A Dollmaker's Perfection

I love the  simple beauty of this video. This artisan,  from Japan, has spent a lifetime learning his craft; learning all the skills required to create his art to perfection. It begins with the selection of the wood, then the turning of that wood on a lathe, then the minimal hand movements with a carving blade that shapes the wood to perfection. Then, he uses extraordinary hand-eye coordination with a simple brush to turn the shaped wood into a doll with lovely features.

Here is the link... https://vimeo.com/79369173

The Zorthian Ranch

A few years ago, I wrote  a blog entry about two remarkable people,  Jirayr Zorthian and his wonderful wife, Dabney.  Zorthian was a well-known artist and a free-spirit. He and Dabney enjoyed a great life on their 40 plus acre ranch in the hills above Altadena, California. Jerry passed away in 2004 at age 92. Dabney left us a few years later. I miss them both.

Just the other day, our friends, Jane Morrison and Michael Tobias, who originally introduced us to the Zorthians, sent me a link to an article that just appeared on the webpage of KCET, the PBS TV station in Los Angeles.  It recounts the Zorthian story and provides some insight into what has happened to their ranch since their passing.

Here is the link...  http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/los-angeles/zorthian-ranch-altadena.html

Robin Williams

One of the brightest lights in the human family went out last week. Robin Williams was one of a kind. A human being with a mental energy and lightning speed creativity that was remarkable and entirely unique. The only other person I ever saw who had that brand of instant insanely fun improvisational humor was Jonathan Winters, a comedian who preceded Robin Williams by a few decades. 

Robin Williams
 

Anyway, I mourn the loss of Robin Williams.  He was an enormous talent. Moreover, he appeared to be a genuinely decent and compassionate human being,  despite the demons that seemed to torment his soul.  I hope he is at peace now.

Here is a link to the hysterically fun interview Robin Williams did with James Lipton, host of Inside the Actors Studio    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGhfxKUH80M

Burning Man

In Nevada, every year,  an event is held known simply as Burning Man.  It's been going on for several decades now. I've never been to Burning man, but it sure looks like a fascinating blend of creativity and in-your-face defiance of cultural norms. I'm all for that.  

Burning Man

I just came across two videos that present very creatively drawn video pictures of the phenomenon known as Burning Man.  It's worth a look for it's expression of video art alone.  

Here is a link to the first video...http://vimeo.com/103975643

Here is the link to the second video...http://vimeo.com/105365388

Here is a link to the Burning Man website....http://www.burningman.com/

Honey Bees in 4K

I am currently working on an outreach video for Move to Amend that features the perspective of a beekeeper.    

In preparation for this project, I came across a video produced by Jacob and Katie Schwarz.  About three minutes long, it was shot beautifully in 4K ultra-HD video. The  video work and editing is marvelous. Accompanied by  original music by composer Richard Williams, this video is a touching celebration of bees.

Congratulations to Katie and Jacob. Your work sets the bar very high for those of us that use visual imagery to showcase the natural world.

 Here is as link to this wonderful video...  http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Honeybees+96+fps+4K++You+Tube&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=0A0E9EC52AF92C82CBD40A0E9EC52AF92C82CBD4

Mt. Pleasant Iris Farm

A very nice outing today to a beautiful location in Washougal, Washington overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.    Chad Harris and Dale Grams have created their own little slice of paradise about 25 minutes east of Portland.  This is a small farm that specializes in hybrid breeds of Japanese Iris. Chad has created some new cross breeds himself.   What a privilege to spend a bit of time here. Chad was a very gracious host, giving us access to all of his carefully landscaped garden work. If you're looking for a very satisfying way to spend a bit of time,  the Mt. Pleasant Iris Farm gets my top recommendation.

See some of my images below....

 

For directions and information, go to the farm's link...  http://www.mtpleasantiris.com/

The Fair Use Doctrine.

These days, there are millions, maybe even billions of digital images, personal quotes, artworks, and other forms of digitized intellectual property circulating freely on the internet.  Much of this material is easily accessible with a keystroke or two.

When I write entries for this blog,  I generally look for photo images, charts, illustrations, quotes from notable authorities, anything that will make my message more compelling. There is a copyright doctrine called' Fair Use' that offers legal guidelines for the public use of this freely available intellectual property.

Here is the Fair Use Doctrine as written in U.S. law...

17 U.S.C. § 107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17 U.S.C. § 106 and 17 U.S.C. § 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include:

1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.^[4]


As written in the law, this doctrine is open to relatively broad interpretation. The law seems to boil down to two things. You can't use somebody else's intellectual property to make money for yourself. You cannot use it in a way that casts any kind of negative or unflattering light on the originator of the copy written material.

