feels like summer vacation

here is another bird photo. 2 salt and pepper shakers that are so cute I just had to make them kiss. sweetness.

This week has felt like Summer Vacation. I've given myself permission to go on road trips with my camera, explore other photo subjects, take headshots for a beautiful friend of mine, go eat at one of my favorite raw food restaurants and checked out some art at a gallery. I guess all week has been an artist's date. Have you read the artist's way? I read it when I was living in Minneapolis about 12-15 years ago. I was working at the Guthrie Theater as a wardrobe dresser backstage. It was an incredible time - I just wasn't living my true dream of being a photographer/artist. That book was one of many eye opening and transforming steps along my path. It helped me to focus on what it was I wanted in my life and move toward it. I highly recommend that one if you need a lift or want to re-focus on your art and life as an artist.

ok - here is another installment from Keri Smith


4 Ignore...

...those who tell you it can't be done.
...those who tried & gave up (they are bitter and probably never believed that they could.)
...those who think you're nuts to throw away a regular income...(many of them may be family members.)
Almost everyone wants to do what they love for a living but we believe we can't afford it, or that we have too many responsibilities. Scared people will usually impose their own fears onto you. Let them know how happy your work makes you. You may lose friends along the way who don't understand what you're trying to do, let go of them, you are constantly changing. Surround yourself with people who support what you do and your new choices.

a bird as a window...

This morning I woke to a bright sunny fabulous day. I went out to the backyard and sat in meditation and listened to the birds singing, and watched a hummingbird as it sipped from a flower near me. What a great way to start my day. I'm reading the book
"A New Earth Awakening to your life's purpose " By Eckart Tolle

" So when you are alert and contemplate a flower, crystal, or bird without naming it mentally, it becomes a window for you into the formless. There is an inner opening, however slight, into the realm of spirit...." pg 5 Eckart Tolle, A New Earth...

I could go on and on
however - I think you should just get this book and read it!

Here is Keri Smiths point #3 on How to make a living as an artist

3 Pretend...you already are what you want to be.

...and you will become it! No one starts off in any field feeling confident and full of power. It will take time to build and grow, and sometimes it feels like you are not moving at all. There will be times when you feel like you're faking, (what if someone figures me out?), it's o.k. no one will know but you.


Time for some tea....
have a wonderful, creative, open, joyful day.

chirp

Jerry and I had dinner at our friends house Friday night and she had the most precious porcelain bird collection. I asked to borrow them to take their portraits. I took a few home with me and set up a mini studio for them outside on the front porch yesterday. Here is the favorite from the day. She sat still and was very cooperative.

Yesterday was a glorious day. I took my cameras out for a little road trip and took photos of any tree that caught my fancy. It was so so refreshing. Then I came home and took the bird portraits. I love days like these. I'm heading out early today for an appointment and I'm bringing my cameras with me. We shall see what I find out there.

Here is the next point in Keri Smith's "How to make a living as an artist"

2 Research

Find someone who is already making a living doing what you want to do. Connect with them, read about them, make them into a model for your career and you life. Call them up, most successful people are happy to talk to those starting out on the same path. Read any book you can on the subject of "Triumph over Adversity", it will help you get through those days when you question your choices. Create a support network of people in your field, try to meet with them regularly, it helps to make you feel normal.


Have an inspired day.

How to make a living doing what you love

I'm getting ready to show these three images in an upcoming show in March at the Cactus Gallery. It's a show all about 3. It's the 3 year anniversary for the gallery. I was thinking of showing it as a long panoramic print. However - I've decided to break them up and frame them separately hang them right next to each other really close. They are individuals yet a tight little family. I've been spending a lot of time working on framing lately. How do I want my images to live on the wall? Flat with a mat? In a box type frame like a lot of my past work? On wood without glass? I'm looking into all of these options. At first I was really not interested in the framing at all. I just wanted to drop it off at a framing place and have them take care of it for me. But now - I am seeing the flip side to that - which is that I get to be hands on with every facet of the process and create a home for these photographs. Sometimes I am excited about this and really get into it and other times I feel that I am wasting my time on frames when I could be out running around taking photos of all the incredible trees I've been noticing lately. Somehow there needs to be a middle ground where I can take my time with both creating images and creating homes for them.

I've been looking for inspiration anywhere I can find it. Lately I've been re-connecting with Keri Smith and her amazing books and words and artwork.

So I decided to post what I read from her on my blog for my own inspiration and reminders and maybe it will inspire you too!

This week I'll be showcasing something she wrote called
"How to make a living doing what you love!"
Sounds perfect yes??

