Portrait of a Family Heirloom

I believe I am finished with this challenge. I like this picture because the lighting is the best of all of them.

This was a good exercise, it broadened my horizons... stretched my brian... and my brain too...

Tomatoe Art (take two)

Am I trying too hard? Which one?

TOMATOE Art

I BELIEVE in Me!

I did it! I wrote Oprah's producers today! I went out to her site and looked to see if there was a section that would apply to my Clint the Black Cat™ project - I found: Need a "HARPO HOOK UP" To Pull A Few Strings?

Do you need our help getting something done? Have you tried everything you can think of... but keep running up against brick walls?

Tell us all about what you're trying to accomplish... and why... and just how hard you've tried to make this happen on your own.

I was given 2000 characters to express my needs, here it is:

I believe in the power of believing! In 1996 I created a character and wrote a children’s book story called Clint the Black Cat™. I then co-created a curriculum for elementary kids to illustrate my book series and at the same time receive the gifts of personal empowerment through this process. In late 2000 I self-published 5000 copies of my book and began to visit elementary schools, libraries, colleges, book stores, drug stores, private parties, anyone who would help my cause. I have funded this project myself with every extra penny I had including selling my purple 1992 Corvette (my dream car).

In 2002 I lost my corporate job and the salary that allowed me to fund my project, CTBC had to go up on a shelf while I pursued a career as an artist. In the summer of 2006 I took CTBC down off of the shelf, dusted him off, and began to expand on my dream of producing a children’s educational TV show promoting personal empowerment through the visual art experience.

My book is illustrated by K-4th grade students, these children would go on book signings with me; I wish you could have seen the transformation in self-esteem with these kids.

I have had this dream for 11 years now to produce this book series and my TV show. But it is so hard when you are a team of one that is doing everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! Everybody tells me I have done it right, but no one can help me get to the place that I see in my mind clearly. I see my show on PBS; I see it helping millions of children learn to love and accept themselves thru art. I see the show as an educational tool for teachers, home school parents, etc. I need a team to help bring this dream to reality.

I have sold over 1000 books myself! My website is www.clinttheblackcat.com and www.clinttheblackcat.com/1996 (old site). Could I borrow a production team to get a pilot done of my show? I have interest in the show at PBS in Norfolk, VA, but I need the pilot! Maybe get Chevy or Crayola to sponsor Clint the Black Cat?

There's no taking it back now, so cross your fingers, say a prayer, make a wish... whatever it will take to get this to happen - I BELIEVE!!!!

July 4th, 2007 - Nashville, Tennessee

I cannot believe how quickly the last six months has gone by... I'm sure I've said this before... but this is crazy! My Mom said to me years ago, "You just wait, when you get older the years FLY by!" She was right AGAIN!

On another note, my husband and I ventured out on the 4th of July to downtown Nashville. I have been looking for the perfect location to shoot fireworks... this is my third attempt... I'm still looking after this one too. I'm happy with this shot, but not completely elated. AND, to add insult to injury, my camera locked up during the finale of the fireworks, so I didn't get to shoot what I saw... back to the drawing board, and I'll be looking again next year for that perfect location.

I do however; love what happened with the cars as they passed me by on this long exposure.

As usual, click on the photo to see a larger version.

Hearts & Stars

Hearts & Stars are my two favorite things
Cause I love love and sparkly things

Hearts are round with one tiny point
Stars are pointy with no roundy joints

Hearts signify Love, Stars signify Light
Put them together, Whoaaaaa what a sight!

The quilt you see here was made by my big sister Cynthia! I received it a couple of days after my birthday this year and was completely speechless... all that would come out of my mouth was WOW, WOW, WOW.

The poem that is above called "Hearts & Stars" was a poem I wrote many years ago after moving to Nashville; the quilt was inspired by the poem. All the materials used in this quilt have hearts or stars in them; it's absolutely gorgeous! A work of Art!

My sister is pictured here with the quilt just before shipping it to me from California. Didn't she do an awesome job?! Just look at the edge... that is my favorite part... She said the edge took as long to do as the rest of the quilt.

This is THE MOST SPECIAL gift that anyone has ever given me!

You can click on the picture to see a larger image.

Happy Birthday...

... to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to ME!!!

Winston

We almost didn't stop at Wal-Mart tonight, but I kept getting this sort of pulling feeling that I was supposed to go in and get a few things...

