Forest….

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abstract art, abstract landscape, abstract photography, art and nature, artist life, being creative, black and white forest, black and white nature photography, black and white photography, black and white photos, getting outdoors, getting outside, hiking, nature in photographs, nature photography, northeast georgia living

Georgia is a green state….but I like the black and white version of this forest photo best because the lines and shapes are more pronounced in the BNW photo….

Happy Hiking…Sabi

Re-thinking the selfie…part 2

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abstract photography, photography, self-portrait, selfie

Got a little bored and started playing around with my camera’s timer…aperture setting….and light….and came up with this selfie…inside the house was dark and outside was very light…exposure was about 20 seconds…

Bad Weather and Creative Output….

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art, bird art, Indian ink drawing, nature photography, sky photographs, the creative life

Georgia had crazy weather this past week. North Georgia temperatures were down in the single digits….because of the cold I didn’t have to go to my day job….so I had two days of studio time. I was able to do several Indian Ink drawings to add to my bird book.

Smoothed Billed Ani

A few weeks back while watching a movie, I saw in the background of a living-room scene a black and white print of a flamingo. So I really wanted to make one of my own. The next set of photos are about the working process I took to make an Indian Ink Flamingo.

After getting the drawing down…..I used watercolor-masking fluid to save the spaces intended to remain white.

Here you can see that the Indian Ink is still wet….the ink was allowed to pool in areas….this makes those areas a super black.

Finished piece…

close up….

This was not all….on Wednesday I started a little book called “The Purple Martin and a Snowy Day.” Will up-date you on this project when I have a more polished look.

Then Saturday after spending the entire day locked behind a computer screen…my daughter asked to visit a little pond behind our house…on our way back up the sun had almost set and the sky was very intriguing. Below are a few photos of the trees against the sky..

Living life creatively…
Sabi

Re-Thinking the Selfie…..

Tags

abstract photography, art, photography, self-portrait, selfie

We all have seen a lot of selfies….so going beyond the quick snap of ones self in the car showing off a new hair cut is in order. This selfie was snapped with my phone and turned into B&W photo….. I like to think of this as a story-selfie….this pic goes beyond me trying to show off my good looks, but I’m inviting you to see a story in your head.

Now that is the kind of selfie I can get into…..

Sabi

Word Art…..

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art on book pages, art with words, graphic art, word art

Around our house we have lots of old books….we mainly get these from our local public library when they put such books on sale for a dollar. The pages used here to create these arrow narratives come from a collection of classical short stories.

Since I can’t seem to shake the linear-ness of arrows and all the hidden and un-hidden meanings behind these little trouble makers….I used arrows to outline certain words to create a short verse.

together….retirement….. in Paris….

This one tells a tell of mystery and refection….

wondering…..wild….brute

This page tells a gruesome tell of…partially bitten through…right lead and arm…..woman could have inflicted. After all this page did come from an Edgar Allen Poe short story.

Collection of four pages….3 black….1 purple.

To see the text clearly…click on the picture to enlarge it…..

Sabi…trying out something new….

Wildlife in Ink……

Tags

art, birds, ife, loggerhead strike, nature art

I have decided that for 2014 I am going to focus my creative energies on making a book….or maybe books. Handmade books have always grabbed my attention…..I love the fact that these types of books are not mass produced and are meant for interaction

My plan is to finish a drawing a week….well maybe 3 a week so that at the end of four weeks I will have at least 12 pages….wow I need to have at least 20 drawings so I better get started.

I am need to hold myself accountable….so I am pledging to post updates to this new creative endeavor here.

I think birds will make a good topic…so pictured below is one that I just finished. If you have a favorite bird let me know….maybe I can include it in this first collection.

Sabi

Finding my Artist Voice Part II…….

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art and nature, artist life, finding ones artistic voice, image of yellow-billed magpie, painting of yellow-billed magpie

Earlier this year I wrote a piece on Finding my Artist Voice…..over 2013 I have found that simple is what I naturally like to do.

I have always enjoyed simplicity. I’m the gal who can fit her whole wardrobe into a single suitcase. I don’t like fussy hair and I prefer hiking boots over dress shoes.

I have also discovered that I like lines that are just that….lines. This liking I have discovered reflects my dislike for the meaningless talk. I have never understood the need to explain everything.

Lastly, I have found that I really enjoy painting strong forms. And I have found that I enjoy the abstract often uncontrollable quality of Indian Ink. Perhaps because at 45 I have learned that life doesn’t always go as we plan…..sometimes it is much better!

Below are images of a few pieces based on the Yellow-Billed Magpie. These works reflect my love of the outdoors and my love to create. Plus…. I was drawn to the strong black form with the reflective whites and the touch of yellow that this California bird has.

Indian Ink drawing on paper…..

Oil painting with palate knife on large stretched canvas…..

Indian Ink drawing on paper…..

I believe being creative is an important part of being human…..so here is to being human.

Sabi