[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"app-navigation":3,"posts-12-10":138},{"tree":4,"leafs":137},[5,30,47,64,77,133],{"uid":6,"label":7,"to":8,"children":9},"MTM0","Custom Frames","/ctg/custom-frames",[10,14,18,22,26],{"uid":11,"label":12,"to":13},"MjI3","Custom Wood Frames","/ctg/custom-frames/wood",{"uid":15,"label":16,"to":17},"MjI2","Custom Metal Frames","/ctg/custom-frames/metal",{"uid":19,"label":20,"to":21},"MjI4","Canvas Floater Frames","/ctg/custom-frames/canvas-floater-frames",{"uid":23,"label":24,"to":25},"MjI5","Stretcher Bars","/ctg/custom-frames/stretcher-bar-frames",{"uid":27,"label":28,"to":29},"MjMw","Frame Samples","/ctg/custom-frames/frame-moulding-samples",{"uid":31,"label":32,"to":33,"children":34},"MjMz","Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic",[35,39,43],{"uid":36,"label":37,"to":38},"Mjk0","Non-Glare Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic/non-glare",{"uid":40,"label":41,"to":42},"Mjky","Standard Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic/standard-glass-acrylic",{"uid":44,"label":45,"to":46},"Mjkz","UV Filter Glass & Acrylic","/ctg/framing-supplies/glass-and-acrylic/uv-filter",{"uid":48,"label":49,"to":50,"children":51},"MjMx","Matboard","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board",[52,56,60],{"uid":53,"label":54,"to":55},"MjY0","Custom-Cut Matboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board/pre-cut-mats",{"uid":57,"label":58,"to":59},"MjM2","Full Sheet Matboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board/full-sheet-mat-boards",{"uid":61,"label":62,"to":63},"MjM1","Matboard Color Samples","/ctg/framing-supplies/mat-board/mat-board-samples",{"uid":65,"label":66,"to":67,"children":68},"MjMy","Foamboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/foam-board",[69,73],{"uid":70,"label":71,"to":72},"Mjg5","Custom-Cut Foamboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/foam-board/custom-foam-board",{"uid":74,"label":75,"to":76},"MjM3","Full Sheet Foamboards","/ctg/framing-supplies/foam-board/full-sheet-foam-boards",{"uid":78,"label":79,"to":80,"children":81},"MTM1","Framing Supplies","/ctg/framing-supplies",[82,107,120],{"uid":83,"label":84,"to":85,"children":86},"MTM1-group-0","Assembly & Mounting","/ctg/framing-supplies/assembly-and-mounting",[87,91,95,99,103],{"uid":88,"label":89,"to":90},"MjQz","Adhesives & Glue","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/adhesives-glue",{"uid":92,"label":93,"to":94},"MjQy","ATG Tape","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/atg-tape",{"uid":96,"label":97,"to":98},"MjQw","Hinging Tape & Tissue","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/hinging-tape-tissue",{"uid":100,"label":101,"to":102},"MjQx","Photo Corners & Strips","/ctg/framing-supplies/photo-mounting-supplies/photo-corners-strips",{"uid":104,"label":105,"to":106},"MjM0","Picture Frame Spacers","/ctg/framing-supplies/picture-frame-spacers",{"uid":108,"label":109,"to":110,"children":111},"MTM1-group-1","Hanging & Finishing","/ctg/framing-supplies/hanging-and-finishing",[112,116],{"uid":113,"label":114,"to":115},"MjQ0","Hanging Hardware","/ctg/framing-supplies/picture-frame-hanging-supplies",{"uid":117,"label":118,"to":119},"MjQ2","Cleaning Supplies","/ctg/framing-supplies/cleaning-supplies",{"uid":121,"label":122,"to":123,"children":124},"MTM1-group-2","Protection & Storage","/ctg/framing-supplies/protection-and-storage",[125,129],{"uid":126,"label":127,"to":128},"Mjk4","GalleryPouch™ Art Bags","/prod/gallery-pouch",{"uid":130,"label":131,"to":132},"Mjc4","Photo Storage Boxes","/ctg/framing-supplies/backing-and-protection-supplies/clear-bags-and-storage-boxes",{"uid":134,"label":135,"to":136},"Mjgx","Sale","/ctg/picture-frames-discount",{"MjI3":10,"MjI2":14,"MjI4":18,"MjI5":22,"MjMw":26,"Mjk0":35,"Mjky":39,"Mjkz":43,"MjY0":52,"MjM2":56,"MjM1":60,"Mjg5":69,"MjM3":73,"MjQz":87,"MjQy":91,"MjQw":95,"MjQx":99,"MjM0":103,"MjQ0":112,"MjQ2":116,"Mjk4":125,"Mjc4":129,"Mjgx":133},{"posts":139,"total":268},[140,155,170,185,198,210,222,233,244,256],{"id":141,"title":142,"uri":143,"content":144,"excerpt":145,"date":146,"modified":147,"categories":148,"image":152},"cG9zdDo1MDQ5","Old Photo Albums: DIY Organizing and Preserving Ideas","/diy/old-photo-albums-diy-organizing-and-preserving-ideas","\n\u003Cp>Old photos tell the story of years gone by. They freeze cherished moments in time, featuring a cast of characters who may no longer be around. For many people, old photo albums are the most treasured item they possess. Unfortunately, time is a cruel mistress. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Old photo albums are susceptible to damage and degradation, risking the loss of these memories forever. Here's what you can do to organize and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/storage/how-to-protect-and-preserve-your-digital-prints\">protect old photo albums\u003C/a> and ensure your cherished memories stand the test of time.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sort Out the Keepers\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It may seem controversial, but not all of your photos in your photo albums are worth keeping. Doubles, low-quality images, and moments that have no sentimental value are just taking up space. Start your photo album preservation product by sorting out which photos to keep and which to discard.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When choosing which photos to keep, ask yourself the following questions:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>Do you know everyone in this photo, and does their presence in your life have meaning?\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Are there multiple copies or similar shots of this photo\u003C/li>\u003Cli>Can you name the time or place this photo was taken?\u003C/li>\u003Cli>What emotions does this photo bring forth?\u003C/li>\u003Cli>How is the quality of this photo?\u003C/li>\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Choosing which photos to keep will be subjective. If you have a bunch of high-quality photos from high school with people you no longer consider friends, you might decide to discard them. Alternatively, if you have a blurry photo of your grandfather who passed away, it might mean the world to you.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Consider setting a pile of photos aside to offer to friends and family members who might have an emotional connection to the people or events featured.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digitize the Top Photos\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The biggest challenge with \u003Ca href=\"https://everpresent.com/at-home-organizing-photos-videos/\">preserving aging photos\u003C/a> is their fragile nature. Once you've sorted out the photos you want to keep from your albums, digitize and store them on the cloud.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This exercise has numerous benefits. First and foremost, you'll always have a copy of those treasured images, and they won't be susceptible to sun damage or tearing. Digitizing the images also takes up less space in your home and makes them easier to share. Finally, digital photos are more versatile for creating memories and heirloom projects as gifts and keepsakes.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create a Grouping Strategy\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Now that you've digitally stored your images, it's time to put away the original copies. Create a grouping strategy to sort and label your images. One of the most common ways to break down photos into groups is by time. From there, you could divide them into specific events or featured people.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Taking the time to organize your images with structure will help you pull photos as needed without making a mess.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-10.37.37-AM-1/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-10.37.37-AM-1.png\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1170,h_626,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661446099/blog/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-10.37.37-AM-1/Screen-Shot-2021-07-28-at-10.37.37-AM-1.png?_i=AA\" alt=\"Archived Photo Book\" class=\"wp-post-5049 wp-image-5051\" data-format=\"png\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661446099\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Photo-Safe Storing Methods\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One of the pitfalls of old photo albums is that they don't use photo-safe materials. Those sticky pages and clingy plastic sheets can actually contribute to degradation over time.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Remove your old photos from the albums and use photo-safe materials to store them. All paper and packaging should be acid-free such as these \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/c/protective-crystal-clear-bags.html\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">protective clear bags\u003C/span>\u003C/a> which are museum quality, acid-free and lignin-free or these archival \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/prod/c/archival-photo-storage-box-acid-free.html\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">photo storage boxes\u003C/span>\u003C/a> that are great for photos, prints, documents, artwork and collectables (like comic books and magazines). You can order other materials online or from a local crafting shop.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It's also worth practicing safe handling practices as you go through this process. Keep liquids and food away from your images, and always wash your hands to remove any oils and residue. When handling old photos, consider wearing white photo-handling gloves to limit the transfer of any natural oils from your skin. These oils can discolor or break down your old pictures over time.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Store the Originals Safely\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Once you've removed the albums and put a filing structure in place, it's time to sort the originals safely. In addition to using photo-safe labels and packaging, you'll also want to protect the originals from the elements. Store your originals in an airtight tote to save them from sunlight, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A rugged tote is a must if you'll be storing your originals in an attic or basement. Rodents and pests are attracted to bundles of paper and clutter and may try to chew into a cardboard box to nest.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Create Keepsakes to Share and Display\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Once you have digital copies and safe originals, you can start to put together keepsakes and projects to share and display. Print your favorite copies to frame on your wall with \u003Cspan class=\"s1\">custom frames\u003C/span> or create photo books to share with family members.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"> \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With this simple process, you can preserve your images and create a beautiful tribute to those wonderful memories.