tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288224432024-03-13T10:05:06.288-07:00It's ArtAll images and text on this blog are copyright Gabrielle Fine unless otherwise noted. Use without permission is a violation of copyright law.
Please contact the artist to obtain permission for any use (commercial or otherwise.) Thank you.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-75428495591476941312010-06-23T15:11:00.001-07:002010-06-23T15:12:39.510-07:00Deception Pass<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/4720076708/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4720076708_2e1b93f59c_m.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/4720076708/">Deception Pass</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ellafine/">gabriellefine</a></span></div>I think I would like to get a camera like this. (It was borrowed from school circa 2002)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">more details: Kodak TMAX, either a Seagull or Mamiya TLR medium format-I can't recall which. Spring '02)</span>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-7681288528887514532010-04-25T13:07:00.000-07:002010-04-25T13:35:41.747-07:00Someday Our Cameras Will Die<a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/actuations-shutter-count-someday-our-cameras-will-die">Actuations & Shutter Count – Someday our Cameras Will Die</a><br /><br />Thought-provoking post from Digital Photography School. And no, I had not given this any previous thought. (Most of my film cameras still work, and those that don't have a mechanical issue that could probably still be fixed.) I wonder what the actuation is on my Canon EOS. Although I never really assumed I would shoot with it forever-I figured at some point I would get a new one for some reason or another. It's a great DSLR but it doesn't meet all my needs, and as technology improves I have more options to consider for lighter, more compact cameras that could possibly do most of what my EOS does now. I will be sad when the A620 finally hits the bucket, though, even though it is unnecessarily large and clunky (and takes 4 aa batteries!), because it has been such a handy little point & shoot and it has a rotating flip screen (which subsequent versions of this camera did not appear to have.) However, I've definitely run up against the limits of what it can shoot (jpeg only) and how (max ISO 400.)<br /><br />This also brings up an interesting issue I have struggled with since converting to (mostly) digital. The freedom to shoot several frames of the same subject and vary the lighting, composition, etc. without having to worry about running out of film has been liberating. "Getting the shot" has a different meaning now that you can a. check your results immediately after shooting and b. shoot a multitude of frames for extra insurance. However, it's definitely changed how I shoot. I shoot way more than I used to, but does quantity necessarily equal more quality? I think being able to exercise that muscle more is always a good thing-I met an instructor in college, very demanding, who would not work with me independently unless I was willing to shoot something like 5 rolls a day, which there was no way I could afford-but I think his point was the more we shoot, the better we get at shooting. However, with digital I think it is easier to get complacent and stuck in a rut. Many of my shots with the DSLR have a "sameness" that frustrates me and it's hard to break out of that without challenging how and when I shoot. Just because it's there and it's interesting, do I have to document it? Is it something that really speaks to me, that falls within my current areas of study or bodies of work-or is it better left alone, really? (Or, if I must document it, do I need to shoot 5 or 6 frames of that stop sign?) This is timely to contemplate while, as I type, I am simultaneously converting the raw files from my trip to Seattle-454 shots in 3.5 days.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-73749802689067268222010-04-18T18:37:00.001-07:002010-04-18T18:37:41.469-07:00Towering ash<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredrikholm/4532859294/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2796/4532859294_b3d20528d9_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredrikholm/4532859294/">Towering ash</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/fredrikholm/">fredrikholm.se</a></span></div>There are some amazing photos on Flickr of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. This one in particular, which I found in the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano Pool.<br clear="all" />Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-4695689579556425742009-07-22T09:34:00.000-07:002009-07-22T09:36:33.493-07:00A new portrait.I am particularly pleased with this one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/3742963191/" title="hat man by gabriellefine, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3742963191_a3e43593b0.jpg" alt="hat man" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sacred Feather hat seller, Madison street fair</span>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-1433384792873562652009-02-22T17:08:00.000-08:002009-02-22T17:11:21.959-08:00More stuff on Etsy<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5142108">Follow this link to buy great art!