tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17095059980587374872024-02-07T05:26:58.282-08:00Lily's Zen Kitty StudioThis is my personal artist's notebook. Art is an adventure. It's a spiritual, sublime experience that allows us to share our soul with another person. We express emotions through art and we touch lives with it. Join me in the adventure. Check in often to view new projects and ideas. Feel free to eave comments and share your own art adventures. lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-63290583144953764402017-04-09T20:40:00.000-07:002017-04-23T01:20:32.902-07:00A New Life for an Old Blog<meta name="google-site-verification" content="cOSLX6lDW_r9kY3lNhfr9NXiF-ePcqqDe493YxMISHo" />
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^^^. This photo was taken in a cemetery in winter, 2006 Copyright Lily Silver<br />
Changes are part of life.....and after 4 years, I felt my art blog needed a change.<br />
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My life in the past 4years has been rocky, at besy. I started this blog in the spring of 2013. At the time, I had just returned to the real estate business after a two year hiatus. I had really good intentions with this blog, but work commitments and the demands of maintaining a second job as a published author made this little project sit in the corner. I admit, I gave it little love over the years.<br />
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And yet, this blog was aptly named Lily's Art and Soul Adventures. Art, and creating, is my heart and soul. So, after a year and a half of chasing a sale in real estate, and not making enough for a full time living, I left real estate in the fall of 2014. I focused mostly on my publishing career, as a romance novelist. I posted here randomly, every time my poor, neglected art muse would tap me on the shoulder and get my attention. I apologize if you have come here looking for regular content and not found it.<br />
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I have a good excuse, honestly! In May of 2014 my spouse had major surgery, was in ICU for four days and then off work for a good two months. I had to step up the real estate game to help pay the bills. From November 2014 to September 2015 I had three major surgeries, three joint replacements, so I was recovering most of that 10 month period. I played with art, but mostly did coloring books as I dozed in my opiate induced haze and went to physical therapy. (Ouch, PT sucks! Don't do it.)<br />
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And on the writing front, I was doing ok..... just okay. I managed to publish two books since leaving real estate in the fall of 2014, and then having 3 major surgeries. I published a time travel fantasy romance in May of 2015, Some Enchanted Dream, and then a Historical Romance in February 2016, Noble Assassin.<br />
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I kind of beat myself up for not doing more, although why, I don't know! When I look back on 2015 and the spring of 2016, it's amazing I got anything published at all, let alone just two books in that period. <i>Some</i> <i>Enchanted</i> <i>Dream</i> is a full length historical romance novel (90k words, or 350 pages) that takes place in Montmartre Paris at the time of the building of the Eiffel Tower and the World's Fair. I have artists in the story, and absinthe, the avante garde lifestyle. Its my literary equivalent of a painting. I've always loved that era of history, when the great impressionists were struggling to be found, when the Moulin Rouge was the place to be. So, I have to look at it in perspective, it's a wonder I got one book written and published in that time, let alone two. Noble Assassin is part of a different series entirely, another 90k word project book four in Reluctant Heroes, my main book series. I had readers waiting for these two projects, so I had to finish them.<br />
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Since then, I've been trying to write, and not doing well. I have had serious writer's block. And guess what? There is a reason for it. My art was suffering, I was neglecting that part of my soul, and so my other creative iendeavors were suffering as well. I finally decided, after months of angst, that I needed to just do art. Focus on art, let my soul play again. I cleaned the clutter from my studio, dusted off my supoplies, bought some wine for the fridge in there, and went back to just doodle. With that little bit of play time, I'm feeling better, and getting inspired.<br />
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Anyway, here I am. <b>I'm</b> <b>Baaaack</b>! And I'm excited about the in changes that are happening now. I have officially named my Art Studio, that poor room in my home that remained empty and untouched for a year and a half, and I've started a Youtube Channel where you can see my work and see me in action. ZEN KITTY STUDIO is now open, and the artist is in! Check out my first You Tube Video, and take a tour of my studio here: <br />
<a href="https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCWP_aRuPIeM_DRFFCnrPmXQ">Zen Kitty Studio</a><br />
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Yes, I'm thrilled to be starting over, and getting back into the art that makes my soul sing! <br />
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You will be getting regular posts about art, Zen Kitty life, and more! Hope you will subscribe, and I hope you will make art today!lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-53174084273074233812016-04-18T10:26:00.002-07:002016-04-18T10:26:45.659-07:00Lily in Wonderland: Nature's Art Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHectlvxFB8ILRW_o_A8lqGIGQ2GK44WuV43ChRspf04GVmeQ1segZLLqR3CWO8TJFApY51l6razeiYZAH_XXGBxmDj4qeHoYIa-CcrP0xKZxiUCkiGhVufpTWfGAb0mzb3FTmQSPIEtc/s1600/bleeding+heart+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHectlvxFB8ILRW_o_A8lqGIGQ2GK44WuV43ChRspf04GVmeQ1segZLLqR3CWO8TJFApY51l6razeiYZAH_XXGBxmDj4qeHoYIa-CcrP0xKZxiUCkiGhVufpTWfGAb0mzb3FTmQSPIEtc/s320/bleeding+heart+1+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleeding Hearts, Lily Silver 2006<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">My photography passion explodes in the spring. Since I'm a nature photographer, I fall in love with springtime every year as the wonder of plants and flowers emerges. As I live in a cold, northern climate, I must endure the long winters. Typical winter here in Wisconsin lasts from November thru March. We get snow in March, and sometimes even in April here in the north woods.</span></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdLGuoJ6RZWsHKuzSQDPe_0WSUFuh8ZtsStbkbQjk1uOcIO6SpZV_-ftO9rB6Ie4MtbmTv4KEyYHKNGYejSKJTBSwqfcxjOv5AP9gFtqGtcqmH0kD8pFzfhP-G73eMHiwNc7H8Z_CmoQ/s1600/Crocus%252C-Gif-for-web.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdLGuoJ6RZWsHKuzSQDPe_0WSUFuh8ZtsStbkbQjk1uOcIO6SpZV_-ftO9rB6Ie4MtbmTv4KEyYHKNGYejSKJTBSwqfcxjOv5AP9gFtqGtcqmH0kD8pFzfhP-G73eMHiwNc7H8Z_CmoQ/s320/Crocus%252C-Gif-for-web.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocus, Lily Silver 2005</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">When the world thaws and the grass is becoming green, I'm once more thrust into a wonderland of art--nature's art. Flowers offer a burst of color, but they also come in such unusual shapes and forms, it's as if Mother Nature took time to individually design intricate sculptures from the most delicate material imaginable. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8aiBC-_G1mD8ebwiYIeleDeP66avMhx2iGJssCeuwg0DXmj0_Hv9Wuwea4v1UXwrhTy8vGLuq68C-kI9mgrbrV6Ho9k61IV_JBIPkAtPUafZqCcXvLNVoGS3Tb_GX7b-dZAylTevXO0/s1600/white+flower--29.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8aiBC-_G1mD8ebwiYIeleDeP66avMhx2iGJssCeuwg0DXmj0_Hv9Wuwea4v1UXwrhTy8vGLuq68C-kI9mgrbrV6Ho9k61IV_JBIPkAtPUafZqCcXvLNVoGS3Tb_GX7b-dZAylTevXO0/s320/white+flower--29.