Happy Friday

Happy Friday :) 

Very short post today wishing you all a happy weekend.  Time for me to do some pilates and cleaning (Friday is cleaning day), but first, my stop motion animation from today.  And people, be easy on me.  I officially have no digital camera that allows me to focus properly, so this entire shoot (250 pictures) I had to estimate the proper focal distance for things to be in focus (kill me) and as you can see, I am not so great at it.  Ugh, I miss my cameras.  BUT I love my gummies and Yael Naim, so enjoy. 


Have a good weekend all!

aosalksfja lkfjaslkfjas *NOTE TO SELF* do not attempt to fill the tub when I am distracted with other things - a centimeter away from flooding the bathroom/apartment *afijalkjf alkfjalkfjalf *

Almost the weekend, almost the weekend :)

The weeks are flying by and boy do I look forward to the weekends.  So happy Thursday everyone - you know what that means....it's almost the weekend. 

More things today posted on Etsy for all of you.  Prints are now available for the Yes, I Swim (Polar Bear) paintings.  Check it out:

See prices 

here

Next in line - the newest painting in the series.  Here it is, Yes, I Swim (Horse)

If you want me, check 

me

 out.  I'm a sweet deal :) 

Okay, I think that's all for today.  Short, but sweet.  Tomorrow is Friday so be prepared for a stop motion animation.  My gummies are making an appearance. 

Oh Wednesday, Come Again Next Week

I keep forgetting to mention that I have been selected as a finalist in the Photographer's Forum competition, which I am thrilled about.  I doubt I'll make it past the next round, but there were around 14,000 submissions and my photograph was top 11% and therefore getting published in this year's coffee table book for the magazine.  I think this is the furthest one of my pieces has gotten in a juried show.  The photo I entered is from my first trip to Malaysia.  I guess that horrid climb up Mt. Kinnabalu was worth it for the pictures.  I have never in my life seen a terrain change so often and so drastically - it really was an incredible experience (just painful on the legs and lungs). 

Here's the picture:

Laura Edria Tanis

Because I was so thrilled to be a finalist, it got me thinking about my future in photography and the course I should take my life in the next few years.  There are so many options - so many contests to enter, grants to apply for, decisions in applying for an MFA and where to apply if I do, etc., etc. Apparently, the stress has set in.  Who knew being an artist consisted of so much schooling/so many decisions.  

Advice anyone?

So in an effort to pick up my day, first some lovely words (www.pinterest.com), two bedrooms that would make me feel so much better right now, a wish list (anyone into the Secret - I want these things, if I act like I already have them, I'll obtain them - does such thinking work for materialistic things?! ha), then the sketch for the day.  Enjoy. 

Bedrooms to make me feel better:

http://crystalcarbone.posterous.com/12-odd-bedroom-designs

http://missmischiefmanaged.tumblr.com/page/2

Wish list - yes please, with some sugar on top

1. Rumplestilz Brown Boots. Adorable. And only $89. I think it's a good buy and I think I need them. (

http://www.threadsence.com/rumplestilz-brown-boots-p-3243.html?

)

2. Inflatable Igloo.  How cool is that?! (

http://been-seen.com/travel-blog/go-cabin/inflatable-igloos

)

3. Oh Darling Let's Be Adventurous Tote.  $18. Adorable. (

http://www.etsy.com/shop/fifiduvie

)

4. Most Beautiful Ring Ever. Price - doesn't matter. (

www.anthropologie.com

)

5. I Shoot Like A Girl Sterling Silver Pendant and Camera Charm. $48. (

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65619774/i-shoot-like-a-girl-sterling-silver?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

)

Sketchbook today (continuing in the Yes, I'm Real theme - if you need an explanation, check out the bottom of 

this post

):

Yes, I'm Real (Duck)

Laura Edria Tanis

Perhaps getting lost on pinterest can brighten my day.  I rearranged all boards today and they are beautiful.  Check them out! 

http://pinterest.com/lauratanis/

And the painting continues:

The next animal is up in the "Yes, I Swim" painting series - featuring....

The Japanese Macaque.  

