Amy Melious

Gifts

2011-12-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

The imagination always comes bearing gifts.

Wishing you all well this holiday, and throughout the new year.

Inspired

2011-11-29T17:25:00.000-08:00

A beautiful, quiet winter day today...
The maple tree outside my studio is bare. It looks very elegant - Its branches strung with heavy beads of rainwater, and dozens of tiny birds who seem totally jazzed to have found the feeder.
I'm working on some new pieces, which I plan to bring to the annual Beaver Pt. Fair, here on the island this weekend. If you're in the neighborhood, it takes place on the evening of Dec 2, & all day the 3rd and 4th until 4pm. I love this event, and look forward to spending the weekend there every year.

I've also just finished making some hand made gift cards to serve as a really special version of a gift certificate. I made one that I hope will put a little magic into the moment when it's recipient opens it.
I have always believed that one of the best things art can do is to inspire someone else to tap into their own creativity. And, after a few people recently asked about giving the gift of tutoring, workshops, or artwork to their loved ones, I decided to create a menu of ways to make that possible.
If you're interested, or would like detailed information and pricing on any item or service, please give me a call or send an email. I will be able to mail gift certificates until December 16th to most places.

2012 workshop information will be posted in January. The one on one tutoring and creativity sessions are available year round, in person or via Skype.

A happy season to all!

Open Studio

2011-11-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

Savour the Season

2011-11-23T16:47:00.000-08:00

Art & Breakfast

2011-07-19T23:11:00.000-07:00

Croissant Story

Greetings!

I could spend a lifetime photographing the stories of where our food comes from, all the way from the fields to the table. And, I love to meet people who put knowledge and passion into what they do.

These images are from my recent series of hand painted acrylic transfer prints on wood. Not only are they hanging at one of our favorite local eateries "Barbs Bakery & Bistro", but they're also of the bakery, and what goes on there in the wee hours of the morning. The show will be up until the end of July.

If you're interested in learning more about how this series came about,

I'll attach the show statement below.

I've been enjoying experimenting with acrylic transfer printing lately, and this technique seemed particularly appropriate for a subject that is all about hand made. The transfer techniques are tricky, but also a lot of fun to do. It takes me back to my days of working with Polaroid films, producing similar effects, yet with all new latitudes.

Slow food is happening fast every night in the Barb's kitchen....

This series of photographs came about thanks to a Christmas cookie.

A couple of years ago, during the winter holidays, my daughters and I made some cookies that we put a lot of love into. As a holiday greeting, I posted a picture of them to my art blog.

Not long after that, Barb's owners, Jennie and Jason, began plans to build a new website for their bakery & cafe. Jennie came across my blog, saw my cookie posting, and thought she may have found a photographer who just might also be a foodie. She was right.

I have been coming to Barb's for years, and have been impressed by the incredible job Jason and Jennie have done to restore, and expand upon, something the legendary Barb started many years ago.

I, for one, am really glad they have managed to turn it back into a place where locals enjoy gathering for coffee, good food, and a chat. Long before these photographs were made, I admired the sight of the freshly baked loaves of bread, lined up neatly on the wood rack behind the pastry case, which is also always full of decadent eye candy. So - I was glad to accept the task of creating a body of work for Barb's.

Jennie, Jason and I sat down one day and made a plan for what they might need for their website. To get to know their products better, I came down one night last summer at midnight and stayed until morning, observing the whole process.

To say I was impressed would be a massive understatement. Jason, and his amazing assistant baker Kai, moved like athletes non-stop all night. The whole event (and it is an event!), in a few words, was all about experience, teamwork, efficiency, and care. With the stereo playing, Jason and Kai stayed in perpetual swift motion. Glancing from time to time up at the clock all night, and with few words spoken, they turned scoops of flour into an incredible variety of picturesque breads, croissants, & pastries. They worked with the urgency of being up against the clock, yet with an amazing gracefulness and quiet confident artistry.

When the sun began to come up, they literally ran the hot loaves to the wood display shelves, and filled the baskets with pastries.

