Playing it by Ear

 

( A drawing that was in progress at the time of this photo.)

Well here we are in October. I had planned to make a post before September ended, but that didn't happen. I'm trying to come up with a plan as to what I want to do. I have a list which includes everything from creating an income to making repairs and getting organized which has been an ongoing project.

I can't stop and evaluate everything before I throw it out. There are some things that I want to hold on to for research; sentimental value, but there's other stuff that needs to go and can go without hesitation. How mmany art books do I need? How many fashion magazines? How many home decor books, etc.?  It sounds easy enough, but it really isn't. I look at all of the art supplies and I have to ask myself will I use an item? When will I use the item? There is no real time line. I like creating art when the mood hits. Somethings, like greeting cards I may start, but until I know exactly who the card will go to I can't finish it. Most of my cards are made for the individual.

I have hundreds of pencils of different brands and varieties. Many bottles and tubes of paints. Crayons, pastels, charcoal and paper, lots and lots of paper.

Books on photography, art, films, writing, screenplays, stageplays. Everything that I could possibly need.

I was moving some furniture last week and I injured my back. I knew that would probably happen, but I had to do it. I probably shouldn't have moved as many large pieces in one day as I did. I thought I was doing it correctly, but when you get older and stretch those muscles, you pay the price. I'm blaming it on the furniture, but it could have been the files in which I had to bend over to move magazines. I'll try to take it easy this week and see how long it takes to get back in shape. 

I am hoping to start exercising again on a regular basis. This is something I have to do. I need to get back on a healthier diet. I do my best, but from time to time I will splurge on a few things. I have to start slow and stay consistent. If I had more things to keep me busy things might be different. When I had somewhere to go I was more active then I am now. It does bother me, but I have to take it easy and think things through.

I was trying to get into that frame of mind of getting some work, but now I have to think about being in a place for more than an hour and the germs that could be floating around. The only way to really be safe is if I figure out a way to work from home.

I was thinking of setting up my photography studio. I have been trying to write, but I'd have to pick up the pace to generate any money from that. I could try to sell my art on Etsy or Ebay. The opportunities are there, I just have to figure out what is best for me. Just have to take things one day at a time. This is not a place I ever thought I would be in at this stage of my life, but neither was anything else I've experienced in the last 20 plus years. So, what's new? We learn and we move on. Navigating life is an adventure sometimes of epic proportions.

I want to start getting the blog format together as I am going to combine all four blogs and that way you can just visit one location, but they will all have the same content. It makes it easier on me. The poetry, the art, the movies and the window into my everyday will all be one.

(Local musician I photographed last year)

I wrote this poem earlier in the year.

Co Vid

by Dlonzo (c) 2020

There is an unfamilarity in the air

along with the smell of hand sanitizer,

bleach and other disenfectants

It doesn't seem fair

To shelter in place

to cover the face

to stay safe

Life can seem unfair

during a time of a crisis

some get help, some don't

some too much, others not enough

Businesses closing doors, shutting down

Out of work, unemployment, furlough

Food lines, school closures

This is not normal

What is normal?

Was there ever normal

a term created 

to feel comfort?

Language, another beast to battle.

Stay inside, if you go outside

wear a mask, cover your face.

Shelter in place,

stay safe.

(Next up: What's in your bubble?)

Thanks for stopping by; Keep an open mind. Do return to see where the journey leads.

www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

www.artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

www.filmlover4pg@blogspot.com

www.psychedmaster.org

The story behind the Art

                   Every photograph, drawing and painting has a story. Not just the story that it tells once it is complete, but the story that made the work of art what it is. One of my best non-fashion photo shoots was the image that is now known as Jose’ as Jesus.
It began with a conversation with someone I had photographed a few months earlier, Olav. Olav was putting putting together his portfolio to find work in the U.S. in the modeling and entertainment industry. When he found out I would be going to the Seattle International Film Festival, they suggested I contact someone if I needed a place to stay. I took the information down, but I already had accommodations set up. Still there was something that said contact the person to at least make a new friend. This was my second year attending SIFF so I was prepared for how the people known as Fool Serious, eat, drink and sleep film so to speak.

When one is really involved in the film festival, finding time in between films is difficult, but I managed to find time. My best friend at the time, Sly and I walked over to the apartment of Shane. It turned out that Shane was having a birthday party; he offered us some champagne and he invited us to come back. The concept of the party was that everyone knew him, but they did not know each other. I thought that was a great idea. This way I didn’t have to feel out of place.
My friend and I went to the next screening and we agreed to come back to the party. How could I resist a party that was serving champagne.

