The Challenge

 

I do not photograph subjects as life-like images. My work is sometimes abstract and at other times impressionistic and many times both. What I’m doing is having a conversation with light, shadows, and color. In my Kinetic Ambiguity’s Land Series, Vista Segments, there is a lot of focus on what you can’t see. The challenge is often figuring out what you do see. If you look for them, you’ll notice that the landscapes have been there right in front of you, all along.

If you're interested in buying a print, send me an Instagram DM at elmp_kap or email me at ELMPhoto.FA@gmail.com. If you live in California, I may be able to deliver the artwork to you personally.

2025 pricing breakdown:
Size 12"x18", for $1,540.00
Size 20"x30", for $3,080.00
Size 30"x45", for $4,620.00 

Each work is an edition of 5 with 2 artist proofs. The prints have a slightly satin, nearly matte finish, and are printed on enamel coated aluminum using archival pigmented inks ensuring their longevity and beauty for years to come. And I have a frame attached to the back of each print for easy hanging.

(Kinetic Ambiguity Project, Land Series, Vistas Segment, 81745, “Blue Guard”, 5/13/2023)

(Kinetic Ambiguity Project, Land Series, Vistas Segment, 8440, “Tower One”, 2/29/2020)

 

Selling Prints – 2025

This gets a little unsettling, the act of stating one’s prices in this contemporary art endeavor. Or rather this art business. The reality is that I have nothing to lose and much to gain – though it is challenging to see that right now. So, to be clear, my artwork is for sale.

If you're interested in buying a print, send me an Instagram DM at elmp_kap or email me at ELMPhoto.FA@gmail.com. If you live in California, I may be able to deliver the artwork to you personally.

2025 pricing breakdown:
Size 12"x18", for $1,540.00
Size 20"x30", for $3,080.00
Size 30"x45", for $4,620.00

Each work is an edition of 5 with 2 artist proofs. The prints have a slightly satin, nearly matte finish, and are printed on enamel coated aluminum using archival pigmented inks ensuring their longevity and beauty for years to come. And I have a frame attached to the back of each print for easy hanging.

(Kinetic Ambiguity Project, Land Series, Vistas Segment, 101539, “Tree and Hill”, 2/24/2024)

(Kinetic Ambiguity Project, Land Series, Vistas Segment, 4788, “Fenced Joshua Tree”, 12/22/2019)

Do You Know Your Visual Signature? – Part 3

(Designation, Motion Project 40713 – not named at this time.)

(Designation, Kinetic Ambiguity Project 54150 – not named at this time.)

Working with a 50mm focal length and a 1x1 aspect ratio (see previous 2 post) gave me a better picture (pun definitely intended) of what my visual signature is with my ongoing principal projects.  The images above have a 50mm focal length and a 1x1 aspect ratio.  The images below have a (1) 135mm and (2) 300mm focal lengths with a 1x1 aspect ratio.  Both of those projects will stay at the 3x2 aspect ration I normally photograph at, as I feel it serves my visual signature well, especially after doing this.  It’s not that I don’t like the results because, yes, I do like the results.  I just believe I have other projects that 50mm and 1x1 will work better with – in particular, my Victor Valley Project which initially was at 50mm and 1x1, for a time.  I’ll have to create some new work with that project and share that with you soon.  This experimenting with focal lengths and aspect ratios has helped me to take a closer look at how I can better communicate with the viewers of my photography.  And it also helps me dial in the motif of my artistic style, or rather, my visual signature in my work.

If you haven’t done so, you should experiment with your visual signature.  I imagine that creative ideas will spring from doing this exercise.  And I think you will have some new fun while you are at it.

(Designation, Motion Project 40210 – not named at this time.)

(Designation, Kinetic Ambiguity Project 54779 – not named at this time.)

Do You Know Your Visual Signature – Part 2?

So, I have been doing some work with the 50mm focal length after watching that “What is Visual Signature?” on YouTube.  See previous post for details.  I think I mentioned this before, but I use to shoot mostly at 50mm until I gradually moved away from it.  As I said in the previous post, I’ve been at 300mm for my Kinetic Ambiguity Project and 135mm for my Motion Project for a while now.  Well, I did not only experiment with 50mm, I also photographed with 1x1 aspect ratio as well.  I made some interesting self-discoveries in doing this that I will share with you on the next post.  I’ll say this though, 50mm is a proven focal point.  Still, we need to keep in mind our own visual signature.

(Designation, Objects 457 – not named at this time.)

