January 2015 {all wrapped up}

It’s the end of January, the skies unloaded a decent amount of snow in the last two weeks and yet, I am already missing warmer days. From where I sit I can hear the wind’s tantrum across the landscape. Howling through the boughs on trees and against my wind chimes on the front porch, even my door seems to be buckling against its might.

In this early hour it is quiet. My toddler is fast asleep and I am able to wrap my head around all the thoughts I have and purge them into written word. This feels good. It satiates my hunger for creative release. Sometimes, being an artist is a torturous thing in and of its self, more so on the days I am stifled and unable to disappear into my studio- sadly, those days are more numerous than they have ever been.

I am staying positive and not falling back on those dark thoughts at this time. My goal here, right now is, is to recap my January here at Shadow Horse Studios, LLC.  One major change that you may have already noticed was the site revamp. The second, a name change of my photography subsidiary. I am no longer operating under the name Glass Eyed Pony Photography, but instead, Lyndsey Warren Photography.

Why the name change? The oversaturated equine photography market and that fact that Glass Eyed Pony Photography was a name many in the wedding industry didn’t understand. By the way, a glass eyed horse is a horse with a blue eye and not actually a glass eye!

My current wedding pricelist can be see at Lyndsey Warren Photography 2015 Pricing Guide.

The name change allows me to focus exclusively on wedding photography while I am able to return full time to my commercial art and design during the week. Another change: I am also returning to teaching! I am accepting a limited amount of private lessons, pre K through adult, everything from fine art, design, and photography. I am certified and licensed to teach in VA and MD. My focus with children is on homeschoolers in Loudoun County.  More information will be made available through my website and additional media sources as I move towards accepting more students.

In Progress Example

Where my design is concerned, I have a new partial web client! Rock’N’Horse Fitness! Rock’N’Horse fitness is a Pilates and fitness program that focuses on equestrians. The business was conceptualized by Robing Kockler, PMA-CPT Mind/Body Director Sport & Health at Regency and Rock’N’Horse Fitness. Site will be live once domain transfer is complete from the originating host.
 
A partial web client is a client who opted for a design package that only includes design and minimal support. In other words, I am doing the design and layout of her website, which includes the imagery and support, when needed. Robin is going to learn how to maintain and update it herself while I am there as support. I also included in her custom package a brand new logo and I really love this one!


A full web client is someone I take on entirely. Which means, I design their page, I create the social media pages, the blogger platform, the imagery, and client is subscribed to monthly services and maintenance. The domain and web design and marketing is maintained by me. If you’re interested in web design and marketing please contact me for pricing!

Now, let’s talk about one of my New Year’s resolutions! No, I am not talking about health or fitness, though I should be, and believe me, those too are goals of mine, but typically, those are the same goals every year since I hit 25. No, this resolution is about supporting creative professionals and small businesses as a whole.

Each month I plan on showcasing a creative professional I have purchased from. I am making it a priority to support a creative professional each month. This month I will showcase a fabulous jewelry maker I found on Etsy. Blücha from Cottered, England, United Kingdom, who specializes in vintage style jewels, handcrafted with vintage glass rhinestones. Her work is inspired by Downton Abbey & jewels from bygone eras ~ as featured in Feb 2015 Make & Sell Jewellery Magazine!

I purchased this lovely Dandelion Seed Necklace, Make a Wish Good Luck Charm,Real Dandelion Glass Pendant. All images taken with my iPhone 4s.



The pride she has in what she does is evident in the way she packages her items! CUTE as a button!

Even inside everything is all nicely and carefully bundled!

I have a secret love affair with the Taraxacum and their pappas clad achenes! I wrote a poem the year before my son was born.

Common Dandelion
I want to be free like a weed-
A floret from taraxacum parachute ball released to breeze
A bright future nourished from a promising seed,
Land where I want to, taking root where I please.
This is the way I would like my life to be-
No worries not troubles, just a wild weed
In the moment living free
No constraints and my own creed.

When I saw this necklace, I knew I had to have it!

