The Arts Institute

I'm posting a photo of the stone nameplate in front of the French Building, which was once the only building the school used, and a shot of one of the Paper Marbling trays before it got put on paper... those things look fantastic and the colors are so bright!



The week has been awesome here so far... I have learned a great deal from a very competent teacher in the advanced Digital Photography class and from the Solarplate Intaglio instructor, Elizabeth, who I'm also posting a picture of as she helps a student cut a solarplate.

Last Night

So I'm wandering around Manchester, NH after dark last night just fascinated by the city, the lights, and the ideas of urban life and I remembered some stuff that my son Torrey had shot in the past with "painting with light". I was using a Nikon D40, and I set the shutter speed down to several seconds after experimenting with times and the effect of length of exposure on the shot. I really enjoyed the results. I also got a bunch of shots early this morning and will probably post some of those later today.

Merrimack River in Manchester

I wasn't able to get the web working here at New Hampshire Institute of Art until late last night and didn't have pictures ready to post, so... that's my excuse! Manchester is an interesting city that is bustling with an active arts community that is reinforced greatly by the Institute. They seem to have an excellent public relations attitude and seem to do well with special programs like the Teacher's Summer.
A stroll down toward the river last night led to these pictures, and I will post more tomorrow.

Early Morning Rose and Out on the Water

Well, actually I think the wild rose was from yesterday morning but they all seem to run together right now as the days are out of context for me when I am on vacation. It is a weird thing, but there are parts of having a daily schedule and regiment (routine) that make the days so much better in terms of what you can get done. The lack of routine causes me to flit from thing to thing (did I say "flit"?) but I have gotten my studio cleaned up (badly needed) the last couple of days, so all is good. I have to start getting ready for New Hampshire tomorrow, so I have a bit of a routine I can follow there and a week at school besides.

I did get the boat (my last two summers part time project) going and took a trip to Winter Harbor, or a least Grindstone Point and back to the bay. I got a bunch of good photos from that and will post a couple here. It feels so good to be out on the salt water and experiencing the vastness and beauty of it all.

Another Chipmunk

... and that's it!

Rainy Day Wednesday

I'm not complaining, and I know the rain is needed, so I just go out and see what I can find. I must admit that I started in the house, but the call of nature (fake flowers in the upstairs window boxes) at least led me to open a window and take a few shots. The color intensities don't seem like that much to the naked eye, but the camera really brings saturation to the forefront. I liked some of the compositions I got with the flowers, but I was trying to show that they were on the second floor and it wasn't working... maybe another time.

I think I put a post up before with the sticks, but I find that they fascinate me with the colors and straight lines and all.
The chipmunks continue to terrorize the east patio. They are digging up (and eating on the spot) bulbs that Jen had purchased as a perennial sort of thing, but it looks like that isn't going to work so well either. Oh, well, I really want to get out on the boat!

Flowers and a Reflection

OK, so the flowers were right there as I went up to get the paper this morning, and I probably had about five photos of them before I got off the patio. Granted I only took ten for the day, but it is interesting to me that the first were so quick coming. The flowers are just so beautiful it is hard to get past them.


The second "group" of photos was my reflection in the chrome bumper of a big-ass Chevy truck. The bumper was huge and I gave the chrome reflection as an assignment to my Art 3 kids next year, sooo...

Back on the Bike & Stuff

Back on the bike on a regular basis now that school is out, and I am really looking forward to the wide outdoors. I really would like to cover some new ground this summer and may drive a bit for new bike adventures. Here are some pictures from today, the shadows that I love so much and a panoramic of Long Cove. The sticks are paint sticks from the kids working on murals this past quarter.

Launching the Luna Sea & Genn's Graduation Party

So that was the most of it for today.. some time at school and the boat in the water and then the party this afternoon. Summer is officially taking place!

3 Students and a Woman

When I got "home" last night, I drew. I had the urge all day, but cleaning up my room (tomorrow's post) for the custodians to work on over the summer had taken precedence. I did hasten to my studio upon my arrival home. I have been working on a series of "internal self-portraits" in ink which are revealing to me a considerable amount of information about how I function. I must follow-up that one of those portraits was in the background as I started drawing this face in reds. I suddenly realized that the black and white accidental background had the appearance of looking toward the face... so, anyway, as always, photos result. It is good to have a post that is back to the "arts" side!

Hit Deer, Geese and Living Closeup

Bad start to yesterday bothered me all day long... saw the geese on the way home, got some good shots of them and could have watched them for hours.


Better this morning with a live one right near the road.

Tall Shadow and a Cement Block

I don't know, I just guess I like the greens so much all around me now that summer is here and I see them constantly and everywhere.

There is something so soothing and calming about this time of year that always makes me feel as though all is right and good, even when I know it isn't.

The strong light of late afternoon is always helpful!

Foggy Morning & The Brookside

Too tired to write tonight, need to get into a "mellow manic mode" to function, although the visual is striking to me! Morning was foggy drive much of the way, but got better and was good homeward.

So Here's Yesterday's Pictures...

... at least a day late.

On Top of The Grange Hall & Lichen

So I helped David get the big sign on the roof for Lynne's shop. All we could do for the two of us to be able to get that thing up and get it over everything. It worked out well. I got a picture of Rte. 1 and Tracey's and then got caught up in the lichen, some of it is really quite beautiful. See below.

Two of a Kind

So we've been working with cyanotypes in 2 of my three classes right now and we (yes, I'm part of that "getting things done" group) are working with digital media including shooting through transparencies with repetition of elements. Some cool things are resulting... see above and email or call for more details.

Eight Of 'Em

So I'll just load them up... all on the road to or from work. Tired. Fell asleep after getting home tonight at 5:45. Here they are.