Friday, November 6, 2009

The Artists Lounge, my first selection!



I am involved in a partnership with Kim Crawford Wines in a program they started called The Artists Lounge. You can read more about it on their site and in my post "Lets Start something"

I am one of four artists that will be choosing ideas presented in the Lounge. Anyone can join and present ideas, discussion and even post their own art/photography.

I was asked to select the first idea, something that inspires me to create. There are so many great concepts and ideas being presented in the lounge that it was quite a challenge selecting in itself.

I finally selected an idea about traveling and planning a adventure and looking through maps in plotting out a trip. The idea/concept was posted by member Silverwoody in the lounge. I will begin working on a photograph that incorporates this idea of plotting a travel or adventure and looking through maps.

After being contacted by the staff at Kim Crawford Wines that she was selected as the first winner (one of seven) and accepting the prize (a matted and framed photograph of the finished piece) I was asked to contact her to share with her my ideas for the piece.

My plan for this photograph is to set up a table in a room in front of an old window. I will set up the table with some old maps I have acquired and various other items that will dress up the set-up appropriately. I decided to have maps of New Zealand as this is where Kim Crawford Wines are from as well as the grand prize being a trip there for two.

The location I have planned for this set will be in an old civil war era building with stone walls and old wood framed arch windows. The table will be set with maps as well as other interesting items such as reading glasses, magnifying glass, vase of dried flowers, jar of pencils and pens, old cameras and case, binoculars and various other interesting elements and items.

I plan on using the natural window lighting as well as some reflectors and flash strobes designed to highlight certain areas or objects on the table setting. I'm thinking already that the entire look should have an old and somewhat timeless feel and so post processing will likely involve b&w with very warm tone or perhaps just desaturated colors and selectively applied color. I will address that after the photos have been captured. To help make this a more personal piece for Katie (silverwoody) I have asked her to provide me with a photograph perhaps of her family or loved one that she might have laying out on a table in her own room. I would print it and frame it or perhaps lay it out on the table setting. In addition, she mentioned that she is a sentimental person and has kept some scribbled notes she wrote in planning some of her last trips. She will scan these notes over to me so that I can print them out and lay them in the set-up as well.

This I feel will make it a very personal piece of work and has me very inspired to get started.

As this piece gets underway, I may post some of the set and environment but the actual finished photograph will be presented in the spring on the Artists Lounge during the unveiling of chosen works.

Six more winners will be chosen by us over the course of the program. The next one being selected by the end of this weekend. So get in there now! This is a fantastic and exciting program that supports the arts and artists and I am honored to be a part of it.

Please come in and share your ideas and let us know what inspires you. You have an excellent chance of winning a personal piece of art as well as a trip for two to New Zealand!!


The Artists Lounge

16 comments:

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

What an interesting project! I'll be interested in seeing the end result of your old maps by a window photograph.

My husband and I just had a bottle of Kim Crawford Chardonnay the other night. It was very good. DH thought it had peach/pear undertones, while I found it had a grassy/herbaceous flavour - but definitely a nice fruity chardonnay.

I am going to check out this program at The Artists Lounge and put my thinking cap on, after a glass of K.Crawford chardonnay, of course!

gh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Fascinating project. I love the idea of making the piece personal with family photos and notes. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Cheers!
Julie
Julie Magers Soulen Photography
Blog of Note

gh said...

Bonnie, thats great! Post some ideas but also post some of your wonderful work in your gallery.
I had never tried Kim Crawford wine before partnering with them in this venture. They had sent me a couple of bottles and honestly, I was very impressed. I tried the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the Pinot Noir. Both were excellent, but the Pinot Noir blew me away. Perfectly balanced and smooth.
I'm looking forward to seeing your work and ideas up there!

Mark Alan Meader said...

Sounds intriguing.. I've seen some really, really nice still life set pieces done that way, moody settings with antiques and natural light. Look forward to watching your process and the end result. Already some serious though behind it, I can see.

Tess Kincaid said...

Fun project. I have a thing for vintage maps. I'm curious...what cool wooden thing is today's map on?

Anonymous said...

hi Gary, i loved how you described your set up for the photograph... made me think of how painters also set up a new painting and how important it is to think of each little detail. also a wonderful blog. r.

gh said...

Thanks for the time to drop in.
Willow, that is an old trunk i have acquired on which the map is laying. i posted about it a while back.

Daryl said...

Fascinating .. I look forward to watching this develop

Oh doh on me, watched V and forgot all about looking for your prints on the wall!

Lianne said...

Gary, I love the description of your process and can't wait to see the finished picture. I've been up to my eyeballs lately but after Friday should come up for air. I will head over to The Artists Loungs and have a look, and hopefully come up with an inspiring idea.

Unknown said...

Your concept of using old maps and personal momentos into your photos sounds like a natural. Can't wait to see...
Karen

Gary Keimig said...

A great idea and interestingventure. Will be fun to see how things work out. Good luck.

diane said...

Such a great concept, I can hardly wait to see how it turns out.

Love the lady with a big chest, btw.

Jo said...

This sounds like an intriguing project. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

I have an antique trunk similar to what I can see of the one in your photo. My grandfather brought it over with him from South Africa.

Anonymous said...

It was extremely interesting for me to read this blog. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read more on that blog soon.

Kimmie said...

Hi Gary

You photographs always make me sigh a million sighs.

Pls stop by my blog when you get a chance as I have awarded you a blog award. Congratulations!

Kimmie

http://theserendipitycafe.blogspot.com/