It's all about me..

Since the diagnosis about my celiac and the change in my diet my face has lost weight. I stopped doing the "me" shots because I got so depressed and put on a ton of weight. I didn't want to see the reflection of my poor health in my pictures. My health really depresses me.

I feel better, not so depressed, a little bitter, but better.

I'm going to take the me shots back up and try to really do them this time.  No real goal other then beating back the bitter betty and once a week I'll post a picture - full body - of how I'm looking.

I want to be a better portraiture and I started this in the first place because I heard it helps.

This picture is roughly 4 years ago when I started being a heavy outdoors person. This is right about when I got real sick. The harder I pushed, the sicker I got. hmmmm lol.

Here is a link to the old set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlshawn/sets/72157625762173336/

Here is what I look like recently (I'm looking through the periscope at MOIA)

Needless today it's not going to happen over night, it's going to take hard work again. I'm older now and have more work between diet and motivation this time. 

I truly believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It's not about being skinny, it's about feeling mentally healthy, physically better and just good in general. 

Tagging, organizing and cleaning up Flickr

Over the last several years I've collected pictures from hiking, friends and family as well as just random people, places and things.

I have not done a good job at maintaining the "photo data". If this was my day job I would have fired me a while ago. I started cleaning everything up and I don't have a plan I just look at a picture and decide where it should go. This process is going to take forever.

I've been thinking on this and decided to treat it like a project at work.
Identify the requirements - what are the common tags and so on...
Steps to accomplish the end result
start the process
mitigate any issues
and how can I prevent this mess from happening in the future.

I did figure I want all my art in one place as well as the projects they did.

Here is a link to the set for "MyArt"

My Art Set

Senior Pictures ~ Amateur Photographer

One day I want to be the kind of photographer that makes a ton of cash on my skill. Today it is a hobby. I have to work at my day job to pay for my hobbies. I can't afford to quit, study photography and then launch a photography career. I have kids and health issues that make it close to impossible for me to quit.

I do believe however, where there is a will there is a way. One day I will be that person who lugs all their equipment to the top of Mt Baker, spends the night and gets a world class morning sunrise shot because I'll be that good. Until then I practice around home, Whidbey Island, and on the kids.

The kids have it in their minds that I'm some kick booty photographer that can do the senior shots and other amazing head shots. um... insert crickets here...

I do ok, I mean I barely know photoshop and haven't updated to the latest version so I started using Gimp which was easier then I thought. I still don't have the picture I want.

Every picture I took of the oldest kid is either too dark, his head is tilted the wrong way, the sky is blown out, or he is out of focus oh and my favorites - I don't think I can submit as a senior picture. They don't fit that mold.

geeze so today around 3 we will go out and try again. Just go to a tree do the arms bent then and I'll use a covered flash to avoid the weird glare.

Here are my favorite mess ups.

Holidays fast approaching..

First I want to say I didn't manage the 30 days of crafting so well when my day job got intense. I'll start again November 1st and will combine pictures and drawing and crafting into 30 days of creative living.

Today I wanted to share this website I found 101 Handmade Christmas Ornaments. http://www.everythingetsy.com/2011/09/101-handmade-ornament-tutorials/

There are links on this page that link to other pages that have tutorials on how to make some amazing holiday ornaments. Don't be surprised if over the next 30 days of creativity if some of these pop up on here.

happy dance...

It will also give me an excuse to go visit the lovely ladies at my favorite crafting store down the street: https://www.facebook.com/TheRustyChandelier

There are actually three ladies that own the store together and I know it as The Rusty Chandelier but it's also Origami Owl and Collage Paper Arts. I just love all the supplies and ideas I get from them. They also are fun to talk to.

Check them out if you are ever in Oak Harbor

770 Pioneer WayOak Harbor, Washington 98277

Happy Halloween

Day 15 - falling up into chaos

I wasn't sure where I was going with this hot mess but now that its done I am ok with it.

I will say this was a great learning experience in the water color crayons and use of color as well as circles.

Day 14 of 30 days of art

I can't believe I've been so focused on this one piece. Last time I did 30 days if art I spent each day doing something different. This time I've spent a lot of time on this one piece.

I've decided I'm going for a classic Edward Gory meets Good Night Moon in color. After I put the texture down for the floor I added the window with a midnight blue sky and it looked like a flag. To get rid o the flag look I used gel and created a window frame along with adding texture to her hair.

Then I added the great yellow moon and copper rivets to hold up the wall.

I did some dry brushing to make the floor look like a floor.

I still have more to do obviously. I think it needs a bird and a cat and something to make the doorway into the room look more convincing.

Day 10 art study in lines on black

There is a section in each tangle book I read that talks about grids. Grids elude me. Today's study was a line study in a grid on black paper.

The secret to a good grid is being able to create depth without shadowing. I don't feel I'm able to capture that yet. It's got to be in the perspective.

Here is my attempt for today.