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyright Lily Silver, 2005<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So, each spring, I go wandering in my backyard--<i>in other people's back yards</i>, and in parks to capture the lovelies with my camera. I've found the most amazing flowers, some I can't identify, and others that are really just common everyday flowers we overlook in our busy rush of life. </span></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVhpoXn4tRTLhnoqHOh7mD6z8Yj56oWqLjdrl8zBFtVSPE4TLnn238nEapcXdFXBSurTvH2kQbUFq04-YR7ANjIyHY88zz5po26jdDWB9UtoEuTBFMoBVZ_jhTPKye9rmJtJjNLBpVJo/s1600/Yellow+Lady+Slipper--cypripedium+calceolus.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVhpoXn4tRTLhnoqHOh7mD6z8Yj56oWqLjdrl8zBFtVSPE4TLnn238nEapcXdFXBSurTvH2kQbUFq04-YR7ANjIyHY88zz5po26jdDWB9UtoEuTBFMoBVZ_jhTPKye9rmJtJjNLBpVJo/s320/Yellow+Lady+Slipper--cypripedium+calceolus.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady's Slipper, Lily Silver 2007</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I also like to keep photos of floral plants for painting, as one of my art hobbies is watercolor painting. What ever your particular medium in art is, I hope this spring you will feel revived and learn to look at these delicate sculptures produced by Mother Nature for a short time in a different light. The art gallery is open every spring, and guess what, </span></h4>
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<span style="color: blue;"> It's FREE Admission: </span></h3>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">Just go to the nearest city park or woodland trail, and you'll find a spectacular art show in full bloom. </span></b></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LLMXDoLmlBLeYpaOUEhwkXgqzEcpn4wbbGmV0yHiVO01EGntqYU0J1mNKo4mE_XhN-aOizOznKRJUNaK7esEQeES3zF4aG34txe41OQ88BAYfsqjpLI_PcJp4wlHifYdsl8CNvE7L4M/s1600/Field+of+Lupines.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LLMXDoLmlBLeYpaOUEhwkXgqzEcpn4wbbGmV0yHiVO01EGntqYU0J1mNKo4mE_XhN-aOizOznKRJUNaK7esEQeES3zF4aG34txe41OQ88BAYfsqjpLI_PcJp4wlHifYdsl8CNvE7L4M/s320/Field+of+Lupines.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lupines in a field, Drive by, Lily Silver, 2009</td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">If you are lucky enough to live near a public garden or floral preserve, you'll find plenty of inspiration for art work, or just a feast for the eyes on a lazy Sunday afternoon. </span></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb0rtIpi_uMVbPbt1O_QsEU8AGIhdMGZ1O0fwRmI0-5R8BVMUGrsSrLkxBS384XFiBSL3GSMhjO2ab5l3F40mWuZ7CvKlpXArCZNkyv_1xTccaU38C7O2poQ5YKMD967fu1ejf0hRWcs/s1600/Purple-fringed-Irises-copy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibb0rtIpi_uMVbPbt1O_QsEU8AGIhdMGZ1O0fwRmI0-5R8BVMUGrsSrLkxBS384XFiBSL3GSMhjO2ab5l3F40mWuZ7CvKlpXArCZNkyv_1xTccaU38C7O2poQ5YKMD967fu1ejf0hRWcs/s320/Purple-fringed-Irises-copy.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Fringed Irises, Lily Silver 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYrDiVBDXK1WL85t2Lf4jU3XeKG0LOMoAGU7CbXS13xD0pXGP5FnmveTGyG2mxEf44uvPmW5Kj5fRXmmvgbeBaqdLCeTw0bbEs47hRiwngMEfxcKLA6K4FKTt8P61ahlEb66NLXE_4fY/s1600/DSCN1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYrDiVBDXK1WL85t2Lf4jU3XeKG0LOMoAGU7CbXS13xD0pXGP5FnmveTGyG2mxEf44uvPmW5Kj5fRXmmvgbeBaqdLCeTw0bbEs47hRiwngMEfxcKLA6K4FKTt8P61ahlEb66NLXE_4fY/s320/DSCN1160.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of Fox Glove, Lily Silver, 2010</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">And once more, here is a lovely example of Mother Nature's delicate artwork, handpicked and placed in a simple glass of water: Bleeding Hearts in a Glass. </span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoz_nDWsY0Ex7uPqtXzw1DjkSmsfTchRXug2NYg0UcxZF9MNpM3JF4MV6R7yCm7aO3zL-tEbKxKN67Y2eTHlWYqGWa7e1sdEi88iDV5hhYXJEbGAhGdo_Sg7IogrmRgSHnjDiqDRlTpw/s1600/Bleeding+Hearts+in+a+Glass.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoz_nDWsY0Ex7uPqtXzw1DjkSmsfTchRXug2NYg0UcxZF9MNpM3JF4MV6R7yCm7aO3zL-tEbKxKN67Y2eTHlWYqGWa7e1sdEi88iDV5hhYXJEbGAhGdo_Sg7IogrmRgSHnjDiqDRlTpw/s400/Bleeding+Hearts+in+a+Glass.tif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleeding Hearts in a Glass, Lily Silver 2004</td></tr>
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Let's go, let's go find Wonderland! It's all around us, just waiting to be discovered! Paint, draw, snap that photo, and find serenity and joy in the reawakening of nature this spring. </h4>
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<i><span style="color: blue;">Happy Wanderings, </span><span style="color: blue;"> Lily Silver</span></i></h4>
<br />lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-28328545409838269802015-12-29T16:29:00.000-08:002015-12-29T16:39:52.493-08:00Winter Doldrums: Why Art is a Natural Cure<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missed Appointment by Lily Silver, 2005</td></tr>
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Well, here in Wisconsin our get out of winter free card has expired. We had a lovely December from the first until December 28 (yesterday). My yard was free of snow, there was no snow here in Northeastern Wisconsin. It was even balmy for part of the month, with highs in the forties, and even close to the mid 50's. I went to the grocery store in Mid-December wearing only a sweatshirt, no coat. That was a treat. Of course it was destined to not last! We had a green Christmas. We had 27 and 1/2 snow free days in December, and then--BAM. A snowstorm dumped 12 inches of snow on us, and driving wind gusts that made near blizzard conditions.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My car, buried in snow after my honey finished snow-blowing today</td></tr>
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That's ok, we're used to that this time of year. In Northern Wisconsin, we've seen snow storms as early as November, and the snow here doesn't melt until nearly April. We had a good run.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmmn28jK0FgFHw3JeR5mI7lx0MTtyjwluimdgYzm567QsvgFh2Dwftbcyj_4nEIsW8O-JDe95Ipiab03FJEPRYM7cyhmT1GPwqgH8h0-HypRTKnkx83fc-q26PkAGXX_2GxG-9tMWZfc/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmmn28jK0FgFHw3JeR5mI7lx0MTtyjwluimdgYzm567QsvgFh2Dwftbcyj_4nEIsW8O-JDe95Ipiab03FJEPRYM7cyhmT1GPwqgH8h0-HypRTKnkx83fc-q26PkAGXX_2GxG-9tMWZfc/s320/IMG_0041.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cemetery statue in winter, Lily Silver, 2007</td></tr>
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Winter is here, delayed, but here to stay. And long, cold winters bring depression in some folks. Trapped inside all day, Cabin Fever can set in by mid February. The darker days also contribute for those who suffer SAD or Sunlight Affected Disorder.<br />
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How do we fight winter's dark, depressing days and long dark nights?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNdqgcTmGbyDD2wkc_GFBylM8xjXJ7ckZinEJhS7t-MwVHk-0lTmzt630glH6AL9exkhuLsqA4YZ1FdL0wP1YLgZslj6iwBoDSsGD8ldwScYUBD07E_YLSejQS2_SQNIPptlr-TJc7GQ/s1600/2015-10-09+14.38.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNdqgcTmGbyDD2wkc_GFBylM8xjXJ7ckZinEJhS7t-MwVHk-0lTmzt630glH6AL9exkhuLsqA4YZ1FdL0wP1YLgZslj6iwBoDSsGD8ldwScYUBD07E_YLSejQS2_SQNIPptlr-TJc7GQ/s400/2015-10-09+14.38.40.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastel Drawing using bright colors, Lily Silver 2015</td></tr>
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With Art, of course. We create. Yes . . . Create Art, and you'll lose yourself in your project and not notice the gloom outside. You'll focus on your project, be it a drawing, a painting, or a mixed media collage. Photography is a good therapy, too. I love to go out after a snow storm and capture rare moments of glistening snow on trees and ice drips, before the sun melts away that stunning coating.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls are More Fun collage, a work in progress, Lily Silver, 2015</td></tr>
