MEET NICOL

Isn't it great how you just never know when someone special is going to come into your life? I took a booth at the WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers Int'l) Expo in Las Vegas a couple years ago to introduce the Auratone process to that industry. It was a great experience and I met a LOT of wonderful people, but one person stood out. Her name is Alyssa "Nicol" Ragland, and I'd like to introduce you to her.

Nicol has an aura of warmth, curiosity, and sensitivity, and she's an amazing photographer who brings those same qualities to her work, whether travel and documentary related (www.nicolragland.com) or nuptial (www.alyssanicol.com).

During a recent trip to Tanzania, she had the opportunity to spend an extended period of time with the Hadzabe tribe, numbering fewer than 1,500 and the last functioning hunter-gatherers in Africa. Her photos are a testament to the trust she obviously instills in those she photographs, and these are a people who have plenty of reason to be distrustful. Learn more about them, and her documentary project, on her website.

On a much different note but also one close to her heart, last month Nicol joined 19 other women in a group exhibition entitled CORE: Art & Design of the Torso showcasing mixed media dressform mannequins. Here's a photo of the piece she contributed...many of the photographs she included were Auratones she had made...yet another very imaginative use of the process.  I love it when "my students" surpass their teacher in pushing the boundaries of the medium!

If you've made any Auratones you'd like me to feature in an upcoming post, let me know!

IT'S ONLY NATURAL

As I left home one morning not too long ago, my attention was drawn to the ground. There, a fallen leaf lay filled with dew drops sparkling in the gray light of the morning like jewels. I just had to run back in and get my camera. On closer inspection, the subtle colors, the intricate detail, the masterful composition -- everything was just so perfect, and now I have this image to remind me to slow down, observe, and enjoy those little things in life that can really make the day come alive.

I ♥ PHOTOSHOP!

My granddaughters provide near constant inspiration, but getting a photo of the two of them without it looking too "posey" can be tough, especially since one of them (usually Hana, the youngest) insists on making faces whenever I grab my camera. Ya gotta love 'em!

Anyway, looking thru last year's archives, I found this example where I used the magic of Photoshop to bring my mental picture into focus and thought I'd share it here...this is just one of the techniques I'll be teaching in my upcoming Photoshop video workshop. Well, actually it's several techniques involving Layers and Masks and Filters...oh, my!  

NEW CONNECTIONS

Ever notice how artistic people are often multi-talented? I think it's because basic concepts like composition, balance, contrast, and unity are intrinsic to all creative endeavors be it photography, painting, cooking, sewing, music...well, the list goes on and on. So once you become comfortable with those concepts in one field, you can often switch gears and apply them to another.

I've recently discovered Suzi Blu, signed up for her "Petite Dolls" video workshop, and have fallen in love with drawing! I got sidetracked before I got around to finishing  the background here, but that's something I have to look forward to. Although this has nothing to do with photography, all roads seem to lead back there for me as that is where my heart lies, so it will be interesting to see where this goes. Or maybe it's purely for the joy of it... now there's a novel idea!  At any rate, if you want to have fun learning to draw whimsical figures and how to use all manner of art media in the process, Suzi's new semester starts now...sign up and become part of an eclectic and supportive online art community.


I also discovered Jenny Doh's latest in a long and impressive line of creative endeavors, "Crescendoh "... very cool, art for the greater good, and I'm eager to get involved. Inspired by one of her projects, I just sent Jenny an email about what for now I'll just call "the pencil project"...will share more soon so be sure to stay tuned! This is one of my decorated pencils featuring an Auratone photo of my favorite Buddha figurine and an origami-folded pouch.

OH ONE OH ONE ONE OH!

In this new year, I'm going to be myself. Well, who else could I possibly be, you may ask? To be perfectly honest, I was trying to be someone I'm not. I guess I wanted to be the Martha Stewart of photography arts and crafts. But you know what? I'm just not that polished. And I'm not all that comfortable speaking in front of groups, let alone on television. I have sooo much to share, but I much prefer being behind the scenes, behind the camera, behind the work table, behind (or would it be in front of?) the keyboard, continuing to come up with innovative ways to use your photos and expand your creativity, to be more YOU!

