Art and Music

One new painting finished. A few more paintings under way. Many, many sketches and doodles accomplished over the last week and a half. And I have a new reason to keep going. I have a deal with a musician friend of mine that goes like this-- "For every painting you do, I'll write a new song." And why not? He's a great musician, and I'm okay with what I do in the art realm. (I may have to enlarge our deal to include my photographs and collages.) And art and music do blend well together.

He and I have been thinking that to brainstorm out some ideas together, or to bounce energy and motivation off of one another would keep our momentum going. I think this just might work. And, while I don't have internet, and am using the public library, you'll have to make do with some recent-ish photos I've taken.

Trumpet Flower

Frozen Marsh

Winter Field

Bright, Shiny, Happy

A Little Abstraction

...never hurt anyone.

Since I've been on this photography kick lately, here are two of my abstract digital shots, taken on my Canon:

Since they ARE abstract, I'll let you decide what they might be. Oh, and no titles for these.

Minimal

Photos I took on my last trip to St George, Utah. I usually spend most of my photographing energy within slot canyons or while scrambling around with friends. But sometimes it is nice to switch things up. Wanting to find color swatches, I walked around part of "downtown" St George and found these beauties. It was right around sunset, and while I usually like bright sunny images or moody canyon shots, I found this subdued lighting rather lovely. What do you think?

Blades
(by the BLM office)

Meter

Hydrant

Station 2

Blades 1

These aren't my typical subjects, but oh how I love them. Turns out, if you want inspiration, sometimes it isn't so much the locale as a change in perspective that that is in order.

Desert Travel

Here are some recent desert findings:

Spirals

Valley of Fire State Park

Unfortunate Lizard (rib view)

Unfortunate Lizard (head view)

Birthday love

I just wanted to report that I got an awesome present from the Folks for turning another year older. I'm not sure what the big deal is. I mean, really, I should be giving my mom gifts on that day... but I'll go along with custom.
Now, it may have started from a recycled thought, but the product is brand new. My step-dad decided (again) that I might like a new digital camera*. It has been nearly 4 years since the first camera-giving, and even though it was an old idea, I'm more than satisfied with the new camera: a Canon PowerShot SX110 IS. A mouthful, I know. I can't even tell you just how excited I am about using it. Besides having all kinds of automatic and specific settings, it has a manual setting. It isn't quite a SLR, but I'm not quite there yet. Besides, I'm currently borrowing Jon's film SLR for practice, and any time we're out together, he lets me take all the digital SLR shots I can handle with his Nikon.
Now I'll be able to take really nice, crisp digital photos along with my Holga and toy camera shots. Oh the possibilities!

* I'm so grateful I have people in my life that support what I love and love me, and that my folks get me. I get that that's a big deal.