easelarts

Fun with Photoshop - Instagramming it

2012-01-31T17:18:00.000-08:00

One of the things I did after my birthday was to swear off social media for at least a week and I did it. That included instagram. I was using this a lot. Too much. I had to reformat my iphone and didn't even add it back on to make sure I didn't use it. Why? Because I was letting my phone be more creative than myself. Sure I composed the picture, chose the subject and chose the filter but it didn't seem the same. I wanted a more hands-on process and to have a photo with more quality. In stepped my birthday present to help with this and make me not use my camera phone. I love my Sony NEX-5. It can travel so easily in my purse and weighs next to nothing. I go out at lunchtime and take pictures and it's great. Back to being more creative.

Having a bit of time this weekend I thought I would try some almost instagram-like photos and here's an example. This is a photo from our trip to Bordeaux in October. I applied some lomography-like colours and added a frame. And it is good enough quality to print. Stay tuned for more.

Fun with Photoshop - Black and White

2012-01-30T16:30:00.000-08:00

Bordeaux

After having weekend plans change, I finally had some time to get down to playing with my photos and photoshop. I have also been catching up with a back log of photography magazines and I decided to follow some of the tips in Digital Camera's feature on Black&White Masterclass. This is from issue 120. Now, this is a bit on the extreme end although the clouds were pretty menacing. We were biking along the river in Bordeaux when a storm appeared out of nowhere. We can laugh about it now but after not being able to find a spot to ditch our bikes (they were part of the velib' system), I was starting to worry about a waterlogged camera. I could dry but my camera would be the worse for wear. I covered my beloved Sony A55 until we finally pulled over for some shelter. Never think you can beat a storm or that it will get better.

Here I've worked with the channels mixer to isolate a certain colour to bring out the drama in the sky. Many curves layers and masking later, this was created with some added dodging and burning and some added noise.

More baking

2012-01-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

I love the internet for finding things. It's difficult to remember the times that you would have had to search cookbooks for recipes and then still find nothing for dealing with the two things you need to use up. The two things in this case were buttermilk and cranberries. All I had to do was google those two things and up came this muffin recipe. So that was our breakfast today. I added a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg to the recipe. I may try lemon rind next time.

Now I just need to use up these pears before a new shipment comes tomorrow in our organic box.

It's a quiet Sunday but after the last few Sundays, I'm happy with that.

Baking

2012-01-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

Sunday started off with a lot of promise. I got the mango frozen yoghurt in the ice cream maker and then I baked this bread - soda bread with dark chocolate chunks from a Jamie Oliver recipe. And I was already to use my new tagine for the first time. But Zoe had other ideas and we ended up at the vet. She's now recuperating at home. Oh and I don't think the mangoes were ripe enough. I'm not happy with the frozen yoghurt. That's two not so great batches lately.

I've also just realized that the photos I took on Saturday were not RAW but jpeg. Hate when that happens. We had a great day walking along Queen Street East in Leslieville/Riverdale and checking out the French bakeries.

Playing with HDR

2012-01-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to see what all this HDR stuff is myself for a while now especially since I got CS5. It's pretty neat stuff (it seems late in the game to be saying this). I haven't gone for the over-the-top stuff, yet. I remembered bracketing some shots in anticipation of this when I was in Paris in 2010 so I thought I would play around with these photos. I kind of liked playing more with the softness and creating something pastel-like. I know I could have done that in Corel Painter but not with the same highlights and shadow work.

It has certainly intrigued me and I plan on doing more especially using it to cope with differing lighting conditions like indoor photography. My DSLR (Sony A55) also does in camera HDR so it's not as crucial for compensating for different lighting conditions in Photoshop but some extra, minor adjustments would probably help too.

My muse

2012-01-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

Zoe the cat

Well not really but she always seems to be beside me and she's great for testing out a new camera. My favourite is the lower left since she looks a bit drunk. Obviously she's not. I caught her mid yawn. I was also just playing with Photoshop, as usual, and adding a high key look with texture and border for this "collage."

A day at the beach

2012-01-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

Well it is just beginning to cloud over but the sun was out and shining almost as much as this past Saturday when we walked down to the beach and I took these photos (I may post more when I get someone's permission). It was like a spring day in January. Bit chillier today but I should have gone down to the beaches this morning to photograph that wonderful sunrise. Sunrises are starting to happen earlier and earlier these days...

Cooking and photographing

2012-01-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

Well I'm certainly liking the new camera and it even went to work with me today. I went out at lunch and made sure I took some photos and even discovered a new little street.

Narrow house on a short street near McCaul

But before that I, on Sunday we were cooking and baking. Here are some of the results.

Hubby-made cake with apples

Roasted dinner

I hope to continue going out a lunchtime and taking pictures while exploring the neighbourhood.

The Grange at the Art Gallery of Ontario

New Camera and the Social Networking Diet

2012-01-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday was my birthday. I won't go into details as it was a bit bleak but I did get a wonderful present from hubby. So I will take more pictures but ones with higher quality (raw capabilities) than my point and shoot (but more portable and lighter than my DSLR). I am now the new owner of a compact system camera and it's pretty awesome. So maybe expect more updates and more photos? I'm going to try to take it with me everywhere. I want to not rely on my iphone for photos anymore. Don't get me wrong, iphone is great for photos but there are sometimes that I wish I had the quality there for some images and ways of manipulating the photos without losing quality as well. Now I have the answer. Today I took some photos of the new Loblaws after buying myself a cake (a day late but that's okay).

Along College on the streetcar

love the bright colours in the store

reminders of its past

Beginning today, though, for a week or more I will not be checking facebook, twitter or instagram. I think I need a break from knowing someone went to Starbuck's and the like and maybe, just maybe, I'll focus more and take more photos. Well it's an experiment. We'll see how it goes.

Post Christmas

2012-01-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well I broke with tradition this year and took the decorations down before the 5th. To fill the void I made sure to buy some flowers and some extra candles. It actually didn't feel so bad the first night without Christmas lights.