In my case, when I repost articles of interest that I find on the net, I give credit to the originator of the material. 

Not long ago, I posted a blog entry about a live cam of an eagle's nest on the grounds of the Naval Observatory on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.  The article was entirely about this live video feed.  To make the piece more accessible, I selected two quality images of bald eagles  I found when I googled 'bald eagle images'.   The images I selected were beautiful,  but did not include the name of the copyright holder. Not long after that blog entry was posted, a person who says he was the owner of one of the images posted a comment on that entry accusing me of stealing his image. I certainly had no intention of improperly using his image. I put it there only to illustrate what the blog was actually about.  That seems to fit very easily within the exceptions allowed under 'fair use'.  Still, since this person was upset with  my use of his copy written image, I immediately removed it from that blog entry.  I then responded to that accuser, telling him that I had removed the image, even though 'fair use' did not require me to do so.

There are nearly 500 entries in this blog. Only that one time has somebody made an issue of my usage of material freely available on the net.  I believe the approach I have taken to this issue is readily defensible under the fair use doctrine.   My advice to anyone who uses copy written material is to err on the side of caution.  If you think the owners of that material might be offended, the best course is not to use it.

Stephen Lyman - Artist in Nature

Steve Lyman was only 34 years old when he died tragically in a climbing accident in Yosemite National Park in 1996.  Prior to his untimely death, he had already established himself as a world class painter and illustrator of  wildlife and the natural world.

Lyman's work reflects a remarkable skill in capturing the nuanced light in the evening or twilight.  He did many paintings that feature lanterns or campfires.  Even as a young man, Lyman had developed a substantial following in the art world.  Though he was moderately prolific, Lyman's passing sent the value of his original works into the stratosphere.

I started collecting wildlife art prints when I was a young man. I love Lyman's work and have long wanted to have a print of his for my collection.  Here are a few other works by  the late great, Stephen Lyman.

 

Here is a link to an art gallery that continues to features works by Stephen Lyman.  http://www.riverwindgalleryart.com/stephen-lyman.html

Animal Pix

I have been working to improve my photo processing for a couple of years. I shoot with a Canon 7D  DSLR, mostly with a Canon 24-105 lens.   I process in Lightroom and in PhotoShop CS6.    I like the work I'm doing these days, not that it couldn't be a whole lot better. I love trying new processing techniques.

It's fun to turn a nice photo image into something that approximates art.  Here are some of my animal images taken over the past few years, and processed with my own brand of artistry.   I find inspiration everywhere I turn. My approach is to do what I like and hope that others appreciate the effort.

I like photographing animals, especially when I can present them in a graceful or majestic way. 

Blue Heron - 'Vigil'

'Love'

'Safe and Secure'

Curious George





'Alert and Ready'

 

Nine Year Old Opera Prodigy

A video came across the net today. It was nine year old Dutch girl, Amira  Willighagen singing Puccini's opera aria, 'O Mio Babbino Caro'.  It is astonishing.   Moreover, Amira  reportedly is self taught, using 'You Tube' videos for inspiration.   This child's voice brought tears to my eyes. 

Amira Willighagen

Here is a link to nine year old Amria singing 'O Mio Babbino Caro... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBMfgLvRZJs

PES Films

PES is an artist who makes incredibly clever, stop-motion video.  One called Fresh Guacamole was nominated for an Academy Award.  My favorite is called The Deep.

Way to go, PES. You're a creative force of nature.

Here is a link to PES Films... http://www.eatpes.com/

Mao's Last Dancer

A few years ago, a theatrical feature titled Mao's Last Dancer was released. It's the best feature film about classic dance that I've ever seen. It didn't last long in theaters, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the film..

Mao's Last Dancer is based on a true story.  It was directed by Bruce Beresford, who may be best known for his film, Driving Miss Daisy.

 Here is a link to the trailer for Mao's Last Dancer... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkgqA_fxas8

Dancers Among Us

Clumsiness comes easy to me. It also helps me to appreciate the grace and beauty of people who dance for a living. It's takes discipline, talent, and perseverance to be a dancer.  I just ran across a photographer - Jordan Matter - who has created a unique platform to capture dancer's being who they are in one interesting place after another.  It started as a book titled, Dancers Among Us.   This book has morphed into a media franchise.  There are now multiple Dancers Among Us books, calendars,  and videos featuring dancers doing what they do in many places around the world.

