Emulsion lifts-so much potential.

The beauty of Polaroid emulsion lifts is that they hold such possibility.  I miss shooting Polaroid 669 type film, but I have boxes of exposures that I could use in the future-if I'm brave enough to commit to (dunking a shot into hot water, the whole process is such a cautious one) taking a risk.

I was going through some old works in-progress, things that I put away in frustration for later analysis, and found this.  I still don't feel perfectly happy with it, but it has potential.  It needs some more detail perhaps...more drawing, that is.

Polaroid emulsion lift, 669 film on paper + watercolor & colored pencil
(Photographed atop this sweet fabric I just bought a few days ago.)

detail

Get ready, 'Roid Week 2011 begins Monday!

I am so excited about 'Roid Week this time around, with the wider spectrum of color permeating the newest Impossible color films.  I struggled a bit with the latest batch to come out of the Impossible labs, the PX680FF.  I fashioned my own ND filter from an old set I had, but it wasn't working for me.  I was still getting over exposed shots, and almost gave up on it, thinking it was due to the heat, as the film tends to be very temperature-sensitive.  I told myself I would try again in the fall, when it cools off in this God-forsaking desert.

I decided to try a different filter, and magic!  I originally tried using a 3-stop ND filter, thinking it would work with this film, with a little adjustment in the exposure wheel on my SX-70, but nope, it didn't happen.  Turns out all I needed to do was bump it to a 4-stop, with the wheel set exactly where recommended in the first place as per Impossible instructions.  I also do take a little cooler out shooting with me, to carry developing shots, so they don't get too warm.

All is well and good again with me and my Polaroid.  Now is a great time to start shooting with Impossible films.  Now is the perfect time to invest in an SX-70 if it's something that you've been wanting to do for awhile...it only gets better from here!  The 'Roid Week Flickr pool opens at 6:00AM EDT Monday, July 11th.  Join us for a grand week of friendship-making and inspiration.

The unfortunate unsettling aspects of this-the pola-blotch that ended up on my chin, the sign and house at the back of my head...  The colors are beautiful, though, and I have to give my self at least a B+ for effort.  I may go out again and see if I can get a better shot at the same time, same place.

To slow to pose for camera...but again, B+ for effort.   I gotta be faster! 

My Independence Day

It's one of my most favorite holidays.  I fully enjoy showing appreciation for my country, although I always have my moments of doubt about our political system.  Of course I realize that there is no such thing as perfection on any level.  Today I say, it's okay, at least we are trying.  I am grateful to all of you, American soldiers.  Thank you for fighting for me, and for keeping the faith of freedom alive.

Yay, sparklers!  That's all we needed, sparklers-no big fancy fireworks show, no parade, just...sparklers.

Me and Bee stayed indoors most of the day, and watched our favorite show on DVD, reruns of Little House on the Prairie.

The Ingalls Family

Mary and Laura Ingalls

I got the chance to do a few sketches, and practice my newest hobby, calligraphy.  I bought an inexpensive starter set by Speedball.  This is so perfect for a girl like me who is always doodling, and writing nonsense on every piece of paper around.  I think I'm really going to be getting into it.  Maybe I can invent my own unique style of lettering.  I love handwriting.  It's one of the lost arts, and most under-appreciated, in my humble opinion.  I want to learn to pen medieval alphabets.

+source+

I have been feeling the need to draw people again lately.  Sadly, I don't have a life drawing class right now, so no live model to draw from.  I am going to have to hire someone to pose for me in the future.  $15 an hour, for 2 hours, that's not bad, right?  Yes, I am definitely going to have to do that.  I need to see flesh and bone in real life.  I need to see the way light and shadows fall across the body, how they settle, and how they describe form.

Sketchbook, Prismacolor pencil (source model from fashion mag)

Kombucha, I love the stuff.

Sketchbook, Golden fluid acrylics

Since my self-timer #192 just broke, I got Bee to press the shutter for this self portrait...so overexposed, but who cares.  It's still me, today.

Polaroid 340, Fujifilm, Fp-100b

Drought

The heat of the summer can really do a number on your mind, if you let it.

“I feel weird.” “Well, isn’t that the point?” Your coffee sure smells good, I’m jealous.” Wait a minute, it’s just coffee, don’t go getting jealous. “There comes a time when you just have to say, “fuck it.” Isn’t that right? The clouds aren’t quite low enough yet for a picture. "Can you believe the rain?" What a tease. “Do you promise we’ll go somewhere in December?”

“Like Europe, yeah.”

Self-portrait, Polaroid SX-70, Colorshade Push film.

This was Friday...

Bee with her breakfast, sitting across from me in the studio.

Iced coffee, Twitter, Sketchbook

Looking for interesting flowers to use on drawings, sketch with Prismas.