We did a lot of cooking during the holidays. Hubby made some fantastic French onion soup and I made cassoulet for New Year's Day.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

Getting all prepared for Christmas day and tonight's dinner. Looking forward to that duck tonight. Yum. Christmas cookies were baked last weekend. Caneles were made this week and a cranberry pudding cake was done today. Almost there.

This year's Christmas card. Originally taken in Paris in 2010 at the store Merci.
Like that message of Thanks.

All the best to everyone out there this holiday season. Hopefully during this bit of a break I can actually post new things and get some creating done.

Decorations outside

2011-12-10T14:11:00.001-08:00

Well it finally stopped raining a couple of days ago and the sun was out today and it was lovely so I was able to pop out to take these finally.

Daytime

My brother made the birch reindeer

the berries are from our vine in the backyard

Already a casualty of a broken ornament. Got to have one a season.

Nightime

And there are more lights going down the length of the fence

Nice day out in the morning shopping at the market and thinking about Christmas meals. After taking these pictures tonight, I think I would like a new tripod on my Christmas list. Need a better head on the tripod - one that I can trust. I watched as my camera slowing started turning in portrait format. Not something you want for doing long exposure, although that effect could be interesting.

Chicago on my mind

2011-12-05T17:28:00.001-08:00

Still thinking about Chicago even though it was over a week ago. Had such a great time and great food. Can't wait to go back. So here are some panoramas from the trip.

Starting to look a lot like Christmas

2011-12-04T16:27:00.001-08:00

So today was decorating day around here. We already had some lights outside (since it was raining, pics of that will come later). Just a mini tree this year but that meant more lights for elsewhere.

This is also a way to keep playing with long exposure.

Canelé

2011-11-23T11:08:00.001-08:00

Today is a baking/cooking day. I like days like this. I'm still creating although I do feel a bit guilty as I feel like I'm having too much fun.

After sitting "brewing"(?) for nearly 3 days, the canelé mixture was ready. It's best to let it sit for at least a couple of days and I'm happy to say I think it paid off! It immediately took me back to Bordeaux and just over a month ago when I first ate one of these perfect little treats. Thanks to Chocolate and Zucchini where I seem to have found the best and least complicated recipe for them. I bought two sets of moulds - one a little bit bigger than the other (the latter I found in Auchan for just 3 Euro!). It also pays to let them bake just that little bit longer for that caramel-y like appearance. It's hard to describe how you have to almost break the outside "skin" to get at the egg-y goodness inside. Bliss.

Now waiting for my squash soup simmering away in the Le Creuset that I (re:hubby) lugged home from Bordeaux. Just too good of a price to miss!

Getting Ready for a sale - Magnets!

2011-11-18T09:16:00.001-08:00

magnets

Still getting ready for the sale. It's tomorrow! I think everything is set but I may need a last minute trip to the art store. New this year - magnets. I've been using the same photo transfer technique and I've also added paint to some.

Hope it goes well. Still debating about taking some of the panels I've got attached to and are hanging on our living room wall. Hmmm...

Getting ready for a sale

2011-11-13T09:19:00.000-08:00

I already have some photo transfer panels ready for the sale next Saturday (email me if you want details!) but I thought I would try some smaller little canvases that I may turn into magnets. We'll see. Already prepped some photos (see the tutorial from earlier posts) and just waiting for them to dry before applying them to the mini canvases that I got here and in Bordeaux.

Here are some of the images I've been working on.

Geneva

San Francisco

Bordeaux

What I've been up to

2011-11-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Long silence there with no posting but there was another trip to France in there with, of course, more photos.

Saint Emilion

Toulouse

Bordeaux

Now I'm preparing for a one day art and artisan show and a trip to Chicago. I'll try not to be so silent, though.

Paris Panel

2011-09-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since an update but I have been working away and this one has been done for a while now. I've even put it up on the wall in order to live with it for a while to see if it is actually finished.

Tutorial - Making a photo transfer

2011-08-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's that tutorial. Photo transfers are fun and can add an element of collage to a work or be used entirely by itself. Generally you would want to put the transfers on a panel but you can also use them in other creative ways including lampshades (since they are almost transparent) or shadow boxes. I've found that self-levelling gel works really well. I came across this quite by accident since the jar looks the same as tar gel and I obviously wasn't paying attention! I started with a layer of self-levelling gel and then an application of tar gel but really the self-levelling works well on its own as long as you do two applications. It also dries faster and smoother.

What you'll need:

A picture printed on plain paper
Knife or scissors
palette knife
self-levelling gel or tar gel
tape
backing board
sponge with scrubby side, if possible

Step 1:

Print out an image onto regular plain paper. The cheaper the better. Pigment inks are best but are not necessary. Any regular print will do. Any true blank area will not show white in the final. So remember that when choosing your image and choosing what to show and what not.

Step 2:

Cut down your picture (if necessary). Leave a bit of a border. You'll see why. You can always cut down the image after its gel application.

Step 3:

Tape down your image (leaving a bit of a border around the true outside of your image). It's best to tape the paper down to a non-porous board to allow for drying.

Step 4:

Take a spatula and coat the picture with the gel in one smooth, even and not too thick coating. Try to minimize air bubbles as these will stay. Do another pass or two to smooth it out if necessary.

Step 5:

Once dry the gel should now appear see-thru unlike the above. The milky look means it still isn't dry. Drying will depend on humidity in the air but be prepared to wait several hours. Repeat and coat the picture with another application of the gel. This helps with Step 6.

Step 6:

Once the 2nd coat is dry remove the tape (it helps if you score the paper or even just cut the picture away as close to your tape as possible). Wet the picture and your sponge. Start rubbing the back of the picture in a circular motion to remove the paper. Don't rub too hard or have any debris under the picture or folds as this will remove the pigment. Unless you want that look! Wash the transfer when you've got the paper off just to clean it up.

Step 7:

Now hang to dry. Because you left a little bit of extra space around the picture you don't have to worry too much about your hanging method leaving any indentation.

Step 8:

When dry you can apply your transfer in any way you like. If you're applying it to a panel then any type of binder medium will work to adhere it.

Enjoy your new photo transfer!

Coming soon - Tutorial!

