Photographers and those Darned interlopers!

I take a lot of photos, a lot of them.
I see a cloud that appeals to me I take a photo.
I see a kitten in a very cute position and I take a photo.
I take photos to use as references for my Painting, many many of them.
Some I post on Facebook, some I post here on my blog and some I just keep for 

references to my Painting.

But, I have never ever called myself a photographer.
I have never claimed to know what all the accessories on my Little Powershot A480 are for,

and personally I do not care.

The other day a "Professional" photographer snidely made the comment that
"You are not a Photographer, and never will be!"
I asked her what prompted that accusation and her reply was.....
"You post photos all the time...."

Duh?

Of course I do, and I am not about to stop.
I have photos of my grandsons, the animals about our home, the landscape around my home and of course

the skies.

But, as well, I photograph a lot of my own art so as to post it here and elsewhere.
Nope not as a professional.....That is for the Gallery owners to have done.
They know the specific people that are incredible in bringing out the colours on my canvas'.

In the world of Photoshop/Gimp and many others,  lies the problem.
Yep those darned  non -professional people that use these programs are stealing work

 from out of professionals mouths.

Really?
Ansel Adams had his own technique and perfected it.
So has Annie Leibovitz.
And many others,
Karsh is a very good example as well.

Do you honestly think that any person would assume that they could do better?

(Not being a pro, that is.)
I doubt it!

The people that do these things are having fun.
They are playing around with a camera and a computer program that when combined

usually end up as a neat picture.
They are playing around with toys and having a ball doing it.

So, if you are offended that I did not bring my Canvas to you (as a professional) to record for posterity so be it!

If you do not like a (Lucky) shot of my grandson that turned out wonderfully, I still refuse to apologize.
If you work hard, and take wonderful portraits, good for you.
I think it is about time for you to check your ego at the door and see random shots
(manipulated or otherwise)

as a different way of making it work for different people.
I am sure you have never used any type of photoshopping program in your art, 

because you are a Professional.

Art in any form should never be considered elitist.
Grow confidence in your own talents and stop worrying about what others do.
Be proud of your work.

Be so proud that those darn interlopers just do not matter.
Stop wasting your time ranting and do your own thing without a care in the world.
They have their world and you, yours.

Later all
~~Kathleen

Guilded Tiger Work in Progress Finished.

"GILDED TIGER"
12" X12"
Acrylics and Gold
on canvas


Part I
The beginning:

As most of those of you know, I love incorporating Metal Leaf

Gold/silver/copper and any other bling into my art.
To achieve this without loosing the integrity of the painting is not always easy.

Too much in the wrong place, and it looses what I call dignity.
Metals work wonderfully in Abstracts.
You can shape and form them and enhance it with paint.

But to do an actual painting incorporating (In this case) Copper  leaf is very hard.
That is what I am now trying to do.

I will document my progress here, and if the finished work looks good 

(meaning not tacky!),
I will keep it, otherwise into the burn barrel and off with it!
I started out with a sketch of a Tiger in the snow behind a stand of trees
Blocked out everything but the animal and gilded it.
It then looked like this.....

This photo was taken @ night so it is darker and less representative of the actual appearance.
Being that it is all I have of this stage I have to use it.

Part II

I then (with the help from Goldens tech service), painted a full layer of Gac200 over the whole canvas.
Then waited two days for 

it to dry fully.
(Insert twiddling thumbs and checking "it"  fingerprints on the canvas here)
The Gac200 provided  a base for paint to adhere to when I painted the stripes on the Animal.
(Metal leaf is not the best substrate for Acrylics.)

I ended up at this stage:

This is a pretty good indication of what the actual painting looks like now.


Part III

Now I am going to paint in the rest of the canvas.....
Not in snow as originally intended but in a forest like setting.
I have to paint the underbelly and features of the tiger in a cream.

