Food for thought

"Untitled"

2011-12-04T19:08:00.001+01:00

Sometimes a photograph needs no title. Because the title wouldn't do it justice. A title could give away a meaning a photographer maybe has, while an image could have many. Or the viewer could see many different ones. Sometimes emotions portraited in an image can touch a chord. Or the colors brings memory. It's all in the eyes of the beholder, so why a title?

Click on the photograph to enlarge

My daughter, my muse...

December already?!

2011-12-02T22:07:00.001+01:00

Honestly, how did this happen! Months passed by and we have had the best of fall weather, until now that is. Rain and wind the next week and after that...maybe snow? Who knows. Would be nice to have a white christmas, don't you think.

Ah, Christmas, all the twinkles, cheerful music, gatherings around the dinner table and a drink around the fire outside. All is so stressful in the days before, it always seems to be and this year I'd like to think I can be ahead of time and plan everything well. Hmmm...

Anyway, the first sign of christmas arrived at my doorstep today. One of my dear teammates send me a highly original present for the team holiday swap and I adore it. Entirely handmade and one of a kind, with my initials, I'll cherish it forever! Thank you, Maria from Psarokokalo, you are fantastic!!

Summer wind

2011-07-27T13:21:00.002+02:00

It's an odd summer wind this year, at best some days can be called almost summer. A dutch summer we say, and the dutch amongst us know that it is not good.

Also the winds coming from Africa and Norway aren't good. All this will mark this summer as one any of us will easily forget.

Fragile it is, our summer feel, I wonder, will it be felt at any time this season...

Solstice

2011-06-26T15:29:00.005+02:00

A belated one I know:) As always time runs just in front of my steps and I'm not able to catch up. The longest day has passed, and it is summer. Having coffees outside, watching the garden, listening to bugs having a great time eating my vegetables and circling around my flowers.

Also another project in the house, a room being renovated into fresh decor. Dust and paint in my hair and being happy and tired in the evening with progress.

I wish for you a wonderful summer. Be as much outdoors as you can, let the sun see your face and the warm summer wind touch your skin...

Old shell

2011-06-01T14:48:00.003+02:00

Working a lot on prints these days, and yes I know, I should be outside in the garden more, since it is such good weather, but with the fine weather my hayfever is going crazy.

City wall

2011-05-31T14:51:00.002+02:00

Dubrovnik is famous for its city walls. And wandering on them, viewing the old town I can understand that very well. The print has a tone, slightly blue/ grey. One can feel its grandeur even better this way.

Rain Shower

2011-05-21T18:20:00.005+02:00

Dubrovnik

I so like when there is an opportunity to photograph weather conditions like this above a clear sea. No grand appartment buildings or trees or electricity lines in front of the clouds. Just the storm and my lens. I also like the extremes in weather in Croatia. I mean, when it is hot, it is really HOT. When there are rains, drops are huge and plenty. Short rainshowers as well, something else than the weather here ( Netherlands), where it can rain silently and devastating all day. I have been close to storms, where you were not allowed to drive through with your car. Too dangerous. The bura wind can be so strong, sometimes you have to keep yourself from falling down. And once, while driving through croatia and Bosnia we saw the continuing flashes of lightning on a dark sky, there seemed to be no ending and the only thing we could do is not drive too close and be in awe for so much power of nature. One can feel quite small and vulnerable facing nature at times...

Back from the warm country

2011-05-20T16:34:00.003+02:00

Ah, well, already a long time and it wasn't that warm. Just caught the bura wind in Dubrovnik, fresh and strong, but had a wonderful short holidays nevertheless.

While walking in the famous Stari grad = Old city I caught a great storm shower with my cam.

I love that sky! More to come...

A give away..

2011-04-07T14:54:00.003+02:00

..on the lovely blog "The short and the sweet of it" with one of my Summer prints:)

We are having a lovely spring weather, perfect for working in the garden...

Feeling like a todler...

2011-03-21T14:19:00.003+01:00

...walking unstable after a knee surgery last week. Hope I will walk well again soon, after all...it is spring and the garden needs me.

The world of food

2011-02-15T14:54:00.003+01:00

I have been working on food photography and in particular the ingredients.
For this I took the minimalistic approach, where found the light tones almost dreamlike.

These are quails eggs.

Underwater words..

2011-01-28T14:36:00.002+01:00

...listening to non existing sounds...

Back to basics.
Toned, monochrome, sober, minimalistic, sombre, details.

A new year..

2011-01-03T23:31:00.002+01:00

...but still a winters season. Cold and dark. The shortest of days has passed and light gets stronger and stronger. I wish for good health, that's all. Not only for a new year, but for all the days that are. I wish it for you too.

Have the best of days in 2011!

A sale just in time for christmas.

2010-11-26T14:12:00.002+01:00

It feels like winter already. Cold and in many parts of the country snow. Not here helas, just not yet. At four in the afternoon it starts to be dark outside and I have to light my candles. How fast it came, this end of november, as if we have had no autumn. Ofcourse etsy is completely in the holiday buzz, and for my blog and twitter readers I'll be participating in the cyber monday sale and I shall be doing this with the fine and newest couponcode :) Your chance to have a print for a very low price, since a great percentage will be taken off at check out. How much you may think? Well, stay tuned and find the couponcode in my shop on monday!

Lost in Silence

2010-10-06T14:37:00.013+02:00

I have been testprinting and two of my latest mist photographs are now exactly as I want them. As per usual I have visited the buntven when there was a fog, thick as a blanket and the atmosphere was so very eerie. Hubby was jogging at the other side at the lake and I could not hear, nor see him. My cellphone didn't work so there I was, alone ( so I hoped) in a silent, almost invisible world, where your thoughts can play tricks on you. I wanted to touch the silence with subtlety and tried to emphasize the desolate feel of the landscape surrounding me. It was spooky, that day, it really was.

Mist above the field

2010-09-30T13:08:00.005+02:00

Just had to show you how the mist looks so ethereal above the crops....autumn scent is palpable, it's such a delight...

