42

Week 42. 

It was a very sad day in our community on this particular Monday. I felt the need to hide in the shadows and hope for peace...

I am. I am a photographer, I am an artist. It's taken a long time to actually say and THINK those things out-loud... but I am, I am, I am - sat nam.

Reading in bed, I usually fall asleep before I get very far...

Navigating the corn maze at a local pumpkin patch. I chaperoned O's field trip and had fun meeting some of the kids in his class and their parents. 

Downtown for an event, it was incredibly busy that night with UNR's homecoming parade and I wound up on the top floor of the parking garage. The view is pretty cool up there and I need to go back.

A Halloween costume, is it bad if I want to wear this thing around all the time??? It's comfy.

Hiding a little bit...

A Little Bit of Magic

On Monday afternoon I headed to Midtown to met up with couple of people at PolyEsther's Costume Boutique. We were picking out things for me to wear later that night. At around 5pm I was sitting in a chair back stage at Good Luck Macbeth getting makeup and hair done. Within the hour I was totally transformed from plain old me, into a fairy princess.

 

What the heck was I up to? I jumped in at the last minute as the model for Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School. See if your community has a chapter. This is a great way to get out there and draw, paint, doodle, and sketch. The theme for the evening was the work of James Jean. Modeling was really fun and look at these amazing doodles that came out of the evening! I used the two twenty minute sessions to really just sit and be calm. It was like a meditation, I would totally do it again if the opportunity should present itself. 

Artists credit: Steve Jasper, Donna Jean Koepp, and Kaleb Temple.

week 26

finally got a hair cut!

late night moments

home practice (and the first day I forgot to take my self portrait using my dslr)

rain dance.

Donner Lake Warrior Three

my summer time uniform

cool morning in the back yard

week 24

soaked in the coastal sun

drank wine and caught up with a dear friend

relaxed after a long drive home

snuggled with my guy

visited my happy place (and broke my 50mm, again).

watched the kids play with the neighbor boys

drunk on asana after the spring to summer Great 108 practice

digging deeper, now

This week I embark on the journey of Digging Deeper. A six week course in the art and exploration of self portraits. The on line class is hosted and taught by two of my favorite photographers, Meredith Winn and Kristen Zecchinelli.
You will probably start seeing a lot more of me here in the next month, more on flickr and IG and maybe on FB too, depending on how much I want to share of my process. 

Why am I choosing to do this?? 

 It's the, "I want to see better for myself who I am". 

The, "I want my kids to have photos of me with them and without them in the frame".

And so I begin (again).... I am on a mission and a path of learning. We begin with the theme, "All of You". Here I am, all of 5 foot 3 inches of me standing in the mid autumn, mid day sun. Soaking in a moment of fresh air to clear my mind and find my center
 The near


And the far

seasonal

My in-laws are stealthy dropping off bags and bags of apples at our door.

 

At least one zucchini has gone unseen in the garden, and is almost larger than my baby girl when it is found.

 

I need a sweatshirt for a good part of the morning. 

I do love this time of year, like a lot.
Even the name of this blog comes from a poem about it.
(Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower. Albert Camus).

And you, how are you settling into the new season?

I am ready

it's bare feet and sweat shirt weather. 

green grass and golden leaves.

hot coffee with honey and milk in the morning and ice water in the afternoon.

October, I think I am ready for you.

from last night

Of course, you can't control other people, Vanessa. Not even a little; not a smidge. Every man and woman is their own sailing vessel powered by their own thoughts, emotions, and imagination. You can't improve their smile, nor even add to their woes, unless, at some level, they let you.

So, does that pretty much clear up the effect others can have on you?

You rule,
    The Universe

short and a bit of purple

I love having a dash of funky color in my hair. purple. my fave.

It was time, I held my breathe as she put the rubber bands in and then snipped 8 inches of the back. I am still a little amazed that my hair was actually that long.

I am kicking myself for not going into the bathroom to do a pre-cut shot. What the heck was I thinking? Oh well.

I love how it turned out. Sassy and fresh. Still getting used to it all not being there and Fifi is totally tripped out because my pony tail was what she held onto as she fell asleep at night.  

We all have wings...

ONE!

TWO!!

THREE (four if you count the dog!)

When was the last time you jumped?!!!!

Being a woman...

You have to be strong.

You also get to be soft and sexy.

(self portraits were shot as part of the NOW YOU workshop)