Gramblr & IFTTT App Reviews

I feel I have fallen behind with a few things lately and have been looking at ways to help me out, one is to make Social Media a little less crazy, how does one keep up with it all? Posting to Instagram, Facebook, 500px, Flickr, Twitter, Guru……it’s all exhausting, but there is help, there is a better way….

I have not reviewed an App in quite a while, I did some software a little while ago, but that has been about it…I don’t get paid for these reviews (I Wish), but am only passing them on for I feel they are a value add…IFTTT is definitely one, so is Gramblr. 

IFTTT

So what is IFTTT? It stands for If This then That and it has become a sanity saver. Check the link to see exactly how it all works but basically you hop on your computer and program you applets to do things for you……..still lost?

Example

I post an image on Instagram and tag it #Digitalart, I then have applets in IFTTT that go to work, they see that Hashtag and immediately post to my Pinterest Digital Art board, my 500PX and Flickr Digital Art Albums, my Facebook page, Twitter account, I could take it further and make it run a blog post as well, but I prefer to write those myself.

If I hashtag #StillLife IFTTT then posts to Still Life albums on Pinterest, Facebook, 500PX, Flicker, FB, Twitter and so on. I don’t even have to check them or bounce around from one social media to another. And you can add so much more.

And there are applets pre made for just about anything you can think of too, got Alexa? You can program it to make Alexa turn on the AC, the oven the kettle when you leave work. You can program your phone to switch between wi-fi or silent mode when are work or sleeping, stock reports, so much ‘stuff’………..I just stick to the social media organising things for me, perhaps I will branch out to other stuff one day.

Suit your needs

There are 100s of applets premade, but trust me it is fairly easy to create your own too. I ended up creating them for specific Hashtags and I run mostly from my Instagram.

GRAMBLR

I also use a new Instagram Tool from my PC too called Gramblr

Gramblr is a desktop application that allows you to upload pictures or videos on Instagram. It features a similar upload wizard – so that you don’t need a smartphone!

OK I must admit I found it a bit tricky to set up, but it has been very good. It does not remember Hashtags like Instagram, it also does not let you access @names for tagging, but I find it a lot easier to type #hashtags or even copy and paste from a list on the PC than the phone.

It’s all a numbers game with IG and #Hashtags…….I usually only get between 30-50 Likes, but recently I experimented with some different Hashtags and got 100’s in fact My Hungry, Hungry Hippos got almost 300………..OK so I’m no Kardashian but 300 for me is awesome. I will keep experimenting and trying different lists, lets see how I go?

So that’s it, no pretty pictures………check them out if you wish to save your sanity….your call.

OH OK! here is a really cute Hippo!

Have an awesome day peeps and happy snapping…

~ Julz

 

Finding my Tribe…

I feel that lately I have been playing the victim, I have made several rants recently and have been a little self-absorbed and I have no idea why. My life is not awful, in fact far from it. I cannot explain it and I guess I do not need to. I just need to stop it, get over myself and move on.I have felt uplifted by the support and comments from so many friends online, quite honestly it is overwhelming reading all the messages.

I was reading a blog post by Brooke Shaden about 30 things she learnt in her twenties……..man oh man, some people are smart when they are young……it seemed to take me an extra 20 years to learn some of this stuff. Some of it really hit accord within me;

• If someone doesn’t like what you create, create more of it and know your tribe is out there

I have been blessed with a new tribe in the last 2 years, a creative, encouraging and supportive tribe; the photo below is just a tiny snippet of that tribe. There are people I have never met face to face and due to time and distance, I may never meet them face to face, but I adore them anyway. Some I have met through this blog or FB Groups or through random life choices…but they are all my TRIBE. Some I have met face to face and enjoy their company in person and online and would never trade them for the world.

Sue, Beck, Desley and Me (left to right)

• Seek to set yourself outside of the center of your universe.
• The more you go your own way, the more you’ll inspire others to do the same
• Create as honestly, unapologetically, and powerfully as you can.
• Find humility in your mistakes and pride in your successes
• See small wins as massive successes.
• Just because you aren’t good at some things doesn’t mean you’ll never be good at anything.

So many of these points are true and I am normally an upbeat person, but a few tiny setbacks this week have cut so very deep, I have no idea why. On the upside I have created a flurry of work, some of it dark and bitter, true………but lets face it most of my digital art is dark, twisted and creepy anyways 🙂

Who is the Puppet Master?

