Back to back cemeteries

Two cemeteries divided by a row of tall, old trees. One old, one new; one bathed in golden light, one in shadow. I'm fascinated by it every time I drive by.

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness I can show, to any fellow human being, let me do it NOW. Let me not defer, or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. –Daniel Chester French

A year ago on TTaT: Claire and Serra; He knows he's not getting my donut, right?

Life of Art SitRep #25

A series to mark what I did to further my pursuit of a life sustained by my art each week. Committing to these posts is a commitment to action, because to have content for them, I have to do something. Every week. If you have any sort of goal you're pursuing, feel free to share your efforts of the past week in the comments. Or encouragement, that's good too.

*******

This week, I

• Found a video tutorial for repairing dust & scratches in Photoshop. Better for spots than scratches I think. Definitely useful stuff though it may just apply to black & white images.
  
  Anyone have a good Photoshop tip for dust & scratch correction? I'm looking for something less painstaking. Or know of a program that does it better?
• Prepped Crane and Counterweight and created some products for my shop:
  
  Crane and Counterweight – Medium by RocklawnArts
  See more Crane and counterweight Postage

  Several years ago during what I'm sure was an imaginary period of my life, I lived in a store front along the border of Nob Hill and Chinatown in San Francisco, California. Theoretically, parking in my neighborhood was routinely horrendous, so I walked whenever possible, noting any structures I wanted to go back and photograph later.
  
  When I saw this construction site in the Financial District, I marveled at how close the barricades were to the equipment. I returned on a Sunday with an amazing sky when the workmen were off. I sidled up to the barricades around the crane and its multi-ton counterweights, and started taking photos.
  
  I chose black and white film to show off the geometry within the crane and pulley system's lattices. To give the crane an unusual look, I aligned the arm of the crane with its base. I still feel the awe of being below (though not quite directly under) this massive piece of equipment when I look at this image.

• Tweeted, FB'd Crane and Counterweight link.
• RT'd Harry Potter zazzle sale info.
• Revised Rocklawn Arts shop's profile and changed the background color.
• Listened to Havi's Copywriting Magic teleclass. Great bit about worth of art and not making assumptions about what people want. There are people out there with money. We don't know value of our stuff because we can do it already.
• Listened to 2 GoingPro podcasts.

*******

What did you do to pursue the life you want this week?


A year ago on TTaT: Even nothing has a catch

Cemetery clouds

In my shop, Rocklawn Arts, the image is known as Puffy Clouds On Blue Sky.


Two years ago on TTaT: After all this time nothing is the answer?

Fungi photos

Two years ago on TTaT: Random Scan Sunday 10: Bedroom sketch

Recycling via art

A while back, my Dad was weeding his immense slide collection and he was going to throw out all these metal slide holders he had. I couldn't resist the modular stack, so I had a pile of them for a while and then started interconnecting pairs and then wired those together.

For a long time, it hung vertically from a hook on the door to their garage.

One day when I was over, I noticed it was gone and then spotted it outside where Mom had nailed it to a tree.

It reminds me of this modular sculpture I made in college. The modules I used for the project were hinges with screws arrayed in an undulating pattern along a diagonal to show acceleration that met with another line of hinges and screws representing constant speed all mounted on a piece of wood. (I'll take a picture of it sometime if you're interested.)

Anyway, the point is, my professor looked at it lying flat on the table, liked the screws hanging off the side, and then tipped the whole thing upright making it about 1000 times cooler.

Slide holders wrapped around a tree instead of hanging straight = much cooler. Thanks, Mom!


Three years ago on TTaT: Je souhaite

Sketchbook, page 39

(Other pages)

The process of filling a 120 60 page sketchbook and posting it all by year's end continues:

p.19 Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands

Two years ago on TTaT: Unanticipated

Pinecones, attached

A year ago on TTaT: The Problem With Polka Dots

Life of Art SitRep #24

A series to mark what I did to further my pursuit of a life sustained by my art each week. Committing to these posts is a commitment to action, because to have content for them, I have to do something. Every week. If you have any sort of goal you're pursuing, feel free to share your efforts of the past week in the comments. Or encouragement, that's good too.

*******

This week, I

• Uploaded Fountain Spray to my store and created its product line:
  
  Fountain Spray by RocklawnArts
  See all the prints and posters at zazzle
• Tweeted/FB'd new Fountain Spray product folder and Harry Potter sale info:

  Use code: PRICEREVELIO for 10-20% off through July 25, 2010 at 11:59pm PT. 10% off binder, apparel, mug, bag, apron, and shoe net sale prices; 15% off card, keychain, magnet, mousepad, postcard, poster, and sticker net sale prices; 20% off bumper sticker, button, and tie net sale prices.

