Grass Seed

Playing around with the filters on my Lumix camera. This is using one of the filters, however I didn't keep notes so can't remember for sure which one. I'll have to play again tomorrow.

This one tweaks the saturation a bit... I love how the colors turned out!

Today is my last scheduled shift at the store.  I am becoming a full time artist and Etsy Shop Owner, without the distraction of working for someone else. It's a bit sad, as I'll so miss working with everyone; and a bit scary to be venturing on my dream, however very very exciting!

Happy Monday!

Sharing with

Mini Art Birds

Busy working on my "inventory" for the Holiday Festival... when I'm not taking photographs for my online class. Actually, these three little birds will be added to my Etsy shop over the weekend. There will be a series of very similar little birds at the Festival again this year along with other fun things I'll share along the way.

On another note, here's a photo from a class assignment showing shallow depth of field. I got a good note from Steve, the instructor, so at least I did this one correctly. *grins*

 

Now to go take photos showing motion and blur. Regarding online courses... it's nice to be able to listen to the videos a few times to really get what he's talking about. (and so I do it right the first time too...lol)

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin. 

Sunny July Low Tide

Well, it was actually two days past the lowest minus tide but I was working so couldn't head to the shore until yesterday. We visited three shoreline areas along Bellingham Bay for a couple of relaxing hours during the low tide.

These photos are part of the Day Two assignment in Riding Bareback.  I did not do it correctly (I missed that I was supposed to capture a shallow depth of field in the assignment) but here are a few of the photos from my Canon Powershot SX40HS set at F2.7.

Beachcomber

 Lifeguard chair

Pilings

Sailboats

And hey, it was a gloriously sunny day and the photos I took made me very happy, and I am learning how to deal with my fancy schmancy camera, so all is good! :)

Carla's Online Summer Art Camp

Anyone up for summer camp? 

This week I'm taking

I have learned so much in just one day! Steve explains things so clearly that I may actually have an idea of what I'm doing with my camera by the end of the week. 

Photo's to follow soon. 

You can find out more about Carla's Summer Art Camp classes by clicking the button in my sidebar. 

Happy Bird and Soar

Happy Bird has been featured in a Cheerful Chirpers Treasury Collection on Etsy.

And Soar Butterfly has been included in this Sweet Vintage Cottage Decor Treasury as well! 

Both posted just this morning. Yay for being promoted on Etsy! 

I'm in the midst of making more little canvases and ornaments with happy birds and soaring butterflies. I'm participating in the Holiday Festival of the Arts put on by Allied Arts again this year, and am in a busy busy mode plotting new things to have for sale. It's a fun creative time!

Field of Buttercups

Field of Buttercups 8x8 canvas

Field of Buttercups, an abstract mixed media canvas that includes recycled bits of lace and antique buttons along with netting, torn papers and beads. Inspired by the rolling hills on the Washington Palouse filled with yellow flowers. New in my Etsy Shop.


Sharing with the artists at Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin

Color of Happy - Part Two

A few of my friends and family on Facebook added to the "colors of happy" list   

Orange

Orange Poppy

Red

Tall Red Bee Balm

Green - the color of growing things

Nasturtium Leaves after the rain

The color of happy

Asked a question at a demo I was giving last week: What color is happy?  Here are the answers, and my photos with the specified colors...

Yellow! 

Blue! 

Hot Pink! 

What color is YOUR happy? And why? 

There will be one or two additions to The Color of Happy... I've also asked my family and friends and will compile a post (or two) on their answers.

Speaking of colors, this little book was just listed in my Vintage Etsy shop: 

Shadow Family

Spending too much at work this week, combined with a slew of appointments with son and busy Etsy shops (a good thing) left me little time to create.  Although I did fit in a bit of digital playing around... 

Shadow Family

Captured souls in silhouette. 

Do they still exist?

This is the original photograph.

Sharing with Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin. 

My Escape

There is something about reading a good book. 

A real live you-can-feel-and-smell-it book. 

My relaxation in the evening is curling up on my little couch and losing myself in a good book. You know, the kind where you turn real pages to find out what's happening next. 

I guess I'm a bit old fashioned.

And I'm okay with that.




photo credit: http://piccsy.com/2012/09/my-escape. 
I did not discover the identity of the photographer. 

Fuchsia Blooms

Deep pink buds promise

dainty ruffles on long legs.

Simple summer joys.

These flowering fuchsia's wintered over in the garage, and were transplanted and moved to the front porch a month ago. They are blooming wonderfully with the recent warm weather. So dainty and pretty. They make me happy. 

Blue Iris

Abstract Digital Composition - Blue Iris

Sharing with Paint Party Friday hosted by Eva and Kristin. 

Happy Fourth of July!

Warm sunshine! Clear Skies!

Light fluffy clouds drift along

Encasing heart of blue.

I loved this heart that drifted by with the clouds. 

Happy Fourth of July to my American Friends! 

Wandering...

De-stressing practice.

Wandering the beach. Comfort

for the ravaged soul. 

Photo taken during a recent wandering of a local beach before heading for work. 

I was upset, and did not want to go to work. I needed to resolve a few issues and really needed more time for quiet walking, listening to the waves and the gulls calling. 

I just did not have the time. Story of my life of late....

Just as I was turning to go back (so I would not be late to work), I saw this heart poking out of the sandy "rubble". It wasn't until I got home and saw the picture that I noticed other little hearts surrounding it. Although perhaps I'm just being whimsical. 

How many hearts do YOU see?