The Rain Maker

So again, for the second week in such a short time I pick myself up and continue on;

“Follow your bliss” – Joseph Campbell

I have always loved this quote, and it should be everyone’s motto……..I think I just had an epiphany! My Motto this year is to be BRAVE-R……and I have been, but perhaps that is what has made me raw and emotional? Bearing my heart and soul for the world to see, makes you brave, sure………but it does not guard you against the pitfalls. Just because I am putting myself out there and working really hard, this does not guarantee me success, there are no 100% guarantees in this life. I need to celebrate every small win and victory for what it is; a victory and treat every mistake, heartache and failure as a lesson to learn from. I need to shake loose the victimisation, however small and trivial it is (let’s face it, I am not abused, hunted, stalked or physically threatened……..for this I am grateful), I had my feelings hurt, I didn’t get a prize I wanted, I didn’t get published, I didn’t sell anything, nor get a gallery offer this week………..boohoo me! Shut up and move on. I really need to shake off this feeling, so tomorrow Hubby and I are off to do something fun……….just for the hell of it 🙂

Again thank you all for your support, especially a select few, your thoughts and emails really meant alot and NO you are never overstepping your boundaries, unless I tell you to your (avatar?) face, to back off. I need to stop being a petulant child, deal with things or move on, bitching about them might make me feel better short term, but lets face it, doesn’t accomplish anything long term.

Onto bigger, better, brighter………for tomorrow is a new day (and a Saturday! YAY)

~ Julz

With thanks…

Last week I was feeling a little sorry for myself about my exhibition and and wrote a blog post and a bit of a rant, to kick myself in the butt and just get over myself.It was honest and open about the issues many artist have to deal with, it was also upbeat and positive and perhaps even a little uplifting and a relieve to write it.  I posted it here and posted a copy in my Awake Group…….both groups I felt ‘safe’. I know I am supported and I know people enjoy my art and I know I am not alone with the feelings that I had. But I must admit I was still overwhelmed by the response I got.

The feedback I got was awesome, so many people thanked me to being so raw and honest, and they could relate to everything I said and it inspired THEM. So many people said such lovely things about me and my art………which was a little self love I needed (I know it sounds egotistical, but then again I am an artist) and I truly thank everyone for that. My Awake Group were amazing and I still finding it surprising that so many people think they are alone (I know I did once too), and are shocked when someone they look up to or follow or whatever admits to self doubt and having off days. I know that some of the people I admired when I first joined the group and thought of a mini legends are just normal people, the more I meet and talk to them the more I realise they are just like me and the people coming through the ranks now are just like I was.

I used to see someone else’s great piece of art and get a little jealous (Silly and stupid) and think Man I wish I could create like that, then there are other pieces which, while I can appreciate the work that went into it, I just don’t really like. I have learned that I can be happy for other people, I can love their art, as THEIR art and still create my own. And there are people out there who can appreciate the work and skill in my images, but not like the images. I can honestly stop comparing myself to other artists, I can look at their art and be inspired by it, or simply just enjoy looking at it, sometimes I am triggered to create something that I would not of thought of without seeing theirs, this does not mean I am copying, just means my Muse was inspired. My art is MY ART, I can be nobody other than myself. I can explore and learn new things, but above all else I must remain true to myself.

If I find myself complaining (and lets face it, sometimes it’s hard not too), I think back on some amazing people and videos I have watched…..this life does not owe me anything, no one ever promised things were going to easy, nobody ever promised me success. I don’t need more gear to make great art ( sure I want toys, toys are fun, I just don’t need them to make great art), what I have is sufficient. I don’t need to travel to exotic places for amazing photography (and again, sure I love to travel, but I don’t need too), there is amazing things in my own suburb and local towns & countryside.

Most of all, learn to take chances and not be scared of the unknown, fear can keep us safe, but it can also hold us back….but the unknown future holds so many exciting adventures and wonderful possibilities if we just take the chance.

So again I would like to tank everyone who commented and said how brave I was………possibly, but I was just being honest with myself – and yes sometimes that takes bravery.