Here is a link to Jordan Matter's very appealing website... http://www.dancersamongus.com/index

Here is a link to a video that showcases Dancer's Among Us... http://vimeo.com/76484966

How to Change the World

Found this in a Facebook entry from the Richard Dawkins Foundation.

O Mio Babbino Caro

I wouldn't call myself a big fan of opera,  but I know what I like.  An aria is an expressive melody usually performed by a solo singer, most often as part of an opera.  O Mio Babbino Caro is an aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi, by Giacomo Puccini. It is deeply moving and beautiful to the ear. 

Sarah Brightman

British soprano Sarah Brightman, though not an opera singer, does a splendid job of delivering the emotion and aural beauty of this wonderful opera classic.


Here is a link to Sarah Brightman singing O Mio Babino Caro...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2Alx2BnF64

Suzan Ehrens - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

What a joy it is to experience an artist in peak form.  Such is the case in the attached video. Suzan Ehrens is a Dutch soprano.  As an instrument, her voice is as good as it gets, maybe the most impressive and pleasing that I have ever heard. Bravo to Suzan Ehrens.   Her version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow melts the heart and tugs at the soul.

Suzan Ehrens

This video  link showcases Suzan Ehrens singing Somewhere OverThe Rainbow  in performance with Andre Reiu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKkVrvSYVr4


Here is a bonus. Suzan Ehrens singing, Don't Cry For Me, Argentina  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dlwVKm8ArQ

Robert Bateman

I am a fan of noble creativity of all types.  Painting images is an art form that reveals itself in countless ways.  I have a particular affection for wildlife art that showcases living creatures in ways that celebrate their beauty and grace in their natural habitat.

For more than thirty years, I have been a fan of the brilliant, Canadian wildlife artist, Robert Bateman.  

Robert Bateman

Whether capturing the majesty of a lounging snow leopard...

Or a goldfinch in a meadow...

 

 or Elephants looming over their landscape...

or wolves looking for a meal in the wilderness...

Robert Bateman's art celebrates the wild creatures he paints with elegant reflections that are worthy of the natural world he reveres.  Bateman's work is a gift that will be ever more appreciated as time goes on.  If you aren't familiar with his work,  go to the links below and become a fan yourself.


Here is a link to Robert Bateman's website...  http://www.robertbateman.ca/index.html


Here is a link to a video about Robert Bateman...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE2ZMF1C7ZA
  

Here is a link to a video about the new Bateman Art Centre in Victoria, British Columbia  --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM9QD5Gjtkk&feature=player_embedded#!

Gus Harper at Work

What we have here is a melding of talents; a gifted fine art painter,  a very talented filmmaker, and a great musician/composer.  I found this gem on the Boing Boing blog this morning.  I like that site because of the eclectic and often interesting links it showcases. Thanks to Boing Boing's team for spreading the word  and bringing this work to my attention.




Gus Harper

In this video, it's such a pleasure to see the fruits of three exceptional artists come together. Light flows over a beautiful, emotionally engaging montage of the painter at work. 

Little Pomscape by Gus Harper

Gus Harper's art is presented gracefully, unobtrusively, by Isaac Rodriguez, a video artist in full control of his medium.  The original music, performed in pitch perfect fashion, is the work of English composer Dexter Britain  

Here is the link to Issac Rodriguez's wonderful video short about gifted fine art  painter, Gus Harper. http://vimeo.com/64367301

Being a Dancer

I marvel at the effortless grace that epitomizes a truly skilled dancer.  I particularly appreciate the commitment and discipline of ballet dancers.  The best of them are artists of the first order.

Here is a link to a web presentation on Buzzfeed that reflects on what it is to be a top order ballet dancer....http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/you-should-know-ballerinas-are-more-hardcore-than-you

Pen and Ink

Tricia Kittredge is an artist of the first order. Her medium is pen and ink.

Tricia Kittredge

Largely self-taught, Tricia has been working her magic for 35 years, specializing in illustrations of pet aniimals, landscapes, still lifes, portraiture and figure studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tricia Kittredge is based in Salem, Oregon. Her husband, Don Anderson is one of my mentors. Don's awesome photographic work often provides inspiration for Tricia's art.  They are a winning combination, and a big part of what makes them that way is their refusal to act their own age. They know very well how to have a good time.

Pen and ink is a beautiful but notoriously difficult medium.  It takes about six weeks of painstaking work to produce one of Tricia's exceptional works of art.  She appears to relish every moment she spends with pen in hand. 

If you want one of Tricia's works, it will cost you. These days, she keeps herself quite busy producing commissioned work. 

I am fortunate to have Tricia and Don as friends. Now, I need to cobble together enough bucks to get in line for my own commission.