art love

Hello sweet shutter sister world!  I am so excited to be here!  I love this amazing community. I look forward to sharing lots of shutter love with you all. 

Happy 'sigh'.....

Not too long ago, before I was bit by the shutter bug, my crazy passion was painting. In fact I made my living as an artist, working with a publisher, licensing my art and good stuff like that. In the fall of 2009 I found myself having to rethink my creative path. And as I sat in my studio, staring at a blank canvas, my sweet Nikon whispered my name. I picked it up and we've been the best of friends ever since.  I went many months without touching my art. My beloved supplies just sat there, patiently waiting for me. But I took many pictures....many....many... pictures. 

In time my art supplies called to me, at first I resisted. I didn’t need them anymore. My camera was enough. But eventually the desire to get messy won me over. We found each other again. These days, I am blessed to combine my art and photography. Most days you will find me going back and forth between my iMac and my art....taking breaks to photograph my sweet Ben or something simple that catches my eye.

Besides your beloved camera, what are your creative tools? Perhaps you write daily in your journal, love to cook, maybe you are musician, maybe you knit. 

I love photos of art supplies, there's something about the texture of wool,  like this or this...that makes my heart sing, crafting, creative workspaces, kitchen tools .... sweet kitchen tools..... 'sigh'..... Love...just LOVE.

Share your creative tool shots with us today. I'd love to see them.

Be sure to give the amazing Kim Klassen a big warm welcome as she is our latest regular contributor here. We know ya'll are big fans (as are we) and we couldn't be happier to have her here to share her awesomeness with us!

Comments

[Anke]

Hi Kim ! Enjoy reading your post! ART LOVE - I'm definitely a passionate fan of that! Besides my camera, I can't go without creating expressive Collages!
So enjoy being creative, writing posts, it makes you feel so much better or enriches your life !

[Angela DiGiovanni | life * photos * art]

Ha - good to know this about you! I am taking Misty Mawn's Stretching Within Class now. Total newbie, but having the time of my life!

http://angeladigiovanni.com/2011/01/14/the-artist/stretching-within-exactly-where-i-need-to-be/

[Marcie]

Ohh...Kim. So great to see you here!!
Altho my camera is my primary 'favorite' tool with which to create..I've turned it indoors..using fruit as my subject:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1431
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1423

[Kat]

Welcome Kim! Nice to see you here. I love, love, love all types of art and playing around! I think exploring multiple mediums helps our photography grow.

Here's an art supply image, and a cultural lesson from Italy, all wrapped up in one:
http://www.kateyeview.com/2010/07/youve-gotta-have-your-guys.html

[Gunnel Svensson]

I really like you post, and I agree. When I started my account on Flickr, I think it was a site for art. Then when I bought my lovely Nikon the fall 2009, I took many many photos. And as you say, I don´t think I needed my (textile) art anymore. But now I have return to my fabrics AND my camera is always whith me. And it´s a so very nice combo!

[Doris]

Loved reading your words, Kim! I'm a big fan of your work. My creative passions:

Knitting:
http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/june-30-2010/

Photography:
http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/november-15-2010/

Cooking:
http://dorisrudddesigns.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/week-of-january-9-2011/

[Puna]

If I could craft all day I would. Lately though I would rely on the talent of my daughter.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2010/12/make-a-forest/

So nice to see you here. I just love your inspiring blog. I wonder often how you do it:)

[Amy]

I am working on a project 365, and I took this self portrait to show a piece of who I am....a crafty girl. They are my Copic markers....

http://365project.org/amylouise/365/2011-01-10

[deea]

I love & deeply admire my shutter sisters, so if they have chosen you as a contributor I can't wait to hear more from you, Kim!
I knit - a little, but not 'fittingly'; I cook - often, but not fabulously; I sew - sporadically, but skillfully enough; I play flute - or did, but no one should listen to the din;
Photography is my main creative outlet, and even it isn't done with proficiency. My life has taken some turns as of late. Away from creating. To much time given in service. Hopefully I'll find my way back. :)

[Ingrid]

HI Kim - and welcome to SS. I love your textures and the fact that you are so generous with your time and your many talents. Your blog is always inspirational.
I enjoy knitting, although it takes so long (well, it takes ME so long!) to finish most projects. I like the repetitiveness and the almost mesmerising slowness of it all.
But for almost instant gratification, digital photography is high on my list of creative pastimes, although I can spend hours playing with an image before I consider it 'done'.
I am really enjoying exploring textures and would recommend that anyone interested in combining textures with their images go visit your 'cafe' at http://www.kimklassencafe.com/ for a few gorgeous ideas.

[Jennifée]

Oh, I love how the image up there is almost only white and grey tones with some few hints of colour!

I knit, sometimes a lot, and sometimes not that much, but I always come back to it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5153582007

I also love to cook, and to shoot what I cook :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/5171991279/

[Patti A]

Kim-It is so wonderful to see you here also. I love the your Blog. I love my camera but i am also a fiber artist, i enjoy rug hooking, love the feeling of the wool and all the beautiful colors.