Thank You xox

~ Julz

Pick myself up, dust myself off and keep moving forward…

My gallery exhibit finished last night and I have to be honest and confess I didn’t sell a single piece. It stings! Man does it hurt. Of course my initial reaction is that no one liked my artwork. I’m not good enough, who am I kidding, what business do I have putting my artwork out there? and the rest of the self doubt that flows in as an artist or creative person. Why are we full of such self doubt. Then Luanne posted this post about rejection, which then led me to another video by Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love fame), which led me to her TEDTalk video and a few others. WOW! Powerful stuff.

Isn’t funny how sometimes the universe (Or Karma) gives you exactly what you need at the right moment in time, not necessarily WHAT you WANT, but what you NEED. A quick kick up the butt, stop feeling sorry for yourself, so what if no one likes your art, you do it because you love it, you live for it, no one promised a free or easy ride. This life owes you NOTHING! If you want something, work for it, but there are no promises you will be rich, or famous, or a success.

You have a creative soul and even if no-one gets it (chances are they will) and even if no-one buys you work (this time), you are doing it because it is who you are. You are a better person when you are creating, striving for the thing you want……the alternative is nothing and I don’t want nothing, I want something. Living a fulfilling, artistically creative life is not about fame or fortune (well maybe for some), it is about working hard and enjoying what you do. Sure you may have to have a day job to support what you love, but that is OK, your dayjob doesn’t define you – your art does.I picked up a camera because I wanted to learn how to take pretty pictures, amazing pictures. I travel to see amazing places, but have learned that there are some in my own backyard. I launched myself into Photoshop to learn how to create better, more fulfilling art. I have taken class after class, after class, because I found I really enjoy learning new things or new ways to do old things with my art. Learning is FUN. I have also found teaching is FUN. So many people have freely given me their time and knowledge and it is only fair to give some of that back. So many artists over the years have been depicted as depressed, drunks with social issues and penchant for extreme over reactions or no reaction at all. That is not what most of us are like, not at all. The problem is we all tend to be a trifle emotional about our art; whatever it is. We put our heart and soul into creating whatever it is we do; paint, sculpt, music, write….most accountants or electricians or plumbers don’t live and breathe their work, artists do.

My Motto for this year is Brave-R. I have spent the last two years being BRAVE, learning how to make and take amazing images with my camera, how to make amazing art (well I think it is and everyone online seems to enjoy it too). So now it is time to do something with it, be BRAVER – galleries, online, exhibitions, contests etc. So I didn’t sell anything (this time), maybe the person who wants my art on their walls wasn’t at this gallery in the last two weeks. Maybe they will be at the next exhibit or gallery. Maybe they just weren’t quite ready to buy and I will hear from them later? Just because nothing sold, doesn’t mean it never will, the rejection doesn’t mean they didn’t like my art. In fact not much or ANYTHING sold at this exhibit, wrong timing, wrong gallery? Who knows.This is not a personal rejection of me or my art, so I should not take it that way. The Curator said that there was a LOT of positive feedback of my work, and just because it hasn’t sold yet, doesn’t mean it wont. One rejection should not stop me moving forward.

Time to pick myself up, dust myself off and keep moving forward……because forward is where the possibilities are; the past has already happened and I want more than what was in the past. Grab fear by the hand, take it along for the ride (don’t forget fear can keep us safe), but don’t let it have the drivers seat; you need that for yourself. I still feel a little flat and that’s OK…..I have planned some creative things for this weekend, that will bring me back around.

~ Julz

THE 100 QUESTIONS NO ONE EVER ASKS?

I saw this on Embeecee’s page and thought it seemed like fun, I had a few spare moments. Granted it’s a long list, but you might find a few interesting things about me, or not……..depending on just how well you know me lol.

1. DO YOU SLEEP WITH YOUR CLOSET DOORS OPEN OR CLOSED? Open

2. DO YOU TAKE THE SHAMPOOS AND CONDITIONER BOTTLES FROM HOTELS? No, but I do take the shower caps and manicure sets

3. DO YOU SLEEP WITH YOUR SHEETS TUCKED IN OR OUT? Out

4. HAVE YOU STOLEN A STREET SIGN BEFORE? Hell Yes

5. DO YOU LIKE TO USE POST-IT NOTES? Sometimes they are useful

6. DO YOU CUT OUT COUPONS BUT THEN NEVER USE THEM? Yes

7. WOULD YOU RATHER BE ATTACKED BY A BIG BEAR OR A SWARM OF BEES? Bear?

8. DO YOU HAVE FRECKLES? Yes

9. DO YOU ALWAYS SMILE FOR PICTURES? Rarely, but I am getting better

10. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PET PEEVE? People doing stupid things, especially if they affect me

