This is the only photograph of a sunrise you will ever see from me. I concede that it is indeed a glorious event. It just happens to early for my tastes.
This is from a study on feathers I have been working on. Flamingos get their color from eating "Brine shrimp" in the wild. The little critters contain copious amounts of "Beta-Carotene". When held captive in zoos they are feed the chemical "Canthaxanthin" which maintains their color.
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico with my daughter Kira. During our brief visit, I had the opportunity to view the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum (www.okeeffemuseum.org) in the historical district of Santa Fe. I've always enjoyed Georgia's work ala ogling art books, but seeing the pieces in person for the first time really left a deep impression on me. Her use of color and her bold "wash" techniques are exciting! Simultaneously however, it was quite puzzling to me how exactly she pulled off many of the pieces on display. In the weeks following my visit, I simply couldn't get Georgia or her art off of my mind (hence the title of my painting, playing off the well known Ray Charles song).
What an interesting life she'd lead. What fascinating people she'd met. What a great period of time to have lived! What freaking amazing paintings she created!!!
On the surface, her art is quite simplistic, yet upon closer examination... there's so much going on! Minimalist in nature there's also a "realist" quality to the paintings... even though she intentionally left out excessive detail. Studying her life a bit, I discovered that on the surface she lived a simple life, yet she was a very complex person behind her facade of simplicity.
So in my painting of her, I needed a metaphor to depict the complex woman behind these powerfully minimalist paintings. By attempting to duplicate her style in my rendering of her now famous "Poppy" painting (featured a few years back on a US postage stamp), I experimented with washes and "wet into wet" techniques I imagined she must have used.
(Georgia's "Poppy" Masterpiece)
The results for me were exciting... yet terrifying since there's very little that can be done to "control" this technique. Paint has a habit of doing what it wants, and with the piece of watercolor paper costing me around $65.00, I was a bit hesitant to relinquish that control. But I did, and I'm very happy with the results (although you will see that some tonal aspects of the picture were somewhat missed... however, I believe my version works well for the overall composition).
So where is the metaphor? The metaphor is in the rendering of Georgia herself, through a highly detailed and time consuming "Dry Brush" technique. This technique allowed me to recreate very exacting detail approaching an almost a "photographic" quality. So there you have it, complexity on top of simplicity. Rather like Georgia herself... yet in reverse!
I designed the frame incidentally, and it was built by Dave Morgan (I assisted... I just love the smell of saw dust).
I encourage you that if you are ever in Santa Fe, New Mexico... you MUST drop in and see this fantastic collection.
I am very honored to say that Georgia On My Mind was voted "Best Of Show" by visitors at a recent showing at ISM Gallery;
I have wanted to capture "lightning" for some time. Last night I had my opportunity. so I risked my life for the entertainment of my "Ovation" friends. The storm had knocked out my TV so I went outside to watch the show. Well worth the price of admission...Free!
At this time of year the fields of Oklahoma are flush with golden grain. Combines work late into the night trying to gather the summer harvest. Eyes scan the heavens watching the gathering clouds with apprehension. As the sun sets, a glorious red appears as do the smiles of all the farmers...there will be no rain tonight. Stuart however is in bed suffering a sever attack of wheat dust allergies.... he smiles as the handful of Benadryl take effect and he passes out slowly, but not before experiencing one last sneeze. Enjoy!
I had a big hairy bug and a beautiful flower. I had tried for hours to take a picture of each one alone....it wasn't working. I was trying to put the caterpillar back in a jar but I dropped him next to the rose accidentally. What you see is the result.....here in Oklahoma we call that serendipity.
I find myself laying on the ground taking photographs of flowers quite often. But I have decided not to do it as much after I was almost arrested in Colorado for "Public Intoxication". From now on I will make sure someone is with me, not necessarily as a witness to police harassment but to help me get up. Enjoy...
Found this tarantula and thought it would be a great critter to photograph. I had no idea how quickly these arachnids could move, but I was soon to find out. He was temporarily imprisoned in a jar while I retrieved my camera and put on my Converse High Tops. Before I removed the lid I took several deep breaths and prefocused on the top of the jar. The gigantic spider leaped at me with the agility of a cat when I removed the lid. I took this shot just as I turned and ran away making sounds that can only be described as primal. This was just another occasion where my Converses served me well. Enjoy!
