Adobe, Original Fine Art Digital Painting

This beautiful photo painting is of Adobe, a miniature sheep. “Abode” is from of my digital painting series called Photo Watercolors. Adobe is a breed of sheep called Old English Southdown (Babydoll). They are considered an exotic breed and originated in England. They are characterized by their sweet teddy-bear faces and are between 18-24” tall when fully grown. “Adobe” is a photo painting that was based on an original photograph of sheep in a pasture. The photo is edited in Adobe Photoshop and painted in Corel Painter.

If you're interested in purchasing a print of Adobe, a 6 x 9 print is $16.95 at etsy.

Fire and Ice

“Fire and Ice” is from my abstract photo series called dreamscapes. It was inspire by the following Robert Frost Poem:

Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Robert Frost

Roses, Digital Painting

“Roses” is from my Photo Watercolor series. The roses depicted in this abstract photo painting are a traditional symbol for love and romance. The crackled surface of the photo painting gives a suggestion of well-worn love. It reminds us that love can grow into something even more beautiful with wear. This elegant, soft painting of reflects the softness and beauty of the flower. Enlarging the view on this photograph will bring out the detail of the flower.

Vintage Look Coneflower

“Vintage Look Coneflower” is from my vintage-look series called Photo Vignettes. Coneflowers are a heirloom flower that many of us could find in our grandmothers back garden.

“Vintage Look Coneflower” was photographed using a Canon camera and a lensbaby lens—a selective focus lens. I combined several exposures in Abode Photoshop to complete the image. This photograph was taken in Tennessee in Sylvia and Kenny’s background. The flower depicted in the photograph is Coneflower or Echinacea.

“Coneflower” looks great as a large metallic print. The image is printed by a professional lab on metallic paper. The watermark isn’t on the final print. This fine art photograph is available in many different sizes.

Random phrases that describe this photograph:
Heirloom, old-fashioned, coneflower, dancing, ballet, soft focus, soft, muted, homey, comfort, vintage look

Abstract Photo Heartsong

“Heart Song” is from my photo abstract series called Dreamscapes. On a recent visit to my Mom’s house, I photographed a beautiful flower basket she had hanging on her porch. It was a warm windy day—perfect for taking abstract photos. This photograph reminded me of some of the things that “MOM” means to me—a bright warm heart in the middle of the storms of life.

Technique:
“Heart Song” was photographed using a Canon camera and a lensbaby lens—a selective focus lens. I combined several exposures in Abode Photoshop to complete the image. This photograph was taken on my Mom’s porch in Tennessee on a windy day. The flower depicted in the photograph is a impatient in a hanging basket.

Where to Put in Your Home:
Anywhere you want to bring the outdoors inside.

How to Buy:
You can purchase a print of this photo if you're interested. I think this photograph looks best printed on metallic paper at a large size—like 16 x20 or larger. At larger sizes you can see the details on the flower best.

Random phrases that describe this photograph:
Heart, Form and light, Barely formed. Ethereal. Flowing. Gentle breath. Gentle kiss. Willowy. Wispy. Dream-like, light, airy and tenuous, celestial, heavenly, lacking material substance, surreal

New Impressionistic Fall Leaves Photo Painting

The photograph that inspired this photo painting was taken just before winter begins—when there’s still a little green and warm in the air. There’s always hope and beauty to be found even when things look bleak. This bright, colorful photo painting would be perfect for any home or office!

Carnival Ride

The Carnival’s in Town! Magic’s in the air. You can’t wait to ride the Ferris wheel! You hope that it stops while you’re on top--so that you can pretend to be scared. You move a little closer to your date. This photo is for sale at
my etsy shop.

I was in Macon Georgia when I took this photo at a spring fair. I have lots of great summer memories at fairs or amusement as a child. Every time I visit a fair or a carnival all those memories come rushing back.

When I was in college, my best friend, Addison, her sister Hilary and I, went to a county fair in Tennessee. We had a great time eating cotton candy, riding the rides, and playing carnival games—I don’t think we won anything. Since, I’m afraid of heights, I didn’t ride the ferris wheel. Addy’s sister got sick from riding the tilta whirl and we had to go home. Poor Hilary got sick everywhere we went!

Every summer, my parents took my brother, sister, and myself to Lake Winneoesakah in Chattanoogna, Tennessee. There aren’t many old fashioned amusement parks like Lake Winnie left. Remember how you felt when you weren’t quite old enough to ride the big child rides, but were too big to ride the kiddie rides? There were lots of laughs and a few tears as each of us grew too big for the kiddie rides. I have this one memory of my brother and I having the time of our lifes riding the pirate ride over and over again. Even as adults, my parents took us, wifes, husbands, and grand kids to Lake Winnie in the summer. Here’s a photo of my niece and nephew (as youngsters) on one of the rides.

I hope this photo and story help you find your own carnival ride memories. Do you have great carnival or amusement park memories? Please share them—I’d love to read your comments.

Break Away Photo On Exhibit!

My "Breaking Away" photo was accepted as part of the South Cobb Arts Alliance 22nd National Juried Art Exhibition. I very excited and honored to be a part of this exhibit. I would love it if you could attend. All the information is on my website.

Most of my photos are manipulated to give them a unique magical feel. However, this photo hasn’t been manipulated at all—it’s straight out of the camera. I noticed these wild roses blooming by the side of the road near our farm in Georgia. The roses were quite beautiful despite that fact that they weren’t cared for and were surrounded by weeds.

Many times in life we have to bloom where we’re planted even though we’re surrounded by “weeds.” Our challenge is to break away from the “weeds” that hold us back.

In my life there have been many times, I felt the need to break away from old patterns, habits or even eliminate toxic relationships. For example, in the past, I decided not to persue a business opporunity because I wasn’t sure about the motivations of my perspective business partners.

Was there ever a time in your life that you had to break away? Share it here!

ConeFlowers

I created these three photos three different ways. The photos were taken at my Mom's neighbor's house. The photo was taken with a lensbaby lens. Number 1 is an aged look. Number 2 is what the photo looks like with no processing. Number 3 is a vintage look. Which one do you like best?

Clematis Photos

A few weeks ago, my neighbor had a beautiful clematis vine around her mailbox.  The flowers were huge and a deep purple color and I couldn’t resist photographing them.  This photo was taken with a selective focus lens called the lensbaby. 

Beautiful Garden Sculptors

In May, I discovered a garden sculptor at a field trip for the Sweetwater Camera Club. Douglas Dannels and his family have a landscaping business in Douglasville, Georgia. Doug knows a lot about innovative ways to water plants during droughts and ways to water plants when it’s not easy to get water to them. He’s very influenced by Native American and southwestern art and culture. But he also makes marvelous garden sculptures. Here are a few of my favorites—I took these photos using a lensbaby.

If you’re interested in Doug’s work, he has a website http://web.mac.com/abeautifulpond