Sometimes you undertake a project without any consideration about how much time it will take. Such as the project at the left. This whole idea began with wanting to add the sound of a shutter on a camera closing synchronised with images in a slideshow. Simple idea...but then the "What if?" syndrome is started.
- What if I added captions?
- What it I added video?
- What if I added titles?
- What if I added a background image?
- What if I added background music?
- What if?
That's how a project that should have taken a few minutes took a few hours and a few hours more. But it was a learning experience.
Yesterday we went to Myrtle Beach, SC. Along the way we stopped at Brookgreen Gardens. There are over 1200 sculptures that are a part of the Brookgreen collection. We went on a docent guided tour and really enjoyed our visit except for the temperature. The temperature was in the twenties including wind chill. But we soldiered on. After arriving at the beach we found a place to get a good grouper sandwich before checking into our ocean front hotel. We thought we would just relax until dinner time.
I checkout the television programming. And what to my wandering eye did appear but two great shows on the history channel. The first concerned itself with my all time favorite space opera--Star Wars.
It went into great detail on how Star Wars was reflection of mankind's history and philosophy and even reason for being. I thought it to be a bit heavy!..To me, the films were just good entertainment. Next was a feature hosted by William Shatner on how Star Trek changed the world. It was quite tongue-in-cheek and considerable lighter fare that he earlier Star Wars documentary.
We had a good dinner and show at the Dixie Stampede before returning home this morning.
I have been reading and other stuff. Also undergoing several days of frustration. I have received an old laptop as a gift. and it was my intent to use it in the creation of inkjet monoprints. But it is bound by some sort of security package that won't allow me to load on new programs to make the monoprints. I'm at the end of my rope. I am contacting some computer gurus for help and I know that Google is my friend. So I've taken a breather from the computer.
I've been reading a new issue of Wired and watching the TED lectures. The combination of the two have induced thought. Much thought. I find the thought processes of creativity most interesting. It is very interesting to hear creators explain how the germ of an idea grows into fruition. There was also some interesting stuff on creativity in Robert Genn's biweekly newsletter. The parallels between creative endeavors whether painting or architecture or film or cooking are very interesting.
So... in the vernacular of the common fold: "Ain't that sumpin else!"
I have continued to work on the monoprints but this is the first one I have don by cutting the stencil rather than tearing it. A swivel knife would have made it easier. i scanned one of my sketches to get the image. By the way, I have started to use a pencil in my sketchbook rather than a pen. I got some hairspray to use as a fixative but in the small travel size. It will be difficult for me to change from the black ballpoint though.
I am still spending most of my time on video as for as creative pursuits gp. I have some six hundred pis fro vacation to put into an interesting slideshow. It's almost overwhelming.
Sometimes I get back to painting for a creative release. Especially when I'm asked to do a painting demonstration at a local art guild. For my subject mater I naturally chose the southwest. There is something about the landscape representing huge geometric shapes that I like. Watercolor is the medium of choice here. It is the most magic of mediums. I seems to have it's own mind and never ceases to surprise. 