The Ruby-throated hummingbird frequents my Oklahoma home every Spring. They fly north from Central America to breed,some even crossing the Gulf of Mexico. Humming birds are the only birds that can fly backwards. They build their nests using spider webs....which is just fine with me. My Dad complains about feeding them....but then brags how many he has living around his house.
A male humming bird watches over the nest as his mate forages for food. Because these tiny birds have to feed very frequently (high metabolism) the nest would be vulnerable to predation if the male did not stand vigil. As a result the mated pair will synchronize their feeding habits to the benefit of both themselves and their offspring. I would consider this behavior......love.
This is a tree close to my home that is rumored to be the infamous "Lincoln County Hanging Tree". As most western historians will confirm it has been in use from the time that Yankee lady Betty Friedan wrote "The Feminine Mystic". The heinous crimes one has to commit are beyond reason to me and most of my friends. For instance leaving empty beer cans on the floor board of the family car, not closing the bathroom door, not letting down the toilet seat, using her toothbrush, and the worst crime of all....when she comes into the room wearing some new outfit and asks "Do these pants make my butt look fat"? If your answer was "YES"!....we will be seeing you at the "The Tree". After the last census it was reported there are more women than men in Lincoln County. Go Figure....
As a confirmed arachnophobic I try to avoid all things spider. I am aware that nature's beauty encompasses critters responsible for countless nightmares and intolerable jolts of adrenaline. However when presented with an aesthetically pleasing subject I can't help but overcome my ingrained fears and move in for the shot. This beautiful spider web is a good case in point. I used a water bottle to spritz the web as the sun was setting hoping it would somehow enhance the delicate silk. After a couple of shots I beat a hasty retreat back into my home before the spider returned to it's home. Enjoy
This is the second and finale image in my "UP AND DOWN" series. A special thanks to GiGi and Rah_Steele for their technical assistance. Without them this last image would not have been possible. I am eternally grateful.....S.H.
A friend and I decided that we would go to a new Cajun food restaurant for lunch. After being seated by a very rude waitress, I picked up the menu and started to read. My friend was still miffed at the waitress but he soon settled down with menu in hand. "They serve frog legs here" I told him "Have you ever eaten them"? "No way am I going to eat a slimy amphibian's legs"! he exclaimed, looking back at the menu. The cranky waitress arrived at our table asking,"What do y'all want"? In the blink of an eye my buddy turned his head and asked,"Do you have frog legs"? "Yes" she said. He then told her in a loud voice "In that case hop your ass back to the kitchen and bring me a cheeseburger".....we were asked to leave. Enjoy.....
I thought I would venture out with my camera while watching the ominous dark clouds of an impending storm. There is an abundance of wild flowers where I live so I thought I might find a likely candidate for a portrait. It was a short walk before I stumbled upon this fine example of an indigenous specimen. There is such an enormous amount of type and variety of very beautiful yellow flowers here. But to avoid having to "Study up" and memorize the multitude of their individual names I have decided they shall all fall under this well thought out name, "Yeller". Enjoy....
This is a photograph that I took tonight of my 86 year old father who landed on the coast of Normandy, June 1944. It was taken at the "Jelly Jar" studio in my kitchen, He is wearing a vintage WWll GI issue helmet, with liner, from my collection. After I was set up and ready he put on the helmet, in a few moments a look came over his face that I was lucky enough to capture. Afterwards I asked him what he was thinking, "About the last time I wore one of these Stuart", he said softly, turned slowly and walked quietly back to his room. When I uploaded the photograph and saw the look on his face again, I cried. He is my hero. Enjoy......
Photos with the Most Comments
"Good Morning"
This is the only photograph of a sunrise you will ever see from me. I concede that it is indeed a glorious event. It just happens to early for my tastes.
"Plumage"
This is from a study on feathers I have been working on. Flamingos get their color from eating "Brine shrimp" in the wild. The little critters contain copious amounts of "Beta-Carotene". When held captive in zoos they are feed the chemical "Canthaxanthin" which maintains their color.
