Life of Doc

Birthday "yep 4 sisters and 3 brothers - I am the cute, smart one!"

4weeks old  "I knew I was the one for Mom"

8 weeks old going home with Mom and I cried all the way from Soldotna to Anchorage unless Mom was petting me when she let me out of the crate - "I drove her crazy with the yelping, screaming and crying for my family".  Then for next week I cried nightly for my puppy mommy driving Mom more crazy.

9 weeks old and first car ride with Mom as "therapy dog for work".  I love car rides Never threw up or anything in the cars - I did other things that Mom can tell you about further down!

I got to go to park with a friend I am 3 months old and have don't have listening skills HAHAHAHA was told to not go in  water and we both did!  I even ran from Mom when she called me. 

Just over a Year old in Mom's boyfriend's truck who happens to own my love who is a black lab and she is awesome but she pissed at me at moment cause I am in her Daddy's truck...
"what did I do wrong?'

last fall watching my girlfriend swim practicing her retrieving - all I can say is
 "that water is Frigging cold on my balls and I ain't chasing her.
Plus I don't know how to swim...tried it once didn't like it - Ain't trying again"

at home looking handsome for Mom

Last week we went to Kenai.... "damn thats a long car ride but I was good all the way didn't chew on the seatbelts like I did when I was a baby and did the front and back passenger ones.
Mom got really mad when she had to have them replaced LOL
boy did she cuss at the cost"

Me telling Mom to 'hurry up" so I can run some more at one of my favorite places ... I don't like it when she can't keep up with me as I run 

Ya Mom takes another pic of me on a walk at Lynn Ary park a couple of weeks ago .... "Like I can read!"

Since I live by this school we often walk all around it
"this was just on Wednesday afternoon - it was a boring walk!"
 I like it better when  kids have been there...
they leave lots of trash all over so I can sniff
and get told "Drop it" "Leave it"

Mom and I do a lot of site seeing together but she also travels by herself at times so I get to stay at home with a good friend who spoils me but don't tell Mom she might get jealous.

My friend Courtney who takes me on walks & spoils me when Mom travels.

I am so lucky! I love a lot of people that are friends of Mom's and get to do things other dogs haven't  and my best trip was flying to St. Louis in April when I got to meet Aunt Kathy and Grandma!  "I'm only a little over 2 years old and life is pretty damn awesome!"

                      Seeing life through the eyes of Doc, 

                                      a standard poodle, 

                             is at times a jolt to my reality.

Short Story

 I get a thrill each time I snap an ordinary items with an unusual sky.

Clouds add another dimension.  Making the item displayed a lot more interesting.  More alive.  More friendly. Joyful as I see it. A bright sunny day helps with the illusion.

A sky that is cloudless or totally overcast makes things look ghostly or lost.  Cold and distant.  Certainly bland in my perspective.   A tad scary.

Either way makes for fun as one takes time to snap a picture.

Illusion of Beauty

As a photographer I was in my twenties I started out in black and white film with a gentle used Pentax 'K' that my husband's boss had sold me.  I took classes amassing huge amount of college credits in photography.  Over the years I had different cameras.  Going from film to digital.

I now have a Sony A7 which I dearly love, a Samsung 8+ phone that takes super pics, and a Apple X phone which I am slowly learning to like after years of being a NON APPLE person.  In fact I had switch from PC to IMac so my learning curve is in full swing at moment.  But that's another story for another day; today we talking about programs I use to assist me as a photographer.

I call my process "Illusion of Beauty with Photoshop and Filter Forge."

Photoshop Elements 2018 is the tiny version of Adobe's Creative Cloud for working on photos or develop ones own artistic creation.  It allows the artist using the program to expand their creations; this statement is a simplified explanation believe me.

Filter Forge 7.5 is program to work with or stand alone with Photoshop any of the versions.  Filters are what create different effects or layers upon a photo.  I use both Potoshop Elements and Filter Forge.

I don't know many photographers who do not use some form of assistance to enhance their photographs.  Even when I use to develop from film my own photos in a darkroom that there tricks of the trade to enhance a photo.

I like a certain style to my photos.  It is one reason I use the programs I use. My personal taste for a photo is:

 A soften look, more of a painters style using a watercolor effect, 

 a singular item as the focus of interest. 

