Over the River and Through the Woods

Breathing life back into this blog.  This semester I am taking Photography 101 and seeing how even the basics I learned about composition and design come in very handy here.  My first photo shoot was at Fort Eustis during land navigation training.  The premise was to shoot subjects farther away, then progressively closer.  This project was a fun and simple way to get used to looking through the camera lens instead of looking for the intimate subjects I usually like to draw.

Here are my final submissions.

 Being an overcast and chilly day, I think it worked out pretty well that the final photos had to be submitted in black and white.   There were a few others I really liked as well, but have learned the hard lesson of editing out what won't fit in a series.

First Portrait

 With votes topping out at 249, this is the winning photograph for my For Your Service project.  With limited information to go on, I have gone ahead and started the first painting.  I'm thinking of my own experience heading toward Afghanistan.  After the commercial flights with everyone where it was a little easier to feel normal, we separated off on military flights where the whole idea of where we were heading began to feel much more real.  Thoughts of what would greet us when we landed kept spinning through my head.  Looking around, most soldiers had their eyes closed.  Ahead was a year of unknown, but we were ready.

For Your Service is about all of those moments we as U.S. military service members go through.  I continue to have hope that this project will be successful. I am not at all good at marketing or figuring out how to spread the word.  I paint- that is what I do, but I am doing what I can to keep this project alive.  I am hoping that as I do this first portrait, it will shed a little light on the project for those that are "following" that haven't looked into what it is really about.

I have pursued my art projects all in my free time, and with a full time job, full time school, the Army Reserve, and everything else a mortgage and car payment entail, there is very little time left.  I recently listed a few older pieces and some new Minis! on Ebay to fund the project, but nothing has come of it so far.  Selling online hasn't been a lucrative avenue for a few years, but I thought it was worth a shot.

I will continue to post updates on the project here, as well as on the Facebook page.

For Your Service FAQ

How do I submit photos?

Post photos on the For Your Service Facebook wall.  Please include some history of the subject or the story behind the photo.

How do I invite friends to the page?

Click the “share” link in the drop down menu just underneath the cover photo on the right.

What kind of picture can I post?

Any personal photo of a uniformed U.S. service member, from any branch any time.  Mainly, it cannot be a photo that is copyrighted by anyone other than yourself.  Each subject, or submitter of the winning photo depending on circumstances, will sign a release giving all rights to the painting and any duplicates to the artist.

What is the purpose of this project?

I initiated this project as a way of honoring our American military. Being a member of the USAR, an OEF veteran, and in school working toward my degree in Art Therapy, this project is very dear to me, and I chose this method of sharing personal stories of our veterans through their portraits that many not associated with the military may never see.  For the most part, the news shows either one extreme or the other- the best and worst examples of our men and women in uniform.

This project will highlight the majority, the everyday “Joe” if you will.  Having the main platform on Facebook opens this project up to the largest audience of soldiers and their supporters as well as patrons of the arts. 

Does the winner/subject get the painting?

The subject and/or submitter will get a full-sized duplicate of the painting, but the original will remain with the series as it travels to art shows, fairs, and wherever else pops up as appropriate. 

Will the paintings be for sale?

No.  This is a personal project.  Not just for me, but for those submitting the photos and the subjects of those photos.  Prints, postcards, and other media featuring the portraits will be for sale, and all profits from this project will go right back into funding its continuation.

What is the donated money and profits stemming from this project used for exactly?

This will eventually be a traveling series, heading to art fairs and being submitting to galleries.  On top of entry fees and advertising, prints and other media will need to be purchased in bulk to offer them at a lower price to you. Also, I will be working on a book that chronicles the project, shares other submitted photos and stories, and provides more info on other ways the military and arts community work together.

How are winners chosen?

Each month I will create an album on the Facebook page featuring all submitted photos.  Winner will be chosen by popular vote- the photo with the most “likes” wins.  The best way to increase your photos chances is by tagging yourself and/or subject in it, sharing it, and getting your friends to share and “like” it.

How can I help?

There is a link to Donate on my blog  http://livingartloud.blogspot.com/   Donations of $10 or more will receive 10% off of any commissioned portrait and a postcard featuring any piece you choose from my current gallery.

Main project page is on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ForYourServiceProject

FOR YOUR SERVICE

Since my GeoCities site won't allow me to have a Paypal button, I am going to have it here.  --->
I believe in this project, and insist on keeping it alive.  the For Your Service Facebook page will be where most of the action is, but donations will be directed here.  Any questions or comments, just message me through the Facebook page!

Art That Pops

It has been awhile since I mentioned it- it has been a busy semester.  I also only just got this back.  Here is my paper for my English class describing some basic techniques for fun paintings that anyone can do.
Next time I get around to it, I might add some step be step pictures to make it better as a tutorial.

Holy Wow! An Update!

The lack of posts is due to finally being back in school full time, though for my English class I have had to start a    new blog : http://dustjacketstudio.blogspot.com/  I am working on a paper for class right now, too, in which I will be explaining the process I go through when doing my paintings.  If I am satisfied with the final paper, I will be posting it here in a couple weeks!

MINIS!!!

So, I have never really done any small drawings or paintings, but I am embarking on a new adventure of a series of 4x4" canvas panel paintings.  While I am right in the middle of another set, I am being drawn to this new project as well.  Still working on both, I am surrounded be a group of "works in progress" but still haven't overwhelmed myself yet.  I get distracted easily, and oftentimes set one project aside for another, but have this time chosen to keep everything out where it stares at me, allowing my attention to go to the one I am at that moment most drawn to.  Hopefully this will keep these pieces from going to the back burner, only to fall off the stove altogether like usual.

busy workstation

That't Joan Jett under way on the left in yellow, and David Bowie soon to come on the right.  They would go great for someone who likes to display album covers.

For the minis, I have in mind an upbeat and fun series that I don't think anyone could avoid finding the fun in!

background for the very first Mini!

Today's Recipe of the Day is my own.  I have been making this a lot since I've been home, and might just be addicted!  I don't have a name for it, but maybe someone could suggest one.

Ingredients:

2 eggs

Tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup fresh chopped red pepper

Texas Pete to taste

Using a small skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, then add peppers and salsa.  Mix for a minute or so then add eggs- one on each side to evenly cover pan.  Oil should keep eggs from merging, so after a few minutes (depending on how well done you like your eggs) flip eggs individually.  Sprinkle Texas Pete to taste.  Once eggs have cooked to your preference, slide entire contents onto plate.  Mmm  :)