More Textured Portraits

This is a lovely engagement session shot by my client, Silver Lining Studio, on location in Hoboken, New Jersey. I added some toning and texture to give it an urban feel with the New York City skyline muted in the background.

All Who Enter

I've always had a passion for gargoyles. In spite of their intimidating presence, they have a grace and beauty all their own. Usually perched high atop buildings, they were traditionally used as a spout to carry water clear of a wall through the throat of the statue. The name stems from the old French word for throat, "gargouille" and is related to the Greek "gargarizein" meaning "to gargle". To me, they have always represented protection from harm and a guard against evil. True or not, I have a collection of them all over my house (Hey, you never know!).

The Shopkeeper, Rue de Chartres

I captured this image in 1989 (I can't believe it's been 20 years!) in New Orleans, one of my favorite cities in the world. I happened across this wonderful man, who seemed to really enjoy being photographed, on Chartres St. in the French Quarter. I took several shots but this is my favorite with the dog exiting the shop at just the right moment! It was originally shot with black and white film but I think a little enhancement with toning, color and texture gives it a different mood and feel.

Enhancing portraits with texture

Recently, I was working on a digital portrait painting for my client, PM Studio , when I got the idea to apply some of the texture options I've been using in my fine art to portraits. The result gives a vintage look and feel to the image. Of course, not every photograph would be a candidate but with the right subject and composition, I think it could be quite a striking option for a portrait.

A Perfect Landing

Spring has finally sprung so here's my contribution to the celebration! We've had quite a bit of rain so far in New Jersey paving the way for a lush spring and summer ripe with painting and photo opportunities. Here's to new beginnings!

Art Show Opening

In case you happen to be in the New Jersey vicinity, I have some work in a group show for the Edison Arts Society in the Performing Arts Center Gallery at Middlesex County College in Edison New Jersey. The opening reception is tonight, May 29th from 5:30 to 7:30. The show runs until June 29th so stop by if you get a chance!

A Wing and a Prayer

Another candidate in the old, abandoned buildings/houses series. I discovered this one a couple of weeks ago in western New Jersey. The tangle of vines covering most of the roof reminded me of a tousled head of hair. I'm puzzled by all the different openings and what it may have been used for in it's past lives. At times I really wish walls could talk!

Out on a Limb

While visiting an antique shop a couple of weeks ago, I wandered around the back of the building and found an interesting pair of old chairs with a little table arranged in the yard. I took a couple of shots but wasn't that enthused. When I turned around to walk back to the car, this composition hit me in the face! I admit I added the bird later, but this graceful, white limb seemed to flow across all the trees behind it and float above the small stream running underneath.

Rear Window

It's incredible how many sources there are for texture to experiment with. For example, I was doing laundry in my basement when I happened to notice the concrete floor and an endless variation of patterns (I live in an old house built in 1927). I immediately grabbed my camera and began taking shots in different areas ending up with lots of wonderful images to use for adding texture to my artwork!

The Bucket

I've never quite figured out what this old shack with a single bucket hanging in the center is supposed to be, but I loved all the texture of the vines and weeds surrounding it.

The Wishing Well

Another abandoned house from my archives but I decided to add a figure to this one to give it more of a storytelling quality. I was glad to discover several years later that the story of this house does have a happy ending. I happened upon the property again, expecting the house to be demolished by now, only to find it had been completely renovated and given a new life as a nursery school and daycare center for children! The unexpected find certainly brought a smile to my face!

And Then There Were Three

This house has always been one of my favorites. Something about the three dark windows and the open door tugs at my heartstrings. It's almost as if the house is crying out for someone or something to come in and bring life back once again.

Remains of the Day

Lately I've been revisiting the piles of negatives I've accumulated over the years with a fresh eye and getting a new perspective on some of my favorites. It seems to be turning into a series of sorts of all the run down and abandoned places I've come across over the years. It's exciting to find that I can now (thanks to the digital medium) create the image I envisioned a lot more easily than I ever could have in the darkroom! In fact, many that I had put aside because they never quite lived up to my expectations for one reason or another, are getting a new life!

The Gatehouse

A favorite pastime of mine on Sunday afternoons (when the price of gas is down) is getting lost on the back roads of New Jersey looking for photo ops. I especially love finding old abandoned, rundown houses or buildings. They seem to have a soul of their own.

A Road Less Traveled

Trash to Treasure

I've been experimenting with textures a lot lately. Reminds me of the old days of sandwiching negatives in the darkroom only with a lot less trial and error and aggravation.

On Golden Pond

I'm not usually drawn to painting landscapes but I took the photo this is based on a couple of years ago and the composition intrigued me. I like adding unexpected elements most of the time but in this, the still, serene pond giving way to the rushing water seemed to be enough and thought anything additional might be distracting. Also, the two geese (which were in the original photo, by the way) seemed content meditating alone on the quiet side of the pond.

With Strings Attached

I digitally painted this still life from a photo I took recently. I think tulips with their long graceful stems and leaves are wonderful flowers to paint. I have been experimenting with a lot of new brushes and I'm really liking some of the results I'm getting!

In the beginning

Hi and welcome to my little corner of the blog world. I'm new to this so bear with me as I find my way around. The purpose and main focus of this blog is art (since that is what I do!) and the direction and focus of my own creative path at the moment. I won't bore you with my life story except to say I've been interested and involved in art in some form since I was a child (which was way too long ago!). I've been drawing and painting since then but in the last few years have focused on photography and digital art. I work in photoshop and corel painter and am constantly amazed at what is now possible with these two art tools. I am often bothered by how quickly some critics dismiss digital as "not real art" instead of seeing it as just another tool in the creative process. If you love art, every new avenue should be embraced and explored. How else can we move forward and discover whole new worlds of possibilities that weren't available before? After all, in the end it's the artist that does the creating, not the tool. Well, enough of my soapbox for now. I'll be posting some samples of what I've been working on lately. Thanks for stopping by!