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So, find a new project, one that will take a week or more to complete, and let your creative muse flow. You'll come home from a full day's work and have your art project to look forward to. And if you are home all day, retired or a stay at home mom or dad, having an hour or so of art to liven your day will lift your spirits in this dark time and give you something to look forward too each day or evening. Creating art will help those endorphins, give you a natural boost or high as your brain is flooded with Seratonin. You can even bask in a natural sun lamp while you work as an artist lamp that emulates the natural light of the sun will be theraputic physically while the act of creation will lift your spirit as your brain focuses on something besides the gloomy steel gray skies and snow dumps. <br />
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When I step into my Art Studio, the world fades. I spend hours in there, often into the wee hours of the morning, because I lose track of time while I'm there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I typically have several collages going at the same time. 2015 studio view</td></tr>
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lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-11701623085791211602015-09-15T21:17:00.000-07:002015-09-15T21:17:01.019-07:00Celebrating Sunflowers! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD0TsyRRIU8bgcDWlrYULftwRAiLRXAQ84oxVJ5DG8PQVBbpYZoS3mOUwPi3GqJ4UGEh6O2PNmBjKDigUbzkvxyvDg03we9RnjHqFUYUozqZTh0KQzKK4WehqcoRsOomqV1PjyDWHhJI/s1600/DSCN4415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD0TsyRRIU8bgcDWlrYULftwRAiLRXAQ84oxVJ5DG8PQVBbpYZoS3mOUwPi3GqJ4UGEh6O2PNmBjKDigUbzkvxyvDg03we9RnjHqFUYUozqZTh0KQzKK4WehqcoRsOomqV1PjyDWHhJI/s320/DSCN4415.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvbOXiV6DGvEoL026e8m77ZASeo3T8JHJJrrgu6NtUV8hOw7WngUHwEnBuR04GFd-iSobbxStkPr4Py2KvGRexHmn9PnlOtgnrNHVJSJc7IzzeVihd2TjeXsUDA3YawDoWnN8qP9HW3k/s1600/IMG_0171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvbOXiV6DGvEoL026e8m77ZASeo3T8JHJJrrgu6NtUV8hOw7WngUHwEnBuR04GFd-iSobbxStkPr4Py2KvGRexHmn9PnlOtgnrNHVJSJc7IzzeVihd2TjeXsUDA3YawDoWnN8qP9HW3k/s320/IMG_0171.jpg" width="320" /></a>My favorite flower is the Sunflower. I tend to photography<br />
them regularly, and try to paint them with watercolors. <br />
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Vincent Van Gogh's favorite flower to paint was the sunflower as well, so I feel I am in good company.<br />
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Here are a few of my sunflower photos for you to enjoy. Tis the season for capturing them on film, in paint, or in digital format.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Van Gogh, </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polaroid transfer from 2006</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">driving about in the backroads, 2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuB4RmWqHVZrjauLKzJQysFIpmFrR1zUSoYRcKfYVds6TKgfYf9r3iu-Fcxi7vXuKfa3mIV0K1nUijsIMn5ospO5Yhm2AN1wl4NbFp031Z9CWW38go299W58FKD6_8r1VyImvBzP5iG0/s1600/sunflower-+closeup.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuB4RmWqHVZrjauLKzJQysFIpmFrR1zUSoYRcKfYVds6TKgfYf9r3iu-Fcxi7vXuKfa3mIV0K1nUijsIMn5ospO5Yhm2AN1wl4NbFp031Z9CWW38go299W58FKD6_8r1VyImvBzP5iG0/s400/sunflower-+closeup.tif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of ripe sunflower at Farmer's Market<br />
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A field of Sunflowers, near Algoma WI. </td></tr>
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If you are an artist, I'm sure you have a favorite flower that tempts your muse. If not, just enjoy the beauty of the season as Sunflowers are everywhere this time of year in the Midwest USA.<br />
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lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-22075725789765862122015-09-14T00:43:00.000-07:002015-09-14T00:43:24.224-07:00Texture and Color in Photography<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNtND4d5c5kIAzHRg-iKugZSRISAiXlynCQEQeuYR1pv7mYUeH9CcwYYnn5nDahp048pahc1FMEVvEGzuNooh34kH3IM4D_xSngFmOnUpT2FITvPUPv_1TR0W0rBiKrC4c7I-S7Xi-1U/s1600/wet_earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNtND4d5c5kIAzHRg-iKugZSRISAiXlynCQEQeuYR1pv7mYUeH9CcwYYnn5nDahp048pahc1FMEVvEGzuNooh34kH3IM4D_xSngFmOnUpT2FITvPUPv_1TR0W0rBiKrC4c7I-S7Xi-1U/s400/wet_earth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn leaves in Marquette, Michigan</td></tr>
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Its been Two years since I posted here. This will change. I plan to make weekly posts of my art, in all mediums I work with. The photo above was taken during a wonderful hike thru a state park on the way to Marquette. My husband and I had a wonderful afternoon exploring nature with our cameras and then went out to dinner at a romantic restaurant that served classic Italian food and featured red and white checkered tablecloths and candlelight.<br />
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The mud spot above was beautifully cracked with deep fissures, and the fallen leaves of every color added a layer of beauty in this rare shot. <br />
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Stay tuned, I will be posting Daily photos of Autumn splendor on my facebook page, Lily Silver. I will also post here between my other art posts. <br />
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Happy Autumn everyone!<br />
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Lily Silver, artist, photographer, writer and free spirit.lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-73430660602058580182013-09-28T17:48:00.001-07:002013-09-28T17:53:22.726-07:00Collage art: The Science of LoveOne of my early Collage efforts that actually worked out well is The Science of Love.<br />
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My premise for this work is Shakespeare. I get lots of inspiration from Shakespeare's works.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK87qYrBk5_sMm-xYjRjTy075WBU5DKBXOJ08QxqeJnOryMZ4kGNexH1Vd4RCt92p3YNz5cwg6ymuHcjzinqklV8jtq9vfNXfj6JJ-G63U9TIDqOikR2Va1Xj8uXv1ShWxE-Iw7RQ-q9g/s1600/Science+closeup+of+text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK87qYrBk5_sMm-xYjRjTy075WBU5DKBXOJ08QxqeJnOryMZ4kGNexH1Vd4RCt92p3YNz5cwg6ymuHcjzinqklV8jtq9vfNXfj6JJ-G63U9TIDqOikR2Va1Xj8uXv1ShWxE-Iw7RQ-q9g/s320/Science+closeup+of+text.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midsummer Night's Dream Quote, Partially obscured </td></tr>
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In this particular work, I was inspired by the quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream; (above). It has to do with finding a certain flower, that when you rub the juice of the flower on a person's eyelids while they sleep, the first person they see when they wake up they will fall madly in love with.<br />
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So, I thought, what if a scientist decided to distill the juice of this fabled flower, and make a potion from it, so that the lady he adores will finally notice him and return his affections.<br />
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I used a lot of different images that depict the scientific method, including prints of old microscopes, Da Vinci's Matruvial Man, and the diagram of a heart.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4at1VTNegZkdyjQL5Yfjc9ovXGFgIUkDQ-YlI-HrQ_JxA_LUEMRih0MqViXNyXhfPpnEgvqv-uz3mzjKazF3pJVhjkn-1gULsAMLSDKWmPv6R2M3YGOue3AVFqAl1TgwPF_IJmmNG0I/s1600/DaVinci+M+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4at1VTNegZkdyjQL5Yfjc9ovXGFgIUkDQ-YlI-HrQ_JxA_LUEMRih0MqViXNyXhfPpnEgvqv-uz3mzjKazF3pJVhjkn-1gULsAMLSDKWmPv6R2M3YGOue3AVFqAl1TgwPF_IJmmNG0I/s640/DaVinci+M+close+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeup of Matruvial Man and antique postcard of a young lady</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Above: I used different layers of Golden Fluid acrylics paints on Canvas, adding the image of Matruival Man in the corner, and then painting over it. I also did some paint daubs in green and in white along the edge of the postcard of the girl to emulate a flower bower. I painted her hair a deep shade of red, and pasted the word "Adore" to the image. </span><br />
