An Update from the Artist

There was a magazine called Bluecanvas that I stumbled across a few years ago in a Barnes and Noble bookstore. I then checked out the website and saw that I could upload my art to sell. Although I didn’t sell anything to my knowledge, I liked the idea of being able to have other artists critique my work. I also got to be involved in a virtual community of artists where we could collect and share each others work.

A few weeks ago I found out the site would be shutting down. It probably has to do with the fact that it isn’t generating enough income to run the site.

I was thinking about posting some of that art here if it is still on this computer. I have been working on some newer stuff which I also hope to post.

I got me a new camera which I have been teaching myself how to operate. It wasn’t the camera that I wanted, but it’s a start to get back into being in control of my photos. I keep trying to get that same effect as I did with the 35mm camera. That was the reason I wanted to stay with Pentax, but the camera I wanted was a bit pricey at the moment. So I’ll keep working toward getting the money saved to buy it.

There are always newer models coming out. I’m learning to use a Canon, but there are some things I don’t like. As I get familiar with the camera perhaps it won’t matter as much. There are things that I didn’t like with the Casio and I got used to it.
Now that I have a laptop with Windows 10 I’m using the photo program to enhance some of the images that just couldn’t be taken over. Sometimes you only have a moment and once it is gone you can’t recreate it. So, if the shot it blurred or a little out of focus, you do what you must do.

Artography by Dlonzo “It’s not just a Photograph, it’s Art!”

If you are in need of an artist/photographer to capture your event from concept to completion contact me, 1960Photo@gmail.com or Photo1960@aol.com

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again to see where the journey leads.

Check out my other blogs for more insight.
http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com
http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com
http://artbyDlonzo.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.
Taking it one day at a time. Keep the faith.

Remember Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are available simply by asking. Send an email with ATC in the subject and I can email one to you.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

While you’re here, why not become a follower (fan).

Check out the links below for some of my videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmgUzGZGt98

The above link is a video for an organic flutist in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hciIcHFm3Yw&NR=1

The above is a link of a performance from Oz in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qcybZsUzc

The above link is for a promo of a DJ in New Orleans.

http://www.myspace.com/darqueleight/music/songs/d-bohemian-31098704

Computer generated music.

The Story Behind The Photograph C. Powell

Artography by Dlonzo
“It’s not just a Photograph, it’s Art!”

The Story behind the Photographs continues - C. Powell

I’m always thinking of names and personae’s to give to people I photograph who I think have that certain something. As an artist who takes pictures, it’s not always easy to persuade people to take on modeling as a career. They don’t mind allowing me to photograph them, but they don’t always see the beauty that I see.

It’s also not easy when people decide to be photographed to get them to do certain things. For me the art is the entire process. Getting someone interested enough to let me photograph them and then getting at least one picture that we’ll both like. If there are more that’s even better. Sometimes the person I photograph doesn’t like the way they look and that happens from time to time.

If you’ve ever taken pictures of your family, there is always one relative that doesn’t like the way they look in pictures. That’s the person I always go after. I want to show them what can be done when the right person photographs them. Those can always be the best pictures because they will have character.
Anyone can take a picture, but only an artist can capture the essence of the subject. An artist will capture a photograph that tells a story of that particular moment.
It’s true, a picture is worth a thousand words or more.

Since working at ZACH, there are many people that walk across the campus. Sometimes its just a friendly hello and other times a conversation begins and if it’s the right person I let them know that I’m a photographer.

That was the case with C. Powell. I had seen him walking across the lot a few times, but I was always beginning my shift and not in the location where I could talk to him. One day I happened to come in early and we ran into each other and to my surprise found out he worked at ZACH. I mentioned to him that I’d like to photograph him and he seemed interested in having his picture taken. Of course once a person agrees, it takes time to put it all together. Location, time, etc. it all has to be planned out.