Without a doubt, what I most appreciated observing was the utter care with which each and every single pastry and bread loaf was handled. I could see that Jason gets truly excited when the dough is just right, the edges of the bread are exactly the right brown, and the danish pastry is perfectly tender -"real butter is key". He held each pastry like he was putting a baby bird back in it's nest, and as if he didn't have 500 more to make.

In a world that has gone way too far down the road of mechanized mass food production, I am relieved that this island is one oasis where reverence for food and it's origins is still alive and well. That's

easy to see at the market on Saturdays. Not so easy to see what happens in the Barbs kitchen, six nights a week. That's why I wanted to show some of the photos. Trust me, the show is not a Barb's ad. That's not necessary - you're already here.

The show is to pay homage to Jennie and Jason for keeping it real. Speaking of which, the barley levain bread - toasted...wow!

PS The Barb's website was completed, thanks to the expertise of Morgan Donnelly, and it looks great!

Workshop Descriptions

2011-04-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hand Painting Digital Photographs

Learn to take your images to the next level, with the personal touch of your own hand.

With the first few simple strokes, discover how to reveal the heart and depth that exists in the collaboration between you and the image. Hand-painting is an inspiring and fun process, transforming each image into a one of a kind artwork. Working on both color and black and white prints, we will enliven images by accentuating lines, enhancing highlights, tinting large areas, and more.

In a relaxed, bright studio setting, I will work with you, side by side, guiding you through my own particular process of applying texture and color to digital photographs, using acrylic paints, pastels and pencils.

Tips for selecting optimal printing surfaces for your images, handling and presenting your finished artwork, and the option of using oil paints will be discussed.

Three dates available for this one- day workshop:

May 15 Sunday

June 26 Sunday

July 11 Monday

10 am – 6 pm

$145

You will be asked to bring a few work prints. Suggestions for selecting them will be given upon registration.

All levels welcome.

6 participants per class.

Photographic Alchemy

Alchemy: A power or process of changing one thing into another; esp., a seemingly miraculous power or process of changing a thing into something better.

This workshop explores the creative process of transforming any photograph into something beyond the original capture, bringing it closer to your vision.

We will discuss ways to identify, and visually emphasize, your original inspiration for a photograph, as well as reveal possibilities for using the original image as a launching point for your imagination.

Through a slideshow of before and after examples, lecture, discussion, questions, answers and samples, you will become aware of an inspiring and infinite world of possibilities for your images.

Emphasis will be placed on the use of Photoshop techniques, hand-embellishment, and alternative printing surfaces.

This inspiring day is about planting seeds of creativity. We will not be attempting to create finished products.

Participants should come prepared with several images* to be used in discussion, and a notebook. A laptop computer is optional.

Three dates available for this one- day workshop:

May 21 Saturday

June 24 Friday

July 9 Saturday

10 am – 6 pm

$145

Open to all levels of experience. Knowledge of Photoshop is helpful.

6 participants per class.

*Details regarding images will be given upon registration.

Layering Images in Photoshop

This workshop is an inspiring digital adventure for Photoshop users who would like to explore the immense creative potential that lies within every image.

You will learn to combine the original photographic capture with additional images for added content, color and texture. Layering images an art form in itself, yielding unique artworks with endless possibilities.

I will instruct this workshop as a step by step process, with all of us working on a common image, at the same time, on laptops. In the first half of the day, using a projector & screen to guide you through the process, I will share my favorite tips and techniques for layering. As we proceed, during the second part of the day, you will have the opportunity to work with your own images.

With an emphasis on creative play, artistic integrity, attentiveness to detail, and a respect for the subject and “story” of the image, you will be well on your way to a whole new world of image making.

Printed notes will be supplied, so that you can review the information, and continue the techniques at home.

Participants are asked to bring a camera and a laptop. Basic knowledge of Photoshop is required. CS versions recommended.

Three dates available for this one-day workshop:

May 22 Sunday

June 25 Saturday

July 10 Sunday

$145

6 participants per class.

Mounting Images to Wood

Mounted images hold a space in a room in a very special way, similar to the way an original painting provides an atmosphere far beyond it’s frame.

Freeing the image from the boundaries of a framed border can give it the potential to be transformed from being an object, to becoming an experience.

