The Unveiling, The Background

     One day last Spring, my daughter and I visited the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in New York.  This is an amazing place filled with various farm animals that had been abused and neglected and were saved from slaughter.  Their stories are sad, but their outcomes are wonderful.  We were given a tour, heard many stories and met the dedicated workers of this place.
     This is a picture of Peter the pig out in the field receiving physical therapy.  The story of this pig is so sad.  He was only 9 months old there.  A man took him in as a piglet, but neglected him, kept him in a garage on the pavement and fed him nothing but junk food.  Peter did not have any exercise and just sat around getting bigger and bigger.  The man realized he could not manage this pig anymore and Peter was given to this rescue sanctuary.  When he was found, he could not get up; he was so big, he just sat on the ground with his back legs stretched out to the sides.  Peter needed 2 hours of PT daily and we were there to watch him try to stand up, squealing, rebelling all the way.  When he was finally standing, he needed so much encouragement to start walking, but he did, and there was a reward for him after he walked out in the field a certain distance.  I sent an email to this sanctuary this summer when I didn't see Peter on the website, and I was told he was doing very well, they just rotate showing their animals.  It would be nice if you took a moment to look at their website.
     This sanctuary is on a beautiful piece of land, surrounded by wonderful mountains.  When realizing my dreary background was not right for the horse picture, I realized that Photoshop could help me create a nicer background.  I really loved this background.  Keep reading, the final picture is coming soon, but there is just one more touch to be added before I could say "fini".  Thank you.
Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary 

The Unveiling, Voila! The Horse is Behind the Fence

     I was so excited to learn how to cut out an image for editing a picture, and to combine two pictures.  I used the pen tool to slowly click away at the horse to save it, and the erased the stall background.  The fence picture was put on another layer.  The horse was placed over the fence layer, adjusting the size and position to make it believable.  I used the cloning tool to get rid of the red and blue straps that were in front of the horse, which replaced it with his own color.  The grassy background had been manipulated to see if we could get rid of the cars, but it was only partially successful.  I used the burning tool to create the shadow under the horse.  I erased the horse where the fence was to bring the fence in front of the horse.  I also erased parts of the hoofs to place dried leaves in front of the hoofs.
     Looking at this picture, I was happy, but I knew there was plenty of work to be done, it was not finished.  The first thing that I noticed about my horse is that he was teetering on two legs, (to myself, "will anyone else notice??")  I was not sure how he was positioned in the stall and it was all dark brown when I cut away.  It wasn't until days later, when looking at the horse picture that I noticed there was a third leg showing in the back.  I was also not happy with the background at all; it was a dreary day, the bare trees, the telephone poles, the cars, it all had to go!  But how?  I kept thinking all week what I should do, and then the light bulb went off:  pictures from Woodstock!!  That would be the perfect background!  I went digging through pictures, and I will show you tomorrow which picture I used, how I came by this picture and why I chose it.

The Unveiling, Next There Was a Fence

     Over the past year, I have found myself traveling Rt 9 west a few times, which brings me past the Salem Cross Inn, a very wonderful place to dine, and a very old and historic landmark in this area of West Brookfield, Massachusetts.  I have had the pleasure of attending special dining events, going for a hayride and a sleigh ride, being pulled by their huge horses, and even taking part in the making of the chowder that was cooked in a gigantic pot hung in their fireplace.
     Each time I drove past, I paid attention to the landscaping and architcture, remarking to myself that I must take pictures for future art projects.  The last couple of times I was especially drawn to the beautiful old fences outlining the property, realizing I had a purpose for them in my art, but I did not know what, until taking the class in Photoshop!
     Once I decided to use the horse, I believed I should put him behind one of the fences from the Salem Cross Inn.  A few weeks ago I drove out there for the sole purpose of photographing these fences.  When I arrived, I was surprised to find cars everywhere, "what is going on here today, and why today now that I want pictures??" I thought.  So, I parked and quickly found out there was an arts and crafts fair going on, to which I thought, "I might as well check this out since I am here".  I quickly went through the beautiful rooms filled with decorations, tables, food, etc.  I knew I had to get out of there fast before I bought things I never even planned on!  I did find a local woman who has her Icelandic sheep wool turned into yarn, so I talked with her, bought some yarn and scooted out asap before there were any more damages!  (Someday I will talk about my passion for yarn and what I do with it.)
     So, I walked over to the fences and took what pictures I could, discouraged that there were so many cars in the background.  It was not easy, either, since they were close to the road and I had to be sure that I was safe with the flowing traffic of cars.  I picked this picture to use since it was more centered, I thought it was my best fence!  See what I did with my horse and fence tomorrow!