With the holidays approaching and both of us having things to deal with it was probably not going to happen before the year was out.
 2015 began and we managed to find time when we were both available. I always do shots just in a setting where the subject can be natural before I try to photograph them on location or in studio. (Which at the moment, I don’t really have a spot to take pictures like I did in NOLA.) Of course that’s just an excuse because I can always put something together when its what I really want to do.
I am currently working on making space to put up everything in a moments notice.

Here are a few images of C. Powell that I took. I have a few ideas for a photo shoot, but there is no free time and that’s not an excuse.




Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.

Check out some of my art at Bluecanvas.com/Oznol. Some of these are for sale. Remember Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are available simply by asking. Send an email with ATC in the subject and I can email one to you.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

While you’re here, why not become a follower (fan).
Taking it one day at a time and keep the faith.

Check out the links below for some of my videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmgUzGZGt98

The above link is a video for an organic flutist in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hciIcHFm3Yw&NR=1

The above is a link of a performance from Oz in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qcybZsUzc

The above link is for a promo of a DJ in New Orleans.

http://www.myspace.com/darqueleight/music/songs/d-bohemian-31098704

Computer generated music.

Happy Mardi Gras 2015

Here are some images from 2015 and past Mardi Gras' in New Orleans.

(The flamebeaux carrier goes back to the beginning of Mardi Gras as they used to light the path of the Krewe.)

(The lead float from the Krewe of Hermes.)

(From the Bourbon Street Awards when they were moved to St. Ann and Burgundy.)

(People come from all over to participate in Mardi Gras. Thaddeus had come in from Chicago.)

(One of the paper mache floats from the Krewe of Endymion from years past.)

(Often people will get together as a group and dress up.)

(One of my all time favorite images of a couple on Orleans. Who stopped to let me photograph them.)

It's Carnival Time

For Those that miss all that New Orleans has to offer. Here are some images from various Mardi Gras. All of my blogs are being dedicated to Mardi Gras. Wherever you are and whatever you do, have fun and be safe.

Charmaine Neville performs at Lundi Gras in New Orleans in 2008. Lundi Gras is the celebration the day before Mardi Gras. It's when Zulu and Rex meet for the first time. Bringing back an old tradition from the early days of Mardi Gras.

Because Mardi Gras doesn't just take place in one area of the city, you can find something going on wherever you are. This is the Krewe of St. Ann working its way through the Bywater area.

Some of the costumes are a throw back to the Carnivals in Venizia, Italia.

This was just one of those photo opportunities one can't pass up. So I took advantage of it.

Mardi Gras brings out the artistry as well as the pageantry in the party atmosphere.

One of the floats from the Krewe of Zulu as it headed down Jackson Avenue in New Orleans.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back again.

The ART behind the photograph (Models) Part 4

I get my inspiration from many places. Magazines, movies and just walking around I'll see a spot that would make for a great setting. This is actually the back side of the Italia Piazza in New Orleans. I'm not sure if this still exists as I took this photo back in the 90's. Below you'll see another shot from a different angle. 

 I met Sara in the mid 80’s. I was always looking for new people to photograph and one night outside of De ja vu I saw here. She had long flowing black hair that came down to her backside. She had a figure and a distinct look. Of course when I approached her about possibly letting me photograph her she thought I was crazy. Most women always assume a photographer wants something or that he wants to photograph them nude.
In most cases that is true, but I really thought she had something.

We formed a friendship and hung out as much as we could. Our friendship became distant and then one day out of the blue we connected again. She had lost weight and had cut the hair which bothered me, but she was still attractive. She agreed to finally pose for me since she felt better about the way she looked. The result was some very sexy photographs. Everything worked so well together.

A lot of people don’t realize that people that have a certain look don’t always find themselves attractive. No matter how many times you may see a picture it’s hard to envision with everyone else sees. It is true, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

A photographer can only do so much, but with the right model, art can be created.

Coming up: Ramsey, Simone, Ron M., Dlonzo Models, Wilbert, Ron C., Dino, Carolyn The Nexx Fazz of models

Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.