Also, choosing to mount images to wood panels allows you to eliminate the glass that is traditionally used with photography, but can be distracting not just because of reflections, but also the fact that there is an actual barrier in between the image and the viewer.

In this very hands-on workshop, you will learn to produce beautiful, polished mounted artworks, using all archival materials and processes.

You will leave with a finished piece, built to last a lifetime, along with the knowledge to continue the technique at home with a minimum of tools.

This course is divided between two consecutive days to accommodate drying times needed for glues, etc.

Three sets of dates available for this two- day workshop:

May 29-30 Sun-Mon

June 27-28 Mon-Tues

July 12-13 Tues- Wed

2 – 6 day one, 10 – 2 day two

$145

You will be asked to bring a selection of prints to choose from for mounting. Instructions will be given upon registration.

6 participants per class.

REGISTER:

Registration by phone is preferred: (250) 537-6120

All workshops are $145, less $5 each for multiple registrations.

Due to the limited class sizes, advance registration and payment is required.

Accepted forms of payment: Visa/MC, Check.

Fee includes HST, all materials except for prints, coffee & tea.

After registering, you will receive confirmation, a receipt, directions, and additional information, by email (or standard mail if preferred).

Workshop Schedule-Spring/Summer 2011

2011-04-27T03:09:00.000-07:00

Voila... The WORKSHOP SCHEDULE for the coming spring and summer is ready!

I am excited about this series of small group sessions, all of which will take place here on Salt Spring Island, in the new studio.

The workshops are designed around the kinds of things some of you have asked for, as well as being subjects I particularly like to work with.

Every session is limited to six participants, to provide each of you a very personal, focused learning opportunity.

My approach is always to teach what I do. I do my best to distill many years of exploration and practice, down to what works, and share that with you.

My goal is to provide you with skills and ideas, that will unlock the door to the potential that exists in each of your photographs. I trust that every time you have lifted your lens to photograph something, you did so as a response to inspiration. That initial inspiration is the key, and will be an important focus of our time together.

I’m really looking forward to these workshops. We’re bound to have some fun.

I've also been working on putting together workshops in southern California, and the Santa Cruz area because of requests, followed by kind offers of help with logistics, from some wonderful people in those areas. Look for those workshops in the fall catalog, when it comes along around late May or early June.

If you are interested in any of the workshops this spring/summer here on this beautiful island, send me and email, or give me a call to request the full catalog by pdf:

amylmelious@gmail.com

(250)537-6120

Cheers,

Amy

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: SPRING/SUMMER 2011

May 15 Sun Hand Painting Photographs

May 21 Sat Photographic Alchemy

May 22 Sun Layering Images in Photoshop

May 29-30 S-M Mounting Images to Wood

June 24 Fri Photographic Alchemy

June 25 Sat Layering Images in Photoshop

June 26 Sun Hand Painting Photographs

June 27 –28 M-T Mounting Images to Wood

July 9 Sat Photographic Alchemy

July 10 Sun Layering in Photoshop

July 11 Mon Hand Painting Photographs

July 12-13 T-W Mounting Images to Wood

Painters Lodge this Weekend

2011-04-26T01:19:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that Photographers at Painters is coming up this weekend. There are still has some spaces available for the weekend workshop extravaganza in beautiful Campbell River, Vancouver Island. Here's the link: Photographers at Painters

Bound to be at least as much fun as the royal wedding!

Momentous!

2011-04-26T00:58:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to share that I've recently moved my art studio to a bright new cabin in the trees, here on Salt Spring Island!
I'm incredibly grateful, and proud of the fact, that for nearly twenty years, I have been able create a life that included a home studio. I have made art while the soup simmered, the kids did their homework, the cat wanted out...and I wouldn't have had it any other way (okay, maybe less laundry).
Now, all of my daughters have grown into beautiful women, gathering their own creative momentum. At a certain moment, I realized it was time.
This new studio is perfect for what I do, and plan to do in the future. I feel so fortunate to have had it come my way.
My daughter, Chloe, described the excitement of it very well when she said "It's like when the winds came, and Mary Poppins arrived with the umbrella, you know?!" She called me the next day to say "Momentous! That's the word for it!".

For Japan

2011-03-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

May your homes and hearts be swiftly mended.