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I imaged my scientist as being shy, quiet, withdrawn into his plant studies. He gazes longingly at his beloved,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mQUjN_JHoc0RNmmdtdaI41he1ubki-RISk25HNv__AVK5Vz5PBb6RIU-6VVDi7hy3nMxm5fZeq_WTf2h_bw_q2NxsW2lcydMWNUOK0PDC2vbWMj9GU9UsXR-1nCNuj08XFEs1fDvCU8/s1600/Scientist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mQUjN_JHoc0RNmmdtdaI41he1ubki-RISk25HNv__AVK5Vz5PBb6RIU-6VVDi7hy3nMxm5fZeq_WTf2h_bw_q2NxsW2lcydMWNUOK0PDC2vbWMj9GU9UsXR-1nCNuj08XFEs1fDvCU8/s400/Scientist.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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She does not know he exists. So, he makes a potion to help love along, in the hope of bringing true love into his life. Will it work? It is an experiment after all!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26-KV_OZ26HL8aBjd17Z7RzaFIibEwoC9JueeDIGsRr3QFLWY_83i244_iNRowi-qYD0_LLb3Js8UBdjqx3eNcnOxfRbvxbrjRuuXC5YVP7BcF2AIjjjfEhuQUKxKfB2RcB8LCEzspUg/s1600/Dictionary+definition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26-KV_OZ26HL8aBjd17Z7RzaFIibEwoC9JueeDIGsRr3QFLWY_83i244_iNRowi-qYD0_LLb3Js8UBdjqx3eNcnOxfRbvxbrjRuuXC5YVP7BcF2AIjjjfEhuQUKxKfB2RcB8LCEzspUg/s640/Dictionary+definition.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">definition of science from the dictionary, photocopied, </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Above, after the canvas has has several layers of thin glazing to bring out colors, I added the snippet of text photocopied from the dictionary, the definition of science. I layered it with glazes of Titan Buff to obscure some of the text to give it interest, and used blending techniques of paint to hide the corners of the pasted text page and to blend the addition into the painting. The butterfly was added from a vintage domain free clip art disk, printed on matte photo paper using an Epson Photo printer. The Thistle is an ink outline of a photograph I took many years ago, using the filter in photoshop to make the image into an ink outline. Paint daubs and some French script text behind the drawing of the heart add depth and interest and also help to blend the images together in an abstract collage composition. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34AlmDAirJHSQGfxHp9NiOK1yveUhTYXcduGMY6PE8yPMUEuXKiyA0QaLZzBhJJZ2RIeGQrMy7b13GNrs-ENpzvxRhg9vph03H2X5idMqOwMez9tHBBDrL30Rp9w742FuaOQx0mc7nfE/s1600/antique+microscope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34AlmDAirJHSQGfxHp9NiOK1yveUhTYXcduGMY6PE8yPMUEuXKiyA0QaLZzBhJJZ2RIeGQrMy7b13GNrs-ENpzvxRhg9vph03H2X5idMqOwMez9tHBBDrL30Rp9w742FuaOQx0mc7nfE/s640/antique+microscope.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clip are of an antique microscope and some textured areas blotted with paint</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">I added the microscope, and some random block letters to the upper right hand corner, to complete the visual idea of science and the scientific method. I used some heavy gel medium to breat lines of raised texture below the microscope, and some more layers of paint and glazings to add depth to the area. Note how the letters from the French text seem to just emerge from the canvas. That's a lot of glazes of paint to make it look that way. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Full sized image, a 16 x 20 canvas collage using paint, text, quotes, postcards, found art, clip art, and lots of time and imagination. The collage took several months to complete. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dbnaGXOH4hh3gcyjfBbT8lKgYB5lLYpjGTUZqfbZCNCzf-NxOt92W8jSoPPb1UQukSrJyjlZdleZs9-D_sKhhMQ_UWtfGuZCpQvKFkCGJSm5AoUCPPMUqmHaK-NPBe5wdD-W3RroFOA/s1600/The+science+of+love,+Lily+Silver,+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dbnaGXOH4hh3gcyjfBbT8lKgYB5lLYpjGTUZqfbZCNCzf-NxOt92W8jSoPPb1UQukSrJyjlZdleZs9-D_sKhhMQ_UWtfGuZCpQvKFkCGJSm5AoUCPPMUqmHaK-NPBe5wdD-W3RroFOA/s640/The+science+of+love,+Lily+Silver,+2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Science of Love, by Lily Silver, 2011</td></tr>
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<br />lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-9524844147196153402013-09-21T21:45:00.001-07:002013-09-21T21:54:14.800-07:00Collage Art: Yes, it really is ART!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy5IXjCPSC6qVlX3pSwMGuT6Hdztqo7HtAZbAabE-lL1xhODuZZE70xcxpQv_lRZXBbRBZ9DF5uUksxwz8iBZXuVdy6ETqOJ-62cCUJW5xhPvKcEOHGxLExVuINUG3bZnT0nGT8W0V6A/s1600/sunflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy5IXjCPSC6qVlX3pSwMGuT6Hdztqo7HtAZbAabE-lL1xhODuZZE70xcxpQv_lRZXBbRBZ9DF5uUksxwz8iBZXuVdy6ETqOJ-62cCUJW5xhPvKcEOHGxLExVuINUG3bZnT0nGT8W0V6A/s640/sunflowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflowers, 2010 by Lily Silver, featuring old photos of my grandma, my father, and some of my own photography. </td></tr>
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About four years ago I discovered Collage Art.<br />
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Now, that might not seem too big of a deal for most people, as Collage art has been around for a long, long time.<br />
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But, .......<br />
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Consider this. I graduated from College as a History and Art major, and had MAJOR class training in many art mediums; painting, drawing, ceramics, fiber art, 2D art, 3D art, screen printing, printmaking, calligraphy and photography. Photography was my main emphasis as an art student, but as a college art student you are required to take lots of other media classes to get well rounded in art. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQToOvXvdky7MULZTaEJZn2ONT21uD1kfA9-6D7w7pzfC6pjsp0xUsLR8jPQ-mSurOfr0amldWD6uQyTmNpRACUTGV3DUY16mb8y2IB94mHYiwp-10J-5aKPLG-aQvKFDgHEVwsvKDa1o/s1600/Vanitas+2011+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQToOvXvdky7MULZTaEJZn2ONT21uD1kfA9-6D7w7pzfC6pjsp0xUsLR8jPQ-mSurOfr0amldWD6uQyTmNpRACUTGV3DUY16mb8y2IB94mHYiwp-10J-5aKPLG-aQvKFDgHEVwsvKDa1o/s640/Vanitas+2011+close+up.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Collage 'Vanitas', 2011, Lily Silver </td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Above is a closeup of Vanitas, a collage I did for my son for Christmas. My son is a Graphic Artist, and was receiving a lot of flack from his teachers at the time for his dark, gothic designs. I made a collage of all the great artists, from Van Gogh to Warhol, who did skull art. The term for art that depicts the fragility of the human life is called Vanitas, and the great Dutch painters produced elaborate paintings </span> <span style="color: blue;">called Vanitas, with flowers, decaying fruit, knick-knacks, all in a still life with a skull. This is Andy Warhol's skull image, along with the text description of the Vanitas form of art from one of my art history textbooks. </span><br />
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Guess what, in all my six years of college, I was never once exposed to Collage Art, except for in Art History classes, (I minored in Art History), and even that was in passing. The professors and textbooks talked about artists who used collage as a medium in the early 20th century, and just brushed over it. Honestly, Collage Art is often dismissed as not 'True Art' by the Art establishment, as they feel it doesn't require as much 'talent' as other mediums.<br />