Check out some of my art at Bluecanvas.com/Oznol. Some of these are for sale. Remember Artist Trading Cards (ATC) are available simply by asking. Send an email with ATC in the subject and I can email one to you.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

While you’re here, why not become a follower (fan).
Taking it one day at a time and keeping the faith.

Check back and see where this journey leads. Check out the links below to my other blogs and videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmgUzGZGt98

The above link is a video for an organic flutist in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hciIcHFm3Yw&NR=1

The above is a link of a performance from Oz in New Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qcybZsUzc

The above link is for a promo of a DJ in New Orleans.

http://www.myspace.com/darqueleight/music/songs/d-bohemian-31098704

Computer generated music.

The story behind the Photograph (The Weddings)

The story behind the Photograph The Weddings - I am not a big advocate of weddings so as a photographer I’ve stayed away from them. The reason is just that people expect miracles to happen. Of course now in this digital age a photographer can create miracles, but I prefer to capture natural beauty. I don’t like manipulating photographs other than to create visual effects so I use filters for that purpose.

In all of my years of taking photographs I’ve done nine weddings. The first wedding was easy. I think the reason is because I only shot the reception. Some churches don’t allow photography or they don’t want the photographer on the altar.

The second wedding I photographed had some good shots and some not so good shots. The setting wasn’t right and the wedding was put together so quickly there was not time to check out the places before hand. For me as a photographer having everything planned out is very important.

I had pretty much decided weddings would not be a part of my list of events to photograph so I didn’t include it on my business card.
Of course things happen and you find yourself going against what you said you wouldn’t do.
One of my models insisted that I do their wedding. I couldn’t refuse after all this person had done for me. I agreed to do the wedding on one condition. That I allow to do the photographs I wanted after the wedding. This was going to involve locations. Some of the unused locations in New Orleans.

I was already psyched about these photographs that I was able to shoot everything else without any real problems. I made sure I had enough film and took more pictures than I would normally take just in case. I wanted to make sure the client had what they needed to tell their story. From the rehearsal to the reception.

I did find out something very important. As they say you learn something new everyday… When a bride doesn’t have a wedding planner, it is the responsibility of the photographer to make sure things run smoothly. That means making sure the wedding party doesn’t spend the entire reception taking pictures. You are responsible for setting up the first dance with the DJ or band. You are to get the group shots, the cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc. You pretty much run the show. It was all a great experience and I had no problem with that.
I was looking forward to the on location stuff because this is where I was going to get to create ART. That’s what I do.

In 1999 I photographed my last wedding. Once again another model asked me to photograph his wedding. Of course I had to explain to him that although he liked my work it was his soon to be wife’s wedding. So they came over for a consult to look at my work and to discuss her vision and my vision.
I went over to the reception hall, everything was going to take place under one roof. Once again I would take on the responsibility of making sure the wedding was on schedule and that they were able to enjoy their reception. I was pleased with what I had done. Which for me is very important because if I don’t feel as if I’ve done my best then I didn’t do my job. I have to make sure the client is happy with the finished product.

The one thing about doing photographs of family and friends for such memorable events is that if something goes wrong it could destroy that relationship. Wedding photography I believe is the most stressful job a photographer can take on. There is a big burden that comes along with the job. If you can think of it as an art, then you can get through it as a surreal experience. Since we are now in the digital age I might consider doing a wedding when I start meeting people again. I would want to have total freedom and do what I do best. Create ART!

Thanks for stopping by; and keep an open mind.

http://www.dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

While you’re here, why not become a follower (fan).
Taking it one day at a time and keeping the faith.

Check back and see where this journey leads. Check out the links below to my other blogs and videos.

Remembering August 29, 2005

The Crescent City Connection in New Orleans.

On the 6th anniversary of Katrina, I remember that I was wondering if my photos and art were going to be safe when I would return home. Once I was evacuated from my home I didn’t know if the water would get any higher.