It's amazing what one can do to a photograph!  When I look at magazines or art book I look to see the "Illusion" as I call it.  Many times it very obvious, other times its so subtle that it's often not found.  Unless a person is told you may miss the "Illusion".

These are my Illusions:  Hope You enjoy!

Lost In Her Own World - Final Edited Photo

Lost in Her Own World - Original Photo I took

Rainy Day in France - Final Edited Photo

Rainy Day in France - Original Photo I took

Raw Beauty

I am always blown away by the raw beauty of the State I live in.   Since I can remember water, snow, mountains where a place that brought joy to my soul.  I will jump in my car on a whim for a day's driving trip to see Alaska outside my window.   Either down Turnagain Arm to places south or up north to Talkeetna the jump off spot for mountain climbers that plan to scale Denali.

Winters are long. Summer are all too short.  The one constant of Alaska is its beauty is everlasting!

My phone or camera are never far from my hands to snap a picture of the variety of glorious things to photograph.

Flowers are always a favorite of mine:

Plumber's Butt, sinks, and clogs

Living in a tiny cottage built in 1959 is always interesting.

Yesterday we had a plumber come to repair a leak.  The bathroom sink decided we needed to spend some money. After leak fix a new problem developed with the handles of this said sink being fairly ancient ~ 1983 models they finally died a slow death. They would not fully shut off.  ~  Had to tell Mr. Fishlips "honey we must get  new ones".

So I ran to Lowes to select a new modern look.

Except for one thing...Mr Fishlips wanted to keep the look with the rest of the fixtures.  Meaning that trashy look of the 80's 'Gold'.   A hangover from his ex-wife when they remodeled that bathroom. 

TRASHY GOLD LOOK OF 1983

TRASHY GOLD LOOK OF 2011

So the only model of Gold sink handles and faucet where this selection:













They are nice is all I can say.

Gold is Not my taste but I'm keeping Mr. Fishlips happy which makes my life easier and happier.  At least I got the more modern look which I wanted!


We are going to be doing several remodeling projects this coming year.  Bathroom will be getting updated...new floor, jetted tub, new tiled walls, etc etc.  Living room will be getting hardwood floors instead of carpet.  Kitchen will be completely remodeled - turning everything one whole wall move.  Plus new windows through out house!   So as we progress I'll post the little changes. 

We have talked about adding a family room and second floor on the back of house for years...that might become a reality also in the next year or so.  Although I rather have my 30' RV.  At our age going up and down stairs does not thrill me.  Stairs are the one thing older folks complain about the most...I rather be traveling not climbing stairs!

Photoshop Fun

For the last few months I've been busy working.  Then I've also been playing every chance I had in my free time to play with Photoshop.

I love Photoshop Elements 9.  It's fun and the plug-ins that one can purchase or find free on the internet are a blast also!  Harry's Filters is my favorite, plus a kaleidoscope filter has became my right arm extension of my art.

 
Mr Fishlips tells me with each new creation that he thinks I'm a super artist.  I just laugh and run with his kind words.

A recent trip out to Hatcher's Pass on September 5th left us breathless at the beauty of Alaska.  

Although my guy doesn't like his photo's published I thought you would enjoy this one that I call 'Happy Hands'.  Yep those are his hands that make this kaleidoscope have special meaning to me.

Copyright Law

Today I want to mention a law that is very important to anyone who creates an image.  By creating this item it’s an expression of you; so therefore you have a right to this item being covered by the copyright law.

A Federal law:***Copyright of all images stated by the laws of the United States (January 1,1978 Title 17, U.S. Code and further in Section 106 of the Copyright Act) T...here is a fine for this copyright infringement per image involved and another fine per image to the person/and or business that reproduces, copies, or prepares derivative works for another person. "No images on this site are to be reproduced or copied in any way. Infringement will be prosecuted in an Alaskan court of law".

I create photos which I call art.  They are covered by law just for the mere fact I created them as an expression of myself.  All my online shops mention coverage of the copyright laws to all my products.  

A watermark ‘AS2Designs’ is on each of my photos that I put online so anyone looking knows this is copyrighted. 

I charge a price for my art.  I expect a payment for my art if you wish to display it anywhere in your home, office, school, or mode of transportation.  This also means your computer, your cell phone and any other device that is connected so that you can download a copyright item or place onto these devices.

