Posted on August 23, 2020
https://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/exhibitions/ThroughHerLens.html
Through Her Lens: Women Photographers of The Wittliff
Thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful, prestigious group of women photographers and artists. Thanks for Carla Ellard at The Wittliff Collections. Many thanks to Bill Wittliff for having my work in his collection.
Photograph included: “The Clown, Oaxaca MX, 2003” – The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Antonio, TX. Starting August 2020.
Posted on April 10, 2020
Back in October, 2019 I went to the great Medium Photo Review in San Diego. The entire experience was fantastic! I met lots of artists who inspired me, reviewers who motivated me into trying new approaches with my work and the city itself was lovely. The founders and creators were helpful and sincere. We were lucky to listen to Luis Gonzales Palma speak about his life work! I hope to go back one day and in the mean time wish all the best to the people I met along the way.
Kat Kiernan – Don’t Take Pictures
Thank you for the write up!!!
Here is a list (w/links) of artists, curators and photographers who inspired me:
Luis Gonzales Palma – Presentation
REVIEWERS
Medium Photo – San Diego
Kat Kiernan – Don’t Take Pictures
Dina Mitrani – Dina Mitrani Gallery
Douglas Marshall – Marshall Contemporary
Chantel Paul – San Diego State University Downtown Gallery
ARTISTS
Paula Riff
Sandra Klein
Bridget Conn
Vanessa Marsch
Jennifer Georgescu
Justyna Badach
Shannon Benine
Christopher Ammon
Shannon Leith
Michael Sakasegawa
Rachel Helden
Molly Peters
Amanda Schilling
Krista Wortendyke
Posted on January 5, 2019
Finished “Fearless” with twin girls Lola and Sofia! Turned out amazing. This process, platinum on vellum gets easier the more I do it, but I’m definitely wanting to change the aesthetic a bit and diversify my body of work, Twin Elements.
Decided to go with copper b/c it gave it a more antique-vintage look. The one thing about photographing these finished platinum on vellum prints is that it doesn’t translate the same. I’m looking forward to having this body of work hang soon! I have no idea where to go, but a gallery that likes alternative process is my hope.
I also love the Hitchcock-ian vibe this piece has! Figuring out the girls’ wardrobe was fun, I needed something bouncy and flow-y with a hint of 50’s. Turned out great.
Rhea McCarter Craft – makeup artist @ ADORE in Austin, TX
Chancy Cone Oliver – hair artist @ ADORE
Christa Blackwood – helped me with lighting and everything else!
“Fearless” is my ode to living life fearlessly, something that can be difficult to do sometimes. I chose to be bold and not let fear be a part of my being. I truly love what I do, and feel grateful every day that I’m able to create in my darkroom. It is my sanctuary and where I get to put my imagination onto paper. How lucky I am!!!
I also wanted to show that when you have a partner through life sometimes it can be easier to conquer your goals because you have that person next to you. I feel lucky to be a twin.
Here’s the work in progress. Framing soon.
Fearless, 19″x29″, Platinum on Vellum, Gilded Copper
Posted on December 16, 2018
Thank you to Don’t Take Pictures magazine for including one of my pieces, “Aground, Twin Elements” as their Photo of the Day.
Very humbled considering how many talented photographers have been selected.
Photo of the Day @ Don’t Take Pictures – Dec 16, 2018
One of my new favorite artists I discovered from these Photos of the Day is Merel Schoneveld – wow, her work is incredible. The moments she captures are so creative and reminds me of Magnum photographer Nikos Economopoulos who is one of my all time favs. Schoneveld is a talented street photographer. Check her out!! Too many to favor but this one is on top for sure!
Posted on November 25, 2018
I am honored and humbled to be included in the Nov 2018 edition of South Writ Large online publication.
https://southwritlarge.com/issues/fall-2018/
https://southwritlarge.com/articles/portfolio-twin-elements/
Thank you to editor Katherine Doss for finding me through my amazing and talented friend Martha Lynn Coon who is also in this publication.
Posted on August 24, 2018
Detail of “Hiding” (Name might change), August 2018 Changed name to “Lost” Nov 2018
Completed my newest addition to Twin Elements, “Hiding” (Might change the name).
Platinum on vellum, print size 20″x14″, 8 different negatives, silver leaf backing.
Taped and ready for cutting
Thanks as always to my beautiful twin models and hair/makeup team!
