Won..One..Wonderful

This is my first Photo contest winner.  The theme was 'Abandoned' and I am so glad I took this picture on a whim.  I was walking through the woods and there tucked partly under some bushes was this very dilapidated umbrella with the sun shining in on it.  Catching that natural spotlight made for a quite dramatic photo.

I can't believe how good this win made me feel.  It gave me such a boost that I really can make it as a photographer; that I am an artistic photographer not just a hobbyist or one who only takes snapshots.  This has changed my view of who I am, I AM AN ARTIST.  It has been verified by those whom I formerly viewed as my betters and I now view as my peers. With them welcoming me into their ranks with this honor and the wonderful comments that went with it.

It was indeed won..one..wonderful.

Your artist friend

Johnina :^A

Creativity

"Creative Is a Verb: If You're Alive You're Creative" ~taken from a book title by Patti Digh

"Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else sees, but then reassemble those floating bits and pieces into an enticing new possibility."~ Rosa-beth Moss Kanter quotes 

 

     “There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring in your life and the lives of people you love”

     Sophia Loren quotes

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”

 Mary Lou Cook quotes 

“Sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.”

Tina Turner quotes

I have a horrendous sinus infection complete with a sinus migraine and a fever, but my mind is going 100 miles per hour thinking of all kinds of creative projects that I want to do.  Even though I do not feel well enough to work on them right now I thought I would share with you some of my favorite quotes on creativity and some of my more daring creative photo edits.

ENJOY

Johnina :^A 

Moonlight in daylight

“See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...we need silence to be able to touch souls.”

 Mother Teresa of Calcutta quotes (Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979. 1910-1997)

These photos were taken this morning.  The sunrise was not so great so I turned around and serendipity saw the moon still in the sky amongst the clouds and trees.  So pretty.

Enjoy

Johnina  ☺☺☺☺☺

Amazing

This blog is amazing for two reasons one is that it got done at all.  We've been having problems with either our modem or our router and my internet signal keeps getting dropped.  It has been almost impossible for me to upload or download a photo and I always add photos to my blog.  My computer acts funky if the signal gets dropped while downloading photos even if the post is on auto save and I have to start all over, but this time so far so good.

The second amazing thing is my winter garden.  My raised garden pictured above and photographed yesterday was frozen solid last week.  When we had our ice storm last week my garden being raised, filled with icy water than froze solid. The garden was full of snow and frozen water with only the tips of the leaves sticking up. When it thawed this is what it looked like.  Looks yummy doesn't it; and I thought that I had all the greens I was going to get out of there.

Most of these greens are cut and come again and so since this is my first winter garden; I now have hope of having greens till next May when they will die from the heat.  Amazing simply amazing.
Johnina ☺☺☺☺☺

Good Morning- Rainy Day Perspective

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

~Marcel Proust~

A different perspective on this rainy, misty morning.

A totally different perspective taken through my car window.

I hope you ENJOY your day no matter the weather or circumstances. 

Johnina  :^A

Sketchbook project

I found out about the sketchbook project just before the deadline for signing up and than I had to get up the courage to do that first page, so I had to catch up and I've spent lots of time recently finishing up.  If you would like to know about the project just press the sketchbook icon on the top left of my blog.  The sketchbooks will go on tour across the U.S. and later on they will be available both in the library that is sponsoring it and online

I am grateful to have found this project through my visits to other peoples blogs and to know that many other artist have a hard time starting a new sketchbook.  There is something about that pristine book and making that first mark that is intimidating and it sure is nice to read in others blogs that they go through the same thing. Once I got started I really had fun with it. and I think sketchbooks should be fun..  . 

 

I use my sketchbooks as experiments in new techniques and media and this one is no exception. In this sketchbook I experimented with markers and crayons. I loved using that combination when I was a child.  I used several different brands, tips and mixes.

I also experimented with different art styles.  I found cartooning to be delightful.  This has really pointed out to me how much I enjoy just playing with my art even if it is for a purpose.

I am truly learning to enjoy many different facets of my life and now quite often feel like the picture above.

Enjoy

Johnina  ☺☺☺☺☺

Frozen Georgia

Snow and ice

Here in Georgia, we very seldom get winter storms of snow or ice, we quite often go all winter without one.  This winter is quite the exception as we are already on our second storm and our winter storms usually come in February or March, so we could easily get more storms.  This storm was even an exception to the exception as it had both snow and ice.  I ventured out several times to take photos as it was to cold to stay outside for one normal shoot.  The photos I got I think are both beautiful and intriguing.  

Icy limbs and buds

Icy pines

Icy grass through the snow

Walking the dog

Icy car

Monster mouth

Frozen headlight

Please feel free to leave your comment on my photos
Look for the beauty around you and have a delightful day
Johnina ☺☺☺☺☺