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cspan>Last Updated August 7, 2022\u003C/span>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>Old photos tell the story of years gone by. They freeze cherished moments in time, featuring a cast of characters who may no longer be around. For many people, old photo albums are the most treasured item they possess. Unfortunately, time is a cruel mistress. Old photo albums are susceptible to damage and degradation, risking […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-07-28T12:34:57","2022-10-19T11:56:21",[149],{"name":150,"slug":151},"DIY","diy",{"url":153,"label":154},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FD-BlogHero_IMG-AUG2021-2-1-1.jpg","Old Photo Albums: Organizing & Preserving Ideas",{"id":156,"title":157,"uri":158,"content":159,"excerpt":160,"date":161,"modified":162,"categories":163,"image":167},"cG9zdDo0OTY1","Handling Rejection as an Artist","/for-professionals/handling-rejection-as-an-artist","\n\u003Cp>Has your work ever been rejected by a gallery or show? If so, you’re in extremely good company. From Monet to Manet, many famous artists throughout history have dealt with criticism, exclusion, and poverty. Let’s take a closer look at rejection and how to deal with it.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What’s Not to Like?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It’s hard for me to imagine anyone not appreciating Claude Monet’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.claudemonetgallery.org/Impression-Sunrise.html\">“Impression, Sunrise,”\u003C/a> a piece that’s often studied in art history classes. But when the painting first came on the scene in 1872, critics lambasted it for appearing unfinished. In fact, Monet and his family were destitute until his paintings started selling in the 1880s.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Then there’s Monet’s contemporary and friend Edouard Manet, who turned his frustration over rejection into artistic rebellion. In \u003Ca href=\"https://www.manet.org/luncheon-on-the-grass.jsp\">“The Luncheon on the Grass,”\u003C/a> Manet inserts nudity into an everyday scene, which was cultural blasphemy at the time. Eventually the painting became one of modern art’s most famous works.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Paul Cezanne, Vincent Van Gogh, El Greco, Johannes Vermeer, and other celebrated artists also dealt with less-than-enthusiastic responses to their work.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Modern-Day Reasons\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No matter the era, artists tend to take rejection personally. We are persons, after all! But the reason for rejection can be quite practical.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For example, artwork may be declined by a gallery director or jurist simply because it doesn’t fall within the spectrum of what they’re seeking for a particular show. If a gallery is known to focus totally on strict realism, then your abstracted realist portrait, no matter how amazing it is, might not be the best fit.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Therefore, conducting scrupulous research about the gallery or the jurist before submitting your work may help cut down on rejections. If it's a juried show, then viewing the personal art of the jurist(s) can reveal hints about the caliber with which submissions are being judged.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Remember, you can always request specific feedback as to why your piece wasn't accepted. Yes, it can be daunting to intentionally invite a “critique.” I know several fantastic artists who won't put their work out there because they fear being criticized. But what if we looked at feedback — positive and negative — as an opportunity for artistic growth?\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rejection as Creative Fuel\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The magazine Psychology Today has an \u003Ca href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200707/how-handle-rejection\">article on handling rejection\u003C/a> that highlights Annabelle Gurwitch, an actress who apparently was harshly derided by Woody Allen while she was auditioning for a play. (We’re talking mean comments like, “Don’t ever do that again, even in another play.”) Annabelle started gathering stories from others who had been humiliated, using the tales as fodder for a one-woman show that became a collection of essays and a documentary, both called “Fired!”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As you might know, Frame Destination spotlights artists and photographers in our monthly collection of blog posts called \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/category/arties-eight\">Artie’s Eight.\u003C/a> Some of these creative individuals shared various ways that they cope with rejection.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Receive the advice.\u003C/strong> “Your work is beautiful, but we can easily find beautiful work — give us something narrative, something special.” Fine art photographer \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/arties-eight/bob-baker-spotlight\">Bobby Baker\u003C/a> could have taken offense at this critique from a coveted art society. But the Massachusetts photographer says the “invaluable advice” helped him rethink what he was creating, and wound up making a big difference in his success.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Get mad, then get determined. \u003C/strong>When a professor discouraged \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/arties-eight/christopher-morgan-spotlight\">Christopher Morgan\u003C/a> from pursuing nature photography, the young art student wasn’t happy. “This infuriated me because while taking these photographs [of sunsets], I felt a sense of inner peace,” recalls Christopher, who lives in North Carolina. He now says the experience “made me want to work harder and improve my skills.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Let it roll off your back.\u003C/strong> Indiana-based visual artist \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/arties-eight/therapy-for-the-soul-meet-visual-artist-stacey-m-torres\">Stacy M. Torres\u003C/a> chooses to simply ignore other people’s opinions of her work. “In the beginning, I was bothered by people who didn't understand how I create, or why I paint short arms on my female landscapes ... or that the left eye is always slightly higher and at an angle than the right,” says Stacy. But now she says, “I’ve learned that what people think of me or my art is none of my business.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep a Healthy Perspective\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>An effective critique should be about judging both the faults and the merits of something. This sort of critique can be extremely valuable for your development as an artist, especially if you want to show and sell your art. The problem is, folks sometimes forget to mention the merits!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One suggestion for making critiques more palatable comes straight from my parents: \"Consider the source.” If your source is a knowledgeable expert in your field, then carefully consider and learn from his or her comments.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But if the source is not an art expert, sift through what is useful and what is not. Try to separate the delivery (especially if it’s snarky) from the content. Since part of our struggle can stem from taking ourselves too seriously, maybe have a laugh over the rejection, à la Annabelle the actress. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Blog_HotTakes_Callout4/FD-Blog_HotTakes_Callout4.png\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1024,h_172,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1701898200/blog/FD-Blog_HotTakes_Callout4/FD-Blog_HotTakes_Callout4.png?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-4965 wp-image-7959\" data-format=\"png\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1701898200\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Then distract yourself from any unhelpful input by doing something you love, like creating more art and focusing on the positive as Frame Destination customer and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.sjnavage.com/shop-art\">Artist Sj Navage\u003C/a> does. Sj states \"I make art for me (keeps me sane more or less), and I get enough [positive] in-person feedback that the thick skin works and my ego gets an infusion!\"\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If you have an example of how rejection has shaped you as an artist, please feel free to share it with us here. We’d love to hear your story!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated October 17, 2023\u003C/strong>\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>Has your work ever been rejected by a gallery or show? If so, you’re in extremely good company. From Monet to Manet, many famous artists throughout history have dealt with criticism, exclusion, and poverty. Let’s take a closer look at rejection and how to deal with it. What’s Not to Like? It’s hard for me […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-07-01T12:38:21","2023-12-07T12:41:10",[164],{"name":165,"slug":166},"For Professionals","for-professionals",{"url":168,"label":169},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FD-BlogHero_IMG-July2021-1.jpg","",{"id":171,"title":172,"uri":173,"content":174,"excerpt":175,"date":176,"modified":177,"categories":178,"image":182},"cG9zdDo1MDI1","From Cuba with Love: Meet Painter Elena Maza Borkland","/arties-eight/from-cuba-with-love-meet-painter-elena-maza-borkland","\u003Cp>Elena Maza Borkland was 13 years old when she fled Cuba with her two sisters in a political exodus known as “Operation Pedro Pan.” Although she settled near Washington, D.C., her grandfather’s tropical fruit trees back in Cuba would later inspire a passion for sketching and painting flowers and plants.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>A Penchant for Details\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Elena didn’t study art until after college. And it wasn’t until she had worked for an architect and an electrical engineer that she embraced \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/for-professionals/the-solitude-and-safety-of-plein-air-painting\">plein air painting.\u003C/a> It’s easy to trace a line from the disciplines of architecture and engineering to the delicate intricacy of Elena’s work. The minutiae matter to her.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>A Passion for Beauty\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>From angel trumpets to flame azaleas, Elena depicts not just the natural beauty she finds while exploring, but the blooms she grows in her own garden. The watercolor work we feature here is titled “American Wisteria.” This native American genus of Wisteria was named “2021 Plant of the Year” by the Virginia Native Plant Society, and the society asked Elena for a rush illustration using a photo reference. But we shouldn’t be surprised if she’s now growing a real-life specimen in her garden.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>See More of Elena’s Work\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>You can enjoy Elena’s collections of botanical and landscape paintings via her \u003Ca href=\"https://www.elenamaza.com\">online portfolio.\u003C/a> Follow the seasonal progression of her personal garden and works of art through a blog she calls \u003Ca href=\"https://mazastudio.blogspot.com\">Maza Studio.\u003C/a> Elena also exhibits at \u003Ca href=\"https://cottagecurator.com/pages/artists\">Cottage Curator\u003C/a> in Sperryville, Virginia. And if you’d like to read about her life, check out her biography, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.elenamaza.com/books\">Embracing America: A Cuban Exile Comes of Age.