Stuart
"SWIMMING UP STREAM"
Georgia On My Mind
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico with my daughter Kira. During our brief visit, I had the opportunity to view the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum (www.okeeffemuseum.org) in the historical district of Santa Fe. I've always enjoyed Georgia's work ala ogling art books, but seeing the pieces in person for the first time really left a deep impression on me. Her use of color and her bold "wash" techniques are exciting! Simultaneously however, it was quite puzzling to me how exactly she pulled off many of the pieces on display. In the weeks following my visit, I simply couldn't get Georgia or her art off of my mind (hence the title of my painting, playing off the well known Ray Charles song).
What an interesting life she'd lead. What fascinating people she'd met. What a great period of time to have lived! What freaking amazing paintings she created!!!
On the surface, her art is quite simplistic, yet upon closer examination... there's so much going on! Minimalist in nature there's also a "realist" quality to the paintings... even though she intentionally left out excessive detail. Studying her life a bit, I discovered that on the surface she lived a simple life, yet she was a very complex person behind her facade of simplicity.
So in my painting of her, I needed a metaphor to depict the complex woman behind these powerfully minimalist paintings. By attempting to duplicate her style in my rendering of her now famous "Poppy" painting (featured a few years back on a US postage stamp), I experimented with washes and "wet into wet" techniques I imagined she must have used.
(Georgia's "Poppy" Masterpiece)
The results for me were exciting... yet terrifying since there's very little that can be done to "control" this technique. Paint has a habit of doing what it wants, and with the piece of watercolor paper costing me around $65.00, I was a bit hesitant to relinquish that control. But I did, and I'm very happy with the results (although you will see that some tonal aspects of the picture were somewhat missed... however, I believe my version works well for the overall composition).
So where is the metaphor? The metaphor is in the rendering of Georgia herself, through a highly detailed and time consuming "Dry Brush" technique. This technique allowed me to recreate very exacting detail approaching an almost a "photographic" quality. So there you have it, complexity on top of simplicity. Rather like Georgia herself... yet in reverse!
I designed the frame incidentally, and it was built by Dave Morgan (I assisted... I just love the smell of saw dust).
I encourage you that if you are ever in Santa Fe, New Mexico... you MUST drop in and see this fantastic collection.
I am very honored to say that Georgia On My Mind was voted "Best Of Show" by visitors at a recent showing at ISM Gallery;
http://www.ismcommunity.org/?q=node/614
Also, I would always appreciate your comments!
Many thanx..,
Craigo
The River
"Flower Light"
"Night Light"!
I have wanted to capture "lightning" for some time. Last night I had my opportunity. so I risked my life for the entertainment of my "Ovation" friends. The storm had knocked out my TV so I went outside to watch the show. Well worth the price of admission...Free!
Stuart
" Evening Harvest"
At this time of year the fields of Oklahoma are flush with golden grain. Combines work late into the night trying to gather the summer harvest. Eyes scan the heavens watching the gathering clouds with apprehension. As the sun sets, a glorious red appears as do the smiles of all the farmers...there will be no rain tonight. Stuart however is in bed suffering a sever attack of wheat dust allergies.... he smiles as the handful of Benadryl take effect and he passes out slowly, but not before experiencing one last sneeze. Enjoy!
THE UNICORN.
"Beauty and The Beast".
I had a big hairy bug and a beautiful flower. I had tried for hours to take a picture of each one alone....it wasn't working. I was trying to put the caterpillar back in a jar but I dropped him next to the rose accidentally. What you see is the result.....here in Oklahoma we call that serendipity.
Stuart
My Point of View.
I find myself laying on the ground taking photographs of flowers quite often. But I have decided not to do it as much after I was almost arrested in Colorado for "Public Intoxication". From now on I will make sure someone is with me, not necessarily as a witness to police harassment but to help me get up. Enjoy...