We were walking by the pet section where I always stop to see if there is anything new that one of my critter children must have... and low and behold there was the sweetest little puppy... At first I naturally thought "him" a girl because of his fluffy cuteness... but his "new" Mommy kindly let me know that I had made the wrong assumption. Then when I asked what "his" name was... Mommy didn't have the answer, and she asked if I had any suggestions... Well... the name Winston instantly popped off my lips... I felt since he would possibly be mistaken for a girl, that he should have a classically strong and distinguished name. The new Mommy liked this name too, so he is forever Winston.

New Mommy Laurice and her sweet new child "Winston" are pictured here... of course my camera was not too far from me even in Wal-Mart. Hope we get to see Winston again some time soon! Congrats to the both of you!

Radio POE

RADIO POE Edgar Allan Poe may not have written for the theater, but that hasn’t prevented his stories and poetry from receiving dramatic treatment. This new stage presentation of some of Poe’s typically dark, evocative pieces” Annabel Lee,” “Conqueror Worm,” “The Bells,” “Spirits of the Dead” and “The Raven” is the product of a collaboration between Jaz Dorsey’s Southern Writers Theatre and Rich Armentrout’s Third Coast Broadcast. The performers” David Kinnard, Denice Hicks and Carla Christina Contreras” recite the poetry before a dinner-theater audience at Monell’s in Franklin (108 Bridge St.). A live webcast of the performance will be available at thirdcoastmusic.net. (The show will be archived at the site for future access.) Definitely a forward-thinking idea, and the actors involved have the chops to make the Poe come alive. Both dinner and the simulcast begin at 6 p.m. May 31, with the Poe commencing at 7 p.m. For reservations, phone 837-8777. ”MARTIN BRADY

O.K., so it's already past... but what fun it turned out to be. I am not well versed in Poe, in fact, I was only familiar with "The Raven" all these years of my life. I truly enjoyed reciting "Spirits of the Dead" and the collaboration between the three of us of "The Bells!"

New Orleans again...

I was honored to interview recently with a really nice development company here in middle Tennessee. For the interview I was inspired to go back and look at some of the places I had photographed in the recent past. Here is another (re)visit to the New Orleans experience from earlier this year.

New Mexico

It's amazing, different parts of our own country look like it is somewhere else...like maybe another country? At least to me anyway... I LOVE the diversity of this country!

Click on the collage to see a larger version!

State of a FAIR

Enough said... some of the highlights of a Fair.

Click on the collage to see a larger version!

2 Hours in Philly

I had about two hours to rush around Philadelphia to take some photos. I had to be quick quick quick... and many times, my husband would drive around the block while I jumped out to grab a shot.

Click on the group of photos to see a larger version, so you can really appreciate my running around the streets of Philly!

Happy Mother's Day!

It's Mothers Day today! I was awakened by my husband holding our kitty and doggy with a card that he made and had them sign with their paws... VERY cute! What a sweet way to be awakened!

The days lately have been very challenging. When you're not getting along with your mate (most of the time) can be saddening and debilitating at the same time... at least, that's the way it seems for me. Since nobody seems to be reading my blog, I guess I can just be as honest as I want to be... the blog is for me anyway, right? RIGHT!

So, I am taking each day separately, and reacting with self-love and self-care to the best of my ability. I have learned to accept the feelings of others (through 12 step and therapy) unconditionally, although at times, my husband will challenge this philosophy constantly.

Anyway, "Happy Mother's Day" to all of you out there that are Mothers even without having birthed another human being!

I think this picture of my Mom and me in a photo booth is really cute!

Jesus LIVES!

Last night I attended the monthly Brentwood Camera Club meeting and entered a few photos into the monthly contest. One of my works received a nod by the members as runner up on photo of the month (no theme); well temporarily anyway... (there really wasn't supposed to be a runner up I found out later).Anyway, a guest member came up and wanted to see the photo closer up... and low and behold she immediately blurts out... Jesus is in your photo!!! Do you see him? I did right after she mentioned it. This is the first time Jesus has appeared, but not the first time an apparition has made it into my photography...

By the way, this is through the back window of a VERY old and rusty Chevy pick-up truck in East Nashville, the neighborhood where this car sits was doing there job as I was approached by a neighbor who wanted to know what I was doing... good job neighborhood watch! I showed her my photos on the back of my digital camera, and she just looked at me like I was nuts... she didn't see the art I guess... to each his own, right?