\u003C/a> Below, my Q&A gives you a peek into her official “motto,” her latest medium, and the mystery tool that helps keep the edges of her artwork clean.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Elena Maza Borkland …\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nI was born in Havana, Cuba, and have drawn and painted since early childhood, inspired by the nature that surrounded me. I came to the U.S. in 1961 at age 13 in the company of two sisters, all of us minors. We were fleeing from Castro's regime through what later became known as “Operation Pedro Pan.” My sisters and I lived with foster families in Albuquerque, New Mexico, until my parents were able to leave and reclaim us. We were reunited in Arlington, Virginia, and lived in the Washington, D.C., area. My parents encouraged me to study art in college, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make a living as an artist. I didn't want to be a burden to them, so I majored in architecture. (My father was an architect.) My heart was not in it, and I dropped out before earning a degree. I started working in an architect's office, doing art in my spare time as an antidote to the constraints of my job. After a few years I got a temp job in an electrical engineer's office. During my 15 years there, I learned about electrical design and business in general. I also started taking classes at art centers and meeting other artists until I felt confident enough to enter juried shows. Taking a sabbatical from work, I attended classes at the Corcoran School of Art. I also joined a women's art group, learning about the art business from more experienced members. My first solo show was at a gallery in Georgetown, and I continued developing my resume, participating in group shows. As the volunteer exhibitions chair for the women's group, I learned how to write proposals and develop connections. In 1999, I attended my first art residency in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and have since completed seven other residencies. I've always loved plants and gardening, and in 2011 I took a botanical art course at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland, a lovely botanical garden where I've painted plein air watercolors. Brookside was offering a certificate program at the time, and I signed up for a four-year program, earning my certificate in 2015. Since then I have joined the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA). I serve as Treasurer and Exhibitions Chair for their local chapter, the Botanical Artist Society of the National Capital Region (BASNCR).\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>2. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nI believe the visual artist's role is to create images that inspire everyone to observe the beauty all around us. The artist can give a voice to those who don't feel they can articulate what they sense or intuit. \"Good art gives heart\" is my motto.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nAn elderly professor asked me what I wanted to do with my art. I told him I was waiting to be financially secure enough to dedicate myself to doing art full-time. He asked my age, and when I told him I was 40, he responded rather sharply: \"Well, don't wait anymore, or you'll find the opportunity has passed you by.\" That lit a fire under me! After talking to my husband about it, I quit my job. We struggled financially for a time, but leaving my job opened a door that eventually led to my first solo show in a prestigious gallery. Later I had to go back to my day job, but by that time I had learned how to juggle my art with my job.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>4. What ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nAs a child in Cuba, my grandfather had a yard full of tropical fruit trees. Being a tomboy, I loved to climb trees, and became fascinated with how the different flowers grew into ripening fruit. I developed a scientific curiosity about plants and nature which has stayed with me. Painting landscapes was a natural extension of my travels to the beautiful countryside where my parents took us on vacations, and I sketched the landscapes, flowers, and creatures we saw. As a mature artist, I still rely on the inspiration of being outdoors and painting in the field, whether it is plein air landscapes or plants.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nYes, I'm going through one right now. I try to overcome these periods by doing “homework\" — drawings that may not be particularly inspiring, but help me just to keep drawing. I often go out to my garden to do some chores or putter, and I may see something that gives me an idea for a piece. I also look through my files of photos to see if I can find a subject. If weather permits, I may go out for a hike.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>6. What is your most indispensable tool?\u003C/strong> (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nA magnifying glass, to look at the botanical details of my subjects as well as my paintings. Clean edges are a must with botanical art, so I often work looking through my magnifier.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nGenerally I work with watercolor, but this year I'm starting to exploring a new medium — egg tempera. I tried this medium in a class many years ago, and seeing the work of some ASBA members who are now working with egg tempera, I'm curious to see if this medium will be suitable for me with botanical subjects.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>8. What is your favorite paint color name?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nBrilliant Blue Violet.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD_Arties-8_July-2021_Elena-Maza-Borkland_Hero-Img2-1/FD_Arties-8_July-2021_Elena-Maza-Borkland_Hero-Img2-1.jpg\" class=\"alignnone wp-post-5025 wp-image-5030 size-large\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1024,h_534,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661524760/blog/FD_Arties-8_July-2021_Elena-Maza-Borkland_Hero-Img2-1/FD_Arties-8_July-2021_Elena-Maza-Borkland_Hero-Img2-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"Elena Maza Borkland: botanical painter\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661524760\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated May 22, 2023\u003C/strong>\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>Elena Maza Borkland was 13 years old when she fled Cuba with her two sisters in a political exodus known as “Operation Pedro Pan.” Although she settled near Washington, D.C., her grandfather’s tropical fruit trees back in Cuba would later inspire a passion for sketching and painting flowers and plants. A Penchant for Details Elena […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-07-01T12:07:27","2023-05-22T15:30:52",[179],{"name":180,"slug":181},"Artie's Eight","arties-eight",{"url":183,"label":184},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FD_Arties-8_July-2021_Elena-Maza-Borkland_Hero-Img-1.jpg","Elena Maza Borkland",{"id":186,"title":187,"uri":188,"content":189,"excerpt":190,"date":191,"modified":192,"categories":193,"image":195},"cG9zdDo1MDAx","Advocacy for Students: Art Scholarships and More","/for-professionals/advocacy-for-students-art-scholarships-and-more","\n\u003Cp>In an earlier blog post, I unpacked Frame Destination's brand promise of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/organization-spotlight/advocacy-for-artists-giving-back-in-2021\">advocating for artists\u003C/a>. In this article, I want to focus on our advocacy toward a very specific and special group of artists — students!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Purpose and a Promise\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We recently distilled our brand purpose to six words: \u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>To inspire, honor, and showcase creativity.\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>This three-pronged brand purpose allows our brand promise of \u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>advocating for artists\u003C/strong>\u003C/em> to flow in many directions: philanthropy, promoting artists’ work, offering innovative products, and sharing opportunities for growth. We combine all these methods to reach students.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Students: Future of the Art World\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although some artists are self-taught, a great many earn degrees in various subjects such as fine art, art history, architecture, film, photography, etc. Higher education is challenging and expensive, and we want to help! Here are four ways we do that.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Art Scholarships.\u003C/strong> Each year, we offer a $500 Frame Destination Scholarship to four deserving candidates — two per semester. The next deadline to apply is \u003Cstrong>Jan 12th, 2025, at 11:59 EST.\u003C/strong> Applications are open to both undergrad and graduate students attending any accredited college, university, or atelier program within the U.S. For details about how to apply, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/info/scholarships.html\">visit our scholarship page.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Artist Spotlights.\u003C/strong> Frame Destination has received great feedback on our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/category/arties-eight\">Artie’s Eight Q&A\u003C/a> interviews with artists and photographers around the country. You don’t have to wait until you’re out of school earning a living with your trade. As a student, you have unique perspective that we can all learn from. Share your passion and your story with us. (Bonus for you: you’ll have something “published” you can look back on one day.) \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">Click here\u003C/a> to to be considered for an Artie’s Eight feature.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Student Discounts.\u003C/strong> Every bit of savings counts when you’re in school. Sign up for our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/artist-discounts.html\">Exclusive 10% Discount\u003C/a> for university students and faculty. Once you register, the discount will be applied automatically, with no code to remember or minimum purchase requirements.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Pro Resources.\u003C/strong> Joely Rogers — Professional Artist, Illustrator,  and Frame Destination Co-Owner — guides budding artists through the Frame Destination Newsletter. Here she offers insights on breaking into the art market, helpful webinars, continuing education art classes, and \"calls for artists.\" Students can subscribe to the Newsletter in our website footer or visit our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/category/for-professionals\">Blog for Professionals.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Students, I encourage you to make the most of your relatively short time in school. As you experiment with your skills and expand your vision, you’ll learn, grow and progress into the artist you’re meant to be.\u003Cbr>We’re cheering you on from Frame Destination!