"The Great Escape"
Found this tarantula and thought it would be a great critter to photograph. I had no idea how quickly these arachnids could move, but I was soon to find out. He was temporarily imprisoned in a jar while I retrieved my camera and put on my Converse High Tops. Before I removed the lid I took several deep breaths and prefocused on the top of the jar. The gigantic spider leaped at me with the agility of a cat when I removed the lid. I took this shot just as I turned and ran away making sounds that can only be described as primal. This was just another occasion where my Converses served me well. Enjoy!
"Hovering Heights"
The Ruby-throated hummingbird frequents my Oklahoma home every Spring. They fly north from Central America to breed,some even crossing the Gulf of Mexico. Humming birds are the only birds that can fly backwards. They build their nests using spider webs....which is just fine with me. My Dad complains about feeding them....but then brags how many he has living around his house.
"The Sentinel"
A male humming bird watches over the nest as his mate forages for food. Because these tiny birds have to feed very frequently (high metabolism) the nest would be vulnerable to predation if the male did not stand vigil. As a result the mated pair will synchronize their feeding habits to the benefit of both themselves and their offspring. I would consider this behavior......love.
"The Tree"
This is a tree close to my home that is rumored to be the infamous "Lincoln County Hanging Tree". As most western historians will confirm it has been in use from the time that Yankee lady Betty Friedan wrote "The Feminine Mystic". The heinous crimes one has to commit are beyond reason to me and most of my friends. For instance leaving empty beer cans on the floor board of the family car, not closing the bathroom door, not letting down the toilet seat, using her toothbrush, and the worst crime of all....when she comes into the room wearing some new outfit and asks "Do these pants make my butt look fat"? If your answer was "YES"!....we will be seeing you at the "The Tree". After the last census it was reported there are more women than men in Lincoln County. Go Figure....
" Website"
As a confirmed arachnophobic I try to avoid all things spider. I am aware that nature's beauty encompasses critters responsible for countless nightmares and intolerable jolts of adrenaline. However when presented with an aesthetically pleasing subject I can't help but overcome my ingrained fears and move in for the shot. This beautiful spider web is a good case in point. I used a water bottle to spritz the web as the sun was setting hoping it would somehow enhance the delicate silk. After a couple of shots I beat a hasty retreat back into my home before the spider returned to it's home. Enjoy
"SWIMMING DOWN STREAM"
This is the second and finale image in my "UP AND DOWN" series. A special thanks to GiGi and Rah_Steele for their technical assistance. Without them this last image would not have been possible. I am eternally grateful.....S.H.
"Frog Legs"
A friend and I decided that we would go to a new Cajun food restaurant for lunch. After being seated by a very rude waitress, I picked up the menu and started to read. My friend was still miffed at the waitress but he soon settled down with menu in hand. "They serve frog legs here" I told him "Have you ever eaten them"? "No way am I going to eat a slimy amphibian's legs"! he exclaimed, looking back at the menu. The cranky waitress arrived at our table asking,"What do y'all want"? In the blink of an eye my buddy turned his head and asked,"Do you have frog legs"? "Yes" she said. He then told her in a loud voice "In that case hop your ass back to the kitchen and bring me a cheeseburger".....we were asked to leave. Enjoy.....
"Yeller"
I thought I would venture out with my camera while watching the ominous dark clouds of an impending storm. There is an abundance of wild flowers where I live so I thought I might find a likely candidate for a portrait. It was a short walk before I stumbled upon this fine example of an indigenous specimen. There is such an enormous amount of type and variety of very beautiful yellow flowers here. But to avoid having to "Study up" and memorize the multitude of their individual names I have decided they shall all fall under this well thought out name, "Yeller". Enjoy....
"Normandy Revisited"
This is a photograph that I took tonight of my 86 year old father who landed on the coast of Normandy, June 1944. It was taken at the "Jelly Jar" studio in my kitchen, He is wearing a vintage WWll GI issue helmet, with liner, from my collection. After I was set up and ready he put on the helmet, in a few moments a look came over his face that I was lucky enough to capture. Afterwards I asked him what he was thinking, "About the last time I wore one of these Stuart", he said softly, turned slowly and walked quietly back to his room. When I uploaded the photograph and saw the look on his face again, I cried. He is my hero. Enjoy......