Autumn

2010-09-23T08:22:00.002+02:00

Officially that is, but it arrived last week somewhere when I accepted summer had gone. I had a hard time this year to prepare for it. And I have no reason for it either. Summer has never been my favorite season, actually fall is, but now I already miss the warm evenings and the feel of longer days.

We are very busy these days painting the house. Outside that is, the back kitchen door in very pleasant creme, surrounded by the darkest green I could find. It already looks stylish, but it's not ready so today is the last day, before a week of rain. I better hurry. Painting came as a delight, it seems almost therapeutical, the strikes of fresh paint, and wasn't it for the immense headache I get from it, I could do this as a daily job. Next week we will continue with the interior of the house with paint on waterbasis, it is better for my brain:)

Another tidbit, I ordered smoked paprika powder from spain. Well it is from spain, but I ordered it from a dutch shop:) I'm looking forward to start cooking recipes, I have found , and as it seems, the powder comes in large amounts, so I have to use it frequently and the amount of recipes has got to grow:)

When I read back I see that I ramble a lot today, well, blame it on the paint.

Hope to come with new work, next week though, since the mist they keep promising on the weaterforcast is no more than a subtle haze. Not enough for me...

An air of mystery

2010-09-12T18:29:00.004+02:00

Ah, autumn. I now am ready for it. Don't you feel the morning dew in the air.
And the smell is undeniable fall. No more hints of summer. No, autumn it is and now I want fog. Real fog, the kind of mist that looks like a blanket. Can't wait also for the first night frost. My cam is ready for it, I'm ready for it, are you?

An exhibition and an article...

2010-09-05T15:03:00.004+02:00

A bit of a news update!

Today our groupsexhibition in Cologne in Gemany opened, so if you are in the neighbourhood, go in and take a peek.

In a new Storque article on etsy you are also invited to take a look into the studios where creativity flows of many of my fantastic fellow AGteam members and if you look well you can find a peek behind my studio door :)

This fantastic artical was written by the lovely Jen from the Sewn natural studio

My workspace...

2010-08-23T12:46:00.003+02:00

...this morning:)

My choice...

2010-08-22T16:20:00.004+02:00

...for the groupsexhibition in Koln (Cologne) are four examples of my new series "Boja" and it may not come as a surprise to you that I have choosen pastel colors. I can't help myself, but I tend to go for whispers.

Boja

2010-08-19T12:11:00.005+02:00

Time for an update about my where and what abouts. I miss time as in a shortage of it. I know there are many hours in a day, but I just seem to be unable to put them in a working schedule. First of all, our house looks a mess. That bothers me. I'm not good at mess, though I create it myself. We are painting and renovating the first floor of our house. Daughter has now a sparkling new creme white oasis, freshly painted and glorious, where as our room and in particular my studio looks like a bomb has fallen on it. I feel annoyed to have someone elses clutter around me, while I have a dead line to work on. I need to sort out four images for my next exhibition in Germany and the deadline is the 28th. I have two images now...

Deadlines do not work well with me. And silly that is. How difficult is it to find another two images for the exhibition. But it seems to work contra productive. I would be a horrifying journalist. There would never be a newspaper ready, all would be old news by the time I would write it.

On top of all, the garden has gone for a major growth. Weeds from olympic sizes are over growing all the plants, fruits and vegetables and all I do is look at it and sigh...
In the beginning of the year I had a organized garden in mind, where I would sit and feel happy, surrounded by flowers and fantastic organic growing vegetables, but as with many dreams all went different. I have been waging war on all kinds of bugs, which have been attacking my baby cabbages with disturbing enthusiasm. And the turnips and the carrots. The only plant which lived up to my expectations was the cucumber. We have had so many cucumbers that it has been difficult for me to keep feelings of love for them.

But such it is. I have decided to do something about my work, all between painting, pulling out weeds and keeping some level of tidines in the rest of the house. So that brings me to my short holiday, which seem to have been ages ago. To the wonderful city of Zagreb. While visiting this city and other smaller cities in the northern part of Croatia, I was struck by the many colors facades of houses and buildings have. It is rare to find it in the netherlands and it is something what defines life in the south county. Color is a bliss. It can be muted, but combined with the clear blue sky above, it looks and above all feels astounding and energizing. I pull energy from light as so many do. Facades of buildings, which are light feel like sun coming through the clouds. If only we had more light in the netherlands, in our buildings and streets. When autumn arrives here, we are instantly struck by the darker tones, while in the south country that feeling shifts throughout the autumnal days to winter.

The croatian word for color is Boja. I love the word. It feels strong and clear. So the collection I'm working on now is called "Boja" I have photographed many facades whilst being in the south country. Some of them are loud and intense, and some of them are like a whisper and close to soft pastel. I have been careful to preserve textures and forms. In the next weeks or longer I will upload many colors for you all. I hope some of the energy that I found will find its way to you...

Sneak preview under a glorious tree..

2010-07-19T15:43:00.002+02:00

I was a winner myself and I won this beautiful small painting from Nancy van den Boom. I love this small piece of sunshine on my desk.

Under it are some of the tryouts and a contact sheet from my new work. For those who think a digital camera produces instant perfect images, here you can see that from RAW to TIFF and printing is a longer road than one suspects. It costs time and paper and expensive ink. I'm very thrilled about my new series, since it is different from my works of nature. Later more:)

Oh, and what do you think of this summer? It promises to be a long and hot one...

We have a winner!

2010-07-02T11:54:00.002+02:00

I have choosen the winner from the summer give away through random.org and it is Martice who has won! Congratulations!

Check out her shop. She sells the most amazing knitted laptop sleeves in the most colorful combinations!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2010-07-02 09:49:10 UTC

I heart poppies...

2010-06-28T15:46:00.003+02:00

......I do. I'm fascinated by their crispy leaves, the flower closest to paper:) I shall forever photograph them. And embrace them in my garden. There is always an envelope in my house full of poppie seeds. And during springtime I throw them around and as a result, our garden is overwhelmed by their presence.

