Studiology

Winter

It's officially winter with another drab and cloudy day. The gardens are dormant, but promise is evident with buds on witchhazel, helleborus, and a few native azaleas. Lettuce is under cover, the texture gives the perfect crunch, the taste as good as it gets. In our climate so little is required for great winter crops. 

I am also growing bulbs in pots, sunken for better insulation and topped with row cover, an experiment to see if I can force them early. The greenhouse is finally set-up with electricity and plugs, the next step is to finish the floor. With that done I should be able to utilize it as the bulbs mature to the point of bud set. 

This morning was another hoar frost, and the front meadow was a glistening white. My photographs don't convey the beauty, but it was lovely. The lack of color is par for December and I'm fortunate to have all of the color I need in my art studio where lots of projects are underway.

 

If you lay down and photograph at an angle to the sun with a macro lens, you can capture frost orbs. I intend to get better at this.

 

Home

What seemed like a month was compressed into 11 days in Mexico. Each day was organized with field trips, demonstrations and 4 days of art making. I have way too many photographs to share but will begin at the end with the small city of Oaxaca, the final destination. The Day of the Dead festivities had already begun with thunderous booms (like canons going off) over the town to waken the dead and remind them that it's time to come home and celebrate with the family. 

For a camera I tried a little experiment and primarily used a 50 mm lens (f-stop 1.4). This fantastic little lens was a film camera lens, so I had to manually focus and adjust my aperture. Even though I was using my new Nikon Z6, the latest in full frame, mirrorless Nikon digital cameras, I was adding a lens that predated digital. It was a challenge and I see that the shallow depth of field didn't always work, but I had a lot of fun with this easy to carry light lens.

The street art was unbelievable, beyond what I had imagined. The use of flowers was the biggest highlight for me. I even bought a small bouquet of tuberoses to have on hand and enjoy the fragrance. Primary flowers for Day of the Dead are marigolds, red celosia or cockscomb, calla lilies, and tuberose. The cemeteries are filled with people, visiting their lost relatives and celebrating with them. The grave sites are decorated and candles are lit for the night. Special candles can be bought that are three feet tall. 

Ofrendas are set up in every home and business, these are shrines that hold photographs of lost friends and relatives and the food, drinks or other items they liked. Sugar skulls, pan dulce (a local bread), citrus, mescal or tequila, were common items you might find on ofrendas. The ritual dates back to Aztec culture where they believe there are three levels with the deceased existing on the top tier and their spirit on the lower tier. Items such as candles, a mirror and soap and towel are left for the spirit. Incense is burned, a resin from a the Copal tree or Protium copal to ward off evil spirits.

Parades are short but all day events with some beginning early in the morning. The architecture was incredible, the buildings are painted with bright colors and the churches are magnificent and reverent, which makes an incredible backdrop for the daily activities. 

These photographs are in random order, but all from Oaxaca. 

When the children take part in parades, the adults surround them on all sides. I was able to catch a few of these adorable children in costume.

This street performer was incredible. He waved his hand to change the music which played from speakers under the cloth (which was clever) and he handed out fortunes. The costume and theatrics were well practiced and there was a always a line to give him money. A few street performers from New Orleans could learn a lesson from the gold man.

I will continue with a post about the great Tule tree, a Taxodium that is over 2,000 years old and more adventures in Mexico City and Oaxaca. 

Photographs

On a quiet day, building a garden presentation, I am perusing my collection of photographs. Occasionally I come across something exceptional, but rarely garden related. I fall in love again and remember spending hours working or "processing" the image. Most are large Photoshop files, enormous in comparison to others, most of these have multiple layers. Many hours are required to build a few, they may even begin as a transfer and then re-photographed. For me this type of work is underappreciated, hence my decision to change mediums. 

Camera club competitions were my drive. After achieving "Photographer of the Year" for black and white in the advanced category, I felt I was done. That was a goal that took 11 years. 

