#AskEmilytheArtist: Questions from May 11th, 2016 - 5/18/16

Good Morning & Happy Wednesday!

Last week I started #AskEmilytheArtist where you ask me questions with this hashtag on Twitter & SnapChat (ylimesotrab). You can ask me questions anytime, of course, but to make Wednesdays fun I started this idea in order to talk more about art in social media, and to interact more with followers or people who just have questions about anything creative or art-related.

@ylime_sotrab What inspires you? #askemilytheartist

— Jena Richter (@JenaRichter) May 11, 2016

Thanks @JenaRichter for your question! This is a hard one to answer because so many things do, and I could go on and on for a while. I could do many series of blog posts about this, and just point at my 67 Pinterest boards. Some are easy: I love weird things that may/may not exist in this world, hence my interest in monsters; nature and the outdoors; the idea of traveling the world; everything from the golden Hollywood area: old Hollywood films, vintage stylings, pinups; the arts in all forms--particularly illustration, design, and photography; the challenge of finding the beauty in the banal everyday; and of course bright colors and most things fantastical (unicorns)!
I would have to say though, my biggest inspiration is found through empowering people, particularly women with boudoir. As a woman, I've had my own issues with self-confidence, self-love, and self-worth. These are still things I struggle with, and I'm just going to say it so I don't get misunderstood--men and women are equal, and both can have these issues, and if I can have a role in helping both genders, I'm all for it. Naturally, I am more in-tune with my own gender identity and I find my interests and style to generally work better for women. After all, I'm attempting to incorporate unicorns in all my branding. I know I have a talent and means to make people look and feel beautiful, and getting to know my clients and how amazing they are....they're the ones that truly inspire me. I can find the beauty inside and out, and help them remember or realize it and get a boost of self-confidence. I remember how it felt to find my own, and the idea of doing this for others makes me want to stop at nothing to create things that work with this idea.

.@ylime_sotrab If you could collaborate with any artist living or dead (or even undead, I guess) who would it be and why? #AskEmilyTheArtist

— bashattack (@bashattack) May 11, 2016

This is such a fun question, @bashattack! This is tricky too, because I love so many artists...but I would have to say, Vincent Van Gogh. He worked so hard his entire life and made so many amazing paintings with a style that was his own, and to this day, there is no one else with the originality he used with his brushstrokes. You can't touch it. Of course, the Dr. Who episode Vincent and the Doctor is my favorite, and had a chance to show what a magical human being he was and how much sadness and emotion there was. I love how he painted everyday scenes but made them twisted, colorful, and anything but ordinary. I try and do that with my work. To collaborate with this master would be a dream come true!

Being that today is Wednesday, and the day is young, I am taking questions again today! Please ask me questions on Twitter and SnapChat (links and usernames above) with the hashtag:

#AskEmilyTheArtist

Questions can be about anything having to do with art, creative things, photography, design, drawing, working as a freelance artist...the possibilities are near-endless! I want to connect with all of you and create an art community where we can bring it to a greater population--through my brand, yours if you have one, and ourselves as individuals! Examples of questions include:

• Where are the best places to shop for art supplies online?
• What type of camera and equipment do you use?
• What is your process in developing a brand?
• Where do you shoot boudoir photography if you don't have a studio?
• Where are awesome places to see art in my town?

 The possibilities of questions are endless, and I invite you to ask me! I will write about all the questions that I receive on a Wednesday the following week. We just got started, and I want to make this fun for everyone!

I hope you all have a great day! Work hard, treat others well, and take time for yourself and find some inspiration in your day! <3

xx emily

Meltwater - 2/20/16

Forgetting to purchase a State Park sticker prior to a planned hike typically means a change of plans. Therefore, Tobias and I had to settle on a State Natural area for Saturday's hike.

It was a rare fifty degrees in February this particular Saturday, which is typically unheard of for a Wisconsin Winter. This particular winter had been fairly mild, but the sudden rise in temperature was a welcome surprise. I had seen freshly fallen snow in a dusty blanket at my feet on Wednesday, but the Lodi marsh turned back into its namesake with the spring-like weather. With mud almost to our ankles at points, we trekked for a couple hours with the dog taking in the quiet.

If you looked down, you could see the earth coming back to life again, and meltwater trickling across the trail. It carved the ice into unique formations that were reminiscent of glacial canyons. With my camera handy, I captured these organic designs. To me, these images couldn't be processed in anything but black and white.

