Feline

And then I played.  I took that wonderful image of Douglas and created this painting. They have it on display at the clinic - I had a hard time letting it go!  I LOVE the texture, colours and vibe of it. The yummy-ness of it speaks to me on so many levels.

Douglas and Gunner

The amazing people at Fish Creek Pet Hospital in Shawnessy asked me to come in and spend some time capturing their wonderful clinic cat, Douglas.  What a sweetheart! Such a calm, kind energy.  And then Gunner got in to the act  - and I had so much fun with him too-he's so sweet! Here are a few of the images we got.  Drop in to the clinic to see the big one behind the reception desk.

Jewelle Colwell

I have had the honour of working with Jewelle several times now and it is always so much fun!  I love how committed she is  to her art and career - it is awesome to follow her. I love the direction we went with her shots this year - great location and energy. Click on the blog title to go to her site or here - and check out our history together on the Headshots page on her site!

Door Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Robin! I loved love loved her poem "Small Things" to go along with my "Door" image.  It is so much fun to see how others interpret an image I have made. I have created a compilation from our two works - check it out below! And Robin, a copy of the print is on it's way to you shortly.  Thanks for all the entries and stay tuned for our next challenge.

xoxo

Jen

I love tapes. Not the cassette kind that we mixed up in the 80's and 90's. Washi, transparent, masking and this uber-cool metal tape I found at home depot.  What a lovely, lovely surface to work on. It embosses under my pencil; the pencil rubs away with subsequent media, but the mark remains. It paints beautifully. It also gives one hell of  paper cut...but what's a little blood between friends? This tape inspired me to push past my comfort zone and attempt a bit of a sketch. And then go beyond it. And spread my wings.

Sigh. So many lovely things to play with.

Social Media

I am trying a bit of an experiment for the next month or so.  I love love love all my followers and people that I get to exchange with on Facebook and Twitter. But I also know that our summers are sooooooooo short. And I would like to enjoy the sunshine while we have it. So I am reducing my presence in social media for awhile. Please don't take offense...I'm basking in the sun! (Well, and working productively so that I can do that...). In the meantime, enjoy this art journal piece on the very subject.
xoxo

Shoemakers Kids

Sadly, it has been a case of the shoemaker's kids go shoeless around my house for the last year or so.  Or rather, the photographer's walls go bare. I took down our wonderful family montage wall to paint absolutely ages ago, and then was rethinking my entire approach to displaying our images. I am very good at coaching my clients through how to approach their walls, which images to group together and how to do it all. But can I apply it to my walls? Well I can...but getting there is a big process. Because when I can literally do ANYTHING, it's a little overwhelming.  And I haven't known quite where to start. So many months ago, I finally started by hanging 4 20x30 prints of Carter when she was younger on the one big wall.  And then stalled. I have had a box of framed images and image ideas sitting in my lair for way too long. But an impending trip from a close friend has gotten me moving. Tidying, re-evaluating and seeing my house for the first time in a long time. And I took on the "big" wall.  It's really not that big - about 13' long. And I'm not intimidated anymore. It has become a wall to show images and tidbits from experiences and trips that we have had.  And I LOVE the vibe so far. I will post an image of the final wall when I get it more settled.  But in the meantime, these three images from Hawaii earlier this year will be on there somewhere...

Food Glorious Food

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am a pretty good cook when I get a chance. But over the last few years, I haven't been exercising my skill nearly as much. Most days I am lucky to throw together a deli chicken with some kind of vegetable and a side. But that may have ended for me. Two good friends have recently started their own food blogs.  The first started by Jill, Meal Plan-it, is geared towards busy families and has some FANTASTIC sounding recipes as well as meal plans for the week.

The second blog by Heather entitled Heather's Musings on Food has restaurant musings as well as yummy recipes (Coconut Lime Chicken Soup - just for me Heather?); many of which I have had the luxury of taste testing. 

So drop in and follow along with them. I know there are many culinary adventures to be had!

You guys have inspired me - now I just have to remember where my pots are.

xo

Babies

Here's a sneek peek of these two beautiful little cousins that I had in my studio this week! I love that babies just are who they are.  No faking, no pretention.  What you get in that moment is true and pure.

Rachel Maddow- The more spills change_ the more they stay the same

Mood

I just uploaded a new mixed media piece to my Etsy Shop. It is an intimate 9x12 entitled Mood. I love how the text interacts with the image to tell a story. Here is a preview of it with a detail shot as well.