So I'd like to share a few, these caught my attention today, some have never been seen by anyone else, for reasons I explain. 

This is shot with a color infrared camera. I have 2 such cameras, one for black and white infrared, the other color. The sensor is taken out and replaced. Photographers like to do this when they move to another camera body but keep the old one.  The location is Chatham Manor in Fredericksburg. 

For years I visited the Glade Creek Grist Mill in West Virginia at the height of fall color. This is a technique with many, many layers where you are essentially turning the photograph into something that looks like a pastel piece. I don't believe I ever put it in competition because I didn't think a judge would appreciate it.

This one was taken on a tour of the abandoned Lorton prison grounds, one of several that I attended with photographers. Never entered for judging because of the single, blatant error of cutting off the larger tower. The reason? I was being yelled at by the guard, I had ventered farther than permitted. Alas! You can see what I was trying to do, line up the second tower in the portal. Another color, black and white infrared, and HDR image.

I loved tweaking the photograph, creating a black and white but letting the color come back in, but only a hint. Many of these became the foundation of encaustic work, oil paint was used on the wax to brighten the color areas. 

Entered into competition and winning a ribbon, possibly first. The judge (Josh Taylor) thought it was a "Wowsa". I remember bowing my head when it came up, just not sure what the judge would think. It's so refreshing to have an open minded judge. The image is clearly a reversal, placed over itself again. Some come out very good, some don't, this one was exceptional. 

The original is a monstrous file, with many, many layers. I was trying to create something really moody from an old tombstone at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA. Color infrared. I am not sure why it speaks to me, but the layers include rusty metal and ivy from other photographs. 

Being in the right place at the right time with the sunlight doing what every photographer dreams it can. Tack sharp where it needs to be, this was another workshop for photography. An early morning on Chincoteague Island. 

A really large file, created after I finished competing but was still selling photography. Printed on cloth and paper, I love them both equally, but they are quite different. Someday I will frame one... or both. 

 

Christmas Day

A day off is a good thing. It's been a busy month and in one week I will be free to follow my own schedule until spring arrives. There will be days full of creative time in the studio and good book reading, something I am equally excited about. But today was so wonderful, so full of laughter, good food and a little bit of photography.  

I froze some flowers in ice and set them out early this morning. Can't seem to stop trying this and experimenting with it. In my freezer it's best to leave the container of flowers in for 12 hours before pulling them out. The center is still water and it photographs so well. Here are mistletoe, tulips and roses. 

I also created small vignettes as last minute Christmas decorating. No Christmas tree, no tinsel, no ornaments, just simple groupings. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!! I want to thank my friends and family for being there, for the love and laughter. A very special thank-you goes to my seasonal family at Merrifield Gardens, many of whom I won't see until spring, and unfortunately a few that won't be there when spring returns. I hope we stay in touch, our time together has meant a lot to me. 

Your's truly, the sappy one (not to be confused with pine sap, which has also been shared with a few of you). 

 

 

 

The Adventure, also known as Artventure

With each trip to New Orleans I learn more about my fellow artists, most of which have returned for many years. We become closer each time, a second family to me. The really creative cousins. My travel companion is Sharon Ross, a person with little time but a huge desire to go and complete a project, which has eluded her in all previous 5 trips. This year she rocked it! Her theme was catbirds, an appropriate theme for a week long art adventure titled "Beautiful Beasts". Little else needs said, just gaze at these assemblage creations.

I concentrated on a seahorse. Saddled with a rider, I was pleased with the results. There was also a small piece with a human body and bird head.

Our teachers were patient and entertaining, just downright hilarious in fact. Both Michael deMeng and his wife, Andrea Matus DeMeng make this trip a learning experience. The organizer is Katherine Engen and she makes sure we have time to work and time to take trips that inspire us. 

