Think spring

It's officially spring.  New beginnings--everything in bloom.  Warm days--cool nights.  Beauty everywhere. 

Chaos

“Chaos” is a riot colors that reflects the chaos of activity and conflicting desires that happen in daily in life—what I wanta do, what I should do, what’s important. “Chaos” is from my abstract series called “Dreamscapes.”

Blue Impatiens, Original Fine Art Digital Painting

This elegant photo painting is part of my Photo Watercolors series. The original photograph was taken in early summer when the first impatiens bloomed. The photograph that inspired this photo painting was taken just as the first impatiens started to bloom here in Georgia. To create “Blue Impatiens” I used artist oil brushes found in Corel Painter to turn the photograph into a painting.

Blue Impatiens” is signed and dated on the back. It’s not matted or framed. This digital painting would look great in a traditionally designed home. A print of this photo painting can be purchased at etsy.

Pansies, Original Fine Art Digital Painting

This photo painting of a group of pansies symbolizes free thought or free thinking. The word pansy comes from French word pensée, which means "thought". It has been said that the pansy flower resembles a human face that is nodding forward as if deep in thought. Are you a free thinker? “Pansies” is from of my digital painting series called Photo Watercolors. Enlarging the view on this photograph will bring out the detail of the flower. “Pansies” is a photo painting that was based on an original photograph. The photo is edited in Adobe Photoshop and painted in Corel Painter. You can purchase this print on etsy.

Table for 3, Original Fine Art Digital Painting

This beautiful photo painting of three sheep having dinner out on the pasture is from of my digital painting series called Photo Watercolors. The sheep depicted are a breed of miniature sheep called Old English Southdown (Babydoll) sheep. 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. Enlarging the view on this photograph will bring out the detail of the photo painting.

Bear Cub, Original Signed Fine Art Digital Painting

OK, when have you ever had a black bear cub crawl on your lap and try to untie your shoe lace? That’s just what happened to me last spring. I spent the afternoon at the Ellijay Wildlife Sanctuary in Ellijay, Georgia. This bear cub lost its Mom during a storm and since it imprinted to human it can’t be released. 20% of sales will be donated to The Sanctuary in Ellijay, Georgia. Prints are for sale at Etsy.

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 Poppy

This beautiful poppy illustrates the magic that flowers bring into the world. “Poppy” is from my photo vintage series. This series focuses on creating photos with a soft muted palette that gives the photograph a vintage feel.


“Poppy” was taken with a Canon 30D camera. The photograph is edited in Adobe Photoshop to make it look like a vintage photograph. The original photograph was taken in Callaway Gardens in Georgia. I think this photograph looks best printed on metallic paper. At larger sizes you can see the details on the flower. BUY NOW

Random phrases that describe this photograph:
timeless, old-fashioned, vintage look, beauty, pleasure, magic

Wings

“Wings” is from my Photo Watercolor series. Wings are the symbol of lightness, spirituality, the possibility of flying and rising up to heaven. Wings represent the aspiration to transcend.

“Wings” is a photo painting that was based on an original photograph of a group of azaleas. The original photograph was taken in Callaway Gardens in Georgia. The photo is edited in Adobe Photoshop and painted in Corel Painter.

I think this photograph looks best printed on canvas at a large size—like 16 x20 or larger. At larger sizes you can see the details on the flower best. 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. Go here for more information about purchasing a print.

Random phrases that describe this photograph:
Flight. Freedom. Grace. Ethereal. Flowing. Light. Airy. Celestial. Transcending. Ascending. Reaching.

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!

Impressionistic Fall Leaves Digital Painting (It's almost fall in Georgia)

"Last of the Fall Leaves" is the first paining in a series of photo watercolors with a fall theme. I used bold and bright colors--as I in many of my paintings. The original photograph was taken on our farm in Georgia--where the colors are bright and bold this time of year. This artwork is for sale, so if you'd like to purchase the painting click here. It looks great on canvas!

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!

Paintly Kiss

I guess I’m kinda sappy—because I love photos of kisses. I think they’re very romantic. When you’re kissing someone you love—it’s easy to lose track of the things around you—even if there’s a photographer around.

This photograph of a couple kissing was taken at a wedding. It was digitally painted using Corel Painter.

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