Me painting
I have a big show coming up that requires a photograph of me and my art for their promotional materials. Good grief!
I once loved being photographed. I could pose and ham it up with the best of them and, typically, I looked crazy but decent. These days I still love to ham it up but not in front of a camera. I look completely crazy and indecent!
So, in preparing myself for this challenge, I spent the morning painting and getting in touch with my body and facial expression while working on my current piece. I realized that I get right up on the canvas to paint. There’s not a lot of space between me and it. No wonder, I focus more on the colors of my paintings rather than their reality. So, I’m face to face with something I love. But I’m serious. I smile occasionally.
Most of the time I’m not thinking about anything other than making dots and dabs.
So when the photographer arrived I felt fairly prepared to get on with the shoot. I could do serious or playful. The professional photographer was engaging and quickly alleviated most of my leftover anxiety, however every new location was a new angst to overcome. We carried one large painting from spot to spot, checking the light and composition. Luckily in Arizona we almost always have sunny days and the scenery around my studio is breathtaking. However, the wind played havoc on my painting and easel. We soon learned to work with the wind… I wanted to demonstrate my serious artist side but the shoot became too fun and laughable to be serious. My body was warmed up to embrace my canvas if asked. After all, I love my art!
Finally, we were done. We could both relax, have a glass of wine, yada, yada. So, I thought.
Another shot
She quickly downloaded her images from camera to MAC so that I could peruse the images and say “yea or nay” for editing, and, “yes, there will be editing”!!!! With today’s PhotoShop, Picassa, IPhoto, etc, you can do some creative corrections to wrinkles, blemishes, sags, skin coloring, fat in places you don’t want it, and on and on… It’s perfect for someone (like me) that typically doesn’t really believe I’m aging until I look in the mirror. That’s what getting older does to you. It tricks you. It challenges your true identity.
Luckily, being an artist allows me to create works that are self-reflections. They can be reflections of some of my best (or worst) qualities! No wonder I love creating. I see myself through my art. Without painting, there’s a huge part of me missing. That’s when my self-doubt and internal questioning come out to fool around with my psyche. I guess I should work on that. Another resolution? Maybe. But who has time? Too busy painting.
If you are an artist in need of photography and live in the Phoenix metro area, contact Iris Hager at maternalmemories@yahoo.com and say “Denise sent me”. She can work miracles with you, your image, and your art!
