I'm really having an intense time creating a new body of work called the '21st Century Protagonists Series'. First An introduction. The pieces each introduce a character in the modern day fury of important issues we are all dealing with today. All of us involve ourselves in modern day issues to a different extent. But few of of are not influenced by them in one way or another. The first two characters I have introduced deal with the Conditions of our Oceans, concerning toxins and the level of trash contaminating them and Wildfires. There are few of us who have not visited our beaches and witnessed the trash that now regularly washes up with our tides. We are all directly effected by the quality of our water on this planet and the level of toxins in our seafood. A large amount of the humans on this planet highly depend on the oceans for their food. The acidity and toxic levels not only effect the ocean wildlife, but create a cycle of evaporation that will then contaminate your freshwater sources. For those of us who are lucky enough not to be directly influenced by the aftermath of a wildfire, we would be hard pressed not to feel an enormous amount of empathy for those who are. The loss of life and home is tragic. Climate change is creating a cycle of drought that we are not yet prepared for. Not just one of us, or one large conglomerate, can be held to blame for all of this. But together, as one entity, the human race, there is no doubt we can change this. Humans have done much more incredible feats than keeping their planet clean and livable. If we can create the problems, we can deal with them. And now the artwork! And some creative process! First! Super Diver 48 x 48" And Some Pieces Used! As you can see, photographing all your assets needed to create Super Diver was not all super fun. The trash bag outfit was a slight bit sweaty. And the remote trigger for the camera stopped working, so I had to try to get the positions right while holding my keyboard. I created the white plastic bag by cutting up a larger bag and taping it back together. All the smaller bags had type and colors I didn't want. I actually had to buy a plastic bottle of water, because I never buy any drinks that come in plastic. The plastic fencing came from my own garden. Add a few abstract images of colored foils and different things for the background and your ready to composite! Tons of work, but most times worth the end result of your efforts. Next! Fire Walker 24 x 36" And Some Pieces Used! Fire Walker was a lot more compositing than photographing. Most of the pieces used were from my vast collection of images I've taken over the digital years. Some are even from older cameras with few megapixels. But when your compositing many images together, they don't always have to be very large or even great! I have learned to save all the 'Failures'. Sometimes they are the perfect piece needed in just the right spot. Her body came from the hundreds of images I have of photographing my female sculpture for the 'House of Cards' Series. The face came from my mixed-media piece on Censorship. A lot of adjusting in the computer was done to give her the expression I wanted. Thanks for reading!
And, as always, Thanks for your interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art! Have a Great Day!! Please Join me on Instagram @SadulskyArt if you haven't already!!
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Phew! A tons has been going on in my work space/ studio lately. Construction on the house has meant I needed to move my Studio space again. Basically like moving around a small apartment! And it will need to happen, probably, 2 times more before I'm done. Slightly disruptive to the work process, but I refuse to let it get in my way!! The next series has begun and I'm really excited about it! Anyone who knows me knows I am just crazy about astronomy. And with the celebration of the anniversary of the moon landing, I had to choose Space as my next group of work!! So much fun! And I've had Einstein on the brain the whole time! The first experiment/ Image is done and has given me a ton of ideas! More Coming soon!
Thanks for your interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art! Hey guys, I said I'd be back soon to post my 2 new pieces that bring my photography into the multimedia realm. I didn't realize i'd be back sooo soon. The same day! The first piece is 'Untitled' 24 x 32". Encompassing Image transfers, acrylic paint and collage. Please take a second to click on the image to read about my thoughts behind this work. It was awfully difficult to get a good image of this piece. Even for a professional photographer. This is a piece you really have to see in person! The second piece is called 'See' 24 x 32" It expresses some opinion on a 'For Profit' Democratic system. Also encompassing Image transfers, acrylic paint and collage. Thanks for Looking! Have a Great Day!! Hey Everyone! It's been a long time since I have posted on my blog and I've done a lot of work since. My new series 'House of Cards' was completed in March and one of the images was shown during the affordable Art Fair!! So excited! The image chosen was 'Maintain', which is the fourth image shown below. The work was chosen through an artist submission done for the SeeMe competition called 'Her Story' During women's history month. It was an honor to be part of it. I've also completed 2 multimedia pieces. One addresses Artistic censorship and the other addresses a for profit democracy system. I'll post them very soon! Making the House of Cards
The Layers Series is finished. A small but potent series to me.