</a><br /><br />Added a couple more prints to esty. For example:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JPnqxJOUedg/SaH3T-0YlvI/AAAAAAAAAIg/mXWGKq5oO5o/s1600-h/holgaangelweb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JPnqxJOUedg/SaH3T-0YlvI/AAAAAAAAAIg/mXWGKq5oO5o/s320/holgaangelweb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305793758671443698" border="0" /></a>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-14226364561880934132009-01-20T19:43:00.000-08:002009-01-20T19:45:15.676-08:00Etsy!I have finally put some things up for sale on etsy! Take a look at my store here:<br /><a href="http://gabriellefine.etsy.com"><br />gabriellefine.etsy.com</a><br /><br />There's not much up yet, but I will continue to add things!Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-52186908234007210952008-10-20T19:42:00.001-07:002008-10-20T19:42:32.688-07:00mannequin kiss on State Street<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2959583795/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2959583795_34b707a7ec_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2959583795/">mannequin kiss</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ellafine/">ellafine</a></span></div>Madison, WI<br clear="all" />Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-35652873430996451642008-06-20T22:25:00.000-07:002008-06-20T22:31:16.034-07:00Tasha TudorTasha Tudor passed away 2 days ago. She was the illustrator and author of several celebrated children's books. The first impression she made on me was her delicate illustrations for The Secret Garden, which I treasured in childhood.<br /><a href="http://www.tashatudor.legacy.com/LMW/HomePage.aspx"><br />This</a> is a really neat site that her family created as a memorial. It seems like she was a really interesting and lively woman. I would have liked to have met her. In fact I think I'd like to be like her when I am 92.<br /><br />This will be me, in my kitchen:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JPnqxJOUedg/SFyRs75sJuI/AAAAAAAAAGw/VgG15MLXVf0/s1600-h/ttudor"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JPnqxJOUedg/SFyRs75sJuI/AAAAAAAAAGw/VgG15MLXVf0/s320/ttudor" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214202669768124130" border="0" /></a>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-64954788683154873412008-05-14T09:32:00.000-07:002008-05-14T09:33:26.567-07:00Salon of Shame, again<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/espressobuzz/2491111315/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2491111315_1cc37810f8_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/espressobuzz/2491111315/">IMG_1404</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/espressobuzz/">Espressobuzz</a>.</span><br /><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/espressobuzz/">Espressobuzz</a> takes the most awesome live/candid photos!<br /><br />P.S.-"Love is just two neuroses finding they're a perfect match," I declare at the world-weary age of 18.</p>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-9032846259874200142008-05-03T10:04:00.001-07:002008-05-03T10:04:57.966-07:00Noby<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2461132108/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/2461132108_5da8733f73_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2461132108/">Noby 4</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ellafine/">ellafine</a> </span></div>When I was down in Oakland I found a bag of old dolls and stuffed animals in my mom's storage unit. Sadly, they were too dirty and had to be thrown away. Before I did though, I had to take pictures. There was something very creepy about this-it was like they came out of a body bag. Her name was Noby, and I got her when I was probably 3 or 4.<br clear="all" />Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-20810694063805381132008-02-29T19:58:00.000-08:002008-02-29T20:03:21.818-08:00Leap DayLeap day reminds me now of the one in 1992 when my dad and I took a day trip to San Francisco. We went to a museum and Grace Cathedral and other touristy things. This morning I was trying to remember why this day had other significance and then I remembered, that was also the day that I shot my first roll of film on my first SLR. It was my dad's and he was bequeathing it to me. We went to the Palace of the Legion of Honor museum where they have the Rodin sculptures and that is where I took my very first SLR picture. Here it is:<br /><br /><br /><a title="The Kiss by Rodin by ellafine, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2300738765/"><img alt="The Kiss by Rodin" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2300738765_6173055e7b.jpg" height="345" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Kiss</span> by Auguste Rodin</span><br /><br /><br />We also stopped by Grace Cathedral:<br /><br /><a title="grace by ellafine, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2300738893/"><img alt="grace" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2300738893_a5bea1b6e8.jpg" height="500" width="335" /></a><br /><br />Here's a picture my dad took of me:<br /><br /><a title="me 02/29/92 by ellafine, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2301531528/"><img alt="me 02/29/92" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2301531528_73ea235818.jpg" height="500" width="340" /></a><br /><br />Check out my Culture Club hat!