• Submitted Rocklawn Arts zazzle store to 3 forum threads for promotion.
• Read Zazzle RSS Guide.
• Added Rocklawn Arts redbubble store link to intros on both zazzle sites. Revised both zazzle store intros a little.
• Added Burning Brush to my Rocklawn Arts redbubble store.
• Drew winners of my note card giveaway. (Love the screencap the computer chose.) Tracked down the winners and got the cards sent off.
• Opened Rocklawn Arts twitter account for posting comprehensive info on Rocklawn Arts as well as sale info.
• Opened twitterfeed account and hooked it up to my zazzle feed and my redbubble art page feed.

*******

What did you do to pursue the life you want this week? A year ago on TTaT: In five years of blogging, I've never posted on July 23rd. I like filling in those stray days. :)

Sunlit trees

Three years ago on TTaT: I often don't know what to say to him

28. The Book of Codes

28. The Book of Codes: Understanding the World of Hidden Messages (An Illustrated Guide to Signs, Symbols, Ciphers, and Secret Languages) General editor: Paul Lunde (4.5/5)

The Book of Codes is my favorite thing I've read in quite a while. Makes me wish I had a photographic memory.

Take a minute and think about how many codes you encountered or used today. Go ahead, I'll wait.

I'd say chances are excellent this book covers everything you thought of and a ton you didn't even consider. Read anything? Buy something with a UPC label on it? Calculate your change? Look at the sky to determine what the weather is doing? Follow traffic signs? Place a fork on the left and a knife on the right of a plate? Do a crossword or a sudoku? You get the idea.

The book is an encyclopedia of codes, a fascinating peak into how we interpret the world around us. History, science, linguistics, mathematics, social customs: there's a bit of everything from before hieroglyphs, to wartime ciphers, to music, to genetics.

Though most topics just get a two-page spread, a good bit of information is still imparted. I don't imagine everyone would be interested in reading the book all at once like I did, but I think there's something of interest in it for everyone. Avail yourself of the contents and detailed index.

A very cool reference book, painstakingly formatted, lots of photographs and images, and quite readable. If I weren't trying to accumulate less stuff these days, The Book of Codes would definitely be on my shelf.


A year ago on TTaT: 40 years, now what?

And the note cards go to...

Before I draw the winners of my notecard giveaway, I'd like to take a moment to address all of the entrants, you inaugural few. Thank you for your interest, feedback, and encouragement. Your preferences cover quite a range, and I am rather pleased by that.

When I posted the contest a week ago, I didn't have a particular number of hoped for entries in mind, but if asked, I would have said, "Many." Now I'm grateful for this intimate group: your participation is special to me. You're here as I take another step in my life as an artist. My thanks to each of you.

OK, on with the random selection! I'm excited to find out where my cards are going.


(run time 2:30)
1st prize: Jacquelin Richards
2nd prize: Merujo
3rd prize: Amanda from Germany

Congratulations!

Amanda, you didn't leave a link or any contact information, so you have 1 week to send your address to me. You can DM me on twitter @claireofttat or send me an email at nomad_claire at yahoo[]dot[]com. (Leave a comment if you have any trouble with that.) If I don't hear from you by 4:00 PM EDT Monday, July 26, 2010; I'll draw another winner.


3 years ago on TTaT: When a canvas presents itself, 2

Sketchbook, page 38

(Other pages)

The process of filling a 120 60 page sketchbook and posting it all by year's end continues:

p.16 Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands

***Don't forget: today's the last day to enter my Notecard Giveaway!***

3 years ago on TTaT: When a canvas presents itself...

Lez Chat

Lez Chat

Silly goodness for Saturday with such a great cast. :)


A year ago on TTaT: Ladies cut t-shirts

Life of Art SitRep #23

A series to mark what I did to further my pursuit of a life sustained by my art each week. Committing to these posts is a commitment to action, because to have content for them, I have to do something. Every week. If you have any sort of goal you're pursuing, feel free to share your efforts of the past week in the comments. Or encouragement, that's good too.

