And today it is leaving me bummed that out of all the instant portraits I took on Saturday, the shots that didn’t turn out were all shots of my husband. It is frustrating, and hard to remember sometimes that this happens with all film, not just instant, and that in a strange way this is why I shoot film, because it is fickle and not perfect, and more unique. But there are times it is disappointing. Anyway, I’ll be posting more instant film shots here and on Flickr later today, and in the mean time, I think maybe it is time for me to take a medium format camera with me today.
Uncategorized
Always a couple of steps behind
Sometimes I go for so long without writing in this little blog that I don’t even really know where to start.
June 4th, Minneapolis and St. Paul turned the cities into one huge overnight art festival. It was amazing! There was so much going on! I volunteered at MCBA helping to print 2000 copies of the book that is part of Amanda Lovelee’s Call and Answer project. It was so amazing to be a part of this! My dad made 6 pies at the restaurant to donate to the ‘hold a stranger’s hand, get a piece of pie’ part of the evening. I printed until 1am. After hanging around and drinking coffee for a bit, John and I headed over to the Walker to see a few of the events that were going on there. I was amazed at how many people were still out into the wee hours of the morning! We had tacos with a friend at 3 am, explored the Exposed photography exhibit, and finally headed home around 4am. I was completely exhausted, but so full of happiness seeing how important the arts are to this area. I am so happy and so lucky to live here. That night, I think, was a true test of the twin cities devotion to the arts. Art centers can plan events whether they are during the day, or all night long. That is nothing new. It is something that art centers are constantly doing to promote their cause and their local artists. Local artists volunteer for these events, whether they are during the day or over night. This isn’t new either – it is what we do to support our local art centers. What is amazing, what this festival was truly a test of, was the patrons. It is easy for people to come to a daytime event. It is even pretty easy for them to stay out late for one night (until 11pm or even midnight) but to see that many people still out until sunrise, celebrating the art community here…it was awesome.
In the mean time, I’ve been busy with photo shoots, new projects, upcoming shows, and with the little bunny that is inhabiting our condo with us. I have been continuing working in my visual journal. It has been fun, and a bit relaxing actually. It is making me print more of my photos to put in the pages, as well as trying out some media that I don’t normally use (like drawing materials and watercolor).
I spent a bit of time today photographing books at MCBA – seriously, that is such a fun job to have! I get to actually touch the books that are on display and look through them, finding the best page spreads to photograph. I’m thinking that doing this, along with this page design course, will finally be enough to get my butt moving on making a few of my own little books. Stay tuned for that.
In my errands today after the photo shoot, I started picking up frames for the next show I’m in (!) and I also picked up a bottle of fountain pen ink. I don’t know why, but something made me want to try writing with one again today. It’s quite fun, and I really like how it writes. So far, my hands aren’t too badly ink stained either!
Anyway, here is the photo catch up for now:
I also made a really awesome transparency from this image. I’ll post the results of that sometime soon.
Cell phone 365 #54
Instant 365 #54
Cell phone 365 #55
Instant 365 #55
Cell phone 365 #56
(taken while at a friend’s wedding reception)
Instant 365 #56
Cell phone 365 #57
Until next time,
~Peace~
Searching for inspiration
I mentioned last week that I was taking a design class at MCBA. Tonight is the second class meeting. I admit it has been a bit more of a challenge than what I thought it would be. But, I really do believe that is a good thing, and that in the end, I will have a better understanding of what I am creating, and have a few more ideas shoved in the back corners of my brain. Honestly, the thing that has freaked me out the most about this class is that we are supposed to keep a visual journal, and have a certain number of new pages done each week (insert major freak out here). Why? I have never had the discipline to keep a visual journal. I rarely have the discipline to keep a written journal, or keep up on this blog that regularly. And now it is assigned?? *sigh* Of course, the instructor said that photographs counted as sketches and visual pages, so of course, I started filling up my required pages with printed cell phone photos (there would have been more film photos but that is another tragic story) and instant photos, and you know what? I realized how much those are really like sketches to me. Little snippets of my every day. Hmmm….maybe this can work. Not to mention, the awesome ladies (and guy) of letterpress at MCBA started giving me a long list of links to blogs of visual journal-ers. I’m starting my studying of their work tonight with Roz Wound Up. There is another visual journaling blog I found awhile ago, and can’t find again right now. I will post a link as soon as I track it down again though. I’m hoping they will provide a bit more inspiration. In the mean time, I’m still deciding if this journal of mine will remain offline, or if I will scan and post pages as I go….
In the mean time, a catch up on the 365 projects:
I was having a hard time with some of the instant film I was using, so there are a few days worth of instant photos that just aren’t there. But that’s ok. I’ll stop when I get to #365!