Here are again two new photographs. One in black and white with a slight blue grey toning and one in a darker watercolor mood:)

Later to be listed in my shop.

A summer give away

2010-06-27T15:56:00.002+02:00

Oh, yes, now it's summer! Hot and sunny and dry. Glorious weather and almost holidays as well. Good news has come to our house. My oldest son graduated and my other son has reached enough studiepoints to have his propadeuse.

I was in Zagreb for a short holidays, but that has to wait for another blogpost.
I have found myself a damselfly there and have made a print in B&W and in colour. And now to celebrate the summer, one of these prints can be yours. How, you may ask? Well...easy, just mention in your comment which print you prefer and why. And next friday I'll announce who is the winner.

What I like most myself? The B&W:)

Summer is coming...

2010-05-26T14:52:00.004+02:00

...but not today :) Today it is raining here in the low country. Good for my garden though, which is now weed free and very nicely planted with all kind of veggies and herbs. Looks organized and I like that.

No, I had to create my own summertime again.

Spring Melancholy

2010-04-14T14:09:00.005+02:00

I have found old photographs from my mum and dad and melancholy struck. It's hard to see their happiness with the knowledge that all has gone. It has been eight years now that my dad parted from this world and left my mum in mineur. I guess she never got over the loss.

I have photographed the back of the photographs, and I got so excited by the vintage feel. Torn paper where glue was used, smudged pink color, lipstick perhaps. Speckles and old numbers and writing and ofcourse the oldfashioned Carte Postale emblem.

I worked on the cards and used them for my backgrounds and layers in the new series of melancholy. I am truly happy about the way they came out, very painting alike, don't your think?

My workspace today...

2010-04-01T12:36:00.001+02:00

...preparing a Carnivale set for sending, to Canada this time:)

Spring Ballet

2010-03-29T14:55:00.002+02:00

Spring has arrived, on tiptoes that is :)
Don't you think it kind of gives energy. Not only for the trees asleep, but also for us!

My newest work, Spring Ballet.

New!

2010-03-27T14:02:00.004+01:00

At least to me or new to the European Street team :)

Lets continue the journey through Europe by finding new talents which inspire...

Lauramiss from the netherlands

How delicate her textile art canvas's are, they remind me of illustrations in old children books.

Tidytipsie from Germany.

Lovely captures from seasons and countries, so very enchanting!

Irisoconner from Ireland.

Such wonderful collages, with beautiful tones of colors!

Fleurografie from Belgium.

The name Fleurografie stands for Ronald Ceuppens, a graphic artist and I love his etchings.

This has been my last post of this series inspired by the Euro Week on Etsy. I have truly loved this week and I send a big hug to the etsy administators. they have done very, very well:)

Wandering through Europe...

2010-03-24T10:42:00.004+01:00

I remember I started at etsy a whole while ago, and joined the European Street Team and I was immediately taken by the hand and guided into etsyland. They are a great bunch of warm souls.

Here are a few sellers of the early days.

Ingermaaike from Norway.

Ah Inger with her colorful felt creations, all her items are food for the soul! I look daily at a felted flower on my desk by her hand...

Star of the East from Turkey

They are in fact two stars:) Esther and Estella, mum and daughter, and I can imagine them wandering on the turkish beaches looking for treasures to craft exotic jewellery. One of their rings will be mine one day..
Read more about this creative couple here.

Glasfaden from Germany.

Devi's work is marked by such talent. For me she is such a grand artist and a warm person as well...

Kreativlink from Austria.
I have snatched one of Renates books, yes I did, and I'm still pondering about what exactly to write in it, but that is of no importance, it is mine now, my precioussssss........

On friday I will make a selection of new shops from Europe and especially of those who have joined the European Street Team quite recently.

Have I already mentioned that the european week on etsy is a great succes? We are right in the middle of the spotlight! Yeah!

Euro Week on Etsy!

2010-03-22T11:06:00.008+01:00

And why not I ask you!!

I'll be featuring lots of european etsy sellers on my blog this week and I hope you all have a moment to visit their shops and drool over their work! And maybe buy too, because bying handmade makes you a supporter of the independant artists. And I think that is a good deal!!
Okay, nuf said! let's start the tour...

Birribe from Sweden.
I just admire her work, for me it brings color to nature. I have a heart with rowanberries on my dinner room wall...

Felicitycrew from Austria.

She captures the seasons in such a terrific mood, I could gaze at these photographs forever!
Her etsy shop is named after her small vintage sailing yacht Felicity...

Lillalotta from France

Her illustrations are so sweet and optimistic. She prints them on her glorious tapes and one day I'll have some of them...

Stiksel from the netherlands

Her designs are so very clean, fresh and inventive...Her one of a kind dolls are fantastic...

A Grashopper at Papernstitch..

2010-03-04T21:17:00.004+01:00

It waves at you proudly from Brittni's Papernstitch blog and says Thanks:)

My Winter Portrait.

2010-03-03T16:19:00.003+01:00

Dear Dawn from LaTouchables has come up with a new theme for our EuropeanStreetteam challenge, Selfportrait.

That made me think and I thought it would be the best to make a portrait of my current state of mind and since I'm a hermit these days I came up with this artwork. It also shows my love for papers and especially the artists papers with textures and muted pastel tones. I hope you like it..

Her Morning Elegance

2010-03-01T17:30:00.004+01:00

I have to blog about this amazing project, since I stumbled upon it on etsy. Just got myself taken by the video and music and if I would have the money I would purchase a photograph, which are truly one of a kind. Read about it on the site and here you can find the etsy shop.

A sparkle in winter.

2010-02-16T12:25:00.002+01:00

I have the winterblues. Not a bit, but a lot. I'm a hermit these days, hardly getting out of the house. When I look outside and I see the ice, the snow, all the people with their wintercoats I don't feel at all like stepping on my bike and let the wind take away my melancholy. I should, I should, I know. And that's why a package from Norway came as godsend. In it hearts from Inger.

Inger, the one with both feet firmly on the ground, her nose up in the cold norwegian air, one with nature and just the person who can drag me out of this winter mud. Thanks Inger, you are amazing!!

