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Originally starting off as a wedding and portrait photographer, my husband, John, thought that his love for people, family, and friends meant that people was what he loved to photograph the most. But along the journey, John realized that memories from his childhood and interests that he developed played a greater part in his photography.

Mountain climbing, biking, camping, and many other outdoor activities he participated in with his family, were parts of John’s life puzzle pieces that God is putting together. We’re slowly recognizing the bigger picture, and still far from figuring it out. In this past year, John became aware of the influence that the vanishing moments of the world around us had on his photography. And this last summer he decided to take a step toward this interest. Through it he found out more about himself as well as the what he wanted in front of his lens. Click here to view his most recent work. He’s not going back.

This new direction not only excited John, but it inspired him.  Change can be scary at first. How is he going to make a career out of it? How will he carry on the business side? We’ve had some feedback on how the landscape photography world is saturated with too many photographers and there’s no way to make it. Isn’t that with anything? Some people even think there’s too many people in the world! But too many photographers in the market to make a living? That should never be the determining factor for anyone, and we made sure it wasn’t for John.

But we’ve all been there, right? How many times have you figured out that there was something loved to do but didn’t enjoy what you were doing with it? A vocalist who sings in theater but really wants to sing in a rock band. An engineer who works for a company but what’s to be head of their own firm. A culinary artist who owns their own business but wants to be world’s next top chef. Or how about an artist who painted portraiture and wants to be an illustrationist. We’re all out there. Some make steps to fulfill their calling. Others don’t. What steps are you taking? What best reasons are there for you not to make that change?

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This gives a feel for the design qualities that will be popping up in my work. Also, the sun star is significant toward my writing, as the rest of my drawings will be.

This past holiday season has been ranked absolutely, without a doubt, one hundred percent the most busiest holiday I’ve ever experienced in my life. Since there is my side of the family and John’s side, there are at least two family get-togethers on Christmas and Thanksgiving with several more after that between other friends and family. Then there’s the shopping, the decorating, the planning, the buying, the wrapping, the cleaning, the baking, the cooking, the driving, the working, and I better stop there because I can already feel my head start to expand. After everything was said and done, it was the first holiday season with my new husband and we had the best time ever. We also just celebrated his birthday, which I had tremendous fun planning for as well as participating in it. But even though it was wonderful and we got to see all of the family and I never felt behind in any the list, stated above, or home stuff, I just started to bawl my eyes out when I didn’t get a chance to write or draw as much as I wanted to the past two months. I was this close (——————————-) to jumping off the art boat and hauling myself toward college island. (To get that PhD degree in psychology so I could help me get through all of my problems.) That is when I made a pact with myself.

For the month of January, I wasn’t to plan anything or any get-togethers outside of the few birthdays and baby shower I had already committed to. In my spare time I was going to write and draw. It has actually been going fairly well as the first week of January has passed. Sometimes I feel the urge to pick up the phone and call my family or friends, but instead I tell myself to stay focused. I do have a day job, as well as my chores at home (which I like doing…who doesn’t like a clean house? Don’t answer that), but I’ve been saving the other hours for the arts.

Ok, so I am writing a book and am picking up illustration/fantasy. Most of the drawings I’ll be posting are a transition of what I have done to where I want to go. I’m still in that learning phase, doing a lot of experimenting and while trying to keep the elements of who I am. Now, you’re not going to see drastic changes. I’m not drawing vast scenes of characters marching off into battle to save the paintbrush of truth, well, not yet. But I have done a few things that have been fun to share, therefore I’ll share them with you. And also have decided to gear the illustration work towards my book for now, a way to give my mind a theme at the moment.

Yet alas, you won’t be getting any updates on the book. No way. All you’ll hear is that I’m excited, it’s going well, and moving in the coolest direction. (And you probably hear about how I’m stuck, ready to pull my hair out, and racking my brain for what happens next.) But as the books/trilogy are closer to the completion there will be more details.

That’s all I have for now. This morning was lovely, and now I will soon leave for the dungeon, I mean, my day job. (Which in the end I am truly thankful for, just not feeling up to it, at the moment.)