The mind plays tricks on you. The images on the television kept showing water coming into the city. It was actually showing what had already happened.

I realized when I decided to return to the house that I was only concerned about my photographs and my laptop. I was able to supply family members with memories they had lost due to the hurricane. I’m still supplying photographs and memories.

Taking it one day at a time and keeping the faith.

Check back and see where this journey leads.

While you’re here why not become a follower.

Thanks for stopping by, keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

Scrap Book Paper

ART

Scrap booking is all the rave these days. I feel like those people that say things like, everyone is doing, blah, blah, blah. Of course there are some people that have no clue about this phenomenon.
Scrap books are nothing new, but the concept has changed slightly by creating colorful sheets and books that people don’t have to do as much work. Scrap books can be very simple or very original and artistic.
The possibilities of what you can do with scrap book paper is endless. Here is one project that I created which can be framed and hung on the wall as instant art.



I drew on the opposite side and then cut out the image reverse it and then you can glue it onto another piece of scrapbook paper or anything to create art.

Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind and do come back often. Remember things happen when you believe.

Divas

An early image of the painting, Divas.

Every artist has their way of creating. Sometimes I can create something in a matter or minutes and then there are projects that take years. I’ve been working on a painting called Divas, that is on a piece of canvas measuring 16 x 20. I’m using acrylic paint. It derived from an idea and it took form, but the colors keep changing. I hope to complete the piece by tomorrow night.

When I complete certain projects I reward myself. When I do that, it gives me the incentive to want to create more art.

All artist go through a period of not being able to create, but when you can its one of the most therapeutic things a person can experience. It can be relaxing, and it offers a look into the psyche of the individual creating the art.

Thanks for stopping by, Do come again and why not become a follower of this blog while you’re here. Open Your Mind. Relax, enjoy and believe.

Coming up: More on Road Home, Writing the Levee Board, Keeping my head above water, Can I take a trip? Losing a job, how does one cope?

http://picasaweb.google.com/ArtographybyDlonzo/OpenYourMind05?authkey=Gv1sRgCJSywryBj-P3XQ#


http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1482690&l=a6c1abc89d&id=763163743

www.cocanola.com

www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com

http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=104918806

Addicted 2 Art, what's your addiction?

There is an art to arranging furniture. One has to look at the room and the furniture and see if it really works and how one can make it come together to make the best use of the space. I had my dinning table near the patio door because I also use the table as a desk and drawing table at times and I wanted the light to come through so I wouldn’t have to use any electricity. Of course you wonder should you place the sofa in front of the window, fire place or patio doors. If you place the sofa in front of the fire place you will have to move it during the winter where you use the fire place or not. It just seems proper to face the fire place during the winter. It also depends on whether you have a base at the bottom of the fire place or if its down to the floor. You also have to consider whether or not the window has a sill and if you use it for plants or little objects that you would want to be visible For me the perfect location was in front of the sliding patio doors and I could finally place the sofa table which I made behind the sofa. I can still look over the sofa and see into the back yard and its cozier than before.

I recently made some modifications to a coffee table that someone through out many months ago. I saw the potential in the table. I brought it inside and bleached it down. Then I tightened all of the screws and I went to Ikea and found some gray black and silver casters that look great on the black carpet. The baskets that hold magazines fits under the table and they match the table color. It just makes things easier to maneuver. I wish I could find some casters for the table in which my television sits. That would open up the room even more and I could wheel it out when needed. I’ll keep looking for the right table or get some help to see if there might be holes in the legs where I can install casters.

Once you move furniture around it changes your perspective and your mood when you enter the room. Organization is one key to creating a great living space and home.

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

What is art?