Why I Wanted a New Camera

On Christmas, 2019, Jane (my wife and so much more) gave me a dream gift: a Canon EOS 6D Mark II camera.  It was my very first full frame DSLR.  And I have taken thousands of frames with it since then.  Yes, it was the only thing on my wish list (no secret there) and it cost a hunk of change (we are not monetarily wealthy) but I have imagined myself with one ever since I first heard about it in 2017.  Why did I want one so bad, the full frame sensor of course!  What it replaced was my Canon Rebel T3i which I had for five years at the time.  Its age wasn’t the issue, its APS-C sensor was.  I wanted that full frame sensor with a passion.  But has it changed my life?  Not really.  I really like the camera though because of a lot of features it has – not just the full frame sensor.  But I haven’t really taken advantage of most of those cool new features.  I think I’m going to change that though.  I think I’m going to leave my comfort zone and try some of these cool new things.  Stay tuned.

Oh, what do you think of my cool vignetting?

Oh, oh!!  If you like my posts, please add your email to my follow gang so you’ll get a message when I post again. 

(Designation, Motion Project 32960 – not named at this time)

Another Reason Why I Make Photographs

I got the chance to get out and make some images this weekend.  This was not on my list to do but it is no secret that I needed it – the therapy of making photographs.  When I am out there (anywhere really), with a camera in hand, the therapeutic relief is not instant.  It takes some time before I relax a bit and get into the flow of my process.  It varies but generally it takes about 30 minutes and I begin to feel what I’m doing with my camera.  For me, it is a free consultation with a mental health profession.  When I’m done, I am in a more relaxed state of mind and can better work my way through some of my issues that need addressing in my world.  I don’t know, but it may work for you too – if that is something that you need.

(Designation, Kinetic Ambiguity Project 2615 - not named at this time.)

 

Breakout Moments This Spring Auction Season.

“8 Artists Who Had Breakout Moments This Spring Auction Season” was an article I scanned (I only read the first paragraph) on Artsy.  I was scanning to see if any of the artist were photographers.  I believe they were all painters.  I am not upset with painters; they are cool folks.  I am just like, “yeah, that was what I expected”, with the industry regarding fine art photographers.  I know, there are thousands of recognized fine art photographers all around the world, but it just seems like…  I am not sure of the words I want to use here so I won’t.  But there was another thing that I must keep remembering when I read these art industry articles – they are not writing to me.  They are writing to top tier collectors, notable gallerist, accomplished artist, etc.  The work that was in the article was cool though.

Just the same, you should have a look at my website.  I imagine you will really like it.

(Designation, Kinetic Ambiguity Project 4785, Aeolian)

I Still Have A Day Job

It’s been a few weeks since I have made a blog entry.  Priority things that maintain our home took all of the available minutes for a while – lots of things going on.  But this blog (and my art in general) is important to me so I figure out ways to make it happen.

Though they are few, I put a lot of effort into the actionable events I participate in.  I try to learn what I can do to make it as successful for me as possible.  I do those things that I have learned as best I can.  I say this because I still have a day Job – there is only so much time available to my artwork.  I’m married, we both work, we have kids in school, my oldest is in college, we divide the work (a lot of work) of maintaining our house, we have dogs, my mom lives with us, we have a horse, we have large extended families, we do stuff with our kids, etc.  So, when I say I still have a day job, it’s a bit more than just that.  It’s easy to see how I’m at the point now I can’t afford the time to watch TV anymore – well, save for watching Game of Thrones.

The next actionable event I’m participating in is just around the corner – the Palm Springs PhotoFestival.  I’ve been once before back in 2013 – I was still an undergrad at Cal State San Bernardino at the time, so we had the student discount working in our favor (there was a small group of us).  This event costs a good amount of money – especially if you’re participating in the photo review.  I guess it’s unfair to say I’m going to the festival – I’m going to the photo review.  I’m working on getting my work seen by people who may find it compelling enough to want to see it in a show or published.  That’s what the review is about for me.  And to get a critique of what I have done.  That is very helpful as well.  Ultimately, my goal is to work as an artist and earn as much as I do with my day job, so I don’t need my day job anymore.  Doing this photo review is working towards that end.

But part of the cost (like printing your edited portfolio) is having something to help your reviewer remember who you are.  And that is the purpose of this writing.  That and making a blog entry.

I’m making a small photo book give away for my reviewers.  I wanted to say something about the projects that I’ll be showing in the book as well.  They are my Motion Project, Juxtaposition Project, Kinetic Ambiguity Project, and Victor Valley Project.  I know that my art, my images, are just what someone is looking for.  I just have to find that someone.

