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”
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.
SaveSave
RECSPEC got a great review in the Austin Chronicle this month. Thanks again for including my work. You can see the show RECSPEC until Oct. 14th, 2017!
Austin Chronicle Review
Hello all!! I’m very excited to be included in two new group shows!
First space is in Mills Valley, CA at The Image Flow gallery. What a cool group of artists, all the prints are alternative process (obviously) and uniquely different from each other. I’m exhibiting “Insight, Twin Elements” Edition 1 of 5 in this show.
2nd Annual Alternative Process Photography Exhibition
Gallery Exhibition: September 9 – November 22, 2017
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 9, 7–9PM
Hours: Monday-Friday 10-6PM
The Image Flow Gallery
401 Miller Ave, Suite A
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415)-388-3569
The 2nd Annual Alternative Process Photography Exhibition features work by: Chris Austin, Francis Baker, Allan Barnes, Lesley Nowlin Blessing, Cathy Cakebread, Eunsook Chung, Bridget Conn, Felicity Crush, Conor Culver, Ellen Davis, Emma Earnshaw, Rory Earnshaw, Ashley Valmere Fischer, Brian Garbrecht, Gary Geboy, Tom Hawkins, Kristy Headley, Henrietta’s Eye (Libby Bulloff & Stephen Robinson), Mike Hoover, Tsu-Han Hwang, Kenyatta Kelechi, MengHseun Lee, Ah Young Lee, Rachel Liu, Travis Lovell, Haoran Ma, Erin Malone, Jocelyn Mathewes, Molly McCall, Sean Peeler, Molly Lorraine Phalan, Michael Puff, Tony Sehgal, Larry Shapiro, Sara Silks, Alice Stern, Melanie Temmer, Art Widener, Russ Wills, andYelena Zhavoronkova.
The second space is in my home town of Austin, TX at Recspec Gallery in their new location at the Flatbed Press building. I’m also exhibiting “Insight, Twin Elements” Edition 2 of 5 in this show.
The Eyes Have It
Group Show and Gallery Opening
Gallery Exhibition Length: September 15-October 14, 2017
Opening Reception: Friday, September 15, 6-8PM
Hours: Monday-Friday 10-6PM
Recspec Gallery
2832 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Suite 107
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 906-6116
Gallery Owner, Laurel Barickman curated The Eyes Have It featuring work by Abi Daniel, Anas Awad, Annie Alonzi, Christa Blackwood, Eva Claycomb, Gayla Elizabeth, Holly Bobisuthi, Kara Pendl, Karina Figueroa, Katie Cowden, Kevin Muñoz, Lee Noble, Lesley Nowlin Blessing, Lindsay Eyth, Mike Combs and Seth Cox.
I’m very excited to announce that my piece “Aground, Twin Elements” was accepted into a show titled “Black and White” at PhotoPlace Gallery in Vermont by juror Jennifer Schlesinger whose work I really admire. I’m humbled to be a part of this exhibition!
Black and White
Juror: Jennifer Schlesinger
Gallery exhibition: July 12 – August 12, 2017
Hours: Tues. – Sat. 11-4
PhotoPlace Gallery
3 Park Street
Middlebury, VT 05753
PHONE: 802.388.4500
The same piece, “Around, Twin Elements” was also accepted into Candela Books + Gallery in Virgina! Very happy to be a part of this exhibition!
Unbound6!
Gallery exhibition: July 7 – August 5th, 2017
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 11am – 5pm
Saturday: 1pm – 5pm
Candela Books+Gallery
214 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Had a wonderful time talking to the group at HollandPhoto, and many thanks to Brian and Morgan for hosting this talk.
Thanks to Christa Blackwood as always for being an inspiration and good friend. Thanks for coming out to hear us talk about our work!
Editing these images for the past few weeks I realized they were too cold in tone. I wanted a warmer and softer tone, something that seemed timeless and historic. I think the antique look I ended up creating supports that vision. Hoping @JoltTexas will end up using some of these. I love the strong latino/a faces and desire for change! It’s my hope these images reflect that and attract some new members! https://www.jolttx.org/en/
Well, I finally finished all the photographs from the shoot last week. Had a great time going through all of these powerful and strong faces!
Only have time to post four images for now.
I had the best time photographing for Jolt Action yesterday. With the help of the lovely Leandra, her adorable house, and my awesome friend and founding executive director of Jolt Action, Cristina Tzintzun, it was a great success. Many photos to come, but here’s a sneak peak of one with both of these lovely ladies.
Recently, I decided to try albumen printing! What first got me into it was the fact that my dad has about 200 chickens on his Far View Ranch! Doing research on different printing techniques from George Eastman House historical process videos I came across albumen printing, which is of course eggs. I love the quality that albumen has and the detail it produces. I’ve always loved looking at photographs from the mid-1800s, it’s like looking back in another time.
I used the knowledge of Will Salley on YouTube and the book by Polish albumen printer, Radoslaw Brzozowski, and the website by Chad Jarvis.
It has been a fun, tedious and beautiful process. Having just started it two weeks ago, I have so much to learn! But I look forward to experimenting and creating art.
Here is a look at my first untoned albumen print from today, and the whole process from beginning to end. Didn’t photograph the actual silver sensitizing of the paper or exposure. Trying to find time to do it all I’d say the entire process took about two weeks.
