It’s a steamy Monday morning here in Cabin Country, Minnesota. At first glance, this looks dreary, but find the peace this dew-covered window gives. Mother Nature grabs my attention again and gives me something to see that I haven’t paid attention to in the past. I give thanks for simple blessings like this image. I find beauty in the storm; I find my inner peace.
How can I construct an image that moves beyond the surface? Photozaics, of course! My award-winning Photozaics are inspired where Van Gogh’s textures meet Ansel Adam’s simplicity near the intersection of Bob Ross’ healing vibes. This series I call commando as for me its liberating to see the photo dancing in sync with the frame.
Newly completed Commando Photozaics are now ready for their new forever homes! Hint of Gold Sunset, Reflections on Wachusett’s II and End of Day. Hint of Gold sunset taken on my parent’s shoreline in Northern Minnesota (AKA my happy place). Reflections on Wachusett’s taken in Massachusetts (side note: I will be in MA for most of October again this year). The collection is expanding; the works are all sized 16.5×13.5×1 long edge.
Hint of Gold Sunset
Robert Frost wrote this perfectly: Nothing Gold Can Stay. Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then the leaf subsides to leaf So Eden Sank to grief, so dawn goes down today. Nothing gold can Stay. This view recharges my soul, I love sitting on my parent’s shoreline watching the sunsets and June didn’t disappoint. There’s no better way to reflect on a beautiful day than watching the sunset, knowing tomorrow is going to be just as amazing. I enjoy my time spent with Mom especially after Dad passed away a few years back. It’s funny how life’s perspectives change after you lose a parent. I know that someday my time witnessing these beautiful sunsets on my parent’s shoreline will end but they will forever be locked inside my heart.
Reflections on Wachusett’s II
Like water which can clearly mirror the sky and the trees only so long as its surface is undisturbed, the mind can only reflect the true image of the self when it is tranquil and wholly relaxed. – Indra Devi. This is image was taken at Wachusett’s Reservoir and I love the Natick Native American term which means “near the Mountain”.
End of Day
Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully by Kristen Butler- Go out and be one with Mother Nature; allow her to show you we are all one with the universe. So, fill your heart with beautiful images that keep your Soul’s light shining bright! End of Day reminds me of a symphony, where all participants flow in harmony, my camera is the composer- one of the best gifts given to me from nature.
Officially making their debut Alone in the Fog, Red Wood, Milky Way, and Remake Forest of Birch. The collection is expanding; the works are all sized 16.5×13.5×1 long edge and are available for sale.
Alone in the Fog
I found this scene peaceful and enjoyed watching the fog roll across the lake while listening to the loons call to each other. The trees slowly fading into the abyss and all they can do is just sit and patiently wait for it to pass. This quote from Mehmet Murat Ildan nailed it- “In nature, everything has a job. The job of the fog is to beautify further the existing beauties!
Milkyway
In the Hindu collection of stories called Bhagavata Purana, all the visible stars and planets moving through space are likened to a dolphin that swims through the water, and the heavens are called śiśumãra cakra, the dolphin disc. The Milky Way forms the abdomen of the dolphin and is called Akasaganga which means “The Ganges River of the Sky. That’s why I feel like I’m sitting on the Ocean’s floor looking up to the sky viewing the Milky way. According to Hindu mythology, Vishnu lies meditating on Shesha with his consort Lakshmi, in the Kshira Sagara (Sea of Milk)
Red Wood
To sit in solitude, to think in solitude with only the music of the stream and the forest to break the flow of silence, there lies the value of wilderness. -by John Muir I love how this Red barked tree stands with others but has its own identity- not trying to fit in with the “crowd”, if I had to pick an image that fits me this would be it!
Forest of Birch
“In Celtic Mythology the silver birch tree is sacred and symbolizes new beginnings and protection.” This quote speaks to me and helps me understand why I love Birch trees and my Irish Heritage. This image was taken at Jay Cooke State Park in February 2012 just a few months before this region received an unpreceded amount of rain in a 24-hour period; forever changing the landscape of this park forever.
Three more works completed and up for adoption to their forever homes. I will continue with the Commando Series photoziacs and yes I do commission work. Feel free to reach out to me via email or phone #.
Harriet Island Eagle small commando photozaic
This statement by -Jamie Sams, Seneca/Choctaw, and David Carson, Choctaw really hits home on how I view a Bald Eagle’s presence in this world.
Eagle Medicine is the power of the Great Spirit, the connection to the Divine. It is the ability to live in the realm of spirit, and yet remain connected and balanced within the realm of Earth. Eagle soars and is quick to observe expansiveness within the overall pattern of life. From the heights of the clouds, Eagle is close to the heavens where the Great Spirit dwells.
I hope the next time you witness a Bald Eagle in the wilderness you think of how Choctaw people view this majestic creature!
Orange Watercolor commando photozaic- small
The sunset silhouettes of the islands have been like no other I’ve seen on my travels, knowing you are in borderland country (Minnesota/Canada) when you see the trees bouncing off the evening sky. In my eyes each sunset is unique and unlike the previous day. Colors from sunsets change just like the seasons. Late summer sunsets have the deepest orange fading into twilight blue.