<br />The other thing I remember from that day is that on the way home on Live 105 we heard them play the new Tears For Fears single which was about to be released. This was a big deal because it was the first new song they had released in THREE YEARS. (Which was a long time for me to wait.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">chewed the bone down too low</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">got fed on tea and sympathy</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">blew the sail like the wind</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">i wish you were my enemy</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">i was humble for you</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">what a fool i've been to have</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">laid so low for so long</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">so low</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">into that void of silence</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where we cry without sound</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and where your mother's violence</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">sent your soul underground</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">drew the blade way too slow</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">was shackled by your honesty</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">made a mess i guess i should have known</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">that life was lust and liberty</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">not a chance mutation</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">or the last temptation</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">laid so low for so long</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">so low</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">into that void of silence</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where we cry without sound</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and where your mother's violence</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">sent your soul underground</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">into that void of silence</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where we cry without sound</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and where your mother's violence</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">sent your soul underground</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">where tears roll down</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />-Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down), Tears For Fears</span>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-68949558836842425992008-01-07T22:12:00.001-08:002008-01-07T22:14:46.978-08:00amber bird of varnish<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2177414844/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2250/2177414844_297c0c80c5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2177414844/">varnish027</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ellafine/">ellafine</a> </span></div>Some good friends of mine are in a band called <a href="http://www.varnishcentral.com">varnish</a>. They played their first show at a house party this weekend, and I had the honor of taking pictures. They rocked. I am not just saying that because they are my friends.<br clear="all" />Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-3204396753180098212007-12-31T10:46:00.000-08:002007-12-31T10:48:23.715-08:002008 Photo Resolutions (no pun intended)Originally posted on the <a href="http://photojojo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=497">Photojojo forum</a>:<br /><br />1. Update and revamp website.<br />2. Find out which self-publishing service really is the best, then actually use it to self-publish my photo book.<br />3. Apply for the Center for Documentary Studies' First Book Prize in Photography.<br />4. Get to know my new Diana camera!<br />5. SHOOT MORE FILM.<br />6. Do some Polaroid transfers (I know, these are so 1995, but I only recently acquired the slide printer!)<br />7. Organize digital backup system and also organize negative storage system.<br />8. Scan more negatives and old family photos.<br />9. Try out the Super-8 camera I found.<br />10. HDR. Figure it out.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-52056880947556638682007-12-08T12:34:00.001-08:002007-12-08T12:34:00.736-08:00Winter show postcard<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2066438833/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2066438833_ea8d9e5cfc_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/2066438833/">Winter show postcard</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ellafine/">ellafine</a> </span></div>Winter's Sequel<br /><br />A holiday art show<br /><br />Saturday, December 8th<br />6-9 PM<br /><br />Abraxus Books<br />5711 24th Ave NW<br />Seattle, Wa<br /><br />(206)297-6777<br /><br />(I'm only posting this now because I assume no one reads my blog who wouldn't have received the announcement already. But I realized I ought to post it before the show actually starts.)