Sunrise Surprise of a Bookish Nature

Spent part of today listing items in my new ArtFire studio to try and broaden my internet presence as an online artist. The above photo, Dawn Kindling, was the one I chose to focus on and upload to ArtFire. This photo was taken on Kelleys Island looking out across Lake Erie.

Soon after I finished uploading the photo, a coincidence two years in the making happened. Back in the fall of 2008, a lady from a publishing house contacted me to ask permission to use Dawn Kindling in a textbook meant for young adults. As my payment I would receive a free copy of the book with my name listed on the Photo Credits page.

The book arrived in the mail today. It's called "La Salle - French Explorer of the Mississippi" by David Aretha. It's part of a series called Great Explorers of the World. My photo Dawn Kindling is spread across two pages and in the lower right corner of the image is an old-fashioned-looking paper scroll with the caption: "La Salle was the first European to cross the Great Lakes by ship. The first of the lakes that the Griffon crossed was Lake Erie."

Here's a link to the book on Amazon.com:

La Salle - French Explorer of the Mississippi

And so I'm published! Life is full of surprises!

Anyone else have a nice surprise that makes you smile? You're very welcome to comment and share ...

Following the Yellow Brick Road

This photo, Wooden Fence in Munchkinland, was taken on my journey through the Land of Oz a year ago.

Adventurers who follow the yellow brick road towards their dreams are seen as bucking the system. Most people who go through the educational system are pretty much asked to set their entire career path "in stone" with their guidance counselor in middle school or junior high. This leads to things like concrete jungles and paving paradise to put up a parking lot. Students are rewarded for pursuing paths that lead to the typically corporate American Dream of climbing the ladder, and looked down on for specializing in things like industrial arts.

Meanwhile, rumors about budget cuts in schools always seem to appear, threatening to axe art classes altogether. As if art should be considered an expendable extra just because it's "fun." True enough, art has a colorful reputation for daring to be different, breaking established rules, and not always being profitable or utilitarian in the same way as cranking out consumer goods in a factory.

As an artist, the dreams that I have cannot remain contained simply in my imagination. There's that human need for self expression and communication along with my best attempts at the creation of beauty.

"Art for art's sake," as they say.

I only came to discover that I'm an artist just when the economy started to tank. But I was meant to be born and live in these times. Which means I'm meant to use my talents to their fullest in these times. Not "someday." Now!

My recommendation to you as an artist is to go out and chase a few rainbows. Follow the yellow brick road. After all, if you're a photographer like me, the trip through Oz should make for some great photo opportunities! :-)

On a Wing and a Prayer

The above photo was on exhibit at the Butler Institute of American Art as part of the 74th National Midyear Show from June 27 through August 22, 2010.

This summer has been so absolutely crazy that I was not even able to manage a post about being one of the artists participating in the 74th National Midyear Show at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. Until now that the exhibit is over. In any case, I was extraordinarily grateful to be included in this national juried event, and hope to return next year too.

Being the Queen of Narnia means finding summers harsh and best left forgotten in anticipation of autumn and finally winter. The dropping temperatures seem to help bring improved health and a better mood. Yes, I'm already thinking snow! :-)

I say, though, this past Sunday I had an experience worthy of note involving a son of Adam and a daughter of Eve.

Sunday I found myself in a fancy Italian restaurant, mulling over life with its most recent summer adventures, waiting to order Veal Tosca with Spaghetti. Long story short, an anonymous couple paid for my meal.

Not in Kansas Anymore - Wizard of Oz Coincidence Alert

This photo was taken on my journey through Oz last August.

This past Saturday I attended a "Meet the Artists" reception at the Westlake Porter Public Library sponsored by the Westlake Westshore Arts Council as part of the 11th Annual Community of Fine Arts Juried Exhibition.

The above photo was on exhibit at the Porter Public Library.

Before the show, I made sure to dab on some Emerald City perfume that my best friend had bought for me several months ago. Simply because for some time now, it seems that Wizard of Oz coincidences tend to happen along with art happenings that I'm involved in.

The above photo was on exhibit at the Porter Public Library.

And I have another small instance of this to document here in my blog. In the library we assembled in a room where you could partake of refreshments, enjoy a Powerpoint slide presentation of the artwork if you had trouble getting around or wanted to save yourself from a lot of walking, watch a portrait painter and a watercolorist at work, and listen to a piano player.