Hope you enjoy :)

Did I mention the pig one already sold? Crazy.  So so happy and excited.  So if you like this one, buy, buy buy :) 

Click here

The inspiration has been dwindling (what's going on pinterest?!), but maybe it's just because I am already inspired.  This project has kept me extremely busy, excited, motivated, and it's actually bringing in profit (not much at all, but hey, it's something!).  

So my only inspiration for today is in cheese.  Yes people, cheese.  Oh this is so so true. 

One last moment of inspiration came late last night (from some old posts on pinterest) in the form of rearranging our books in color order.  I am aware we are a few books short in order to really get the point across, but hey, we're at a start.  Need many more green and purple books. Any donations? (Preferably good books)

Okay - last note of the day.  I advise everyone to get National Geographic this month - cover story = Spirit Bears.  Have you heard of them/seen them???

Oceanwide Images

So the "Spirit Bear," better know as the Kermode bear, is a subspecies of the American Black Bear. They live in the British Columbia, Canada and a tenth of the species are noting have this beautiful cream-colored fur (seen above).  From the pictures I have seen of them, what makes them so striking is that they are constantly against that green/mossy background, which resonates with the beauty of the bear and its coat color.  

Very cool, right? Go get National Geographic.  And just as some side notes: They are not albino.  They are not any more related to polar bears or "blonde" brown bears than any other member of their species. They have more success catching fish because of the color of their coat!

Okay last thing before I'm done for today - I ate basil from the garden today! Whoop whoop. 

Monday already? Again?

   The weekend went fast yet again, but the hot air balloon ride was splendid.  I think pictures do much more justice than words, so first, some picture of me in awe of the moment (my man is a photographer now). 

 Okay now some pictures of the balloon taking off before us:

Pictures of us from the photographer:

Now pictures of the actual ride (Virginia is beautiful):

So at the end of the ride, we apparently all had jobs.  Anthony's job: keep the balloon down. Success. 

So with a high last week of selling a painting, views increasing, viewers in 5 countries (US, UK, Germany, India and Malaysia), I've seem to have hit a low.  Cameras seem to have bad luck around me these days and I am currently down to two with my main camera somewhat working.  My point and shoot I bring EVERYWHERE with me actually broke from the flame of the hot air balloon.  My Nikon SLR has slowly been losing it's life (first a dead pixel that isn't worth the money to fix, a strange delay and clicking when the shutter goes off, and now, my main lens is completely loose making it impossible to focus).  Another toy (don't think toy means it's not expensive camera) broke with film in it.  Boo hoo.  If only I was a rich woman.  It seems like I'll be sticking with painting for awhile - hopefully I can make some money.  Until then, I'll do my best to stay motivated.

Until next time, stay motivated everyone :) I need it and so do you. 

So Inspired...

I don't know if it's summer, the move to Virginia, the time I have to spend on things (for once in my life), but I have been so inspired and it is wonderful.  Absolutely wonderful - it's been awhile.  Surprisingly enough (well perhaps after 4 years of being immersed in it) photography seems to be on the bottom of my list of experimenting.  Not that I dislike it, or anything even close to that, I've just been very into painting and doing other things.  

So I gave you a sneak peak yesterday of what I was going to paint today, so here it is.  I enjoyed doing this so much that it is definitely stemming to a series.  Animals you don't expect to be in the water, immersing themselves in the water (with neon dots of course - been really into neon).  Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas on what animals to paint, feel free to email me (I've been working on a list - got about 12 animals so far).  

First, behind the scenes shots:

Kate, notice where I hung my painting - top left.  Love, love, love it. 

If you like me, buy me! 

Click here

Speaking of elephants, I was somewhat nauseated painting this piece today because I just found out that after I supported the movie Water for Elephants (as in went to go see it because I loved the book) that the elephant was brutally electrocuted as part of training.  A video of the footage leaked after the film came out.  It's so unfortunate that people are such a** holes with animals.  Anyone interested in going to see the movie Zookeeper, don't support it.  It's the same training company.  Disgusted. 

