#1068 How to Boost your Creativity

This month’s Exposed! photo newsletter launches today.

“His photos were beautiful but he was stuck. Our workshop student was frustrated that he had hit a plateau and couldn’t get beyond it…

The workshop student’s photos made beginners jealous – they were classic compositions – beautifully framed and well exposed. He had come on the workshop to get out of a rut.

In this edition of Exposed! we look at ways to:
• boost your creativity
• fuel new adventures in your artwork
• get out of your rut….”

Learn how to ignite your imagination’s fire!

imagination generation

Boost your creativity – try new formats and techniques…

#1067 Kids Art Safaris with Claudia Salguero

We get asked regularly if we offer kid’s art sessions at the studio…

We’ve just booked the talented artist Claudia Salguero to bring some art fun for your kids!

Join us in June for two sessions hosted by Claudia:
•  Sand Madalas
A session of creativity and hands-on work on your own design, creating your own sand colours  and  expressing your self through the possibilities of sand as an artistic medium.

• Salt Dough Magic Faces
With home made salt dough (recipe provided) participants will experiment the creation of faces or masks. With their eyes closed, they will feel the material and the possibilities of working with their two hands at the same time.

kid's art workshop Ottawa

Salt dough faces

Dates are June 7th and 21st.

More details and register!

#1066 Back from away

We have just returned from the Netherlands and Copenhagen where we relaxed, biked, saw some sights and visited family working in Europe.

It was a fun with the focus on family and fun.

Trip highlights?
Family – It was good to remove most (there were a few deliverables) of the pressures of work to play and enjoy family all the time.
Bikes – I love bikes and all about them. And while I knew both countries were bike oriented, the bikes and bike culture were a high point of my trip. Everything revolves around bikes – city planning, transit, etc.
Windmills – Not just the pretty postcard windmills (of which we had a tour – loved it!) but everywhere we went we saw power-generating, efficient, clean windmills.
Tastes of EuropeCheese, craft beer, chocolate… We sampled and smiled.
Photography, lack of – I brought an iPhone and a ‘half-framer’ Ricoh film camera (which, erm, we left in Montreal airport, in case anyone finds it…) I took a few photos mostly of family giggling and enjoying themselves! It was time to recharge.

windmills

Leiden Windmill, Netherlands, iPhone photo

I am officially back at work Wednesday and will take a few days to be running at normal speed.

What’s coming up?
Workshops – In the next couple of weeks we offer the classic Creative Fundamentals and introduced the more challenging Fundamentals II.
Acrylic Painting Presentation (this Wednesday!)
• we’ll be announcing new arts based workshops later this week featuring Claudia Salguero.
• Producing work for two ongoing collections – Sunstreaks and Watershed.

Stay tuned!

#1065 Reminder! Wednesday’s Artist’s Talk – Rosemary Leach

REMINDER!!

This Wednesday – Artist’s Talk:
Acrylic Painter, Rosemary Leach, shares her experiences on the ‘Artist’s Journey’ and her work.

Meet Rosemary and ask about her painting, influences and inspiration.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23RD; 7pm
Ottawa Studio Works
160 Preston St.
Ottawa

Details

Artist's Talk

© Rosemary Leach

 

 

Ahhhh!

We’re taking some time off to recharge batteries.
What does that mean? Perhaps:
• Biking
• Skiing
• Sleeping
• Family and friends
• Relaxing
• Fun Photo Time
… and a break from blog posts, email and work.

I’ll be opening the office later in April to continue this blog, the OttawaStudioWorks blog, and respond to your emails. Until then I will do my best to not visit the office!

The studio will still be active as resident photographer Bonnie Findley continues to serve her clients from OSW.

large format art

Very early morning iPhone capture of the Ottawa skyline as I prepared an all day SunStreak with my big 8×10 camera

#1063 University Stock Assignment

stock photo

Stock assignment

One of my most fun assignments last month was shooting promotional material for a university recruitment program – effectively a stock assignment.

I spent a couple of days developing imagery with students, professors in two areas of the university.

My instructions were to capture some fun, vibrant activity and students and professors in action.

I am limited in what I can show but included are a couple of shots.

Very fun – and good people to work with…

Thanks for the fun!!

stock assignment

Stock photo – teaching laboratory – social work

#1062 Web Distractions!!

Welcome back to our current instalment of Web Distractions. And thanks for your part in sharing your finds on the web!

We have a full slate of photo and arts based web investigations.

“Absurdly Expressive” dog portraits
I love dogs!
And I think Debbie S. knows it. She shared this collection of canine portraits.
🙂

perspective

dogs!

Best photographers in film
Thanks to Rod MacIvor, retired photojournalist, for this link to some amazing films involving photographers.

4500km China walk – with camera
Nichole McGill provided this link to a man’s amazing photo trek through China…

“Leica photography is dead.” … interesting view on an amazing camera line-up
Dave Andrews posted this link link. Interesting…

Illegal photo taking in Hungary – the controversy!
Nathalie Madore shared this link to a new Hungarian law that’s shaking things up!

Shy photographer gets noticed
Ken H offers this fun story…

Montreal’s underground photographic beauty
Danigirl brought us this look at what lurks, beautifully, under Montreal.

Vivian Maier’s hidden photo talent and collection
Liz links to this documentary of a hidden talent who wanted nothing to do with the fame she is generating! Amazing story…

A big thank-you to contributors! Keep sharing your photo and arts links!

Leica

DavidBarbour.com with his Leica