The creation of art… The artist is usually a misunderstood person. People are intrigued by their talent, but don’t always understand it. Some visual pieces are pretty to look at and some are more complex. Not only does it tell a story on the canvas, but there is also a story of how and why it was created. Secrets lie in the works of all artists in all forms.
The fantasy unfolds for a person who doesn’t dare experience what they create or they’ve dabbled on the thought and let it manifest itself into something more. Fiction allows an artist to say what they hold deep in the bowels of their inner core. All of their fears get to be presented through images and words. Pain and suffering surface through poems and lyrics. The mood swings and torture from music. Life like art, is filled with beauty, surrealism, truth, honesty, pleasure, betrayal, misfortune and pain.

http://dlonzo-openyourmind.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=58144381

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=54365247

Scrapbooking a life

This digital photo is called (2headsrbetta)

I started putting together a scrap book of my life story this year. This project inspired me to write as much of what I could remember. I’m glad I can remember a lot of things and I can make sense of what brought me to the place I am today. Therapy comes in all forms, but art is the greatest therapy of all. The choice of colors, the flow of words or the doodles that we create while we are just staring off into space all mean something.

Although I can remember many events, the dates are the problem. I may recall that something happened in first grade which allows me to pin point a year, but not the exact date. If something happened in school it would normally fall between August and May. That only matters if I really want to get detailed. The fact that I remember an incident should overshadow when it exactly happened. I’m also realizing I have photographs of people that I can’t remember their names. At some point they posed in front of my camera, but they didn’t make a big enough impact for me to remember who they were.

I’ve also discovered journal entries about certain people and I can’t place a face to the name. I’ve met so many people in my life which I guess makes it hard to remember them all. That’s one of the reasons I started keeping a journal for those little encounters. The people you see in passing. You may have a conversation in the grocery or at a local bar. The conversation was long enough to get a name, but not enough to form a friendship.

That could be an interesting exercise to take all of the pictures of people I don’t know and create a collage. Maybe it will trigger a memory.

http://www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

http://www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088

http://www.n4cersworld.com/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

Check out the above links if you haven’t already. Watch for new links.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

Dryer Sheets

In this age of recycling and finding uses for items and saving money. Dryer sheets can have a new life. They can be used more than once in the dryer. You can use them to make stuffing for animals for children or if you save enough you can stuff pillows. They can be used to dust furniture and they can be used as small pieces of canvas. You can also use them to wrap small gifts that might break. Everything that we use can have a second or third life. Get in touch with your inner artist.

http://dlonzo-OpenYourMind.blogspot.com

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=382758088

http://filmlover4pg.blogspot.com

Stimulate Art

I have three dollars left on my Borders gift card. I was going to go to the movies and then head over to Borders, but I got delayed. I like going to the first showing of a movie for several reasons. Usually there aren’t a lot of people in the theater so its like watching a movie at home. Usually the first showing is a discounted showing so you don’t have to pay full price, just in case the film is a bomb. Rarely do I go to see a film that I don’t come away from enjoying some part of it.

I’ve been reading and looking at a lot of books and magazines to get inspiration for the various forms of art that I create. Video, photography and scrap booking are now taking top priority and I’m trying to incorporate them all into one project.

The digital art form is unique, but what I don’t like about it is that it really isn’t the same as creating with your hands. When I took pictures with my 35mm camera, I took my time because film costs and I didn’t want to take a lot of unnecessary shots. I got to know my subjects quite well and knew what worked. With digital, you can just shoot forever and if you don’t like something you can manipulate it on the computer or just hit delete. Colors can be enhanced so much that the image is unreal. You can also drop an image in a place where it never existed. Of course its still an art form, but it would be great if photographers shared their secrets and stop making people believe it’s the original shot. Last year I was reading one of my artists magazines and there were some techniques in a previous issue that blew me away. I was dumbfounded because I couldn’t recreate the images. A few weeks ago I was reading the last issue and found out the secret to creating those images was not all original. What the artist had done was created a drawing and scanned it into the computer and then printed it out. The artist then colored on top of the image which created some intense imagery and colors. I tried it and guess what, it worked. It pisses me off, that they could have told me that to begin with and then I wouldn’t feel like I was missing out on something. I don’t have a problem sharing my techniques with others. There are many easy ways to create something even if you get a little help in the beginning. I create my own master drawings which allow me to use the same characters over and over as I see fit. I also make my own stencils. As an artist, one is only limited by ones imagination.

www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54325957 www.dcinemafile.blogspot.com
www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088
www.n4cersworld.com
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54365247

Check out the above links if you haven’t already. Watch for new links.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

Be Creative

The Green Living show is going on in Austin, but I don’t think I will attend this year.

