I sketched this the other day.  It’s the muse in plain sight.  Always when you least expect her.

The Muse in Plain Sight © Britt Conley

Britt drawing

Some days are just not conducive to drawing.  Yesterday was one of them.  Great concept but need to do it over.  Today on the other hand was effortless and lovely.  Sometimes, drawing is like baseball.  You line up on home plate, raise you bat and swing in a circle awaiting the pitch.  There are times when you swing and your mind and body are seamless, like a ballet dancer in a pirouette.  It’s that moment that the body, mind and pencil are one.

Line Dance © Britt Conley

Today’s was a joy to create.

Britt : )

Britt Abstract

After watching a rather good ending for the Dr. Who season I began to think about love and those left behind that simply wait.  One of the characters did just that.  He waited 2,000 years for to see his love once more.  Thinking of those who wait.  I thought of those who are always the last to sing those love songs.  Usually, there are the ones left behind.  And although most would consider them the buffoons and fools, I like to look at them as the great songsters and poets of mankind.   Those who put love in the great context it deserves.  It is only those who have lost more than they had to loose that have the ability to go on and sing about it long after the world has forgotten.

The last love song for the world © Britt Conley

This piece is about that song and how it sings about glory but by the end it strums heights and delicacies that only the mandolin player knows.  Thus the lower 2/3rds of the piece are the story and the upper third is the soaring of the heart in tune.

For those of you who want tiny, tiny chunks of explanations or updates.  I am also on twitter now.  Tweeting each drawing with an indescribable lack of information per tweet : )  britt_conley@twitpic.com  or britt_conley@twitter.com

Britt Abstract

I began this drawing the other day.  I wanted to do a design based on stacked skipping rocks.  The  elongated ones with beautifully rounded edges.  I have a collection of them somewhere.  As I began to layout my design I started to think of all the rocks in the Universe and how we are all bound together.  We are all dense masses of worn creation that temporarily exist in time.  We are part of a larger aestheticism of design and yet each unique, following the ebbs and tides of unique journeys.  So there we have it.  Rocks that bind.

Today's sketch © Britt Conley

It may sound crazy but that is indeed what this crazy brain thinks of when I’m working.  It’s almost always a conceptual sonnet more than a drawing.  A drawing to me is a shoe, a flower.  A visual sonnet is a self contained visual poetry.  That is what I like to do.  I also do drawings and other related exercises, but these are my sonnets and I try to do them daily, or at least weekly. Especially now that I am out of work.  Never a better time to get back to what I enjoy the most.

Today's sketch © Britt Conley

Britt : )

Britt Abstract

into the English Countryside where pour little church going women lay unsuspecting.  Zeus arrives from the night time sky with the moon at his back, riding his golden chariot which here, is more of a sail boat which also acts as his horn.  Below the hilly countryside and a little church with homes around it.  A quick sketched, story framed commentary on my lack of belief in a god and the realities of the sexual spirit in this world.  Of course the poor women in this story will never figure it out.

Zeus © Britt Conley

I don’t normally tell stories with my art so this is a bit conveluded but a good exercise in something…

Britt

Britt drawing

Needed to relax – just sketched “Whistle while you think” I really need to learn guitar. Head full of lovely music.

Whistle while you think © Britt Conley

So, it’s been a crazy time.  That said things are moving along very nicely and I’m getting back in the creative swing.  I have so many creative projects and commissions I’m even a bit over loaded.  Working on a great 24×48″ black and white woman reclining.  Also doing a massive photo restoration project for a client which is over due, but it just takes so long.  Nothing I can do about that.

Britt

Britt drawing

Sweet Sorrow in D © Britt Conley

Well, all hell has broken out in the Britt world since we last spoke. Too much to go into here so I will just place a couple of links to personal posts I made elsewhere that should give you an idea.
Here’s today’s drawing… I headed outside to draw before the sun went down. Finished this quick sketch of “Sweet Sorrow in D” a musical metaphore for any guitarists out there, just before being entirely feasted on by the Arlington mosqito population. Shall not touch bites… aaah.

http://thephotogardenbee.com/2010/04/02/this-mother-of-mine/

http://thephotogardenbee.com/2010/04/21/the-rock-garden-a-metaphor/

Well, there you have it.  I am here and starting back up.

Britt

Britt drawing

There were layoffs at USA Today the other day, and I was one of them. I have been working in the Life Deptartment on the Life Picture Desk gathering photos from around the country for TV, DVD, Movies, Art, our 10 Great feature, theater, games and the like for the past 5 years and working for the paper since 1994. Yesterday was my last day and I am now unexpectedly unemployed.

I have been doing the Bee ( thephotogardenbee.com ) in my evenings each night after work and weekends, diligently working on what I love. I shoot gardens nearly every weekend and go through my photos during the week, writing each night and then sending a note over to my sister Erika who edits my dyslexic spelling. Well, now I have a lot more time to do it even better.

As I left work the other night, with my desk mostly boxed up, I headed home without knowing whether the future was going my way or not. I got home and there was a message from the Lewis Ginter publicist asking if I wanted to head up in a hot air balloon on Friday night to shoot the incredible holiday lights there. Well, this Bee is dearly afraid of heights, (oh, the irony). That said, as I my eyes seem to roll up in disbelief, my husband starred at me and said, “You gotta do it. Your The Photo Garden Bee and Friday is the first day your out there flying on your own.” I looked at him and with fear covering my face and reluctantly replied, “I know,… Ahhhh” So, today at 5 pm, me, my camera and husband are heading up in the air so that this Bee can take its first flight literally. Photographing the Lewis Ginter light show is worth a two hour drive just to see it on the ground! I can’t even imagine how amazing it will be from the air.

Saturday, I am hoping to say I made it in that balloon and “here are the photos” of an amazing first day toward my and the Photo Garden Bee’s future. I hope you come back tomorrow to see the fantastic finale of this week at Lewis Ginter featuring the Garden Festival of Lights and the crazy push off of The Photo Garden Bee as, my now, full time endeavor. As I often say on Facebook, “Let’s do this thing!”

Wish me luck and feel free to come on out! It’s going to be great!

‘Til Tomorrow…

Britt : )

Britt Uncategorized

Ivy © Britt Conley

Today I’m hoping to head out to in the morning to go shoot the sunrise or at least near sunrise.  Well have to see how that goes.  If not today then first thing in AM on Tuesday!  This is the last chance to get those fall mornings before all the tree leaves fall.  No idea what I’ll do this winter.

Britt Photograph

Fall © Britt Conley

Well it’s Fall and I’ve been out shooting and having a blast.  I headed out on October 31st to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania looking for all things Fall and indeed found just that!  I’ll be posting these on the coming days.  It’s a stunning place.  For more pictures not necessarily seen on here you can check my other blog thephotogardenbee.com  I had a chance to paint last night and boy did it feel good!.

Britt Uncategorized