11. DO YOU EVER COUNT YOUR STEPS WHEN YOU WALK? I don’t think so

12. HAVE YOU PEED IN THE WOODS? Yup

13. HAVE YOU EVER POOPED IN THE WOODS? Yup

14. DO YOU EVER DANCE EVEN IF THERES NO MUSIC PLAYING? Hell yes, all the time

15. DO YOU CHEW YOUR PENS AND PENCILS? Yup

16. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU SLEPT WITH THIS WEEK? As in sleep or sex? answer is still one lol

17. WHAT SIZE IS YOUR BED? Technically it’s a Queen but my answer is not big enough (I sleep with four animals and one husband)

18. WHAT IS YOUR SONG OF THE WEEK? Don’t have one – is that weird?

19. IS IT OK FOR GUYS TO WEAR PINK? Yes

20. DO YOU STILL WATCH CARTOONS? Sometimes

21. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE MOVIE? Horror, Walking Dead (OK so it’s not a movie, but I still hate it)

22. WHERE WOULD YOU BURY HIDDEN TREASURE IF YOU HAD SOME? Bank vault?

23. WHAT DO YOU DRINK WITH DINNER? Water, Pimms and Lemonade or soft drink

24. WHAT DO YOU DIP A CHICKEN NUGGET IN? Sweet Chilli or BBQ Sauce

25. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Chocolate or Hot chips

26. WHAT MOVIES COULD YOU WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND STILL LOVE? Speed, Harry Potter, Avatar, Lion King, Aladdin

27. LAST PERSON YOU KISSED/KISSED YOU? Does the dog count? No – well them Husband kissed me this morning before he left for work

28. WERE YOU EVER A BOY/GIRL SCOUT? Girl Scout

29. WOULD YOU EVER STRIP OR POSE NUDE IN A MAGAZINE? Nope

30. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WROTE A LETTER TO SOMEONE ON PAPER? Just before Christmas

31. CAN YOU CHANGE THE OIL ON A CAR? No

32. EVER GOTTEN A SPEEDING TICKET? Yes

33. EVER RAN OUT OF GAS? Not that I can remember

34. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KIND OF SANDWICH? Ham, Cheese and Tomato

35. BEST THING TO EAT FOR BREAKFAST? Yoghurt and fruit

36. WHAT IS YOUR USUAL BEDTIME? 10 – 10:30pm

37. ARE YOU LAZY? Very

38. WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU DRESS UP AS FOR HALLOWEEN? Sadly we did not have Halloween here as a kid…..but something boring probably