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Well, I beg to differ. After being trained as a professional artist at the college level, and recieving a Bachelor's Degree, I can tell you that Collage medium is not an easy nut to crack. I've worked at it, for four years, and I still feel at times that I am missing it, not really making 'good' art. It's tough to come up with an idea and incorporate different techniques and make it all come out right in the end.<br />
I've had some major baddies, some I threw out or gessoed over.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwRjUWcyufF2nYNhmnhiM9W90SM2cXl-o2rczkc-eL9OGYyb-KqCiyprcK6AUwcRXvt6ucYddtyB6FpwXZ91YiXYoc_LgM11IrMC_nRO9IF-bRtClRIKVY4_csQPnDnorA6yj32tNf5o/s1600/Vanitas-2011-closeup-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwRjUWcyufF2nYNhmnhiM9W90SM2cXl-o2rczkc-eL9OGYyb-KqCiyprcK6AUwcRXvt6ucYddtyB6FpwXZ91YiXYoc_LgM11IrMC_nRO9IF-bRtClRIKVY4_csQPnDnorA6yj32tNf5o/s640/Vanitas-2011-closeup-2.gif" width="553" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanitas, close up, showing various techniques, blending of paints, text and image applications to achieve depth. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;">Above, I used techniques such as paint blending, stippling, stamping, and numerous layers of thin paint glazes to add depth to the canvas. I blotted the canvas with a rag to get the grey mist or cloud image below the skulls. I used the blade of a palette knife to make the long black lines criss-crossing the canvas after the other paint dried. Sometimes the paint blots that I create make abstract images that are haunting or unusual. I never know what images will emerge from this technique, but it's always rewarding. Sort of like ink blocks. </span><br />
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But I still love it, and I keep doing it. Why I love it, I'll get to in another post, but I just want to come out of the closet on this and let people know that YES, as a professionally trained photographer and artist, I love Collage Art. I love making it, and viewing it.<br />
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I love to be able to incorporate my own photography into these abstract creations, and adding text to the visual, telling a story with pictures, as Anne Baldwin stated so eloquently in her book on collage art. So, I will continue to cut, paste, stamp, burnish, assemble, paint, and write in order to make a very complicated and abstract piece of art that the snobby art critics, art professors and curators will say with disdain "That is not ART!"<br />
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Blimey, as Andy Warhol said "Art is anything you can get away with!" Yeah, Andy, thanks. I agree. Art is subjective, each person has their own opinion, their own likes and dislikes that determine if they appreciate a peice or not. But, respect the work of the artist, please, whether it is oil painting, watercolor, photography, or Collage Art that is their form. It takes a lot of work. I've worked on some collages for months, others for years, trying to get the right juxtiposition of images and text o make a stunning composition.<br />
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It ain't easy, folks. But it sure is fun. It's my game of solitaire. My way of relaxing and trying to play with images.<br />
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Lily Silver, Photographer, painter, Collage Artist, and proud of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6orMQ4ePHE2HcYIf6WwKkYdBfO1lNbVoXzNNx3HtwSSiW4U3pMfTHNyrt3R4ag-8v-MpY4-wqmP-IZjUtkczPBY4u9y9cRaXObml0VngcbVynLwbFpg0H4i158l9aMpv9eSy-I-J8QLU/s1600/Vanitas-2011.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6orMQ4ePHE2HcYIf6WwKkYdBfO1lNbVoXzNNx3HtwSSiW4U3pMfTHNyrt3R4ag-8v-MpY4-wqmP-IZjUtkczPBY4u9y9cRaXObml0VngcbVynLwbFpg0H4i158l9aMpv9eSy-I-J8QLU/s640/Vanitas-2011.gif" width="485" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanitas, 2011, By Lily Silver, featuring the skull art of Artists of the Ages, all duly noted in the piece. </td></tr>
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<br />lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-32412479557608873782013-07-18T13:35:00.001-07:002013-07-18T13:35:41.112-07:00Cool Images for summer heat!I don't know about where you live, but here in Wisconsin, it's been hideously hot.<br />
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Yes, I know, it could be worse, we could live in a place that boasts 100+ temps.<br />
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But consider this, when your body has to cope with the wild weather changes of the extreme Wisconsin landscape, anything from 98 degrees and humid in the summer to 40 below zero and frigid in the winter, have a little pity on us folks, please!<br />
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My favorite summertime pics are beach pics. But who wants to go melt at the beach, seriously, when it's so hot? <br />
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Here are two images that will hopefully cool your spirit and provide a soothing balm. <br />
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The first, is a frequent site at Henes Park in Menominee Michigan, the rock piles along the shore that people have been constructing for fun. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpBbXuFklDAhxSBupdTp3NuXfPTohFnSSr0Vy4cIsXiuxPeEYvzViuc0QOiNsR-m8BfEM3WFA27k0c2qCf1lp2HOtzUsGCxYtHhQb9dCot8L0r1lUbHytRmOsFIeITvhpVVfCwLSiZI0/s1600/rock+pile+with+splash+35+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpBbXuFklDAhxSBupdTp3NuXfPTohFnSSr0Vy4cIsXiuxPeEYvzViuc0QOiNsR-m8BfEM3WFA27k0c2qCf1lp2HOtzUsGCxYtHhQb9dCot8L0r1lUbHytRmOsFIeITvhpVVfCwLSiZI0/s400/rock+pile+with+splash+35+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Piles at Henes Park Shoreline, Lily Silver, 2013</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The second photo is a close up I took from the shoreline at Red Arrow Park, a popular beach where people go to soothe their need for water fun. <br />
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These goofy birds were settled on the pilions from an old dock, perching together like a bunch of old men at a tavern spot. The diversity of the gathered birds struck me. I used a zoom lens to take this shot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqvCQPF5XVzF48JhPiv_N14zx85jAcKOd-iqN_e3Y7aXNXtQgCwoeBBAxPBPDFJKtLGv6v9qKCCj56ghfTmr6bXTgeWl9SadvH7sK8EaHexg8BHhiD9VyoEzQyRau0LeKoG7yXHhVS0E/s1600/birds-on-pilons-at-red-arro.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqvCQPF5XVzF48JhPiv_N14zx85jAcKOd-iqN_e3Y7aXNXtQgCwoeBBAxPBPDFJKtLGv6v9qKCCj56ghfTmr6bXTgeWl9SadvH7sK8EaHexg8BHhiD9VyoEzQyRau0LeKoG7yXHhVS0E/s640/birds-on-pilons-at-red-arro.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds gathered at Red Arrow Beach, Lily Silver, 2013</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Stay cool in this horrible heat wave, and remember to take special care of your camera and lenses.<br />
If you have a 35mm, be extra careful about leaving it in the car as the lenses can get so hot, and the metal (plastic) as well. We don't want to sacrifice our prize cameras this summer. Take it with you, don't leave it in the hot car.<br />
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Keep Clicking that shutter button! <br />
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Lily Silver<br />
<br />lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-10422795541763783812013-05-27T15:51:00.001-07:002013-05-27T16:33:49.977-07:00Raindrops, how inspiring! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcklPcu-ivMJAvbikkz-9eh1spOeStZy8kO53WPoDzix5ZPHHAhh5Lzh-zUs8BB2PpEJPNxozJeSiktCtR_9PbY2VGWYDi7scB0kBjE0FrY6E7w5eXreZecxqx0DlGpZWfze2dygnZuc/s1600/springtime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcklPcu-ivMJAvbikkz-9eh1spOeStZy8kO53WPoDzix5ZPHHAhh5Lzh-zUs8BB2PpEJPNxozJeSiktCtR_9PbY2VGWYDi7scB0kBjE0FrY6E7w5eXreZecxqx0DlGpZWfze2dygnZuc/s400/springtime.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raindrops on garden foliage can give stunning close up shots Lily Silver 2007</td></tr>