<br clear="all" />Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-22589582359973142592007-11-26T19:42:00.001-08:002007-11-26T19:42:35.256-08:00behind the scenes<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yelahneb/2055920027/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/2055920027_285cea9cef_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yelahneb/2055920027/">behind the scenes</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/yelahneb/">yelahneb</a> </span></div>I get down and dirty for my art.<br /><br />Photo by Ben Haley.<br clear="all" />Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-54274134770852336172007-11-05T16:06:00.000-08:002007-11-05T16:11:16.019-08:00Fall graveyard photo shootHere's what I did yesterday. <br /><br /><a title="Photo Sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/1868908225/"><img width="500" height="333" alt="Joriel "hand-colored"" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/1868908225_4f93ee2a90.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><font size="1">©GFine. Model: Joriel</font>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-14943183968481765522007-10-02T13:04:00.000-07:002007-10-05T19:52:44.526-07:00Stumptown Comics FestSept. 29-30, Portland, OR. Tabling with <a href="http://www.puddleville.com">Puddleville Graphic Novel Collective. </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/1470581648/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/1470581648_cd93c54b33.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Puddleville power!" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/sets/72157602232623257/">More pictures</a><br /><br />Where to begin?<br /><br />For starters, I have a confession: <span style="font-style:italic;">This was the first comic con of any kind that I have actually attended.</span> How can this be, you may ask? Growing up in the Bay Area, with a healthy interest in comics from my teen years forward...well, it just seems "inconceivable!" But it's true. I have been to other types of conventions and festivals, of course. I did come close to attending <a href="http://www.comic-con.org/ape/">APE</a> in 1994 when my best friend at the time and I completed our first zine...but that is another story altogether. <br /><br />In any case, it was fantastic. What a rush to be in a huge room surrounded by so much talent, motivation and dedication. It made me want to start drawing 100 comics at once. At the same time I was totally overwhelmed by ideas and also a little intimidated. However, the atmosphere at Stumptown was really friendly, supportive and DIY-focused. Some big names were there, such as Peter Bagge and Dark Horse Comics, but the main attraction for me was the individuals and groups who displayed their self-published work. <br /><br />Here's a list of the people I bought stuff from, or picked up a postcard from, or otherwise admired:<br /><br />B.T. Livermore/<a href="http://www.robopocalypse.com/">Robopocalypse Collective</a><br /><a href="http://www.sidewithus.com/joshkemble/main.html"><br />Joshua Kemble</a><br /><a href="http://www.saraholeksyk.com/"><br />Sarah Oleksyk</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.realgonegirl.com">Miriam Libicki</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mattsilady.com/">Matt Silady</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.chrisyates.net/store/oneoffs.html">Chris Yates</a>/Playground Ghosts<br /><br /><a href="http://www.webcomicsnation.com/dmeconis/profile/index.php">Dylan Meconis</a><br /><a href="http://girl-wonder.org/index.php"><br />Girl Wonder</a><br /><a href="http://www.webcomicsnation.com/shaenongarrity/smithson/series.php"><br />Shaenon K. Garrity</a><br /><a href="http://www.skullyflower.com/"><br />Dragon Green</a><br /><br />That was just a sampling, really. It was just a feast for the eyes: Art, art everywhere!<br /><br />As for Puddleville, I think we did well, just based on observation. A lot of people stopped at our table, we sold many copies of our Issue #1 (a compilation), and lots of buttons (buttons were a big hit. Oh, and I need a button making machine. Now.) It felt really good to be a part of that. APE next stop, I hope!Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-8961471301114710672007-07-11T13:38:00.000-07:002007-07-11T13:39:12.123-07:00Salon of ShameFor something a little different, before the <a href="http://salonofshame.com/">Salon of Shame</a> last night I took portraits of everyone with their assorted journals/diaries/random papers. Here I am with my journals from ages 17 and 19:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/779511656/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1381/779511656_c97c642d85.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Me" /></a><br /><br />Live 105, yo!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/sets/72157600766790288/">Lots more here. Take a look. You know you want to. It's so totally awesome.</a><br /><br />Total props to <a href="http://www.electrolicious.com/">Ariel</a> for starting this event. It's doubled in size since the last time I attended, and regularly sells out! It is so much fun. I highly recommend it-whether you're bold enough to read, or just want to laugh your ass off. I believe there are similar events in other cities-like Cringe in NY, which I think is the original?