Through the Eyes of A Lotus

Wanda Lotus, Photographer

PCC: Tell us about yourself.

Woman Crossing the Street

WL: I am a native New Yorker born in Brooklyn and currently living in the Bronx with my partner of 6+ years. Believe it or not, my formal education is in computer engineering with a specialization in digital hardware design. I have a masters degree and worked in that field for over a decade before my job went the way of the recession. I’m currently blessed with a job doing data entry from home, which gives me the flexibility needed to also run a photography business on the side.

PCC: What do you create?
WL: I create photos for home or office decor as well as for blank cards. My photos are mostly nature and scenes around New York City. Lately I have become more interested in street photography and am looking for ways to work some of those photos into my shops as well. I also have an entirely separate line of photos exclusively for exhibition and high-end art collectors.

PCC: What made you want to become an artist?

Manhattan Through the Cherry Blossoms

WL: Photography was my first love. My parents had a subscription to National Geographic, so I grew up pouring over the glossy photos in the magazines and imagining myself traveling the world to photograph people and places. To this day I subscribe to the magazine primarily for the photos, not the articles. I was probably 7 or 8 when my parents bought me my first point-and-shoot, and I've been snapping ever since. But it wasn’t until 2007, after I bought my first DSLR, that I realized there was a technical side to photography that I knew nothing about. That is when I truly began to study photography and make photos instead of merely snapping them. I took a few classes to learn the basics, actually read my camera’s owner’s manual, and started paying more critical attention to other photographers’ work. Once I learned how to control things like composition, exposure, shutter speed, and depth of field I started seeing the world like one huge photo opportunity. And when I got over my hangup over using photo editing software a whole new world opened up to me. When I walk down the street, or even just walking through our home, I often catch myself looking for potential shots. It’s instinct now. That’s why I try to always have a camera on me. I hate seeing a great shot and not having a camera available!

Nap Time

PCC: What is your process?
WL: My photography process is simple: I shoot whatever catches my eye. I try to go for unique views I haven't seen, particularly when photographing New York City. I use a Canon EOS 5D Classic and alternate between a Canon 50mm/F1.8 lens and a Canon 24-105/F4L lens. Once in a while I’ll use a generic 70-300mm lens. If I am shooting macros I use Kenko extension tubes with whatever lens I am using that day. I almost never use flash, but when I do it is a generic hotshoe flash. Most of my editing is done in Lightroom with the rare fine-tuning done in Gimp on my MacBook Pro.


PCC: What advice would you give to other women wanting to pursue their art?

Solitude

WL: Use what you have. So many people fall into the trap of thinking they have to have a certain level of gear or professional training before they can take their craft seriously. While good quality gear and informative training are valuable, the lack of them doesn’t have to keep you from doing what you love. You can still learn the foundational knowledge necessary to later make good use of expensive gear or the information you will learn in advanced classes. I know people who have thousands of dollars of photography equipment who take snapshots they could have taken at the same quality with their smartphones, and I know people who mindfully make gorgeous photos with their point-and-shoot cameras or smartphones that you would swear came out of a DSLR. It’s about knowing your craft, knowing the limitations of whatever gear you have--even the most expensive gear has limitations depending on the situation--and working within those limits.

PCC: What advice would you give to other women wanting to make a living as an artist?
WL: I don’t yet make a living as an artist, so this is what I tell myself: most artists have day jobs that are completely unrelated to their art, and that is okay. It doesn’t mean you are not a “real” artist. All it means is you have a day job. It’s not a statement about your worth as an artist.

A Day in the Park

Here is a piece of advice for working artists in America based on what I have learned from watching others. Get yourself a good accountant: someone who understands tax laws for self-employed people and can help you keep track of what to file and when. I have a friend who is a working artist, and she gets killed each year with tax fees and penalties from not filing things in a timely manner. Make sure you have an accountant handling those things for you so you don’t have that problem. That way you can invest more of your money into your work instead of into the IRS.

PCC: What else are you passionate about?

Beautiful Music

WL: Photography was my first love, and violin was my second. I played from fourth grade until I graduated high school then stopped for many years. But I kept my violin and picked it up again a few years ago. I hope to some day get good/confident enough to join a community orchestra and to perform jazz.

PCC: Anything else we should know?
WL:  I love being connected with other creative people, so I am happy to be a part of the Peppermint Creek Collective and other creative communities locally and online. Sharing ideas with other creatives keeps me motivated and helps me avoid feeling isolated or obscure. If there is anyone feeling unseen as an artist, I strongly recommend becoming part of a creative community. Even sharing in an online creative community counts.

PCC: Where can we find you?
WL: I blog and am active on social media and eCommerce, and you can find the links to all of those places from my website:
teal.lotuslandfineart.com  For my high-end fine art photography you can find my portfolio and the links to that blog and those social media accounts at   lotuslandfineart.com.
Photography - teal.lotuslandfineart.com 
Fine Art -lotuslandfineart.com
Etsy - www.etsy.com/shop/ThroughEyesofALotus
FB - www.facebook.com/ThroughTheEyesOfALotus

PCC: Wanda can also be found in her first and second gallery showings of 2015. We wish her continued success this year!
First Showing - Now Running
"I am proud and deeply honored to be one of the inaugural artists exhibited by Rush Street Gallery! Director Chuck Fletcher describes Rush Street Gallery as a digital exhibition of contemporary artistic photography. My eight-image series of black and white street photos can be found in the gallery’s West Hall."

