Feeling Frustrated by Internal and External Limitations

Observe exhibits A and B above. I have been feeling frustrated for the past few days by a few different causes. One is a lack of the particular size canvas I like best, specifically one that is long and narrow, with a 1"-2" thick frame. The primary art store in the district, Utrecht, does not carry this particular sized canvas. I could order it off the internet, or venture to Virginia, but at the moment, with all the other things going on, that is a very daunting task. So I will just whine instead.
This lack of canvas is the partial cause of exhibit A. I wanted to make another totem pole, but given the no-canvas situation, I improvised. And now I am feeling frustrated by not knowing where to go next, because no animal seems to fit nicely atop the ones I have. I am thinking about giving the lion and the duck the boot.
The next frustrating thing is Exhibit B. While I am really liking this painting (which is clearly missing eyes and tails), I am stumped about where I want it to go too. I like the simplicity, and am worried that if I keep messing with it (beyond tails and eyes, of course) that I may ruin its whole vibe.
The last frustrating thing is featured in Exhibits C, D, E, and F, not pictured here. The reason they are not pictured here is because I am not pleased where they are going, and at this moment, cannot stand the sight of them. C is the firetruck with the dalmation, D is the pink pig, E is the tree with the three animals under it, and F is the letter F for which I have yet to decide an animal counterpart. And F, at this moment is for Failure. UGH.

New Album

Took the new camera out on the town, then took the photos for a whirl through photoshop...
Check out the new album here.

Economic Strategies?

Is anyone else disturbed by the way car companies keep trying to get people who think they may lose their jobs buy new cars?

Thunderstorms

D.C. has nearly been washed away in recent weeks. The flash flooding has made me very pleased that we live on a non-basement level, and are safe and dry. I tried to shoot the rain in all its glory, but it was raining so much that it was next to impossible. I got this shot out the window of our house, but it doesn't really convey the wonder of the storm. Next time I am going for the lightening.

That Lovely Glow Effect

I recently upgraded to the newest version of photoshop, and was having a good time learning its twists and turns. My new favorite trick is that "lovely glow effect" so often employed by wedding photographers to highlight certain aspects of a photo. It can also be used to make a normal photo more edgy by darkening the shadows and highlighting the highlights that much more. Silly me, I used to think photographers achieved these looks with cameras!
Thanks to Jon Armstrong for helpful hints via his blog: blurbomat.com

Totally Unrelated to Painting

Random thoughts I am having today:

Do the girls on America's Next Top Model think they are smart, or that acting dumb will win them the competition?

How many different types of mascara brush can there really be? You think you have seen them all, and then they come out with yet another style.

Why does it seem everything is about vampires these days?

Hitched or Ditched is a really bad idea.

Why have I signed up in so many places to get emails for clothes I can't afford?

Why do paints have to be so toxic?

The picture has nothing to do with anything except my excitement for my new camera.

Elephants Again?

My husband came home last night and discovered me in a painting flurry, inspired by breaking out of my usual style and reverting back to my college approach to painting. After working on a couple of children's paintings, I decided I was going to do a big canvas for myself/our house. So I sat down and started painting, and of course it turned out to be an elephant. When my husband saw it, he said, "I just thought if you were painting for yourself, you wouldn't go for an animal." I guess I just can't help myself. I swear, the elephants find me. After I thought about it, I think I do have too many elephants in my life, and so I put this one up on my website for sale. Check it out here http://www.betsynoel.com/On_My_OWN.html or here http://www.betsynoel.com/Artwork/Pages/Paintings.html

Trips to the Zoo

Weather is warming up again and I have re-started my frequent outings to the zoo. Today the sun was overly hot and the humidity oppressive, but I seized the off-work opportunity to go for a long walk with my fancy new camera that I am still learning to use. Most animals were hiding from the heat, but not the red pandas, who were out for treats. There was also a woman who knew a freakish amount about the pandas, referring to them by name and referencing their siblings at other zoos, siting birth places and dates. So I snapped these shots and scurried away... The little guy is looking quite majestic in his artificial habitat, darting around in the mist.

Whale

Sometimes I try to break the mold and paint in a style different that my usual hyper controlled style.