Archive for August, 2009

Photographing a Patient Frog

Thursday, August 20th, 2009
Patient frog

Patient frog

I was out last night with the dogs and noticed that there was a small frog perched at the very top of a trellis that is holding up a tomato plant. My first thought was how beautiful and next I thought I would try to get a photograph. I ran back to the house to get my camera and when I returned to the trellis the frog was still there. So I set my camera to take the shot with available light with no flash, and moved in close. Wouldn’t you just know it, dead battery. So, I turned the camera back on because sometimes it will take one photo even with the low battery warning. After the third try I ran back to the house to get two new batteries, load them and return back to the trellis where the frog still perched.

I was finally ready, or so I thought, as I stepped closer to take the photo from the side. The kittens began jumping around in the garden below the trellis causing the frog to look back over his shoulder to see what was going on. I, thinking it would jump away at any moment kept sticking my camera in front of it tying to take a photo or two. I would snap a photo and wait for the camera to do its thing and then look at the taken picture only to delete it due to shakiness. I was standing in a funny position to try to take the picture and kept wobbling so my photos were coming out fuzzy. Blurring and with more movement than I wanted.

Every little bit I would speak to the frog while I made whatever adjustment. I would say something like “thank you frog for being so patient while I try to take your picture, or, I appreciate your patience, frog. I will try just a few more times.” It smiled its frog smile and sat as I cleared a little memory so I could try again.
When I realized how unbothered the frog was by my presence I moved in a little closer and took three photos from the front, still with available light and no flash. They are still a little blurry and one even has a halo around it, which I thought lent a magical quality to the picture. Not wanting to wear out my welcome and glowing from the high humidity, I said thank you again and stepped away to snap a photo of the moon. Goodnight.

Two New Floorcloths Are Ready

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

These two floorcloths are my newest and they are also smaller than the other examples shown in my blog. They are both painted on primed floorcloth canvas and I used acrylics as my painting medium.

The first one I titled “Fish and Chicks”. I got the inspiration from my own chickens that like to stand in a small plastic children’s pool in the yard near their coop. I think they look so comical standing in the water. The second floor cloth is called “Toucans”. I think toucans are fascinating to look at not just because of their wonderfully colorful bills, but also because of the size of the bill in relation to the body.

These floorcloths are available at La Maison d’Elodie, Inc., in Pensacola, Florida or visit the antiques, wine and art link under shopping.

Fish and Chicks

Fish and Chicks

Toucans

Toucans

Using Vinyl flooring to Make Floorcloths

Sunday, August 9th, 2009

I made these two floorcloths by cutting, applying gesso and painting the backside of vinyl flooring. This type of procedure is fun because the floorcloth can be cut to almost any shape. I recommend adding a no slide rubber backing to the unpainted side.

I call this one Orange Fish

I call this one Orange Fish

This one I titled Red Fish

This one I titled Red Fish

Using Patterns Versus Stencils for Floorcloths

Sunday, August 9th, 2009

When I am beginning a new floorcloth I draw my design on one quarter of the cloth. I then trace the design and make a paper pattern for repeating the design on the rest of the floorcloth. I like this system because by tracing I am not reproducing the design exactly the same each time. I think this gives the floorcloths a hand-made look as opposed to a manufactured look that using a stencil will produce.

One of my first floorcloths

One of my first floorcloths

A Night Blooming Cactus

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

My Dad found this ten foot cactus listed for free. We picked it up and planted it in a large pot on the patio. It blooms every July-August at night and closes in the early morning.

Night Blooming Cactus

Night Blooming Cactus

The blooms are about five inches in diameter. This photo shows an insect on the petals.