Head Above Water

Current deadlines threaten to overwhelm me, so why did I decide to take scuba lessons now? Bad timing! Especially since I'm doing my best to keep my head above water. Seems so wrong to breathe under the surface.

I am processing photos for a hotel job right now. They are mostly sepia, so require post processing. I have another project just resizing and processing a client's photos. That's not something I would ordinarily do, but these are unusual times, aren't they?

My pilot boyfriend and I went to San Antonio and the Hill Country over the weekend. It's the week of my dad's 94th birthday so we went for that, but made a side trip to do photographic research for a project. It's bluebonnet season and we expected fields full of blue flowers, plus the red Indian paintbrush. Looked high and low, but it's a bad year for wildflowers in that area. Pretty scarce.

Took my dad up to the Tower of the America's for a birthday lunch. We ate assorted appetizers, and Victor broke from the mold and tried Ahi Tuna for the first time. He liked it! And my Dad liked Victor, so it was a win-win for me.

My projects are all on track, but with a heavy painting schedule for me. I'll be worn out by November when my last project is shipped out. Guess I'll be ready for a dive trip then!

Fun With Frames

To most painters the word "frame" refers to mounting and wood moulding that holds a work of art. It means that to me, too, but as a digital photographer I'm also referring to artistic borders applied to a photograph. Something to set it apart as "art" as opposed to "snapshot".

It's a beautiful day, one that encourages time outdoors. The weather says "Spring" but the calendar says "don't be fooled". My flower beds are in dire need of attention, but this 70 degree day will surely be followed by more days in the thirties. It's not safe to plant yet.

I've got lots of creative work to do this weekend. I will be putting a new proposal together for my client at Texas Clinic. Also have a lot of design work for a new hotel project that includes lots of 3d pieces. Good challenge.

Then I might just spend some time on a lounge chair in the sun...

Inspiration of the Day: 72 degrees

Claiming My Share

Texas Bluebonnet, print size 23.5 x 39.5

I've been listening to The Secret, and am still surprised at how easily negative thoughts can erase a good mood. But I am persevering, and claiming my share of the abundance of the universe. I know that sounds all "woowoo", but hey, whatever works, right? I once read a mathematical computation that concluded there was plenty of money in the world for every person to have much more than they need. I think of that every time I have a moment of worry about paying the mortgage (for example). At least when my flat screen Samsung went out this week I still had two weeks left on the warranty!

I've got another big job headed my way this week, a purchase order for almost a thousand photographic prints. One of them is a big bluebonnet that I shot just this year during the bountiful wildflower season nurtured by heavy Spring rains. This will be a great opportunity to use both big printers at once. Smokin'!

I've got another painting almost finished for Texas Clinic, photos tomorrow.

Going Through the Motions

Poppies and Bluebonnets

It's somehow soothing to work on a series of paintings that I've done so many of. The process is complicated, but familiar. I don't have to stress out over them, but still strive to make each one perfect.

There are 18 paintings in various stages of progress in my studio right now. One is in my printer waiting for me to decide which photo gets printed. Some are 12 x 24, the others are small, only 8 x 16.

Since I have these paintings under control, I took a few hours off yesterday to check the status of the thick bluebonnet fields south of Dallas. Amazing! I think this is the best year ever for wildflowers. And one very kind rancher planted poppies in with the wide swath of bluebonnets at his gate.

Inspiration for the day: symmetry

Everybody in Texas

Bluebonnet season is the only time some Texans get out their cameras. But everybody in Texas has hundreds of bluebonnet pictures. Popular poses are kids in the flowers. It was a first to see the guys on the motorcycles posing on their rides. But I even saw an elderly lady with a crutch get out of the car and amble over to a rolling blue hill yesterday. There's something about the color that appeals to everyone.

I took way too many pictures but I"m glad I did. I've deleted half of them already. And today is very windy, the weekend weather report sounds horrendous (snow showers in Texas in April?), and it may have been my only chance this year.

I'm working on a very large digital painting. I'm out of my comfort zone, since this is not the way I usually create, so we'll see what happens. And I' guess it's about time I got started on those 24 photo paintings my rep on the west coast ordered.

Bikers and Bluebonnets

I found the bluebonnets - lush fields of ultramarine, periwinkle and white. It was a good day out in the country. Even made some new friends! That's me in the middle. I almost look blonde again.

Off to the Country

I've finished the spa installation and will be delivering it this morning on my way south on I45 in search of bluebonnets. We've had some wild weather recently, and this is the most promising day so far. Weeks of grey skies have broken with some spring storms, and now it's only in the 50s this morning, with a waning moon. That means clear skies. I hope I can find some fields which have not been decimated by the floods and hail.

I'll report back.