31 March 2017

Life of Art SitRep #372 Resistance Bumper Stickers

This week, I created a Resistance Bumper Stickers collection:

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Resistance Bumper Stickers collection.

Filed my taxes, huzzah!

Switched several Postcards from glossy to matte paper. The option is available on all of them.

Was going to switch some Cards but several seemed to be matte already. The option is available on all of them as well.

Added a twitter header banner to @RocklawnArts. Since it's responsive, abstract images work better than geometric patterns which can crop poorly on some screens.

Took a bit of jiggering but set up this collection to post tweets to @RocklawnArts:

Reorganized collections a bit.

Rated photographs in 19 folders from last year and culled 5 videos.

Apparently today is World Backup Day. Have you backed up lately? Do you have a copy of your files stored at another location or online in case of theft or disaster?


11 years ago on TTaT: There's no such thing as a chocolate milkshake and Holy cow, Batman!

24 March 2017

Life of Art SitRep #371 Ruthless Culling

If nothing else this week, I was good about reviewing, culling, and rating the photographs I shot.

Shot 59 photographs and brutally culled 35, rah!

Started working on a colorized ogee pattern but didn't get very far as I started rethinking my approach and then got sidelined by pedestrian matters.

Finished reading/doing lessons in Adobe Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC for Photographers Classroom In A Book. Lots of useful info!

On the upside, this post didn't take very long to write.

How was your week?


11 years ago on TTaT: I'm a little lamb

23 March 2017

Introvert Meets Extrovert

The forecast for tomorrow is snow/sleet so when I got a notice late in the day that the second book I was waiting for was available at the library, I decided to pick it up today before they closed.

As soon as I walked through the inner door to the library, a woman behind the counter called out, "Hello!"

"Hello," I replied, slightly surprised because I was still about 10 feet away from her. She must be the new young woman Mom mentioned.

I walked over to be across from her at the counter and continued, "I've got a couple of books to pick up."

"Sure thing."

Mom had neglected to mention that she's very good looking. Long, straight black hair. Around my age. Fairly tall. Well, maybe 25-35. Mom calls most everyone "young" and there's a range where I find ages hard to gauge.

She set aside what she'd been working on as I pulled out my library card from my wallet. When I handed it to her, she said, "Thank you," and proceeded to scan it.

She turned behind her to the reserves bookshelf to find my books and said, "Ah, you're Claire."

"That's me."

With my books in hand, she turned back to me and continued, "I'd wondered who Claire was." She searched her memory for a second, found what she was looking for, and continued, "Paula picks things up for you, right?"

I was impressed. "Yes, she's my mom," I said. "And you're new."

"Yes, I've been working here for two or three months. I'm Katie."

Katie like Katie McGrath. I smiled and said, "Hey."

Katie checked out my books. "Is this good?" she asked, pointing to March: Book Three. "I saw that you'd read the earlier ones. I poked through them and they looked interesting."

"Yes, they're very good." I picked up the book and flipped it to its spine to check the author's name and added, "They're John Lewis's experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. There are 3 books in the series."

She was looking at me, engaged. I felt heat rise in my cheeks. I hoped it was one of those times that I only feel certain I'm blushing but other people can't see it. I broke eye contact and looked back down at the book.

"They looked powerful," she said.

"They are."

Katie handed me my other book and I said, "Thank you." I was happy that in this instance the other book I was checking out was a version of Dante's La Vita Nuova in the original Italian with an English translation on opposing pages.

"It was really nice meeting you," she said.

"It was nice to meet you too." I started to walk away.

"Bye, Claire."

I turned my head and over my shoulder said, "Bye, Katie." In my peripheral vision, I saw her smile.


10 years ago on TTaT: A follow-up of sorts

19 March 2017

Adobe Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC for Photographers Classroom In A Book

Adobe Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC for Photographers Classroom in a Book19. Adobe Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC for Photographers Classroom in a Book by Lesa Snider

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The book is not a complete reference on everything in Lightroom or in Photoshop, rather its focus is on how the programs work together, what tasks are best suited to each and how to pass files back and forth while maintaining the highest image quality.

I went into this with a good understanding of Photoshop and a fair understanding of Lightroom, so I found working through the lessons with the practice files very helpful. There are definitely sections I will revisit as the need arises.

To get the most out of this book, you really need to do the exercises, not just read them.

(The author is mis-attributed on GoodReads page for the correct version of the book, but I've given Lesa Snider proper credit here.)


11 years ago on TTaT: Was I not already doing this for free?

18 March 2017

March: Book Two

March: Book Two (March, #2)18. March: Book Two by John Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


John Lewis’ experience of the Civil rights movement continues in book 2.

Read it to learn more about the brutal racism and discrimination of the early 1960s, to see how far we've come since then, and to see what's at stake now in 2017 as many in power seek to take us backwards towards those days.



11 years ago on TTaT: Query

17 March 2017

Life of Art SitRep #370 Mixed Gray, Black, White Stripes

This week, I shot 6 photographs, culled 3, rated the rest.