  When we arrived back there were quite a few people at the party. I got myself a glass of champagne and I mingled. Once I’ve been some place I don’t have a problem meeting people and I was already up one since I had met the host and my friend was tagging along. There were several interesting people at the party, but one person really stood out.
We began talking and some how we got on the conversation of the crucifix. I think I may have mentioned I had just returned from Italy and how it was an incredible experience. I felt born again. I told him this idea I had for the crucifix and he told me he had a similar idea, but he wanted to build a crucifix, lay it on the floor and have the photographer film from above.

I remember I kept staring at his wrists. There were these red markings as if it were dry blood. I didn’t want to ask and I made an assumption that he might be suicidal. We exchanged numbers and we had arranged to meet the following day.

I remember Jose, Shane and myself met for lunch. We then back to Shane’s apartment to look at photographs. It turned out that Shane was also a photographer and he wanted me to see some of his work. While going through his photo album I spotted a photograph of a cross. My brain immediately began working. There were questions spewing from my lips. Where was the cross located? Could we get there? We had to rearrange our schedules. That meant we’d have to miss a day of films, Sly agreed and we had scheduled a shoot.

I remember going with Jose to see his place, do some test shots and to pick out the costumes we’d use for the shoot.

At this point in time, in NOLA I Never would have been so bold as to try anything like this. This opened up my mind to a world of possibilities. I was no longer just a photographer, I was becoming an artist. It’s easy for me to say that now, but back then I didn’t know. I just liked taking pictures. I just knew I wanted to push the envelope and I was going with what I felt.

The one question I should have asked, but neglected to do so was, how big was the cross? When we arrived at the cemetery where some of Seattle’s celebrities are buried I was amazed at the size of the cross. It was a magnificent work of art in itself. The subject was dwarfed by it’s size, but a bizarre miracle was about to take place. My friend Sly was going to video tape the entire photo shoot. Another friend Tina, was going to do stills of Sly video taping. You have to look closely at the cross because there is no ledge. Jose, the subject appears to be stuck to the cross. This is not photo shop. Jose’ designed the crown from some flowers he found in the cemetery. He changed clothes while up on the cross. The first outfit was a long duster. At the end of the photos on the cross, when we played back the video there was a crow that had come out.

None of us knew how our lives would change after this shoot.

Sly, my friend who was video taping the entire thing was in a very bad car accident and lost his eye sight. Jose who I never saw again, appeared in a music video and was last thought to have moved to Japan. All I ever knew was that he was using the photos in his portfolio. The guy who gave the party, Shane, visited me once in NOLA and I photographed him. We stayed in touch for a while. He moved to Amsterdam and got married and has a kid.

Sly and I remained friends up until 1999. Till this day I don’t know what caused him to stop speaking to me. The footage we had shot we were planning to submit it as a short film in SIFF, but that never happened. I finally got my hand on the footage and it’s been transferred to DVD, but I’ve done nothing else. I’ve only watched the footage twice since. This is also the first time that I am sharing this part of the story in greater detail.

I tried to get the photograph into an art gallery, but the first place I went it was rejected because of the subject matter. I was really proud of this photograph that I enlarged it and had it framed in my home which caused controversy there as well. Who knew art could be such a touchy subject when it involved me.
A few years later I’d place it in a shop called Sirens on commission, but it never sold there either. Still, I consider it to be one of my best non fashion photographs. It is truly a work of art. It shows the potential of my creative mine especially when I have a subject that is as eager as I am to create something unique.

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.

Nagel Inspired

I was always fascinated by the female form and Nagel certainly captured that in his work. I first became familiar with this artist through his work in Playboy magazine. I found a book of some of his drawings in the 90's and I also purchased one of his lithographs that I found at a garage sale. I couldn't pass it up.

I continue to discover artists that I relate to or like the style of their work.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind.

Artist Trading Cards (ATC)

I'm not sure if I've mentioned Artist Trading Cards here or on my other blog, but I've been working on them for quite sometime. I've decided that I will have 50 that will be available for anyone that would like one. Some are already created for specific people. If you'd like to receive a card, send me your email address.
Send emails to Photo1960@aol.com and in the subject put artist trading card. If you see one that you like, let me know and if it isn't already reserved, I'll send it to you.
If you are an artist and you have an ATC let me know how I can get one of your cards.

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.