"....To tread softly over sore ground in order
that somewhere beneath the raw estrangement
some fresh spring of healing might be coaxed
to release the grace for a new journey...don't allow your
sense of self to wilt. Draw deep from your own dignity..."
-John Odonohue

How we can help:
www.redcross.ca Canadian Red Cross
www.redcross.org American Red Cross

Water, food, shelter, a sharp pencil…

2011-03-05T22:05:00.000-08:00

and a few decent tools...

In the studio, just as in the kitchen, I have found that there always seem to be a few tools essential to the process of a smooth(er) workflow. That is not to say we can’t also make do. In fact, often with least at hand, the best of our creativity comes forth from the deep well of resourcefulness in each of us. So, don’t get me wrong, this post is not about “tooling up”!

In fact, is sort of the opposite. It’s about narrowing it down to what really works, which may be different for each person.

However, since I am always interested and grateful to learn what works for others. In turn, I’d like to contribute to the big exchange going on.The internet has become a great tool, in it’s own right, allowing us to “cross pollinate”, both practically and creatively.

Apart from the the camera, and the officey obvious (rubber bands, pens, paper clips, loose change, spare buttons and fortune cookie messages …), here are a few of the items that I consider especially helpful on an average day in the studio:

First, possibly the most important, also hardest to come by: A big, clean, empty surface.

Before I set this up, I used various surfaces such as a drafting table, the dining room table, the floor...

A good cordless mouse. I really like this Logitech “Anywhere MX”. It has good, smooth control for handling detail work. I just wrap it in the Belkin wrist rest it lives on when I leave the studio with my laptop. See that tiny black chip resting in one of the USB ports of the computer? That's what makes the mouse wireless. It stays in that port all the time.

Inspiration: I really love having inspiring things to read and to look at in my workspace. Books, a branch of something I found on a walk, stones, a shell, a postcards, photos of friends and family...my surroundings are always evolving, and I feel a sense of synergy in my working environment among these things.

A large smooth, hard art board: A truly smooth surface is necessary for hand-painting. I use big clips or tape to hold the images in place, and usually use this board at the easel, or propped on the table.

Rotatrim paper cutter: Amazing tool. Self sharpening, and a total workhorse. This one is called a "Mastercut ll".
And, I really like this clear ruler.

The humble brayer, essential when adhering prints to surfaces (I don’t use it directly in contact with the print).

Paint brushes, etc: All shapes and sizes of paint brushes are, of course, invaluable for hand-painting prints.

When they get a little too scruffy, I move them to another jar on the desk where they live a long productive retirement doing all kinds of things.

That jar has an incredibly useful assortment of other tools as well: Knitting needles, chopsticks, bamboo kitchen skewers, Q- tips, fluffy makeup brushes, the saved plastic spine edge of a report cover, etc. One of my favorite tools is a porcupine needle found on a walk in Italy.

If you do your own framing....can't imagine doing it without a Point driver and double sticky tape gun.

Swinging arm lamp with daylight bulb….When short winter days just don’t provide enough sunlight to get the work done in real daylight.

Portable hard drives for keeping things backed up: My favorite are the “G drives”. This one is 500 GB.

Sometimes it is really the smaller things in life...like a fine tip sharpie, or a gum eraser...

Card case: Great little hard, portable chip case.

And then, of course, there's The Tool Drawer....

Feeding the Birds

2011-02-18T17:52:00.000-08:00

Traveling to a gorgeous place, and gathering together with birds of a feather, in the spirit of creativity… Up here, one might describe that happy convergence of purposes as “feeding two birds with one scone”.

There is an extraordinary place, in this part of the world, called “Painter’s Lodge”. The resort & event center is situated by the ocean on northern Vancouver Island, in Campbell River - the land of salmon and eagles.

I feel fortunate to have been invited to present at the annual “Photographer’s at Painter’s” weekend this year, alongside eleven other diverse, experienced photographers.

I’m excited about the list of sessions, and definitely plan to sit in on as many as I can while I’m there. The two day, two night event, April 29-May 1, 2011, will include a series of workshops, demonstrations, panel discussions, and a gallery exhibit.