39. WHAT IS YOUR CHINESE ASTROLOGICAL SIGN? Goat

40. HOW MANY LANGUAGES CAN YOU SPEAK? One – English

41. DO YOU HAVE ANY MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS? No I buy as I go

42. WHICH ARE BETTER: LEGOS OR LINCOLN LOGS? I have no idea what Lincoln Logs are???????????

43. ARE YOU STUBBORN? Very

44. WHO IS BETTER: LENO OR LETTERMAN? ????????????????

45. EVER WATCH SOAP OPERAS? No

46. ARE YOU AFRAID OF HEIGHTS? Yes

47. DO YOU SING IN THE CAR? Definitely

48. DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? rarely

49. DO YOU DANCE IN THE CAR? Yes

50. EVER USED A GUN? Yes

51. LAST TIME YOU GOT A PORTRAIT TAKEN BY A PHOTOGRAPHER? A few weeks ago

52. DO YOU THINK MUSICALS ARE CHEESY? They can be, but so much fun

53. IS CHRISTMAS STRESSFUL? It can be

54. EVER EAT A PIEROGI ???????????I’d say no

55. FAVORITE TYPE OF FRUIT PIE? Berry or Apple

56. OCCUPATIONS YOU WANTED TO BE WHEN YOU WERE A KID? Zoo Keeper, Archaeologist, Egyptologist

57. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? Yes

58. EVER HAVE A DEJA-VU FEELING? Yes

59. DO YOU TAKE A VITAMIN DAILY? No

60. DO YOU WEAR SLIPPERS? Yes

61. DO YOU WEAR A BATH ROBE? Yes

62. WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO BED? Summer – Nothing, Winter – PJs

63. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CONCERT? ABBA

64. WALMART, TARGET, OR KMART? Target or KMart

65. NIKE OR ADIDAS? Neither

66. CHEETOS OR FRITOS? ?????????????????????

67. PEANUTS OR SUNFLOWER SEEDS? Peanuts

68. EVER HEAR OF THE GROUP TRES BIEN? No

69. EVER TAKE DANCE LESSONS? Yes

70. IS THERE A PROFESSION YOU PICTURE YOUR FUTURE SPOUSE DOING? LOL

71. CAN YOU CURL YOUR TONGUE? No

72. EVER WON A SPELLING BEE? No

73. HAVE YOU EVER CRIED BECAUSE YOU WERE SO HAPPY? Yes

74. OWN ANY RECORD ALBUMS? Yes

75. OWN A RECORD PLAYER? No

76. DO YOU REGULARLY BURN INCENSE? No

77. EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes

78. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN CONCERT? No Idea

79. WHAT WAS THE LAST CONCERT YOU SAW? Elton John

80. HOT TEA OR COLD TEA? Hot

81. TEA OR COFFEE? Coffee

82. SUGAR COOKIES OR SNICKERDOODLES? ?????????????

83. CAN YOU SWIM WELL? Not well, but I can swim

84. CAN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH WITHOUT HOLDING YOUR NOSE? Yes

85. ARE YOU PATIENT? Honestly? not really

86. DJ OR BAND AT A WEDDING? Band

87. EVER WON A CONTEST? Wet T-shirt content in my bad days lol

88. HAVE YOU EVER HAD PLASTIC SURGERY? No

89. WHICH ARE BETTER: BLACK OR GREEN OLIVES? Neither

90. CAN YOU KNIT OR CROCHET? No

91. BEST ROOM FOR A FIREPLACE? Living Room

92. DO YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED? Once was enough

93. IF MARRIED, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED? 26 years

94. WHO WAS YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH? funny I can’t remember

95. DO YOU CRY AND THROW A FIT UNTIL YOU GET YOUR OWN WAY? No

96. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yes

97. DO YOU WANT KIDS? Usually yes

98. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Red or Blue

99. DO YOU MISS ANYONE RIGHT NOW? No

100. WHO ARE YOU GOING TO TAG TO DO THIS NEXT? No-one, I believe in free will, either they will or they wont; no tagging involved. .

~ Julz

Share Your World – Feb 7, 2017

Another fun week with Cee’s Share Your World…

Regarding your fridge, is it organized or a mess inside? Inevitably my fridge (and my freezer) are an organised mess, things have their place, but with four adults in the house who eat alot of fresh fruit and vegetables….the fridge is often booby-trapped by the stuff that won’t fit where it is supposed to. The fruit drawer is overflowing and cut melon, berries etc are in containers on shelves. The Vegetable crisper is also overflowing with various bits and pieces. All the sauces, marinades, dressings etc fit in the door, along with the juices, sweet tea and occasionally a little bottle of something (wine, champagne etc) sneaks in there as well. Left over pizza becomes a nightmare at the start of the food week and at Christmas the normal fridge is even worse (if that is possible) and we have two bar fridges that get called into action, as well as the ‘beer’ fridge outside. Actually it rarely holds beer at all, it is in the studio so it has cold drinks, jugs of water and occasionally flowers and items for still life!

Do you prefer your food separated or mixed together? I guess all mixed up, I love a stir-fry with everything just thrown in. Even on my plate I task a little from each pile on my fork, before I eat it, so yes I guess all mixed up, unless it’s like lollies (candy), crisps or chocolate…………they have to be kept separate.

Do you prefer reading coffee table books (picture), biographies, fiction, non-fiction, educational? I used to be such a book-worm, I read all the time. But since I recovered from being very sick a few years ago, I don’t think I have anything that wasn’t online regarding photography or photoshop. I mostly read blog posts and watch videos. I don’t just sit and read anymore. I should, but I don’t seem to enjoy it as much as I used to. I now find peace and zen in photography and editing, as well as creating my art, it can become all consuming and there is no time left to read. But when I did read it was fiction, fantasy and some sci-fi. I love witches and wizards and faeries and elves and magic and dragons. Lord of the Rings, Shanara and Harry Potter type stuff. I also enjoy art and photography coffee table books.