2011-08-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

Here's an image I'm working on for a tutorial. Things are drying, pictures are being taken but soon there will be a post for a how-to for photo transfers.

More from my night out

2011-07-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Here are more pics from the night shoot.

Painting with Light

2011-07-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

After a couple of hints from European Chic, I'm back posting again. Been busy finishing classes and recovering from some health inconvenience (how I like to see it). These pictures are from my last photo lighting class and here I'm painting with light. Or rather others are and I'm taking the pictures.

These are taken at the Distillery District in Toronto. It's a former whiskey distillery that was abandoned for years and used at times for filming but has been re-done as a centre for arts, nice design shops and restaurants.

Changing paint with Photoshop

2011-06-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Last day of my class tomorrow (Photo transfers and painting) and I'm stuck with my painting. But instead of going at it with paint again (it's been changed twice) I thought I would use Photoshop to see if lightening the picture was just the thing it needed and I think it is. Stayed tuned for the end result.

Before - the darker version

With Photoshop - lighter

Photo transfers

2011-05-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

Things got a bit busy with preparing for my show for Contact and starting new classes so it's been a while. But here's some work I've been doing to prove I was doing something while away from here.

Quiet Through Tunnel

I'm taking a course in photo transfers and painting. The primary way being used to transfer an image onto a substrate is with tar gel. It's actually pretty simple and you just use the cheapest paper too (makes a change). Above is my first effort with a photo of a sign that I took in San Francisco applied to a painted panel and then painted around. I tried using leveling gel to make the edges of the photo transfer less obvious. It created an almost resin-like coating. This was not my goal. It didn't really do its leveling magic but I'm happy with the results.

Now onto project #2 and more San Francisco images. This is a bigger panel (the other one was 8 x 10 and this one is 20 x 20). Below are all of the tar gel images with paper rubbed off waiting to be applied to the gesso panel. They're quite shiny so the shininess of the leveling gel at least ties everything together but then loads of varnish would too.

One you've seen before

North Beach hotel

California

tram

Here we have the panel waiting for painting. This time I applied the images first rather than painting first. I'm going to try to build around the edges of the transfers so they looked more like they are part of the panel rather than applied. We'll see.

now pasted onto panel

New things

2011-04-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

This is one of the images I'm working on for a new course at the Toronto School of Art. You've probably seen this image before in a different guise (see the blog where it was put with a building from Paris).

I'm still working on things for the Contact show, combined with other necessary errands and things around the house. We actually planted flowers. It's so nice to have them back.

Getting there

2011-04-20T17:21:00.000-07:00

So I picked up my swag for Contact today and nearly had a heat attack carrying it all home. What I would have done with 75 copies of the catalogue, I don't know. We're allowed to sell them but I don't see a queue forming out my door. Would be easier if I was a gallery owner but I'm not.

New York

Picked up the works I had professionally printed today. They're okay. I was a bit nervous about it.

And I had my first digital images in painting class. Looks promising. So a not bad day overall.

Tomorrow - more matting, printing, possibly ink shopping and general getting ready-ness.

Getting ready

2011-04-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

New York

Still ticking off to-do lists for Contact. I ordered my larger prints today. Just hope they come out. I wasn't left feeling overly confident after leaving the printer. I pick up Contact promotional things tomorrow too. Getting there...

Blurb

2011-04-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

So my book is in the process of being printed by Blurb. If you fancy have a peak (and maybe ordering a copy) here's the link.

New York

And here's another pic. It's in the book too. Now to get photos printed for the show tomorrow after work.

How could I forget Germany?

2011-04-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

Forgot to put any photos of shopfronts from our trip to Germany in 2009 in my blurb book or to consider for the Contact show. How could I?

Almost finished my book for the show. I want to have it there to show other pieces that won't fit in the space and maybe somebody will like to purchase the book (hopefully they will purchase and not take the sample that I leave at Grinder).

After the crash...

2011-04-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

So I got back to it after Photoshop crashed and this was the result.

New York, Bleeker Street.

I know how Photoshop feels after over a week of not sleeping properly but I've had two good nights and I'm back to feeling better. Long may it continue...

Back from NYC

2011-04-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

So where have I been for a week? Well, NYC and I took some pics. Not as many photos as I usually take seeing as I was in class for a couple of my 5 days there. But I added to the shopfront theme and here's one. There would have been another one but Photoshop just crashed. I really think I need to invest in an upgrade. My poor iMac can't take the stress anymore.

This photo is from the Lower East Side and really looked like a stage set but then so much of NY does maybe because it plays such a huge role in things we see on t.v. and in movies. You'll be forgiven if you thought it was yet another picture from Paris.

England shopfront

2011-04-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

I realized the other day that I didn't have any shopfronts for England. I loved this old-fashioned tea room right in the centre of London (well on the south side of the river but still pretty hectic and now very modern). I love that it looks like it's been there forever (without any Photoshop aging, that is).

London

I feel like I have to go back to England to address this problem. It's been nearly 3 years (when this photo was originally taken) and I miss it.

Classes over for now

2011-04-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

So during our last day of Photoshop class I actually worked on some of the photos I want to present for Contact. Here's one from Toronto (on Dundas near Sherbourne).

There's still some work to be done on it but I'm pleased with it so far and even more pleased to get back to working on this show. I really have to ramp things up although there is a trip to New York first...

So classes are over for the winter term but I'm probably signing up for some more tomorrow. I'm sure if I do I will be posting more samples of what I've been learning although one of them will probably be a web design course so no real samples there. French is taking a back-seat, for now.

Busy day

2011-04-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this isn't a picture of something I created but it does have something to do with the arts. Hubby and I went to check out the Glenn Gould prize announcement today mostly because Stephen Fry was a juror and it's in a beautiful building - the Royal Conservatory of Music (must get back there for a concert). The winner? Mr. Leonard Cohen!

Stephen Fry

And my exhibit for the Scotiabank Contact photography show is on their website. Check it out and the other exhibits.

Something I've been working on...

2011-03-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

More shopfronts coming up. I've been working on these (although not nearly enough) for my show for Contact in May. Yikes. It's almost here!