Reflections on Wachusett’s Resvervoir Commando photozaic- Medium
Like water which can clearly mirror the sky and the trees only so long as its surface is undisturbed, the mind can only reflect the true image of the self when it is tranquil and wholly relaxed. – Indra Devi. This image was taken at Wachusett’s Reservoir and I love the Natick Native American term which means “near the Mountain”.
I will be selling my photoziacs (mixed media) artwork along with infrared photography framed in simple black matting and frames. Come check out my new line of photozaics I call the commando series- these are matte-less photographs printed on metal.
This is a month-long event that happens over the weekends- I will be at Schmidt Artists lofts the weekend of April 21st. as stated above
Examples below:
Forest of Birch matte lessBreakpoint matte lessGateway to racepoint matte lessAqua Waves of Race Point
awrp16x14x12023-1campering life 8×10 black framewishes or Weeds? s
My work is mixed media joining together my two loves of photography and mosaics that I call Photozaics. Just recently I experimented with matte-less print as has been suggested in the past, but this time I listened to Emily Schiffer’s suggestion from a recent portfolio review, and this is the result. This line of photozaics, which I’m calling commando-as for me is liberating to see my photo dancing in sync with the frame.
Four of my Commando photozaics were accepted into Works of Excellence exhibition at The Studio Door gallery. Wolf n Bear will be physically in the gallery; Gateway to Racepoint beach will be on their website and Breakpoint at Racepoint and Forest of Birch will be included in the catalog. Honored and humbled to not have just one accepted but four works accepted into this exhibition.
Wolf n Bear
Some people come into our lives and quickly go, some stay for a while, leaving footprints on our hearts and we are never the same- by Flavia Weedn. This image reminds me of the ones that left their footprints on my soul.
Wolf-n-bear WNBml7.5×13.5×12023-1
Gateway to Racepoint Beach
Gateway can offer up an over-welcoming feeling of “come on in”. This scene offers that feeling with a side of warning to those that don’t pay attention to their environment. I don’t mind the locals and will respect their home. If I’m not meant to be in the ocean I will sit quietly on the shore watching a movie of waves play on repeat for my pleasure.
Gateway to Race point Beach
Breakpoint at Racepoint Beach
Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free. – Christy Ann Martine. Sitting at the ocean’s beach I spend hours just zoning out to the sounds and everchanging views of waves crashing the shore to help recharge my soul. It’s nature’s symphony that warms my heart.
Breakpoint matte less
Forest of Birch
SOLD!!!
“In Celtic Mythology the silver birch tree is sacred and symbolizes new beginnings and protection.” This quote speaks to me and helping me understand why I love Birch trees and my Irish Heritage. This image was taken at Jay Cooke State Park in February 2012 just a few months before this region received an unpreceded amount of rain in a 24-hour period; forever changing the landscape of this park forever.
The Ashininaabek people used the Mother Bear as a landmark and tell the story about how she came to be there. Long ago, along the Wisconsin shoreline, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. The bears swam for many hours, but soon the cubs tired. Mother bear reached the shore first and climbed to the top of a high bluff to watch and wait for her cubs. The cubs drowned within sight of the shore. The Great Spirit created two islands to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the eternal vigil of mother bear.
These images reminded me of the gulf coast just minus the salty ocean air.
I watched as morning fog kissed the landscape, slowly burning off showing Lake Michigan’s beautiful teal-blue waters. While I was exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes, I had the story above playing around in my head; carefully documenting the landscape with both color and infrared cameras.
Sleeping Bear Beach
Photozaic statement:
How can I construct an image that moves beyond the surface? Photozaics, of course!
My award-winning Photozaics are inspired where Van Gogh’s textures meet Ansel Adam’s simplicity near the intersection of Bob Ross’ healing vibes. This technique is a labor-intensive multi-step process and starts out with my journey into nature; recording the landscapes that spark my eye may it be rolling hills or a babbling brook. After modifying the composition, I take the print and head to the stained-glass shop to find matching colors. I cut the glass by hand taking smaller shards, and placing them in a rock tumbler to remove sharp edges while larger pieces are sanded by hand and assembled the frame. Grouting finishes the artwork allowing the detail of each cut glass shape to add texture to my art.
Art heals the mind, body, and soul. Research has shown a correlation between participating in cultural activities, like Crafting, visiting art galleries, and attending concerts have increased rates of good health. By creating Photozaics, it is my hope to connect with you through a multi-sensory mixed media presentation that tickles sight and encourages your touch.
16×20 metal Frame only- Crissy Beach Digital infrared bnw photograph
Price $499.00
Crissy Beach
Sometimes you just need to surrender to the scene and get pulled into the wonders it has to offer your senses. That is what happened to me when I came upon this boardwalk while walking the beaches in San Francisco’s Marina District. The boardwalk pulls me to the water and my eyes circle around the remnants of old docks, Sausalito, and Alcatraz off in the distance. I can still smell the salty sea air and hear the foghorn sounding off warning ships of the bridge when I look at this photo.
Crissy Beach Crissy Beach framed with satin black metal frame- anti-reflective Plexi glass with acid-free matting.
