Bougainvillea Gold Dust

Before I start, I want to give kudos to this sweet image for making it to the Front Page of Etsy! Out of approximately 15 million items on Etsy, I would say it certainly deserves to take a bow! 

This is the first of several I will be posting in the next few day that I barely can take credit for as the composition was laid out by the greatest artist in the world, Mother Nature! I guess sometimes it is good to be walking looking down, as there is beauty in that direction, too. I know I stopped in my tracks when I saw this perfect arrangement....a still life of nature. Hoping a breeze wouldn't disturb it, I ran for my camera. Fortunately, it stayed very calm and in place for me...as I wanted it just as it was!

Then the real fun began giving it special artistic touches in my digital darkroom...Photoshop, of course. I love the convenience of not having to mix chemicals and have a backlog of a day's work in order to justify the setup time and solutions used. I can be as impetuous as I want in getting to the fun of working with my new image....Yeaaa!

Who would ever have guessed that an ordinary section of concrete would be a elegant backdrop for these sweet little Bougainvillea petals, but with some touches of gold to bring out the pattern to match the golden glow in the petals, it couldn't have been more perfect...man-made and nature-made in one special image. Hope you enjoy!

 

Crystal Glow

It feels good to be back tending to my Etsy shop and adding new works. I hope you will bookmark this blog and return from time to time. I am checking on how to let you sign up for automatic notifications of new postings, but until I get that set up,  bookmarking this blog is the easiest way.

This unique crystal is the largest in the world. I have worked it into a photo fusion piece with the background that seemed just the perfect pattern and texture to compliment it. 

"My Meditative Path"

And how I started healing? Having to remain in the area for a time to face the challenge of dealing with a parent's effects, it has been of the essence to start on a healing path of my own. Fortunately this area of the southwest enjoys the views of Red Mountain...which often times looks blue...the Superstition (Lost Dutchman Mine) and the Goldfield Mountains, Four Peaks....with its world famous amethyst mine (among the finest quality in the world), the McDowell Mountains....along with the flocks of Canadian Geese and ducks...making for an easy path around the the local lake for many serene zen moments and meditative contemplation. Focusing on the calming ethereal aura of the fountain or any of the features of beauty in the area has healing properties of its own. I am fortunate.

"Coastal Tree"

Former Self ~ Goal of Renewal

As this tree stood before me, feasting my eyes on the magnificent art of Mother Nature (just look at those elegant lines!), hopefully it will renew itself to this glorious state....and hopefully my spirit will, too. I wish you all the beauty of renewal in the New Year!

"Battle Worn"

Yes, I have been absent for quite a long time. 2012 was the year I lost my father after battling every second for many months to help him survive a blood infection. After a mind-bending roller coaster of hope and dispair, the battle was lost 10-11-12. So I rather identify with this once magnificent coastal tree...only a shadow of its former self ....hollow ....empty ....in a void ....after a battle with a fierce storm. I know what a fierce storm is all about.

But.... this is the beginning of a new year. Those are supposed to bring about the spirit of renewal ....of challenge ....of a reach for the positive. I, and this once majestic tree, have our work cut out for us to be part of that renewal and rebirth of lost spirit. We will strive to become our former selves in this new year. We can do it.

The Serenity of Black

If you would like to see some very fine work by my Etsy friends, please visit my recently curated Treasury, "The Serenity of Black." The level of the talent on Etsy never ceases to amaze me!

PAMPAS MEDITATION

I have been focusing on assisting my father during an unexpected illness, but now "we" have finally been released after a three week hospital stay and moved on to rehab, I would like to post one of my latest photo fusion creations. All elements utilized are my original photography. The pampas grass stopped me in my tracks a while back when I was in Carpinteria, CA shooting a unmongous Banyon tree.  I turned around and saw this profusion of glistening pampas grass as tall as I am in front of a business. It literally looked like it was adorned with a profusion of Swarovski crystals in motion....a moment to remember! My fine-feathered friend found the environment most conducive to serene mediation
....same sensation as I had!

This fine art print is available in my Etsy store: artBJC

You may want to take a look at my new "Purple Desert Blossom"  I have also added to my store.

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"Magnolia Glow"

Magnolias were always a special symbol for me and my mother.
Whenever stressful times arose, a light bulb would come on, 
and one of us would say to the other,

"Think Magnolias!"

....and we'd both break out into a smile and laugh, 
lightening our load. 
She was an MS patient who managed to always keep a sweet, 
loving attitude through some difficult times.

"Magnolia Glow" is an original oil painting, which is available as a fine art print in my Etsy store, artBJC. 

Now you know why magnolias are one of my

very favorite subjects for my paintings. 

"Zen Visions"

 

I thought you might like to see my new “Zen Visions” Set (4 prints) that is now in my Etsy store, artBJC. 

Each image is also available individually, as you will see there.

I want to offer a few thoughts about framing such a set.

I personally prefer the asymmetric arrangement custom matting provides (like they are presented in the image above),

however there are many frames available to accommodate groupings of four.  IKEA is very popular for framing art and photography. Another option is to frame each individually,

and arrange them on your wall any way you find appealing.

Also mounting them on foamcore attached to a square matboard, then mounting all in a square sectional frame, such as offered by Nielsen Bainbridge is yet another option.

They are readily available online and in framing shops,

and can be adapted to any dimension.

I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful.

"Serene Zen"

 

"Rythmic Zen"

It is so natural to see things in series, relationships or themes when capturing images. This was certainly true with these first two visions of my "Shadows Series" that formed a life of their own.... instantly creating a calm feeling flowing within me.

I hope you feel the same peaceful aura that caught my eye.

We all owe ourselves the value of cherishing the moment....for that is really all we have.  If we miss that, we miss it all!  We tend to be caught up in the issues of yesterday and our concerns for tomorrow....
and forget living the precious present...
the only time we really have. 

That is why one of my mottos is:


"Keep the Zen!"


These images somehow created their own elegance of design in addition to emitting a therapeutic quality.


To add a little Zen to the environment of your décor, they are available in 5" x 7" and 8" x 10" in my Etsy store:

artBJC.etsy.com 

"Magnolia Neon" 

I love to combine my history of design and illustration with my background in photography and painting to create unique combined visions.  I started with my original oil painting, "Magnolia Glow"...
and then set out on a fun, creative journey!

"Elegance of Infinity"

 

While painting this composition, I felt a Zen-like energy as I worked. The image just felt like it would continue on in motion forever, so it was easy to choose a name for it......“Elegance of Infinity.”  
Infinity is truly elegant and truly exists!

I have added 6 new items to my artBJC Etsy store, so you may want to take a look by clicking on my store listings on the right sidebar.  The sidebar only shows a portion of the items in my store, so check it out if you would like to see more of them.  I will include a couple of my most recent works in with this posting.  As you will see, I have a lot of fun in the creative abstract arena,
both with my paintings as well as my photography.  

Soon I will post some of my figurative work, so you can see I do have a penchant for traditional realism also.
In fact, that is where my real roots are.

There are so many wonderfully talented artisans on Etsy that it is a joy to be part of their creative community!  I would like to share one of the TREASURIES I created featuring the work of some of them following a theme of "Color Me Purple."  I chose that theme since purple (and all variations thereof) is my favorite color!  You will find this Treasury in the right-hand column immediately below my artBJC Etsy Store items.  

Enjoy!