So you don't get the wrong idea from my last post, photographing is not usually the "fun" part for me.  In fact, sometimes when I'm struggling to come up with my next project, hubby says "Go out and take some pictures!"  I do tend to get comfortable in the studio enjoy spending more hours working on processes with a photograph than actually working on taking photographs.

One of my photography exercises is to use a slow shutter app on my phone.  I especially love this for long drives.  Occasionally the results are abstracts, but sometimes I can simulate a childhood game of stopping and starting freeze focus of the things that pass by the window.  This is what you play when you're an only child and there's no one else in the back seat for "slug bug". :) 

Charlene Martin

When you really love a photograph, why not take it in every direction you can think of.  So this isn't the greatest technically professional photograph.  However, I feel a lot of emotion with this one.  The incredible sky that day, I'm always a sucker for the warm and cold colors of a sunset.  The sunset and the cattle make me feel the satisfied tiredness you feel at the end of a long productive day.  The strength of the oak always makes me feel the security and comfort of home.  But not a great photograph.

So let's try something else...  

Charlene Martin

In black and white with a little cropping, it maintains the soulfulness.  I also liked the way the telephone wires become more of the composition.  I feel a sense of loneliness and longing for home with that more enhanced element.  

The motion and lack of sharp focus makes me think of an impressionist pastel or water color.  This was one of my first selections for the 30 x 30 series of photo-encaustic pieces I did for the Blue Line Gallery show last winter.

Going Home (Sold)cradled board, encaustic medium, ink and oil over B&W photograph.

This Spring, I was in a group show at the Stockton Art League.  I wanted to stay with the natural subjects, but take them back towards more traditional photography.  One of my favorite alternative or historic processes is Cyanotype.  

Going Home2017 Charlene Martin

This process brings back a little more of the cheerfulness of going home.  The cyan is just a happy spring color and the telephone wires are a little more subdued.

Continuing my search for a more hands on approach with my art, I've started exploring a couple of different mediums, scratchboard and relief printing.  When trying something totally new, it's comforting to have a familiar friend along with you...  

2017 Charlene Martin

I'm still struggling with how and when to flip the print and when to inverse the image.  I did the carving on a clear PVC printmaking block.  I'm fairly satisfied for it being one of my first tries.  I printed it with water based ink and a brayer.  Hoping to have a few more blocks ready to go and some free time for the next open studio at the Write Place/Tuleburg Press (http://www.facebook.com/tuleburgpress)

2017 Charlene Martin