just want an easel, canvas and some paint too.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Three Weeks in and some Random Photos
So, we are three weeks in and I think you are seeing the trend. I am trying to have a conversation with you, the reader. I am keeping my posts short and posting daily to keep the conversation going. Please feel free to do more than just read! I look forward to answering questions and even dealing with topics suggested by readers. If you don't like what I am doing then unless you are related to me, by blood or marriage, why are you still reading?
Now onto our 3Ps....today we will post some lovely photos and discuss! Yay photos!
I love taking photos from an unusual perspective. Wood Dragon is not from that unusual a perspective, but from the angle I took it I emphasized the log's resemblance to the dragon with it's mouth open. This "trick angle" is a common photographic trick and is why you see us wandering around in circles for hours before we take a photo. Okay maybe not hours, but you see what I mean.
The "Big Top" is not actually a tent, but a wooden picnic area that had the most amazing angles and arches. This was taken in natural light with a zoom lens helping the shadows do those amazing things they do.
Camouflage is the reason I want a macro/micro lens when and if I ever get a camera again. The ability to see this gran daddy long legs up close and personal without walking out into the lagoon, is well worth the lens! Okay, I admit it, I have lens envy.
Finally "Canyon Wall" is no more and no less than it's title. The colors, angles, and crop all come together to make you ask which way is up. Taken in New Mexico this photo shows the stark beauty of the desert and the persistence of time and water.
Photography is a joy for me and one I have missed for the last two years since I had to sell my camera. I am hoping to get back to it soon. There is water calling me!
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
Now onto our 3Ps....today we will post some lovely photos and discuss! Yay photos!
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| Wood Dragon |
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| The Big Top |
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| Camouflage |
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| Canyon Wall |
The "Big Top" is not actually a tent, but a wooden picnic area that had the most amazing angles and arches. This was taken in natural light with a zoom lens helping the shadows do those amazing things they do.
Camouflage is the reason I want a macro/micro lens when and if I ever get a camera again. The ability to see this gran daddy long legs up close and personal without walking out into the lagoon, is well worth the lens! Okay, I admit it, I have lens envy.
Finally "Canyon Wall" is no more and no less than it's title. The colors, angles, and crop all come together to make you ask which way is up. Taken in New Mexico this photo shows the stark beauty of the desert and the persistence of time and water.
Photography is a joy for me and one I have missed for the last two years since I had to sell my camera. I am hoping to get back to it soon. There is water calling me!
Love what I am doing and want to see more? I am now on Patreon.
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