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I had some vague ideas stirring in the back of my brain, but not until early September when I was getting my haircut by my hair stylist, Jo Cohen of Changes Hair Salon in Woodbridge, Virginia, and we discussed the possibilities of an art project. My three wonderful friends volunteered to add their skill to the first element of the project — the photo-shoot.  Jo graciously volunteered to be the hair stylist for the production while Gina Cohen, Jo’s daughter, was the cosmetician and applied the make-up beautifully on the model, Irene Johnson.  I applaud these fabulous ladies in their enthusiasm and efforts to help my vision reach the next level. Thank you.

This project was inspired by movement, abstract design, and realism portrayed differently than my normal or traditional methods.  I know the techniques of making a nonexistent subject appear real enough to touch has been around for centuries, but the idea has been fascinating me more, while technology advances and as the meaning of art deepens for myself.

These photographs are the first step of the new project, however, I still have two paintings to finish before I start the execution of the artwork, which means follow up pictures won’t be for awhile.  But either way, I’m so excited about where this is going and how it will look in the end. The photos are just a reference, and not the final look of the artwork.

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Yay.

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Alright, I know…never thought I would be seriously looking into this. But ever since my wedding in March, I’ve had time and some freedom to reflect on whom I’ve wanted to be as an artist.  After becoming very conflicted with my art direction, John and I sat down and talked about what I was like during childhood.  The examples came instantly — somehow I’d manage to get my brothers involved and we would play “make believe” all afternoon.  Some days I wouldn’t want to touch on the topic of make believe, but instead sit in front of the children’s bookcase with piles of vibrant books around me (I enjoyed looking at every detail of  the pretty illustrations while I diligently read each page).  Other days I would build cities of Legos or Lincoln Logs.  Constantly making up things and stories.  That’s what I did naturally.  But for some reason, ever since I’ve been an artist, I had this idea that I had to be a classical painter and traditional artist — only creating what already exists

Perhaps my traditional art style was so insistent because my painting inspirations were from the Old Masters or my teachers, but if I wasn’t drawing a realistic portrait or flower, I would be doodling creatures and people I invented.  That’s what I called my “doodling.” And with a lot of contemplation, I’ve realized that my creating doesn’t have to be limited to classical/traditional portraiture, but I can incorporate my crazy imagination along with it!  So excited.  So excited.  I’ve been excited about projects before, but this feels like I’ve finally found myself. Finally.

While I do have two paintings to finish before I start a new artwork, I am planning on my next piece.  I’ve had this graphite project spinning in my head for the past two months.   Here’s a little sketch of the concept that started off the idea.

After dwelling on this sketch for several weeks, the mood and movement desired for the artwork has become clearer. It’s going to be black and white, pencil drawing  because that is the only way I see it.   But to pull this off in a photo-shoot, I knew I would need back up.

I’ll talk about the details and the photo-shoot more in the next post!

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Meet Mary Gallagher Stout.  A wife, a mother of two, an actively growing artist at the Lorton Arts Foundation, and  a good mentor and friend, graciously posed for a new project that John Robert and I have been planning and collaborating over.

The collection is called Achromatic Expressions.  Achromatic means “free from color,” hence, the drawings and photographs of the collection are composed of strictly black and white.  And the series of work will focus on the expressive individuality of people. This is the first of the drawings and contribution to the series.  While Mary is a woman of many hats and roles, she also has a very animated and youthful personality that is reflected in this giant graphite painting of 40″ by 30″ .

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Road trips.  Done a few of those these past few months.  During our honeymoon we traveled from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Grand Canyon and Sedona Arizona.  Two weeks ago John and I drove out to Missouri to photograph our friend’s wedding.   Aside from being contained in a speeding box of death for several hours on end till the next rest stop, traveling in general has always been my biggest time for inspiration and thought.  I noticed the pattern after the last trip left me with more ideas for my portfolio projects.  This is exciting for me for one reason.  I’m learning how my creative juices start to flow.  Not when I’m  painting.  Not when I’m lying in bed at night.  Not when I’m taking a walk or relaxing by the pool, but when I’m driving (or riding in a car).

Through my ideas, I decided that my focus is going to be my portfolio.  How is that new?  Well, I’m stepping away from the commission side of things and my focus is not going to be on  making money, but making excellent art.   I think when staying within the “rules” of portraiture and “representational art,” I’m pretty good.  But what about making something excellent?  Having a body of work that is completely created from my little brain and hands versus the customer’s wishes and wants is kind of bazaar for me.  It hasn’t been apart of the creative routine as much.  At that point you’re not accountable to clients, but to yourself.

Seems like an exciting trip.  Do I have what it takes to last the journey?