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated Aug 19, 2024\u003C/strong>\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>In an earlier blog post, I unpacked Frame Destination’s brand promise of advocating for artists. In this article, I want to focus on our advocacy toward a very specific and special group of artists — students! A Purpose and a Promise We recently distilled our brand purpose to six words: To inspire, honor, and showcase […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-06-24T13:14:15","2024-08-27T11:39:20",[194],{"name":165,"slug":166},{"url":196,"label":197},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FD-BlogHero_IMG-June22021-1-1.jpg","Advocacy for Students: Art Scholarships & More",{"id":199,"title":200,"uri":201,"content":202,"excerpt":203,"date":204,"modified":205,"categories":206,"image":208},"cG9zdDo0OTMw","The Solitude and Safety of Plein Air Painting","/for-professionals/the-solitude-and-safety-of-plein-air-painting","\u003Cp>If you’re like me and you love both creating and being outdoors, I encourage you to try painting “en plein air”. It’s a French phrase that loosely means putting brush to canvas “out in the open air” rather than in a studio. Although plein air painting has seemed especially timely over the last year, as the coronavirus pandemic forced social distancing upon us, its roots go way back.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>A Very Brief History of Plein Air Painting\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>You could argue that cave dwellers were the first plein air painters. But historians date plein air to the late 1800s, when the Impressionism movement first took hold among a group of French painters you may have heard of, including Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.\u003Cbr>\nHowever, it was a not-so-famous American artist, John Rand, who opened wide the doors to plein air painting. Not through his art, but through an invention: paint in a tube. Suddenly paint became portable, enabling artists to more easily haul their supplies outdoors.\u003Cbr>\nSpeaking of America, we have our own plein air history. The Hudson River School was made of American landscape artists who wandered into the woods, mountains, and valleys of New York and New England to paint inspiring natural scenes. Some ventured farther to produce stunning images of the American West. The documentary \u003Ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F86HvkQaz-o&t=241s\">“Outside the Lines”\u003C/a> beautifully tells this story.\u003Cbr>\nAmong my favorite plein air painters are Monet; early 20th-century California artist \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_DeNeale_Morgan\">Mary DeNeale Morgan\u003C/a>; and current artists \u003Ca href=\"http://www.stephencdatz.com\">Stephen T. Datz\u003C/a> of Colorado and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.carolynlindsey.com\">Carolyn Lindsey\u003C/a> of New Mexico.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>My Plein Air Backpack\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>I was introduced to plein air painting in Texas during my 20s. While taking beginner oil painting lessons from \u003Ca href=\"http://www.bwoosley.com\">Brigitte Woolsley\u003C/a> — a former courtroom artist who now depicts western landscapes — we often painted outdoors, which I thoroughly enjoyed. And though I put painting aside for several years to focus on Frame Destination and my academic education, I’ve now got time to pursue plein air painting.\u003Cbr>\nA couple years ago, I moved to the Black Mountains of western North Carolina with my husband and business partner, Mark Rogers. I’ve always loved hiking, but I’ve got a few minor back issues, so my plein air backpack needs to be as lightweight as possible.\u003Cbr>\nBelow are my top 10 essential supplies for painting outdoors in a mountainous region. Revisiting the same places multiple times is a great way to figure out exactly what you need to bring — and the best times to come and paint.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://www.jerrysartarama.com/plein-air-aluminum-lightweight-easel-black-soho\">\u003Cstrong>Soho Urban Artist Plein Air Easel\u003C/strong>\u003C/a>\u003Cbr>\nWhen I’m working outdoors with an easel, I typically sit on a rock. Sometimes I just stand. The Soho Urban Artist Plein Air Easel is the best one I’ve found in terms of portability, ease of use, and height adjustments.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https://ampersandart.com/pastelbord.php\">Pastelbord\u003C/a> or \u003Ca href=\"https://multimediaartboard.com/\">Multimedia Artboard\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>\nFor plein air painting, I prefer to use oil pastels and I love lightweight Pastelbord or Multimedia Artboard panels. They accept multiple layers of oil pastels and water blending.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/IMG_6125_Artboard-in-Blog-Post-copy-1/IMG_6125_Artboard-in-Blog-Post-copy-1.jpg\" class=\"alignnone wp-post-4930 wp-image-4941 size-full\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_600,h_450,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661531370/blog/IMG_6125_Artboard-in-Blog-Post-copy-1/IMG_6125_Artboard-in-Blog-Post-copy-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661531370\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Water-Soluble Oil Pastels in Basic and Rustic\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>\nI’ve been using Sennelier oil pastels in my studio work for years. I recently discovered Art Philosophy’s water-soluble oil pastels and have been using them in my plein air work along with Catalyst Art Tools to create \u003Ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgraffito\">\"sgraffito\"\u003C/a> effects. See more about this in #4.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/IMG_6129_Pastels-in-Blog-Post-copy-1/IMG_6129_Pastels-in-Blog-Post-copy-1.jpg\" class=\"alignnone wp-post-4930 wp-image-4942 size-full\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_600,h_450,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661531367/blog/IMG_6129_Pastels-in-Blog-Post-copy-1/IMG_6129_Pastels-in-Blog-Post-copy-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661531367\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Catalyst Art Tools and/or Sculpting Tools\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>\nAs I was saying above, you can produce sgraffito effects by adding a few layers of oil pastel, softening the layers with a brush/tissue and water, then layering on more pastel and use Catalyst Art Tools or sculpting tools to create marks.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The rest of my list should be self-explanatory:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Large Brush and/or Portable Brushes\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Spray Bottle or Small Container for Water\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Tissues, Paper Towels, or Rags\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Water, Snacks, and a Resealable Bag to Hold Waste\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Hat, Sunblock, and an \u003Ca href=\"https://www.rei.com/product/813512/sol-emergency-blanket\">Emergency Blanket.\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Business Cards—\u003C/strong>Keep reading for the why behind this one.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>Plein Ol’ Common Sense\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Painting outdoors requires awareness of your surroundings no matter where you’re located. These are a few practical safety tips I’ve learned over while hiking/painting in the mountains.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Let someone know\u003C/strong> where you’ll be painting, and be specific. For example, “I’m going on ___ trail and I plan to be back around ___ time.” Also, bring a buddy if possible.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Research the wildlife\u003C/strong> in your area. In western North Carolina, we have a large population of black bears, which I encounter on an almost daily basis both at home and while out hiking. I carry bear spray and stay aware of my environment at all times. Here are some tips on what to do if you \u003Ca href=\"https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mammals/Black-Bear/What-to-do-if-I-see-a-bear\">encounter a bear.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Wear sunscreen\u003C/strong> and/or a hat and long sleeves if possible, and use \u003Ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents\">insect repellent.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Prioritize \u003Cstrong>water and food\u003C/strong> over extra art supplies.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Check your \u003Cstrong>local weather\u003C/strong> before venturing out.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Bring a \u003Cstrong>map and/or a compass\u003C/strong> in case the cell service is sketchy.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>Human Encounters\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>During your plein air painting forays, you may meet other walkers, hikers, and nature lovers who are interested in your work. If you are seeking solitude, don’t feel obligated to engage with people commenting on your painting, aside from a polite “thank you.” However, if you choose, you could take this time to practice talking about your work and maybe even gain a potential customer. I always carry business cards and have made customer contacts and sometimes sales while plein air painting.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>Plein Air Organizations\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Outdoor Painter, the home of Plein Air magazine, has a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.outdoorpainter.com/plein-air-today-newsletter/\">weekly newsletter\u003C/a> with excellent content. I took their Plein Air Live Beginner’s Day 2021 Online Workshop as a refresher and learned so much. If you’re interested in learning about plein air painting or you’d like to network and enter competitions, I highly recommend signing up for their newsletter or getting a subscription to \u003Ca href=\"https://mediahub.clickfunnels.com/pam-sub-main/?utm_source=240tips\">Plein Air Magazine\u003C/a> for tips, tools, and contests.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>By now I hope you’re feeling inspired to get outdoors, breathe in some fresh air, and create. Feel free to share your art with us — we’d love to see your work! For ideas on how to frame your art once it's ready for the spotlight, see our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/for-professionals/new-framing-options-for-plein-air-painters\">new options for plein air painters\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan>\u003Cb>Last Updated \u003C/b>\u003Cspan>\u003Cu>November 2\u003C/u>\u003C/span>\u003Cb>, 2021\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>If you’re like me and you love both creating and being outdoors, I encourage you to try painting “en plein air”. It’s a French phrase that loosely means putting brush to canvas “out in the open air” rather than in a studio. Although plein air painting has seemed especially timely over the last year, as […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-06-09T12:47:24","2021-11-02T12:09:43",[207],{"name":165,"slug":166},{"url":209,"label":169},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FD-BlogHero_IMG-June2021-1.jpg",{"id":211,"title":212,"uri":213,"content":214,"excerpt":215,"date":216,"modified":217,"categories":218,"image":220},"cG9zdDo0OTE4","High-Tech Point of View: Meet Photographer Dave Therrien","/arties-eight/dave-therrien-spotlight","\u003Cp class=\"p1\">A technologist and software developer by trade, Dave Therrien has two creative outlets: music and photography. He finds similarities between recording his own songs and photographing landscapes, seascapes, and architecture: both require the energy, tools, and creative mind to transform something raw into a more beautiful form.