An expression of my feelings on the serious struggle of living things on this planet. A before and after, then and now, thriving now fading snapshot. A slow decay of all those precious things that sustain life. That make life natural and wonderful. Dark horizons. Which I plan on avoiding with every tiny bit of recycling, each moment of green energy, each drop of saved water and each act of true kindness, acceptance and forgiveness. We are an intelligent enough species to survive after a lot of delicate systems are lost. But do we want that life? Happy Friday Everyone!! Today I got word that I was a finalist in a competition that I entered. I submitted a few pieces from the Under the Microscope Series into a competition themed 'Color' put on by Fusion Art in Palm Springs California. 'Under the Microscope 3' from the series was the finalist image chosen. From my point of view, the Under the Microscope Series is sooo full of color. And I think I see it that way because of years of doing, and I still do, darker and less colorful artwork.
But when I look at the winners of this competition today, I realize that colorful is definitely subjective. Of course we all want to be best in show, or at least place in the top 5 for this competition, but not this time. I was among many finalists from all over the world. So I'm very happy to be at least a finalist! And my thoughts on not winning is this: Every mention IS a win!! And the benefit of entering as many competitions as you can is that you are truly receiving a portfolio review and a new perspective on how you interpret varying themes. When I look at the winners of this 'Colors' competition, I get an insight on the gallery owners taste and how literal they were with their theme choice. Please take a look at the great winners in the show!! Fusion Art 3rd Colors Art Exhibition Not even getting a mention is just what an artists has to deal win. But today is a great day!! Thanks for your interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art!! The 'Under the Microscope' Series is finally finished!
Check out the entire series through the link above! It took me quite a while to complete this series, but I really love the color selection it contains and the photomontages that finished the series. A bunch of hours figuring out the set and how to get just the look I wanted. And so many hours editing the pictures. But now I get to dream and plan out the next series, finally! Thanks for your Interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art!! Have a Creative Day!
Happy Monday Everyone!
A few weeks ago I entered an art competition put on by Light Space & Time Gallery. It was the 11th Solo Artist Series competition. I entered pieces from several different earlier series. Last week I got news that I was awarded a showcase feature of my work. Light Space & Time is an Online gallery that is super supportive of artists at all levels of their careers. Winners receive extensive exposure to many media outlets and collectors. So I am super excited! The dates my work with be shown are March 15 through the 31st. So remember those dates! But I will remind everyone when the time gets near and post a link. ​Below is a link to my press release. Check it out! Hey Everyone!
I hope all of you winter lovers are enjoying the snow, or like me, hibernating in my studio most of the time. This new series 'Under the Microscope' is coming along great! I had so much fun, plus a little struggle, getting just what I wanted. As you guys know by now, my images are often created with the most unexpected and sometimes simple objects. These images were created shooting into a glass container filled with my concoctions on a plexiglass surface. This gave me great control to add light from the top, bottom or sides and add gels and colors from all those angles too. And you have to appreciate the days when you finish with cool-aid stained fingers and turkey basters full of oil! I will admit, sometimes I seem like a mad scientist. Here are just the first 3 images in this series. There are many more to come! So I'd better get back to work. Have a great weekend guys!! Creating this series was a lot of fun, with those unexpected surprises that are my favorite part! Everything coming out exactly as planned can get pretty boring after a while! The objects I used are pretty simple but have tons of character if you know where to look! The new piece is going to be a cityscape. I've just started figuring out the set and making some pieces. I need pavement! My first step is always to see what is around the studio and house for supplies before I buy stuff. When you have been building a house, it's amazing what's lying around. Masonry board will work! Already has the texture I want. Then some black paint. Since I'm planning on a night scene. We will see. You know how plans sometimes go. Crosswalks, too. Not a bad start! Getting a feel for the buildings. I need brick. Paint board and draw bricks. This could take a while. Metal safety doors. All city shops have them. Metal tape might work! Time to do a lot of little folds and paint to make it look used. Sidewalks, too. Paint, glue, pastel, metal and graphite. My hands are definitely dirty now. Let's get another wall done before this day runs out. Super messy! All pastels. I want outside window sills! Cut foam core, paint and glue. I wonder if the glue will stick to all that pastel? Not a bad amount of progress.