Meredith and Lea – Twins
Rhea McCarter Craft – makeup artist @ ADORE in Austin, TX
Chancy Cone Oliver – hair artist @ ADORE
Christa Blackwood – helped me with lighting and everything else!
Posted on July 27, 2018
What a great photoshoot the other day – it’s been a while, but I’m finally blogging about it. I have a hard time keeping up with this online thing.
Definitely printing the b&w image – platinum on vellum. Wanting to do another alternative process but time doesn’t really allow me to learn an entire new technique with chemicals and such. I don’t want to lose momentum on this series.
Here’s a pic of my amazing team that helped put all of this together!!!
Rhea McCarter Craft – makeup from ADORE in Austin. Chancy Cone Oliver – hair. And I call the fabulous models L & S (for online privacy). Christa Blackwood helped me with lighting and everything else! And the models’ mom helped out too, it was great!
Looking forward to printing…
Posted on April 9, 2018
I finally posted the newest piece “Untitled” (as of now). Check it out!
“Untitled”
June 28, 2018. I decided on a name! And I framed it with an oval mat and black copper flecked frame. Had to use UV plexiglass b/c it’s too large to use Art Glass (anti-reflective).
“Separate but not Apart”
Posted on March 31, 2018
AH! I’m finally done with this piece! It’s not perfect, but I love it b/c of that. It took me 4 attempts at printing this to finally get it right. Platinum printing isn’t the cheapest, but it’s worth it. I skipped too many steps b/c I wanted to get it done, and in the end it cost me lots of money and time! Boo. Oh well, I learned my lesson.
I had so much fun with this photoshoot. One more main image is in the works still, but 1 down 1 to go. These pieces in “Twin Elements” take me about 3-4 months to create from beginning to end. Luckily, I have 2 more shoots in the next few months to make and I’m psyched b/c I’ll have lots to work with.
Here’s Chancy Cone Oliver doing hair and Rhea McCarter Craft fixing makeup on Meredith. They’re wonderful! I don’t know what I’d do without their beauty and expertise. Adore Makeup Boutique + Salon.
And thank you to my wonderful friend and assistant, Christa Blackwood who is a fabulous photographer and artist.
Meredith and Leah are my gorgeous twin models. They were very patient with me! Both twins are hairdressers which I thought was very fitting!
I had the idea to create something that felt surreal and had the feminine quality of Gustav Klimt’s (Artsy.net) work. I’ve always been a huge admirer of his and I love the way his subjects pop off the paper yet blend in with his background. I believe I’ve managed to create that while maintaining my own style.
I knew I wanted trees and an early 1900’s look (and maybe 1940’s influence). “Untitled” was the first piece in which I’ve created the background first. Knowing that my parents have the prettiest front (and back) yard, I brought my camera to photograph these trees in Colorado, summer of 2017. I knew ahead of time that I wanted to use it with these particular models. Usually, I photograph the girls first and then come up with the nature imagery second.
What a tough printing project! First, I started out using silver as the backing, but there was something missing. It was a little too cold for me. Gold ended up being too warm. So, like Goldilocks I chose the “just right” tone of copper. Total of 12 prints to make it 16″x24″ (the oval section). None of the prints match in tonality exactly, and it was driving me crazy! But I think I’ve come to the conclusion that imperfection is great and I’m rolling with it.
This is part of my process of putting it together. I use book binding archival safe tape. Once you get vellum wet that many times it won’t be flat again. But it’s another quality of platinum on vellum that I’ve grown to love.
“Untitled”, (I need to come up with one!) is another view of mine on what it’s like to be a twin. I’ve always had a very strong connection with my twin, Kathryn, while wanting to go in separate directions. It can be slightly painful emotionally but strengthening in my own identity. I cherish my relationship with her, and such a strange thought that I’ll never have the same connection with anyone else. I love being a twin.
Please excuse the photos, they’re just shot in the darkroom with an iPhone. I finished this yesterday, March 30, 2018, 14 days after our 40th birthday. It’s a shame that I can’t get the quality in the printing (platinum on vellum with copper) in these photos b/c IMO they look so much better in person!
ON TO THE NEXT!!!! Oh, what am I going to create? SO much fun to think about. I’m also considering putting the platinum on hold to really get my fingers wet (figuratively speaking) in Albumen printing. I’ve attempted it once and it was so hard! But this summer I may have some time to experiment and see if the look will fit Twin Elements. My guess is that it will, I just have to get through the learning process W/O skipping steps!! LOL.
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