California Poppies – Contemporary Art

That’s what I think; those poppies, flowers in general, are works of art created by nature.  To be clear, this is a secular blog so I’m not suggesting or hinting at anything.  I am pointing out the obvious, is all – nature has always been an amazing artist.  I spent a little time at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve yesterday.  There were a lot of people.  That was not a lot of fun, but the poppies were worth it.  And I need a lot of flower images for a project I’m working on so I will need to brave some other spots during the anticipated “super bloom”.

Abandoned Places as Contemporary Fine Art

I created some new images this past Saturday (3/9/2019).  It always feels good working with my camera in hand.  I did a few different things but the major focus were a couple of abandoned places.  They were not really that far off the beaten path but abandoned just the same.  The thing that is intriguing for me is how this type of work can be fine art.  It’s tough wrapping my head around how we package our work and discuss it will impact how well received it may be in the world.  Or not even noticed.  If I were wealthy, would I still do this work?  Of course, I would!  It would take up a big chunk of my day unlike now where I try to squeeze it in where ever possible.  I’m a photographist, after all and this is what I live to do.

I find a peculiar strength of character in those places long abandoned – I want to know the story of these humble structures.  But most I will never know.  And there is a certain disjointed charm in that knowledge.  I think it motivates my approach to the subject and directs my composition to some extent.  That must be the source of the contemporary fine art in these abandoned places.  But I didn’t show you any of those here today.  You can see one on my Instagram but today I am showing you the view of the regal San Gabriel Mountains as seen from the Victor Valley.  Why this image and not one of the abandoned places?  I haven’t edited that crop sufficiently enough for blogging yet – I just wanted to talk about it.  But this one, taken on the same day, is ready. 

When I’m done with the image creation for the day and packing up my gear, I have a since of euneirophrenia that swarms through my thoughts – that feeling of, “I know I have a winner somewhere in that group”.  I think this one is a winner.

A Work in Progress

Well, I did it.  I opened my very own Etsy store.  It’s not the usual way they go on Etsy but it’s what I want to do.  Or should I say, it’s how I want to approach it. We’ll see how well it works.

I just have four items in the store right now but I will be adding to the store every week.  I also added my Etsy link on the right side of this blog with my other links.  I put on my Instagram page as well.  I suppose I should put in Facebook too but I rarely use Facebook anymore.  We’ll see.

This is pretty cool though.  And it’s step one in the plan.  We’ll see…

This image is a close up of what is at my Etsy store.

And this image is a close up of what is currently at my Etsy store also.

Felix LA Art-Fair

So, Art-Fairs.  I didn’t go to this one but I kind of wish I did because it seemed different.  I did read about it in ArtNews though.  The article; “‘Everything Feels MoreIntimate’: Felix LA Brings New Life to Art-Fair Circuit” by Janelle Zara, posted on February 15, 2019.  You should read Ms. Zara’s article because it is interesting and I’m not going to redo what she did in my post.  This is what I learned for me though – you can buy t-shirts (art t-shirts or really t-shirts with art on them) at Art-Fairs.  Which means to me, I can sell art t-shirts.  Also, this Art-Fair was held in a hotel, not a convention center or the like.  Galleries set up in rooms in the hotel.  The hotel was the Roosevelt Hotel and, from what I read, the place has a lot of history.  The article had a lot of discussions on the feel of this Art-Fair compared to the big box type of Art-Fairs.  But what I gleamed that seemed most important to me was the price ranges some of the galleries were selling art at.  For me – because I’m trying to sell work – that is useful information.  Along with that part regarding t-shirts.

Photo LA – 2019

Yesterday, I went to PhotoL.A. – 2019, at the historic Barker Hangar, in Santa Monica.  It was raining.  Not a light shower or drizzle, it was raining.  You can still see the art fair today up until 4pm, (I believe but check the link above to be sure) but the earlier you go today (opens at 11:00am) the better chance you have of not being rained on.

For me, it was a good photography art fair.  I liked the old location in Los Angeles better but this this still worked.  I saw a lot of really good work and I saw work that made me feel good about the work I’m doing with my images. My website shows a lot what I’m doing except my Motion Project – it’s not ready to go on the site yet.  But this might have been my last Photo L.A.  You know when you get that feeling that something is out of sorts – something is not quite working.  The last time I went to this art fair was 3 years ago and I got that same kind of feeling then too.  I have experienced that “feeling” in different setting and places from here to the other side do the world – and I have had these “feeling” since I was a child.  No one said or did anything to me nor did I see something along those lines.  But there is non-verbal communication going on all the time – I have learned to be cognizant of it.  But this is a great event for photographic art lovers.