Again, take note of the packaging! Simply stunning!

If you are in love with vintage era things, especially jewelry, then check Blucha's Etsy store!

~January 2015, is a wrap!
Lyndsey Warren
Shadow Horse Studios, LLC

Why, Too Many

She looks away; the realization that aching and longing are the same. The something is as unknown as time.

An image begins as a poetic thought…capturing that is hard. I try but I fail. One day…one day.

Why, Too Many
I have questions-
One too many…
They begin with why
and other words thereafter
tag along for the ride.

Outside my window
is a hot morning in grey-
refreshing promise
of rain later today.

The aster and yarrow swelter
and melt, like spent lovers
under hot sheets-
and passion’s raw heat.

The meadow’s shadows shift,
dancing upon the breeze,
a kaleidoscope of shade and colors
falling where they please.

Why do aching and longing
feel entirely the same?
Why do I miss something?
It’s a realization- I cannot tame.

I wait and ache in the way
the bird taking wing
and the blossom in pink
anticipate the coming spring.

Why can I not find it?
Why do I not know what it is?
Why do I miss it?
Why? Why? Why? Why?

Medieval Maiden

Today was an extremely fun shoot! Now that Connor has been accepted into a Montessori Nursery program I have slightly more time on my hands and I am able to accept more photography work and artwork. I have slowly been decreasing the amount of commercial work I accept so that I can shift my focus back to my photography and fine art/digital art pursuits.

This shoot took place in Maryland, and well, in all honesty, I didn't get the name of the farm we were at, but if I remember correctly we were in Jefferson, Maryland. The client was Katey Wenner and her Arab/TB cross Carleigh. What a beautiful horse Carleigh is too! She is quite big for being part Arab too and a real sweetheart. She put up with my demands as a photographer quite well, only voiced her opinion a few times.

Initially this shoot was suppose to take place at the civil war ruins at my place, however poor Katey arrived at her barn to get Carleigh loaded and found that the trailer had a flat tire. Instead of cancelling, since storm Sandy is threatening the upcoming days with wind and rain, we moved the shoot to her barn. While I had been looking forward to shooting in the ruins, the locations Katey chose at her place, were AMAZING.

I have more Faerie-Tails sessions coming up and can't wait to share those images! In all honesty, I have so many photos from various sessions to work on and upload that I sometimes wish I had a clone, a robot, or an army to help with the processing :)

I will also be selling outtakes from this session as stock for artists (traditional and digital) from my online store. The online store, now that I have mentioned it, is a work in progress, a work of love and devotion, and one that requires a lot of patience. In due time, in due time, all hard work pays off in the end!

Until Next Time,
LynZ

Here is a little sneak peek if a two images from the session:

Daylight Magic

Faerie-Magic- tinkering and playing around with special effects.

Dusk Version

Cantering Up to the Camera. Was a darker day and normally if I have an assistant with me, I bring tripods, timers, and lighting, diffusers, etc. But this day was just Katey, me, her horse, and a lot of hiking, so I opted for just two cameras and a step ladder and mildly tolerate the slight motion blurs, which play into the concept overall. So I can live with it.

More images from this session will be up shortly on the GEPP Facebook Fan Page!

Blossom Lullaby Giveaway

Get it now-The Blossom Lullaby Texture Package for Digital Artists and Photographers

I just got it uploaded and its ready for download

*CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD*

Password is spring2012 (not case sensative)

This package will be available for download until May 31!

Photography samples using a selection of textures from this month's texture package

Sample of book illustration work using a texture from the package.

Freebie Action Set for Digital Artists/Photographers

I have uploaded a free action set download for everyone! I get sick to my stomach when I see people spending BIG $$ on actions. If you do buy your actions, I suggest that you do not pay anymore than $1-$10 max! I personally cannot believe people are willing pay tp $$$ for actions? Really? Do yourself a favor and sign up for a digital photo course at a local college before shelling out the big bucks on actions. As someone who has a background in digital art/computer art, I know there are a variety of FREE resources out there where you can get some truly amazing free actions.