-so if you aren't a Seattleite, see if there's one in your area.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-25008389469302480492007-07-06T13:02:00.000-07:002007-07-06T13:07:55.557-07:00PDX wrap-upBoy, regular life really takes over, especially when you get home from a trip. Well, I should probably conclude my postings on Portland with some kind of wrap-up or overview.<br /><br />First, possibly my favorite picture (and it's getting a lot of hits on Flickr too):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/740460880/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1252/740460880_1c48309957.jpg" width="400" height="232" alt="Jesus Saves Fever (again)" /></a><br /><br />taken with film!<br /><br />I'm quite fond of the few film shots I took. Here's one of me in my fab guesthouse room:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/740460820/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1399/740460820_14e071d3f6_m.jpg" width="159" height="240" alt="self portrait in Portland" /></a><br /><br />So, Scott McCloud. The class was great, of course. It was really useful, I took a lot of notes...right now it's kind of a big blur. The things he says about comics are just awesome. He really does validate it as an art form in its own right. I've defended it as such in the past, but standing in a class listening to Scott critiquing our work, it makes perfect sense and doesn't even seem to be worth arguing about. Of course its art. It's pictures used to communicate a story and/or an idea.<br />One quote that stands out that I did write down: Gesture (in a drawing) ideals with "the calligraphy of human interaction."<br />I love the way he phrases things and I really wish I just had a recording or transcript of everything he said. His lectures are so great, informative and entertaining, and I highly recommend going if he pops up in your area (Californians take note-he's hitting your state <a href="http://www.scottmccloud.com/makingcomics/tour.html">in August!</a>)<br /><br />I think I may have mentioned already how cool it is that Scott is touring with his wife and two girls. I am insanely envious of his daughters of the experiences they are having at such a young age. I'm sure it is much more educational than being stuck in a regular school for another year. (Although I imagine that in a few ways they are looking forward to returning to real school and regular life, as exciting as it is to be on the road.) Sky, his eldest, is especially poised and confident for a girl her age. (Forgive me, I have limited interactions with teenagers, and most of the time it seems like they don't want to talk to me at all.) I ran into her at a gelato shop by Powell's and she was really friendly and outgoing. (I was just amazed that she talked to me.) Her mom was there too, and her cousin, and they were all super friendly and ended up making me feel like I was the celebrity, even though I had started the conversation by saying, "Uh, you're the McClouds, I saw you on Livejournal!" yeah. They're the type of folks you feel at ease with right away and end up wanting to talk to them and hang out with them for hours. (Unfortunately, that isn't possible. If we all got to hang out with the McClouds as much as we wanted to, they would never get to sleep.)<br /><br />Here's Sky doing her highly entertaining and visually impressive Keynote presentation at the lecture (I won't tell you what it's about, in case you get to see it.) <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/722021189/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1280/722021189_0b5b7b1d00.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Sky introduces her family" /></a><br /><br />(it really helps with this one if you click on it and go to the bigger version.)<br /><br />Here's Scott in class, looking at my work (and smiling! He likes it! eeeeeeeeg!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/728295925/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/728295925_b9cfd93c69.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Scott likes my work" /></a><br /><br />He really is a nice, friendly, down to earth kinda guy, with a lot of good things to say and an infectious enthusiasm for comics. It was so much fun learning from him. <br /><br />Ok. Anything else? Things really shifted into high gear as soon as he got to town. Before I knew it the whole thing was over and I was back on the train. (Literally-I had to rush right from class, which was technically over but of course everyone was staying longer, to the train station.) I did go to stay with Jessa, an old friend, in North Portland for the last 2 nights of my visit. She and I spent a lot of quality time catching up and doing some more sightseeing (I gladly accepted her driving me around, after spending most of the week on foot. Walking builds character and all, but I was ready for a break. Plus, it enabled me to go see some things that I had ruled out previously because they were too out of the way to get to on foot/by bus.)