pixels, light and hot wax

I just went to my first Biznik event, which was a “walk and talk” in downtown Seattle, where I met two quite wonderful women, Amy and Awilda. It was really inspiring to be able to connect with two such present women, and has filled me with ideas, both about how to improve my business but also how I approach life. Most importantly, I really appreciated the reminder that being self-employed doesn’t have to mean just desperately scrabbling for a way to pay the bills, but is also an opportunity to bring my talents together with others in a way that helps to fulfill all people involved.

Less vaguely, it made me remember a time back in college, when Nigel was quizzing me about what was really important in life, what I said then, and one goal I have always returned to, is to help people see beauty they are not recognizing. One of the greatest joys I’ve had as a photographer is working with someone, whether it be a model, a client, or a friend I’ve cajoled into posing for me, and at the end having them say “I didn’t realize I could look like that”. We spend so much time, in our culture, being disappointed and worried with our bodies and our looks, that it is easy to lose track of the beauty and the radiance that is there, and should be celebrated. Now I need to figure out how to make that value the core of my business. All my businesses, really.

This is today’s “Art for the heck of it”.

Do I actually know how to do a good value drawing with ink and brush?  Not yet. But this seems a reasonable start:

Four Armed Reclining Ganesh (Ink on Watercolor Paper)

(Same blog, slightly different address)

Welcome to 2008!

My resolution for this year is “More Art, Less Whining.”

I have also joined the Book a Month challenge Since the first topic is “Time”, I have placed on hold with my local library Andy Goldsworthy‘s Time, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez‘ One Hundred Years of Solitude. I will probably review whichever gets here first, but hopefully the Goldsworthy, since it is a tiny bit more on-topic to an artblog.

Also, to ring out 2007 I used my photoshop skills, though not a on a piece of high art. I keep passing these “Ron Paul for President” signs and misreading them as “RuPaul for President.”

I like that reality way better, so I made some:

My partner immediately insisted that she needed it on a t-shirt, so clicking that image will take you to RuPaul for President goodies on CafePress

I’ve finished (just in time to leave for Orycon) a new piece:

I’m taking nominations for what to name it at this livejournal post; the winning title will be given one of the prints.

Properly presenting artwork, in my world, means using the best conservation techniques you can afford. Properly matting your print is the most basic, and most essential, in my view. The nice folks at Redimat have a lovely little tutorial on classic hinging that is worth the read, especially if you didn’t have the benefit of an art/photo prof beating it into you. It isn’t that hard to do, protects the artwork well, AND is undoable if changes are desired. ( I HATE buying artwork and taking it home to re-mat and frame, only to discover it has been glued in, or overtaped with tape that can damage the work.)

A few words about Redimat: I adore them; have always had great customer service from them, and the prices are good, too. They are directed at the professional (i.e. large minimum order, especially for custom cuts, but reasonably so. This lets me do some non-standard print sizes without it translating to my customers having to go get custom framing. I’ve determined my own set of standard-to-me sizes (8×8, 6×9, 10×15, 12×18, etc.) so I can get mats with appropriate windows and standard outside dimension (so if you buy one of my pieces unframed, you can pop down to the local frame store and buy a frame off the shelf) in bulk. If you are local to me (i.e. Seattle-ish) and interested in going in on a joint order; let me know; I tend to order once or twice a year, but not on any set schedule.

In other news, the JEPphoto.com site has had a bit of a revamp; so I don’t waste valuable (and scarce!) art time thinking “I really should update the website.” The dayjob’s website is also all brand-new and shiny; to see my portrait portfolio there, go to the “Associates” section.

I know I’ve been saying I wanted to clean the workroom out; cleaning it out by tossing all the unsalvagables from it being flooded was not what I meant.

The spot I had set up to store all my framed artwork? 10 inches from the edge of the leak. So, they are all safe, but I think it is time to purge some inventory. SO…. If you have ever been interested in framed versions of any of the following, I will sell them at 60% of their normal price:

• Sky Elemental (10×15 print, framed to 14×18 in silver frame)
• Floral System 1, 2, or 3 (11×14, framed to 16×20 in coordinated colored wood frames)
• Dreaming of Home, 9×6 framed to 12×9 in wide white wood frame
• Planet Eater, 8×10 framed to 11×14 in green frame
• Vinyl Vampire, in burgundy frame
• Gas Giants, 12×18 framed to 18×24 in wide black frame
• In Search of a B-Movie, 12×18 framed to 18×24 in wide black frame (matches Gas Giants)
• Poseidon’s Bouncer, 11×14 framed to 16×20, in antiqued amber frame.

If you are interested in a piece I have not listed, I probably don’t have one framed on hand, but if I already have it matted and in stock, I will give a pretty significant discount on those as well.

All are single or double matted.
I can probably be talked into shipping, or delivering at Orycon.

(All can be viewed in the gallery at Jeliza.net; e-mail me at sales AT JEPphoto.com if you are interested.)

“Coalesce” is being featured on the front page of Support Pagan Artists this month. Yay!

And while I have your attention, I will be at the Greenwood-Phinney Art walk this year, Friday night, at Janet’s studio; Chris and I (mostly Chris, probably, since I’m used to handling the admin end of this sort of thing at our usual Hallowe’en shoot) will be doing quick portraits for walk-ins, free (donations suggested; all profits go to benefit the Art Docent program at West Woodland Elementary). And the yearly art walk is always a blast.

While I haven’t had much of a chance to add new work (but more is coming, including a straight fine art photography section), I have made the galleries at Jeliza.net both prettier and more functional. (I think). I hope you agree!

Or, at least, my services are — to celebrate the official unveiling of my promotion to associate photographer at Janet Klinger Photography (which I have actually been doing for a while), get a free upgrade to unlimited exposures AND a free 8×10 when you book me (though my day job) by May 31.

(For fantasy portraiture and editorial work; basically anything BUT conventional portraiture, you would still book me directly.)