Being committed when you just don’t feel like it – An artist’s struggle

Committed.  This has been a key word for my lately.  I am committed to working on my art on a regular basis and sharing it.  Today, the last thing I wanted to be was committed.

The weather was crummy and I wasn’t feeling great.  All I wanted to do was curl up on the couch, eat nachos, and watch trashy TV.

I did not want to work on my blog.

I did not want to work on to process my photos.

And I sure as heck did not feel committed to doing anything artistic that would further my creative goals.  I felt like this sheep.  Unimpressed.

That is one unmotivated, unimpressed sheep.

Continue reading “Being committed when you just don’t feel like it – An artist’s struggle”

Becoming A Bold Introvert – An artist’s journey

I have always as introvert, the person hanging by the snack table, waiting patiently for a fellow introvert to join me so we can have a mini introvert party (with food of course, the best kind of introvert parties!).  But I have found that, despite the many benefits that come with being an introvert, the ability to share one’s creative endeavors is not one of my strengths.

untitled-1913

Don’t get me wrong, I am an awesome listener, a great conversationalist, and a wonderful person to knit next to.  I’m very fun at canning classes and a hoot to work next to (mostly due to my regular talking out loud and commentary on my e-mails).   But sharing my artwork has been very difficult.  Occasionally, I have tried to dip my toe into the pool and share my art and my artistic process.  Just as quickly, I pull that toe right on back and scurry back to the snack table.

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Photo post processing and using the healing tool

I used to be against major post processing in photography.  It almost felt like the image was being tainted somehow.  But I have changed my tune.  I have reframed my view and now see post processing as part of the artist process.  Personally, I like my photos with more contrast, more deep black shadows, and just a smidge of vignetting in the corners (the corners are just slightly blacker, drawing the eye to middle of the photograph).  My photos are a piece art and thus I do not have to be tied to reality.  Just as a painter can change the position of a item or change colors, I can do the same with my photos.

Today, I finally tried healing one of my photos.  I have a beautiful photo from Barcelona of a child running through Gaudi’s wave archway, chasing a pigeon.  The initial photo is below:

girl with pigeon with leg

Continue reading “Photo post processing and using the healing tool”