eWomen Network rocks!

I just returned from attending my first eWomen Networking conference, and I testify to the power of the presenters....world class!
Lisa Nichols, from The Secret, kept us mesmerized....

A few thoughts from her.....
"Play big and let everyone else get used to it"
Success is NON NEGOTIABLE....her point is, that when it is so powerfully phrased, we view things differently....
She also emphasized "There is nothing for you in the comfort zone."

Ck. her out on her website, and FB page, she is an inspiration to all who are blessed to cross her path.
I was able to gift Jack Canfield (author of Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Success Principles) one of my Yellow Roses of Texas prints, with a note of gratitude.
I have been teaching and sharing Jack's Success Principles with my classes and clients for years, and I wanted to extend a gratitude gift to him.

If you have any interest in networking with amazing women, from across the country, while learning, learning, learning..... I heartily
suggest you check out your local eWomen Network chapter..... feel free to use my name as your sponsor!
Blessings to all!
C

Countdown to California

Next week, I venture to California, to speak to a professional photographic association Tuesday night, on the business topic called "shooting portraits with intention". The purpose of the topic is to help photographers create more meaningful images for their clients, and to assist the photographers in a more efficient method of photography to help guide their clients through the process, resulting in a better method of "shooting", thus not overshooting, or praciticing on their clients. All this is to help educate and elevate photographers to a higher, more professional standard of image making and customer service.
My dear photo sister, Laura Cottrill, of Walnut Creek, will be hosting me, and we are going to attend the EWomen network luncheon on Wednesday. How much fun to network with sucessful business women in California. Our speaker that day is Sandra Yancy, founder of EWomen, and also from Texas.
Then, Thursday, I crank up the Citra Solv classes....hands on, mess making, playing, good for the soul kinda stuff. We will create abstracts, the students will get to take theirs home, and we'll also discuss incorporating the CS images into our photographic artpieces.
Looking forward to sharing, growing, learning, and making new friends....the stuff in life I enjoy most!

Wesley Academy 8th graders Auction Project

I had a great time with the eighth grade class yesterday, documenting them with their wax designs, which will soon be hand cast by Greg Jensen, into sterling silver charms.
Once cast and hand polished, the hearts and crosses will be mounted onto a ONE OF A KIND necklace, which will be featured at their schools fundraiser.....an Identification chart comes with the necklace, so you can tell who made which charm.
Can you imagine the bidding wars over this one?

I love interacting with the kids, and I truly love the magic they bring to these little waxes. When the charms are cast, the details of their fingerprints are captured in the silver. This is the yummy stuff that great lives are made of.....

creative surprise

Imagine my surprise, when I peeled open the pages, and this is the image that Citra-Solv "gave" me.....all I did was rotate the image 180 degrees, and saturate the color, a bit....she feels like spring!
I will be teaching a Citra- Solv workshop/ class in Walnut Creek, Cal. on March 10th.
Will be posting further info soon.

Who are these sappy people?

Love, love, love....wanted to share this infrared photograph by my photo sista', Laurie Klein. Laurie made this on our honeymoon, in New Orleans. If I didn't know better, I'd think these kids were in their 20's??? Good thing is, love knows no age. Happy Valentines weekend, ya'll. Lots of love,
Carol and Greg

Ink Spots?

Imagine my surprise, when I unfolded these two pages, and this is the altered inks image that "happened". I feel rhythms in the markings.

Also has a feeling of bird wings.....Abstract images hold surprises for each viewer....what do you see?

Beauty unfolds....

Many people think I"m just a bit "off".... how do I see what I see when photographing simple flowers?Its not hard at all, truth is,the camera is on a tripod.

Makes me SLOW down... I start out by seeing, then by thinking, but I finally "drop down" into feeling...once I can hit that level of connection to my creativity, THEN I make an exposure. Of course I check it, refine it, and do it again....but there "ain't none of this 2000 images" stuff going on.

Enough said. True Confession: I just went into a rant about inexperience and quality vs. quantity....hit delete, cause ya'll really must be tired of this rampant misuse too!

I adopt an artist, once a year....and in that year, I dedicate to studying their work, their lives, their techniques, etc. I saturate myself into a learning state, 15 minutes a day. It generally leads me to study about their friends, their families, their communities....I remember my friend, Gabe Alonzo, taught me about the photographic secessionsists... do you know about them? Its amazing who these guys were (yea, one or two girls...) and their running buddies....their struggles and their successes...Steichen, Steiglitz, J.M. Cameron, an unknown guy named Picasso.

By expanding my art knowledge base, I expand my curiosity, leading me to expand my creative vision.....see, I'm not quite as crazy as you thought....hahah, or am I ?????

What the heck?

Old dog, new tricks...God knows I'm trying to learn all this new stuff....whatever...am I totally sold that you can build a truly profitable long term business from the seat of your desk, without ever venturing out into the world, face to face, ojo y ojo to truly forge business and personal relationships???
I will embrace, and adapt and fuse into what works for me. Selfish, yea.
Authentic? Hell yea.....
I'm here to help you too.... looking for lots of help and support, and I am blessed in this here ole Universe to have a lot of friends....so....
Bring it on.
Why not?
I'm back.
Simply C.