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Sometimes we think that a rainy day is a bad day to shoot photographs outdoors. With the proper precautions to protect our equipment, we can take some awesome photos that might otherwise get ignored if we only shoot during sunny skies. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBzIcHp3RWJ_HHoN3-xPOXg11BGaa9YZDkr3uMabHxPfVY7vT2GeeX8yvS6hXB3H7JANDQ6fwHzqNe_JNvwTrKWmPj8lmPITKziSoN76mNqgGgIXTB1HkHfWHsx1o0Ljl6ajPYUBu-PE/s1600/geranium+leaves+in+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBzIcHp3RWJ_HHoN3-xPOXg11BGaa9YZDkr3uMabHxPfVY7vT2GeeX8yvS6hXB3H7JANDQ6fwHzqNe_JNvwTrKWmPj8lmPITKziSoN76mNqgGgIXTB1HkHfWHsx1o0Ljl6ajPYUBu-PE/s400/geranium+leaves+in+rain.jpg" width="400" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geranium leaves in Rain, Lily Silver, 2007</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The possibilities are endless, just use your imagination. Flowers take on a new aura with raindrops clinging ot their petals.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOY59ufO_NQ9pXvbWx2TewWjt1ajzuNjffKWLn8JovJt37U_VBUSzFqdt_u-WuFtEs8ulCfnvT98YSWBFRu5rFEV-DsjAMB9-nfxB3dGujQVbrEWkaMTqcHxCx1FMRQbSMG5Gc7P3HOeM/s1600/tulip+single+V+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOY59ufO_NQ9pXvbWx2TewWjt1ajzuNjffKWLn8JovJt37U_VBUSzFqdt_u-WuFtEs8ulCfnvT98YSWBFRu5rFEV-DsjAMB9-nfxB3dGujQVbrEWkaMTqcHxCx1FMRQbSMG5Gc7P3HOeM/s400/tulip+single+V+copy.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulip with Raindrops, Lily Silver 2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcJHy_xf3ZjFyfRKEYelpXZkMRWwaiM_j_Eq3EEgzC9K2RWfb-0mvycH9RfhCPt7PS0hts2zplON8YRMs9ssTxeKkKnCmVkB1T5aBxHPO0JlKBLA76Rdu7-pX9cGfApb3qula_PSnF5o/s1600/raindrops+2+jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcJHy_xf3ZjFyfRKEYelpXZkMRWwaiM_j_Eq3EEgzC9K2RWfb-0mvycH9RfhCPt7PS0hts2zplON8YRMs9ssTxeKkKnCmVkB1T5aBxHPO0JlKBLA76Rdu7-pX9cGfApb3qula_PSnF5o/s400/raindrops+2+jpeg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foliage in the rain, Lily Silver 2007</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Foliage collects little pools of water that add dimension, reflection, magnification as the dewy leaves serve as receptacles for the fresh spring rain. That's just with the green leaves. Imagine how lovely a rose could be glistening with raindrops, or a spider's web? <br />
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The next time you wake up to a drab, rainy day, don't let it spoil your photography outing. Just take along some plastic bags, an umbrella, and rain gear, and let your imagine soar as you explore the rainy day world.<br />
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Keep clicking that shutter button,<br />
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Lily Silver, artist and photographer<br />
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<br />lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-62202436535029050812013-05-19T12:33:00.002-07:002013-05-19T14:03:24.363-07:00An Artist You Should Follow; Qiang HuangGreetings fellow art lovers and artists,<br />
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Normally, I like to post my own artwork here and talk about it. However, I subscribe to an artist's blog and his work always takes my breath away. So, I wanted to share his work with you and advise you to keep an eye on this one as he's a brilliant and talented artist.<br />
<br />
Qiang Huang has a daily art blog where he simply posts some of his work. I happened to see his stunning painting "Orchid Study 1" today and I thought to myself, "I have to share this with other artists and art lovers." So, view the picture, visit Qiang Huang's blog, and sign up for his daily paintings if you dare. Find a little time in your day to view his blog posts, enjoy the work of an awesome artist and find your zen moment in the process. I hope you will become a fan of Qiang's work, as I am. Come on . . . be inspired . . .<br />
<br />
All hail the reigning master painter! Here's a hint, it's not me.......<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1709505998058737487" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1709505998058737487" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>This Painting is from Qiang Huang's collection, posted today on his blog to share, so I'm sharing it with you. This painting is called "Orchid Study 1" By Qiang Huang.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCiueFZ43Ma8nojFHfFIOKEKgyqTIEa3kFa_gtbYba_7QYlO0kRbem3E4ifwPeM4sars9O28GbBiIfBubOgVL5Qou0C4KKgb6VNeHn2o00eFC6riLgNOmGFMLmr4jK9VQXzUUxTV7H17c/s1600/Orchid+study.JPG" /></div>
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<a href="http://qiang-huang.blogspot.com/">http://qiang-huang.blogspot.com</a></div>
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Click the link below to be taken to Qiang Huang's blog, and don't forget to subscribe so you can have lovely paintings like the one above presented to you through his mailing list. Many of his paintings are for sale, too, so let's support this awesome and inspiring artist!<br />
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<a href="http://qiang-huang.blogspot.com/">http://qiang-huang.blogspot.com</a></div>
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Thanks for visiting, and keep your own art journal~ whether it's a book or a blog!<br />
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Share the Joy of Art with Others.<br />
<br />
Lily Silver,<br />
Artist, Photographer, Writer, Proud Grandmother<br />
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lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-6978598889029181762013-05-06T23:13:00.000-07:002013-05-06T23:13:08.130-07:00Kidnapped by the Silver FairesI am a photographer. I think I must have inherited a photography
gene. I have been addicted to photography since I was 17 years old,
that's about thirty years or more of being a photographer.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img align="left" border="0" class="fw_image_computer fwSizeProp" height="400" src="http://strictlygothic.webs.com/Lily%20Silver%20green%20man%20copy.jpg" style="height: 223px; margin: 8px auto; width: 187px;" width="335" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frolicking with the Silver Fairies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It
started innocently enough. I has in high school,and took a black and
white darkroom photography class. I inherited my grandfather's old 1944
Argus 35mm film camera at that time, as my father saw I was excited
about the art of photography and bequeathed it to me. This was the
beginning of the end for me. The end of a bland, art-less existence. I
became obsessed: with photography, with the darkroom process, with
riding around on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon just clicking pictures.<br />
<br />
I was in love; truly, madly, deeply, as the saying goes. In love with the art of photography.<br />
<br />
And,
my grandfather was obsessed, too. He had a darkroom in his house in
Maine, and spent a lot of time in there. I also inherited some of his
lovely black and white photographs.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjRhjT6W6rrtsE88i5R2AiibyXkfbWiWyfJqbGURTsYA06d55auca7T3gN0PWwLPHiXqLUGsXWs6zOilZkyGIqgQEixbprprAktftl3HIiH1NH1X8q-pE0pujg138wAA-jiZMKl8N8LJQ/s1600/Jack+Leavitt+Sr+with+Jack%252C+1924+-+Copy.tif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target=""><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjRhjT6W6rrtsE88i5R2AiibyXkfbWiWyfJqbGURTsYA06d55auca7T3gN0PWwLPHiXqLUGsXWs6zOilZkyGIqgQEixbprprAktftl3HIiH1NH1X8q-pE0pujg138wAA-jiZMKl8N8LJQ/s320/Jack+Leavitt+Sr+with+Jack%252C+1924+-+Copy.tif" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Grandfather, Jack Leavitt, with my father, Jack Jr. circa 1924</td></tr>
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<br />
<i>Addicted to Photography? </i><br />
I
went back to college in my 40's, and of course, signed up for all the
photo classes, seeking a degree in Art with an emphasis in photography.