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p3\">Shapes and Shadows\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">As Frame Destination’s resident ambassador, I, Artie the Panda, have a deep appreciation for nature and art. I was drawn to Dave’s work for the way he conveys shapes, textures, and light. In the photograph we feature here, “Winter Ending,” you can see his eye for detail and his patience for capturing the exact right moment.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p3\">After-Hours Tech\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">Dave’s technology talent is not limited to his day job. He uses Adobe Lightroom Classic for post-processing his photographs, and a Canon Pixma Pro-10 printer. His frames — always metal — come from us. \"Frame Destination has been the most consistently high-quality website for frames, glass, mounting hardware, etc.,” says Dave, who is based in New Hampshire. “They are the only place I recommend to my photographer friends for frames. \u003Cspan class=\"s2\">The shipping packaging is bomb-proof\u003C/span> and I've never had any breakage in shipment.”\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p3\">See More of Dave’s Work\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">The website \u003Ca href=\"https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/Dave.Therrien\">\u003Cspan class=\"s3\">\u003Cb>Pictorem\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> features eight galleries of Dave’s best work, with an abundance of gorgeous landscapes, seascapes, and architecture, but also unique perspectives like closeups of a zebra and a World War II bomber. Keep reading to discover Dave’s penchant for podcasts and serendipitous moments.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p6\">Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Dave Therrien…\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>I've been interested in photography my entire life. But my interest in creating fine-art photography really began in 2013 with the gift of a Canon DSLR. I captured images of landscapes, seascapes, architecture, urban street scenes — anything that caught my fascination with light, shadow, shape, and lines. I switched to a smaller, more lightweight Fujifilm mirrorless camera in 2015 and loved the portability. Through the recommendation of a friend, I purchased a Canon Pixma Pro-10 printer and started to print my own images. From there, I learned to mat and frame my images. I began showing and selling them at local coffee shops. From there, I became a juried member of the New Hampshire Art Association in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A few months later, my work was juried into the League of NH Craftsmen organization. Today, I focus on selling my work through the New Hampshire Art Association and nine League galleries.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>2. How important is it for a photographer to \"connect\" with their subject?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>As a fine-art photographer, I mostly focus on capturing images of scenes/objects that exhibit a unique visual field-of-view, with interesting lines/shapes, or interplay of light/shadow. I \u003Cspan class=\"s1\">“\u003C/span>connect\" mostly with landscape/seascape subjects as well as historic/modern architectural scenes. Conversely, while I love viewing all genres of photography, I have little interest in capturing wildlife, portrait, event, or street photography. Every photographer I know has a strong emotional connection to the subjects they capture, and they study and work on those focused subjects over the years to further enhance image quality.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>I think the best photography-related career advice that I ever got was to purchase a high-quality photo printer. This opened so many doors that allowed me to share and sell my images. There is an incomparable thrill with knowing that someone purchased one of my prints and it's now decorating their home or office space. It connected with them in some way. In terms of formative experiences, I am an avid photography podcast listener. There are about nine photo-related podcasts that continue to inspire me to improve in all elements of capturing images and preparing them to be displayed and sold at galleries.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\">   \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>I've been shooting more seriously since 2013. I am not interested in capturing my own images of iconic locations in Iceland or the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower. To me, that's boring. I like to roam in wooded areas as well as urban environments with no planned destination. To unexpectedly come across a simple object in a vast landscape is exciting. To visit a location that I've been to a dozen times before and, because of the light or the change of season, find something that moves me in a new way is exciting. I think this serendipity about what I see through my camera while roaming is what people see in my images.\u003Cb>\u003Ci> \u003C/i>\u003C/b>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>Creative blocks are not something I have a problem with, and here’s why. As I mentioned, I listen to podcasts related to photography (The Candid Frame, Behind the Shot TV, Lens Work, The Digital Story, Photography Radio, The Picturing Success Podcast, The B&H Photography Podcast, Fujilove Podcast, Picture Methods.)\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\">  \u003C/span>These are always inspiring to me. It's where I learn about the latest camera and post-processing technology. It's where I am introduced to great photographers of the past and present. There is one current photographer whose work inspires me greatly. Her name is Olga Karlovac. Her sense of embracing blur, black and white, and grain is refreshing in a time where most photographers fight against those qualities in an image. Every time my camera autofocuses on a subject, I am re-invigorated to shoot more!\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>More of a process than a tool, I don\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">’\u003C/span>t rush through environments and snap the obvious photos that most people capture. I limit myself to capturing dozens of images within a constrained geographic area in order to capture as many macro-to-micro views of that environment as possible. I enjoy capturing the fine details as well as the grand/majestic views of landscape and architectural environments.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>As a single focus, I am working on emulating the style of Olga Karlovac. It's a counter-intuitive way of shooting and processing images. I have taken some baby steps in that direction, bringing blur and grain into my black-and-white images. But really, I am typically going in 10 directions with photography and it depends on when I can take the time to get out and shoot. If I'm with family members, I'm making high-quality memorable portraits of them. If I'm traveling on business to a new city, I will roam around the area on foot at multiple times of the day — 4AM, 10PM, midday — just observing a new area and finding detail that most people in that area have long ignored. In short, my Fujifilm camera is always with me and I try to take any moment where the light is right to capture an image.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>8. What \"fad\" gadget do you most regret purchasing?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/i>\u003C/b>There is a little product called the Platypod that one can use to set a camera on the ground as a low tripod. It was tedious to use with little thumbscrews. Too time-consuming.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8-Hero_DaveTherrien2-1/FD-Arties8-Hero_DaveTherrien2-1.png\" class=\"aligncenter wp-post-4918 wp-image-4920 size-large\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1024,h_534,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661444655/blog/FD-Arties8-Hero_DaveTherrien2-1/FD-Arties8-Hero_DaveTherrien2-1.png?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"png\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661444655\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply \u2028to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cspan>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated May 20, 2021\u003C/strong>\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>A technologist and software developer by trade, Dave Therrien has two creative outlets: music and photography. He finds similarities between recording his own songs and photographing landscapes, seascapes, and architecture: both require the energy, tools, and creative mind to transform something raw into a more beautiful form. Shapes and Shadows As Frame Destination’s resident ambassador, […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-05-20T13:51:08","2022-08-17T16:34:53",[219],{"name":180,"slug":181},{"url":221,"label":169},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FD-Arties8-Hero_DaveTherrien-1.png",{"id":223,"title":224,"uri":225,"content":226,"excerpt":227,"date":228,"modified":228,"categories":229,"image":231},"cG9zdDo0ODc1","How to Use Gouache","/for-professionals/how-to-use-gouache","\u003Cp class=\"p1\">Recently, gouache paints have been experiencing a renaissance. The velvety, versatile nature of gouache (rhymes with squash) attracts beginners and experienced painters alike. So if you've ever wondered what it is or how to paint with gouache, keep reading!\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p3\">Intro to Gouache\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">Nontoxic and water-based, gouache is often touted as ideal for novice painters because it’s easy to rework and less expensive than oil paints. However, gouache has its own challenges, and may or may not be suitable for a beginner.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p3\">Gouache paints date back to the ancient Egyptians, who mixed pigments with honey or other binders. Famous artists who have used the medium include Albrecht Durer, Paul Klee, Salvador Dalí, Edgar Degas, and even Jackson Pollock.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">We can’t talk gouache without mentioning Henri Matisse, who used the medium in his famous \u003Ca href=\"https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2014/matisse/the-cut-outs.html\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>cut-out series\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a>. I\u003Cspan class=\"s2\">’\u003C/span>ve always loved Matisse\u003Cspan class=\"s2\">’\u003C/span>s bold, colorful flair, so as I prepared to delve into the world of gouache, I found myself drawn to vibrant colors and lines that echo his style.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p1\">Dabbling with Gouache\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">Until recently, gouache was the one medium I had never worked in. So, I decided to experiment with two small gallery-wrapped canvases I had on hand. I found a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.jerrysartarama.com/richeson-gouache-jar-set?