Where do ideas come from? The Central Coast Printmakers are trying something new - Making a new image from used plates that were donated to us from the estate of Lillian Armstrong. Here is one half of a plate I chose to work on. My first step was to print it, then turn the image in all direction looking for inspiration. An idea developed when I rotated it 180 degrees. Do you see anything? Check the next blog for another clue!
Barbara
As you may know (or not) all of my Jester Gesture etchings come in two states, black ink on buff Arches paper and watercolored on white arches paper. You've seen the first state now here is one version of the second state. Each painted version is different. I will even paint my etchings in a color harmony that you suggest...if it pleases me, too.
Sitting in my office I was attracted by the crazy mess of wires under the desk. Besides being visually interesting, it captured the complicated nature of modern life. When I added the embossed plug I thought I was finished with the etching. But a couple of weeks later I realized it needed some real life. Then came the mischief makers. The next time I print this I am thinking of making the monkeys in different colors. This is just one example of how an original print can evolve. For me this etching captures our attachment to the computer, and the craziness it can bring us.
I have just completed my tenth Jester Gesture etching, Miss Chievous. My wife Barbara has been encouraging me to create a sexy female jester. I have avoided trying to draw pretty women because they wind up looking like me. Miss Chievous thankfully looks more like one of my daughter's friends. Whoever she looks like I hope you enjoy her. She is also available in color.
Well today was move-in day for me. How exciting to bring all my supplies and artwork into the studio space! I left feeing tired and grateful to be able to share a space with two other wonderful artists, J'net and Frank. Today was a good day.
We are re-arranging our studio walls to welcome Bob Simola, an excellent woodcut and linocut printmaker. We've cut one wall in half and are going to build another to open up our studio. We also will be adding a new proofing press for relief printing. So, come bye and see our new layout AND lots of new prints.
After you visit our studio check out the "Personal Picks" show in the Studios Atrium Gallery. My "Spent Minotaur" and "Elrond addressing the Fellowship" etchings are part of the show.
Although I am preparing new work today to hang in our photography studio at Studios on the Park in downtown Paso Robles, I wanted to post an image taken on a Sunday drive in the beautiful West Paso Robles wine country. Like many people, I appreciate the plethora of fabulous wineries this area has to offer. But as a photographer, I am most drawn to the stunning views along Paso's backroads. If you are visiting the area, I highly recommend exploring Adelaida and Peachy Canyon Roads and Vineyard Drive on the west side. The vistas are simply spectacular.
As I was driving along I noticed a lovely stand of oak trees in an open field, so I pulled over to take some shots. This oak tree was very majestic and quite likely very old. The image is comprised of three HDR bracketed shots processed in Photomatix 4, Lightroom 3, Photoshop CS5, and with Nik Software. I named it Field of Dreams. Hope you enjoy it. I will post more images as I have time and work them up.
Calling all students! I'll be giving a mixed media/collage workshop May 19 and 20 at the Cambria Center for the Arts-Call For more information, call me: 805.927.1356.
Peggy and I are very pleased to announce our Art Show at Windward Vineyard.
The reception is this Saturday 28 April 2-5 pm.
My pastels are featured in the Fall into Spring Show at Windward Vineyard, 1380 Live Oak Road, Paso Robles.
Please join Peggy Turk and myself for the opening reception on Saturday, April 28 from 2 - 5 pm. Show runs till June 30th. Info - 805.239.2565
Big thanks to Barb of Tidbits from Templeton for featuring the April shows at Studios on her blog!
Click here to read all about it!
I will be speaking at the Central Coast Watercolor Society meeting on March 27th. I will share my impressions of colorful Guatemala and help artists to fight the internal critic we all face. Join us at the Creekside Mobile Home Community clubhouse, 7pm, 3960 S. Higuera, SLO. For more information: ccwsart.com or 227-0190
I am thrilled to be part of HOT TEA! - the 13th Biennial Teapot Exhibition at the Craft Alliance in St. Louis, MO. This invitational exhibition features innovative teapots made of clay, metal, glass and fiber. Opening March 9, the exhibit celebrates the teapot and its various artistic configurations. For more information, visit www.craftalliance.org.
A wonderful Leap Year day to everyone! Apologies for my absence of late in adding new blog posts; however, things have been extremely busy here and I have very good news to share. As many of my friends and photography colleagues know, I had been working as an Associate Artist here at Studios on the Park for about seven months last year, enjoying every moment in the photography studio alongside Don Eaton and Kabe Russell.