I’ve been implementing recycling since the mid 80’s. That’s one of the reasons why I can’t throw anything away. LOL.

There’s always another way that a magazine or book can be used. Wine bottles have now become vases and works of art. Magazines are becoming envelopes and small gift bags can be turned into waste baskets that can sit next to the bed out of view.

Tin cans are now pencil holders and I’m working on turning wine bottles into picture frames. My journal has always been like a scrapbook, but only the size of a regular book. I’ve noticed the colorful 12 x 12 sheets that you can buy and so I’ve gotten a few bargains at Big Lots and other craft stores using coupons or catching a sale. I read the craft books and magazines and get inspired to create my own pages.

I recently found a unique scrapbook at Marshalls for $5.99. Most of the 12 x 12 books I’ve seen are priced between $15.00 and $25.00.

I’m putting together a scrap book about my life in the form of art. Highlighting the good, the bad and the turning points that have gotten me where I am today. It will include my favorite photographs of those that have posed in front of my camera and stories of how the photograph came to be. That should give you something to inspire you.

Take some time and be creative.

http://www.artbydlonzo.blogspot.com/
http://www.dcinemafile.blogspot.com/
http://www.filmloverpg.blogspot.com/
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=38275088
http://www.n4cersworld.com/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/

I’ll add more links soon.

Time to get back to reality. Rebuilding my life, one step at a time.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…

I had planned to go and see the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, but when I left the house my brain said no. I usually go with my instinct, but I’m not exactly sure of the reasoning behind this decision. Perhaps it was the time. I usually like going to the movies early, but the first showing was at 12:30 PM which meant I wouldn’t be out of the theater until 2:30 PM and then I’d spend an hour in Wal Mart picking up items that I needed. I ended up buying almost $100.00 worth of food, most of which I needed. There were a few things I could have done without, but now I won’t have to stock up until next year. I can just buy the necessities, milk, bread, orange juice if they should run out. I’m really watching every penny and doing my best to stick to my lists. The reason I spent so much was because I didn’t pull out my list while I was in the store. Had I pulled out the list then I wouldn’t have spent as much. The importance of lists is to keep everything in perspective. We only get what is on the list. If we couldn’t remember to write it down then it means we really didn’t need it.
I have all the necessary fixings for Thanksgiving dinner should I stay home for whatever reason. I also picked up my cabbage and black eyed peas for the traditional new years day meal. I’ll experiment in the kitchen for Christmas and see what I come up with. There are a few things I want to pick up at the Dollar Tree, but all gifts and Christmas cards have already been purchased. I have a few ornaments/bookmarks that I want to make. I’m also working on a design for an artist trading card. I may do up to five designs and there will be a total of 40 cards. If your not familiar with the artist trading cards it all started in 1997 by M. Vanci Stirnemann, a Swiss artist who created 1200 cards by hand for an exhibit. On the last day he invited other artist to create cards and to trade them. It then took off sort of like Artrovertism, which is the creation of art that is left behind for someone to discover and hopefully display it and not trash it.
Artist trading cards, (ATCs) are miniature pieces of art that are traded around the world. They measure 2.5” x 3.5” and can be traded via mail or online. It is a great way to meet other artists. If you are an artist, why not join the movement. I had thought about the fleur dlonzo as one of my trading card designs.

Time to get back to reality.
Thanks for stopping by; keep an open mind. What is meant to be…