I think I will do some fun little details next. Stay tuned! Follow me on Instagram for updates! I've been busy at another studio doing my 'side job', but am, of course, still fitting in time for the most important stuff. The Fine Art!! I have just finished a new piece to add to the Landscape Series. This time I took a break from creating a mini landscape set and tried something new. I decided to test out a new Ultra Macro lens I just got, and in doing so discovered a new technique in creating a landscape. You never know where your next piece will come from! This New Image Involves the most minimal of items to create it! That's It! A beautiful piece of foiled Origami paper! Ultra Macro just brings a whole new world of vision if you let it. And the New Piece! Barely touched in Photoshop CC. No manipulation. This Piece came from a shoot that created a whole new series called Into Conformity coming soon. This one shot is the only one being added to the landscape series. Thank You! for Your Interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art! This last week I was able to finish making more trees, building the scene and photographing it. I even got the editing done! Which ended up being very little in Photoshop CC this time. This piece took a little while. I might have a basic idea of what I'm going for at the start but not usually exact. That definitely adds a fun surprise somewhere along the way when you find the look you want. The Finished Piece! I'm always so very happy to complete a piece and instantly excited about the next. Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a great week! Thank You! for Your Interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art! This last week I had some time to start a new miniature landscape piece and... I wasn't happy with it at all. Being an artist sometimes means you have non-successes ( I don't like the word failures ). But each piece that isn't successful in my eyes leaves me with new information to make it work the next time. I've been an artist for a long time, and though I don't like what feels like wasted time, it's got to happen. Move on as quickly as possible is my technique. Never take a break on a low note! So... On to the next! I have already started the background for the new landscape. And I am loving it. Next, I needed some trees. And in miniature landscapes, that means really small trees! After working through some ideas, I came up with a solution that is working great. One of my favorite smells is fresh cut grass! And as Russell mowed our large lawn, It occurred to me that he was making the material I needed. I collected some, cut it up super fine and dried it for the night. I'm certainly not the inventor of this idea. Miniature landscapes are created for train sets and architectural models all the time. And these fine texture materials are used for sculpting landscapes. But I didn't want to buy it. I'm using Gaffers tape, grass and scissors. That's it! Shape Your Trees So simple! Make a cone out of Gaffers tape with the sticky side out and roll in dried, fine cut grass. A mini tree! Just what I need! Just the impression of a tree line or forest is all you need for my impressionistic images. These will be perfect! Have a great week guys! And stay tuned for the new images.
Thanks you! for your Interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art!! My New Landscape Series is just getting going. Started with the recent CD cover I just completed for a great local band, each new scene is a new journey in figuring out how I will get the look I want. It's super fun even with the expected failures along the way. The most recent set I built involved trying to create a forest scene with a brook that opened into a misty fog. The mirroring and manipulation I did after the shot was taken created the magical tree growth and branches. Here are a few shots of the process Collecting Materials And Some Building! And the First 2 Finished Pieces! from this set build. Onto the next! Thank You! for your Interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art! Recently I was hired to do Artwork for a great local band here in Maine. Native Isles is about to released there first EP, and needed art for there EP sleeve and promotion. I was super excited to be chosen to do the work. I decided to do a newsletter and blog post on the making of the art, since most people find it interesting, if not surprising, to see behind the scenes pics of how my sets are built. I would compare my sets to miniature scenes. Very similar to the sets built for stop animation movies.
Thanks for your Interest in Shannon Sadulsky Art! The Geo SeriesHey Everyone!
I've Just Completed a new Series of work! Full of Vibrant Colors that have a Jewel-like Effect with Modern Geometric Patterns. A Total of 6 Pieces Created with Some Cool Lighting and (Believe it or not!) Simple Bamboo Skewers. It's All in Your Imagination!!! and Hard Work! Check out the Full Series HERE When I was young, all I really wanted to do was make art. I did it at school, at home, on vacation, when I was happy and when I was angry. I don't remember the moment when I became interested in art. I just always was.