<br />Speaking of busses, did I mention that I was able to purchase a one-week bus pass to use on the bus, streetcar, and MAX line? That was super-cool, convenient, and saved me a lot of money. I am pretty impressed with the transit system. It may not be the best ever, but it's better by far than Seattle's. I bitch about Seattle's transit a lot, but the thing is, after spending a week in Portland, I've concluded that it's partly just the way Seattle is laid out and there's not much that can be done about that. So I've stopped blaming as much the "powers that be" or the voting public (although I still think we take way too long to actually implement ideas. Jessa said that she thought the difference was that while Seattle takes forever to figure out whether or not something is the right solution, in Portland they just go ahead and build it even if it is the wrong one. She's lived in both cities, by the way.)<br /><br />Here are some things I saw while driving around with Jessa:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/721920725/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/721920725_6070c7cb21.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="City of Roses" /></a><br /><br />A sea of roses in Ladd's Addition (a uniquely constructed neighborhood-the streets run out from a central point, instead of a grid-look at a map to see what I'm talking about. It's in the SE quadrant just north of SE Division, starting at 12th.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/721920695/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/721920695_01694facbe.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Light bulbs" /></a><br /><br />A lightbulb shop<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/722271143/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1267/722271143_188652ab98.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Beverly Cleary statue garden" /></a><br /><br />The Beverly Cleary tribute fountain in Grant Park<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/722271587/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/722271587_fb3d8ad52a.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Outside Vita" /></a><br /><br />Some nice evening light on NE Alberta.<br /><br />As usual, click on any of the photos to be taken to much more...Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-86484461777902075792007-06-26T18:38:00.000-07:002007-07-06T13:08:58.875-07:00Day 4It. Is. Hot. I'm sitting in my room in front of the (wonderful wonderful) air conditioner (one of those little window units.) I had to skip out of the afternoon lectures because I (stupidly) wore myself out walking around downtown (with a backpack full of books from Powell's...heh) When I got back here at 5 it was 88 degrees. Yikes. No wonder I felt like I was dying.<br />I have no heat tolerance anymore. Not that I had much to begin with...<br /><br />Anyway. Now that I am feeling well-rested, there are so many things I want to do, but of course most of them I can't do because of the heat. At some point I'm going to have to venture out to procure food. *whine* I think I'll hit up that sushi place again.<br /><br />Here are some more highlights from yesterday, pics from today will be posted later (and more on this actual educational thing I'm supposed to be attending...)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/634635545/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1070/634635545_26d98a30c4.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="statue of umbrella guy" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/626411869/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1100/626411869_b39d25c87c.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Stumptown coffee" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/626412073/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/626412073_658f2f7cd5.jpg" width="400" height="275" alt="Hot Lips pizza" /></a>Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-71719050748668670922007-06-25T20:40:00.000-07:002007-06-25T20:41:10.980-07:00Day 3Ugggggh. Sleep did not work out. Again. After waking up every 2 hours again, I woke up at 5:30 and could not get back to sleep. At all. Finally got out of bed around 7, caught an earlier bus downtown and went to Stumptown for coffee. Which may or may not have been a good idea. Anyway, I made it through class, had some decent pizza for lunch and then on the afternoon break I prowled around the center of downtown, or what my map informed me is the "Cultural District." The art museum and the Oregon Historical Society were both closed on Mondays, but the park was nice, and riding the streetcar was fun. It was really quick to get from the NW to the SW end. (Seattle, take note.)<br />I'm not sure where I got the energy to do all that. After wanting to take a nap in the afternoon lectures (they weren't boring-I just am too tired!) I walked down to Powell's and checked out their graphic novel section, then figured out where Voodoo Donuts is (and that they are now open 24 hours, so I'm going there first thing in the morning) and found the Middle Eastern place where we ate last time we were here. It was very good. I had a combo plate with hummus, baba ghanouj, falafels, tahini, tabouli, stuffed grape leaves and yogurt cucumber salad. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/626412135/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/626412135_8459ee6c6a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_8111" /></a><br /><br />More later...Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-13771725778048887892007-06-25T20:00:00.000-07:002007-06-25T20:01:08.387-07:00Portland Day 2 (6/24)Well, I didn't sleep too well last night. I fell asleep quickly, but I kept waking up every 2 hours. Like clockwork. It was weird. I've heard that a human needs to get at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep in order for it to be thoroughly restful. So I didn't get that. One other thing: It is charming that there is a large tree directly above skylight. I woke sometime between 4 and 5 to the sound of birdsong quite near. I thought "oh, how nice, birds in the morning." 20 minutes later, I thought, "I am going to kill that bird."<br />(Figure of speech. I wouldn't really kill a bird. Really. Honestly.)<br /><br />Anyway, I was only operating on 1/2 or maybe 2/3 of a tank, so to speak, when I boarded a bus at 8:30 am. It was pretty easy to get to the Pearl district. After I arrived at class it was revealed that in addition to our class schedule, which meets mostly in the mornings, there would be several lectures offered in the afternoons. So what I thought was going to be a 1/2 day turned out to be a full day. (It doesn't matter, because Alex flaked anyway, although I left him 2 messages like a stalker.) I wasn't crazy about all the lecture offerings and considered going back up to the guesthouse for some of them, but ended up just crashing in the lounge area at the school, in a loft with comfy couches where I swapped life stories with one bright-eyed junior. Ah, college. This rest period did me good, as I was able to rally myself for the last lecture of the day, on webcomics, which was very useful and informative. (Links to follow.)<br /><br />Also, they treated us to brunch, which was really awesome. I had this wild salmon hash with poached eggs. It was quite good, as was conversation at the table. This girl and I were eyeing each other in class and doing the "you look familiar" thing, well it turns out she lived in Oly while I was there and she is the creator of Tammytown, the movie, which I attended a fundraiser fashion show for at Capitol Theater in 2000. (I know that last sentence was awkward, but I totally don't care.) Another Oly/Portland connection.<br /><br />For dinner, I walked up the street from the guesthouse to a restaurant I noticed yesterday which featured organic food of various cuisines. I had an Indian dinner which was quite good-a combo of Subji (cabbage, potatoes and peas sauteed in garlic, ginger and cumin), Dal (not as mushy as some dals I've had, with whole kidney beans, very flavorful-although I found the addition of raw red onions on top to be distracting rather than complementary, although normally I love me some raw onions.), with rice, chapati, mint chutney, and raita, and a tasty rice pudding. It was all served on a metal plate with each thing in a small individual metal bowl. At first I thought this was just supposed to be cutesy presentation, but then I realized it kept each individual portion warm, which was appreciated. Also, they were willing to cook it mild, (which means I could actually taste my food), and since the chutney was spicy I could add a bit of heat if I wanted. Yum.<br />It's also fun to get your check and have it be the same price as your food. I know if you live here they take the tax out in other ways, but as a visitor, it's always a nice surprise.<br /><br />Full and content, it's time for me to go to bed for a big day tomorrow, all day and evening downtown.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-41172110345168738482007-06-25T19:56:00.000-07:002007-06-25T20:04:11.045-07:00Portland, Day 1 (written 6/23)In Portland for the Pacific Northwest College of Art's Graphic Novel Intensive, a week of classes, lectures and workshops. I am having so much fun here, and it's only been 1/2 a day.<br />The train ride down was uneventful if boring and cramped (I ended up in one of those seats facing another set of seats) and rather filled with squalling childrens, but ah well. Took a taxi from the station 'cause I was so zonked (couldn't sleep well last night, natch) to my lovely little guest house! This place is so adorable. All the rooms are named after authors (well-except Elliott Smith. But I think the point is that they're all local.) I'm in the Ken Kesey. I have a skylight above my bed! <br /><cut text="Pictures and more details of my afternoon..."><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/606627455/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1405/606627455_b756d8c78b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Skylight over bed!!" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/606627341/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1373/606627341_57e45e54fb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" /></a><br /><br />After attempting to nap for a bit, and chatting with the proprietor in the lovely kitchen...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/606826578/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1028/606826578_400d398495.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kitchen" /></a><br /><br />...I then walked several blocks up to Hawthorne to look for food. After walking back and forth a few times in indecisiveness (and a detour into Powell's on Hawthorne where I gave in and bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060852550/ref=wl_it_dp/103-8576114-0884656?