On a much brighter note, Anthony and I have found a super delicious frozen yogurt place down here called Sweet Frog.  It is so yummy and going to be our new thing to do once a week instead of pigging out on ice cream at home.  I am pretty sure they are only in Virginia, but if anyone happens to pass one, go try it! So yum.  

Some inspiration for the day.  From yours truly, Pinterest. Please note the humor in the first one (Anthony asks all the time if I'm addicted to Pinterest and my answer is always, why yes). 

 I absolutely love the above painting (particularly the colors)...I am totally going to do a remake of this next week. 

 I've been seeing these all over (especially on Etsy) and I am loving them.  Vintage dictionary pages with some type of drawing over it.  Obsessed.  Must try this too. 

This cracks me up because it is totally true.  Not only that, but my sisters will find a sense of humor in this because when I was younger and pretending I was a mermaid, I made some comment in the pool about how King Triton said I was too pretty to be a mermaid.  Ahh..the confidence of being a child. 

This last one is not at all inspiration, but peace of mind in knowing I am not the only one! Now, I don't really think that someone will kill me while I am washing my face, but yes, that split second I close my eyes, there are times when I open them and expect someone behind me with a knife.  I still think there are monsters under my bed.  In fact, every night I make Anthony turn off the lights and tell him it's 'the man's job' and every night he continues to laugh at me.  Last night I actually turned them off myself, after successfully washing my face without getting murdered, and I literally took one leap from the light switch to the bed.  I don't give those damn monsters a chance.  

Countdown=2 days

Two more full days until hot air balloon ride.  Oh yea. Who else is excited?

Short post today people.  

Worked on some more water colors today.  I am really enjoying them, but getting quite frustrated when they don't seem to do what I want (damn water has a mind of its own).  Oh well.  So worth exploring.  Two from today:

For my art journal today, I decided to work on a collage (I cannot even remember the last time I did a collage).  I decided to pick up some old magazines and the first image that inspired me would act as a theme to the rest.  Turned out to be crazy hair. The rest came easily after that.  Moral of the story: be natural. 

And some inspiration for the day from none other than pinterest:

Last thing - sneak peak for tomorrow.

Any ideas?

Tuesday = major productivity

Art Journal from yesterday and today:

Okay so some film got developed yesterday from a few shoots over the weeks.  One is from the set up scenes I did, one from our running trail (which I have loved very much since the first time we went) and some self portraits (oh boy).  The set up scenes were with my beloved 4x5 Wista and the others with a ultra cheap toy camera (35mm) that allows you to do as many exposures as you want at one time (most of these are two or three).  We'll start with those.

Okay - now the 4x5's.  Not exactly the scenes I had anticipated, but sort of what I was going for.  Oh gummy bears, I will always love you.  

So on my agenda for today was do some watercolors (I haven't done any in years since me and my siblings used to do them at my grandmother's house).  I didn't really have anything in mind - just messing around.  So I got four done today.  Nothing like lighthearted water colors.  More tomorrow.

Okay a few last things -- my love bugs

Quick trip to Jersey

In preparation of a job interview and well needing the rest of my things, I took a quick trip back to Jersey.  First thing to conquer - giving Moo man a bath.  I was very, very happy to see my cute little piggy. I miss him terribly.

When exploring the backyard as usual, I found these fantastic algae-like blooms on a tree that I'd never noticed before.  So, so perrrty. 

Large Format Makes Me Giggle Like A Little Girl

As a graduation gift (from college), I got a large format film camera.  A beautiful wooden Wista and I got to shoot with it for the first time down here.  So far, I love it.  On my first mission I was determined to do some double exposures as I have never experimented with them before and I was very inspired by some work my sister sent me by Oliver Morris.  The images are beautiful and really unlike any other double exposures I have seen, so I kind of took off from there.

I really liked the notion of juxtaposing outside and inside and well, this is what I came up with so far.  I can't wait to keep experimenting.  Perhaps like Morris portraiture will be included sometime soon - but I only got two options -- me or the dog.  Hmm.  I definitely want to try some double exposures in color negatives with my favorite Portra 160.

Laura Edria Tanis

Laura Edria Tanis