I have spent a lot of time and even some money researching this! I am seeing people pay a college course tuition cost for ONE SET OF ACTIONS? Geesh...ripped off...it makes me sad. There are many who have taken such courses, come home with an armload of actions and then tweak and retweak their actions, market them as their own, and sell them for UBER bucks! If you sign up for a college level digital photography course or two, you will be given access to a number of action sets that you can then use, you will also be trained on how you can CREATE YOUR OWN!

I know there will be some upset with my rant, but honestly, this is how I feel about it and thus, I have created a bunch of awesome freebies! I don't believe you should have to pay for them...enjoy!!

Download it Here Now
http://glasseyedpony.com/actionszip/alledgedout.zip

Ray Johnson & A Book About Death

Acataleptic Certainty

Death
Mortal time
Drifting into eternity
Aeviternal soul without skin
Hereafter
© 2010 L.Warren

This is the poem that is mingled in with this image. I purposely wanted it to be muted and set to a low opacity because I wanted the viewer to be drawn to the piece and then discover the words. Don't forget this is a small format 4"x"6 piece and the viewer will be picking it up and interacting with it.


Most people who know me know that I take pictures solely for myself and because I then like to use the images as works of art in collages and poetry work of mine. When I heard about a the recent Ray Johnson & A Book About Death call for submissions, from my artist friend Ella Nitters (who is an amazing illustrator/artist herself) I was elated!

I love concepts that explore the unkown and the darker side of our reality. Death is both a mystery to us as it is a reality for us. We all have it in common. Personally I find the concept of death to be beautiful and frightening. I know I fear death because it is beyond my control and because it is a mystery. It is the fear of not knowing more so than it is the idea of "death" that scares me so.

I find death to be beautiful because it is a natural part of life. I truly believe that there is something magically and unexplainable that exists beyond our knowledge and comprehension. Whether or not that is God or more, we will never know, until it is our turn to experience it. But there is something more to dying that just dying, of that I am sure.

Creative Insecurity

I recently read an article in this month’s Somerset Studio issue entitled "Creative Insecurity" by Quinn McDonald. It resonated deeply with the current struggles I have seen myself slip into during my own creative journeys. Quinn McDonald stated that, "Creative Insecurity occurs when we receive praise or recognition" and I would like to add, when we receive criticism, and when we are consumed by our own fear of exploring all creative possibilities.

Facing our insecurities is hard but worthwhile work if we choose to combat them. I am at the point in my creative path where I have to make a decision and choose. I want to be a full time artist. That is my dream, but the criticism I hear often, is that an artist needs a day job don’t ever count on making a living with your art. This sets me back and snuffs my dreams each time I hear it, and it hurts me so much because the one person who says this is the one person I admire the most, my mother. Yet she is also the one person that gives me the drive to keep pursuing my dream, so I can prove to her I can do this and be successful with my art. It would mean the world to me to prove this to her.

I am working diligently on two children’s books that I am very excited about, for those of you who know me personally, you all know that I have a goal of one day winning a Caldecott Medal. It may be a reach, but one that is certainly worth the effort. I also want to settle down and start a family, and this is by far and large my biggest dream, and one that truly fuels my desire to be a full time working artist. Being able to work from home while raising my own family is very important to me, and I will make no compromise on this, what-so-ever, otherwise I will not even consider having a family.

So I am slowly coming to terms with my bag of neurosis called, Creative Insecurity, and starting to plan and strategize the rest of my life and the future of my artistic endeavors. The artist inside me has realized that when we look at all of the elements of anxiety and insecurity and sit with them instead of run from them, they no longer look big or pursue us, we open up and become more creative. In fact I have found much inspiration in this realization, enough to allow me to explore new directions to take my own art. This has caused me to create pieces that are uniquely speaking from my core being in a way that I have not been able to do before. I have found a creative voice that speaks from the art that I create. I am excited to be creating fine art that is more evocative of my personality and I look forward to sharing that piece of myself with you in the months to come!