*******

This week, I

• Offered a Note Card Giveaway on the blog. I'm accepting entries until 11:59 PM EDT Sunday, July 18, 2010, so there's still time to enter!
• Shot 324 photos.
• Uploaded Desert Wave to my redbubble Rocklawn Arts shop and made it available for sale.
• Changed my redbubble profile and added my bio as a redbubble journal entry.
• Tweeted, FB'd my redbubble Rocklawn Arts shop.
• Created a bubblesite through redbubble to showcase my photographs. Pretty sweet as it's a clean interface free of any other branding.
• Changed my blog template using designer. Still needs adjustment but did the shift just to get myself unstuck.
• Updated TTaT's shop sidebar to include Rocklawn Arts bubblesite. Revised wording some.
• Rewrote shop page on TTaT significantly.
• Customized my Rocklawn Arts zazzle store some: gave it a simple header, changed colors, added products to sidebar and added code so it just shows the ones I offer.
• Submitted Rocklawn Arts zazzle site to 2 threads on forum.
• Tweeted, FB'd zazzle postage sale.
• Listened to 2 goingpro podcasts.

*******

What did you do to pursue the life you want this week?


***Don't forget to enter my Notecard Giveaway!***

A year ago on TTaT: Gettin' My Groove On... (vol. iv)

He was a yellow dog named Blue

When I was about 5, I really wanted a dog. And then I got bitten in the forehead by one. "I don't want a dog anymore," I told my mom while gushing blood on the way to the hospital. "I want a puppy."


***Don't forget to enter my Notecard Giveaway. 3 days left to enter!***

Leaf + Deck (3)

***Don't forget to enter my Notecard Giveaway. 3 days left to enter!***


A year ago on TTaT: Claire's Sublime Smoothies

Who'd like some real mail? A little giveaway to perk you up

I really like how the note cards I designed with my photographs turned out, so I'd like to share a few.

If you'd like a chance to receive a note card in the mail from me, leave a comment on this post telling me which 2 photographs below you like best.

To see the cards individually and in greater detail, click the links below.

Top right: The Link
Middle left: Desert Wave: Petrified Forest National Park
Center: Green Man
Middle right: North Window: Arches National Park
Bottom left: Light patterns on water surface
Bottom center: Raging Fire
Bottom right: Burning Brush

DETAILS:

You have until 11:59 PM EDT Sunday, July 18, 2010 to enter. On Monday, July 19, I'll draw 3 names at random and contact the winners for their addresses. The first winner drawn has 1st dibs on their favorite photograph based on their comment entry, then the 2nd winner drawn, then the 3rd. I'll try to accommodate everyone's first choices, but I don't have 3 of every card, so I reserve the right to send the 2nd and 3rd winners their second choices.

Once I have the winners' addresses, I'll write them each notes and get the cards sent off as soon as I can. (If you live outside of the US, it may take 1-2 weeks to arrive, or possibly longer depending on where you live.)

1 entry per person. Make sure I can contact you if you win: twitter handle, blog link, or email.

Open to anyone with a mailing address she or he is willing to share with me. I take privacy seriously, so all I will use your address for is to mail you your super sweet card.

Any questions? Leave them in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

Good luck!

UPDATE: The contest is now closed. Winners will be picked and announced on Monday, July 19th. Good luck, everybody!


Two years ago on TTaT: Tan, maybe

Sketchbook, page 37

(Other pages)

The process of filling a 120 60 page sketchbook and posting it all by year's end continues:

p.16 Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands
I know, not fancy, but it does look like the sketch in the book.


A year ago on TTaT: Performance anxiety

Leaf + Deck (2)

Two years ago on TTaT: Not just a vampire, also a daylily

Life of Art SitRep #22

A series to mark what I did to further my pursuit of a life sustained by my art each week. Committing to these posts is a commitment to action, because to have content for them, I have to do something. Every week. If you have any sort of goal you're pursuing, feel free to share your efforts of the past week in the comments. Or encouragement, that's good too.

*******

This week, I

• Went to an Arts Festival.
• Shot 214 photos.
• Added Sandstone Fins store link to The Road is my Favorite Place: Day 6 post.
• Made digital vertical postcard, binder templates. That completes template set for digital vertical.
• Finished out product lines for everything I have up now.
• Read "Authority Alliances" pdf from Chris G.
• Uploaded North Window to my Redbubble Rocklawn Arts site and finished filling out necessary forms to offer it for sale there.
  