If you’re interested in attending, or are just curious, check it out by clicking this link: Photographers at Painters 2011

News flash: There is a photo contest going on right now, for a free trip to Photographers at Painters this year. The contest ends March 20^th.

To learn more about that, click here: Photographers at Painters Photo Contest

Oh, and if you fish, you’ll be in heaven. There’s a salmon derby going on at that same time!

The Budding Tree: A larger image file to work with

2011-02-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

I realize that the image file I invited you to borrow from the blog post is really small.
Click here for access to the larger image file in a Mobile Me gallery. It's 4x6, 300 dpi. Have fun!

What I saw on a walk...

2011-02-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished" - Lao Tzu

There is a powerful, electric, vitality in the spring landscape. Every day that I look around me, I see exciting transformations occurring, bit by bit. If life gets too busy, and if we drive everywhere, we run the risk of not seeing this magic until the trees burst into blossom on a warm spring day, then shout out to us again in the fall in a blaze of color.
That's why I love to walk. Throughout the year, the pace of my feet allows me to notice the subtleties going on, continually, between seasonal peaks. On a walk last week near my home, I was drawn to the tiny buds forming on the branches of trees and shrubs along the road.
The bright scattering of buds looked like living fireworks to me. With the lens I had on my camera, and in the textured, lovely spring palette of colors, I found it difficult to capture the display. So, if I were to just show the original image, viewers might not see what I was noticing, without an explanation. That's where the fun and creativity in the studio comes in.
Most of what I do with Photoshop, and hand-painting, is an effort to emphasize what inspired me about the subjects of the photographs in the first place, and better convey that to others in the finished image. Here is the budding tree after playing with it in Photoshop, and the original capture below.

Here's an invitation/challenge for you! If you would like to, drag off the original image of the tree, and work with it to see how you might be able to capture the "fireworks". I'd love to see what you come up with and compare notes.

The Colors of Winter

2011-01-26T23:37:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year when the landscape looks, to me, as if it has been embroidered by richly colored threads onto pale silk.
The fine bare limbs of the willow trees are an incredible bright gold now. Leafless shrubs and hedges are alive with intense purples and reds against their backdrops of sleeping fields. I love the palette, and the pen and ink quality of the lines in the winter landscape. If you look closely at the branches, you can see the tiny buds that mean everything is about to change again, and very soon! That means a completely new, beautiful palette. Never a dull moment, in the natural world.

The new year is well under way, and I sincerely hope it has started off in an inspired and happy way for all of you.

I'm nearly ready to publish my 2011 workshop schedule! Dates and locations will be posted to my blog very soon. This year, in response to requests, I plan to offer three separate one day workshops, that will be held over consecutive days in most locations. It's fine to choose to attend just one, ala carte. If you would like to participate in more than one, you will receive a package discount. The classes this year will be:
1) Alternative Techniques Overview: Lecture, demos, intro to materials. No hands on.
2) Hand-Painting Intensive: Hands on, all day, learn to paint on digital prints.
3) Photoshop Step-by-Step Immersion: Hands on, basic knowledge of tools required. Bring your own laptop with Photoshop.
So far, classes are shaping up to take place in Southern California, Northern California, Washington and British Columbia.

Winter Solstice Eclipse

2010-12-23T23:58:00.000-08:00

A few nights ago, some of us stood out in the orchard, bundled in coats and boots, trying to get a glimpse of the moon, as it appeared and disappeared behind clouds. It was the first time an eclipse has landed on winter solstice in 372 years! It was an impressive, sort of startling sight - the sliver of eclipsed moon that we did see, and worth the wait in the cold. But, I must say, so was the soft glow of colored lights strung haphazardly in the single apple tree in the expanse of country darkness in front of us.
Here in the north, during these dark winters, like moths to a flame, we look to light to warm our souls; The moon and stars, strings of holiday lights, candles on the dining table, bonfires built from branches downed by storms....alone and together, we are illuminated.
Solstice means the big light of the sun is just around the corner.
Now is the time I like to appreciate the hush that is this moment in between.

Here are some beautiful words that come to mind at this time.

The Light is inviting you

to it’s glorious banquet

but you will have to travel

the full length of the darkness

alone with your faith

to get there.