Here is the first Point:

1 Believe that you can!

The most important quality you can possess! If you follow one piece of advice on your path let it be this one. Replace, "What if I'm not cut out for this?" with an affirmative, "YES I CAN!" Most successful people have this quality naturally ingrained in them. Get can't out of your vocabulary. Stay away from people who tell you, "You can't make a living at it.", (there will be many.) Use the mantra: There are always people out there in need of my services! Say it with feeling.

How to feel Miserable as an Artist

You will need to click on that to make it big enough to read. Makes me laugh out loud.
It is from Keri Smith
An incredible force in the art world. I have one of her books called "Living Out Loud" Activities to Fuel a Creative Life. Get this book - it is really wonderful.

Al Watt

Today I had the pleasure of viewing my friend Al's website and seeing the photo I took on his contact page!
He is an amazing published writer and teacher of the craft of writing. It was an honor to work with him and help him create this photo for his site.
Not the typical headshot - and I like his energy in this photo. Real. Down to earth. Full of life. Just like Al.

I was going to get together with him tomorrow to talk about the art of being in business, but I am still feeling under the weather. So I will have to wait until my body lets go of this cold / flu thing. When I am really busy I dream of days off where I can finish books that are piled next to my bed, sip hot tea, and take bubble baths. But when I actually NEED to take that time off, it can take me a long time to peel myself away from my work and turn off my inner engine. So now I am off to practice more power lounging....

Feb 18th

It's Feb. 18th. The day I take a photo of the tree out front. I was literally counting the days until I could get back to this project. I have been studying the tree each day. Looking for evidence of any changes that might have occured between Jan 18th and Feb 18th. The only difference I can see is in the sky. Jan 18th had a brilliant, bright blue sky and Feb 18th has an overcast sky. It actually mirrors how I feel today. Woke up under the weather. It's been getting worse as the day progresses.
The highlights of my day: documenting that tree,having my cat sit on my lap any chance she could, and spending time with Jerry as he had the day off. That tree has become part of my family at this point. I've noticed lately that when we turn onto our street I get a little excited when I look up the street and see our tree standing so tall in front of our house. It's interesting how the project I'm doing all year with this tree has had such an impact. But that is how life is isn't it. you move forward in one direction and all sorts of things bloom, grow, and change as a result of one action.

the tao of tea

The Tao of Tea in Portland is one of my all time favorite places to go. It is the oldest tea house in Portland and the feel inside is soothing, and other worldly. They serve more types of tea then any other tea house - and not only that - they serve it the way that they do in the country that it is from. So if you are interested in learning how other people in different places around the world enjoy their tea - check this place out.
And - not only that - but they have really great food too. This past visit to Portland we had the Spinach Rolls, yams with black salt and cilantro, and dal and rice. Oh my god I can't wait to get back there and have more of that! It is sensory overload. The decor, feel, teas, food, atmosphere, all make it a really divine tea adventure.

I'm currently reading the Tao of Photography. Isn't that fitting. I've read through it before but I am getting into it again as I study more ways to merge my spiritual practice with my photography practice. Seeing beyond seeing.

oak

Brandon took Jerry and I on a driving tour of Portland when we were there last weekend. I used to live there, but Jerry hadn't seen much of it on a few trips there in the past. We drove through every section of Portland. I LOVE looking at the neighborhoods and getting a feel for places that way. So does Jerry so it was a perfect day! Part of our journey included Sauvie Island. I made Brandon stop so I could take some photos of this tree.

Today is Valentines day. I'm so excited to eat my favorite wheat free and sugar free peanut butter cookies tonight from our favorite bakery Mani's. If you live in LA you must go there and check out the bakery. Lots of stuff that a girl like me who doesn't eat wheat and sugar can eat - and it tastes so delicious.

Enjoy your loved ones and eat cookies.

looking for a little enlightenment?

I'm back from Portland. Such a wonderful weekend. So much to tell. First off - The sad news. Our cat Patricia had kidney failure on Thursday and we had to put her down just an hour before we left for our trip. It was such a strange event. Didn't see it coming. Wasn't on our list of things to do on our way out of town. Jerry and I were both there when it happened. I am glad and grateful for the years we have had with her and the opportunities to share love with her and to receive love from her. She is missed. Although you KNOW that my other cat "pretty girl" is already back to being the Queen of the house and happy about it. It still feels like someone is missing, and at the same time I can feel her energy in the house. Not used to it. She always woke us up at 7am with her very loud announcements that it was time to get up and feed her. The sound of quiet in the morning is very loud right now.