I am pleased to announce that just before Christmas my application for Artist in Residence was accepted, and I am thrilled to now be sharing the photography studio with talented colleagues Don and Kabe. There is still much to do to ready more artwork and finish decorating the studio, but the rich blessings of working with such a wonderful group of terrific and talented artists make these tasks joyful. Studios is a blessing, indeed!
In addition to exhibiting and selling my fine art photography, plans are underway to teach digital imaging and printing classes here in the studio. Many visitors to our photo studio have requested classes in various software programs and techniques. Information will be posted on the Studios website (as well as mine) as it becomes available. As an instructor, I have taught classes in HDR photography, Photoshop, fine art printing, image stylizing, and more in and around San Luis Obispo County.
To view some of my images, read my blog posts, or learn more about me, please visit my website at http://renmarphoto.com/ for more information. Thanks for stopping by!
I am pleased to announce that Part Three of my three-part series of articles on "How to Print HDR Photographs" has been posted on the Breathing Color website under The Art of Printmaking guest blog. This series of articles covers the entire workflow for making great HDR prints that really pop, from proper camera color and HDR settings, to color management, monitor calibration and profiling, HDR post-processing, stylizing images, ICC profiles, and the complete printing workflow.
Part 3, How to Print HDR Photographs – Printing Tips – Prints That Really Pop, covers the entire printmaking workflow from how to choose a printer, to 16-bit printing information, proper application of ICC profiles, color profile visualization, paper characteristics, soft-proofing, printer evaluation images, proper lighting conditions to view prints, and much more.
Part 2, How to Print HDR Photographs – Monitors and Post-Processing, covered monitor calibration and profiling, and the HDR merging and processing workflow using Photomatix Pro. Part 1, How to Print HDR Photographs – Camera Settings and Color Management, covered camera settings and basic image file and color management principles. Much more than a guest post, this is an HDR workshop in a blog. If you are interested, please read the articles and leave your comments, which I would most welcome.
Based in Orange County, California, Breathing Color is a designer and supplier of award-winning digital inkjet canvas, papers, and canvas coatings. They are focused on the art and photographic markets with products that lead the industry in print performance and longevity.
HDR stands for high dynamic range and is a newer digital photography technique that allows photographers to capture the entire tonal range present in a scene, from the deepest shadows to the brightest highlights, without sacrificing one for the other, as was the case in traditional film photography.
For more information about my photography, please visit Ren Mar Photography.
Congratulations to Studios on the Park artist Randy Stromsoe whose teapot took Best of Show at this year's Dimensions 2011 hosted by the Central Coast Craftmakers.
Dimensions opened October 15th at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. The juror for the show is Hallie Katz, co-owner of Human Arts Gallery in Ojai.
Ms. Katz will give a brief talk on Saturday November 12th at 3pm at SLOMA which will be followed by an artist reception and awards presentation.
I am thrilled to announce that X-Rite Photo, a global leader in color science and technology, has published an article on their web blog about my Breathing Color "The Art of Printmaking" guest blog "How to Print HDR Photographs (Part Two) – Monitors and Post-Processing." The X-Rite article reiterates the importance of proper color management practices for photographers in achieving high quality prints.
X-Rite, which now includes color industry leader Pantone, Inc., develops and manufactures innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite’s products help photographers get color right the first time and every time. The company serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical.
Click here to read Part Two of my Breathing Color article, "How to Print HDR Photographs (Part Two) – Monitors and Post-Processing." Click here to read Part One of the series, "How to Print HDR Photographs (Part One) – Camera Settings and Color Management." Part Three of the series, which covers the entire digital inkjet printing workflow, will post on Breathing Color's "The Art of Printmaking" blog on Thursday 11/17/11.
Breathing Color, based in Orange County, California, is a major manufacturer of advanced fine art papers for digital inkjet printing. HDR stands for high dynamic range and is a newer digital photography technique that allows photographers to capture the entire tonal range present in a scene, from the deepest shadows to the brightest highlights, without sacrificing one for the other, as was the case in traditional film photography.
For more information about my photography, please visit Ren Mar Photography.
I'm very excited to announce that I was featured in the December 2011 issue of Watercolor Artist magazine! I was selected as one of their 2011 "Ones to Watch," a great honor. To see highlights from their full-length feature in a special slide show presentation, click here. I'm introduced at 1:20. Thanks for your support!