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1a6EBhC0ARIsAOiTkrEDCMSdP9rb3UhH1TrnHNTnVdVPxyfc72L4R_-nqi2SYm_v9yXq4-gaAmDFEALw_wcB\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>Gouache Jar Set\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> from Jack Richeson & Co., purchasing it online at Jerry’s Artarama.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_4891\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/GouachePaintsBox_cleaner-1/GouachePaintsBox_cleaner-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4891\" class=\"wp-post-4875 wp-image-4891 size-medium\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_300,h_212,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661454909/blog/GouachePaintsBox_cleaner-1/GouachePaintsBox_cleaner-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"Gouache Set\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661454909\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-4891\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This gouache paint set includes: Zinc White, Yellow Light, Ochre Light, Red Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson, Iron Oxide, Prussian Blue, Emerald Light, Violet Deep, Green Deep, Mars Brown, and Carbon Black.\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_4892\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/GouachePaintBrush-1/GouachePaintBrush-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4892\" class=\"size-medium wp-post-4875 wp-image-4892\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_278,h_300,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661443703/blog/GouachePaintBrush-1/GouachePaintBrush-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661443703\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-4892\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Prussian Blue mixed with Zinc White.\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">The colors are gorgeous — deep and rich — although I recommend you pick up an extra container of Zinc White for tinting if you prefer colors that aren’t as high chroma. You can create lovely blacks and browns by combining two complementary colors. Complementary colors are two colors that, when placed side-by-side, create the strongest contrast; examples are red/green, yellow/violet, and blue/orange. Subtle neutrals can be achieved by adding Zinc White.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_4894\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/Paint_Edited-1/Paint_Edited-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4894\" class=\"wp-post-4875 wp-image-4894 size-medium\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_300,h_240,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661454903/blog/Paint_Edited-1/Paint_Edited-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661454903\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-4894\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mix two complementary colors to create shades of black and brown. Add Zinc White for softer neutrals.\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p1\">The Challenges and Benefits of Painting with Gouache\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>Add water or build texture.\u003C/i>\u003C/b> Although I loved the creamy texture, my initial attempts to work with gouache came out quite flat-looking for my taste. I was able to solve this easily by adding a lot more water, which resulted in a fairly loose style for my “Still Life with Flowers and Fruit.” It’s equally a breeze to build the consistency of gouache paint. In my “Pineapple” painting, I bulked up the texture by applying multiple layers with a palette knife; no separate texture gel necessary. Although my cheaper synthetic bristle brushes worked fine for these paintings, natural bristle brushes might be more appropriate for glazing with gouache. The Creative Folk has a great blog on the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.thecreativefolk.com/best-brushes-for-gouache/\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>five best brushes for gouache\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_4895\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/StillLifeVaseFruitGouacheFD-1/StillLifeVaseFruitGouacheFD-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4895\" class=\"wp-post-4875 wp-image-4895 size-medium\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_283,h_300,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661454894/blog/StillLifeVaseFruitGouacheFD-1/StillLifeVaseFruitGouacheFD-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661454894\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-4895\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Still Life With Flowers & Fruit” by Joely Rogers.\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cdiv id=\"attachment_4896\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/PineappleGouacheFD-1/PineappleGouacheFD-1.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4896\" class=\"wp-post-4875 wp-image-4896 size-medium\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_274,h_300,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661454885/blog/PineappleGouacheFD-1/PineappleGouacheFD-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661454885\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003Cp id=\"caption-attachment-4896\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">“Pineapple” by Joely Rogers.\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>Reworking and remixing.\u003C/i>\u003C/b> Gouache dries quickly, but it’s a breeze to rework. (I typically use watercolors and acrylics, so gouache’s rework-ability was a pleasant change for me.) Keep a small spray bottle handy to rewet your canvas or paper as needed. Also, I found that the gouache paint in the jar set separates easily, and needs to be remixed before using. Gouache is also available in pan sets and tubes.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>Indoors or out.\u003C/i>\u003C/b> My gouache painting experiment took place in my studio. However, if you enjoy painting outdoors, gouache is a flexible medium for plein air studies done on paper. Below are three plein air gouache sketches on Strathmore Toned Tan Mixed Media paper. I created these using the Jack Richeson paint set. First, I placed an assortment of colors on a paper palette, then folded it in half, then rewet the gouache at my painting spot.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/PleinAirGouacheSketches_SM-1/PleinAirGouacheSketches_SM-1.png\" class=\"size-medium wp-post-4875 wp-image-4897 alignnone\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_300,h_214,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661454875/blog/PleinAirGouacheSketches_SM-1/PleinAirGouacheSketches_SM-1.png?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"png\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661454875\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">Plein air painter Michael Chesley Johnson has an excellent blog post discussing what’s in his plein air gouache kit along with some excellent “nuts and bolts” tips on \u003Ca href=\"https://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com/2020/06/about-my-plein-air-gouache-kit.html\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>plein air painting with gouache\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">\u003Cb>\u003Ci>Matte or gloss.\u003C/i>\u003C/b> Gouache dries completely matte, but you can apply a gloss finishing varnish if you prefer more shine. I’ve been using the Krylon brand of aerosol varnishes and finishes for years. To add a little extra sheen to your gouache art, try their Satin Finish, or to keep the matte look while adding extra protection for your art, use the Matte Finish. If an aerosol varnish doesn’t work for you, Liquitex has excellent high gloss, gloss, and matte varnishes that can be applied with a brush.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p1\">Framing Gouache Paintings\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">When you’re ready to frame your own gouache paintings, we have an extensive collection of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/custom-frames.html\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>custom frames\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> to complement your artwork. If you decide to use canvas, as I did, consider using a wood floater frame, which gives stretched canvases a professional, unique look. The edges of the painting remain uncovered, letting the artwork “float” within the frame. For details, read our article on why \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/diy/framing-large-canvases-in-a-wood-floater-frame\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>floater frames\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> are one of our top-selling items. Check out our \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/blog/picture-frames/how-to-frame-canvas-prints\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>guide on framing canvas paintings\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> for more ideas and tips.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2 class=\"p1\">My Final Thoughts\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">Overall, I enjoyed my first forays into using gouache, and I can see why these paints are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Next, I might blend gouache with another medium like watercolor — à\u003Cspan class=\"s2\"> la Fidelia Bridges,\u003C/span> one of my favorite female artists whose watercolor/gouache paintings feature sensitive depictions of local flora and fauna.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">We’ll see what happens with a little practice and playing around!\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">\u003Cspan>\u003Cb>Last Updated May \u003C/b>\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>6\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003Cb>, 2021\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>Recently, gouache paints have been experiencing a renaissance. The velvety, versatile nature of gouache (rhymes with squash) attracts beginners and experienced painters alike. So if you’ve ever wondered what it is or how to paint with gouache, keep reading! Intro to Gouache Nontoxic and water-based, gouache is often touted as ideal for novice painters because […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-05-06T14:06:43",[230],{"name":165,"slug":166},{"url":232,"label":169},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FD-BlogHero_IMG-May2021-1.jpg",{"id":234,"title":235,"uri":236,"content":237,"excerpt":238,"date":239,"modified":239,"categories":240,"image":242},"cG9zdDo0ODcz","Authentic Family Joy: Meet Photographer Beth Rose Goin","/arties-eight/beth-rose-goin-spotlight","\u003Cp>Beth Rose is the mother of five children. And she hints there may be more to come. This begs the question: How does she have time for a photography business, where she is busy “making memories into heirlooms,” as her tagline aptly describes?\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>Momentary Bliss\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Her husband’s nickname for Beth Rose, “Hummingbird,” may be the answer; she rarely sits still. This quality no doubt helps her during family portrait sessions, ensuring that she’s always on the lookout for authentic moments of joy that reflect each individual family. As Frame Destination’s resident art ambassador, I was mesmerized by the way Beth Rose captures normal, run-of-the-mill activities — like a mother and father lounging in bed with their newborn, or kids on a backyard swing set.