New Year's Eve

Wow, don't we all yearn for more?  And this is the time that longing emerges the strongest, this artificial construct that lets us imagine a change of calendar heralds a brand-new life.  A life with no mistakes in it, a life in which we can finally be the person we want to be.

Hey, I'm not disparaging that longing!  I feel it too.  The more intensely, as a matter of fact, as I get older.  My longing is also tinged with regret for the growing number of new years that haven't been an entirely successful reinvention of myself.  Hope is futile without action, though.  May this be the year that all of us add the proper action that makes a strong foundation under our dreams.

So dream on.  Dream big!  And act, my friends.  Let's take that step together.

Happy New Year!

Playing 'What If' With Photos

I've taken photos since I could hold a camera.  Love it, just love it!  Who knows why we are drawn to the interests we are?  Me, I'm all about the visual.

So it's no stretch to want to take my photos further.  I do that with Photoshop Elements, the budget-friendly version of Photoshop.  It's another tool, like a new camera, that helps me express myself.

So here's the latest, with a beautiful birdhouse that deserves to stand out from it's dull and foggy day.


before:

after:

I call this Cozy At Home.  To do a little shameless self-promotion, a lot of my photos are for sale at krislove.smugmug.com, including this one.

Blowing Snow

And there's one in every crowd . . .  (I wouldn't know anything about that.)  😉

What A Difference A Day Makes

"They went that-a-way!"

Ice Testing

Not so much fishing, but a lot of hole-drilling.  I'd volunteer to test the ice for them, but, you know, I like my bath water hot . . .

Through The Snowy Woods

 

The Heart of the Town

Snows of Yesteryear

Creek In Snow

What a difference a day makes!  A very late date for the first snow in northern Illinois, not that I'm complaining.  A wet 7.5 inches so far, which is sticking beautifully to the trees.  That's unusual; commonly we get wind with it so it doesn't stay where it lands.  Illinois can be a "flyover" state in more ways than one.

You've Been Warned

I got a laugh out of this one.  Something will shortly be worked on ahead, but what?  It doesn't actually matter, does it?  Drive carefully.

Stop for Beauty

Seriously, what schedule could be so important that you couldn't pull over for 30 seconds and say, "Whoa, look at that!"  Right?

Life is made more beautiful by these random stunning moments.  How about beginning a collection of them?

Harvest

Creative Recycling

I've seen a lot of people print out graphics on old dictionary pages.  Pretty cool decorating idea, and a great use for old books.  I love books, absolutely love them!  But I'm not a purist when it comes to mutilating them.  Only the outdated ones, of course.  Why should they go to a landfill if they can be grist for the creative mill?  And the paper is soooo much higher quality than many printed today.  So I've been using these old pages as a drawing surface.  Quite fun!

Dawn On The Farm

Thrill Of The Chase

I love storms.  I guess I'm not alone, judging by the remarkable pictures posted by a multitude of amateur and professional storm chasers.  Not that I have any desire to be "swept up" in the thrill of a tornado, of course.  But there's something about a storm front coming through that's energizing.

Yesterday while having coffee with a friend, her husband considerately called to tell her a storm watch had been issued.  "Well, we were done with our coffee anyway," she said in a slightly disappointed tone.  "Yep," I said.  "Although my first impulse is to take pictures of the storm, not go home."

"Me too!" she said happily.

So we did.

The Shapes of Fog

Soft Summer Light

I Thought Sure This Was The Road . . .

 

As I mentioned in my previous blog (find it here), I'm feeling the need to stretch and expand.  That's a good thing.  While I'll always be a photographer, there's no reason not to learn new things and create something that didn't exist before.  In fact, I think it's rather wasteful of life to stay in a narrow little comfort zone and not push to learn more and be more.  It's disrespectful of our Creator, however you envision Him/Her.

So you'll find drawings and paintings here in addition to the ever-present photos.  Some finished, some in progress, some half-assed.  Hey, my blog = my right to make mistakes.  It takes a little time and distance before I can tell whether a creation is delectable or deletable.

Anyway, this is my "art" site.  Although I'm trying to learn fine art techniques, I cringe when I use the shorthand description "artist".  Michelangelo was an artist.  I'm a middling painter.  But look if you wish.  Comment if you want.  We're all creative in some way, so it's all good.  Welcome!