The Naturalist

I'm quickly becoming addicted to my film camera. A quick glance into my purse will reveal spare film rolls and empty canisters. So, obviously I was like a giddy schoolgirl when the old Canon, Dave and I went to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. I had a sense of wonder inside the Naturalist Center, an interactive room filled with taxidermy animals, insect specimens and jars of dead sea life. I think I even did a happy dance at one point. You may be wondering - why the morbid joy? Well, I love when science collides with art and photography. There is something imaginative, even slightly off about these type of photographs. Like in these museum and science inspired posts - Animal Logic, The Mounted Life and my favorite Natural Exhibits.

Hopefully you understand my odd curiosity for these objects...or else you think I'm a crazy person posting gross stuff on my blog. I'm not...really I'm not! Just a little crazy about science and photography...hope you enjoy.

Oh, and isn't the wild, teeth bearing animal a little insane? I included it for a good laugh...boy, sometimes I feel like that in the morning!

Parasol Magazine (and I'm in it!)

YAY! I'm super excited for the release of Parasol Magazine created by the talented Yasmine from A Print a Day. The magazine is gorgeous and chock-full of inspiring art and design. I'm flattered to have my vintage finds featured in this issue along with MANY amazing artists and designers. You don't want to miss this...download your free copy HERE!

See the really awesome locker set in the picture? Don't worry vintage junkies...more photos and details coming up!

Orchids

Seagrove, North Carolina is a small town known for its rich pottery traditions and many amazing, local potteries. But, on a recent trip I discovered another wonderful Seagrove site - the Seagrove Orchids. The greenhouse was filled with rows and rows of beautiful and colorful orchids. Of course, I immediately spazzed out with my camera!

My good ol' film camera did a great job of capturing the true colors of these amazing flowers. Besides a little cropping I kept the original photos...no fancy Photoshop coloring or black and white conversions. I love post-processing and coloring techniques, but my creative subconscious kept saying, "Let the subjects speak - leave it alone!" So I did...and I'm very glad.

While flipping through the photos I could literally smell fresh flowers. Crazy how photographs can play tricks on your senses. Here's to a bright week ahead and to remember to smell the flowers along the way.

Need Your Input

You guys are amazing and clever, which is why I'm asking for your help and creative thoughts. My former design school is having a silent auction for postcard art submitted by students and alumni. I wanted to have fun with this project and thought...hmm...what's fun? Vintage stuff is fun. Ah-ha - vintage postcards! Luckily a local shop had a ton of old postcards, and I bought several to play around with.

I've recently been inspired by text and images, so here's my thought - I would like to paint happy and motivating phrases on the vintage postcards. Maybe even travel related?

Do you have an inspiring phrase for these postcards? It could be a simple thought...maybe something you tell yourself to get motivated or words that popped into your mind on a great trip. Please let me know and if I pick your phrase I'll be sure to send you something lovely. I truly appreciate your thoughts and ideas - I'm excited to brainstorm with you!

Fond Memories

Last week's Unravelling assignment was to photograph memories. I decided to rummage through old photographs of my mother and grandmother. After the photos were developed I realized I didn't do what was asked...I was supposed to photograph MY memories. But, I still liked the results and wanted to share. Plus, it was great to re-capture these photos with special items like my grandmother's necklaces and vintage gloves.

My favorite photos were the cute and playful pictures of my grandmother on a slide and my grandfather on a swing. I also love the white book filled with photos of my grandmother and a lock of her hair. She gave that book to my grandfather before he went to World War II. In the last photo my Mom is holding a picture of herself with my great grandmother...such a sweet moment. I had so much fun documenting these wonderful memories!

As far as photography...ohh I'm still learning. I feel like I have little control over the camera and settings, which results in blurry and dark photos. The learning curve can be fun because I never know what to find in the one hour envelope, but also frustrating when the photos don't come out! So, we'll see...I'll keep learning and experimenting.

Day at the Park

Even through my sickly snuffles I was determined to enjoy the warm weather and use my film camera this weekend. The cold medicine must have made an impact because I photographed everything blurry - probably because that is how my head felt! But, is it wrong to love these blurry moments, maybe even intentionally create these blurred events?

These nontechnical photos still capture my emotions that day at the park. It was daylight savings...my head was a bit fuzzy...the park was a nice escape...and the time changed.

I also got a chance to work on an Unravelling assignment to photograph your reflection - check them out on Flickr.