Valentine!

2010-02-14T16:51:00.001+01:00

Enjoy the magic of this day!

555...

2010-01-21T19:23:00.002+01:00

...is the number for the dutch to give, give, give for Haiti...not only now but for years to come...

Follow this link!

Winter

2010-01-10T17:41:00.002+01:00

It definately is, freezing cold here in the Dutch part of the world, snowing and ice. Oh, and it's the new year too:) Enjoy it!!

Autumnal

2009-11-24T09:37:00.004+01:00

Just a quick post with my latest autumn impressions and anouncing an upcoming sale for the black friday to cyber monday weekend. You can read the details in my shop.

Enjoy the day!

A sign of spring..

2009-09-22T15:03:00.002+02:00

A belated sign of spring to you, the baby blue tit that had escaped from its nest, stayed in my garden and left in the evening, flying away impressively (for such a youngster). Hopefully it won't forget the place it was born :)

An exhibition and features..

2009-09-16T09:52:00.010+02:00

Are you getting in a autumnal mood? I am, the weather is changing fast and the garden is getting ready to sleep. I love the scents of moist and decay of leaves. The tones of amber and yellow about to introduce themselves. And the peace in the morning and mist low on the fields...

I was featured these last weeks!

My rose was featured on Helis "Friday is my day" blog.
And Papernstitch made me a featured seller on their blog.
Simply Hue has featured my tulips.

I feel so happy about this. Thank you!!

I can also announce a groupexhibition in the Kolping Hotel in Cologne in Germany, where I will show three photographs from my "Quiet land series" and this exhibit will last until the first of november. So in case you are in the neighbourhood, just walk in the reception area and take a look.

Papernstitch and SoopSee

2009-08-27T16:07:00.005+02:00

I have been working this week about my exhibit on Papernstitch, which will be up a month and I have started my account on SoopSee, I love its design and I have all together, my shop with all the newest and older work, and my blog and e mail. Take a look if you have a moment..

Back from the summer country..

2009-08-02T01:11:00.007+02:00

..and hot it was!! The sun got to me this time, I looked like a lobster despite the suncream factor 50. Something must have been very wrong with that cream:) We visited several islands on a boat trip and I was on a all terrain vehicle crossing like a mad woman through Konavle finest and roughest terrain. Only once I ended in the bushes and I find that a remarkable accomplishment, me being not so much of a dare devil!

Holidays were too short, but I feel still very much in a summer mode, so photos will be uploaded on a later date.

I have great news to share as well, my mother was declared healthy again, no more bad cells in her body anymore, she has been such a warrior these past six months and this time she conquered this horrid disease, I'm a happy person, and feel so very relieved..

Paradise

2009-07-14T11:03:00.003+02:00

"Paradise"
Originally uploaded by jkolobaric

What can I say, time just flies, especially when the sun is shining and the garden is in full bloom and holidays are about to happen. So this week I'm off, flying to higher temperatures and stony beaches and wine and long evenings...

I wish you all wonderful and relaxing holidays yourselves!

I'll be back in August ...

See you!

The first roses in my garden..

2009-05-23T15:20:00.002+02:00

Just a small update...

I am working on a photoshoot of my roses in the garden and these are the very first ones!

I have printed this photograph on a new paper, Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Satin. This is an amazing professional art paper. I'm a matt finish girl, and textured it must be too, the paper. It's not that i totally dislike glossy papers, but it is close to it:)

This paper offers some satin shine though, and it is textured, but very smooth. The great thing is also that the printed area has the semi gloss finish, and the unprinted area remains matt. Just magic, it feels and looks very luxurious, I'm very content with the Hahnemuhle fine art papers and this paper is definately an upgrade for the print options in my shop.

This photo rag satin paper is also approved by Epson for the Digigraphy program. And what that is all about you can read here.

A busy weekend!

2009-05-11T14:57:00.003+02:00

How was your mothers day weekend? I was actually busy being.... a mom.

Daughter was packing her suitcase because she is now spending a week in Paris with her school. Oldest son is busy working things out, since in a week he'll leave home for a year, he took a job in a large tourist company in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Which is actually a great opportunity for a student in his last year. And my other son, tja, he was busy spending a free day..

Not so glamorous than, but in all honesty, I'm a mom, all year around. No need for me to have a special day, all days are special anyway.

And for my mom? She is special to me every day!!!

For the rest I was very busy online, since the weekend deals on etsy has proven to be a succes. I have sold quite a lot of work in two days, which is unusual for me. So I printed and packed and double checked addresses, and double checked again:) And had a lot of convos and I have send a lot of convos too..Marvelous! I heart my customers, I heart everyone that supports my art..

Here you see many of the goodies in my Wren bag and a package on the right. On the box is my Giddy from Artminds 99 feelings project. Do you see Ravenhills needlebook? Lovely isn't it!

Now I better go to the postoffice to send my prints on their way to their new walls...

See you!

Weekend!!

2009-05-08T18:57:00.003+02:00

I have been so busy lately that I haven't had much time to be around. I have spend a lot of time in the hospital with my mother, she is fighting her battle with cancer very heroic but things are getting tough. She has a good chance though and we hope all will be over in a few months and we can look back at it as if it were only a bad dream.

The garden has given me comfort, I have a whole lot of updates on that. My first poppy was born, a huge orange/ red one. Than we have a tufted titmouse couple and they have started a family. I heard the youngsters yelling for food when I planted the tomato plants, right under their birdhouse. Such lovely, sweet sounds. Our cherry tree stopped blossoming and I do believe we will have more cherries than last year. I spotted a great amount of rose buds, which is very promising. I'm so sorry I cannot express in words the scent of my blooming lilacs. It's heaven, especially now that the wind takes it far..
Even my rosemary is flowering with small purple petals. The Echinacea purpurea has started to grow as well as the pink poppies, they are everywhere, since I have spread its seed all over last year. I'm so curious for those..
Unfortunately my pink lavender didn't make it through the frost period this winter, but the purple one did. I have seen the broken hearts of the pink and white dicentra and the grapes are growing like mad. The flowers from the rasberries are still buds, but the red berries are already started to grow. We will have an abundance of them, if the birds don't take them first:) The blackberries are flowering, but I cut it back a whole lot last year, we had simply too many. Soon I will make photos to give you an impression from my beloved garden, since there is so much to tell.

