Connecting with Dogs- Laura Holder

Laura Holder of Connecting With Dogs,wanted some photos for her new business but also as a keepsake of her family, Aaron( hubby)  & Oscar ( handsome white shepherd ).
What I loved about this shoot was the easiness of Laura & Aaron, they just rolled with whatever I asked them. Such a fun shoot!

Laura also helped me out on another shoot as the dog wrangler/trainer and I have to say I liked her patience, calmness, and good nature with both the dog and humans! I look forward to working with Laura in the future!

To find out more about Laura click below. She's also on facebook as well.
 http://www.connectingwithdogs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ConnectingWithDogs/info

Todd Mrozinski - paint pusher

                          Lulu Cafe- bayview now through 12-31-14

I had the great honor of being asked to sit for one of Todd Mrozinski's  illuminating portraits.
Right away, I felt welcomed into his studio that he shares with his equally talented wife, Renee Bebeau. It's filled and I mean filled to the brim with both of their art.  And yet I didn't feel overwhelmed but more at home in their studio. They both have such wonderful energy it's easy to be relaxed and be in the moment.

It's a simple set-up, a lamp, canvas, subject, and Todd's quick tracing hand.

I loved how he captured my smile. He recently did another one of me, but this time it was the back of my head and I was smiling the entire time!

I had the great pleasure of watching him work on mine right in front of me. I never tire of watching an artist of any medium do their thing.

You can view these beauties now through the New Year at Lulu Cafe in Bayview.

He does commissions starting at $200 per portrait, $175 each for 2 or more, $150 each for 3 or more. Plus he also teaches.
 Like him on facebook and/or check him out on his website.
http://toddmrozinski.com/
https://www.facebook.com/todd.mrozinski

In his words, more about the shadow series and what started it....

"The Shadow Series started about two years ago on the one year anniversary of my father's death. I started to paint a portrait of him from a black and white photo but became frustrated, I really wasn't interested in painting people in the traditional way at that time but wanted to connect with him. I laid on the couch and my wife, Renee walked in, saw the smeared painting and large amount of dark paint on the palette and asked if she could cover the canvas so the paint wouldn't go to waste. I agreed and took a nap. When I woke up I noticed the beautiful warm light coming in through the front door, looked outside and saw the amazing tree shadow. I took the dry canvas off of the painting wall, laid the canvas on the ground and traced the tree shadow directly onto the canvas. With the warmth of the sun on my back, I felt my dad's presence profoundly and realized that he was showing himself in a new way. The Shadow series began and I painted tree shadows until the weather moved me inside and I realized the beauty of the window light and plant shadows of my home. The Window Shadow series began. One morning my daughter was helping me trace a large plant shadow and I noticed the beauty of her shadow, so I traced her and people were born in the shadow series. Renee and I were married in the Spring and a series of wedding bouquet shadows were painted. For the past three months I have focused on family, friends and fellow artists in the "Libations!" and Shadow Portrait series. "Libations!" is a series that happened because one night at dusk I noticed my shadow while drinking a glass of water in the kitchen. Next I painted my wife and daughter drinking and realized that I was wishing them nourishment and refreshment and that through painting this moment in time, I could offer that wish to others. It is wonderful to look at the paintings and see the way people drink, how they hold the glass or bottle, if they sip or slam. The portraits are wonderful to do because it is intriguing that one line can tell so much about a person. I have loved to meditate on the contours and shapes my friends and have been fascinated that the back of the head can tell as much about a person as their face. I work in oil paint because of its luminosity and textural richness."

Santa Fe

            View from the back porch

          Breaking Bad Bridge

                        International Folk Art Museum

              Madrid

             Bandelier National Monument Trails

 Breaking Bad Bridge

The family- Bill, Kathy,Judy, Chuck, Randy,and Kris before another fantastic meal on the ranch

I was given an unexpected and very generous opportunity to visit/stay/play in  September, with my friend Kris's parents- Kathy & Bill and their friends Judy & Chuck at an incredible adobe house in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

It was perfect weather for art seeing, there is sooooooooooooooo much art there, plus cool funky boutiques and shops, and hiking, this gal was not bored one bit. Plus the company was beyond great. We had a lot of laughs and early morning talks out on the porch with our morning coffee. The views from that back porch was magnificent!

We did eat out but the  best meals were back at the ranch, no kidding, Kris is a trained chef and has always been adventurous and gifted in the cooking department. I have been on the receiving end of such meals more times than I can count!

I loved the show Breaking Bad and to find out we were ONLY a 1/2 mile away from a scene blew my mind. Bill, Kathy, Judy and I went one late afternoon to find this bridge. I was not really convinced it was "the Bridge" until we got back and looked it up. Sure enough that was the one! To say I was geeked was an understatement.  Of course, we did a group shot there as well as I used the bridge for the background when taking photos of each couple for their Christmas card. Ha! What a hoot!

Hiking. I loves me some hiking. I do not loves me some heights. Funny, since those both usually go hand in hand. We ended up at a place called Bandelier National Monument Trails. When we got there that is when I found out they had ladders a s part of the hike! GULP! Let's just say I showed those ladders who was boss! Seriously, one of my favorite hikes to date.

Folk Art- who's with me? I really enjoyed seeing the International Folk Art Museum. Eye candy for the soul.

In the end, it is the people you keep company with that can make or break an experience. :)

Breaking Bad bridge scene- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXqeoY17YoU
 behind the scenes -


Hiking
http://alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/bandelier-national-monument-area-trails

Folk Art
http://www.internationalfolkart.org/

Funky/artsy  little town- Madrid
http://www.visitmadridnm.com/

Quiet Beauty