Do you ever think blurry thoughts?

Snow Days

Snow is rare in my North Carolina town, so when the winter flurries arrive it's quite a treat and provides beautiful photographic opportunities. After Monday's big snow storm I grabbed my old 35mm and digital camera to document this special occasion. As much as I want spring to arrive, it was nice to give winter a proper good-bye.

A snow covered bridge hiding in a forest of trees.

An icy bog filled with snowy trees...I find this spot so magical.

Delicate and amazing icicles dangling from my window view.

I love this old house on a snow white hill, which I pass on my way to work each day. I always get lost in imagining the people and stories of past hiding within.

I even love the blurry photos...the fading of winter into spring.

Hello Feet

Remember my Love for Feet and the Unravelling: Ways Of Seeing My Self creative online photography course? As promised here are some of the images from my first assignment to photograph my feet. The first two photographs were taken during my sick day, thus the lazy feet at the end of my loving bed, the mound of tissues on the floor, and my favorite slippers. The last photo is simply...I'm short, Dave's tall and it always makes for a tip-toed kissing experience. Overall the class has been fun and thought provoking...I'm excited to see my photographs evolve. I only wish for a better camera instead of my dinky point-and-shot digital camera. One day...but for now it will have to do!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend...here's to a healthier, more productive week ahead.

I Love Resin

Last week we talked about science in art but never got a chance to finish our discussion. I would like to conclude this topic with one of my pieces titled Cells. This piece is special to me because it was the first time I worked with the amazing material resin, a viscous liquid that hardens like plastic.

Resin + Me: My love for resin started in a cosmic way. One semester at university I felt creatively blocked and very uninspired. In an attempt to regain my artistic juices I wandered the library in search of inspiration. Row after row, book after book...nothing. Feeling dissatisfied and frustrated I stood in the middle of a row of books. I closed my eyes and prayed, wished and hoped for some kind of inspiration. In that moment a particular book grabbed my attention. I opened it and out fell a small book hidden between the pages. I looked down at the fallen book, and there it was...a book about resin. My heart skipped a beat and deemed this incident as fate. I don't recall the book and didn't use resin right away, but the thought of resin lingered in my mind until I was ready. The material is now a consistent medium I love to work with, although I have been searching for a more eco-friendly version. Amazing how things work out.

About the piece: Cells was a creative step for me...I used new materials and actually listened to my instincts. Notice a similarity to Ailments? Both pieces are about the body and incorporate red string and wax. Cells dealt more with the creative process, which included making tubes from woven copper to stand in the resin. I was obsessed with tubes...something about their shape and infinite nature. These elements came together to form a piece resembling skin, blood vessels and bodily cells. I also molded the resin to mimic a curved back and form a deeper association to the human body.

This piece was featured in an art show where I was able to watch the public reactions. Future doctors and science majors peered through the translucent resin perplexed with curiosity. Others probably thought I was a crazy-weird art student! I realized that even if you don't study biological sciences or become a doctor, you are still capable of using science in art to make an impact.

Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoyed this piece as much as I did creating it.

Ailments

We've been discussing science in art this week, and if you missed it see here and here. I mentioned my interest in combining science and art, and looks like I'm not alone - many of you expressed the same interest! I also promised to post some of my own artwork which incorporated science. This piece is called Ailments and it was one of my first major design projects. Not necessarily my best, but it helps show the beginning of my fascination with science and art.

The project started after a good friend had surgery due to a blood condition in his brain. Before my friend's surgery he showed me the x-rays of his brain. Probably sounds odd, but he knew I would be interested. I mean, come on...x-rays of a brain...who could pass that up?! Even though the surgery was scheduled the medical issue was quite sudden and unexpected, which worried me and my friends. I took my uncertainty and worry, along with his x-rays, and made art. Ailments is constructed of copied x-rays starting from the brain (my friend's x-rays) to the feet. I sewed red thread dipped in wax onto each transparent x-ray to symbolize life and pain.

The piece was presented in an art show where I was able to see how the public interacted with the work. I watched how people would gently run their fingers through the hanging string...like it was comforting. I realized the piece helped me deal with the emotions of my friend's condition, and touched others who experienced similar events. Today my friend is very well, the surgery was a huge success....and thus began my attraction to mixing science and art.

I hope you enjoyed - thanks for listening. I'll post another science related work this week - stay tuned!