Michael always has a new show and reception that coincides with the Krewe Du Vieux parade. The two combined make for a crazy evening which generally ends up at a bar with good music, easily done in New Orleans. The parade was titled "Crass Menagerie", a bit crass, certainly raunchy. These are the PG photographs.

Wigs and hats are worn on a regular basis. The wig store in town; "Fifi Mahoney's" does a bang up business. This is a part of our gang.

Drinking is good. Music is excellent. Food is potentially the sole reason to visit New Orleans. One of my favorite meals was at "Pat O'Brien's" (maybe more famous for their hurricane drinks), but the shrimp and grits  were grit patties with cheese in them and the shrimp and sauce on top. Bread pudding for dessert? Yes, please.

Spring Classes

Even though it's going to be sooooo cold this weekend, spring classes begin. Here's the schedule for the upcoming months:

Saturday, February 13th at Merrifield Gardens, the Merrifield or Gallows Road location - 10:00 AM

"Great Plant Combinations"

I consider this one of the biggest challenges when it comes to planning a garden. Especially if you like to work with perennials. They can supply lots of color, both in foliage and flower, BUT... In this lecture I will introduce some new plants and show some combinations that I have enjoyed in old and new gardens. I will talk about the "good neighbor" rule and highlight some super plants that carry the garden, especially when things seem to be falling apart. Free and no registration required.

Saturday, March 5th at Merrifield Gardens, the Fair Oaks locations - 10:00 AM

"Night Gardens"

The night garden is my summer and fall. I work all day, so coming home to a garden designed just for the evening and night makes me very happy. A garden for the latter part of the day originally came about when my children were just infants. Once they were asleep, it was "me time". I've tried to keep a night garden ever since, with a particularly extravagant one in the last few years. So chock full of night fragrant plants that the bubble of fragrance extends far beyond my backyard.  I will share my favorite plants and how to grow them well. Free and no registration required.

Saturday, March 19th at Merrifield Gardens, the Merrifield or Gallows Road location - 10:00 AM

"The Fragrant Garden"

Fragrance has always been a big part of why I choose the plants I do. Everything from bulbs, to perennials, roses, and shrubs. If you feel the same way, then you might want to join us and find out about the latest and greatest in fragrant plants. This example (photograph below) is a little known grape hyacinth (actually not a hyacinth at all), Muscari fragrans. And oh yes, the name says it all.

Saturday April 2nd and 9th, The Center for the Arts in Manassas, Va - 9:30 - 12:30

"Photography, a Beginners Class for Nikon DSLR Owners"

This 2 week class is for people that have upgraded to a DSLR camera or own one but are intimidated by the controls. The first class concentrates on the way your camera works, how to use the settings or controls, and looking through your camera's menu. In the second class we cover how to manage your files, go over accessories, and how to care for your camera.  Use the link above to register.

  

 

Digital Photography, a Beginners Class with a new twist

A new 2 day class will be held at The Center for the Arts in Manassas, VA on Saturday, June 27th and July 11th. In the past this class was held for a day and open to all camera types. In order to help you learn more, I will be teaching the Nikon class and Don Flory will teach the Canon class. In my first class students will learn basic operations and then have the chance to work with this information before we meet again. In the second class we regroup, review and then learn about composition, histograms, and storage of digital photographs. I'm excited about the new format, the fact that each student will be able to work for a week with their camera will help a great deal when it comes to questions about the digital process. 

If you own a Nikon DSLR camera with detachable lenses and want to learn how to use it, this is the class to take. 

Krewe Du Vieux

The first parade through the French Quarter in New Orleans, the one that begins the count down to Mardi Gras is the Krewe Du Vieux Carre. Described as an adult themed parade, sometimes labeled as X rated, it's definitely an experience. This was my fourth, a little more crowded and quite a bit rowdier than in the past. I take my big, heavy camera and pan as the crowds go by, no flash, and manual focus.  The challenge might be capturing a good photograph, which is true, but add a little drama as you try and maintain your space up front. Ninety percent of the people are drinking (heavily) so the constant jostling is expected.