Most folks are not aware of copyright laws.  Nor do they understand the law and how it pertains to art.  And gasp big time - many do not care about the law.

I will tell you dear readers this – the times are changing - folks who create items are tired of those stating they are not aware of the law, and especially about those who do not care about the copyright law and Artist are fighting back very strongly against those who just help themselves to our creations.

Permission is needed if you wish to put one of my photos on your blog either just for displaying or discussing the photo.  Permission is needed if you want to share it on a social network (example I’m on Facebook but you are on Myspace and want to show your friends my photo there)…written permission covers both you and the artist Do It the Right Way!  

All art must also define (acknowledge) who the artist is if displayed.  A good example would be ‘Blue Moon over Anchorage’ by AS2Designs you would list next to photo or under it so that all who look know who actually created the piece.  It’s even better to say: with permission by artist AS2Designs ‘Blue Moon over Anchorage’, that eliminates any doubt to viewers.

My advice is simple: 

Do Not download photos for your personal use as a wallpaper or anything else on your computer it’s a Super Big No No!  And do not download to use to create another piece of art!! 

Pay for the item is the correct and moral thing to do.  Remember you were raised better than to steal and be labeled a thief. 

Do it the right way instead of the wrong way so that you never have to worry about being contacted by a lawyer, charged as a criminal, and paying huge fines.

Valentine's Day

February 14th is considered the day for love.  Cards, candy, flowers and many a fine gift are given to one who is treasured beyond all other things.

As a child I grew up in the age of any holiday had a special party for the classroom.  The parties where hosted by mothers who would not rest until each child had a ton of fun and took home oodles of cards from fellow classmates; a shopping bag full of candy and other wonderful treats.   

All food items had been provided prepared and brought by these loving mothers.  

Throughout grade school these ‘Room Mothers’ where volunteer PTA members whose child were in these classrooms.  As we grew and moved on to the next grade they most often followed.  Outdoing the previous year’s parties became the standard.

I do believe it was the best of times. The mid 1950’s and 1960’s where a magical time for growing up for a child. It was a time of innocence, a simpler less complex time and a time to cast away fears. 

My own mother was a Room Mother to each of my siblings as we entered school, until she returned to work when I was in the 6^th grade.  Thank you Mom for fond memories of grade school for making classroom parties a wonderful event; and the very best yearly school carnival’s truly a time one will not ever forget!  

                                  my Mom still making magic for

                              her great grandchildren at Christmas!

P.S. that's one of my award winning quilts in the background <G>  got a 3rd place ribbon at Alaska State Fair it's titled 'The world according to Carp'

Dinosaurs, Butterflies and Grant Application

 It’s not easy being me.  Some days I’m happy and some days I’m cranky.  Pretty normal I do believe for a person of my age and temperament.

In the mornings I check my emails, visit my social networks, view my online shops to see if an item sold, and then work for a while on my art my main excitement and a fulfilling job in my otherwise boring life as a semi-retired person.  

If errands need running or visit to grocery store needs to be done that is the afternoon highlight.

The last couple of weeks I’ve been working on a grant application for an Artist Project Award.  The Rasmuson Foundation offers each year three types of grants that various artists may apply to receive.  The first is for $5,000 called a Project Award.  Then a Fellowship Award for $12,000. The third is a Distinguished Artist Award of $25,000. 

 

As that my career is in the beginning stages; I am applying for as an ‘Emerging Artist’.  Not to give away my game plan of what I shall be doing; but I’ll say this if given the award I will taking lots of photos in the central and south central region of Alaska.

I have giant butterflies in my stomach.  They feel like dinosaur eggs.   

I hate to admit but I work myself into a frazzle at times over the simplest of things.  I’m happy to say this is my first application.  May the ones that follow become easier. 

I can only imagine what those applying for the larger grants feel as they turn in their application with their project written out in blood, sweat and tears (well that’s it felt for me while working on the 5 required sections that must be submitted).

This is the first of many steps I have set as goals for my career as a Fine Art Photographer.  I am keeping my toes and fingers crossed in hopes of being selected as a recipient and also acknowledge that the competition is stiff.  Alaska has a wonderful bounty of artists in many disciplines. When I went to the website to see past artist projects and the awards I was in awe of my fellow Alaskan’s.