Second Showing - Beginning Feb 1, 2015:
"I am honored to announce my submissions to Colors of Humanity Art Gallery have both been accepted for their juried February 2015 exhibit “Red”! The exhibit will start 1 February and will run through the entire month. This is even more meaningful due to the director’s commitment to donating a portion of the entry fees to charity each month. 10% of all entry fees from “Red” will be donated to the International Red Cross.

These are my two submissions to “Red”.

A few words on Wanda's Inspiration:

We are Happy to Serve You

 I saw these coffee cup lights hanging in a store and fell in love with them. They scream, “New York City!” to me. I couldn’t take them home, so I photographed them instead.

Raindrops on Roses

 I’m pretty sure this was one of my first forays into macro photography. I was stunned with the detail that came out of my 

Loving Child

 This is the type of street photography I would like to incorporate more of into my shoppes. I was in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and just happened to be standing there when the mother next to me instructed her child how to gently admire the flowers.

Reflections of Autumn

I made this photo during a spontaneous trip with friends to Bear Mountain. The bird flew across my line of vision just as I snapped the shutter. When I saw this frame compared to the frames I had made without the bird I knew this one was the winner.

Fire Ivy

 This is from when I first began seriously making photos. The next year I went back to make an even better series of images and all of the ivy had been torn down. Knowing I cannot remake this image makes it extra-special to me.

Other Items from Wanda that we love (check out her blog, website and etsy store for more great photography):

Standing in the Snow

A Light to the World

Parkchester Fountain

Grand Central Terminal

Which Way is Up

Snow in the Park

Musical Notes

Steel Drum

All Images are the property of Wanda Lotus and may not be duplicated or used without her permission.

Southern Comfort Art

Christie Morgans, Photographer/Artist

PCC: Tell us a little about yourself.

Pretty in Pink

CM: At a very young age I realized I was an Artist. My teachers in school always encouraged me, even in Elementary school. Drawings, paintings, clay sculptures, murals, any medium really, in order to produce something unique, to give to someone to make them smile.  I remember one, Mrs Hall, she told me she wanted to come and see my gallery one day. :) Love good teachers! She held a bulletin board contest annually with all the schools in the district. I was always her Artist, and spent most of my time working on Art, rather than the general studies. I guess Art was always my fun time, and I did get special treatment with the work I produced. We won all the contests for my brief Elementary school days! Fun times. Then I continued to do extra activities....football banner Artist, local Political race illustrations...you name it. I sought it all out.

   So I guess I have never known anything but being a natural Artist. I did want to major in Art, but I was discouraged by the lack of potential with income in those days. I went down other tracks, ended up with a degree in Psychology. We moved all over the country and I attended 7 different colleges!  The simple act of creating was and has always been what motivates me. And the response of giving joy to someone is still why I am an Artist.

Sailor's Warning

PCC: What do you create? Tell us about your process.
CM: I have been fortunate enough to have traveled all over America, and have seen some of the most extraordinary places. I started taking photographs along the way, and now looking back I wish I had taken even more! I love seeing the beauty everywhere in nature. I started it so I could do paintings from the photos....and that's how it all started in this current direction. When I take a photograph, I see a painting, or at least its potential.

Vintage Sunflowers

In this fast paced world, I think that sometimes we do not always notice the beauty all around us. I think the Artist job is to remind us all to see the beauty. In the Renaissance times, Artists were held at a higher esteem if they could produce works that might be worthy of the creator. I think in some way, I feel that same drive to produce something as beautiful as what I see in nature. The natural beauty from our creator is perfect. And even in the imperfections of the ordinary, there is beauty to see.

The photography software of today makes it easy to enhance what is already beautiful, and it can resemble a painting. However, for me, I only like to enhance a photographs color or lighting. Beyond that, I would rather get out the paint! 

PCC: What else are you passionate about?

Sable Shepard

I have done just about every medium in Art out there....except I have never done welding (always wanted to though!) I dabbled in silver-smithing in jewelry-making back about 10 years ago though. I always wanted to do more sculpting. I actually still want to go take more studio in sculpting....one day :) Since I was a child I did clay sculptures and really, really loved it.  I also was a free lance writer off and on many years back. 

PCC: Anything else we should know?

I am currently a member of Carolina's Nature Photographers Association. I can do custom orders (adjust colors, tones, make into Black and White images, and even enlarge further that what is shown as available on this site) Just leave me a message, or contact me by the email shown. I hope you enjoy looking through my gallery of work and some of my original illustrations and designs. I hope you find something that you will treasure and that makes you smile.

PCC: How do we find you?