Salem Cross Inn

The Unveiling, First There Was a Horse

     One day last Spring, I found myself at an Arabian horse competition.  Realizing this was a good opportunity for photos and ideas for future paintings, I walked quietly snapping pictures, first at the horse stalls, then at the arena.
     I was thrilled to find this beautiful horse.  I know we bonded instantly.  See how he is looking at me?  I once watched a British woman explain on a PBS station how horses communicate through their ears.  She had fabricated these horse ears for herself and would manipulate them forward and back to talk to her horse.  (What a character!)  I believe she said that when the ears face forward, it is good.  I believed this horse liked me because his ears were always forward.
     After awhile this woman walked up to me and asked, "Can I help you?"  (to myself, "oh, no, I've been caught!")  to which I replied, "I love horses, they are such beautiful animals.  I want to take their pictures for art."  She just smiled and walked away.  Whew!
     I put all of my pictures in a small photo book and brought them to Woodstock to show my painting teacher, who was thrilled to see them and gave me alot of encouragement to use these pictures.  I knew I would use my horse pictures one day, did not know when, until I found myself studying Photoshop!  Tomorrow will be the next step......

The Attitude of Graditude!

Happy Thanksgiving to my wonderful audience!  My list for giving thanks is quite long, and I take nothing for granted.  Last night we celebrated with our annual "Thanksgiving Eve Candlelight Dinner", and having family and friends gathering here in our home is absolutely wonderful!  To feel the love in the air is fantastic.  I am grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life, not just to the people who were at my house, but to the people I have met in my life who were not here.  There is beauty in how taking paths in life bring us to great people who leave their foot prints in our heart.  I only hope that I have had the same effect with other people.  I am grateful for my blog and reaching out to others, thank you my audience, some people I have never met, reaching as far as Canada! I am thankful for my good health, my ever curious mind, my good nature, which will all help me create more art!  I would like to report that the majority of people who answered my poll questions agreed that getting together with friends and family was what mattered the most, we have the same values!
      In this picture above, the most fun thing was the chocolate fountain.  Once I got the chocolate melted and got this thing cranking, it drew everyone over to dip food into the dripping chocolate, gobble it up and get more!  If is a little messy, but who cares, making people happy is the most wonderful thing!  Everyone, have a wonderful day, no matter what you do.  Will start the unveiling of my Photoshop picture soon!

Blogging and Ice Cream, a Wonderful Combo

    On my lunch break, at the Dairy Queen, equipped with pen and stenopad, I could see nothing better than having ice cream first as I wrote my blog entry.  My new job involves traveling from place to place and the good thing about this place is it is next door to a Dairy Queen!
     I am still looking at the notes from the Personal Development conference, and am reflecting back to the "Anne-Marie then".  As an exercise, we had to write all of the roles we played.  This is my list in the picture, it was 13 roles, the first of which was "Mom", the 5th was the name of my occupation, and the last, sadly, was "Artist".  After "artist" I wrote: "who am I if all roles are gone?".  Then I wrote: "a person with no purpose on earth for anything - no goals - no aspirations - depressed".
     I just shook my head.  I had not read this list until this lunch break.  All of these indispensable roles in my life!  My occupation was so high on my list, but my occupation does not define who I am, it is something I do to bring in money so I can live and have a life (to include art classes, supplies, books).  It doesn't even matter what I do, as long as it is meaningful and contributes to the good of the world in some way.  Being an artist came in last, so sad!  But back then my life was sad, so much of my life was jumbled up, filled with stress, feeling indispensable where I was not, and no time to create anything, just wishes for the future, when I have time.
     If I had to write this list over today, being an artist would be high at the top.  It is more than what I do, it is not a hobby to pass the time, it is an expression of my whole being.  My very being wants to create.  When I look at the world around me, I think in terms of color palettes, names of colors of paint ("hmmm, what color would I use to make that sky", or "look at those pinks, how could I do this? I must remember these clouds").  When I look at my surrounding world, I think about perspective, how one object relates to the other, the proportions of things if I were to measure with my pencil and thumb, and I get ideas for future art.  If I can remember, I take my camera to take pictures to save for the future.
     From my life experiences, which have a way of stopping us in our tracks sometimes, may I remember what is really important, keep my roles in order of true priority, live according to my values and always find time to create.  Should I veer off of my path ever so slightly, my audience, please let me know and gently guide me back.  Thank you for listening and reading!

