A Project for 2011

Today I started a project to take at least one photograph per day.  Since I didn't start on the first, I'm calling it 350 or So .... instead of 365 Photos.  I was inspired by some conversations amongst photographers on ETSY. 

My first photo isn't very artistic, but she is sweet.  I snapped the boys' puppy Fuzzy in the backyard.  A better shot will be her following or tormenting Hank.  She runs under him and all around him and it must tickle his hair.  He just dances!  Soon he gets enough and growls at her.

I don't have to go get her out the the further reaches of the yard; she'll follow Hank anywhere.

A Photographer I Admire

I 'met' a photographer through Flickr when we lived in Nebraska and I started shooting a lot.  We commented on each other's photography and shared sites.  I was looking at Flickr today and looked up his photostream (Flickr term). He has 50 some pages of wonderful photographs now. 

If you like landscapes, old buildings, vivid colors, and/or unique perspectives, you'll enjoy his work.  The link is included here.  I encourage you to take a look and leave him comments.

Good viewing!

http://bit.ly/hSZyAe

Astounding Underwater Sculpture Garden

Underwater Sculpture Haven

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor - You have to see this.  An artificial reef of human sculpture has been started near Cancun to relieve eco pressure on the natural reef caused by tourism.  The first link is to a gallery of stills.  The second is a Youtube of the site.

Youtube of the underwater sculptures

What dedication and generosity!  And what a good idea to create an attractive diving site that harbors sealife in order to relieve the natural area.  I'm just blown away by the art, altruism, and ingenuity of this artist and foundation.

One statue has a bladder inside that divers can fill so she blows bubbles.  Fish are hanging around and taking shelter and plant/animal life is already attaching to the sculpture.  I'm sure there is more footage available upon search.  I'm off to find it.  I just had to write this first.

Art House Sketchbook 2011

Time's up.  My sketchbook titled "I am a Scavenger" is to be postmarked by January 15.  I have a few pages to go but could send it anytime.  I have enjoyed making pages, mostly collage, on the theme.  I have a stash of left over paper, fabric, thread, and objects I have found.  One prize is a cup of shattered auto glass.  It is a cup of jewels.  As I worked, I developed an awareness that scavenging is recycling.  It may be a bit more focused on the finding, but both repurpose, reuse, fix, and rescue.

I selected this theme because I am a scavenger of sorts.  It is most evident to me when I walk.  I always expect to find a small treasure on the ground, street, or beach.

Art House displayed pictures of visitors to an exhibit of sketchbooks.  They had small stacks of sketchbooks and sat or stood leafing through them.  That would be very interesting.  link:

Art House - great place to see art.     In a few days I'll put all the pictures on Flickr and a link here if you'd like to see more scavenging.

Photograph Review - Brown Pelican

This is a photograph from an artist who sells on ETSY.com.  Her shop name is Eyeshuttertothink.  Great name for photography, eh?  I asked her if I could feature one of her photos here because I admire her work.  It is quite diverse in subject and style. (http://eyeshuttertothink.etsy.com/) I had another shot in mind as I started to write; but as I was looking for it, this one caught my eye; and looking at it brought tears to my eyes.  So this is the one!  It is called Brown Pelican.

Why tears?  Isn't that what art is about - feelings evoked by images?  I don't know why; it isn't a sad picture.  I think it is the beauty, wisdom, solitary condition, .... don't know for sure but he is beautiful and striking.  You will soon find a comment below from the photographer herself about her views on the photo. 

Please share your views, too.

Brown Pelican is reproduced with permission of the artist.  All rights are reserved.  Do not copy.

What's in a Treasury?

I'm posting some Treasurys from ETSY at the end of the blog posts. These are collections of ETSY sellers work that I picked out (curated) as interesting, beautiful, inspiring, etc. Take a peek.