Every once in a while I will feel the need for something different. The need for something inspiring. I think most artists go through phases like this. This feeling is what sparks growth. It is yourself telling you, you need something different because you need to grow. You need to experiment. You need to try new things pertaining to your field. And Picasso himself said,” Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
Read MoreBeing a professional artist takes work and that is why it is so important you are passionate about what you do. There will be lots of room for failure and for giving up but your passion and love for what you do is what will keep you going through everything. Look through these tips to make sure you are on the right path to positioning yourself to be an artist and an authority in your industry.
Read MoreToday I am sharing a couple of portraits of my mom. The idea for to take these portraits came after I had a dream about photographing my dad who passed when I was 12. I didn’t get a camera until I was about 15 so I never took any proper photos of him when he was alive. In my dream everything felt so real. He was right there and I was finally given the chance the photograph him. I was nervous and I was asking him to stay still as I adjusted my lens. I remember thinking, in my dream, about which lens would be the best and how important these photos would be.
Read MoreToday’s post features another South Beach fixture. The first time I went to South Beach I saw him selling magnets and I thought he was just so interesting so I asked to take his photo. It was dark outside but the lights on Ocean Drive were perfect for this shot. Then when I moved to South Beach a few months sort of a year later, I looked for him every time I walked down Ocean Drive but I didn’t see him until around December. The first photo below is the one I took on my first trip to South Beach. The following photos are photos I took when I finally caught up with him again a year later and he was just as interesting! I love his style!
Read MoreThis couple in particular is extra special to me. This is my brother and sister-in-law. They are the goofiest, kindest and most loving people. I visited them in Oregon a couple of winters ago and I had so much fun! They come to Arkansas from time-to-time to and it is always so great to see them. 💕I was stoked when they wanted to set up a session! Hannah showed me one of the major benefits of super long hair: the perfect split mustache (see below). 😎 I can’t wait until this pandemic is over and I can go get some tacos with them in Oregon. 💕
Here are a few from their virtual session on Friday.
Read MoreWhen Jack was about three or four he took interest in my camera. Each time I photographed him, I would let him take a couple of photos too. He has photographed his parents, me, and eventually his younger brother and sister. The first photo below is of him and one of my old cameras. The photos after the first one were taken by him. ❤️
Read MoreI blogged about Dominique on day 8 of this blog series. I shared an article about her where she talks about what it was like growing up trans in Arkansas. This photo is from my very first solo exhibition in Bentonville, Arkansas at the Visual Poets Society Gallery. There was a section of the exhibition that featured photos of her from our greenhouse photoshoot. ❤️ This photo is of her dancing in front of her section. ❤️❤️❤️
Read MoreThere is just something about New York City. It really is place unlike any other. There is just this energy there that is unmatched. It is also a very difficult place to live, but everyone there is just kind of in it together. When I take photos of people on the street all the time, in whatever city I am in, I ask for permission and often times people say no, which is totally fine. I get it! Not everyone wants their photo taken by a stranger to be plastered somewhere on the internet. haha
Read MoreWe could all use a person like Hattie in our lives. I met her on a commercial photoshoot in New York. She walked into the studio and commanded everyone’s attention. There was probably around 25 of us in there. She walked in with such a stylish outfit and these gorgeous vintage glasses. She had a huge smile on her face and I just got the feeling that I wanted to know her.
Read MoreI am most definitely an extrovert and the world just feels strange right now. I go through weird bouts of feeling fine and then being panicked the next minute. I am sure many of you can relate. Strange times for sure. I know how important it is to stay home and I am very serious about doing that. Here are 10 things that have helped me get through this time of uncertainty even as an extroverted artist.
Read MoreAnother notable and friendly face of South Beach. 💕If you choose to chat up this very well dressed friend make sure you are up-to-date on music trivia and get ready to dance!
Read MoreI have lived in Miami Beach for about seven months now. I visited Miami Beach about a year before I moved here. On my initial visit, I saw a few artists and street merchants. When I moved to Miami Beach, I saw many of the same ones again. And I still see them around from time to time. This gentleman is one of the artists I still around (or at least I did before the pandemic). He is a street artist who does his work with his feet because he has no hands.
Read MoreToday’s post features one of the most inspiring people I have ever met. Truly! We became friends after I interviewed her for our school newspaper in graduate school. I remembered her saying that she had worked at the UN in Haiti and I thought she would make a great feature story. I had NO idea that her story had SO many layers. After I interviewed her, I actually felt that her story was so big, it might be one of the most important stories of my career and I was just a young journalism student.
Read MoreToday’s post features one of my favorite artists of all time- Hubert Neal, Jr. ❤️When I first met Hubert years ago, we had both just moved to Bentonville, him from Miami Beach and me from Hawaii. He had opened an art studio next to my apartment complex. My landlord told me I had to meet him since I was a photographer. I met Hubert, showed him some of my photographs, and he put me into the group show he had coming up at his gallery. Honestly, it was the first time anyone had ever considered me for a gallery exhibition.
Read MoreToday, I messaged Denise so she could see her edited gallery and she gave me some very unfortunate news.
Read MoreI had a dream a few months ago that I was taking photographs of my father. My father passed when I was 12, long before I had my very first camera. In my dream I couldn't believe I had never thought to take photos of him before. I remember the lens I wanted to use in my dream. I carefully attached it to my camera and led him to his favorite spot on the couch by the huge window I used to look out of when I was very impatiently awaiting the arrival of my mom on her way home from work.
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