I learned photoshop and entered the digital age. I still had to take a
basic class in chemical darkroom photography (this was in
2004). I loved the darkroom. I became the goddess of the darkroom. I
became a darkroom supervisor, and spent hours and hours there after
classes. I could be there all night if I wanted, being a supervisor,
with the keys. And often I was there until well after midnight. It was
always ..... just one more print..... then I'll close up and go home. It
got to the point where my husband would say to me as I returned at
1:30 am, "Where you kidnapped by the Silver Fairies again?" Yes, I
was. The Silver Fairies in this case being the Silver Gel process of
developing film and black and white prints. Yes, I love the Silver
Fairies, and I've been enslaved by them for years.<br />
<br />
As a photographer for about thirty years, I've
accumulated a lot of negatives, slides, darkroom equipment, filters,
cameras, and yes, massive files of digital photos.<br />
And
so, what do we do with them as artists? They sit in our closet. We try to sell
some, we try to publish. And then, with the advent of the
internet......and blogging.....and websites.....yes, we can share our
closet files with the world.<br />
<br />
This blog will be part imagery
and on my adventures as an artist and a photographer. I'll share my experiences with the changing landscape and the exciting new
trends in the photographic world.<br />
As fellow artists and photographers, or just plain art lovers, I hope you will join me on this journey. <br />
Keep clicking that shutter button.<br />
<br />
Lily Silver, Artist, Photographer, Author and Historian lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-34866592567406594322013-04-19T19:20:00.001-07:002013-04-19T19:21:29.712-07:00A Sad Week: But Old Glory Still Hangs Proud This is a sad week.<br />
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The news is full of images of the tragedy in Boston during the Boston Marathon.<br />
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The bombing has made the nation weep. Our flags are at half mast in the cities.<br />
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Still, through it all, we endure. We are proud of our heritage as Americans, a land of freedom and promise.<br />
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On that note, I wanted to share a photo that I took inside a Mall. I have always loved the imagery of the flag set against a backdrop of mirrored office building windows. The geometric patterns and the lovely silver reflection of the mirrors is stuning amid the display of Old Glory in a Minneapolis indoor market. <br />
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Without further ado, I post this picture and with it the hope and positive energy of Americans to support those affected by the bombing in Boston this week, and the explosion in Texas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoVvaMnJxCO7aYGudNkGZ0ZtNbTs7Ff7CCsLoMIK1d-YE-iNXLK1sn9XJskU2OCnJtWPi2COCxHB7Ex0QTHHl36sumpVBU0Q3PUorb7xSRmbHoIrawpjwtXSwe1jZtF_PPla8sPGe_00/s1600/Old_Glory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoVvaMnJxCO7aYGudNkGZ0ZtNbTs7Ff7CCsLoMIK1d-YE-iNXLK1sn9XJskU2OCnJtWPi2COCxHB7Ex0QTHHl36sumpVBU0Q3PUorb7xSRmbHoIrawpjwtXSwe1jZtF_PPla8sPGe_00/s640/Old_Glory.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America, The Beautiful, and the Brave, We Shall Endure! Copyright Lily Silver, 2013</td></tr>
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lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-76926387046449186422013-04-12T21:29:00.001-07:002013-04-12T21:29:42.463-07:00Sorry, everyone, Spring has been Cancelled! It's April 12th today.<br />
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School was cancelled. <br />
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Why, you may ask, would school be cancelled in the middle of April in Wisconsin?<br />
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Well, here's the deal: Snow Storm Walda!<br />
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A friend contacted me via email today. She left her her house because the power was out, and went to the internet cafe to work on her writing with her laptop. She was waiting for the power to get back on at her house so she could go home. It was frigid cold out today, on top of the several inches of snow. <br />
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Yes, we had a snowstorm today, in northeastern Wisconsin. All the public schools shut down and on my way to my office, I noted several cars in the ditch along the highway.<br />
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So, let's have a short eulogy for Spring, dear readers. Apparently it's been cancelled!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdMIG4w6TG_2LOWhVJhFrcL93So84sjMSOrXYPLFuZPeyRmZnko4EZKQYhG9lCkXPJLj2gOMMsrKh_SWdYboRIQD9f1A1rNVwHpO-JjGJhPyJ3Y6tGQ6Kl2AydP0q2Ivkzv8mcit3R1g/s1600/roses-copy-3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdMIG4w6TG_2LOWhVJhFrcL93So84sjMSOrXYPLFuZPeyRmZnko4EZKQYhG9lCkXPJLj2gOMMsrKh_SWdYboRIQD9f1A1rNVwHpO-JjGJhPyJ3Y6tGQ6Kl2AydP0q2Ivkzv8mcit3R1g/s1600/roses-copy-3.gif" /></a></div>
<br />lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-34777513857974141612013-04-09T11:37:00.001-07:002013-04-09T11:37:00.589-07:00April Showers . . . bring May.... yeah, right! Can't we just fast forward into May?The old adage about April Showers bring May Flowers must have been said by people suffering a little bit of the winter blahs, or spring cold and rain blahs, at any rate.<br />
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In Wisconsin today, and in much of the northern states hugging the Canadian boder, it's fracking cold, wet, rainy, and just plain dismal. The rain is dripping off the roof here. My basement is wet, again. That is an annual occurance as the snow recedes and melts into the lawn. And my flower beds are looking very drab, except for a few little spots here and there that are showing promise. <br />
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But, there is hope, gentle reader, just hiding in the flower beds. If you've not peeked outside lately, cuz it's too wet and too cold, let me brighten your day just a little bit with the floral bouquet. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnTKbU5P9IfeBqCWqP76BP0CL1IIUEb3bbTbnw_pc5zuETwm2QAF1rslYWt57FSmYNKhL-VJDE7WivRd-AOZ58OcYGogxZmlEpFxJHE7LVgQruD5T8nEg8JiD70_0eDvvvGwSdVBya_w/s1600/Crocus,-Gif-for-web.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnTKbU5P9IfeBqCWqP76BP0CL1IIUEb3bbTbnw_pc5zuETwm2QAF1rslYWt57FSmYNKhL-VJDE7WivRd-AOZ58OcYGogxZmlEpFxJHE7LVgQruD5T8nEg8JiD70_0eDvvvGwSdVBya_w/s400/Crocus,-Gif-for-web.gif" width="400" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocus by Lily Silver </td></tr>