They say there's an artist in each of us who desperately wants to come out and play. I'm in the process of rediscovering the playful child in me who has not been tainted by the criticism of a parent or an art teacher, or by the constraints of broad  commercial appeal. I'm getting more and more enjoyment out of combining photos with mixed media than ever before. The real joy comes from the freedom of expression, and I really want you to experience this same joy.

To that end, I've decided to change gears in terms of my workshops. Soon you'll be able to download videos of my workshops and work in the comfort and convenience of your own home or studio, and at your own pace. And once you access the password protected workshop, it will be yours to view again and again...it will never expire. Stay tuned!

If you're new to me and what I do, please be sure to check out my website and my shop where you can order how-to kits, books, and more.

I'm continuing to navigate the waters of social networking in order to reach more of you...it's seriously daunting for me but I'm determined. For instance, I just added the "Follow" widget to my blog (ta-da!), so please follow me! And I'm committed to posting more frequently, and okay, maybe with fewer words (as a close friend suggested). Or not. Feel free to offer tips and suggestions. I also added a Photo Fusion page to my Facebook account (although it's not ready for public viewing), but I have a question...why should I have a website, a blog, be on Facebook, and also Twitter? Isn't that overkill???

Happy New Year!

WHAT IS PHOTO FUSION?

Photo Fusion is the term I use for combining photographs with mixed media. For those of us who love art but can't draw to save our soul (c'mon, raise your hand with me!), it's the perfect way to satisfy those creative yearnings. Don't you just love going to the art store?  To me it's like going into a candy store...but healthier! I may not spend a lot on clothes, and I eat pretty simply, but I absolutely CANNOT resist indulging my appetite for art supplies. I love looking at the different materials and thinking about ways to work them into my photography. So that's what I do, and then I figure out how to share my ideas with you through books, articles, kits and workshops ...and soon, video workshops. That's next for 2010!

Here's an example of a mixed media work in progress I've been working on with my gifted artist friend Amadea Bailey . It started with a photo I took of her in her studio and evolved into a multi-paneled piece that now stands five feet tall. We used Bonny Lhotka 's process of transferring via Purell hand sanitizer. Bonny is a wizard...well, an alchemist really...mixing a little of this and a little of that to enable us to print our images on uncommon surfaces like very heavy watercolor paper, wood, metal, and even glass.  She co-authored one of my favorite how-to books, "Digital Art Studio: Techniques for Combining Inkjet Printing with Traditional Art Materials," and I'm just putting the finishing touches on an article I wrote about her, soon to be published in "AfterCapture Magazine." Will let you know when it comes out.

PHOTO ENCAUSTIC DEMYSTIFIED!

I'm very excited to announce that I've launched my Photo Encaustic Kit! What exactly IS photo encaustic, you may ask? Well, encaustic is a beeswax-based medium; wax layers are fused with heat to bond them together. Photo encaustic describes a photographic image fused with hot wax. There are lots of effects possible depending on how you apply the wax, but no matter which method you choose, the wax imparts an alluring luminosity which enriches the photograph.

You may have noticed that there's a Renaissance under foot in the world of photography insofar as mixed media explorations, and photo encaustic is part of that Renaissance. While you may not be able to draw or paint, with photo in hand you can enter the exciting world of mixed media...incorporating wax, pigment, and a wide variety of collage elements and a new lexicon of techniques such as incising, distressing, and transfering.

If you've been curious about photo encaustic but not curious enough to invest in all the materials and supplies that seem to be required, this is the kit for you! It provides an introduction to three simple and pretty much foolproof photo encaustic processes -- dipping, pouring, and brushing -- and includes detailed instructions, materials, and supplies for doing so. Secondary processes of incising, transferring, and layering are also covered.

Just a heads up: The kit does NOT include heating elements...but you may even have them already...an electric skillet, Crock-Pot, or warming tray, and a heat gun (something almost every crafter has on hand).

Click here for more information, examples, and/or to order. (The instruction guide is also available separately...just click on "Kits" in the menu and you'll see it.)