This weekend I'm running a weekend deal in my shop and I am so thrilled to see my pink poppy mentioned in the storque on etsy, as well as used for the weekend deal banner, I feel so honored. Thank you, sweet Mary.

The lovely Mimi from Mimi Charmante has mentioned my photography in her wonderful blog, thank you so very much.
I found my tulips here in Zoe's blog. Many, many thanks!!!
Liz fromWickedly Chic has featured my Papillon Nocturne, that is awesome, thank you!

No photographs this week helas, I'm working on a dandelion seed print, which looks very nice I think. I just feel overwhelmed this week and the past one with everything, I 'll hope to find a bit of peace of mind next week. Till than...

Creature

2009-04-14T14:27:00.004+02:00

So the other day I have met a snail in my garden. We became friends, sort of and it allowed me kindly to make a few portraits :) which actually became dreamscapes during the process...

Trunkt

2009-04-10T14:28:00.002+02:00

Finally I'm getting somewhere with my portfolio on Trunkt. So I guess there are enough photographs uploaded for this beautiful add :)

Papernstitch

2009-04-10T11:55:00.003+02:00

I'm so pleased to have an exhibition again on Papernstitch. I am in love with this site. Daily I visit Papernstitch blog and I am so taken by all the exhibitors lovely, inspiring and colorful work. The other day my shop was featured!!

Thank you dear Brittni!

Tulips

2009-04-07T11:41:00.003+02:00

And here as promised, and ode to the tulip:)

It has an old feel in a comtemporary setting, a ttv with a twist...

I hope to upload them in my shop today.

Ranunculus.

2009-04-07T09:27:00.007+02:00

I heart the ranunculus, it is such a playful kind of flower. There is such a variety of colors but most I love the delicate spring like soft pinkish ones. they have a certain fragility, yet everytime I see them I want to touch them rather than smell. Which is odd I believe, aren't flowers to look at and smell?

Usually I do not get into the latin plant names and plant catalogues, but now I made an exception, only to discover the feel I have with this particular flower, that of mysterious fairy tales and romance...

Hear hear..

" The Latin name ranunculus means "little frog". They originated in the The Middle East, hence their alternative name "Turban Buttercup".

And yes, we know what frogs do in tales, they get kissed and become princes, no less..

This time though, there was an asian prince, handsome and a great singer as well, who never dared to declare his love to the nymphs in the open country he sang his songs to. He died because of this, the poor fellow, and was turned into the ranunculus..

Yes I like tales, so much better than the dry sum of latin names, only to slip from my mind. But tell me a tale, and I'll remember it forever:)

It turned out the ranunculus is a perfect flower for my "Natural lines" series.

It looks like a guirlande this way, ready to be worn by a princess....

What is not a good flower to fit into this series is the tulip, the ultimate sign of spring, at least here in Holland. For this flower I'm working on a special series, almost ready, so next post will be an ode to the tulip...

Natural Lines

2009-03-01T19:38:00.007+01:00

I have made myself a promise this year, every weekend I'll visit the local market and I'll buy those flowers which are most prominently present at that moment.

I'll photograph these flowers in a line through the viewfinder and by following these lines i'll be able to hop from season to season, through colors and textures.

I made a start with these lovely roses and gerbenas, with muted pastel colors, pale like the last winterdays...

A small update..

2009-02-23T13:49:00.002+01:00

It has been awhile...again...but I'm busy. At this moment I'm working with my new camera, a digital working horse, which allows me printing larger files with a lot more ease than when I scanned my negatives, on a new spring/summer collection of optimistic positive images.

We need that, since I have only just learned my beloved mother is very seriously ill. It scattered my thought and wishes for elders to walk through the winter of their days without sorrow. It is very unfortunate that my mother will have to face battle to overcome this rather large bump in her road. In two weeks we will hear all details about her therapy. The doctors are optimistic already so we will have to allow ourselves a bit of positive thoughts too..

I will hope to upload some of my new work next week. Until than..

A present!

2009-01-03T14:01:00.004+01:00

Oh, yes, I had a present, a gift from my secret Santa from Iceland. The wonderful and very talented Tinna Eik has send me these beautifully painted panels and I love it. When I am going to redecorate and reorganise this mess room what I call my atelier, it's going to have a prominent place and I 'll be staring at it often to feel inspired.

The secret santa gift was a great initiative from our dear European Street Team on Etsy.

A new year

2009-01-01T15:29:00.006+01:00

It has been a while since I have posted and it is the first day of a fresh year that I'm starting again. I had to take a break since my illness just lasted and lasted but we went on a holiday for a few days after Christmas anyway and it made me exhausted but happy nevertheless. I have no special thoughts about this new year. Life doesn't care for starts and endings and marks not by numbers. There are a lot of things I'd like to do, if it will be in this year, who knows...

There is a spot in my heart that is hurting. This world has lost a very creative soul, Claudia from MundoGominola has left us behind and took the journey we all will take one day, premature. She will be around us though, forever and live further through rememberance of her kind personality and her sublime work of tales. There are no words to comfort her family and friends, I wish them strength in this huge loss...

Micropoem

"...and she rose

and she went away.

End"

©Claudia Moya

Good bye, dear Claudia.....

Of being sick :( and being featured :)..

2008-12-16T14:57:00.010+01:00

Ah, well, a cold knocks at your door when you can deal with it the least. Or does it ever come at a right time:)

My days are filled with caughing and fever and feeling sorry for myself..

So the features came as a pleasant soothing gift.

First I was featured for the first time at Etsy's blog, in the gift ideas section, shop local: The netherlands!

