Combat Photographers

I ran across a well-written Newsweek article during lunch on combat photographers. The article highlights the two photographers that were killed last week in Libya, Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros. A lot of people would say they, and war correspondents in general, are stupid for entering into war-torn countries and knowingly risking their lives. Perhaps. However, I think people forget that those photographs we see aren't taken by a fly on the wall, but actual people who are trying to get the world to pay attention. Anyways, worth reading or at least browsing some of the pictures.

Photos by Hetherington: At Outpost Restrepo

Photos by Hondros: Orphans of Tal Afar

Many are burdened with a sense of alienation, unable to explain to friends in the “straight world” what they’ve seen and why it keeps drawing them back. Some have lost all perspective on what they’ve experienced. War reporters are unique, Feinstein concludes in his 2006 book Journalists Under Fire, because for them alone, “war is the catalyst, not the nemesis, to their creativity.”

Mike's favorite things

Looks like I got distracted last week...

Completed 2007
24"x36"

Oil

Probably one of my most thought-out paintings is this one I did for husband/ boyfriend at the time. I like to tell him that had we not "made it", I wouldn't have hesitated to take it back and repaint over his face with someone else. Luckily I didn't need to do that!

This typically either gets a laugh, or a funny look. It's definitely an interesting mix: Gary Williams (UMD basketball coach), my hubby, Carlos Valderrama (Colombian soccer player), and Beaker from the Muppets. All the food and drinks on the table (mostly drinks) are also some of Mike's favorites. Another shout out to Maryland with the Cornerstone mug...

Wines and Vines

Completed 2009

24"x36"

Oil

Yes, I like wine. But mostly we needed something to hang in the kitchen... and this seemed like a good fit! The idea actually came from a picture I found on the internet... and someone else's love for wine.

Rusty

Completed 2007

16"x20"

Oil

This was a tribute to my childhood pet, painted for my parents shortly after he went to doggie heaven. Best. Dog. Ever.

Orange Flowers

Completed 2006

16"x20"

Oil

I'm not a fan of the flash photography here, but this was taken before I realized that no flash is better. It's also hanging in a friend's house that I don't have access to at the moment- this was another wedding gift for a different wedding.

Baltimore Cityscape

Completed 2008

24"x36"

Oil

Probably one of my favorite paintings... but mostly because I like Natty Boh moon looking over the city!

*** UPDATE: prints available here ***

A Wedding Gift

Completed 2011

11"x14"

Oil

My most recently completed painting is this one; a wedding gift for one of my best and oldest friends. Thanks to Facebook, I was able to snag their silhouettes off of one of their wedding pictures.

My Online Brand

Oddly enough it was an article (which I can not find at the moment) I read today that kick-started me into thinking about a blog. The article was about your personal online brand, and it got me thinking.... hey, maybe I need one! So my idea here is to not be so much a blog, but a place where I can collect all my "stuff" in one location. I've been painting, drawing, and embarking on crafty projects for years, but never really put it all together. I'm going to try and make this my online portfolio, and along the way I'll share things I'm working on.  Bear with me as I get started and take a trip down memory lane to track down some of my best work....