Best gift ever!
My first professional photography shoot
My big ‘0’ birthday celebrations didn’t end with the art retreat in Italy.
I came back to a wonderful surprise gift of a professional photo shoot for my studio with photographer, Ruth Clements, courtesy of our kind and thoughtful daughters. I can only think they must have been so fed up with me begging them to come over and help me take photos.
Way better than my selfies!
I don’t know about you, but I delete almost every selfie I ever take as I always look a dork, so I was pleased to get some half decent shots of me in my studio, complete with paint splashes!
Painting in the garden
Ruth arrived at 9.30am sharp and set to work getting me busy painting so that she could catch some action shots. That included a session in the garden ‘en plein air’.
I was so happy, just messing about, and yet the result is one of my new favourite paintings!
Of course there were plenty of brush shots…
Believe it or not, I had tried to tidy up my studio and clean all my brushes before the shoot, but I guess an artist can never hope to keep them looking too pristine.
… and action shots!
There were lots of action shots of me having a ball splashing paint around. This was indigo ink on a cradled panel that I’d first layered with Golden’s Crackle Ground. It created a beautiful textured surface, and when I sprayed the ink with water, the crackles leaped into life with zillions of tiny blue lines – amazing!
Forgive the messy hair do – I was having too much fun to care 😂
Can’t leave out the mucky apron shot can we?
This is actually as clean as it gets… the grunge is so old on there, it’ll never wash out! But I love my apron just as it is – all splattered with paint. I can feel the artist in me stir into action as soon as I put it on!
Do you have the same feeling I wonder?
…and I’m into the ‘scribbling in
my journal’ shots
OMG! What rubbish you draw when you know someone is taking a picture over your shoulder 😂😂😂.
One of the nicest things about a professional shoot is that you can hopefully get some great shots of your work on the wall.
Unfortunately, my studio doesn’t have the kind of gallery wall space that allows for this, so we opted for showing a few on the floor – here’s one I’m framing. It’s an abstract floral/still life called “This pot ain’t big enough for the both of us”. I’ve entered it into a curated show, but haven’t heard yet whether it made it in – fingers crossed eh?
Talk about getting inspired!
Remember back at the beginning, that super-quick little painting I did in the garden? I loved it so much that it inspired me to go BIG!
I couldn’t wait to get back into my studio and start on the 80 x 80 cradled panel that had been sat there, waiting for a light bulb moment.
Who’d have guessed that the humble wallflowers that grow wild all over my garden would one day be featured on a big old canvas?
Thank you Ruth for making me do that!
Reflections…
I enjoyed every moment of my photo shoot. I was relaxed and confident that Ruth would capture some of what I wanted to show.
My studio is small and a tad funky in layout, with no straight walls, yet it’s my space, my happy place. I love being there and creating and I hope you could see a little of that in the few images I’ve shared.
If you’ve enjoyed this read, I’d love you to share with your arty friends – feel free to forward it on (and do let me know 😊).
‘Til next time… lots of love
Shani x