The Pre-Portrait Discussion or Consulation

Visioning, discussing and focusing on an idea can be very exciting and rewarding. Sharing thoughts, expanding concepts and deciding on the final outcome are so important to any art project or for that matter any project. Moving ahead to the actual capture phase in a photography project truly demands a bit of time spent on discussions as to what, where, how and when. Visioning the final destination and how the piece will fit into the surroundings is vital to a comfortable resting place.

In the case of a portrait, final destination can determine the style, color or lack of color, clothing, orientation and the framing. If a family portrait is the desired outcome, it is important to determine what the location is for photography and how it relates to the family’s life style. Also the quality of light will be an important ingredient and the quality of natural light can be affected by the time of day. Early or late light will have softer and more muted tones while the midst of the day will have contrast and strong white light. An additional thought is the family members might be more comfortable in the cool of the morning or evening rather than the heat of the day.

 Clothing is also important as a descriptor of personalities, and how the coloration will fit in the portrait’s final destination. If the wall that the portrait hangs on is red and the group is dressed in a version of orange it might not be a good fit. If the clothing is casual and the room is formal, again it might not be a good fit. It is also very important to look at body types and select the clothing that enhances the beauty of the subjects. Additionally, it can be very distracting if one family member wears a strong pattern such as bold stripes and another wears polka dots. The viewer will be constantly looking at the clothing and not the subject's faces which are the most important. Clothing harmony is an important ingredient to create a pleasing portrait. Although, tensions of multi patterns may be indicative of the family’s lifestyle and could be a rich ingredient for a successful portrait and in that case would be important to include.

Finally, the substrate that the image is printed on and how it is presented or framed is imperative to the enjoyment of the image. There is such a variety today of papers, metals, glass, and wood to print upon that can enhance your image. Possible proofing on some surfaces might be a great way to proceed  in order to be sure of the final outcome.

Framing is another decision that can make or break the piece and should be carefully selected. It is best to select your frame after the piece is printed and ideally the selection should be made in the location that the image will hang.  Once you have made the final wall portrait selection there may be images that you absolutely must have. An album is a wonderful medium with which to enjoy those images and a design can be created to artfully tell the family’s story.

The mission and goal of the pre-discussion is to make the entire process a smooth and enjoyable event, thus creating an image that imparts beauty and satisfaction for years to come.

Solar Plate Etchings at South County Art Association Member Invitational 

January 17-February 9, 2013

Solar Plate Printmaking

A solar plate is a thin steel plate prepared with a light-sensitive polymer surface.  It works like a photograph: a transparency/negative is placed  on the plate and exposed to a light source. Everywhere light touches the plate, the polymer hardens,  while unexposed areas remain soft and water-soluble. Solar plate Copper, once exposed, is developed in a water bath that rinses away unexposed areas. A final exposure to the sun or in an exposure unit hardens the final image. The plate can then be inked and printed (preferably with a press) in the usual fashion.  These prints are made in the Intaglio Process so an additional exposure of an aquatint screen helps the detail to show up in the final image. This exposure increases the ability of the plate to hold the ink in the detail areas.

Barber's Pond, I always wanted to stop at this pond while driving on Route 2 South, so I did!

Rain on Boston Common, while dodging raindrops on my way through the Common, I was taken with how the rain made the scene so lovely. It was nice to slow down and take in my surroundings.

Elegant Elm, a towering elm commands the sky on the front lawn of Hopeland's at Rocky Hill School

Hideaway, while walking on a dirt road on the island of Cutty Hunk, I came upon the most beautiful yard full of fruit trees.  I stopped and captured the scene. This is a hand-colored image.

Pt. Judith Waves, the only sounds were the waves, gulls and of course the fog horn of the Pt. Judith Lighthouse

New Journey, the Gazela proudly sailed by my boat the Elizabeth B. during the 2012 Tall Ships' Parade of Sail. It was perfect!

Snowy Woods, snowshoeing on a trail at our Adirondack camp on Thanksgiving weekend, what luck is that!

Two Ships, sitting on top of our boat, Elizabeth B, gave me the perfect view of these two Tall Ships. The Lynx and the Unicorn sail side by side during the Tall Ships'  Parade of Sail in Newport 2012.

You can find this artwork at www.SouthCountyArt.org

"Cole at Ten"

Running, jumping, climbing....that's Cole at ten. Big smiles, lots of energy and a friend to all, Cole is a shining star. These images will be highlighted in a bound album to cherish and remember Cole's spirit at age ten.

Rhode Island Blood Center Press Conference

Today The Rhode Island Blood Center held a press conference at T's Restaurant in East Greenwich to unveil my print for the 2010-2011 Seasons' Pass program. It was an honor to have been selected to be the Artist for the program, as I am following in the steps of great RI Artists such as Maxwell Mays, Richard Grosvenor, Harley Bartlett, Anthony Tomaselli, and others.

The Seasons' Pass program is in its 9th year, and is reserved for those who donate blood 4 or more times per year. Those in the program will receive a print of the original work unveiled today, and the program has helped to double the number of 4 time-per-year donors, and has resulted in more than 32,000 additional blood donations.

Anyone who has donated four or more times from March 1 2010- February 28, 2011 can pick up a print at any donor center or blood drive. Please visit the Blood Center's web site at www.ribc.org

If you would like to start donating for next years Seasons' Pass program its not too late, and the incoming Artist for the 2011-2012 Seasons' Pass will be Kendra Ferreira, of Middletown, RI.

Denise and Michael's Wedding

It was a wonderful January weekend for Denise and Michael. Snow covered landscape and crisp clear air were on call for the three day event. Guests enjoyed a comfortable bus ride to Manning Chapel and a fun filled reception at the Biltmore. Denise's niece and nephew entertained with violins both at the rehearsal and wedding reception. It was a glorious experience and such fun to photograph.

Alex and Doug's Wedding

I recently photographed the wedding of Douglas and Alexandra this past weekend. It was a beautiful Saturday for early November. The ceremony was in Jamestown, and we went to Beavertail light to take formals of the wedding party. The lighting was great and there was a large swell creating breakers in the background, you cant get a better backdrop! The reception was also at Alex's parents and had a great band under a large tent in the backyard. One of my favorite weddings in a long time, seeing my two sons and all the GBSA crowd made it very interesting and personal! Enjoy some of the photos below!