Portland was like a very warm comforting bowl of chicken soup. Just what the doctor ordered. Jerry and I loved seeing Katye and Brandon. Their cat decided to sleep next to us every night which was much needed. What perfect timing for that. I took MANY photos on the trip and will share them over the course of the next week. The opening at Newspace was so nice because I was able to connect with some friends I hadn't seen in years, and be in a room filled with some talented photographers. I enjoyed it. More to tell.
But it was really nice and I am grateful to have the friends I have up there. Marsella, Lili, Michele, Nunpa, Teness, Theodore, Sara, Katye, Brandon and Tait....thank you for taking the time to see me and meet my lovely husband!

This photo was taken at the coolest store in Portland called "Noun". This photo feels appropriate today because I've been feeling like I've been experiencing my life as a power journey lately. Like sprinklings of deep insights and experiences that wake me up and remind me of who I am, why I am here, and what this thing called life is all about. It's been so inspiring. More on that tomorrow!

Leaving for Portland

We are heading to Portland tomorrow - for the Altered Landscape opening that happens on Friday night. Here is a blurb about it.
We are excited to go. I visited all the other photographers websites and I must say it was inspiring to see. I hope to meet some of them.
I am looking up galleries in Portland that I want to check out while we are in town. And we are seeing good old friends of mine and sharing meals with them which is always good!
Today I visited the Owner of Madison 101 where I will be having a one person show in April. We decided the opening will be Saturday April 12th. So when I get back from Portland I will be prepping my work for that show and finishing up a new body of work that I am so on fire about I can't stop thinking about it. Seriously. When the creative juices start flowing it's electric. I am learning that I have to balance the rest of my life with my buzz of creative inspiration - otherwise it tips so far over that I forget about everything else and gets out of whack. In art school - so many years ago - that is all I focused on - but now I have a dear husband, friends who don't stay up all night to make art, I have a cat who is a bit needy, and other life interests - like taking bubble baths, reading for fun, movies, etc. Nothing like that happens and I don't even notice usually. I'm just going going going. But this is life. I'm happy to be continually learning about all of this.
Had to stop and shift my focus - remember to eat lunch, wrap my best friends birthday gift and mail it, call husband to check in, and open the mail and sort. those tasks actually ground me too in a very different way then creating my body of work. But it is all important.

a poem from bp

Lust


Saltine crackers for lunch.

A stickfire in a blizzard.

Raising peacocks when what you need is eggs.

Lottery tickets.

Most first dates.

Owning a house, but no furniture.

All of junior high.

The exact moment when,
brandishing your knife,
you realize that you are in a gunfight.




This is a poem from my friend Brandon who has a really great blog I check daily. You should too!

begin

"The more intent a person is upon getting a special result, the more stress a person has"...."Success, like happiness, is not something that we have to run after; for when we do, it will run the other way, because fear chases it away. Both will come when a person has forgotten about them and is dedicated to serving a cause or purpose greater than herself.
Worry stems from the fear that I will not be happy in the future, meaning I will not get the things, people, money or situations I believe I must have to be happy...."
-from an article called " Let success come to you " by Terry Cole-Whittaker

I found this article that my friend Reva gave to me - after cleaning off my desk yesterday. It was perfect timing as usual.


Life is more juicy when I practice letting go. So much more comes back.

Today is my father's birthday. I love and adore my father. He is a charming, smart, funny, tender soul. I have learned so much from him just by observing how he chooses to live his life. One of the biggest things I have learned from him is the power of being big enough to admit that you might not know how to deal with every situation on your own and seek help from books, classes, groups, people, god, etc. He does this and it is inspiring. He also watches lots of movies that make him laugh and is always quoting those one liners that crack him up. When he laughs it tickles me. And he laughs a lot. What a gift he is.

ok - so enjoy the beginning of what ever it is that you fancy. Enjoy the shift from fear into love in every moment you choose to. Enjoy forgiving yourself anytime you feel like it. Enjoy creating a gorgeous life for yourself without expectations. And enjoy your father - and/or the men in your life that inspire you or make you giggle.

you are so pretty!

I would love to show the world just how pretty you are.

let me know if you need a headshot or other type of portrait.

I'll meet you on the other side of the viewfinder.

It'll be fun!

Breathe new life into your photography

Sacred Sight(c) Photography Workshops
The first one for 2008 will be May 16th - 18th in Los Angeles CA.

You can click on the image above for the flyer information.

I'm so excited to be offering these weekend workshops on photography and authenticity.

We will start the workshop at my home on Friday night from 7-9pm
Saturday we will meet from 9-5 with an hour lunch break - out at a beautiful location to be revealed that weekend. And Sunday we will meet again from 10-3 at a second location.

I incorporate tools I learned from Miguel Ruiz - author of the Four Agreements - who I had the privilege to study with for over 5 years. I also bring my own 15 years of photography experience and a deep desire to bring creative people together to create on a deeper more meaningful level. For more information contact me from my website.