[meredith winn]

hi kim, it's great to see you here! welcome to the sisterhood!

i've always said i was a writer having a love affair with photography. and it's rare to shoot a written word, but this is as close as i get to documenting the other half of my creative process.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/3192406029/

[cindy]

i enjoyed your post and think it's good to work in different mediums. we're lucky to be able to do so.

i like to do a lot of things and lately i've been playing with some japanese tape
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71443419@N00/5346420014/

and a new needle craft called sashiko, which is also japanese
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71443419@N00/5344356498/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71443419@N00/5364045741/in/photostream/

[Beth]

Cake decorating is a random hobby of mine -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14632491@N07/3390132378/in/set-72157624863585294/

Making things pretty makes me extraordinarily happy. :)

[Ashley Sisk]

I couldn't be more thrilled to see you (Kim) over here at SS. You inspire me almost daily and I can't wait to be even more inspired!

[Becky Sue]

Oh, yay! So glad you are here now, Kim. Funny thing, this past fall, when I was just discovering the amazing world of Kim Klassen, I thought you were a Shutter Sister based solely on the Squarespace similarity. I was unaware until a month or so ago that Squarespace was only web-hosting and not exclusive to Shutter Sisters. It's so fitting that it's now official. Congrats to you and lucky us!

Jewelry making is just one more of my hobbies and that I can combine it with my photography hobby makes it even more dimensional.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/5232604934/

[amy]

oh kim! hooray! congrats!

[rawqueen]

Welcome Kim! I love your photo.I am new to this community and have felt so much shutter love it is beyond words... I am on the road right now but snapped a charming shot of studio tools just last night! So in sync. I have yet to post it but intend to do so when we return home. I also move (albeit sometimes frenetically) between my art/photography/jewelry/mac. I relate to the defining and constant redefining of craft/artistry. And I find that it keeps my inspiration flowing to weave in and out of mediums. I posted some art love earlier this week that resonates todays post.
http://somethingblu.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/cup-o-love-a-secret-dreams-from-the-rock/

[~Kristina]

Kim! I'm in awe of all you do. It's so great to see you here.
I dance with my camera though words are what captures my heart.

[damiec]

Congratulations Kim!
I have always been a maker of things, much less so since I fell hard for photography, so I really get your post. I love the metaphorical and literal possibilities that art supplies offer, and I can get almost drunk on their colors. Fortunately for me my kids make art every day, so I've got plenty of opportunity to shoot art supplies and the creative process.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4294879002/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/5109384032/

[Dawn B]

I also work in a million different mediums! Painting was my first love - oils specifically. I also work in monotypes, collage, and assemblage. I love photography and shooting film. Life is good!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elfini/2051123554/in/photostream/

http://www.slamdancephotography.com/throught-the-viewfinder/turpentine-therapy/

[Lisa Gutierrez]

oh this is right up my alley! I, too, love love LOVE the tools of the trade. I'm a big fan of woolly textures, but lately I've been doing a bit of block printing and so that's introduced me to a whole other beautiful world! http://vivacityphoto.com/?p=99

[Deanna]

As I say in the accompanying post I really can't believe I am celebrating this drawing but really I am and since this is one of the most supportive online communities I have found I thought I would share because even if something thinks I am silly I doubt they will actually say it :)

http://anewdayadifferentway.blogspot.com/

[Margaraita]

Kim, congratultion, I admire and respect your art

[xanthe]

welcome kim, good to see you here x.

[Rebecca]

Love art supplies too!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccasmithphotography/5375311403/

[bella]

Squeal !!! Kim.. you rock! Welcome, welcome to this space... I am super excited for you.

[Lisa]

Hi Kim! :P Love this photo. And for me...well besides my camera, my ultimate creative tool is a pen and a moleskine notebook. But, I also love making jewelry and playing with fabrics and other crafts as well! <3

[WorthIt!]

Welcome, Kim!

Thanks for sharing a little about yourself and your beautiful photograph. Love the light and focus in the shot - dreamy!

In addition to photography, I love to cook. Although, I don't often photograph my kitchen accomplishments...hmmm...

Here is a shot of some delicious farm-fresh potatoes I took this summer - just looking at them makes my mouth water.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52055227@N07/5375537693/

I look forward to getting to know you better over the coming months.

