Paint Brush App

I tried a new art drawing and painting app on my iPhone. I was on my lunch while I was working my last nightshift. So the depth of my creativity is at a all time low! I looked at the cover of the library book that I am currently reading and decided to give it a go. Not the best but it was fun way to while away part of my lunch hour.

Can you guess the name of it from this awful representation???!!!!

However, I really need to get reading this book since I have to return it to the library next week. I doubt that I will be able to renew it since it is popular and it likely has a hold on it by another member. Bummer. So I need to get off of this computer and "get reading"!!

Sunrise on Snow and Ice

Happy St Paddy's day to all from a girl whose descendants hail from County Clare, Ireland!

I love the internet! I love reading Canadian Geographic and the plethora of other similar and not so similar sites out there devoted to artistic photography. I belong to the school of photography that says that one only needs to open their eyes and look around them for the beauty that is everywhere. One only needs to be spontaneous and seize the moments as they come (as often as one can!). Not sure if there actually is a "school" of thought out there that adheres to this maxim but I think there should be. I don't have any really expensive equipment; just two point and shoot camera's. One of them travels with me everywhere and the other only when the weather is a bit more "seasonal" for such equipment.

I'm still baffled about what exactly drove me to go down to the lake following my nightshift but I'm glad I did. I got some really fabulous snaps! Afterwards I did think that my fingers were going to snap off because they were so cold. When I got safely back in my warm car, I stuck them on my neck and blew on them before putting my gloves back on!

I was very happy and satisfied that listening to my intuition meant I didn't miss this excellent opportunity. Sometimes all things "happenstance" are just the best! Don't you think so too??

I just love the one above and find it interesting that my point and shoot camera could capture the colour in all it's glory. I didn't have to do much manipulating of the picture other than to straighten it. I realize now that when I'm that tired I seem to "list" to the right or left. All of the pictures I took actually LOOKED slightly OFF. At first, I thought that there might be another problem but no, it is just simple human exhaustion. I think a tripod would be a good solution too. However, I would certainly have to be dressed properly for the weather; as it was the elements took it's toll on me!

I love the surreal quality of the pictures as the light reflects off of the ice and snow. There was lots of activity down at the lake for so early in the morning (0730 hrs) but it was the day that the ice hut fishermen were to take their huts off. March 15th is the cut off date, come rain or shine. It was a beautiful day and the following one was raining. So, it seems that the selection of that "arbitrary" date is not so arbitrary after all! We can't let these "structures" get stuck on the ice and then fall to the bottom of the lake - to become garbage and pollutants.

As I look at these now, I am listening to a song titled "Didja Dream?", didgeridoo music from the Dreaming Didgeridoo album (from iTunes). A perfect accompaniment to this post, almost as surreal as the photograph.

A Wee Rabbit

I have been wracking my brains trying to think of a way to get a picture of the rabbits that come to feed at our bird feeder. I have seen their backsides only as they take off like a shot when I round the corner of the driveway. I had even considered purchasing a "game camera" at Canadian Tire, it automatically take snaps of wildlife that activates the motion sensor in the camera. However, I thought the price was a bit steep for what I want to use it for. So, I only have to try and get a snap of the racoon now!! I'll have to put my thinking cap on for that one!

This morning as I pulled up and parked I saw his head pop up, so I waited and watched. I finally had to go in because the car was beginning to get very cold at 07:30 hrs this morning. I noticed that he had returned when I got inside the house.

So there is one of the snaps that I got of him before the alarm bells settled in and he took off like a shot once again!

I have no idea if I missed a better opportunity to to catch him again at the feeder because my pillow was calling my name!

Watermarking Photo's

I forgot that I need to watermark my photo's for 2011! It totally slipped my mind somehow.

So here is one where I have tried to have the watermark not be so.... in your face but it is definitely there and the photo would not likely be used by anyone else. At least, not as "the photo" in it's own right. That is all that I really want. we should already know by now that if something is on "the net" then it is "out there for all to see"!

So here is a little drawing that I completed yesterday; I wanted to draw something....anything because it has been awhile since I have. I have been concentrating on hand stitching in my "altered book birthday card" (to be shown here after completion). It was slow going at work yesterday morning so I had a bit of time to put my 2B pencil to a page in my sketchbook!

I think that this particular watermark is the best choice so far, it really is "just right". I'd like to thank one of the girls at work for mentioning that all the "professionals" use one similar to this. Okay, so I'm not a professional by any stretch but the truth is I would like to appear to be knowledgable about what is considered "professional".

I don't normally watermark my pencil drawings if I can apply my name somewhere but I was just doing this as a test especially over a lighter background.

As my art instructor said to me in university, I should not be so hard on myself when it comes to making art. I am so good at criticizing my work and I must constantly remind myself that I enjoyed the process of making art, therefore there really is little need to be so negative; besides, this is a quick drawing in a sketchbook!!!

Okay, so this is not the most fantastic picture but it still makes me smile! I do love garlic almost as much as I love onions, food does not taste right without one or the other!