Close your eyes. Listen to your body. What part of your body is seeking attention? What is it telling you? All of it…….it’s telling me I need a new one! Everything creeks, groans and aches. I ignore it most of the time, occasionally I can’t and then I either push through or give up and take a day of complete rest, but mostly I push as hard as I can and then deal with the pain later. Sounds worse than it is……mostly.

Optional Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?  Last week…….hmm not really sure it all went by so fast, but nothing of note really happened. I did buy a new underwater camera and on Sunday I am doing an underwater shoot, I an excited and terrified all at the same time…it’s more about getting into a bathing costume in front of people I don’t really know than the photography, perhaps I will just stay in my clothes, but wet clothes will make it difficult to work. My model will be in long flowing dresses, so maybe if she can do it, so can I?

~ Julz

Brooke Shaden 20 Day Portfolio Challenge….Week 4

Read week 3 here, it’s amazing how time flies doesn’t it? When we started this journey on Jan 1st, it seemed such a big chunk of our lives to devote to one challenge…….but I am all done now.

Day # 16 – Words with Images…….I was always taught to believe that explaining what we do, is not part of the art, it should be open to interpretation. In saying that sometimes words NEED to be said. I have on occasion written to go with the images either on on My blog, or using Adobe Spark……..have you ever used Adobe Spark? Here is one I created early last year, a little bit rough, but you get the point.

I have also teamed up with a Writer to produce a series of images and Prose, which we had printed into a book for family and friends for Christmas….it was such fun and everyone (on both sides) loved it……here is just one we did as a Spark. Actually it was the first one that started the whole project.

So often I don’t write the process behind an image I just show the image, so perhaps I will expand on that in future posts.

The High Priestess

I have started a new series this year loosely based around the Tarot Cards.The are 21 Major Arcana and then the Minor Arcana. The Major are things I am sure you have seen or heard about; Death, The Hanged Man, The Fool, etc and then there are Pentacles, Cups, Wands and Swords for the Minor. I have always been fascinated by the mystical and what better way to explore the symbolism behind the Tarot Cards?

The is The High Priestess, often linked to sexuality, the moon, femininity, and inspiration…….hence the nude, This is a shot of my Fine Art Nude model Chey, in a cloak, I knew I would use it some day. I loved the whole idea of putting her in a temple at night, the moon shinning on water, mysterious and secretive, holding a key to unlock the secrets of the universe at her fingertips.

What 10 words reflect my art?  – Surreal, fantasy, textured, fairy-tale, colourful, imaginative, whimsical, symbolic, storytelling, depth, emotive.

Day # 17 – Social Media…as most of you here know I am very active on Social Media, but it took a bit to get started. I wonder if I am too prolific? I tend to bombard ‘followers’ with images and challenges (especially on WP). I should learn to control my output more regularly. I believe in leaving comments, especially on great or interesting things. It is too easy to just hit ‘like’……I know I am guilty of this on Instagram and am currently working to improve. I like to build a community for which I am apart of it. I do not hashtag enough, this sounds like an excuse I know, but if I could IG on the PC I could had so many more, because typing is so much faster than texting. I should use my 500px and Flickr more often than I do; I tend to post picks randomly and don’t visit others as often as I should. But realistically there are only so many hours in a day…..so I stick to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr (sometimes) and occasionally Twitter, and of course my blog. Now I don’t have a 100k followers, but I am sometimes finding it hard to respond to all the comments (please don’t think I am shallow), I worry what happens if I do get to 10 or even 100 thousand followers………..how to you respond to those? Or are they mainly likes and not comments anyway?

Day # 18 – Creating a Series…this is something I don’t really have to think about right? I mean I have created several series, The Mask, Dapper Rabbit, The Red Dress, Guardian Angels. But am I delving deep enough? What I have done is tell a story, or a series of stories…….not that this is a bad thing. But perhaps I need to delve deeper into a topic, what is it that drew me to this series, what do I want to convey? What is my emotional connection? I am starting a new series based on Tarot Cards…….why? Am I simply just recreating images from a pack of old cards. Perhaps I should do a reading and then create based on that……….there would certainly be less images. Or should I do a reading for someone else, a character and follow that character? Am I just grappling around the edges? My Super Woman has more of an emotional connection……..