New York

More Illustrator fun

2011-03-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

See, I told you I would post more. Here's my final project for my Illustrator class.

Visit Lyon!

We had to create either a print ad or just artwork. I was inspired by travel posters from the 30s although the inclusion of the bridge would put its date a little later than that so I'm not trying to fool anybody. The instructor suggested the overlay of old paper and it really pulled everything together for the look I was after.

Moving on to more fun at the Toronto School of Art. I'll have to sign up for classes next week.

Illustrator work

2011-03-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here's my second project for my Illustrator class this winter. Class wrapped up today although today was the first day I couldn't attend. I think I only missed crits for everyone's final project (which you will see in the coming days as well). I'm a lot more comfortable with this programme now and can leave my CorelDraw days behind.

In this image there wasn't much "freehand" drawing except for the cyclist and car and lamps. All of the buildings were taken from my photos of buildings in Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Berlin, Paris, San Francisco and right here in Toronto. I had to work on the images in Photoshop first to take out any of the background and then live traced them in Illustrator and then played around with their colours. I also created the brushes used in the "sky" and "sidewalk" by live tracing images of watercolour brushstrokes. I then used other images as starting points for the actual car, cyclist and lamps from my own photos and tracing over them with the pen tool.

It's been a while...

2011-03-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Before I tell you why it's been a while, have a cupcake. Or just look at these (made this past weekend).

I promise to post some of the work I've been working on in the near future. Until then the update is: school (coming to a close for this term), new job (part-time but still and it's at the AGO in the paper lab - my fave!), getting ready for Contact (not enough) and just general day-to-dayness stuff.

Take 3

2011-02-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

Next image

Changed in favour to this

Worked on another shopfront that sort of mirrored the other one in colour and composition yet it just wasn't working. So format change, image change etc. and we have something different.

Take two

2011-02-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

Backgrounds with added raw umber and burnt umber. They're currently under some experimenting with the photo component. I've layered the photos and exposed the background in the photo as well as treating the original image with filters to give a more painterly effect to match the background and type of support. We'll see how it goes. It may be back to the drawing board. I'm hoping it all works out because these are meant for a show in March that happens to be just around the corner...

First experiment

Shop in Lyon

Background

2011-02-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

background #1

Making and scanning my own background for artwork. I think it might change before I'm finished with it, though. I might be adding some browns in an attempt to give it more of an aged look. Watch this space...

Cake!

2011-02-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

Guinness cake to be exact and it looks like a pint. Thanks to a Nigella recipe. Should have made it next week for my dad's birthday but I jumped the gun. Will have to do something else instead.

A Winter Saturday

2011-02-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

...which basically means I didn't do much. I did get to class and learn a lot but then I came home and tried to work (really, I tried) but sleepiness won out and a nap was called for. This evening I curled up with a photo magazine and then got inspired to do a black-and-white of a photo I took from yesterday's beach outing. I also colorized it to bring out the iciness of the situation (like you couldn't tell it was cold).

Tomorrow I work!

Winter things

2011-02-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

The good point of being freelance/under-employed is that it allows you to take an hour out and go take photos. I had to drop off some business cards to a gallery where I will have a photo in a show this month on my way (so not all fun and games, business was done too). I noticed the sky was really interesting over the lake so after the gym and a little bit of shopping for supplies, off I went. You can see what I mean about the sky. Such and interesting colour. I wanted to try out my new gradual density filter and ND filter. I tried the gradual but it was just so very, very, VERY cold down there I couldn't be doing with switching out filters and setting up a tripod. I also didn't plan this very well so my battery was low. I made sure I kept it warm in my mitten until I got to the beach.

Now those supplies... Guinness was harmed in the making of dinner tonight. It is a key ingredient for both dinner and dessert. I made a stew and a cake.

Changes...

2011-01-30T16:41:00.000-08:00

changed work

Not much of a change. Can you spot the difference? I changed the saturation levels of some of the images poking through the main image and increased the contrast of the main one. Just subtle changes...

Class

2011-01-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

I have my first assignment due on Tuesday so I'm actually getting some work done on it now. Still playing around with it but here's the way it stands now.

So this is what I've been doing. Also a lot of editing and some sleeping and then some working out. And getting a photo ready to put in a show next month. Busy week.

Getting behind

2011-01-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

new bulletin board

I actually created this new fabric bulletin board two weeks ago. I thought there needed to be something under the new shelf above my desk. I also have a couple of sweet cards from hubby to put up. Just looking at them pushes me forward. On top of the new shelf is a wonderful birthday present from a friend, the artist. I'm jealously keeping it here for really just me to look at as I work. I may move it later where it can be enjoyed by others and possibly beside another work by her. Also up on the shelf is a sunshine buddy going crazy thanks to the light above it. This was a prize that I won thanks to Pretty Modern. These are all important things that needed a shelf. It also gave me a bit more space on my desk.

lasagna

On the cooking creative front there was another lasagna in our new Emile Henry pan. Again, this was last weekend. I love this pan and was even shopping for a large stew pot or oven last night. The Amanzon.com site had a good deal. The worrying thing on the page was under the "Frequently bought with" part. It showed it frequently bought with dog food. Weird. Unfortunately it no longer says that.

I will blame my delay on coming down with yet another cold, my new classes keeping me busy and a new blog that I just started DesignT.O.

Baking again

2011-01-09T12:15:00.001-08:00

Well it was a bit of a cake extravaganza around here last night. I baked 24 cupcakes using the Magnolia Bakery recipe. I really should have tried to halve the amount. There was just too much goodness to go around. Someone bought a mocha cake from a nearby bakery that was delicious. Another person brought these incredible cake pops (yes, cake on sticks! brilliant!). There were jelly babies from another friend (along with artwork!). Nice night. Another reason for leftovers was that a few people were sick. Get better folks!

Thought I would photograph the cupcakes with the sun shining into the kitchen and balancing it out with reflectors. I also had leftover dough from lemon madeleines I made last week so I baked those up on Friday.

I really must join that new gym...