I even met Ms. SusanSpiritus at her gallery’s booth, G05.  That was cool but I was really awkward – there went my first impression.  And I met the artist Ms. Hui Yi, who was with the SoPhoto Gallery out of Beijing.  Yes, all the way from China to participate in this art fair.  That’s cool and she was nice – she briefly explained her work to me too.  Photo L.A. is really a great chance to see some exceptional photographic art.  If you can make it today, you should go.  It’s not free but you’ll see some amazing work.

 This is what I drove through to get to Photo LA.

 It doesn't say it on the label but this is from the Susan Spiritus Gallery.

And this is one of Ms. Hui Yi's images I took of her post card.

A Review of the Exhibition, “In the Sunshine of Neglect”

The show runs from January 19 through April 28, 2019.

Last night, Saturday, January 19^th, Jane and I went to the Riverside Art Museum (RAM) and UCR Arts’ California Museum of Photography (CMP) for the opening of “In the Sunshine of Neglect: Defining Photographs and Radical Experiments in Inland Southern California, 1950 to the Present”. We haven’t had a date night in a while, and we love looking at art, so the opportunity was perfect.  And I would get a chance at maybe seeing some art friends which is always nice.  Both RAM and CMP websites have a good write up about what to expect at the photographic exhibition (the same write up, actually) so I don’t need to do that.  But you should go see this show if you can, especially if you live, work or go to school in the Inland Empire – or you just love photographic art.  I haven’t been to a lot of openings, but this opening reception night was probably the biggest that I have ever experienced – there was a gang of folks out at both venues.  But it was fun and worth the price of admission – oh, that was $0.00.  But you do have to pay at the CMP on normal viewing times - $6.00 or less (students, seniors, etc.)  There is a lot of great art being shown at this exhibition and I plan on going back to better take it all in, but it was especially nice seeing those friends/CSUSB alumni though.  Like Katie, Andrew and Sant (who is also a former professor of mine).  That was really cool.  Go see the show.

United States Army Retired

After twenty years in the Army, you get a few token things to remind you of the odyssey. The tie pin is one of those things many toss in a drawer, if that, never to be seen again. I guess because it's an odd thing, this retired Army tie pin. Still, it is a reminder that you put in 20 years, or more, in uniform getting your boots dirty around the world. It says you made it pass go and got to collect $200.  But what do you do with it if you don’t wear ties?  Do retired women get one too?  I think they should replace the tie pin with a “Retired Army” coffee cup (one of the nick names, in the Army, for coffee was ‘lifer juice’ – alluding to those who were in for the long haul) or a “Retired Army” shot glass, that way we ‘lifers’ could get better use out of the ‘gift’. It's been 13 years since I was given this tie pin. It seems a lot longer than that; it seems a lot farther away. Well, I'm on a different journey now. My goal is to be a working artist. That is to say, I earn my living from being an artist; you know, my ‘day job’ is being an artist. I hope I stressed ‘artist’ enough. The tie pin is a good reminder that this present goal is achievable too, but it takes time. And it reminds me to have fun with the adventure as well, like I did with my Army adventure (it wasn’t fun all of the time but there were a lot of fun moments). And having things to remind me is good because sometimes I forget to have fun every now and then – really.

Oh, the image.  The retired Army tie pin is a part of this photomontage.  If you need to see it by itself, it’s on my Instagram.  The link is over there on the right.  Like I said, artist.

Baltimore Museum of Art

Do you follow art news or the website artnet?  I have recently started to follow art news – it’s like a break from stories dominated by an orange dude who…  Like I said, a break from other kind of news.  I read this story about how the Baltimore Museum of Art sold some of their top dollar artwork by white guys (Andy Warhol, Franz Kline, and Robert Rauschenberg, for example) so that they could acquire some top dollar artwork by people of color and women (Jack Whitten, Amy Sherald [the artist who painted Michelle Obama's official portrait], Wangechi Mutu, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and a bunch of others).  The personally sad thing about this was that I did not know who these, people of color and women, artist were – and I’m a studio art major.  Hell, I graduated with honors on top of that.  I felt like a dumbass and I know I’m not dumb.  I know it goes without saying but I did know of all the white guys they mentioned in the article.  So, I had to look up a few of these artists whom I did not know.  I was really flabbergasted by one artist in particular – Isaac Julien.  This dude…  Wow!  Well his website says that he is a “filmmaker and installation artist”.  But he makes photographic prints too.  And “Julien was awarded the title Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s birthday honors, 2017.”  So like yeah.  Well, you never stop learning.  I need to hurry up and get my stuff out there.