Now scroll and scroll and scroll down and there I am, in the middle of snow:))

I have to thank the lovely Katrinekaye for this feature, visit her great shop, almost certain you will find something to your taste. I love the vintage bags myself:)

Than Jacky from "Etsy item of the day" featured my new photograph "Grace" on her blog, this blog looks great with such a cheerful layout! Thank you, dear Jacky! It made me very happy to see "Grace" there.

Kim from the "One Perfect Thing" blog has featured my "Pink Poppy". What a clear and stylish blog it is and my poppy looks great there! thank you Kim!

And last but not least, Jennifer from Jblackdesign has matched my "In the cold light of day" together with other work with a wonderful poem by Emily Dickinson. Oh my, what an honour, I love Dickinsons poetry!!

Thank you, dear Jennifer.

Well, my Christmas tree is ready, the lights are up, I have ordered the turkey. The last week before christmas runs away from me at olympic speed. I feel happy though, it is the loveliest time of the year!!

Winter Forest

2008-11-26T15:40:00.003+01:00

I have been working on a abstract series of two. These artworks are made with all kind of technics, which I won't bore you with. Anyway all artworks have a starting point and just continue without really being able to tell which step came after the other. Sometimes I can't just stop, all comes together perfectly and I end the day tired, but satisfied. Yes, tired, because it takes a whole lot of energy from my head. There are other times I leave the work for days, to pick up on it on a better time. With these images I worked for days in a row, and now I can say, its ready.

These images are a result of walking through the forest and it is an invitation to not only walk but feel and dream. Click on the photo and find out if you can sense the winterspirit in the wood. I hope you can...

A whole lot of small prints!

2008-11-21T15:44:00.003+01:00

I finished my customers order, a lot of small prints, artsy packed. It was fun working on them actually!

I also finished my secret Santa gift, we are sending gifts to European street Team members, and it's on its way..I did receive my gift already, but I for bid myself to open it:) I'll put it under the christmas tree and will open it on Christmas eve. I'm curious though...

So I was busy this week, but I had planned a whole lot more. Can't believe we are already far in November. Today we had this great storm and heavy rain and when I look out of my window from my atelier I can see the bare branches from the trees. It always brings me in this melancholic mood.

Oh, and I started to work out, running in the woods and all week I was having great muscle pains. :)

I must be getting old...

Papernstitch

2008-11-15T12:13:00.005+01:00

So this is a marvel of an initiative. I love the design of this blog, the colors and everything about it.

The site is curated and designed by Brittni and Jeff to offer an exhibition space for artists to show their work online. After all it is all about getting out there and to be seen, isn't it?

My exhibition runs till half of december!

Brittni Wood also runs the Paper N Stitch blog which is a design and style blog that features artists, makers, crafters, and indie labels. Beware, when you click on the link you will find yourself returning to it every day:)

The other day the lovely Krize informed me about another award telling 6 little things that make us happy. I'll come back to it on a later date. Until than read my other tag :)

I'm in love with Krizes work. Her art is just a marvel, her illustrations cute and bright. Check out her gorgeous shop!

And the winner is....

2008-10-31T19:13:00.003+01:00

....dear Nicole from Babongo who has a lovely shop full of handmade bags, jewellery and accessories! Congrats!

And as soon we will walk in a new season I will organize another give away!

Time for a give away!

2008-10-28T10:37:00.004+01:00

So the days are changing, they are fresh and the day ends early. Wintertime is approaching in fast speed. I'm not ready for it, I'm still feeling sunny :)

So what do you think about the winter cold? Maybe you would like to share your thoughts on this and have a chance for having "In the cold light of day" on your wall next week!

On friday I'll announce the winner, which I will pick randomnly. And on saturday the print will be on its way!! Good luck!

Challenges and Features..

2008-10-26T13:25:00.014+01:00

One of the positive points of being a lazy blogger is that when you finally blog again, there is actually a lot to talk about:)

Two weeks of challenges from our European Street Team have gone by and it's time to give an update about my entries.

Two weeks ago the boss'hat went to Daniel from Swedish Jewels and the theme became one from the viewpoint from man.

I was working already about a carnivale theme, so I thought let's look through the eyes of a little boy. And being on a fair or carnival brings back the child in us, its wondernment and fantasy is one many of us loves to indulge in.

I was inspired for the Carnivale theme by the wonderful television series which carries the same name. The serie tells a mysterious story about people working in a carnival during the time of the big depression, and it leaves you with many questions and most certainly when the television bosses decided to let the series die a premature end. However, the music, the colors, the layout and the acting made a great impression on me, it is truly a magnificent piece out of the ordinary in television land...I have this little voice in me, that says, one day it will restart and continue, hey, we live by hopes and wishes, don't we :)

Last week it was our queen in wonderland, the most talented miss fish Frances J.Melhop who had choosen a scary theme, so again I was working on something I could use, the floral world can be scary at times :)

I was working on a floral ttv series called "Bouquet", which actually is a journey through a pastel wonderland. I'm very fond of this series, it was a autumn bouquet, which now looks very much like spring...

I have bought Frances tiny boat by the way, I couldn't resist its charm, it's a photo of great imaginary in a minimalistic way, don't you agree...

I was featured this week, on La Pommes blog, and I think my photo looks awesome in her saterdays shopping list.

La pomme owns two shops, one with wonderful little stories presented in gorgous hand sewn books , La Pomme Stories

And the other one is called simply la Pomme and when you walk around in it you will find many toys, as she says herself, for kids big and small. It's a delight, just feeds my love for little wonders. Look at this small box, isn't it lovely?

And Beth from uberartshop has featured my "Poppy" on her blog, thank you so much Beth!
You can find her unique journals and polymer clay pendants here!

Tomorrow I'm starting a give away, till than!

I was tagged !...?

2008-10-09T13:49:00.012+02:00

Oh, dear, Glasfaden has tagged me :)
So these are the rules it seems :

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving theirnames as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Hmmmm..7 facts about me. Well..here they are
1. I'm very much a private person.
2. I'm allergic to kiwi's, the fruit I mean:)
3.I loooovvvvee "Midsummer murders"and every detective , mostly english, I can think of.
4. I have problems going to bed early, since the night is the most silent part of the day.
5. I chase insects at summertime...with my cam that is.
6. I'm totally afraid of heights, at the level of panic.
7. I love the smell of seasons.