Life Before Photoshop

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     Before Photoshop, which, in my world existed recently, before this past September, I was not able to manipulate any picture any more than the example given above, with scissors, tape or glue.  In the picture above, I am looking exotic, even though I have not yet visited Hawaii , but it is not the same effect as Photoshop.  There is something artificial about this picture, and yet Photoshop can make everything so real.  It is also more messy to cut paper, there is clean up.  Photoshop is very neat, there is nothing to clean up on your table, your hands don't get messy, there are no dried up blobs of glue to scape off later.
     My daughter took the Photoshop class at the WAM a few years ago and I was amazed at what she had learned.  She kept practicing and one time manipulated a picture of her face until it was only darks and white, looking just wonderful (she still uses this as her Facebook image from time to time).  Another time she cut out the image of a friend and had him traveling all over the world, seeing the pyramids, the mountains, etc.  From my observations, I was liking what I saw and realized she was having more fun than I was!  My daughter-in-law is a cracker jack with the computer and Photoshop, she also has way more fun than me!  I knew I needed to jump on the bandwagon.
     With Thanksgiving being right around the corner, I am feeling thankful that I am in my own Photoshop class and learning so very much.  I have created one picture that has me very excited, and I plan to put it in the student exhibit.  The unveiling in my blog will be soon, but I want to wait until after Thanksgiving, since I don't want any interruptions in my process, and I want to take time to talk about this wonderful holiday on that day.

The "Mini Me" of Paintings

A miniature painting fits nicely anywhere!

Remember the painting I entered at the Spencer Fair that earned me that big red "Reserve Champion" ribbon?  Well, a few years ago I painted that very same picture in oils on a miniature piece of wood, measuring just under 3x4 inches.  I followed the 4 steps to create a painting and I just love my results.  There are many beautiful frames for paintings this size so they can be displayed nicely.  I chose to paint that scene again because it is one of my favorite places on this earth, and it is right up the street!

"Favorite Walk"

"I Paint" Peep Decal

     In my travels a few weeks ago, while standing in line at a well known arts and crafts store, I was looking at all of the temptations that were strategically placed for last minute impulsive purchases.  My eye caught the rotating rack of Me and My Peeps decals.  I have seen them on other cars, the drivers displaying their entire family and all of their pets along their back window.  I thought they were cute, but I would then think, "what do you do when the family grows, the pets are gone, you add another and the line now needs to be altered?"  So, when looking at them on the highway, I would think, "very cute, but not for me". Until that day!!

     I am not a showy person, I am pretty conservative, I don't like to voice opinions on anything controversial, I just like to get along with everyone the best I can, and I don't put decals or bumper stickers on my car, until that day!  (One time, however, way, way back, when I had a clunker of a Ford Escort, one of my kids slapped a WAAF rock radio station bumper sticker on my back bumper, to which I was surprised one day and thought, "rrrrrrrrr", but kept it on until the day the clunker went of the to the happy junk yard in the sky.)

     So, there I was amusing myself looking at all of the mommy and daddy decals, everyone with different activities, and then, I found my decal:  I Paint, a female artist with the easel and the canvas and paint brush.  I was so surprised and excited!  I looked to see how many there were, and there was just one, meant for me!!  Of course, you know the rest of the story, I quickly snatched it up before anyone else beat me to it, I held it in tightly my hand so no one would grab it from me, and bought it, dashing out of the store before anyone would see me!  (I was actually dashing because my lunch break was over and had to go back to work, but I like to imagine more to my life.)

     My artist Peep is on the window of my car.  I proudly display it, I proudly declare my mission and I proudly make the statement that I am an artist.  When promoting myself, I must no longer be shy.  This is all part of my reinvention, being confident and bold. 

http://www.plaidonline.com/catalog/Me-My-Peeps-Family-Decals.aspx

Fast Forward to the Present (a real gift)