Organizing

2011-01-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

Who says creativity cannot be channelled towards organizing yourself? Okay, so Ikea helped and it wasn't all that creative. I got tired of my makeup and beauty products (I hardly use anything so why do I have so much stuff?!) being a mess. After some kind friends offered a ride to Ikea yesterday I decided to focus on that. It's nice to have control over even just the little things. I even vacuumed the drawer.

Now back to some other work...

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

Worked on this one yesterday. I'm not entirely happy with it so I've made sure to save all the layers so I can go back and change things. It was taken in Geneva in November. I wish our little grocery or veggie market was like this.

Not sure what will get done today as we have friends coming over tonight and I'm making a huge lasagna in our new Emile Henry dish. I have to do my requisite number of pages for review and clean.

Motivation

2010-12-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

Trying to get motivated to go outside today and maybe take some pics. It's been ages. But it's so grey out and warm inside...

Anyway, hopefully I will do a bit more French review and work on photos today. Here's a couple from yesterday. Both are from Lyon.

Tilt-shift faked

2010-12-29T08:53:00.002-08:00

I've been meaning to try this Photoshop technique out for a while. It's for faking the look of a tilt-shift lens and since I can't afford such a lens that's what I have to do. I'm really using this week between the holidays to try stuff that I've been meaning to try. I also have to do some reviewing for my French class starting in January.

This photo was taken in Geneva in November. I'm sure there are some things that should be changed but for a first go, I'm pleased.

2010-12-29T08:53:00.001-08:00

Photography

2010-12-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

After a write-off of a day yesterday (spent most of it asleep) I'm feeling a bit better today and ready to tackle going through my photos from France and Switzerland and thinking about the Contact show in May. Very excited about this upcoming show. A lot is invested so I have to get working on it. Before you know it, May will be here. I know it doesn't look like that outdoors.

I hadn't planned on doing this shop photo taken in Lyon in black and white. Really I wasn't planning to have any b&w for the show. I just happened to hit an action I had downloaded and I liked it. It probably won't be used for the show and may end up being in colour again but I feel better about just creating something today.

I also took the first steps to creating a new blog for design in Toronto. There's a welcome post but that's all for now. When I really get going I'll post a link here.

Cooking

2010-12-26T16:14:00.000-08:00

Not actually creating art but we are creating meals. Thanks to my Mom and Dad we're now the proud owners of Staub pans. We have a 10" skillet and 10" grill and tonight's test was steak with left over gratin dauphinois from Christmas Eve (with added Comte cheese) and green beans and mushrooms in the skillet. Yum! Love the texture. Looks like we've coverted from the competition Le Creuset as we should since Staub are made in Alsace.

It's been quite the cooking weekend with baking before that. Last night's Christmas dinner was duck with cranberry sauce, potatoes roasted in duck fat, green beans in butter, carrots in wine and orange juice and leeks in wine with bacon topping. Christmas Eve was filet mignon. I sense a diet is needed.

Merry Christmas (a day late!).

Christmas baking

2010-12-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Trying to still get in the holiday spirit. Baking usually helps and after seeing some new baking gear in the stores, I'm trying to stop myself from getting more and baking more. We probably won't see many people over Christmas so I don't want us to be eating everything I bake. That would be very bad indeed. I may go for a madeleine baking tray and one for baking baguettes. We'll see. Guess that shows our desire to live a bit of a French life even if we can't be there. Although no one really bakes their own baguettes there when there are so many wonderful bakeries.

So I managed to fit in making these fantastic cookies on Friday in between working at home (the joys of working for yourself). Then I made the chocolate cupcakes for a party last night that we didn't get to. Hoping someone will drop by to help us eat them!

Post sale

2010-12-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

Well it was a really nice day spent with some great ladies. Luckily I wasn't responsible for bringing in the punters since only one of my friends was able to make it. That's what it is like this time of year. I told myself not to take it personally like I'm "Billy No-Mates." I managed to sell two bigger photographs. They were two of my favourites (the two on the far left).

Here's a shot of my set-up.

Getting ready for a Sale

2010-12-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

Still haven't updated why the disappearance. Too busy! But the reason is that we were in France (again) for a couple of weeks. We went to Paris and Lyon and a side trip to Geneva for the day.

When I got back I had to finish up work at my old job and prepare for a bit of a transition. I'm planning a blitz of courses in digital media and art business. I'm allowing time for a bit of a re-group. I'm also updating my French skills.

But first I'm hoping to sell some of my photos at a show tomorrow. One day only with a bunch of creative gals. Wish me luck.

Above is a photo taken as a storm was threatening in Paris on our last day. We were staying right across from the Pantheon. I was really hoping to be snowed in and have to stay but oh well...

Starting to look like Christmas

2010-12-05T16:48:00.000-08:00

It's been a while and I'll go into more details why in a post this week. Just getting back to normal around here and having to get into the Christmas spirit. I decorated the tree this past Friday after it sitting bare for two days, despite a cold. Afterwards I collapsed and put my feet up to get better and to just have some quiet time. The week seemed to fly by. After taking some Christmassy photos of a friend and her family today with a Christmas market nearby and some gentle snowflakes it certainly does feel like Christmas even if part of me feels like it was just December last year.

Learning

2010-11-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Well that only took 3 hours! Thanks to a very special person I had to figure out how to view a new RAW format. That seemed easy at first but then Bridge didn't want to recognize it. I won't bore you with the tech-y details.

Anyway, this was the first real test of my camera and I decided to go to a new "beach" down by Lake Ontario. It's called Sugar Beach because of the Redpath sugar refinery across from it. Very nice spot even on a fall day. It was warmer there than anywhere else today even though I was right down by the lake. The sun on the white chairs was lovely. I should have taken a moment to sit in it but I was on the move. I'll write more about this spot in a new blog. That's coming soon!

I did try out the panorama function of the camera and it is so easy and such a neat feature. No fussing in Photoshop stitching images together! The result is above.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T15:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, I wasn't going to do anything. I wasn't even going to hand out candy after lacklustre years. I didn't get a pumpkin except three little ones. But then I thought a garland might be nice. And then I thought some sort of candle thing and it got all Martha Stewart here. The candle cover is made with anaglypta wallpaper scraps and I found some nice orange paper for a garland of pumpkins. Then hubby went to the shed to get the lanterns that were just put away. Looking all right.

