Sierra Sunset ala Autochrome

I do love the Sierra's.  I find them a great respite from the rigors of day to day stuff.  I shot this a couple of summers ago while on a trip to June Lake.  This was actually a trail off the main road to Mono Lake.  I loved the suns final ray shooting through the mountains before dusk settled into night.

I decided to do this one in the Autochrome look as I felt the painterly impressionistic results fit the image better than the simple RAW image would have given.

This took several steps, most of which I've outlined here in the past.  I do love the simplicity and WYSWYG preview results you get with Adobe's CS5.

I've got a show this spring and am debating what to do.  Should I present all "ala autochrome" or should I go with all "scanned hand painted negatives".  Hell, I can't even decide what one image I should submit to the LA Center of Digital Art for their "Unjuried" Show, which I just adore, in December.  What to do?  Create more is the answer and let the most powerful series be the choice.

Freeway Daisy from a scanned negative

Just a splash of color in a scanned negative.  This time around used CS5 and just painted a layer.  I don't like the effect as well as a marking pen...lacks that neonish glow and depth one gets when you paint on a negative directly.  Experimentation is half the fun of photography.  I used CS5 to create a layer to color then blended with multiply at 75% strength to get this image.

They strung me up at First City Credit Union

Yup, one artist flaked and I got to go into the First City Credit Union Gallery today.  6 Pieces all hung, and information tags all done now its there for the public to enjoy until January.  The First City Credit Union Gallery is a joint effort with the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts exhibiting works of its members.

The 6 pieces:
Bodie Blue Window
English Rose Bud
Abandoned Church, Paris
La Tour Eiffel
Wild Flower
Lily

Its a nice selection of photographs, digital art and hand colored negatives.

You can see them Monday through Saturday in the First City Credit Union main lobby. First City Credit Union,404 E. Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016

Another adventure into the old bucket...Blondie Live at Club Nokia

Last night I took a break from the Celebrate the Arts prep and devoted the evening to an adventure.  I've always wanted to see Blondie live and last night it happened.  Worth the effort.  Check out the YouTube vids I shot at the concert.  Love these little diversions from the daily routines.

Art for a cause...raising funds for art education in the schools

This weekends Celebrate the Arts that I'm participating in is more than just an Fine Art Event.  ITS about raising money to bring Art to the community. ITS about raising money to help bring art education to the schools via the Village After School program in the MUSD elementary and middle schools.  ITS about Pallete Grants, mini-grants to SGV area schools for in class art education projects.  You can learn more about what the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts does on their website HERE.

At the Celebrate the Arts we have a few things going on that are dedicated to funding our various art programs in the city.  The biggy is the Silent Auction of donated pieces where 100% of the proceeds go directly into the grant funds.  All of the artists (well most of them) in the Celebrate the Arts donate a piece for inclusion in this auction.  Monrovia High School done in the Orton style is my piece being donated to the cause.

Celebrate the Arts will be held in Monrovia's Library Park the weekend of October 8 &9 2011.  The library address is 321 S Myrtle Ave, Monrovia CA to help you find it via google maps.  Celebrate the Arts will be open 10AM - 6PM both days.  Come enjoy the art and of course bid on the Silent Auction Items that strike a spot in your soul.