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>DIY Process\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>A point of pride for Beth Rose is her hands-on approach to the entire process: shooting, editing, and printing on archival paper in her Nashville home. All except the framing, for which she relies on Frame Destination. “Because making my own frames is one of the few things that I am not able to do myself,” Beth Rose explains, “I appreciate having access to frames that I can so easily and accurately customize to my vision for my work.” We are glad to do our part, Beth Rose.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>See More of Beth Rose’s Work\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp class=\"p1\">From family portraits to her daisy series, Beth Rose’s \u003Ca href=\"https://www.bethrose.com\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>website\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> is a great place to appreciate her work. Dive into her \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bethrose.phtgrphy/\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>Instagram\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> for recent photos, gallery news, and some humorous \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bethrose.phtgrphy/channel/\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>Mimosa Monday video posts\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a>. Scroll down to my Q&A below and discover the worst advice Beth Rose ever got, what (or whom) she finds indispensable, and her take on the unconventional (and controversial) father-son portrait showcased above.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Beth Rose Goin …\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nIn high school I was the entire photography club. I went from there to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. The darkroom became my refuge; I spent many hours there to avoid going home. I spent some time after that following adventure races in Canada and then moved to Nashville, got married, and started having babies! Then I switched to digital for practical reasons and in the last few years, as the kids have all needed me a little less, I've gotten into printing my own images at home.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>2. How important is it for a photographer to \"connect\" with their subject?\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003Cbr>\nThere is an inherent truth in photography, or an assumed truth, at least. If it's in a photograph, it must have really happened. Other art mediums can create, whereas photography has to capture. A connection is imperative if the subject is going to be known in the image. It's never just about the artist, because the subject is physically present, not merely implied or represented. A lot of my work is with families. It's very important to me that I document them as they are. I don't have a formula that I use, or a “style\" — instead I get to know them so that the images reflect who they are. This man happens to be a very good friend of mine, so I know him well. Several people told me that they didn't like the image, and one person asked, “But why is he choking the baby?\" They can't see past what they expect in a father and baby portrait. My friend is not what you expect. Fathers are often so timid and clumsy with their first child. Not my friend. He is so sure of who he is in everything that he does. Even as a brand-new father, he doesn't wonder, or doubt, or hesitate. And as he holds his son so confidently, that sweet baby looks so brave, so ready — because he knows that his father holds him and his father is strong. If I took the same photograph of any other father and child, it wouldn't carry the weight this one does, and it wouldn't be “true.”\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nIt's easier for me to talk about the worst advice and how I became an artist when I let go of it. In art college my skill was often praised, but the art itself was not. I was told that it was not deep enough, simply because it was not dark enough. They had it so backwards. I was in an abusive relationship and I was in a very dark place. When I dug deep and went beyond what I was living in that moment — I found joy. And that is what I expressed in my images.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nI have five children (so far). I love nothing more than the everyday joy that comes with children. Everything is new and amazing to them. I live that way, too, as much as a I can. I love the little things. When I am not photographing people, I am photographing little joyful things. Even in some of the images I have of flowers in their last days, I see joy in that death. Not happiness — death hurts — but joy in the completion and fullness.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nI shoot anyways. I shoot something that I don't think I can nail. I try something new. I find someone or something to document, because even if I have nothing to say, maybe they do.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nMy husband. I don't think I knew how to believe in myself before he showed me.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003Cbr>\n\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>I have a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.bethrose.com/daisyseries\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>daisy series\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> that has over 100 daisies in it. It is an extension of something that I've thought about for years after the result of a project I did in college surprised me. It was images of women where I had stripped their faces down to just the basic features expecting to prove that \"deep down we are all really the same.\" Pfft. I was wrong. I discovered that even at our most basic we are all individuals. Each of us is uniquely handcrafted and original down to the last detail. So if something so simple and so well known as a daisy can have so many surprises form one to the next, how much more so each of us.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>8. What \"fad\" gadget do you most regret purchasing?\u003C/strong>\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\nI wish that I could still shoot film. I don't regret going digital; it's practical. But I wish that I didn't have to. Other than that, I think a monopod. It really holds nothing still.\u003Cbr>\n\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8-Hero_Beth_Rose_Goin2-1-1/FD-Arties8-Hero_Beth_Rose_Goin2-1-1.png\" class=\"aligncenter wp-post-4873 wp-image-4884 size-large\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1024,h_534,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661523633/blog/FD-Arties8-Hero_Beth_Rose_Goin2-1-1/FD-Arties8-Hero_Beth_Rose_Goin2-1-1.png?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" data-format=\"png\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661523633\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated May 1, 2021\u003C/strong>\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n","\u003Cp>Beth Rose is the mother of five children. And she hints there may be more to come. This begs the question: How does she have time for a photography business, where she is busy “making memories into heirlooms,” as her tagline aptly describes? Momentary Bliss Her husband’s nickname for Beth Rose, “Hummingbird,” may be the […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-04-29T12:39:18",[241],{"name":180,"slug":181},{"url":243,"label":169},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FD-Arties8-Hero_Beth_Rose_Goin-2-1.png",{"id":245,"title":246,"uri":247,"content":248,"excerpt":249,"date":250,"modified":251,"categories":252,"image":254},"cG9zdDo0Nzc3","How to Pack Picture Frames for Transport","/for-professionals/how-to-pack-picture-frames-for-transport","\n\u003Cp>Whenever you move a piece of artwork — whether it’s a custom-framed print or a gallery-wrapped canvas — you run the risk of damage. Frames are meant to hang on walls, not lie flat on a gallery floor or rattle around in the back of a moving car. And you didn’t put your heart and soul into your art just to have it broken on your way to a gallery or a show.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>(Scroll to bottom for my video of how to order your GalleryPouch™.)\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frame Saver, Time Saver\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To help make your art transport life a breeze, and to keep your masterpieces in tip-top shape, we developed a custom solution called \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/ctg/photo-storage/gallery-pouch.html\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">GalleryPouch™\u003C/span>\u003C/a>. Crafted from double-laminated bubble wrap, these pouches are custom made to fit your exact dimensions — all the way up to 50”x156”. This heavyweight pouch cushions your work in 3/16” polyethylene bubbles that are nearly impossible to pop. Completely smooth, GalleryPouch\u003Cspan class=\"s2\">™\u003C/span> slides easily on and off of anything you need to transport.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These protective pouches are reusable, giving you years of protection and keeping waste to a minimum. For a pouch that stays securely closed, you can order yours with Velcro\u003Cspan class=\"s3\">\u003Csup>®\u003C/sup>\u003C/span>. Or, since your GalleryPouch\u003Cspan class=\"s2\">™\u003C/span> is completely customizable, you can choose to skip the Velcro\u003Cspan class=\"s3\">\u003Csup>®\u003C/sup>\u003C/span> altogether, opting for a fold-over flap instead. You may even opt to order the Velcro\u003Cspan class=\"s3\">\u003Csup>®\u003C/sup>\u003C/span> separately so you can control exactly how much or how little to apply to your pouch.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>GalleryPouch\u003Cspan class=\"s2\">™\u003C/span> makes it easy to see exactly what you’re transporting. The pouches are transparent and come with labels you can personalize to make storage and organization super easy.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Many Benefits of GalleryPouch™\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/GP_Cubes-1/GP_Cubes-1.jpg\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1250,h_600,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1661464794/blog/GP_Cubes-1/GP_Cubes-1.jpg?_i=AA\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-post-4777 wp-image-4795\" data-format=\"jpg\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1661464794\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\u003C/div>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Artful Praises\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Some of our customers have been gracious enough to share what they love about GalleryPouch™. Let’s see what they have to say ...\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>\"I have about 20 of these in all different sizes. They are amazing!\" \u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>– Betsy Silverman, Boston Artist @betsysilvermancollage\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>\"These pouches are a lifesaver.\"\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>– Garima Parakh, New England Artist @garimaparakhart\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>\"I am a huge fan of the GalleryPouch. Have been buying them for years. Great investment to easily protect your artwork.