San Francisco on my mind

2010-10-30T11:39:00.000-07:00

A cloudy Saturday and it's bliss. I'm finally working on some photos that I've been trying to work on for a while. Even though Photoshop keeps crashing, I'm struggling on and I'm mostly pleased with the results (I also have the Restore Sanity rally Live streaming behind me on my laptop). I should be making soup for dinner and I will go to the kitchen soon (and for a cup of tea).

Anyway, I must get some more photos done. I'm going for a portfolio review in less than two weeks (hopefully) to see about taking some courses. We'll see.

A book is born!

2010-10-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yep, another one. I'm giving this one to somebody tomorrow. I also was told to do another one a few days later so you don't forget the steps (although I had cheat sheets!). This one had better folding but I still love the first one.

Moody

2010-10-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

The other day I started playing with some old cemetery pictures that I took in Highgate cemetery in London in 2008 in Lightroom. It only dawned on me a few days later that these would fit with our photography group's "moody" theme.

I will have to visit the photography store tomorrow for more ink for the printer in order to fix it's new problem (alignment issues!). This is always deadly. I have to be good, though.

Colour

2010-10-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Not sure what is going on between my computer and my printer. Usually they have been conversing rather well since I got my good printer and figured out the whole ICC thing. But this picture has a greenish tone that I like. However, I've printed it twice on two different types of paper and it's sepia so not green at all.

How to get to the bottom of this?

*the original photo was taken in Highgate cemetery in London in 2008

Bookmaking!

2010-10-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

It's nice to try a new creative form so when a friend told me about a workshop for bookmaking taking place near her studio I jumped at the chance. I've always wanted to do this. It looks like there may be more classes in the future too. This is my first effort. I've already bought paper to have a go at another one on my own. Wish me luck. I'm planning to give it as a gift. Well, that's the plan now. We'll see.

I can see Christmas presents...

Inspiration needed

2010-10-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

Well today started out as a beautiful day but I needed more than that for inspiration. So, you dial up an artist when you need help and plan a spontaneous trip out to the westend of the city to go to a great art supply store. You buy photo paper you don't need but mat board that you do. You even try to spur on the painting (I haven't done any lately as you can probably tell from this blog!) so brushes were bought and a lovely travelling watercolour sketchbook. Which led me to think, our trip to France is just over a month away! On my return with my goodies I wasn't entirely done there. I also purchased a photo magazine that came with a cd with really good workshop videos including one for Lightroom (still trying to figure that one out). So, now I'm combing through my old photos looking for inspiration there before adding more photos next month and also playing with some new textures and borders (thanks to PhotoRadar). Not entirely happy with it but I'm going with the feeling that I'm just experimenting and playing tonight. This one was taken last October with my lensbaby on my camera so it already had texture and a strange colourcast to work with. More serious work to come.

San Francisco and Paris?

2010-09-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

I loved this San Francisco building when I saw it. It's actually a really interesting green colour and I'm sure it is probably cast-iron. I also remember a similar image that I did of a Parisian building so here they are together.

San Francisco tram

2010-09-25T11:10:00.001-07:00

Well, I haven't done one of these for a while. I did yellow taxi cabs like this for a photo of New York so this yellow tram caught my eye while I was going through my photos.

Red?

2010-09-25T10:26:00.001-07:00

While seeing if I could improve the saturation of the reds in the Eastern Bakery photo, this happened and I like it.

Shop change

2010-09-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Better? I took out the Wok Shop title from next door and added a bit more texture while I was at it. Just realized that both shop images from San Francisco feature bakeries. Hmm...

San Francisco shop

2010-09-25T10:03:00.001-07:00

Here's another San Francisco shop image. It took a bit longer than I planned to get another image completed. I do feel like I was productive this week, just not in this area. And now that I look at it on here I think the "Wok Shop" is distracting even if I love the name of the store. The main focus should be the Eastern Bakery. I love how this bakery looks like it probably did from its opening.

More to get on with for the Christmas show in November...

Lola

2010-09-15T17:09:00.000-07:00

Just one more. Taken in San Francisco at the Presidio. I got my only glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge from here (half covered in fog or half visible) after meeting with the people from the California Watercolor Association and seeing their fab National Exhibition at the Officer's Club there. I spotted "Lola" in one of the parking lots.

San Francisco

2010-09-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Just starting to get some time to go through my San Francisco pictures. I feel like I haven't even looked through my Spain and Montreal photos properly. I plan to sit down with them, possibly Friday, and really go over them - see what will become photos with some tweaking and what may become inspiration for painting. I have a sale to plan for before Christmas and I really just need to get back in the game. And before you know it, that will be upon us.

Continuing the shop theme but with a change of scenery is this shop from San Francisco. More to come!

Update

2010-09-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a long time since I posted anything. I wonder if anyone has even noticed. If you had, here's a update on life since I disappeared from blog-land.

Shortly after putting up the last two shows I got a request to show 4 more works at a show in an Vintage store Love Me Two Times. That show is still up and running since it's had some great comments.

After dropping off my work for that show, I left for San Francisco for a week. There I met up with members of the California Watercolour Society who were having their national show out at the Presidio. It was an amazing show and so nice to hear how another watercolour society is run and organized. I think we can learn a lot.

Back from that and I got some freelance work on an touring exhibition. I may tell you which one when it gets installed. I also had a painting commission from my mother-in-law of my in-laws' house (as shown above in detail and nicely framed) and a husband going back home so I needed to get that done quickly so he could bring it with him. That was the only painting I've done since the library show and my paintings from Spain.

But I have loads to work with and a plan to hold a sale in November. There's been so much inspiration from this year's trips and another planned for France in the fall. Now I just need the time and the focus to sit down and work through them. It feels weird not creating lately. But the approach of Autumn I'm sure will change that. Even the cooler weather has me inside doing this today on Labour Day weekend. My photography club will also be coming off its hiatus. I also realized it's been over a year now since this little blog experiment has started and I don't want to see the finish of it.