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3RRJ2IP56F2SK&colid=3OEDHQ8YGCOOX">Animal, Vegetable, Miracle</a> rather than waiting for the 400 people ahead of me on the library list-Yes, I have been in Portland for fewer than 24 hours and have already bought a book), I found a little sushi place on a sidestreet that turned out to be a fantastic find. They had a delicious salmon skin salad that consisted of salmon skin pieces (a generous amount), cucumbers, asparagus spears, julienned carrots and green onions in a yummy sesame vinaigrette. I also had an unagi roll which was decent, and also notable for the fact that it was in actual bite size pieces. I hate it when sushi is too big to fit in one bite.<br /><br />Anyway, I then made my way back down to Division and to Food Fight, a fabulous little food store where everything is vegan, and purchased some snacks and soymilk. Now I am back in my room with the skylight open, feeling the fresh breeze and watching the tree sway and the clouds roll by. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/606627507/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/606627507_a12c3a0438.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="View out of the skylight" /></a><br /><br />The weather is fantastic today-kinda warm and humid (but only if you're walking a lot) but with a great breeze, lots of variations of clouds and sun, and for a while there it was raining with the sun out. I love summer rain. There was some lightning too! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/606627673/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/606627673_006bb82bce.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="It's raining" /></a></cut><br /><br />It's going to be an early night for me because I am so tired and I have to get up fairly early tomorrow and the adventure of taking the bus downtown, etc. I have class until noon and then I will hopefully hook up with Alex from Stumptown Coffee, who will hopefully show me some cool stuff to do on a Sunday.<br /><br />Note: Click on any picture for a link to even more pictures. <br />Pictures from the train trip down will come later, as I shot only film.Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-25390581737714214872007-04-24T19:38:00.000-07:002007-04-24T20:01:32.098-07:00From foto to illo, what a strange trip it's been...Well, what can I say. Busybusybusy. Home stretch of class; 2 weeks until major portfolio review and 4 weeks until it is all over. This Saturday is the <a href="http://www.scbwi-washington.org/">Western Washington SCBWI</a>'s annual conference in Bellevue, where I will be rubbing elbows with the likes of <a href="http://www.paulozelinsky.com">Paul O. Zelinsky</a> and <a href="http://www.brucecoville.com">Bruce Coville</a>. (Well, I probably won't get to rub their elbows, but maybe I can get their autographs.) And then...in June, one week in Portland to attend the <a href="https://secure.pnca.edu/ce/reg/">Graphic Novel Intensive</a> at Pacific Northwest College of Art, featuring the illustrious (ha ha) <a href="http://www.scottmccloud.com/">Scott McCloud</a>!<br /><br />Things have been picking up at a fast clip, in other words.<br /><br />The photography has basically been put on hold...well, not from the point of view of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/sets/72157600051990445/">my Flickr account</a>, where I am uploading shots constantly...but that's a different kind of shooting from the work I used to do. It's gratifying, it appeases (for now) the part of me that has to always be getting the good shots, non stop (and this method is certainly easier on the budget than shooting an equivalent amount of film and then processing it.) Who knows when I will return to more serious traditional photography...perhaps someday in the near future I will have an actual house with a basement or shed where I can build a darkroom. Keep your fingers crossed for me...<br /><br />Revamped <a href="http://www.gabriellefine.com">the website</a>; now the home page features a choice! You can either go and view my photography (which currently features the exact same site as before, originally designed by the lovely staceyb of <a href="http://www.frenettik.com">frenettik</a>) or you can follow the link to illustration, which currently leads...well, back here, or rather to <a href="http://gfillustration.blogspot.com/">my other blog</a>. Soon I'm going to create a complete illustration site, but for now I have to focus on getting the portfolio ready, and it's enough that I just have something for people to look at when they visit my site.<br /><br />Back to work!Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28822443.post-86003485298522625252007-02-04T20:58:00.001-08:002007-02-04T20:58:00.310-08:00My first photo montage<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/380188724/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/380188724_1fd302e6cf_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/380188724/">My first photo montage</a> <br /> Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ellafine/">ellafine</a>. </span></div>This is what I did in class today.<br /><br />This class is taught by <a href="http://www.davidjulian.com/">the amazing David Julian</a>. The class is at <a href="http://www.luminousworks.com">Luminousworks.</a><br clear="all" />Gabriellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11640148117288377192noreply@blogger.com0