The Beauty of Being Old

I love to travel as you all know.  Ireland, England, France, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain, Monaco

My age does not slow me down, nor does it hinder to me.  I am a young 68 year old (come November lol).  I am lucky that I have good health and solitude doesn't bother me in the least.

Although this past trip in late February/early March to Europe was a cruise and a co-worker joined me on a 8 day adventure. It was fun to share seeing many wonders and ancient buildings, and looking through another set of eyes to find different things to explore.

Both of us are not into the main stream of site seeing.  We wanted to see botanical gardens, the odd parts of towns where graffiti covered doorways, where the locals drank their wine and broke bread together, the grime covered buildings that stood throughout centuries of mankind doing its worst.

As I traveled to various countries in Europe the reoccurring theme old churches where in each city we visited.  My travel companion was as I; non religious.  One can be spiritual with all of Mother Nature and the human race without having a set program of theology to follow.

Entering a church as a non believer we felt was temping fate the first one we entered but being pure of heart, we ventured into  a journey seeking a church for its beauty and feel the coolness of ceilings two to three stories tall.  Each church took my breath away in wonder.

Such stately works of architect that beholds history through centuries.  Life, death, marriages,  celebrations and even battles have been under these roofs.

Most of the churches where grand fortresses.  We also came across several chapels; tiny and petite that were just a beautiful as the grand fortresses that covered a city block.

Whenever I visited one these ancient beauties I think of Joan of Arc and her firm belief system.  She died for her beliefs in a world where Men ruled in a way I find hideous in today standards.  Women where nothing more than chattels.  Most could not read or write, most had no rights to land, women had to no rights to anything not even to life.  Here it is the 21st century and still in many countries women still have no basic rights.  I am the age where I set a standard with those in my life.  As a woman I am any mans equal.  All women are my sisters and I will give them the strength to believe in them selfs.

Humanity when you think of it hasn't really come very far in the aspects of theology.  In my small world that I hold tightly pressed to my heart: humans treat each other with love and kindness.  We all are one.  I see no difference in color, or who you love, I see no difference in what church guides you, WE are ALL One.

I can only hope the future for todays children continues in the betterment of All of Humans, all species, and the world.

Finding Perfect Ink-jet Photo Paper

A common complaint I hear from many who print a normal amount of work on any brand of printers is that replacement inks are expensive and that the machines use it up faster than any of us could predict.  I have said several times before: Ink-jet inks are my number one loss of income.  

  

Ink-jet photo papers are another major source of my revenue spent.   My rant today is about finding affordable photo papers and paper that I wish to use for my photographs that are printed out on either of my two printers.

Photo paper for either of my printers drives me to look at all online sites with a fine tooth comb.  Which is very hard for a tactile person as myself.  I desire to feel a paper before I spend a lot of money on it for three reasons: I dislike thin flimsy paper, then it must not be too thick that is causes my machines to jam, and if the texture is one that is something I like also.

Anchorage has one art supplier store.  They were stocking a wonderful brand of photo ink-jet papers by Canson that Fishlips fell in love with using for several of her masterpieces that had the ‘watercolor effect’ as their focus.  Plus their color regular photo paper was outstanding.  The last several months restocking of these wonderful papers have not occurred. 

Anchorage has one photographic shop offering a small selection of inkjet photo paper also (although I have yet to crack open the box to test the brand recently purchased)  

Office Max and Office Depot both have every day Inkjet photo paper with one premium paper I have purchased that I found acceptable.

Although for any print larger than 8 ½ x 11 inches are send out to a printing company…I still must print out each creation so that I know what the final outcome is for color, depth,  make sure all is in focus, and that the photo meets with my standards.  Plus for every piece I create… a copy is kept in a portfolio.  

I do a lot of print testing.  Print testing means trying out on the different type photo papers that could make or break a photo: Matt, Satin, Gloss and Textured.   

Most photos will look stunning on Gloss Photo Paper.  Satin is wonderful for those photos in a glass frame so that glare is not an issue.  Matt and textured paper is wonderful for certain effects.

There are also times when viewing a photo that is 5 inches big on my laptop and may look pretty interesting.  Then when printed out on a full size piece of photo paper that slight blur which I thought was my eyesight is actually a bad photo.  Or one will print out a beauty but needs to see how it looks on all types of papers.

There are those times when wild abandonment hits me and I create artwork that requires several different steps and those need to be printed out so one can compare each different step.

This all just goes to show everyone reading this: nothing is easy as it looks when viewing the final product. 

So to all those other artists out there: If you have a favorite ink-jet photo paper let me know what it is, where one can locate, and what you like about the paper .  I’m sure there are brands I haven’t heard of or tried yet plus  It is always fun to experiment with new papers!