Wednesday, November 28, 2012

A new camera accessory

Look what I got in the mail the other day - a fancy new camera strap!

Besides being pretty and super comfy, it's got an attached pocket to hold my lens cap.

But best of all, it's got quick detaching straps for the 90% of the time when I don't want a strap attached to my camera while taking photos!

My only qualm is it's a little long, so I have the adjustable straps almost as short as they'll go, and there's all that extra strap just hanging around. But then, I'm pretty short, and it doesn't take a whole lot of strap to have my camera hanging down around my belly button! I had them cinched up most of the way on my Canon strap too.

Like it? Go get your own at Made By Meegz on Etsy.

On a side note, taking photos with my old FujiFilm REALLY makes me appreciate my Canon!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A look inside the photo titling process

I'll say this right up front - I am TERRIBLE at titling my artwork! I hate it! I'm not one that thinks a title will make or break a piece, but it certainly can enhance it.

Many of my drawings are untitled because I simply cannot come up with anything that I think is a good title.

"Untitled", 2006

Some have obvious titles that I tacked onto them just so I could call them something, but I would change them in a moment if something better came along.

"Newborn", 2005

Then there's the few where a good title has actually presented itself.

"Rear View", 2009

And the ones where my wonderful fans have suggested titles.

"Surrender", 2010

None of those situations would work when entering Ex Arte Equinus. I didn't want to send in untitled photos, the "obvious" titles were pretty pathetic, and no one had any suggestions for me. I was left with coming up with fantastic titles all on my own.

This was the first photo to name:

I decided to just write down a list of all the words that came to mind while looking at the photo. 

Literally, wherever my mind went, I wrote it down. Then I went back and looked over the words to see if any went together. I liked the "back door" idea, and the next word I wrote, "behind", inspired "Behind the Scenes". I considered "Behind the Scenes Look" and "Behind the Scenes View" also, but decided to go with the simple version.

The other photo I had to name was the one that really stumped me. I had absolutely no ideas. Again, I just started writing every word that came to mind looking at the photo.

At the end, I had an odd list of random words, but the treasure idea stuck with me, and I decided to go with "Buried Treasure".

So there it is - the method I'll probably use for naming most of my artwork in the future.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sketchbook Sunday - November 25

Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving! Due to the holiday week, along with working more this week (co-worker on vacation), and just needing a break after two drawings in a row with deadlines, it was a slow week in the studio.

So you get a special treat this week - a look into one of my old sketchbooks. This sketch is dated 8/29/02. It was my first sketch for my Intro to Studio class in college. We were taken outside and told to do a drawing combining a natural element with a man-made element. This was my interpretation of that assignment.


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sketchbook Sunday - November 18

This past week, I finished the bison commission. After showing him to the client, she requested I add a tail, and I really like how that balances him out.

In my art lessons, I'm working on the final assignment for the lesson on foreshortening. In order to follow the instructions, I have to work up from the line of action, skeleton, basic shapes, muscle structure, etc. It really goes against the way I typically work. I know it's kind of hard to see. The lines are so light at this point that even upping the contrast doesn't do a whole lot. I'll have better photos next week.

I didn't do much sketching this week since I was working on finishing the bison. In fact, this flower was the only sketching I did this week.

I also have been playing around with Photoshop Elements that I got for my birthday last week. Here's one of the photos that I worked on editing this week. There were just little bits of another horse in the background that were kind of distracting, and I took him out - love being able to do that!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Sketchbook Sunday - November 11

The bison is coming along well I think. I'm considering extending the front legs more and having them fade away below the tufts of hair. I'm hoping to meet up with the client soon to get her opinion.

Working on exaggerated foreshortening in my lessons. Only one more practice drawing before finally starting the assignment.

 And since it was a bit of a frustrating week, I decided to play with some color in my sketching. This is from a photo of a beautiful stained glass window.

These will be the last photos you will see from Picmonkey.com. I got Photoshop Elements 11 this past week and am excited to start editing photos with that!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Sketchbook Sunday - November 4

Sorry for the lack of post last week. I was completely consumed with choosing, editing, and naming photos for the Ex Arte Equinus competition.

It was back to drawing this week. Drawing yet more figures for my Art Instruction Schools foreshortening lesson.

Sketching from a photo I took of a group of hay bales covered with snow.

And continuing to work on the bison.

I'm really excited because this past week, I got a great deal and ordered Photoshop Elements 11! No more editing with Picmonkey.com. As great as it is, especially for a free site, I'm ready for something more advanced. Elements will be arriving just in time for my 30th birthday!
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