WOOD HOLLOW FIRE RELIEF FUND

Wood Hollow Fire 2012 copyright Louise Ann Stowell

Hello Everyone!  As many of you may know the Wood Hollow Fire hit our place on Sunday, June 25, 2012.  There were so many communities hit in Sanpete County.  So far 100 homes and 290 structures have been burned and one victim has been verified as having died from this fire in Oaker Hills, our community.

Many of our friends have lost their homes and everything they own...only the shirts on their backs and their vehicles to their names.  We were luck as we got our 5th wheel down, although everything else was lost...the trees, animals our friends are what we really cared about.  The material goods can be replaced in time.  People cannot!

Here is the RELIEF FUND ADDRESS to help out our neighbors in Fairview, Indianola, Birdseye, Oaker Hills, Indian Ridge, Elk Ridge and the other burned out areas:

http://beenservedpayforward.com/wood-hollow-fire-relief-fund .

Instead of buying fireworks this year, think of those that lost their homes and give what you would have spent  for the momentary thrill.  Your donations will make a HUGE difference in someones life!

Thank you!

Reno Gothic

2004 copyright Louise Ann Stowell

35 mm

Photographing Reno was a lot of fun.  This photo was taken one afternoon in February, 2004.  It was snow free in town, but the mountains were covered making the air very cold.  I fought to keep my fingers (and everything else) from turning a lovely shade of blue.  St. Mark's in downtown Reno is one of the oldest churches in the area.  It has some very beautiful architecture and can easily turn into being your entire focus for most of your photography trek in the city.  

As you can see, this photo has been PhotoShoped.  I wanted to isolate and highlight the grill work within  the wrought iron fencing.  

Can You See Me?

Can You See Me?

2009 Copyright  Louise Ann Stowell

This was one of those happy accidents that occur from time to time and actually work.

Look closely...what do you see?

The woman in the photo came from a picture of Marlene Dietrich that I manipulated in Photoshop!  Playing around with the textures and special effects I got the following results.  Here is the neat part, in case you haven't spotted it yet...there is another woman in the photo.

See it yet?

The woman is the silhouetted black figure starting under Marlene's chin and jawline.  Can you see the hat and head outline and the big puffy dress sleeve on the right, under Marlene's hair?  Pretty cool, huh?!

Colma to Fresno - I Love Cemetery Artwork!

I love cemetery artwork.  If there are any of you that have visited Colma, California you will understand what I am talking about.  When I was little, my grandma often did what she called the cemetery rounds.  We would go to Olivet Memorial to the Columbarium where my great grandparents ashes are, as well as visit several others.  We would always stop at the Seamen's Memorial (for all the sailors that have died in San Francisco Bay) and I would place flowers there.  What happened during these trips was to become a life long obsession with the carved headstones, mausoleums (little houses) and figures.

Cemetery statuary from the turn of the last century is truly a lost art form.  The Italian Cemetery in Colma is a wonderland of beautiful stained glass windows and fantastic angels and other beings.  SO when I go out of town anywhere, I always like to take a look at the local cemetery to see what may be there.

Another of my favorite cemeteries for artwork is at the Old Belmont/Calvary/Mt. Ararat in Fresno, California.  I was inspired the last time I visited Fresno in 2009 to go to the Calvary Cemetery, in particular, and take some photos.

I couldn't resist the temptation to play in pastels with this one.  There are tons of photos I took from that trip and hope to start playing with.

THE CRUCIFIXION

oil pastels

Calvary Cemetery, Fresno, CA

2009 copyright Louise Ann Stowell 

If you ever get the chance to go to San Francisco, go south past Daly City and visit San Francisco's official necropolis.  San  Francisco has not permitted any burials within the city limits since before 1930,as  property was being deemed more valuable than to serve as graveyards.  So all (hypothetically speaking...they still find bodies from time to time at the old sites...disturbing to the neighbors, golfers and park goers!  Pretty funny in a black humor sort of way! :)  ) the cemeteries were moved to Colma.  My great grandfather worked in the Masonic re-location and I have a photo of him in the Masonic working.  Grisly, I know.

Anyway, these fantastic artworks are waiting to be seen and photographed.  Take a bunch of flowers from Paul's Floral and maybe place one or two at favorite grave sites or at the place of a loved one. And don't forget to look up some of San Francisco's famous departed, one of which is the legendary Wyatt Earp!

I had to share this as it is an awesome piece of work!

Prismacolor

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~ Pablo Picasso

Wildlife by KWScott
Products Used: Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils, Colorless Blender Pencil, Kneaded Eraser

Hung Jury

35mm camera

Egyptian Mausoleum in Fresno California

September 2009

Guess how I did it?

This one was a blast.  The mausoleum itself is truly great for photography inside and out.  Unfortunately, the cemetery society caretakers do not allow you to go inside anymore.  There is some spectacular stained glass in there...one mural at the center of the hall and visible from the front doors is of the three pyramids and the sphinx.   There were side panels to this that someone had vandalized that had the head of an Egyptian (diety?) in a small center cartouche.  I do have a photo of them before the destruction.  Really very sad and disturbing that someone(s) has to destroy something beautiful...and especially in a cemetery.  Those windows were and are truly gorgeous.  The other shame about the mausoleum is that no one has bothered to keep the mausoleum up.  It belongs to the Masonic Lodge.  The Odd Fellows mausoleum in Fresno is being restored, so hopefully, this one will follow suit.  When I get my photos unpacked I will down load the series I took from there.

The Woman in the Moon - Seed Beaded Peyote Stitch

The Woman in the Moon

(seed beads, ceramics, mirror in peyote stitch)

February 2009  copyrighted

Recovering Self

The past month has been particularly challenging since the theft of all of my lampworking tools from a storage shed in Spanish Fork.  Oddly, they targeted mostly my personal business things...35 mm cameras, glass rod, brand new kiln, 2 huge buckets old vintage glass that I had found during a 10 year period in California and Nevada, my glassworking cabinet and tools, all my shells, stones and sand from Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo...and a few other things.  It is difficult not to get really, really angry and bitter, but I have done it through focusing on the future and some new techniques while I have some moments between packing.  

The move to our permanent mountain home is this weekend.  Members of our ward are helping us get our things up there from Spanish Fork.  I can't wait!!!  This house in town has become cumbersome...dark and energy-sucking.  Keeping myself sane has been interesting in itself...so in a fit or desperation I started playing with wooden beads, glass paints, acrylics and gold leaf.  What I have come up with is a faux glass bead that mimics lampwork.  (Photos coming soon)

I will be slowly replacing my lampworking tools and getting my studio up.  

Hey, thieves...my expensive glass beads were never in the storage shed!  You didn't get the good stuff in those 400 pounds you stole!  That was the India cheap glass.   I was smart enough to keep the good stuff with me.  So you didn't completely destroy my livelihood...you just postponed me a little with some things.  Yeah, you got me a little depressed, but...Since then...I HAVE GOTTEN NEW IDEAS.  

Don't you know...you can't KILL AN ARTISTS SPIRIT!  We are strong...we are creative, innovative and imaginative.  You, obviously, are not.  Real artists, Real Creative People DO NOT STEAL OTHER ARTIST'S STUFF!  IDIOTS!!!

Ahhh, that's better.  I have needed that scream for awhile.  :)

I have some ideas for polymer clay that I want to try when I get "home."  So next week I will be alternating between going through all our stuff, tallying up what I need to replace and playing with art.  I want to try some cane work and introducing different textures from various types of sands, bark and other objects from the area.  We'll see.