-Excerpt from "The Spring" by Laurent Boucher, musician/writer extraordinaire- Salt Spring Island.

May you all be well and happy this holiday, and in the new year ahead.

2010-11-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

The Mendocino Workshop is Full.
And a waiting list has begun... If you have been thinking about taking the alternative techniques overview workshop, please do call or email, and ask to have your name put on the list, because you never know! Also, if the waiting list contains enough people, I may be able to set a second northern California workshop date for sometime just after the holidays, or in the spring.

Mendocino Workshop - November 13th

2010-10-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Hello out there….

One minute it was summer. I turned around and it was fall, and it’s a beauty!

News flash:

My last workshop of 2010 will be held in the village of Mendocino, on the spectacular coast of northern California- Saturday, November 13^th.

Alternative Techniques: An Overview

This one day intensive class is geared toward photographers who would like to move beyond the original image, beyond pixels and plug-ins, mats and frames. Learn how to create images that are built on photographic content and, through a whole, integrated creative process, expand to convey the spirit of the subject, as well as the photographer.

This class is the sharing of years of experience, distilled into one concentrated, information packed day. I'll walk you through my own particular workflow, exploring topics such as: Equipment, photographing, editing &, organizing, Photoshop layering techniques, selecting printing media beyond paper, hand-painting, presentation options, and resources.

All materials included. Basic Photoshop skills are a plus, not required.

Fee: $135 Pre-registration required.

Email or call to register for one of the remaining spaces, or for more information:

amylmelious@gmail.com

Tel: 250-537-4489

Here's a fall greeting for you (from one of the wonderful TED talks online):

Imagine this: You wake up in the morning with your blood singing at the thought of being who you are and doing what you do. As you go through the day, you literally sink to your knees in gratitude at the tremendous good fortune that has been bestowed on you. - Srikumar Rao

Migration of Dates and Birds

2010-09-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Mount Vernon workshop date has migrated. The new

date is October 16, 2010.

The workshop will take place on Fir Island, a magnificent place I will

always love for it being the first place I ever saw a massive flock of snow geese filling the sky.

That was the beginning of October, so there is a very good chance of seeing geese, and possibly trumpeter swans again during the workshop weekend. I'll be keeping my eyes and ears open for them (they're loud-but it's a great noise)

A sight like this brings poems to mind- especially those of Mary Oliver and David Whyte, two of my favorite contemporary poets.

Here's one by David Whyte, from The House of Belonging :

Above the mountains

the geese turn into

the light again

painting their

black silhouettes

on an open sky.

Sometimes everything

Has to be

enscribed across

the heavens

so you can find

the one line

already written

inside you.

Sometimes it takes

a great sky

to find that

small, bright

and indescribable

wedge of freedom

in your own heart.

Sometimes with

the bones of the black

sticks left when the fire

has gone out

someone has written

something new

in the ashes

of your life.

You are not leaving

you are arriving.

-David Whyte

Fall Workshop Schedule Complete. Final Two Locations Added.

2010-09-02T22:29:00.001-07:00

We're all REALLY hoping for a long, warm September. But a recent day of rain was a wake up call to all of us on Salt Spring. It was a call to action to finish outdoor projects that require dry weather, and for us photographers to record what we know will soon disappear until next season.

Every year, my inner squirrel compels me to freeze pesto and tomatoes, and lots and lots of green things from our own garden, and those of the great farmers of the island.

But, while I begin to think of rounding up flashlights and kindling and tomatoes, I'm also remembering what a good opportunity winter provides to get into a very creative zone in the studio. With a lots of images to work with, a few supplies, and a long rainy night- amazing things can happen. Pesto helps too.

Fuel your creative fires this winter with a hearty dose of inspiration....

The Alternative Photographic Techniques workshops schedule for this fall is complete, with a total of four locations!

Just added: Mendocino, California and Mt. Vernon, Washington.

Sept 25, 2010- Salt Spring Is, BC workshop is FULL *

Oct 2, 2010- Port Townsend, WA space available

October 16, 2010 revised date- Mt. Vernon, WA space available

Nov 13, 2010- Mendocino, CA space available

*If there are enough people on the waiting list for this workshop, a second date or a Victoria location may be offered. Please let me know if you're interested in being added to the waiting list.