May 24th
Cell phone self portrait #46
May 25th
Instant 365 #48
Ghost bunny
May 26th
Instant 365 #49
Cell phone self portrait #47
May 27th
Cell phone self portrait #48
May 28th
Instant 365 #50
Cell phone self portrait #49
You can kind of see my new nose piercing in this one. It isn’t large. Most people haven’t really noticed it yet. It is something I have wanted to do for a very very long time though, and I am very happy I finally had it done. My sweet husband and my bff went with. She got her ears pierced that day as well :)
May 29th
Cell phone self portrait #50
May 30th
Cell phone self portrait #51
with wine glass
Instant 365 #51
and a second one just to make up for all the days I didn’t post one:
May 31st
Instant 365 #52
I love seeing the lily of the valley come up at my parent’s house every spring.
cell phone 365 #52
I’m off to my class.
Until next time,
~Peace~
Insert clever blog post title here
It has been a busy time around here. My sweetie and I went to Chicago for a couple of days to celebrate our wedding anniversary. There was some fun, and a romantic walk through Millennium Park surrounded by a bunch of craziness that led us home earlier than originally planned. It worked out for the better. Saturday, May 21st, we arrived back home, to our own shower, our own bed, and had a romantic dinner at one of our favorite restaurants to celebrate our anniversary. This May 21st celebrates the 7th anniversary of our second wedding. The wedding we got to have after he came home from being over seas. The one we got to plan. The one I made the invitations and bouquets for with help from a few friends. The one we had outside despite the rainy, cool morning. No matter what craziness we encountered in Chicago, no matter that we cut our trip short, the best part of the weekend was that we had 4 days together to hang out and do things we enjoyed. That was amazing, and the best anniversary present he could give me.
Now that we are back, there are so many exciting things happening!
Art stuff:
I start a new class at MCBA tomorrow about page layout design. I have never ever taken a class like that, and this one goes for 6 weeks. I’m excited!
The overnight Northern Spark festival goes from sundown June 4th through sunrise June 5th. I will be visiting a few of the events around town, but I will also be printing at MCBA from 11pm to 4am! There will be pie, coffee (thank goodness!) and square dancing! You should definitely come visit. It will be a great night!
June 10th, Jes Lee Photos and Dad and Kiddo Pottery will be at the Unravelled DIY Festival! This is the first year for this festival. I think it will be a good one!
And of course many more things to come.
There are some cool things happening in my personal life as well, but those will be posted later.
365 photos:
May 19th
Instant photo #45
A Chicago alley
Cell phone 365 #44
A photo of us reflected in the strange metal bean sculpture in Millennium Park in Chicago.
May 20th
Instant photo #46
Chicago fire escapes
Cell phone 365 #45
On the train in Chicago
May 21st
I was a bit too busy celebrating my wedding anniversary with my sweetie to take many photos today. I don’t think that is a bad thing though!
May 22nd
Instant photo #47
Dealing with a sticky pack and a sticky shutter on my Sx-70. Though this image did come out kind of cool – complete with a ghost bunny :)
The second best anniversary present we got each other:
Dewey:
Until next time,
~Peace~
Leaving on vacation!!
We are leaving tomorrow morning for a long weekend in Chicago! We are planning on having a fun, free, un-planned (at least mostly!) weekend together to celebrate our anniversary! (7 years from our second wedding, for those of you who know the story) There will be many blog posts and photo updates from this weekend.
There are so many exciting things happening this summer, both in my art life and my personal life (not that they are really that separate, but at times they are). I’m looking forward to this summer. I wish I could elaborate more, but the truth is, we are leaving early in the morning, and I’m anxious to be on vacation! In the mean time, a few photos: Did you know that bunnies like dandelions??http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735309471/ There are so many tree-flowers out right now!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735330155/ And a little 365 posting: May 12th Cell phone 365 #39
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735866622/ May 13th Cell phone 365 #40
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735865196/ May 14th Cell phone 365 #41
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735314805/ Instant 365 #40
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735820078/ May 15th Instant 365 #41
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735271911/ May 16th Cell phone 365 #42
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735862220/ May 17th Cell phone 365 #43
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735852616/ Instant 365 #43
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735269795/ May 18th Instant 365 #44
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5735270125/ Until next time,
~Peace~
As I promised, photos from Craftstravaganza!
Here are a few photos I took of us and our booth at Craftstravaganza. There are more at Craftstravaganza’s official Flickr page!
This was truly the most fun I have had at a festival! I hope we have a chance to be there again next year!
Where we are
My focus has been split across many things lately. Not only the art festival a couple of weekends ago (which was amazing and I am truly amazed by all the love and support we found there!) but by putting together class schedule (darkroom class schedules!), figuring out what needs to be done for upcoming shows, scheduling more upcoming shows, deciding what photo competitions I can afford to enter, and many many other things. The last week has been a huge game of catch up. Honestly, there is no way I can complain though. I love having so many ‘art jobs’ to think about!