It appears that there's no excess when it comes to costumes. False eyelashes can't be long enough, colored wigs are almost necessary, of which I'm sure most are from FiFi Mahoney's Salon and Wig Shop in the French Quarter. I have already bought one for next year, it's very blue. Not that I will be in the parade, but dressing up is fun! Might add a few lights.

So here's a string of photographs, no commentary needed. 

 

Photography and Gardening Lectures

A new year and a new spring line-up for lectures. Here's what I will be offering, so far:

January 10, 2015  Saturday

"Beginners DSLR (digital single lens reflex) Class"

Offered through The Center for the Arts in Manassas, VA.  This all day class is for the budding photographer who has moved up from a point and shoot camera, or their phone camera to a camera with removable lenses. The class begins at 10 AM and runs till 4 PM. We take a lunch break, usually grab some local food and return to the class room (feel free to pack a lunch).  Topics covered include, understanding the dials on the camera and many menu items inside the camera. Also understanding the histogram and ways to file your digital files, working with mixed light and undertanding  white balance. Bring your camera, manual, card for camera, notebook and any extra camera equipment like lenses, filters, etc...

January 17, 2015  Saturday

"Winter Interest" for Merrifield Garden Center, Merrifield or Gallows Road location

This lecture begins at 10 and runs for an hour or just over. There will be a show and tell as well as a slide show. I will highlight some great plants for our climate in winter but also talk about how to combine plants for the winter months.  This is a free program, no registration required. 

February 28, 2015  Saturday

Held biennially, the Middleburg Horticultural Symposium is open to all and this year's venue is the Salamander Resort in Middleburg. The title for the symposium is "The Art of the Landscape" with a fantastic line-up of speakers, including moi! My lecture is titled "Growing the Seasons, From the Ground Up".  There will be 4 lectures with an extravagant lunch. Enjoy a pre-spring day, designed to inspire.

March 14, 2015  Saturday for Merrifield Gardens at the Merrifield or Gallows Road location

"Bulbs, Corms, and Tubers" is the title and for those that have attended the Master Gardener classes I teach, you understand that this is a deep topic. Understanding the difference will help you grow your garden better. The discussion will involve how to grow each group best and how to store tender bulbs. Included are dahlias, summer bulbs like acidanthera and tuberoses, and exotics like arisaemas and corydalis. This lecture is free, no registration required.

April 5, 2015   Sunday (Easter) for Merrifield Gardens at the Gainesville location

"Miniature Gardens" offered at 1:00 PM. Many of you have admired the many miniature gardens at the various Merrifield locations and this is the day to find out how we make and maintain them. From the soil to plant choices, this will be a show and tell and slide show. This lecture is free, no registration required.

April 19, 2015  Sunday for Merrifield Gardens at the Gainesville location

Another 1:00 PM start. I am super excited to offer this lecture titled "Great Annuals for your Garden" Most of you know me as a perennial specialist, but a love that comes second (sometimes first) is annuals or tender perennials. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one! The lecture is free, no registration required.

 

The Big and Small of It.

On Saturday, the 22nd of November, I will be giving another all day beginners digital photography class. Held at the Center for the Arts in Manassas, this class is great for new DSLR owners or anyone thinking about buying a camera with interchangeable lenses. You will learn the basics of how the camera works as well as particulars that apply to digital photography, such as organization of files, post processing and creative techniques. The class begins at 10:00 AM and runs till 4:00 PM. I am also one of the artists with framed pieced in the "Deck the Walls" show, which is an auction. The gala is December 6th at the center, just click on the link for more information. 

I am also happy to announce that I am one of the speakers at The Middleburg Horticultural Symposium, held February 28th, 2015 at the Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg, VA. My lecture is about layering the garden, titled "Growing the Seasons, From the Ground Up". With this new venue, I'm sure it will be well attended, so think about registering early.