[prairiegirl]

kim, you little dickens ... ; )
look at you s o a r ... some m o r e !!
so super excited for you to be here ~ a lovely addition to the sisterhood indeed ... xo
you are an artist i admire and you are a friend i love ...

i get pretty overwhelmed lots of the time with how much creativity and artistry there is in the every day around me ...
to drink it all in is dizzying ...
right now i am loving photography and ARTography, thanks to playing around with your awesome textures!
i love food and cooking and baking ~ especially bread ... i have dabbled in many art forms throughout my lifetime ~sketching, oils, watercolour, clay and am currently intrigued with wire and papiér mache ...
i play harp and piano ... i write ... i would love to learn to knit ... i sew ... i repurpose ... i garden and landscape and have a deep love affair with stones and rocks ... oh, and junktiques ...
professionally, i am a graphic artist and marketing consultant and am working hard to put that 'on the shelf' so i can create without the 'sell' aspect always niggling in my mind ... arggh ... ; )

but most of all i love and admire other artists, like you kim, and what they and you bring to the canvas of life ...
jumping with joy!
xoxo
<i>prairiegirl</i>

[Dotti]

Welcome, Kim! I knew before the end of the first sentence that you had to be the author! I've been on your texture lovin' list for a while, have done skinny-mini, am doing Essentials now. Last night I listened to Textures in Ten only to learn that I'd been doing it the hard way! It's so much more fun the way you do it.

Photography is my only medium but I love it although I am still a novice with much to learn. Shutter Sisters is a great place for inspiration and learning.

No photo to post (shhh! I'm at work!) since my photos are on my home computer but here's the inter-generational blog that my daughter and I have just launched:

http://www.camperky.com

[Red or Gray Art]

Kim ... so happy to see you here !

I admire you so much for your beautiful photographs as well your enthusiasm and encouragement towards other artists of all kinds... I look forward to your posts here love ELK

simple creative tools .. paper . thread . fabric . words ...

http://www.redorgray.com/2011/01/t-h-r-e-e.html

[Betsy]

I simply adore your blog, and it gives me a lot of joy to follow your posts. Thanks for sharing such beautiful images and thoughts.
If you would like it, I'd like to share the Stylish Blogger Award with you. If not, just know your site is lovely and appreciated!

[Rosie Grey]

What a wonderful post, Kim! I'm really glad you didn't give up on your crafts... just thinking about all those wonderful textures!

[maureen]

Oh Kim I'm so happy for you!
Your star is just exploding all over the place!
xo
maureen

[Lara]

Congrats, Kim! You are a super addition. Reading your story, I found that I have gone the opposite path. I'm a photographer by trade, but now am finding art calling my name. I've been experiementing with tons of stuff and just having the best time. Mixed Media collage bug has bitten me big-time and I'm finding that I want to do it more and more.

I created something I call "Photography and Art: The Great Medium Experiment" to focus on a new medium every month. January is encaustic month and I'm having a blast slinging wax.

Here is a project:
http://modernprairiegirl.com/?p=8538

[Trina]

Oh Kim! I love that you linked to Jackie and her sketchbooks and as you know; she is my biggest inspiration of all! I love my camera but I love what I do in post almost as much as the taking of the photo. A big part of my workflow includes the use of textures; interweaving them with my images. And that yours are created with the traditional 'messy' tools makes them that much more special in my eyes!

Thanks for this wonderful post and as always; your sweet outlook on life and always your inspiration! ❤

[Beverly]

so happy for you Kim! congrats! xoxoxo

[magpie]

hi kim -
i, too, am loving your tutorials
and delighted to see you in yet
another venue.
photography is my constant
and i've recently returned
to drawing via the yahoo group
everyday matters.
collage too. here
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9xcavO1SiIc/TTdAm6soEhI/AAAAAAAAFoE/-HLwQomUxSw/s1600/01182011_clutter2workingtoo3.jpg
is a drawing of the chaos of supplies
on my 'dining' table

[kristin]

oh kim you dear girl!! i'm SO blessed to be watching as you soar on your creative journey!! I *love* you, you know that don't you?!?! :0)
a word spoke to my soul {and my nikon :0)} Artography....using a mix of mediums to add art to my photography...so i guess i'm getting the best of both creative worlds!

take care my dear girl...we need to go out and celebrate!!

big prairie XO
kristin

[Gail]

Congrats, Kim! LOVE your work - so glad we'll be seeing more of you!

[Anita]

Kim, I have learned so much from you over at the cafe. It's so exciting that you are starting on a new adventure here. I look forward to continuing to learn not only from you but now the rest of the shutter sisters as well.

[Anna]

Kim,
How exciting! You will add so much to the Shutter Sisters site. Congrats.

[rani]

Congrats Kim! Looking forward to your talent over here!

[Sue]

Congrats Kim! I admire your work, enjoyed my recent class, and will look forward to hearing more from you at Shutter Sisters as well.

http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com

[Lisa]

So good to see you here Kim!
Congratulations! So truly well-deserved!

[Brandi]

I looove taking photos of art supplies. For me, it's the idea of the potential that lies in them that gets me.

Much congratulations to Kim! I'm so excited for this venture of yours!

[Beverly Ash Gilbert]

You are in the company of gorgeous talent - what a well deserved honor! You go girl!!

[Michelle Kennedy]

Kim, there is nothing you can't do, isn't there? Found my way here via your texture's list link. Happy to see you've another creative outlet. More for us all to enjoy!