\" \u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>– Carol Parker, Photographer\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>\"I use them all the time — they are fantastic.\"\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>– Jan McKay, Wildlife Artist\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>“The time it takes to wrap frames for transport is often overwhelming. These wonderful protectors are true time savers and so easy to use.”\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>– Linda L., Verified Customer\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ci>“Great idea! I'm using them for my stained glass panels and it's so much easier for my client to carry the panel away from the art festival.”\u003C/i>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>– Iva K., Verified Customer\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\"\u003Cem>I have two sets of pouches that have preserved the images and expensive framing with linen liners that border most of my work. A ding in a frame can be a dealbreaker for the frame or sale, I understand. So the gallery pouches are a wonderful solution to problem of having to wrap and rewrap my oil paintings. Cheers for the solution, even though you probably created them for photographers. They work perfectly for me.\u003C/em>\"\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>– Marlene C., Verified Customer\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ordering the Perfect Size\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ordering your GalleryPouch™ is simple. Just measure your artwork — height, width, and depth — and go to our website to customize your order. Click on \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/ctg/photo-storage/gallery-pouch.html\">Pricing and Ordering\u003C/a> to get started. When you enter the dimensions of your artwork, start with the side where you’d like the opening to be. Select whether you want Velcro® on your pouch, or order it separately. Once we receive your order, we’ll make your GalleryPouch™ to your exact specifications.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Watch my \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/gallery-pouch.html\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">video\u003C/span>\u003C/a> to see GalleryPouch™ up close and in action. I’ll also show you exactly how to order and get the right size for your art.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cbr>Art transport doesn’t have to feel like you’re rolling the dice with the safety and integrity of your work. \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/ctg/photo-storage/gallery-pouch.html\">GalleryPouch™\u003C/a> lets you breathe easier, knowing your art is wrapped inside the best protection on the market.\u003Cbr>Happy trails as you take your art out into the world!\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan>\u003Cb>Last Updated \u003C/b>\u003Cstrong>January 1\u003C/strong>\u003Cb>, 202\u003C/b>\u003C/span>5\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Written by \u003Ca href=\"/info/mark-rogers-author.html\">Mark Rogers\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/c_lpad,dpr_2.0,q_auto/v1/media/wysiwyg/Mark_Rogers.jpeg?_i=AB\" alt=\"Mark Rogers\"> Mark Rogers is the President and Co-Founder of Frame Destination. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Mark has become a leading authority on framing techniques and best practices, and has earned a reputation for his innovative approaches to custom framing and frame services for photographers and artists.\u003C/p>\u003Cbr>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Whenever you move a piece of artwork — whether it’s a custom-framed print or a gallery-wrapped canvas — you run the risk of damage. Frames are meant to hang on walls, not lie flat on a gallery floor or rattle around in the back of a moving car. And you didn’t put your heart and […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-04-06T08:59:15","2025-01-21T12:09:58",[253],{"name":165,"slug":166},{"url":255,"label":169},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/FD-BlogHero_Transporting_v3-1.jpg",{"id":257,"title":258,"uri":259,"content":260,"excerpt":261,"date":262,"modified":263,"categories":264,"image":266},"cG9zdDo0Nzcw","Pouring It On: Meet Fluid Artist Kimberly Kort","/arties-eight/kimberly-kort-spotlight","\n\u003Cp>Although as a panda bear, I am perpetually clothed in black and white, bright colors make me smile. That’s why I couldn’t resist Kimberly Kort’s highly saturated sensations.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Painting Past the Pain\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Kimberly has been suffering from migraines for more than 20 years. In fact, it was the medium of fluid art that became a cathartic release from the pain. As a self-taught artist, Kimberly creates vibrant pieces inspired by nature — from rainbows to waves to winter trees. Her tag line, “Pour art on your walls,” captures her enthusiasm for these free-flowing acrylic compositions, which range in size from 12”x12” to 30”x48”.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guiding Steps\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As you know, Frame Destination loves to advocate for and assist artists however we can. Kimberly told us that when her business, KK Art Creations, was still in its infancy, Frame Destination helped steer her in the right direction. “They explained how to wrap and present my paintings along with proper framing for different depths of canvas,” Kimberly says. “I show much more professionally now because of their guidance.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">See More of Kimberly’s Work\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CKogoabn96t/\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>Instagram\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a>, Kimberly enjoys sharing her whimsical point of view (look for her January 29 “Bubbles of Happiness” post). Watch her create a commissioned painting in a one-minute video on her \u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/kkartcreations/videos/875118102976292\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>Facebook\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> page (July 2, 2020). And of course her \u003Ca href=\"https://www.kkartcreations.com\">\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>KK Art Creations website\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003C/a> features more fluid art. Below, my Q&A with Kimberly gives you a glimpse into her thoughts on an artist’s role in society, and why wooden sticks are a big deal in her world.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Kimberly Kort …\u003C/b>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>1. What is your background; how did you get started?\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>I became a fluid artist three years ago. I am a self-taught artist that began the fluid art to calm the migraine pains in my head. The calming and soothing pouring of paint and blending colors together gave me a way to get my pain and chaos in my head under control. I have always had a creative side to my work. I have been in the hospitality industry for over twenty years. I have created events, catered food, and planned parties and always with a color palette and themes in mind to give the event, food or party a beautiful design and flow.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan class=\"s1\">\u003Cb>2\u003C/b>\u003C/span>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>. What role do you think the artist plays in society?\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>Artists give the world a certain amount of life and interest for people to express themselves and explore new things constantly. Artists provide a resting place for our eyes, mind, body, and soul. Art take so many different forms and people need that to nurture and create new ideas, and to navigate our world. Without art, people would all be the same and never think and explore outside the box.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>I had an art teacher recently explain to me that I need to let go and let the brush and paint do the talking to me. Let go of structure and let it all flow to express more freely.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>4. What ways does your work reflect your personality?\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>My acrylic fluid art is sometimes bold and bright and expressive just like me and my outgoing personality. Other times the works are very solemn and subdued, which may reflect a certain mood or life experience that has deeply affected me.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>Occasionally I get a creative block and I go outside to\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\">  \u003C/span>experience nature. The outdoors re-energizes me and gives me pause to look around at what is so beautiful and natural; it gives me inspiration.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>The wooden stick is an indispensable tool for me. It is my tool to mix my acrylic paint. Wooden sticks help me create what I have envisioned in my head. It\u003Cspan class=\"s2\">’\u003C/span>s the beginning of a creation to express my emotion or interpretation of my vision for my next abstract piece of art.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>I am currently working on a series of “Spring Blooming Flowers” in various colors of fluid acrylics, using a Dutch pour technique.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cb>\u003Ci>8. What is your favorite paint color name?\u003Cbr>\u003C/i>\u003C/b>My favorite paint color is Quinacridone Magenta.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg data-public-id=\"blog/FD-Arties8-Hero_Kimberly_Kort2-1/FD-Arties8-Hero_Kimberly_Kort2-1.png\" src=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/frame-destination/images/w_1024,h_534,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto/v1662566300/blog/FD-Arties8-Hero_Kimberly_Kort2-1/FD-Arties8-Hero_Kimberly_Kort2-1.png?_i=AA\" alt=\"Kimberly Kort - Artist\" class=\"wp-post-4770 wp-image-4772\" data-format=\"png\" data-transformations=\"f_auto,q_auto\" data-version=\"1662566300\" data-seo=\"1\">\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"has-text-align-left\">All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"has-text-align-left\">\u003Cstrong>ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT?\u003C/strong> Simply respond to the questionnaire \u003Ca href=\"https://www.framedestination.com/interviewform\">here\u003C/a> to apply \u2028to be included in an upcoming Artie’s Eight Spotlight.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C/div>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Last Updated March 17, 2021\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\n","\u003Cp>Although as a panda bear, I am perpetually clothed in black and white, bright colors make me smile. That’s why I couldn’t resist Kimberly Kort’s highly saturated sensations. Painting Past the Pain Kimberly has been suffering from migraines for more than 20 years. In fact, it was the medium of fluid art that became a […]\u003C/p>\n","2021-03-18T10:28:24","2024-09-18T13:44:08",[265],{"name":180,"slug":181},{"url":267,"label":169},"https://frameblog.framedestination.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/FD-Arties8-Hero_Kimberly_Kort-1.png",321]