CM:

https://www.facebook.com/SouthernComfortArt

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernComfortArt

https://crated.com/christie.morgans.5
http://artofwhere.com/shop/artist/6743
http://www.imagekind.com/art/stunning/southerncomfortart/artwork-on/fine-art-prints
http://christie-morgans.artistwebsites.com/

 Other Art we love from Christie Morgans:

Sunny Side

Floating Dahlia

Swan Color Waves

Sweet Kittens

Spirits in the Tree

Lighthouse

Water Lillies Yoga Mat

Bandit Caught - Adorable Baby Leggings

All images are the property of Christie Morgans/SouthernComfortArt and may not be duplicated.

Sailors Ravine Studio

El Dorado

Danielle Nash, Photographer 

PCC: Tell us a little about yourself.

Black Mini Book

SR: I live in a rural area in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California. I love all things photography and books. Occasionally I am able to combine both arts but usually they fulfill two very different art expressions.

PCC:  What do you create?
SR: I create photography prints, handmade journals and mini books. All of which I think reflect a rustic nostalgic quality.

PCC: What made you want to become an artist/fall in love with your craft?
SR: I was always an artist and book lover from my youngest days. When my parents let me have their old Instamatic I was hooked and have been in love with photography ever since.


PCC: Tell us about your process. What materials do you use?

Magical Forest

SR: I have a Cannon Digital SLR and use primarily Photoshop for editing my photos. I love my printer, an Epson which uses pigment inks. For me my photograph is complete once I print it out. I like having control and knowing exactly what my customer is getting.
For my journals I scour vintage shops looking for leather to repurpose. In addition to the beautiful aging vintage leather brings, and the obvious benefits of reuse and upcycling it provides the makings of a truly unique product. I often dye my papers with various teas and hand wax my threads. It gives me a different sense of accomplishment by producing a product with simply my hands as opposed to the electronics and equipment used for my photography. I gravitate back and forth and someday may separate my store into these two arts.

PCC: Tell us what you’re passionate about outside of your art? 

Letterpress

SR: Aside from spending time with my family, pets or job if I’m not making art you will find me enjoying the great outdoors or inside a thrift shop.











PCC: How do we find you? 
Sailorsravinestudio.etsy.com
Facebook.com/sailorsravinestudio
Sailorsravinestudio.blogspot.com

More Items we Love from Sailors Ravine Studio:

Le Miroir

White Mini Journal Necklace

Shasta Trailer

Record Player Journal

Oregon Trail

Brownie Camera Photo

Bronze Leather Journal

Windmill Photograph

All images are the property of Sailors Ravine and may not be copied without permission.

Guna Andersone

Guna Andersone, Photographer/Jewelry Designer

PCC: Tell us a little about yourself

Dancing Queens

GA: My name is Guna Andersone and I am originally from Latvia, but love brought me to the Netherlands. In Latvia I studied physics in the University of Latvia and after my studies worked as a junior researcher in the biomechanics, but after five years I decided to follow the studies in business. I started my studies in Latvia, but continued in Norway, in Norwegian School of Management. After my studies I returned to Latvia and found a work in Unilver. So the Dutch company, the Dutch boyfriend and I packed my luggage again. At the moment I work as a market analyst in an American company, but still I dream about my own art studio in combination with alternative recycled product gallery. 
PCC: What do you create? What made you want to become an artist?

Good Morning

GA: As we all seek to find happiness and a sense of purpose in life, one day, I decided I wanted to achieve more for myself. I realized that my job was paying the bills, but yet was unfulfilling, and left my soul feeling empty. I decided to change that. I started making jewelry and decided to sell it on the website Etsy. I formed my own shop, called GunaDesign, and realized I needed to take lots of photos of my creations. And that is when I happened to fall in love with Photography and it was the birth of my Fine Art Photography. I don't particularly have one style, the object of my images, the environment, and even my mood determines the final result.







PCC: Tell us about your process. What materials do you use?

Amber Crochet Bracelet

GA: For my jewelry I use a lot of recycled materials, I try to give the second life for old denim, leather. I am a usual guest in the local thrift shops, flee markets, my friends and colleagues are my suppliers. I try to share my knowledge and experience by writing DIY tutorials. These are also available in my shop. When you are buying from me, you are buying not just an object. You are buying many hours of my time invested in this object. You are buying my failures and successes, days and weeks of frustration and joy. You are not buying only another handmade object, you are buying a moment of my life and to keep my work affordable, I avoid expensive materials- gemstones, gold. I believe every woman should be able to have nice fashionable items.

PCC: Tell us what you’re passionate about outside of your art. 

Music was my first love

 GA: Cats, cats, good wine, French cheese, good movies and books, to search for urban decay places for alternative but not really salable photos. 
One of my passions is to take my foreign friends to my beloved Latvia and to show them the beauty of this still unknown country. 



PCC: How do we find you? www.facebook.com/gunadesignphotography
fineartamerica.com/profiles/guna-andersone.html
society6.com/artist/gunadesign
www.etsy.com/shop/gunadesign
Blogs
gunadesign-jewelry.blogspot.com
gunadesign-impressions.blogspot.com


Other Photography by Guna Andersone that we love:

Elephants

Raspberries

Antique Cash Register

Old Farmer

Vodka Still

Haunted Forest

Mine Angel

(C) All Images are the property of Guna Andersone and may not be used without her permission