Ideas are always around, but sometimes it's hard to get inspired. I shot this in my backyard of a sunflower that has not yet bloomed. Well it has now, but not in this image. So Sometimes when I don't have any inspiration or ideas coming for designing something or for photography I have to just do something. By doing something and not standing still, eventually I'll get inspired to move in a certain direction. Then it grows and I start getting a little passionate or obsessive about it. Then I exhaust that idea and move on to the next and let my old thoughts and ideas sit on the back burner. Ideas come, but you have to open up and let your surroundings inspire you. Be grateful for what you have and be humble enough to see the most basic of ideas that can come to light if you just experiment a little. Don't just sit waiting, be active and creative.
Sunshine
Sunshine is here. It's already going to be in the 80's here in Arizona. One good thing is that my garden is doing well. Here is one of the sunflowers starting to do it's magic. The little bee is helping too. So yes, it looks like it's all sunshine from here on out.
I've been busy with projects for other people. Maybe soon I can work on some new designs. :)
Sketching
It's so fun to sketch, but I'm not great at it. Sometimes things will turn out great and other times they don't. Sometimes I have to work hard at it and other times it just works out. I guess it all depends on the type of sketching taking place, but I'm talking in general. Either way I like it and it's fun. Here some old sketches I've done over the past year. Not sure what they are. lol. So yeah lately it's been patterns. They are what I like to do best. I'll have to try and post something other than patterns at some point. Sometimes sketches, for me, are a way to take a break from thinking too much. They help my brain go free since at times I have very structured art when it comes to ring design. Let your mind be free.....
Progress
Progress is important in many ways. That is how we move forward. If we are not progressing then we are only going the opposite way. My progress is slow since I only can work on Dana Arts a few hours a night and not every night. Either way I do my best to progress and move towards my goals. This year I really hope to be active and share as much about what I do as I can. As new designs come out I'll be adding them to my site and non produced rings will be rendered in an obvious way to know it's not a photo. I also will do my best to keep some videos going. It's always hard for me to find the time to get them going, but I really must try harder. I will also post them on my YouTube channel as I make them. If I'm slacking in any way just let me know.
Maybe these Cacti will push me. No sitting down. :)
Always moving forward even if it's only baby steps.
Lunch time hikes
I love to hike and I have a job where I sit all day. I love winters here in Arizona because they are not that cold. So at lunch time I go for a 45 minute walk on a small trail that leads across the top ridge of the small mountain. It's a great view and at least gives me some movement in the day. Exercise is important to me so this is the way to do it. Take advantage of all the time available. Lets all start the new year with being strong and moving along and never quit.
Red is now 3 months old
So I took this picture of Red with the help of my daughter. It wasn't easy because red is very active. We at least got this one cute shot of him. It has been difficult or tiring for us having a new puppy, but he is doing great. He's growing so fast. I hope we don't teach him any bad habits as he grows. Lol
First Designs
So I've been thinking about some of the designs I have done and have never been made before. I have quite a few. Not all of them are great, but some of them are pretty cool. I do not like putting up the rendered images of my designs because it can cause a little confusion about what the finished product will look like. I do my best to render them like the real thing, but the overall finish is never the same. I'm talking about the overall shine, blackening, and hard to reach places. The renders are too perfect or not accurate. All the images on my site as of now are all photographs of rings I have already produced. Well I'm going to start posting renders of rings I've designed, but have never produced yet. I will render them with a darker background so you can tell the difference. I leave the overall finish to me so to some degree if you are the first to purchase one of these rings in silver you are the guinea pig. In so doing I will discount the ring to whomever is the first buyer of that ring. The normal price $250 and it will be discounted to $200. That's a great savings and deal to get the first ring ever made of that design. After the first time the ring is purchased the price will go back up to $250 and I'll add real photographs of the ring to the listing. So look for the rendered rings and save $$$$. Not only that, but you'll have a cool ring to wear.
Happy New Year 2017
Happy New Years!
Christmas
What a wonderful time of year. I just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Red Miniature Poodle
Anyone else out there have a dog?
We are excited to be getting a dog. We are naming him Red. We will pick him up this coming Saturday. I have to get ready for the sleep deprived days ahead. :) It's our first dog so this will be fun for the whole family. I had dogs growing up, but I never had the responsibility of the overall care and expenses that goes in to having a dog. This is all new to me and I'm a bit nervous. My kids are a blessing in my life and help challenge me in new ways. Thanks to them we will have this new life form join our family. Welcome Red...