Tuesday, January 15, 2013

52 Weeks...Reviewing My Year of Artfulness

Wow...a journey ends (or does it?) and another begins...

On January 16, 2012, I started a whole year of arfulness with Kim Klassen using my photography in her class (but it's not really a class...it's like a spa or retreat or just what the doctor ordered) Beyond Layers:  52 Weeks of Artfulness.

I thought I would review the year in this post...

Monday she gave us this challenge to edit one of her photos utilizing using all that had evolved in us over the year.  Here is the original photo...


kk_tulipsonblacksample
...and this was Kim's challenge...

I shot this tulip photo using a black background (something I rarely do)..... When I looked at the photo on my computer I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it. Then it hit me... I wonder if the Beyonders might do the same....something completely different.... what might they do?   And so... I give you this image... play away..... I will share my version along with my recipe on Thursday......
 
Here's my interpretation...


You Are Enough...
 
 
It made me reflect in a profound way how much I had grown in my art, one day at a time, one week at a time, just showing up, doing the work...with persistence and patience.
 
Come with me as I review just a smidgen of what I experienced in 2012... 
 
 
And I know He watches me...


"Just Enough" - taking a photo...simple composition...simple texture...simple processing...just enough to draw the viewer in...

Persevering One Step at a Time

Writing a memoir in ONLY six words...

Soft Yellow on Purple

And then there was Vision and Blur...using aperture and exposure compensation to create a small area of focus and a soft blur...maximizing light and softness.

A Day of Privilege in Pediatric Palliative Care

And I remember when we were challenged to create a storyboard and document our day...this one day of work in pediatric palliative care.

You Prepare a Table Before Me

And learning how to make a photograph have a painterly effect...this was a place setting during our palliative care retreat at the O'Neil House.

Express Yourself
And we worked on Black and White...this was at the Barnes & Noble in Columbus at Polaris...

Clarity

And this was a still life done at home...(never really got into doing still lifes before this class).

White Fence in Franklin

We experimented with finding and photographing fences...

Of Meadow Flowers and Butterflies

Played with type tricks...this is from our butterfly bush in the front yard...

Circles


And we were challenged to find shapes in our every day world...my grandson, Elijah, and I looked for circles at Seiberling Nature Realm.

He Works Hard for the Money
 
And how to make a photo look like a polaroid...

On the Porch
 
Or like it had been taken with a Kodak Instamatic (remember those Flashcubes?)...

Field of Dreams
 
Making dream-like images...

Ann Voskamp Storyboard
 
One photo, three ways...

Book Review - Beyond Layers
 
A still used as a book review...(actually, kind of a composite of some favorite books that hold meaning to us)...

Romans 9:21
 
And playing with life's light...

While I learned all sorts of tips, acquired tons of new textures, explored things I hadn't done before...it was truly a class that went Beyond Layers...the mechanics of learning to do photographic art with layers...but to relish in all of the inspiration Kim provided, as well as embracing our own unique creative gifts by taking the time to slow down, to see, be present, to be ourselves, to march to the beat of a different drummer, and finding others like us. 

We Beyonders have become quite a community...like family.

What a year it has been...and now onto Beyond Beyond!

 

12 comments:

  1. really lovely Denise! I love what you did with Kim's prompt.

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  2. It is so fun to look back and see your grow over the year. Great job!

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  3. What a year it has been for you and your gorgeous photo art (for that is what it is!). Congratulations.

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  4. Just wonderful Denise. I have enjoyed Beyond Layers too but as usual behind. I do really enjoy seeing all your work.

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  5. Fantastic journey! Love your journal of photos!

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  6. It's all good. So glad I took this journey with you. Makes me want to back and reflect on mine too

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  7. Denise so beautiful I am sorely tempted as we have a years access is to revisit some of those lessons and start again with fresh eyes. Thanks for sharing your truly wonderful pieces of art.....

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  8. What a wonderful idea! I love your inspiration. Great work. :)
    I need to go revisit some of my humble attempts.
    And...thank you for your kind comments!!
    I am going to try to 'blog' this year...but have some hesitations.

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  9. A lovely tribute to your teacher, your new friends and your art.

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  10. Thank you for sharing some of your photos and the prompts that inspired them. I admire the commitment to weekly art making and the awesomeness of the results!

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  11. Hi Denise,
    It has been a wonderful year hasn't it? I'm so glad I was part of Beyond Layers. It changed my world in many ways.
    I want to say THANK YOU for stopping by my blog and becoming my 100th follower. You are so kind :)
    Hope you are having a lovely weekend
    xo

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Every comment is read personally by me and is deeply appreciated!