Portraits into paintings

Another fantastic A.D.D. project!  I say that just because it was something I was able to hyper-focus on that kept me stimulated for a full day…. needless to say I didn’t get much else done around the house, but I actually FINISHED this artwork so I felt like I had finally accomplished something

I’m working on a new “take” for my photography business.  To create ART, not just photographs.  I know, I know, most would argue that a lot of photographs ARE indeed art by themselves and I would not dispute that.  I guess what I’m talking about is a way I can combine some of my talents such as my digital painting and illustration talents with my talent for photography   And hopefully I can carve out a “niche” for myself in the photography world.

So…. I’m not exactly a wedding photographer…. I’ve shot a couple of weddings but I specialize in portraits.  So I found a great STOCK image on DeviantArt and decided to turn it into a painting digitally.  Let me just say before-hand that this is not created with a Photoshop filter or action.  I created each and every brush stroke in the image by hand   It took about 6-7 hours total.  Now THAT’s hyper-focused!  And yes, I did take breaks to stretch my legs and use the bathroom and eat meals too!

I am sorry that it’s hard to see the brush strokes in the full image.  That’s kind-of the way it is when posting images on a blog.  But here is another picture with some detail sections to show you the brush strokes of the actual image.

I would like to start doing commissioned work of this type too, where people can submit photos to me and I can turn them into paintings and then prints or gallery wraps.  I would obviously prefer to photograph the people myself where I would have control over composition and lighting, but if I offer this service over the internet it opens up my market quite a bit

Please feel free to comment and give feedback.  I’d love to hear what you think.

xoxo

The Lovely Miss “E”

So I went to my nephew’s last flag football game this past weekend and took 400+ pictures of all the little guys running around on the field.  I will probably post those pictures later…

I spent some time with family and was asked to snap a few pics of the the lovely Miss “E”.  She’s cute as a button and almost old enough to get her driver’s permit!  I’ve known this young lady since she was a baby and man how time does fly!!

I’m hoping her parents ask me to do her senior portraits when the time comes in a couple of years.  We were actually talking about her becoming a senior rep for my photography business which would be just fabulous!

Anyway I hope you enjoy the pictures.  I’m sorry that I’ve been a slacker as of late, I don’t really have an excuse for that other than the fact that I DO have A.D.D. and I am easily distracted by life

I DO plan on posting some pictures of my nephew’s flag football game though and I should have some artwork to post in the near future as well.

xoxo

Christmas Whirlwind Part 3

Finally after all the preparation, baking and decorating Christmas day arrived!  Let me tell you… I had 95% of my Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving so I could ENJOY the rest of the month before Christmas.  But with all the projects, wrapping and such time still flew by!

All the stockings were LOADED with love and affection and goodies for everyone

Dad camped out in his favorite chair waiting for the festivities to begin.

My three nephews and my niece were decked out in the Christmas jammies watching Spongebob while waiting to have breakfast so we could open presents.

Here’s Mom & Dad’s tree fully decked out with presents.

My cutie-pie niece Lilly Jo with her pigtails and dimples.  She gets embarrassed when “Auntie Kim” points the camera her way

The fun began with the opening of stockings.

My brother Thad holding his youngest – my nephew Cole.  He’s such a sweet baby boy.

I got the coolest little Nerf toys in some McDonad’s happy meals (which wound up as stocking stuffers).  One was a little plastic basketball hoop and ball and the other was a set of goal posts and a foam football.  Here’s Thad showing Lilly how to “flick” the ball.

The present opening “mayhem” starts

I think Cole had a fun first Christmas!  He was doing really good for being passed around from person to person.  He is such a blessing and we all wanted to share some love with him.

Here’s “Nanna Kaffy” (as my niece calls her) holding Cole after a wonderful Ham feast.

Ever the doting Mother AND Grandmother, my Mom just can’t get enough of her grandkids

And now it’s “Papa Tim’s” turn with his little grandson.  I just love the way Dad looks at him

And the way Cole looks at “Papa Tim” – “Yeah, I think he’s pretty okay.”

Cole kept sticking his tongue out all night!  It was cracking me up!  I have about 15 pictures of him with his tongue out so I had to share at least one.  What a bundle of joy!

Last but not least – someone actually pointed my camera at ME!  I’m usually the one behind it

Hope you all had a warm and wonderful Holiday Season!  Here’s to a Happy and Prosperous 2010!

xoxo

My New Toy!

So I finally broke down and bought a ring flash and I absolutely LOVE it!  I can’t wait to use it for my photo sessions.  It arrived yesterday and I got to play with it a little bit last night.  So much fun!

Looking forward to playing with this gadget

XOXO

Kim

Atkins’ Family Portraits

Well… this might become a family tradition…..though I didn’t do it LAST year I DID do it the year before.  I drag all of my studio photography equipment to my parents house for Thanksgiving and TRY to get some pictures of the kids (my niece and nephews).  I usually try to drag my brothers and their wives in there too.

I was able to get a few cute ones this year, though SOME were reluctant :p

Thad and Jenny were willing   My family rocks!  I love my bro Thad and his wife Jenny

My little baby nephew Cole was all smiles for the camera.  What a CUTIE-PIE!  How adorable is he?!

This is my niece Lilly and my sister-in-law Jenny.  Lilly was being a stinker and didn’t want to have her picture taken.  So Jenny was trying to coax her by being in the picture too.  I loved this shot.

Here’s the little stinker   This was the only picture I got of her looking at the camera.  She’s usually pretty good about me taking her picture, but I think having the backdrop and the lights set up really put her “on the spot”.  This is one of the main reasons I prefer to do on-location photography of children in a park or backyard and get candid shots.  Sometimes they just “clam up” and there isn’t much you can do but make the best of it   She’s still a little cutie-pie ain’t she?

TREY MAN!  He is SUCH a “cheeser”!  He didn’t want to do it at first, but then he wandered out and said, “Okay! I’ll go I GUESS!”  He stood there and said “CHEESE!” over and over again LOL!  He’s a good kid

Alas I had to post another pic of Cole because he’s so little and adorable and man…. they just grow so quickly!  I remember when Trey was this tiny.

I love my family so very much and I am so glad that they are willing to be my guinea pigs when it comes to me being a Shudderbug

I’ll be posting some of my OTHER brother and his kids when I finish editing them.

Hope you enjoyed!

XOXOX

Kim

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

One of my long-time friends Meredith got married on Nov 14th.  I was blessed to be part of her wedding party as a bridesmaid and happy to take some pictures of this wonderful event.  It was a very long day as all the girls met at 9am to get our hair done and I left the hall after helping clean up around 10pm.  But what a fun day it was!

This is Meredith and her maid-of-honor Jen at the salon where we all had our hair done.

The Bride’s lovely bouquet.  Her Mom Jan did all of the flowers for her wedding.  Everything was beautiful!

Meredith getting ready with the rest of the girls.

The beautiful Bride posing with her bouquet.

Meredith and one of her OTHER long-time friends and bridesmaid Elissa Dean.

Meredith and Alex posing for Alex’s sister Angie.

The Bride and Groom.

They’re a perfect match!

Smooches!

Beautiful Bride.

Holding her bouquet.

Handsome Groom.

What a party!  We had so much fun and I was really happy she asked me to be one of her bridesmaids.  There will be more pictures of this blessed event in the future