Door

I started playing with this shot because I had a dream of a painting last night.  But as usual, I got lost in the process and came up with this instead.  To me, it looks like an illustration from a book.(Click on it to see it larger!) But I personally don't tend to equate wiriting with my images.  The visual is too strong for me and I can't see past it.  So for all you writers out there (or wanna-be writers!)...tell me a story!  I would LOVE to see what you come up with! Any genre, any feel. The most intriguing will get a custom print with this image and your story or tale, artfully put together.

Kyler

Wow - that pile of recycling looks really cool.  I would totally shoot a baby on that! How do I keep things interesting?  By not listening to that little voice that says I'm crazy when a thought like that comes in to my head.  And I love that Jill and Trevor will let me play as well. Here's a sneak peek of your shots!

Deconstructing 9er

It's official.  9er has been launched.  I have entered the world of Etsy.  Fot those of you who don't know Etsy, it is SOOOOOO worth checking out.  It is an amazing, online resource for all things vintage and handmade. Think Ebay, without the auctions crossed with the best market EVER! I'm a little excited...can you tell? Deconstructing 9er is my play place.  A place to put and sell the art that I am so passionate about.  For my art prints and encaustic paintings.  And for all of the other stuff that is swirling around in my bean these days. I would so love if you would check it out! There isn't much on there now...but stay tuned...so much more is in the works! In the meantime, here is a sneak peek of one of the pieces on there...and if you have any feedback...let me know!

xoxo

9er

Shelby

This is the third time that I have worked with Shelby to create headshots with her.  And I have to say that these ones are my faves! She is going to take New York by storm in a couple of years and I am glad to be a part of the process! Break a leg Shelby!

Jami and Darren

These images are a little bit older-from last spring. But as I was going through my files, I came across them and saw a few that I wanted to rework for my website. They were lovely as straight images, but worked over, I like them even more. For me, it brings attention to their connection as a couple. Enjoy!

Cali

I love the intensity of little Cali's look. It's like she can look right through you. I created this as a companion piece to a painting that I did for her older sister.

Weekend Online Special - Images for Life

For all of you wonderful online followers, I am offering my Images for Life program at the smokin' low price of $975 until the end of the weekend.  Imagine never paying session fees again! Imagine being able to capture your family for ANY reason! Just because you feel like it! Or because there is something special going on. Unlimited portraits for your immediate family. For a very long time. Even if you only use it once a year for 10 years it more than pays for itself. So check out the lovely info below (click to enlarge it). And please - pass it along to your friends and family. If someone you refer signs up for Images for Life - you will get a free session for yourselves! (Or a whoppin' print credit if you are already on the plan.)

xoxo
Jen

100th Post!

I can't believe that I am writing my 100th post. Even though I have had this blog for a few years now, it still seems new to me.  I still have to think about sharing.  And I think that I love that about it.  It hasn't become boring or commonplace for me.  I feel like I am still finding new uses for it or new thoughts about how to use it. And morphing in to it being a wonderful extension of my creativity has almost felt like a rebirth. So in that vein, I am going to post a couple of recent-ish Journal pages. The first one was prescribed and inspired by a Helen Keller quote. I am really enjoying using the journaling prompts on Your Life Spelled Out. They make me think about topics I wouldn't have tackled.  And I find that I am turning more regularly to my pages. Keeping it fresh.  And not always just thinking about what is going on in my world or working through struggles. There is still a place for that, but it's not omnipresent.

This second one  has been an evoloution.  I started with the page.  And worked it. And disliked it. And left it.  And in the meantime, I had found this lovely picture.  And it sat - I didn't know what I wanted to do with it.  Then they magically found their way together.  And though the left-hand side of the page isn't complete, I feel so much more energy from this page.  It speaks to connection which is SUCH a big part of my world both personally and creatively.  So I'm sharing it now, knowing that it is still in progress. It is called Serenity - they don't always have titles, as I don't tend to like titles-this one just belonged. In fact - now my head is mulling that over as being part of what belongs on the left....hmmm...perhaps not to bed...perhaps off to create more...xoxox Jen

Clare

I had the pleasure of working with Clare again for her headshots. She owns The Hometown Acting Studio in Medicine Hat and I am always blown away by the calibre of her actors that I have worked with. Clare is such an open and fun person to photograph - it is always a blast!