     Whew!  I've come so far!   I can happily report now that I am working full time, but adjusting to all of my new demands is exhausting!  However, I do not give up, I believe in myself and I press forward.  My work of 16 years involved learning a new computer system, which I had mastered to the depth I needed for my work.  Then suddenly I no longer needed this knowledge.  My temporary job I had last year, for which my gratitude has no end, (Nancy, if you are reading this, I am so thankful our paths crossed, and will hopefully cross again!), involved learning a whole new computer system.  Again, I learned it to the depth that was necessary, but I was quite good at it.  Happily, finding myself back at the same company I had left after 16 years (yes, unemployment money does run out), I discovered the truth about "if you don't use it, you lose it".  I had to be completely retrained to the first computer system, I had forgotten everything. 
      I knew I could not go back to Woodstock at this time, but wanted to continue learning art. I decided to study Photoshop with Chris Whitehead. at the WAM.  While at WSA last spring, from across the studio, I heard Lois Woolley talking and the word Photoshop came up, and I thought, "that is something I need to learn".  So many people I knew found value in the program and I needed to know what it was all about.  I also was fascinated with learning blogging for promotion of art work, another class at the WAM, I thought, this is the frosting on the cake!  So, thanks to Andy Fish and his bride Veronica, I am just accomplishing more than I thought I could do.  My brain is handling all of this new information, the synapses are sparking everywhere in my gray and white matter.  It is very challenging, and I need to practice, practice, practice!
       Last night I was finishing up my Photoshop project and I am almost there, but not quite.  I had a vision of what I wanted for the end product from a few random photographs, I have been diligently working on putting it all together, however, I need alot of support as this brain gets the many steps confused.  (Chris, please be patient with me and all of my questions, I really and truly want to "get" this!).  I am so pleased and I will share what I have done step by step as soon as I am ready for my "unveiling".
       My other art project that I am publicly displaying is this blog.  May it be fun to read, tasteful in subject matter, stay focused on the subject of me and my art, and bring happy results.  Thank you, my audience!

In The Beginning There Was Tea.

My earliest memories of going to the Worcester Art Museum go back to preschool years.  My mother kept a membership to the museum and on occasion attended a special gathering.  I remember when she was planning on taking me to the "tea" event.  My mother's goal was to make me into a "little lady" and this was the perfect opportunity to practice.  I remember the lectures of how to hold my plate of goodies and my cup, how to stand, etc, etc.  The day came, I put on my pretty dress, but I can't remember if I wore my white gloves, and off we went!  I was curious about the world of "tea" that I was entering, not knowing what a tea was, and found myself in complete amazement of the most wonderful place on earth! Experiencing the foyer of the WAM for the first time was fantastic!  As I walked past beautiful art work from centuries ago, we made our way to the large room filled with people and goodies.  I successfully carried myself in a ladylike way, holding my plate and cup properly, not spilling anything.  I don't believe I made any conversation, after all, I was only 3 or 4 years old, but I took in everything, and loved every bit of it!  That big room has been, for a long time, a changing exhibit room, but when I walk by it, I always become the little girl at the tea, I can see it, feel it, remember it.

"The graveyard is filled with indispensable people"

     In preparing my blog entry, I decided to designate a stenopad that had been tucked away in a drawer as the place to jot down blog thoughts.  Upon opening this pad, I found notes from a weekend conference that I attended, the topic: Personal Development.  One important quote I wrote down, but did not expound upon, was: "The graveyard is filled with indispensable people".
     With the wonders of the internet, I "googled" this phrase and discovered many references.  Charles DeGaulle, a former leader of France, has been given credit for this quote, explaining how so many people in history who believed themselves to be indispensable have died and the world goes on without them.  In truth, none of us is indispensable, which actually is a freeing thought.
     I discovered this fact over one year ago when I suddenly found my position for 16 years was eliminated and I would join the ranks of "the unemployed".  While working, my values included loyalty, dedication and feeling indispensable.  Although it was shocking and I experienced all of the stages of grief and mourning, I found myself completely free.  The whole world was open to me!
     At that time my true artistic voice began to speak.  My prayer of:  "when will I ever go back to the Woodstock School of Art and study with HongNian Zhang again??!!" that would scream in my head (a major frustration of not having time to do anything my heart yearned for) would be answered.
     I learned that I am dispensable, the world does go on without me, and I am a better person for this.  I never want to consider myself indispensable again, and I want to pursue my art freely.  Let my artistic voice be heard!

Spencer Fair Exhibits and Awards, 2010

These are the three pieces of artwork I submitted to the Spencer Fair this past Labor Day weekend.  I put in one item for three categories: oil painting, water color painting and pencil.  As I climbed the stairs to see how well I did, hoping I had a ribbon for one piece of work, I was completely amazed to see that all of my work had ribbons!  The oil painting and pencil pieces had second place ribbons and the water color not only had a first place ribbon, but a giant red "Reserve Champion" ribbon, which I found out later meant the best in the category!  How totally happy I felt!  My work has been validated and appreciated.  It is amazing that, unknown to the judges, I was competing against myself!