Well of course, one of the piano player's songs turned out to be "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It was a personally touching moment. Just wanted to share ...

The above photo was on exhibit at the Porter Public Library.

As the weather turns cooler, I expect to be hanging around my blog ... and your blogs, more. It's been a real crazy summer. I'm looking forward to autumn ... and of course, winter.

It will be good to visit everybody's blogs again.

Splish

There's some small furry water animal that lives in the Dreamkeeper Pond. I think it may be a muskrat. It likes to play hide and seek with me at sunset, surfacing, diving, sending up bubbles from underwater. The Dreamkeeper Pond is one of my favorite haunts in Northeast Ohio. Apparently, this elusive little critter feels the same.

I've been doing a lot of running around lately, from the Wiegand's Lake Park Memorial Day Open House and Market to visiting the Cleveland Metroparks to dropping off artwork at a gallery for a show that will open later this month. This weekend I'll be on the road yet again, planning to visit relatives.

But don't worry ... Just like the muskrat, I'll be around. :-)

Climbing

Part of Psalm 84 from today's Liturgy of the Hours:

"Blessed the man whose help comes from you,

who has set his heart on climbing to you.

They pass through the valley of thirst

and make a spring there:

the morning rain will cover it with blessings.

They will go from strength to strength:

they will see the God of gods, in Zion."

http://www.universalis.com/-400/lauds.htm

The above photo is called "Upward Bound." It was taken on my nature walk yesterday at the Rocky River Reservation, one of the Cleveland Metroparks in Northeast Ohio. And on the celebration of the Feast of the Ascension, which seems fitting.

The one tree in front looks like it's about to awaken and start walking, just like an Ent going to an Entmoot in Fangorn Forest of Middle Earth, or mayhap searching for an Entwife, since it's springtime.

Climbing towards beauty, truth, and goodness is the adventure of a lifetime ... and beyond.

Hocking Hills Joyride with an Innkeeper

Well, the search for the perfect redbud tree didn't happen, as the flowering trees were all leafed out and ready to get down to summer business. However, life in the Hocking Hills held other treasures fit for discovery. The first one being this Fallen Cabin in Spring Green.

On my arrival at Painted Valley Farm Bed & Breakfast, the innkeeper Luanne invited me to join her for dinner in town and then to go out for a country joyride in her van. Her husband was going bowling that night and she had always been curious as to how exactly I went about getting photos. I was happy for the company, especially as Luanne pointed out valuable scenery that I would have otherwise missed. The cabin and root cellar, for instance. I would have driven right by both!

First thing Luanne learned was that I do not just take one shot and leave. I stand there and snap away, a dozen, two dozen shots of the same subject, from slightly different angles, hoping that one of the shots will turn out decent. She was patient and also graciously volunteered to stop the van whenever I saw something worthy of a picture.

Root Cellar on Narrows Road -- This was Luanne's favorite find. Thanks to her, I learned what a root cellar looks like. It had been filled in so neighborhood children wouldn't fall in and get hurt.

After our stop along the roadside woods, we continued on our adventurous journey. Stopped in briefly to chat with Luanne's Amish neighbors. It was nice visiting a place where the music was provided by the family parakeet rather than radio or TV, and the conversation was quiet, simple, and friendly. I would just love to live in surroundings like this.

Wild Mustard along Macedonia Road -- Had been at this spot before a couple years back, but preferred the lighting on this particular evening.

'56 Chevy -- "Oh, CountryDreaming? Here's a sight that means something to me, but may not to you. It's a '56 Chevy." Luanne glanced nostalgically out the window.

"Turn around, there are people who really like old cars parked up on lawns."

"But look at everything else there on the lawn ... "

"That just adds to the atmosphere." Watching and listening for pit bulls or other watch dogs, I got out of the van and snapped a memory.

Windshield Wonderment -- After getting back in the van from photographing the Chevy, I swung my camera around to see the results but discovered to my amazement that I'd left it on in Landscape mode. This sight above greeted me through the camera aimed through the windshield and I gasped. Luanne started the engine and was just starting to move when I yelled out, "STOP THE CAR ... STOP THE CAR !!!"

"What, right here?"

"YES!"

"Don't you want to get out?"

"NO!"

Luanne stopped, bemused at the method to my madness, while I was grateful for her patience. She wondered why I was taking pictures of treetops through dusty glass, but fully understood once I showed her the results.

While I still miss the wondrous redbuds of yesteryear, I guess there are other things to see ...