For more information, or to register for any location: email: amy@grainofsand.com,

or tel: 250-537-4489

Scroll down to see workshop description. Content is the same in each location. Time schedule of the day varies slightly.

Port Townsend: Workshop

2010-08-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Alternative Photographic Techniques: An Overview with Amy Melious

Date: Saturday, October 2, 2010

Time: 9:30 am -6 pm + Optional evening Q&A, work sharing 7:30-9:00pm.

Fee: $125, lunch option add $12.

Location: Port Townsend, Washington

Space is limited

This one day intensive class is geared toward photographers who are curious about the world of alternative techniques. It will open the door for you to be able to create images that enhance your unique vision. This class is years of trial and err and tinkering distilled into one concentrated, information packed day.

All materials included. Basic Photoshop skills are a plus, not required.

Some of the things you’ll know more about by the end of the day:

Photoshop: What is a Photoshop “tool kit”, and how do you create your own?

This topic is somewhat like deconstructing a recipe. I’ll share key "ingredients" that I use in working on my images. You'll leave with knowledge of a set of relatively simple tools that you can try, as well as a good understanding of what's possible, digitally.

That said, digital techniques will not be the primary emphasis of the day, rather a piece of the pie. It’s easy to get lost in Photoshop Land (in a good way). However, it is only one of the tools for making photographic artwork. So, instead of taking you through that door during this workshop, I aim to hand you a “key” to use on your own later, with the information I’ll give you as a guide.

Seeing what you want to say: Selecting and shooting images, intended for finishing with alternative techniques, requires getting in touch with your images in an intimate way. This is an important topic, where you will learn to identify and articulate what you would like to say through your images.

Printing surfaces: -Learn about the amazing variety of printing surfaces available to photographers today, and how to select the most appropriate ones for your images. Samples will be on hand.

Hand Painting-Hand painting techniques will be discussed and demonstrated. Whether just a few delicate strokes, or a total transformation, hand work has the power to add tremendous depth to an image through texture, color and spirit conveyed by the human hand. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with hand painting materials.

Presentation options-When showing your photographs, how can matter as much as what: You will be introduced to a variety of ideas for alternative presentation methods. Samples on hand.

To Register: Pre-registration is required, by mail, phone, or email, and will be confirmed by email upon receipt of your payment.

Please provide your full name, and information for your preferred method of contact (mailing address, email, phone).

Your confirmation email will contain the course outline, optional materials list, directions, transportation and lodging information.

Payment is due upon registration: Visa, MC, or check. Due to limited space available Cancellations: Rainchecks will be offered, in lieu of refunds, for those unable to make the class. Refunds will, however be issued to all registered in case of extreme weather or other conditions that may force cancellation of the class.

Amy Melious:

Email: amy@grainofsand.com

Phone: : 250-537-4489

Participants are responsible for travel, lodging and meal expenses.

www.grainofsand.com

Port Townsend Workshop!

2010-08-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Thank you to everyone who has registered for the September Salt Spring workshop, which has filled quickly. There are a couple of spaces left for those of you who are still considering.

In response to a number of requests from residents of areas far and wide, I have been working on firming up additional dates and venues for the Alternative Techniques workshop.

I am pleased to announce that the Alternative Techniques Overview workshop is a GO for

October 2, 2010 in Port Townsend, Washington!

The workshop will be held at the beautiful Fort Worden State Park, on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

There have been only minor adjustment to the schedule given for the Salt Spring workshop, but the course content is the same.

To register for the Port Townsend workshop, please email or phone: 250-537-4489

amy@grainofsand.com

The Possibilities Workshop

2010-08-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

News flash! New workshop coming up at the end of September.

This workshop is designed to answer the kinds of questions I am frequently asked about my work.

I think it will be a lot of fun, and inspiring for all of us.

Alternative Photographic Techniques:

An Overview with Amy Melious

Date: September 25, 2010

Time: 9 am -6 pm + Optional evening Q&A, work sharing 7:30-9:30pm.