That feeling of rejections or exhaustion or being completely overwhelmed, women today are expected to be Super Woman, to work and to have kids and keep a family together, with all the outside pressure to be thin and beautiful and ‘well kept’, anyone who is a parent knows that ‘why me’ feeling…….we know we are not alone, it’s just that it feels like it sometimes. This series captures some of the thoughts and feelings we keep on the inside and lets them escape and live a little.

Day # 19 – Printing…I have actually just printed off 10 images, in varying sizes for an upcoming exhibit. Due to poor timing, so many Fine Art Printers were closed and I had to go a more commercial route. It’s OK, it’s a learning curve. I want to learn more about various fine art printing and have been wanting to try some raglan and metallic prints. Framing and matting is another avenue I am still getting my head around, I know that ‘off the rack’ is much more affordable, however there are other avenues. A friend of mine recently purchased frames, glass and matt board second hand and restored the frames………they looked wonderful. Something for future exhibits, assuming I come through this first one intact.

Another thing was the colours and saturation, I use some fairly saturated colours at times and once printed they looked a little flat, she mentions this great article on different types of printing here. I guess it explains why I often get canvasses looking they way I want more often that standard printing I know the canvas I use a giclee, where as my prints probably are not, here is too for the exhibition……sorry terribly photos from the phone.

Then there is the cost………I’m not exactly Scrooge McDuck, but all of this cost money, and I know you get what you pay for, but when it all has to be out-laid upfront – it is daunting. Then there is the time factor, fine art printers can take weeks can’t they? I know two of the ones I have looked at can for fine art prints. I need to have re prints available much quicker than that, days at most; not weeks.

I wander about the matting as well, I know some people keep the same frames for their shows and only change out the matting as required, or sell the matt with the image, just not the frame. What do others do? This is an interesting topic and one I need to learn more about. I found at my recent exhibit, that the photos were not in Matte or a frame, just pinned to the wall? Looked very unprofessional in my opinion.

Day #20 – Presenting…I wanted to thank Brooke and everyone else in this group, this last 20 days has been enlightening and extremely helpful. As I headed into my first exhibit, I am aware of some of the mistakes I may have made and how things could have been done differently, but I will look on this as a learning session and hopefully gain experience and coverage to get more exhibits, more fans/followers and more clients. Thank you and I wish them all well on their individual journey. I know I have made friends there. I will be printing more images into a display folder to perhaps keep in the car and on our wanderings I can offer to galleries and stores we visit. I need to pluck up the courage and put myself out there, I KNOW I have something unique to offer.I have also  made some changes to my website and have created another Facebook page just for my art, I may look at getting another IG account

I have already reached out to new online avenues and am already seeing some results, 2017 will be a year to remember.

~ Julz

 

 

 

 

A Portrait Session for new Head Shots

This time the session was for Me! Part of my be Braver for this year……I hate having my photo taken, and I know a lot of other people do too. It is stupid really, I can’t change the way I look (without a bucket load of money, pain and cosmetic surgery), the people in my life love me for WHO I AM, not what I look like, just as I don’t judge me family and friends…..I love them just the way they are. So if everyone else sees me this way, why can’t I just get over myself?

Face

So a friend of mine, who sat for me, agreed to take some portraits of me, I wanted a new updated picture for my social media profile, the other is nearly 10 years old. I love Suzanne’s photos they are a little grungy, a little street, a little raw and REAL, and I figure that is me, so that’s what I want……I think; no make up, no hair – Just me as I am every day. My family and friends say they love the images where I am laughing, because that’s what I do………laugh, loud and often (as we all should). I personally like the more thoughtful, pensive ones. She even captured me and Moth at a photo shoot (hence the big baggy hat!) A very big shout out to Suzanne Balding and a BIG thank you……………yes I have gotten over the shock of looking like my Grandmother! *Hugs* hun!