I am looking forward to being caught up a bit more now, and be able to focus on making more artwork. It is coming! I promise! I have even done a bit of research in printing on paper that can easily be bound into books, and finding new black and white and color film developing chemicals! Just before Craftstravaganza, the awesome people at MCBA offered to let me use my photography skills towards gaining volunteer hours, which help pay for my co-op membership. I’m ecstatic! It is always thrilling when something you love to do helps pay for another thing you love to do! I have been enjoying continuing in the Book Arts Certificate program, and just realized that I could be done with the Core program this fall!My husband and I are coming up on our wedding anniversary for our second wedding. We’ll be celebrating 7 years for this one. To celebrate, we are heading to Chicago for a long weekend. I’m looking forward to the chance to relax and hang out together without other distractions, to take pictures of a different city for a few days, and to celebrate being married to an awesome guy!
I’m sure I’ll blog again before we go, but in the mean time, here is a little photo catch up: May 5th Instant 365 #35
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5714031064/
Rocks at the prairie restoration site in New Brighton. Cell phone 365 #34
At the prairie restoration site…yes, it is in the middle of a parking lot.
May 6th Instant 365 #36Not sure what happened this day…. Cell phone 365 #35
….apparently I just disappeared creatively…. May 7th
Instant 365 #36
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5714030392/
Suburbia, not far from where our condo is. Cell phone 365 #35
At one of the cathedrals for my cousin’s confirmation ceremony.
May 8th Instant 365 #37I tried to take a photo of the flowers starting to bloom at the restaurant with expired black and white 600 polaroid film, but they didn’t come out. Cell phone 365 #36
Dead tired after working a busy mother’s day at the restaurant.
May 9th Instant 365 #37http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5713468853/
My favorite new pillow! Cell phone 365 #37
A new hat!
May 10th Instant 365 #38http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5713468549/
Flowers in the window at a NE Minneapolis restaurant Cell phone 365 #38
Watching the thunderstorms start.
May 11thInstant 365 #39
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesleephotos/5713468229/
On the side of the building of one of my favorite stores. Cell phone 365 #39
Absent Until next time,
~Peace~
365 project catch up day
It has been very quiet around this blog lately. That has mostly been due to how busy I was preparing for Craftstravaganza. (There is a post on that coming very soon!) In the mean time, here is the catch up on my 365 projects!
April 24th
Instant 365 #26
A cold day, looking up at the bare trees. Spring will be here someday!
(I already posted the cell phone pic for this day.)
April 25th
Instant 365 #27
Spring! At least it felt like it that day! We spent the evening on the new patio at Psycho Suzie’s with friends.
April 26th
Instant 365 #28
Sunshine and another deck photo.
Cell phone 365 #28
This was actually inspired by tweets from a couple of friends, but still very appropriate for the day. I spent 10 hours working on getting prints laid out in my portfolio to present at Craftstravaganza and was surrounded by notes and paper scraps.
April 27th
I don’t know what happened to me this day. I just didn’t have a cell phone portrait.
None of my instant photos turned out either. I guess it was just a blank kind of day!
April 28th
Instant 365 #29
Ok, so I take photos of my deck whenever my instant cameras haven’t been working particularly well. It is easier to go outside where there is better light and make sure it is just the conditions you were trying to take a photo in that weren’t that great, and that there isn’t actually something wrong with your camera!
Cell phone 365 #29
What else do I do before a big event but dye my hair again? :)
April 29th
Instant 365 #30
The Fine Arts building where Craftstravaganza will be taking place.
I don’t seem to have a cell phone 365 from this day either…
April 30th
I don’t have an instant photo from this day. The biggest reason being I didn’t bring any instant cameras with me to Craftstravaganza, and I left and came home when it was too dark to take a photo with the films I had loaded.
Cell phone 365 #30
Craftstravaganza and Roller Derby day! I took this at the convention center while we were watching the derby.
May 1
Instant 365 #31
Yeah, I know, another deck photo….
Cell phone 365 #31
in bed by the light of an iPad
May 2nd
Instant 365 photo #32
Ok, I promise, no more deck light photos after this!
Cell phone 365 #32
There had to be a self portrait with my bff :)
May 3rd
Instant 365 #33
The silhouette of the by Alexandra press at MCBA.
Cell phone 365 #33
some bedtime reading.
May 4th
I can’t find the cell phone 365 photo from this day! However, I did take an instant self portrat:
Instant 365 #34
Hello! And May the Fourth be with you ;)
I’ve been having some issues with my cell phone which I think is to blame for a few of those missed days (I only remember completely forgetting one self portrait!) but I’m not going to dwell on it. I’m going by the photo # count, so it will just take me a little bit longer to get to the 365 mark!
Until next time,
~Peace~