As the title suggests, I just think your born that way. Something just makes you have to do it, even if you don't always have the motivation. I don't mean that your necessarily born with all the talent you need. That takes work. It takes practice to play the piano. Hours of staring at a blank page and editing to write an entire book. Acquired technical skill to make a great photograph. Yes, IPhone has made it much easier to take an amazing picture. I love my IPhone. But, It's those years of struggle and dissecting your art that gives it true character. That's what makes an artist an artist. It's when you feel like you are letting yourself down when you don't work on your art. When you don't feel like doing it, yet you just have to. It's having a drive to do it, even when there are times when you fail again and again. I can't list the number of times I've failed at achieving what I wanted in my art. And even if someone else thought it was good enough, well, it just wasn't. And I think this is the true beauty of art. Each artist just has to achieve it in his or her own way. Just has to try to satisfy that urge to create. To draw from all those amazing artists before them that have influenced them. That unique vision that no one else sees.
My partner Russell jokes about how I will research for 2 weeks before I make a new purchase. I'm not a 'throw-away-society' kind of person. Buying a new camera takes me a while! My first real camera came from my Dad. I was super interested in photography by 16. He decided to trade me his Minolta XD11 for my snappy. Now that was a deal! I learned on that Minolta, used it through college and didn't go digital until at least 10 years after college. Then I bought my NikonD60. Didn't have much money, so I bought what I could afford. And yes, it took me a while to pick that camera. I definitely wanted the most for my little bit of money. It was at least 10+ years that I used that camera only. And only with it's kit lens! You definitely don't need the most expensive stuff. Though I'm not complaining when I get something really nice! Without a drive to create and an eagerness to learn, none of that matters. Make art with your phone or your point and shoot. Who cares what anyone else thinks. Art is about expressing yourself first. Then, with some strategy, you find all those kindred spirits who like your style, too. So... after those 2 weeks (months) of research, I chose a Sony a7II . Not the most expensive, but with all the features my interests require ( at the moment)! More megapixels, manual focus for stop animation fun, amazing viewfinder visuals, allowing you to see your exposure adjustments before you take the picture, and way more that I won't keep listing. Tip- Buy a lot of extra batteries! It's a hog. But so worth it! Obviously, the best part of art is how every artist does something different with the same equipment! I love Surreal Abstract Art, Dreamy effects and Graphic stuff. Check out my work with the Nikon and Sony Cameras. And, if your a kindred spirit, decorate a wall! And please! Post a comment with some of your work with these great cameras or tell me about your creations without the million dollar equipment! Or with it if your lucky enough! I do love my side job most of the time. Though I don't plan on doing it forever. Well, I kinda do, actually.
Being a Fine Art Photographer, and selling my work, is what I consider my full time job. It's what I do everyday... when I'm not doing my side job to add some extra money. I'll always consider my Art my main job, even if money is tight, and I need to work the side job more often. To me, it comes down to what my goals are. My vision for the future. Even If I'm not living the dream 100% of the time yet, I'll always work towards it like I am! Freelance Photo Styling/ assisting is my side job. It's the job of a photo stylist, with guidance from the art director, to make the product being photographed look great. To present it in a unique and creative way. And I will keep doing it forever, since I use it in my Fine Art Photography every day. I just won't do it for others. How we set up the objects, color schemes and props is photo styling. This is where I'm super lucky! My side job involves photography, creativity (on a good day) and working with other creative people. I know how lucky I am. The shot above was done for my photo styling portfolio. It wasn't a hired job, or something I would sell as fine art, but my own creation to gain styling work. Yup, that side job. I spent a good amount of time choosing the fabric, lighting set up and designing the layout of my objects. Of course in this situation, I was the art director, photographer, stylist and image editor. Exactly how I spend my time on my own Fine Art. I had to come up with a creative way to balance those forks perfectly on the edge of that plate. I ended up using a circular wire piece designed to build a wreath on. I grabbed several sizes at a local craft store, and got lucky that one was just the right size to match the plate. I used fishing line (a popular styling tool for stylists and photographers) to attach the forks. The circular wire had a zig-zag bend in it, which helped the forks to stay evenly spaced as they hung from above the shot. I took many shots that day. Different fabrics, colors and positioning. This was one of my favorites. What side jobs do you work to nourish your artistic goals? Do you hate your side job? (One good way to stay motivated towards your true goals!) Leave a comment! Let's hear about it! |
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October 2019
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