The images below are some early work from 2014.  I have a lot more newer images that I need to finish up the post production on but the preoccupied state of subjects in these two makes them still very relevant today.  And I like them.

Extreme Art

Here’s the thing, I exist in, I think in, I work in the extremes.  For me, it takes daily effort – all of the time – to operate in the middle where most people are; and are comfortable with me.  It doesn’t help that I’m a little bigger than average.  Nor does it help that I’m black, an African American, a person of color, etc.  And I, if I’m not monitoring myself, can be loud – or say nothing at all.  Both ways make folks uncomfortable.  But I have been managing myself all of my adult life – I’m in my mid 50s now.  Unless you are like this, you may not be able to really grasp how this is not an easy way to live.

So, let me narrow in on my art.  As far as what I would like to do with my life – I just want to be a working artist – predominantly working with photography.  Why working artist?  I don’t want to do anything else – employment wise.  But I do have a fulltime non-artist job so I work on my art as time permits.  I go to non-artist work to help provide for our family.  We have kids, my wife and I, and we both work.  That’s good and I love my family.  It’s just the non-artist work part – I want my job to be an art job, not non-artist work.

So what does that have to be with being on the extreme? When I do work on my art, I push it.  I’m back in the extremes and I am comfortable working on my art that way.  I have recently joined Instagram and I push my art there too – working on exposure and learning how to make Instagram work for my art.  When I’m creating, it’s just me in my head so it doesn’t involve anyone else.  But when I’m doing the Instagram thing and trying to gain exposure, I wonder if I’m pushing too much.  I don’t know.  It’s obviously not too much for me but I don’t know if it’s too much for everyone else – I don’t get that type of feedback from Instagram (at least not that I’m aware of yet).  So, I will back it off a bit – put that Instagram thing in “the middle where most people are”.  Just saying that makes Instagram now feel like…

Well, I just had to write this down.

This image is my latest #montage, digital collage, #photomontage, photo conceptualism, “California Tree Dreams II”.  It is on the website too.

MOCA Los Angeles

I am the new director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles!  Ok, not yet but I should be.  Let me tell you why.  I have leadership experience (over 20 years in the Army – I was a platoon sergeant for crying out loud!); I can handle pressure and stress (did I mention the Army thing – tours to Iraq); I’m educated (a BA in studio art and a minor in business – and I graduated with honors); I love art (see the BA in studio art thing); museums like to have older folks running things – I’ll be 56 within weeks; diversity – I’m black; need to show some love to America – I’m a #vet and you know this (from above sentence); I support the #metoo movement (I’m married to my beautiful wife who is a college professor and we have 4 daughters between us and my mama lives with us – I’m no position not to support women in all of their struggles – and again, I can handle pressure and stress); management potential (see everything above); and I really want to work in the art world – really, really want to.

So, please contact MOCA Los Angeles and let them know I’m the perfect candidate.  Really.

Kerry James Marshall

It was a real uplifting feeling reading about the painting, “Past Times” by Kerry James Marshall, selling for all of that money.  Not because of the money but because the valuation of the work of a person of color – a black man.  It’s good to hear good stories about black people.  It’s good, as an aspiring #artist myself, to hear good stories about black artist too.  Thank you for doing your work, Mr. Marshall.

A Review of Celia Sanchez’ Exhibition, “Saints”

Way back on Cinco de Mayo, we dropped in on SPACE Gallery & Records in Claremont.  I wanted to have a look at Celia Sanchez’ work, “SAINTS”.  And I wanted to say hi to Christina Franco, the gallerist, whom I had not seen since the Pomona days.  Well, we ended up chatting it up for a bit and I basically ran out of time and we had to go.  I did manage to have a look at the Ms. Sanchez’ work and it’s really good.  But I did not have the minutes to meet her.  That I regretted.  Ms. Sanchez is a professional photographer and artist who has had her work featured in a few places.  Check out her website and Instagram to learn more – that’s what I did.  And after going to her website I really regretted not meeting her.  The body of work she presents on her site is incredible.  I was drawn in initially trying to find out more about her project “Saints” but I discovered this very thought provoking project, “Devoted”.  It begins as portraits of #tattooed women.  I won’t spoil it for you as to how it changes along the way.  It is truly great understanding of how we misjudge people every day.  I really enjoyed all of her work though, especially “Abandoned”, as I too work with abandoned structures too.  Ms. Sanchez’ take on the subject is a powerful journey in story telling though – really remarkable work.  I believe “Saints” is still showing at the Space Gallery but don’t know for sure.  But I know Celia Sanchez’ website is fully operational.