~Julz

Share Your World – Jan 16, 2017

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? I have never had a fear of something living in my closet (under the bed yes, but never the closet). As a kid the doors stayed closed for fear of hitting my toes on the door, but these days my Walk in Closet has the doors open, just easier that way……..although the door does hide the mess 🙂
2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? I have done so, but it is usually just crap, so I leave it, although I do take shower caps and manicure sets……….they are really useful
3. What is your usual bedtime? I used to be a night owl, but age is catching up with my I am usually in bed by about 13:30 – 11:00pm, occasionally if I am really in the creative flow I have been known to stay up much later.
4. Do you like to use post-it notes? I don’t love them or hate them, they are occasionally useful, but at the same time I think I could live without them.
5. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? Oooh….sneaky! Apart from just recently, I cannot remember the last time I hand wrote to anyway. I just did Christmas cards (does that count?), but also I wrote a hand written letter of thanks and appreciation to some very special people in my life. I designed the artwork on the cards, had them printed and hand wrote the individual messages and then posted the old fashioned way. No one expected them and I think they were all blown away……sometimes it the little things that make life special.
6. Any phobias? Mostly Fears more than Phobias – Dear God, we I’ll be here for ever……heights, spiders, bugs in general, dirt, disgusting public toilets, things grabbing me or brushing paste me, flying, falling (I do it a lot). I am doing my best to overcome them as needs be, I fly (but not well) I have stood the window in the top of a tower (but wont look down), I flew in a Helicopter, I will catch and kill a bug/spider if there is no one else around.
7. How tall are you? Like everyone else, I think I am shrinking, I used to be 5’4″, no idea now

Optional Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

Last week I got offered an Exhibit at a gallery, cool! I got asked to write a software review (got free software to boot), I had another two images published, I had a dear friend do a portrait shoot for me, and the photos are gorgeous of course, it’s the content I am still trying to get used too…….Be Braver remember my motto? Buddy (the dog) got the all clear after his knee surgery and is allowed to roam the backyard and start having walks again (albeit short ones to start with).

{For some strange reason I cannot add an images to this post…….so please forgive me}

Next week??????????I have nothing planned for this weekend, how luxurious, maybe sleep in and lounge around in my PJs?

~ Julz

 

 

 

 

 

Manic Mondays…

You know that saying “Make Hay while the sun shines?” well I have been so busy making Hay, it’s becoming a wee bit………manic! Don’t get me wrong I am loving every minute, and I know I have to take offers as they come in, it’s just some times I wish things could sort themselves out a little me.

Exhibition

All ready and pieces pretty printed and framed, done my artist bio and statement, made the invites, you did get yours didn’t you? Had a few dramas with the framing…….picked up all the frames and then found out one was damaged. Too it back and when they went through their stock quite a few were damaged, finally found the correct size, colour etc (I want them matching) that was undamaged. Also I went into a bit of a panic as I had not written an Artist Bio and Statement before………..thankfully I have access to some wonderful, people in my Kaizen and Awake groups who steered me in the right direction.

Reviews

I have been asked by the wonderful people at SleekLens.com to review the Portrait Perfection Photoshop Actions Collection…….no money for it, but I did get the Actions for free, and quite frankly they are pretty good. Hopefully I might get asked to do more?

Read my full review here if you missed it yesterday

Other Stuff

I spent all weekend pretty much working, had to finish up my projects/assessments for Kaizen Group, still working on my latest two concept shoots, will post soon I promise. I finished off and submitted my Shiftart submission for January, plus I am taking part in Brooke Shaden’s 20 Day Portfolio Challenge……..was doing great til Friday, now I am behind again 😦 …………no panic, no stress there. I have also been approached to do some still life shots for a web catalogue/ Blog thing…….still sussing that one out, more on that later.

Out and About

On Saturday we had a 21st for my Nephew and then met some friends in the city for a lovely evening out finished off with Papa Gino’s Pizza in Lygon St………BEST pizza! Yummo. We also did another shoot at Princes Pier……..I swear we are cursed with that damn pier, all afternoon had been beautiful blue skies and just a hint of cloud, perfect for sunset right? Get to Princes Pier, wind, wind and more wind, then cloud and it was cold (it’s Summer here remember)……….oh man, it’s just not fair lol. Also the sunset was pretty mediocre; one day, just one day at Princes Pier and I will happily give up!

Finally after all the work, the food shopping, laundry and insanely inane house keeping duties were done I finally managed to get into the studio to play with some new finds at the thrift store (Pewter Milk Jug and tea cups)and some luscious summer fruits.

I am sure I have not covered everything, but it is enough for now………the rest will all come out in the wash. Til next time I hope you have a truly fabulous week and happy snapping…

~ Julz