Fee: $125

Location: Salt Spring Island, BC Canada

Space is limited

This one day intensive class is geared toward photographers who would like to explore the world of alternative techniques. It will open the door for you to be able to create images that enhance your unique vision. This class is years of trial and err and tinkering distilled into one concentrated, information packed day.

All materials included. Basic Photoshop skills are a plus, not required.

Some of the things you’ll know more about by the end of the day:

Photoshop: What is a Photoshop “tool kit”, and how do you create your own?

This topic is somewhat like deconstructing a recipe. I’ll share key "ingredients" that I use in working on my images. You'll leave with knowledge of a set of relatively simple tools that you can try, as well as a good understanding of what's possible, digitally.

That said, digital techniques will not be the primary emphasis of the day, rather a piece of the pie. It’s easy to get lost in Photoshop Land (in a good way). However, it is only one of the tools for making photographic artwork. So, instead of taking you through that door during this workshop, I aim to hand you a “key” to use on your own later, with the information I’ll give you as a guide.

Seeing what you want to say: Selecting and shooting images, intended for finishing with alternative techniques, requires getting in touch with your images in an intimate way. This is an important topic, where you will learn to identify and articulate what you would like to say through your images.

Printing surfaces: -Learn about the amazing variety of printing surfaces available to photographers today, and how to select the most appropriate ones for your images. Samples will be on hand.

Hand Painting-Hand painting techniques will be discussed and demonstrated. Whether just a few delicate strokes, or a total transformation, hand work has the power to add tremendous depth to an image through texture, color and spirit conveyed by the human hand. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with hand painting materials.

Presentation options-When showing your photographs, how can matter as much as what: You will be introduced to a variety of ideas for alternative presentation methods. Samples on hand.

To Register: Pre-registration and prepayment required, by mail, phone, or email (my contact info below). Your space will be confirmed immediately by email followed by a mailed receipt.

Please provide your full name, mailing address, email and phone number.

Your confirmation email will contain the course outline, optional materials list, directions, transportation and lodging information.

Payment is due upon registration by Visa, MC, or check. Due to limited space available for courses, please understand that rainchecks will be offered, in lieu of refunds, for those unable to make the class.

Amy Melious:

Email: amy@grainofsand.com

Phone: : 250-537-4489

Participants are responsible for travel, lodging and meal expenses.
www.grainofsand.com

Photosynthesis

2010-08-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

I ampleased to be included in the 10th annual Photosynthesis photography exhibit,

on now through September 7th, here on Salt Spring Island.

I have four pieces in the show. They're printed on linen, and hand worked with pastel and pencil.

I've always loved experimenting with different surfaces for printing. But, I believe I've found a favorite in the linen. It was tricky to work with, but worth the extra TLC it took to get good prints. The use of fabric lends itself to certain types of images. I don't see it working for everything. But for the right bodies of work, it's really lovely.

I also like working with linen in that it gives me an intriguing sense of connection to my ancestors, who grew flax in northern France and in Ireland for many generations.

Here are a couple of the images hanging in the current Photosynthesis exhibit.

Suspended Animation

2010-07-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

I love the way photography weaves together with life as it flows on.

My daughters, my niece, and several of their friends are dancers. I have marveled at watching them grow, from tiny exuberant fairies, tip-toeing their way across the stage, into elegant souls powerfully expressing the passion that resides within. With creativity and intense vitality, they captivate the eyes, hearts, and minds of their audiences. I know my life is richer for having watched the girls dance over the years.

For the last several months, I have been photographing a budding dance company with whom one of my daughters dances. It is difficult to capture all that dance has to say in a still photo, because of the very nature of the art form being about movement. So, I try to find an instant within the dance, where our imagination is suspended, like the drop of water on the tip of a blade of grass just before it falls. There we might sense, a little anyway, the nature of the water....

Helix Dance Theatre was started in the fall of 2009 by two experienced, talented dancers (Sarah DeVito and Kortney Hunchuk) from Vancouver Island, on a mission. The results were stunning. Dance enthusiasts might want to keep an eye out for their tour schedule next spring.

In the meantime, watch some dance wherever you are. The dancers always appreciate an audience. Or...dance!

To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.

~Hopi Indian Saying

Upper photo: Celina, Elya, Bronwyn

Lower photo: Emily, Kristen, Clare