So more soon!

Another Show is Up

2010-07-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

In less than an hour it was all done, pictures, labels etc. On at the Woodside Square library until August 4th.

The Show must go Up!

2010-07-04T07:24:00.001-07:00

So yesterday morning was spent putting up a display of my photos at the Cozy Cafe on the Danforth in Toronto. This isn't far away from where I displayed my watercolours during the Art of the Danforth. I went with a cafe/bakery theme so lots of photos of boulangeries in Paris and even cafes in Berlin (as seen above).

Still working on shopfront photos. I'll include one here that I particularly like from Barcelona. I think I'll also add in some of the modern day shops aka "big box stores." I'm still working out how to present these. They are driving so many individually owned stores out of business. Luckily in many parts of Europe this hasn't happened like it has in some small towns in the states. It really is more to do with the make-up of the town and how far away the big box stores have to be there to find the amount of land they need. It's also a different mentality although that has changed too. My "aging" of these stores to look like they're from the past might become reality sooner than we would like. It's even becoming harder to find the more traditional shop front since many are becoming so modernized with huge marble tiles, lots of glass. Anyway rant over.

New Work - and it's not Spain

2010-06-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

I have a show coming up at the Woodside Square Library. Since I had less than a month's notice, I'm including some of the work I showed at the Art of the Danforth and creating 3-4 new pieces. I'm going to show 7 in total, so that's not too bad. I had sent images of the pieces for AofD for my application. I was intending to do more specific archival images for the area of the branch but since it's in a relatively new area of town, this wasn't as easy so I've included one image taken from an archival photo showing a theatre around Yonge and Queen in 1913. The other shows workman not far from the current location of the branch where this will show. The other is a bus from the Toronto-Markham-Stouffville route (the branch is near Markham, yes I'm reaching here!).

I also worked on some shop photos from my trip to Barcelona. They're meant as a possible wedding present for a friend so I'll show them later. Happy Wedding day to them! Hope the weather gets better.

And...Spain

2010-06-19T09:55:00.001-07:00

Did this one a few days ago but only getting a chance to post it now. It's based on an image in Tarragona.

Feeling particularly lazy today. I did get some cleaning done so check. Rewashed the hair after getting it cut and starting to feel better about it so check that off the list. Still no grocery shopping done. Guess the humidity and the possibility of a thunderstorm isn't helping. Got to get some artwork done, though, and that I can do indoors and in the cool.

Spain again!

2010-06-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, Spain again. Still working on images but not sure if they will get used. I'm enjoying it, though. I must move onto images needed for a show next month, though.

Here's the main train station in Valencia. It was beautiful inside.

So much to do, so little time.

More Spain

2010-06-09T12:16:00.001-07:00

From top down:

Tarragona's Roman amphitheater. Valencia's town square. It's all about the detail in Barcelona as shown with this window. And Montserrat.

Spain!

2010-06-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

So did I disappear off the face of the earth? No, not quite. I did go to Spain, though, for a week. It was my second time in Barcelona but this time I was also in Valencia, Tarragona and Montserrat. Expect to see more Spanish subjects in the future. Here's just a taster for now. The top one is from Montserrat and the bottom is a detail from a shop in Las Rambla in Barcelona (an old umbrella shop). Everywhere was just beautiful!

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well today is the first day that I didn't have to be somewhere or do something for awhile (basically since the last time I blogged) so there was some sleeping in, some reading of the newspaper from yesterday, a good workout at the gym, chores, and now working on my own stuff. Bliss. I'm not ditching my daughterly duties but there was another plan for that. I will wish my mom a Happy Mother's Day here instead and happy birthday to my brother as well.

Creative Monday

2010-04-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

Lots happening today. I feel like I can give myself a bit of time today to experiment and be creative. I even got outside to take pictures (not all sitting in front of the computer) although it was my backyard. I thought I would experiment with my macro filter (it's great and so much cheaper than getting a macro lens) with the last of the cherry blossoms and other flowers. I think my neighbours thinks I'm crazy (crouched nearly on top of a hyacinth at one point). Off to work tomorrow!

I think I like the background of my painting. Now to remove all of the masking gunk. And there's a lot!

The fun continues

2010-04-26T10:44:00.001-07:00

This time with a turquoise theme.

Got a lot of my chores done today so feeling pretty good.

More fun with Photoshop

2010-04-25T17:19:00.001-07:00

I'm loving these actions and brushes that are out there. I have started a painting but it will involve several layers for the background. Until then, here's a photographic creation.

Getting things done on a cloudy Sunday

2010-04-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

So, I'm accomplishing what I planned for this weekend so far and I feel a cup of tea coming on and maybe a read. I just started A.S. Byatt's The Children's Book and so far I haven't been able to get past page 10. You really have to persevere with her books at the beginning and then they are a really good read.

Got to see the Art of the Danforth yesterday, more parts of it than planned, but that's okay. Many of my photos made it into the murals at the Greenwood and Woodbine subway stations (I have to check Coxwell). I have to re-tack some of my mats down for my watercolours tomorrow but I have new adhesive for that, which will hopefully work. Had a good walk down to the Beaches area to get that for tomorrow.

The chairs are out of the shed and on the deck but today is not the day to enjoy them. A bit cold and blustery although not wet as promised.

Also worked on sorting out my closet. I feel a purchase may be needed for further organizing. I'm also tossing some stuff. I'll be able to drop it off at a charity box tomorrow on my way to look after my art pieces (I like when you can do many things in one trip).

And I'm getting my computer organized and figuring out some Photoshop things I've been meaning to sit down with for ages now. Above is a result of playing with some free "grunge" brushes (the frame is actually the brush). Fun! On to watercolour painting, hopefully, this evening.

To do list for this weekend including ART OF THE DANFORTH

2010-04-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

So what to do this weekend? Well, first and foremost is participating in the Art of the Danforth show at 2035 Danforth Ave (see below for work). I plan to walk along the Danforth from Greenwood to Woodbine and take in the various installations and activities and then there's a media launch to attend.