Hmmm, now I have to tag, that may take a while.

1. Patrick
2.Ixela
3. Fleur
4.Mellyrn
5.Antigoni
6.Gretchen
7.Mundo

Busy times...

2008-10-09T10:52:00.004+02:00

I'm busy, that's all I can say. Days are passing and I miss moments for my family and myself. Allthough being busy doesn't necesarily mean, I feel down. No, on the contrary, it gives me more energy. Only I wish I could wander through woods, fields and mountains. I miss the fresh air. I feel kind of a hermit in my house. Maybe a slight form of cabinfever ?

Anyway, the autumn holidays are ahead next week. I'm planning some quality time for my family and a teeny bit of time for me and my great friend, my photocam :)

The other day I was working on a cats portrait. To me, a cat is more than other domestic animals, the one most close to nature. They have their own mind so much more than other animals, and oh dear, they run off and look for prey in any garden...
I have no pets, and I'm fine with that. I guess we had far too many pets when I was a kid...

Also this week I have uploaded some of the sets in my shop, packed in artsy thick paper with a tag and all...

I like them, makes me think of the holidayseason. Still many weeks before that, now I'm enjoying the splendid weather here, sunshine, warm and a bit like a belated indian summer!

Enjoy the weekend, let it be a nice one, I'll see you after the autumn holidays..

Quiet Land, a state of calm.

2008-09-19T15:20:00.007+02:00

I have been thinking already a long time before starting this series. The title "Quiet Land" isn't always referring to a place, but most of all to a state of calm, of tranquility we can find ourselves at times. Not so much that we are looking for it, more as a sudden impact a moment can have, somewhere, somehow..

I think the first photo in this series illustrates it quite well. The silence in the mist was overwhelming, just a few moments before a sound broke the magic.

The "Quiet Land" series will be an ongoing project for hopefully as long I am able to take photos.

This photo is also my entry for the EST weekly challenge.

I'll upload it in my shop, today or tomorrow.

Enjoy the day. Here it is a good one, fresh and sunny and an autumnal scent in the air, I love that....

Indian summer..

2008-08-28T16:45:00.003+02:00

When it's summer, there is always this indefinate feeling I experience. It has to do with being careless I think, no worries, a blank mind, ready to be filled with small sensations, an insects buzz, childrens voices on the background, a sound of the radio, playing old songs. Laying in the grass and trying to touch the sun with my toes. Just relaxing, let time pass without any obligations. Its a trip down memory lane, since it a childrens right, to feel this way...

I am very pleased with how the vintage shoot turned out to be. It does portrait a sultry indian summers day....

I made miniprints from these images and will list them in my shop tomorrow.

Enjoy the day!

Waving in the wind..

2008-08-22T13:17:00.003+02:00

A while ago I took a photo from this poppy. It grows like weed in my garden, and it is so small...I took it as a TTV and recently started to work on it. It is an artwork really. I started taking it through the viewfinder of my duaflex but layered it with a frameshot from my anscoflex vintage camera. Now it is exactly as I want it. poppies do have paperlike petals, and now the texture looks like that. As drawn on textured paper with pastels.

They are all gone now in the garden, my poppies. Autumn is approaching and I can feel its breath. I still have to work on a lavender photo and I have a vintage photoshoot series ready to turn into gorgous miniprints, which will mark the end of this summer. After that I have plans to work on a series of places I have visited which have a feel of retreat, lonelyness, away from urban life. Where I have experienced silence in its rare best...I will even try a new paper for this series. And ofcourse I have plans for a wintercollection on etsy...time runs fast, doesn't it?

Papillon and Papillon nocturne.

2008-08-17T22:35:00.005+02:00

I love that name, "Papillon". It has a musical sound about it, so light and playful. Summerlike, a touch of warmth and sunshine. It's so restless, the butterfly, it must know the season is short and intense. I see them in my garden, like elves on leaves but this year a lot less. They must have sprayed the caterpillars. Many years ago, in my youth, we had a huge amount of butterflies. And caterpillars for that matter. My grandfather had an orchard and had to spray them. In the morning, when I was on my way to school I passed the killing fields of dead caterpillars. Hundreds and hundreds on the ground. Quite cruel, really. As a child I never liked them ofcourse, they were everywhere and crawling and hairy and strange. But the butterflies I just loved. Now I can't find a caterpillar, and I want to photograph them so much.

The moth is a very different story. Nothing so gracious about it, don't you think. It seems they have a fur and their eyes are simply huge. When I see them it is close to bulb of light. It's a fatal attraction, the bulb of light confuses them, it seems they orientate their path by the light of the moon. It's tragic how our light misleads them. So I have empathy for them, these nocturnal insects.

For the weekly challenge from our european street team at etsy, I made this artwork. You can see all the entries at Staroftheeast blog, who hosts this weeks challenge.

"Papillon Nocturne" It's not the right translation in french for moth, but I love the word nocturne. It sounds like a song, a lullaby before sleeping. So nocturne it is :)

I will list it in my shop tomorrow, probably.

Hectic times..

2008-07-09T15:17:00.012+02:00

I have traveled these weeks in high speed. Unfortunately my mother became ill, and had to remain in bed. I have spend quite some time in my birthhouse again. Little by little she is recovering, at a very slow pace, but my heart feels a lot lighter because of this...

On a lighter note, my daughter has had her first (huge) garden party with lots of cheerfulness in the air....she will become fifteen tomorrow, how time travels fast...

" …Time flies, my sweet
It vanishes as a sigh
And while your hands try
To grab its wonder
It fades as whispers do
Traveling far
On the wings
Of a sultry summer breeze…"

©JK2006-2008

TTV, Paper and Peonies

2008-06-18T18:52:00.006+02:00

Last days were good! Simple, isn't it. Some of the days aren't great, we all know about how small and not so small matters can wear you out, but these days were simply good. I felt good about the sun, the fresh wind and the feeling of being inspired and creative. And we had great news this week, without going into further detail, something that kept us into a spell for about a year now, came to an end and we all feel very relieved as a family.

