U is for .... Utopian (way to show your talent)

No, I didn't have to use a thesaurus to find an apt word for today's post. -shifty eyes-


Sorry that, once again, I have been more than slightly MIA. I was excited (very excited, actually) that it was summer and I would a.) have time to furiously scour the internet to find b.) interesting things to share with you all.

And theeeeen, the unfortunate, the disastrous, the terrible, the terrifying thing happened and....my laptop died. So, until I end up getting to the city to take it to the 'Mac Doc', I'm using the family's computer. Which means less time for scouring and posts. I know, it's a sad, sad thing. :(

But! Enough sadness! I come bearing a post! And fun things! Artsy things!

While doing my obligatory Tumblr check I stumbled across The Sketchbook Project.

Essentially what the project is is this: a global community of people filling personal sketchbooks that will then be put on tour to the places indicated on the map. Afterward, the sketchbooks will be placed in the Brooklyn Art Library for anyone to view.

At the site, you can pick one of forty themes and your sketchbook is to follow that theme to wherever it takes you. As well, there is the option to have them send you a random theme, which will arrive with your sketchbook.



Honestly, it sounds like so much fun and I'm seriously contemplating doing it, if only because I'd love to start getting back into doing things like this (I used to all the time before I started going to college) and I think it would be the kick to get back into it.

I hope some of you decide to do this project, and if you do, let me know and how it goes for you!

U is for ... Unusual (Cameras)

While boredly going through my Twitter feed this morning, I saw that @NylonMag had a link to some 'interesting' cameras. And because I'm a devourer of cameras, I clicked the link. (Bet you didn't see that coming, did ya?)

The slideshow is composed of 8 different cameras of various prices (from $18 - $180). They're all adorable and sound like they work really, really well. At least, any of the sam

ples shown had quality pictures. :) Taken with a grain of salt, I'm sure.

My favourite is this adorable $25 Juice Box Camera.

Isn't it so adorable and look like so much fun? The pictures look like they turned out really well, and the price is something I'd be able to pay.

Which one would you get your hands on if you could?

D is for ... Destination (Ottawa)

This is a post about a week in the making, shame on me. School's been keeping me running a lot more this past week (might have to do with me slacking off a bit last week...oops!). But! This week is almost done, I've caught up on (the majority of) my work, and I figured I could spare a few minutes putting a post together.

Last Saturday I went with my roommates to Ottawa for the day. Every winter (so I've been told/read), they have a whole list of events and fun things planned. So, my roommates and I went and ventured and walked (a lot!), and, generally, just had fun.

The sculptures we went to go see.

Out listening to DJ Vito.

My roommates as we wandered around the city, trying on dollar store crowns. :)

It was a lot of fun, and I'm definitely glad we went. Now, time to get on to organizing all those pictures! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :)

K is for ... (Yousuf) Karsh

Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.

I have mentioned the talented Mr. Karsh in a previous entry. However, I feel he deserves a post of his own.

All of his pictures are black and white, which, to me, speaks a lot of the man. Yes, he started doing photography at a time when there wasn't much other choice, but he stuck with black and white until his death in 2002.

He was a master at lighting and there are very few of his pictures in which the lighting is not....perfect. (That's my opinion only.) Karsh loved hands, and you can tell, as most of his photographs have the subject's hands in the picture, doing some thing or another.

I'm not going to post a biography on him, there's Wikipedia for that. His works of art speak to me in ways that make me want to go out and be a better photographer. I think this says it all:

His extraordinary and unique portfolio presents the viewer with an intimate and compassionate view of humanity.

I think that that's something for everyone to want to achieve; in whatever they feel passionate about.






P.S. I'm really sorry about being so MIA lately. I know: no way to get a blog going if you're never around. I moved this summer, and have been working non stop for school in...sixteen days! So the rest of August will continue to be dedicated to the letter 'k', and as always: if you have anything that you love and want up on the blog, let us know!!!

xoxo

M is for ... Marian (Hill)

I can't find anything on Marian Hill other than the short blurb that she posted at her bio at eastwing.org:

"My work is collaged from many, many small fragments of paper. I cut up magazines and books then reassemble them into my images using old fashioned glue and scalpel blades. This technique is intricate and time consuming, but I love the textual quality that it produces."

I received a lovely card for my birthday that portrayed a piece of her art and new she would be a wonderful artist to share with everyone. Lack of information, however, means that all I have to share is this link, which will take you to the previously mentioned eastwing.org and a collection of her art. I'm sad that there wasn't more I could share with you all. She has some downright beautiful art.