  I think I misjudged Redbubble initially. Despite being based in Australia, their shipping rates are very reasonable and sometimes better than US-based Zazzle's. Redbubble's site has a very clean look which I like. Also you don't have to register with the site to buy something. They have less product selection overall, but they do have some cool mounting and matting options that aren't available at my zazzle store like matted prints without frames, laminated prints, and a couple kinds of mounted prints. I'd like to be able to tweak a bit more, but I think Redbubble's fewer options make it easier for potential customers to navigate.

• Drew 1 sketch.

*******

What did you do to pursue the life you want this week?


A year ago on TTaT: Gettin' My Groove On... (vol. iii)

Leaf + Deck (1)

A year ago on TTaT: Summer treat: 3Way

Scene from the Candy Aisle

Striding along the grocery section in Walmart, I slowed my pace when I spotted bags of Lifesavers, Starbursts, and the like. Is that the candy aisle? It's been months since the store remodeled, but I'm still getting used to the new layout.

A few steps closer and I could tell that it was where I was looking for. Two young women – college-aged, early 20s? – each held a bag or two of candy and were discussing the merits of their choices or possibly the options. I was just soaking in their English accents.

"Do you remember when we were in New York...?"

What are you doing here? I wondered. They left the aisle, still chatting, as a mid-twentyish couple came in.

The tough-looking guy with a few days facial hair's growth said, "I feel like I've just been to Harry Potter Land."

His girlfriend laughed and so did I.

That was kind of mean. Right? He waited until they were out of sight to say it. Why did I laugh?

Because I didn't expect him (or anyone for that matter) to use Harry Potter to reference their English accents. OK, so not mean then. Yay.

(You too can overanalyze innocent interludes. Send $19.95 right now and I'll tell you how!)

Sparkles and shadows

A year ago on TTaT: Lilies

Spring thaw waters

Some icy water to cool off on this hot July day.


4 years ago on TTaT: Fireworks over the moon, Unique? Not so much

Sketchbook, page 36

(Other pages)

The process of filling a 120 60 page sketchbook and posting it all by year's end continues:

p.14 Bridgman's Book of 100 Hands "The Hand – Back View"

A year ago on TTaT: 30 years to the day, give or take a year

Sticks and stones...

...and water.


A year ago on TTaT: AFP

Life of Art SitRep #21

A series to mark what I did to further my pursuit of a life sustained by my art each week. Committing to these posts is a commitment to action, because to have content for them, I have to do something. Every week. If you have any sort of goal you're pursuing, feel free to share your efforts of the past week in the comments. Or encouragement, that's good too.

*******

This week, I

• Prepped and uploaded Sandstone Fins to create complete product line:
  
  
  
  Sandstone Fins by RocklawnArts
  View other Sandstone fins Cards
• Finished creating rest of product lines for The Link, Bokeh in Spring.
• Tweeted, FB'd, blogged July 4th sale:

  17.76% off all orders
  until July 5, 2010 at 11:59pm PDT at my photo shop, Rocklawn Arts
  Use coupon code: ZAZZLEUSAUSA

• Created film horizontal templates for print, mousepad, button, magnet, keychain, stickers, bumper sticker, apron, tote bag, alt. binder, and mug.
• Design element for back of postcard in photoshop and made postcard template.
• Read some more about custom store design in forum.
• Edited/rearranged my product notes file.
• Changed order of shop panels on shop page of ttat, also changed link in sidebar to Rocklawn Arts zazzle store.
• Watched/listened to Mojo Marketing Plan Free Webinar.
• Changed my email signatures to include www.RocklawnArts.com
• Scanned 9 drawings.
• Decided to start posting more photos on TTaT even if it's just one at a time. Started.

*******

What did you do to pursue the life you want this week?


4 years ago on TTaT: Part of the family

Less thinking, more photos

I spend a lot of time mentally curating. In the past 3 months, I shot over 4000 photographs. How many have I posted? Ok, so I got tired of counting 2 months back around 60, but it's still easy to answer: not that many. Less than 5%.

I'm not saying I want to post everything. I believe it's crucial to be discerning about one's work, but I also know that more than 5% of my photos are good. They may not all meet my quality criteria for my photography shop, but they are still worth sharing.

So, in an effort to bypass the procrastination-inducing time suck of selecting and preparing multiple photos, I'm going to start posting more single shots. I'm starting with the batch I started March 16 and working forward, selecting my favorite shots from each roll as I go. Once I'm through all of those, I'll go back to my older photo archive and begin again.

Seems fitting I write this exactly 1 year after The nature of art and creativity.

Here's to more photos!


A year ago on TTaT: The nature of art and creativity