I took these days to start TTV photography. On Ebay I bought a few old cameras, a kodak Duaflex and a Anscoflex. (Ofcourse they ripped me of, but than again I'm a fool with bidding so no more E bay in a while for me :) ) The good point about these cameras is their fantastic square viewfinder. I took photo's through it and the results I just love. It has somewhat of and old look, a bit of worn out velvet, the colors are desaturated (love that subtleness) and ofcourse...the square format with the black border...something new to me, from something very old...
The peony was taken through the Kodak Duaflex and I embrace the romantic powdery colors..

Now the other day, actually lots of days before this one, I have read about a discussion on papers in photography, ways of printing, inkjet or the old fashioned dark room. Now usually I don't care for it too much. I love it all, but the the printing with archival inks have my preference, not in the least because I am in the very lucky circumstance to have my very own epson printer and a lovely small studio, were nothing conventional can keep me from experimenting and working out my own creativity. Part of this creativity is working with my photography as a basis...and paper! I have something with paper. Not a simple paper, blanco and thin, but the thick papers with details and textured surfaces. Hahnemuhle has a whole line for professional, premium papers for printing and after trying out many of them, I choose German Etching as the carrier of my art. Together as a print, they represent my work. They are made for my type of photography, so it seems and I would find it hard to print on a glossy paper.

Unfortunately there is also a problem, many people just don't know about it, there seems to be a preference for the more conventional types of paper. So here I am, introducing small prints from my work, to touch, feel, look and smell:) this lovely, great paper. They are quite tiny, these cute prints and can be used to adhere on a postcard, as a note card or ofcourse to be framed in a smaller or even larger frame (I love small prints being framed in a large frame). They do look sweet, don't they?

Apple green and strawberry red...

2008-06-04T21:28:00.002+02:00

I made a treasury the other day and this evening it made it to the frontpage on etsy. I'm so happy about it, because I so liked the color combination from these wonderful items. Here you can see also the alternates. Today and this evening 4 items were sold. Congrats to all involved.

Walking the elves path..

2008-05-14T10:14:00.008+02:00

We are home again and full of impressions of what New zealand has offered us. Oh, my, it was adventurous indeed.I saw my kids jumping from mountains, from planes with parachutes, I was in a speedboat doing spins ( not nice), in a kayak, peddling down undeep waters in the Dart river Delta and riding horseback on beautiful paddocks and slippery muddy paths in woods. We tasted great food and wines, took a ride in a steamship and saw poor sheep being taken from their wool. And I saw a smart dog, really smart and well trained. And a Kiwi bird ofcourse!! I saw the film about Janet Frame, which reminded me I still have to read her books. I know poems from her, but her biography is so interesting, I really have to get into it...

But most of all, I bathed in the myths of the country, the maori stories, tales they are of giants in lakes and lovely maiden taken down the water. And I walked on horseback through Amon Hen, where Boromir lost his life and the place where Galadriel was tempted by the ring. It's no wonder that Peter Jackson choose these woods to portrait parts of Lothlorien, I felt the mystery and heard the silence at Paradise and the closeburn area and saw the place where Ithilien was portraited in the twelve mile delta and where Sam saw his olifanths and I saw in a dream, Gandalf riding the white horse with the beautiful mountains on the background and Saruman's army depart from Isengard. I have waded trough the river where Arwen and Frodo were chased by the Nazgul. And I saw Mount Earnslaw, where parts of The misty mountains were filmed. Oh, my, how impressive....

With analogue and digital technics, paint on negatives, X-pro, layering, and a bit of magic, typical for my food for thought section, I tried to capture the mood of these locations...

Autumn is like a fairytale in Queenstown, the colors are even more beautiful than I have ever seen...
Later this week my black and white negatives will be developed. Still lots of impressions to come..

Traveling!

2008-04-26T11:20:00.001+02:00

I'm going to change spring for autumn tomorrow:) Traveling far to the other end of the world. New Zealand, here we come..

In the cold light of day

2008-01-29T13:32:00.000+01:00

I'm all for experiments. Actually when I don't do that so now and than, I get somehow frustrated. It was a while ago that I started to put ink on negatives. (Don't ask why :) ) After that I scanned them, mostly x pro and get a few layers, using the new, lovely textered negative. Yesterday I started this image and I am quite pleased with it, it's somehow surreal and dark, yes? I love the scratches and dirt, it looks like an old film this way. And also it looks like an illustration made with ink and aquarel. I had that creepy movie in mind "In the cold light of day" with Richard E. Grant. Great movie that one...

A fresh start

2008-01-26T11:29:00.001+01:00

Actually this is this new thingy I wanted to start as a new year's resolution. Well, let's start than:)
My name is Jetty Kolobaric. A daughter, wife and mum. My kids are growing older, very busy trying to find their own way in life, and however that isn't always easy, help from mum isn't that much appreciated anymore :)

Hence more time on my hands and in my head....

I'm a photographer at heart, I have been doing this for years now, but sometimes I believe I would rather paint:) I guess I'm drawn to paintinglike photography, such as polaroid images for instance, or holgaroids and pinhole photography. It's like wonderland, I think, it makes me ponder.
It's not strange than that I favour films, maybe a dying craft in photoworld. It's not that I'm against digital photography, well, not at all, My computer is now my "dark room" and I digitilise all my negatives. Doing this the sky is the limit and my photography truly becomes a way of expression.

I've got something new on my hands now, I have opened an etsy shop. As a learning curve really, it's something completely new to me, promoting and such, and I have given myself a year to try this all, to find out if it is something that suits me. Hey, I never owned a shop before :))
Anyway, today is the day that I'll make this bloggers thing work, so you'll see lots of changes and maybe even work from me uploaded if I ever get a grip on that. See you...