But besides that... I need to get the deck set up for some serious lounging this summer so the chairs are coming out. I might even get ivy for the camouflaging of the ugly shed. I also have to work on my closet (I couldn't find a shoe yesterday but retrieved today). I must get back to painting (I have some ideas coming from my trip to High Park) and work on photos. Ambitious? Maybe but it sounds like fun too.

Have a great weekend.

*the photo above is one that seems to creep out everyone but it's my desktop photo and I like it. It was taken in Paris near Bastille. I believe the store front was for a dollmaker's or repair shop.

Our own blossoming tree

2010-04-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Every year since we planted this tree for my friend Sandra I look forward to seeing the first blossoms. I sat working by the back doors today and kept catching glimpses of its bright pink blossoms. We thought it was a cherry tree when we first got it but now we think it's peach. The local animals tend to go after the fruit before we can even recognize it. We're going with peach. Although it could also be pear.

Another Spring Walk - High Park

2010-04-21T16:26:00.001-07:00

Treated myself to a half-day of picture taking. Worked my first day at the Watercolour Society yesterday and will be back there tomorrow. I should have been working on my website but I thought I could afford the morning. It's only one time a year and for a very short time that the Japanese cherry blossoms are out in bloom in High Park so off I went riding the 506 streetcar for its entire length. It was a beautiful day and there were crowds taking in the blossoms. Here's a digitally altered version just for something different.

Spring walk

2010-04-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

I felt like I needed to get out today. I edited and worked on a book this morning and then printed out my watercolours onto larger paper (after getting no help with the new paper I bought - still waiting for Mitsubishi to get back to me about an ICC profile). Little more editing work and then I thought I would walk down to the beach and the post office to mail my friend's present. I was cold inside the house and didn't realize how warm it was outdoors. I'm so glad I brought my camera along with me. I know, I know, I should always carry a camera.

Here are some of the pics I took along the way that just say Spring!

Power!

2010-04-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Power Supermarket, that is. This is taken from an image of the grand opening of their store at Woodbine and Danforth. Torontonians from this area might remember the location as that of the lumber yard which had a bit of a fire on a Christmas Eve more than 7 years ago. Since then it's been a hole in the ground. There are now plans to build a condo with retail but because of the height proposed it is stalling a bit. None of the buildings in the area are more than 3 storeys high.

I still have a little bit of work to do on this one, though.

I meet next week to go over how to divide the space up with another artist and all the rest of the things that have to be sorted out. Not long now!

Streetcar

2010-04-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, another streetcar but this one is older than the one I painted before. I might not even include both of them although I'm more pleased with them than some of the other works.

So, I've been absent from here yet again. But do not fear, I have been busy creating. I had to get a set of photographs ready for a gallery who took on 5 of them (Hurrah!). I had to mat and frame an etching and hand it in for the Stomping Grounds exhibit opening this Thursday at Alternative Grounds. Some editing (best if I don't get too creative there). Trying to grow my business. Making contacts etc. Setting up an art based website for my work with e-commerce (so if you've liked something here you might be able to buy it!). Planting flowers... Okay I'm reaching but I've been busy.

Excuses out of the way. On to the next picture.

Greenwood

2010-03-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

Well this lonely little house is long gone. When the street was widened on Greenwood it was one of the casualties. That area of Greenwood had a lot of changes. It was once a brickyard and is now both a ttc stockyard and a park.

Feeling better about my progress now. I intend to do more images than I need and then sort them out.

Monarch Park

2010-03-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I didn't get this posted yesterday. Maybe because I only finished the painting today (when I say finished I know I will be making some changes later). Here's another painting for the Art of the Danforth. What will I do next? Hmmm...

I have fond memories of going to Monarch Park with my mom. Again, it seemed far away to me when I was little but then my legs were shorter and everything seemed far. It was the closest park with a full swimming pool but it was always freezing. I always tried to just jump in instead of trying to slowly go in little by little. My brother tried several times to teach me to dive. I still can't.

Checking in

2010-03-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

What? No photo? I'm just checking in. I was away for a couple of days to Montreal. Fantastic little break. But right back at it first thing tomorrow. I really need to get work done for the next show and frame a work for another one.

Thought I would let people know about a fantastic giveaway of a cute apron on a blog that I follow. Great stuff there regularly but now you get a chance for a free apron. How great is that? Check out It's a PrettyModern Life

Hopefully back here tomorrow with some work!

Coxwell Streetcar

2010-03-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, another Coxwell subject but this streetcar would have travelled, obviously. I'm more pleased with this in the end than I thought I would be. Still more to do...

Still happy from yesterday's art opening. Met some new people and possibly have an art exchange going with one of them. My mom and dad came, which was wonderful. All of my friends who said they would come (except one who was poorly) did even though the weather was terrible. And then we celebrated with some of them with pie. What better way to end a day. Now will any of the photographs sell? We'll see.

Coxwell houses

2010-03-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, I know, I've been neglecting the blog again. And yes, another Coxwell image. I have been doing other things. Seriously. Let's see, I've been trying to make contacts for work, I've been doing photography, I got work ready for a show, getting cards made up, I've been sorting things out at home etc.

I do have to ramp up things when it comes to this show. I'm almost regretting choosing watercolours based on archival photos. First, I'm guessing at colours. But this doesn't mean I can use whatever colour I want. For the most part, things were not painted bright colours. It just wasn't done even if people had access to fuschia and the money to paint their house that colour. Mostly, as with these three houses, I would assume that the people didn't have much money at all and probably left their houses as they were or preserved the wood with a quite serviceable colour.

I did pick up some fantastic paper (Somerset) which I plan to use if I decide to just do prints of the original watercolours for the show. We'll see.

Coxwell waiting room

2010-03-03T11:19:00.001-08:00

I wish this was still there. It just seems so much more charming than the graffitti'd bus shelters we have now. And this one had a lunch counter. I think the woman in the doorway is the hostess. The brick would also keep out the cold winds.

Apparently this was at Coxwell and Danforth but I'm not sure which corner it would have been on. I want to say the south-east but I'm not sure.

What to tackle next. I seem to be rather Coxwell-centric but I seem to have the most workable archival photos for this area or street.