Shot 17 videos, culled 10, rated rest. I'm gradually getting better with my post shoot process. Also getting more ruthless in my culling which will save time in the future.

Did another pass of 2017 photos thus far to choose 2 stars from 1 star photos.

Added Mixed Gray, Black, White Stripes design to items in my shop:

Check out the collection of Mixed Gray, Black, White Stripes products.

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Mixed Gray, Black, White Stripes design (posts next Tuesday to Rocklawn Arts blog).

Made a #Resist mug and updated the #Resist Kit collection:

Listened to a great podcast by Chase Jarvis on how to know if the voice in your head is a gremlin or your instinct: When to listen to the voices in your head.

Updated links, LOA files.

Deleted 9 products from my shop.

Finished lesson 8 in Lightroom Photoshop book.

How was your week?


11 years ago on TTaT: Chips and Dr Pepper

15 March 2017

One Strand At A Time

When I looked down I saw two loose strands of my hair, one dark brown and the other, grey. The grey was almost invisible against the pale surface.

This was not surprising to me since I've had a small streak of grey in my hair starting when I was 16. For many years, hair dressers always exclaimed in shock and dismay when they came across it. In recent years, I have acquired many more. Mostly I don't notice them unless I'm in a public restroom with overhead lighting. Then I think, Damn, I have a lot more grey than I thought.

I picked up the dark strand first and saw the grey move also. I grabbed the other end of the hair and held it out horizontally in front of me. One half of the long strand was brown and the other half was grey.

Nothing quite like seeing that your hair is literally turning grey one strand at a time.


10 years ago on TTaT: When Irish road workers have spare time

11 March 2017

17. O'Keefe

O'Keefe17. O'Keefe by Britta Benke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The version I read was in English with ISBN: 978-3836556484 but has the same page count and cover, so I'm considering this close enough. (Trying to add it to GoodReads was giving me all sorts of hassle.)

Really lovely collection of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings.

The text is OK but sorely needs indentation for new paragraphs! Or line breaks, something to make it easier to read than having it all justified left. The hyphenated split words on the right were annoying too.

As for text content, it's decent when it's the facts of her life but at times made me roll my eyes when it strayed into interpretations of O'Keeffe's paintings. This book is best for its selection of images from her work, a decent size, but not huge–the book, that is.

If you can't see her work in person (though I highly recommend it), this is a good second choice.


10 years ago on TTaT: The other Hepburn, I was suspicious...

10 March 2017

Life of Art SitRep #369 Collections, Archive, Learning

This week, I shot 12 abstract photographs, culled 7. Also culled 49 from previous shoots and rated images.

Created Waterproof LifeProof iPhone 7 Cases and Waterproof LifeProof iPhone 7 Plus Cases collections:

Rocklawn Arts blogged New Waterproof LifeProof iPhone 7 Cases Collection, New Waterproof LifeProof iPhone 7 Plus Cases Collection, and New Rainbow Colored Balloons illustration (posts next Tuesday though you can click the link to see the items in my shop now).

Watched a series of short Lightroom workflow videos by Jared Platt and a live retouching mini workshop.

Started lesson 8 in LR PS classroom book.

Made monthly backups. Have you backed up lately?


10 years ago on TTaT: Quattro

05 March 2017

Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index

Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index15. Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index by Kathy Griffin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you're a fan of her comedy specials, you'll likely enjoy this book, a collection of stories about celebrity encounters arranged alphabetically by their names. There's also a handy index as some people show up in others' entries.

What strikes me is how many famous people she's met, the life and career she's worked very hard to create with a fearlessness I find inspiring. It's not that I'm going to head out to accost celebrities in service of humor, but I'd like to channel some of her confidence when dealing with new people and situations.


10 years ago on TTaT: Clash of the Foreign Tongues

04 March 2017

120 Hiroshige Woodblock Prints CD-ROM and Book

120 Hiroshige Woodblock Prints CD-ROM and Book13. 120 Hiroshige Woodblock Prints CD-ROM and Book by Hiroshige Utagawa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Most of the woodblock prints are from the 1850s in Japan. It's really interesting to see the terrain. Hiroshige was a very skilled artist.

The book comes with a CD-ROM of the images which are all royalty free. Here are a few of my favorites:



10 years ago on TTaT: Another wizard named Harry

03 March 2017

Life of Art SitRep #368 LifeProof iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Cases

Made a bit of headway this week though it's felt slow going.

Shot 6 photographs and culled 2.

Also culled 98 from previous shoots. Still need to do another pass on those.

Created a selection of LifeProof® FRÄ’® iPhone 7 Cases:

Created a selection of LifeProof® FRÄ’® iPhone 7 Plus Cases:

Watched Dave Cross's "Adobe Tip: How to use Dehaze in Photoshop".

Started watching a series of Jared Platt's quick lessons on Lightroom. You can see the first here and sign up to get emailed the rest: Backing Up from the Start.

How was your week?


10 years ago on TTaT: Present, meet past