With advise and suggestions from Diane, I will use interference paint mixed with my cream base.
(Thanks "Dee")
So, for now that is it, I should be finished blocking in the greenery tonight.
Wish me luck.

Well, I coloured the background in a mottled dark  and light green....This way I will have complete coverage when I begin painting in the foliage.
Looks kinda strange, but it will really make a difference.
This will give you an idea of where this is going.
Now for the detail painting, probably the tree trunks first.


Part IV

Well, here we go again, seems this painting is taking more time drying than in painting :).
I am now going to work in the tree trunks (Birch) and begin to lighten them and detail them before I work in the foliage.
So be patient with me as I watch the paint dry.
(Never a fun thing to do at the best of times)

"till the next up-date
Hi all, been a while, but have been working painstaking on the tree trunks.They are such an integral part of the painting that they have to be realistic.
Here is where I am at now, I will get the tree trunks done to this point, and then shade/highlight them all at the same time.
Hope you see this (so far) as a positive move.
Remember clicking on the picture gives an enlarged view.
Comment/Critiquess most welcome



Part V

Well, a slow process, but productive, I have all the trees roughed in and am now working on the foreground.
From this point on I will be attempting to refine the painting with the details to make it look like the Tiger is just viewed quickly as it silently moves through the trees and brush.
I will add rocks to the lower Left and foilage to the lower left, the trees will have to be finished and the complete background reworked.

so the real work begins now.

Part VI
Finale

Finally done, this was a very hard painting to do.  The problems the metal leaf (Copper) Posed were quite unique.
I had to place the leaf on the shape and then cover the gilding with Gac100 (Goldens) so I could paint on the stripes.
Yesterday I got to the final stages of the greenery in the foreground, and completed that!
Here is a detail photo of part of  that section;

The end result has a slight mist lowering down over the Cat as it moves Stealthily through the Birch Trees.

"STEALTH"
Acrylics & mixed media on canvas
12" X 12"

Thanks for following the composition and creation of this work.
I appreciate all of your input.
Comments & Critiques always welcome.
If you are not a member of Blogger just sign your name so I can approve the post.
~~Kathleen

Only one way to Fly! (Up-dated with much better photos)

In my world there are degrees of excellence.
Many people perform similar tasks, and while I will assume that they all are good at what they do, some of them require much more skill, while sharing the same title with others.

For the past few days I have been watching the Crop Dusters.
Amazing Pilots that fly unbelievably close to the ground dusting the fields with stuff that cleans out weeds/makes the grain grow better.
These pilots are exceptional and methodical. 
Once they begin a field they follow a basic grid until the whole field is dusted.
They soar, they turn they fly close to the ground, and are absolutely a joy to watch.
These pilots are Masters.
Nope, they do not get into an automated/computerized cockpit that basically plots routes and heights for them.
They do not sit in comfy seats and relax while up in the air.
These men "FLY!"

In these four photos I have captured the pilot flying from East to West.
I am standing on our rear deck, facing East,

which is about 25 feel above ground level.
The haze in the one photo was because I was shooting into the morning Sun.

In position

cresting the hill

Over the hill and down to the edge of the crop

Turn around for the next pass.

They are in these planes from dawn to dusk landing to refuel and off they go again.
If I was asked who was the better Pilot, I would not hesitate with my answer.
Flying a Jumbo Jet/SST takes skill.
But being a bush Pilot/Crop Duster takes uncommon skill.
It takes "Seat of the pants" know-how, and it takes a keen mind that is always aware.

In all of life we face degrees of excellence between those that are titled with the same name.

Some produce as is expected, and others allow their minds to become active and expand.
To my way of thinking the second lot are artists in their own right.
They are independent thinkers. they face problems head on and make decisions based on what is happening at this moment.
Not everyone can do this....most of us are not allowed
to think independently in our daily lives.
So, when you see someone that is doing anything that requires independent thought smile, and let them know that you appreciate their dedication to the task at hand.
Their dedication to "Getting it done!"
Later All

~~Kathleen