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Yes, there are flowers budding out, peeking out of the cold and snow begging for a little sunshine and warmth. The purple crocus here is an example.<br />
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And since we are just past Easter, I'm sure you've noticed the daffodils and tulips peeping out shy little buds.<br />
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They are nature's way of saying, hold on, spring is coming, really it is.<br />
<br />
Mother Nature has not forgotten us, folks. She's just taking a little longer to change her cloak this time around.<br />
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Happy Spring!<br />
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Lily Silverlsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-31127659190302368482013-04-06T14:44:00.003-07:002013-04-06T14:44:39.831-07:00The Pink Time of Year<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Springtime is a lovely time of year. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, its not here yet in Wisconsin. As I sit here in my office gazing out the window, it's a grey, cold gloomy Saturday afternoon. I am contemplating making chili for dinner, as it's so cold out, and in the house, too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, here is a little burst of springtime I saved from a past spring that was more welcoming then this one has been. It's my flowering crab tree in my back yard, in full bloom: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I like to call this photograph "The Pink Time of Year" </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7H-JMfkN-pwdwlu8eDa2LqQHbZHFFKsmEDeCwqyKSYfAHZscXzeVZqNAADtOCzsHIxqSHKzNHsqIJesRd7CJHGUo1O8XUKDIPHVaxh17pevVD7SWq4Y5PwbbamUx03NX_Mx-iabSN54/s1600/flowering-crab-with-arched-.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7H-JMfkN-pwdwlu8eDa2LqQHbZHFFKsmEDeCwqyKSYfAHZscXzeVZqNAADtOCzsHIxqSHKzNHsqIJesRd7CJHGUo1O8XUKDIPHVaxh17pevVD7SWq4Y5PwbbamUx03NX_Mx-iabSN54/s640/flowering-crab-with-arched-.gif" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here is the same photograph, with a little photoshop magic to make it softer and more ethereal: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEap8i9cVKFdxkKEyGf5vh_Nfv_ZevvDKXmBa4Bi-3rxKHt2NYkPJ9Dgxe3aGi50BU-_1c24zyzV5aeSm9UuXSE3zYLfj6Mspw2HM8tLvFBaaVjHLm_-MgMsZ83gtFZ0p26Hx8d1mMTk/s1600/flowering-crab,-diffuse-glo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEap8i9cVKFdxkKEyGf5vh_Nfv_ZevvDKXmBa4Bi-3rxKHt2NYkPJ9Dgxe3aGi50BU-_1c24zyzV5aeSm9UuXSE3zYLfj6Mspw2HM8tLvFBaaVjHLm_-MgMsZ83gtFZ0p26Hx8d1mMTk/s640/flowering-crab,-diffuse-glo.gif" width="476" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know why, but I find this one more appealing. It looks like something from an old vintage postcard, or a soft light photo or infared photo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I like to experiment with my photos and find out what changes can be made to make them unique and classic quality. I do hope mother nature isn't 'experimenting' with her timetable for weather and warm springtime blooms! Here's hoping the warm weather and the Pink Time of Year is just around the corner! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Springtime everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lily Silver </span></div>
<br />lsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1709505998058737487.post-91317589085453464632013-03-31T09:17:00.001-07:002013-03-31T17:25:52.220-07:00Easter, Ostara or just plain Spring, It's still lovely! <h4>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0TSZzJeaMWdrJIbXpdTHbz2QbXWY7umlkdFLmDwGqbocgU7lAQyadO8p81HMqmvegdUmnkEq8HT_OIPa1W1LG8qAPX_LuA-qtanKaZjIlMgZTDEeU2QGfu4tkyHlOK2htcVDDk8thm0/s1600/Easter-Daffodils.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0TSZzJeaMWdrJIbXpdTHbz2QbXWY7umlkdFLmDwGqbocgU7lAQyadO8p81HMqmvegdUmnkEq8HT_OIPa1W1LG8qAPX_LuA-qtanKaZjIlMgZTDEeU2QGfu4tkyHlOK2htcVDDk8thm0/s640/Easter-Daffodils.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daffodils, with a little artistic magic in Adobe Photoshop! </td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">HAPPY SPRING......Happy Easter.......Happy Ostara......</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spring is a time of renewal. A time a fresh starts, new life, cuddly animal babies and new flowers budding. But some years, like this one for example (Spring 2013 if you are reading this post later), Spring seems to be elusive in the midwestern United States. It's been a battle, as temperatures have lingered in the lower digits, even in March, and we still have several inches of snow in Northern Wisconsin, even on March 30th.</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Spring is coming.</i> It will come. We aren't trapped in a nuclear winter, although it may seem like it. The snow is receding, and my heart is lifting a little as I anticipate the coming of true spring, not just the calender date telling me it's spring as I shiver under a blanket. I'm talking about the actual warm weather and being able to go outside with my camera to take pictures such as the one below, and then do a little artsy magic on them in photoshop to make them shine as my own creation.</span></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXZNl2jOfnn_QbagM86b5uDlFfnS8KL3IdGwVPZCTKfyfKN0sFrKZ3u6RihrzxXGt8YbkzqTU5xjwiLWBZKvR8HUwUE_jtR7F4zkf8ebk0-o_3yor3YPpfYhG2yLEPOtV9nJKHs-O6Sc/s1600/Easter-untouched..gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXZNl2jOfnn_QbagM86b5uDlFfnS8KL3IdGwVPZCTKfyfKN0sFrKZ3u6RihrzxXGt8YbkzqTU5xjwiLWBZKvR8HUwUE_jtR7F4zkf8ebk0-o_3yor3YPpfYhG2yLEPOtV9nJKHs-O6Sc/s400/Easter-untouched..gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Photograph </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYguB794zgkoB7KPeHaXxQkMthzZFcKdyszszg7PsRdZW7jU2djDrY4QwMgDg6HsOcvj_mAMfwSmqBOnXCPntTyGUoUnaSvwzJrdHaCwMod-A_ThjfOCqH8ONFknm5Gqu1gh6w2BeEn9A/s1600/Easter-Daffodils.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYguB794zgkoB7KPeHaXxQkMthzZFcKdyszszg7PsRdZW7jU2djDrY4QwMgDg6HsOcvj_mAMfwSmqBOnXCPntTyGUoUnaSvwzJrdHaCwMod-A_ThjfOCqH8ONFknm5Gqu1gh6w2BeEn9A/s400/Easter-Daffodils.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily Silver's New Photograph of Daffodils </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Happy Spring, Everyone.<br />
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May all your Art Adventures be Happy Ones.<br />
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Lily Silver, Artist, Author, and Free Spiritlsilver60http://www.blogger.com/profile/07932215293781615986noreply@blogger.com0