International Artist Day

Do you consider yourself an artist?

What does it take to be an artist?

 I always wanted to be an artist,

but it is a hard thing to call myself.

 Right now my art is through the eye of the camera.

 Sometimes with a little embellishment.

 No, I am not Georgia O'Keeffe, but I can dream and enjoy her art.

 I can play in the garden and create little touches of JOY.

 Or play in the studio (gardenhouse).

 Do you dream of being an artist?

 Dreaming and appreciating others talents is also a gift.

 Did I say "gift"?

Yes, we each have our gift of creativity.

We can appreciate the gift of God in nature.

Maybe it is the special touches we make to a meal

or the gift of friendship to someone in need.

Little touches of art and creativity sing to my heart.

So happy International Artist Day to each of you.

Go out and enjoy art in your soul and all around you.

You might not be able to tell, but each of the photographs 

has been changed in slight ways, except for the one

of Georgia O'Keeffe.

Just for Fun, A Photoshoot

 Just for the pure JOY of snapping pictures,

I planned a photoshoot in my sister's orchard.

 Since I was driving I could take props and play a bit.

 Originally this was our grandfather's apple orchard.

Then it became our aunt and uncles orchard.

And then finally my sister has held onto 2 acres,

but she is thinking of selling; so I am very happy I took

the adventure to take pictures and bring home

a box of Gravenstein apples from the orchard.

 How fun to have one more time to play in the orchard

and walk the dusty trail under the trees.

 I brought my teapot and cups to meld

two loves, apples and tea time.

 Teatime was indeed enjoyed under the apple tree

and now there is applesauce in the cupboard

and a couple pie fillings in the freezer.

The tea in my cup that very day was Castleton Moonlight Imperial Darjeeling, First Flush 2017.

It was the perfect tea to sip while enjoying tea in the orchard.

Vintage Picnic Tea Time

What's not to like about this picture.

Recently I came across the picture at the antique mall.

I didn't purchase it, but took my camera out and took a picture.

So much dreaming and happy thoughts in this picture.

For me it combines both a cup of tea (or is it coffee) and a picnic outdoors.

I love that they had flowers on the table and sitting on a box.

I am trying to think what would they have served at this table with tea?

Did they make tiny cucumber sandwiches?

What kind of tea was in the cup?

Were they celebrating?

It seems like a gentle moment in time.

Sitting peacefully among the trees and grass,

But an effort was made to make it special.

How I would have loved sitting here,

listening to the conversation of the day.

Did you hear what Hazel did just the other day?

Oh, Mabel is expecting her 5th child soon.

Henry is out plowing the back 40.

And little William is off to school just down the road.

What are the plans for the church potluck celebration?

Yes, I can just imagine and dream along with them.

What do you think is in their cup?

What would they have served?

What is the conversation you are hearing?

linking with Bernideen:  http://blog.bernideens.com/

Walk with Me - grandson

 Recently I invited a 4 year old photographer, my grandson, to come on a walk with me.

The only instructions were to take pictures of things you liked or you noticed.

As you see, the first two photos he embellished.

 For me I was taking picture over the fence, but from his perspective

he took through the fence.

The first 6 photos are his and only his from his perspective

and his child's digital camera.

I love how the one right below turned out.

 It was a cloudy day, but perfect for a walk.

 Now the last three are mine and I just couldn't help capturing

my photographer walking along the Willamette River in downtown Portland.

He was looking and snapping away.

 We found this fish in the sidewalk and he wanted his new shoes in the picture.

What fun to walk with another photographer and see how they

view our surroundings.

Are you walking?

Find another photographer and take a walk on the wild side.

Still Life

 

 

 A few weeks ago I put Lightroom on my computer,

then the very next day I signed up for a 1 year online class

with Kim Klassen to do still life photography.

Whew! What a learning curve.

Here are some of my first photographs.

A crate was recommended for setting up a still life

and I realized I was keeping my props in a crate.

Unpacking the crate I played with apples and leaves.

 

Then as a backdrop I found a vintage chalk board works really well.

One rose, a vintage vase from my mom, and a chalk board

all agreed to play with me.

 At the very end the rose dropped it's petals in exhaustion.

 

What fun I am having!

What struggles in learning!

Time consuming, YES!

But all in all, it delights my heart.

What is delighting your heart today?

Lilacs

Just to cheer your day!

Lilacs from another year.

Delights my soul.

Since the first photo is showing up on Pinterest,

I thought I would share again.

The bicycle belonged to my father-in-law once upon a time.

The main lilac tree has now died, but it has left some

baby lilacs to take it's place.

Aren't they a gorgeous color?

I love nuzzling my nose right down in the blooms

and to breathe in the scent.

Happy Thursday, dear friends!

Don't forget to leave a comment on Tuesday's post for the give-away.

Tea in Stillness

The past 15 weeks I have been taking an online class

called StillSundays.

It is a photography class on still life's and just taking time to

savor the stillness, the quiet times of life.

This portfolio is a sampling of the photographs I have taken from my class.

We are encouraged to do a little photoshop work on them, but somehow

my stillness doesn't very often extend to photoshop.

These are straight out of the camera with maybe a crop or two.

For me seeing them all together has been fascinating.

I didn't realize I liked popping red into so much of my surroundings.

Red with white on the side plus tea throughout, that seems to be me.

A contrast for sure.

When you take photos, do you learn a bit about yourself?