Nature in turmoil

earth in turmoil

skies heave

waters thrash

such anger . . . 

darkness

descends

but the dreaming tree

holds fast 

and waits . . . 

[photography by K.E. Marszycki]

momentary lucidity

lucid

photo by K. E. Marszycki

dappled shadows on the lawns,

prisms sparkling on the river,

then sliding into the purpled edges of the shoreline,

ocean sunlight so bright it makes one slip back

onto the sand and drift asleep . . . 

momentary lucidity

Sometimes time is compressed and one's ability to create is limited. So, what to do? I haven't been able to take any further life study classes and my friends and family seem unwilling to sit for me -- why ever not, I'm not sure. Could it be my continual scowling, my abrupt commands ("Now, tilt your head. No, not that way! This way... Stop fiddling!"...) and the fact that texting in the middle of a sitting just does not work, spoils the feel . . .

So I decided to digitally create my own models. Here's an example of one I hope to work on this weekend:

I found the above photo online when I searched Google images for tango dancers. I love the way the bodies melt into one another and the sensuous line.  Then I pulled the image into PhotoShop and began to alter it, erasing the male figure as I wanted to isolate the female form.  By using various effects, such as charcoal and pencil, I ended with this variation, which gives me a clear sense of line and of light & shadow. I'll probably enlarge this to page size (8 x 10) and work from there.

So when desperate for a model to sketch/paint from, why not give it a try?  There are other variations I'm trying also -- the effect of stone would be cool or manipulating the colors and adding layers of texture to reach a more "painterly" look.  And the beauty is -- these models do not talk back, do not fidget, text their friends or change the pose.  Think about it . . .

 "the imagination spins and weaves new patterns . . .  pure inventions, 

absurdities, and improvisations."

August Strindberg

Art & Photography or Playing in the Heat . . .

Memories of Spring

(altered photograph by me)

After six weeks of cold and rain, now we're in the midst of a humid heat wave -- I have never seen Connecticut like this! Ugh. So, I took a day off to play with PaintShop and fiddle with some photos I took earlier this spring when the gardens were looking great (they now look like something from Jungle Book, ready to grab you and drag you under when you walk by).

I was attempting to work with layers and filters wanting to achieve that old, faded look -- grainy, little color left, maybe a few creases. God, maybe I'm describing myself -- ?! Here's another one from the Palace of Beaux Arts in San Francisco:

Not too shabby.

I'm gearing up for a festival in early fall. I'll be working on creating shibori silk scarves and jewelry. I was at a bead show up near Boston and bought some amazing ocean jasper and other semi-precious stones -- can't wait to work with them! But as the dyeing process is very messy and not conducive to "sharing" space with the oils and canvases, I'll need to take a break from my artwork and painting.

Of course, that's what I say now. In a week or two it may change -- again!

Well, back to photo land -- thank god my computer is in the lower level where it's cool; otherwise, I'd never make it through this heat.

Complain, complain . . .