Through the photographs, I saw two series. Here is the second, in color, and these are simply about hiking with a dog.

Wintry Picnic Point Hike - 1/23/16

Now that the temperature is finally not as frigid, Toby, myself, and Bullett the dog decided it would be a good idea to do something outside today. A popular, nearby choice location is Picnic Point.

Picnic point is owned by the University of Wisconsin and is a part of their Lakeshore Nature Preserve, and in its prime over the summer you can spend your days roasting marshmallows or hiking. The cold has seemingly not kept anyone off the trails, since they were iced over from all the snow being trampled by many sets of feet. I had to tread very carefully so as to not slip. Even Bullett, who has much better footing for these conditions occasionally had to regain his balance.

We ventured to the trails a little after 3pm to enjoy our little hike as the sun was setting. There was a population of ice fishermen, ice skaters, and college students enjoying the frozen, placid surface of Lake Mendota. I was able to recognize an engagement session taking place from my experience in photographing weddings (at Picnic Point), and could even tell when the groom-to-be had to run back to the car to get the engagement ring so it could be photographed in the snow. Bullett was having the time of his life; Toby holding the leash, and I holding my camera.

We hope to return to Picnic Point this summer to investigate potential paranormal activity. Rumor has it a red ghost light floats over the lake from the point over to the Capitol. Until then, enjoy the wintry images from our miniature adventure not too far from home.

 

 

A Walk to the Lake (1/16/16)

Today was one of those days where we tried to do too much in one day, and things didn't go as planned. It happens. I personally am notorious for this, but I have found that it is better to go with the flow than to fight it.

I wont tell you one of those "you just had to be there" stories, so I will just say that my boyfriend and I spent an hour driving (round-trip) to spend only fifteen minutes at Indian Lake County Park just outside of Madison, Wisconsin where we live.

We were dressed in many layers, and I personally had on three pairs of socks. The sun had gone down by the time we arrived at the park, and the lake was like glass.The trail was bumpy and iced over from the former footsteps of others before us. I was carrying my solid aluminum tripod, and the cold metal was transferring to my fingertips despite my attempt at keeping my fingertips warm. Bullett the dog was ecstatic to be there, his thick winter coat shielding him from the nipping air. Naturally, practically-hairless humans cannot withstand the biting winter cold the way a Pointer mix can. We decided to call it, our hands practically numb and the icy wind licking our faces raw.

We can laugh about our silly little trip, warm up with a glass of mead, and I can say that I at least took one picture.

Cheers.

Monster #8 - 1/4/16

This week I decided that the first monster of 2016 should be one that pays tribute to a beast that we are all familiar with...well, at least one that most Wisconsinites are.

Have you ever heard of a Hodag?

Hodags are a folkloric monster from Wisconsin, primarily in Rhinelander (which is the city mascot). They appear in several Paul Bunyan stories and newspapers reported a "discovery" which ended up being a hoax in 1893. The alleged capture had occurred in Rhinelander by a land surveyor and timberman named Eugene Shepherd. He had the event photographed as well as the created corpse on display at the county fair. Despite the discovery, capture, and evidence being completely fictitious, the Hodag remains a prominent symbol of Rhinelander and the folklore is still celebrated for its fantasy as any mystical, mythical monster should be.

The above Hodag made from Sculpey will lovingly be named Heinrich and will appear for sale in the Etsy shop soon.

Happy New Year,
xx emily

Beatrix & Sylvie - (August 2015)

Looking back to when the planet was green, ripe, and sunny...and we were blessed with longer days, golden dapples of sunlight through the conifers, and blissful smiles. Oftentimes the best is found through simplicity such as walks in the woods with your kindred spirit.

Two sisters remind us all to take a minute and not take anything for granted. Keep your family--by blood or soul--close and treasured, share the moments, share a laugh.

November Jaunt in New Glarus, WI (11/15)

Once in a while on a Wednesday, I go for a hike with my camera and a friend of mine.

We kept things simple on this ordinary November day. With rumors of rainfall and limited light, we knew this trip wouldn't be any grand excursion. With the thick blanket of gray clouds looming heavily in the sky and the trees bare like skeleton fingers against a brown landscape. When the light isn't beaming down through the leaves in a kaleidoscope of color and nature seems to be at rest--finding captivating images can be a challenge, but we manage to find beauty no matter what time of year.

Besides, there's nothing like stopping at a charming little brewery in New Glarus for a glass of Serendipity.