Old Treasures, New Paint

I don't know if it happens to other artists the way that it seems to happen to me, or if it happens to me because I am constantly learning and relearning how to use my resources different ways, but many times I will have a piece sitting in the clouds of dust that occupy the scary shadows of my HP Pavillion g6's harddrive and it will come into the light and turn out to not be too shabby of a piece once I work with it.

Here's an example. I no longer have long hair, my cheeks have thinned out a bit, I've grown about an inch, and I fit better in those pants since this photograph was taken as you see it on the left, however I went through today and edited it in a new process that I've picked up and adapted to my own devices and am much happier with the result.

As you can see, I've taken care of the awkward chin (caused by a low camera angle and compression of chin against arm), thinned out the cheeks, adjusted the shadows and determined more of a vocal point.

I've been going through all of today (when I've not been occupied by Thanksgiving Day cooking-must check the turkey in a spell!) and reviving some portraits which will be useful with an upcoming series I am compiling and the possibility of a book.

I love photography books, and I love poetry books. I've recently become a bit infatuated with T.S Elliot (Especially :The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"), but my favorite poetry book that I own is The Immaculate Conception Mother's Club, which is a collection of poems by David R. Surette who was at a writing conference that I attended last year up in Vermont.

Anyway, upon doing a little morning reading in my bed before breakfast, coffee, dressing, and all those morning things, I had a little bit of an idea. It is still in the idea phase as I am working out the beginning thought kinks and warming myself up to the thought process, but it is an idea that I enjoy quite a bit.

A photography/poetry book would suit me rather fine I think, and makes sense. Which is more than my school can say. Unlike school, I spend a considerable amount of time actually, consciously, thinking about photography (art, really) and poetry. And art and poetry fits me and my personality better than a tight schedule and librarians shoeing me out of libraries before I've finished my paper and standardized testing that makes me want to rip my hair out. To be honest, two rooms out of the entire school suit my liking, and they would be the art room and technology room.

I've not decided anything about the book yet, and I daresay it will be quite a while before I even begin work, so for now I'll be keeping my eye on my photography looking for themes and writing poetry in my usual, chaotic way until something strikes my fancy.

In other news, a snowstorm has dropped a good foot of snow on us and it is snowing again out there beyond the leaky walls of this 250+ year house and the roaring fireplace. The house smells absolutely delicious however, as mum has made stuffing that I've stuffed into a turkey and she is working on a pie or two. Tomorrow's Thanksgiving and I will be enjoying it with my immediate family round the somewhat weathered dining room table and I'll continue listening to Bing Crosby as I am doing right now.

Regardless what you celebrate, I wish you the happiness and best wishes of the season, and enjoy everything you set out to do.
Frances