Shutter Sisters

art love

By

 

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

  1. 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 !

  5. 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!

  9. 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. 🙂

  10. 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.

  12. 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.

  17. 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/

  19. 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/

  21. 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/

  24. 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/

  29. Hi Kim! 😛 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

  30. 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.

  31. 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>

  32. 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

  34. 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!

  37. 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

  38. 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! ❤

  41. 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

  43. 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.

  48. 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!

  50. 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!

  51. Congrats, Kim! What a fabulous addition you are to Shutter Sisters. I found you via "Artful Blogging" in August. Discovered Shutter Sisters in November. My creative world is forever changed. Thank you for the endless doses of inspiration.

    This post inspired me to think about my creative tools. For years it was paper, ink, rubber stamps, etc. Now I rely on my Canon and PSE 9. But thanks to your selfless instruction, the "cut & paste" years are blending nicely with my immersion into technology. The possibilities are truly endless…
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/abideinhim/5376073627/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/abideinhim/5376072023/in/photostream/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/abideinhim/5371359912/in/photostream/

  52. Such a lovely addition to the Shutter Sisters!! Yay Kim!! My new favorite things are art supplies…I'm new to drawing and painting, but am loving learning! I also love kitchen tools and writing implements – any kind of beautiful paper and pens!!

  55. Welcome, Kim!

    I absolutely love your picture. Makes me want to pick up a paintbrush.

    I'm so excited to read more posts from you!….Another source of inspiration! YAY!

  57. Kim – I love your work and am getting ready to take your eCourses. They sound great! Congratulations on your success! You give the rest of us so much inspiration. I'm a photographer and also a crafter. Smashing China – literally – is lots of fun. I make Pique Assiette mosaic items from broken plates and cups. Collage is another favorite pastime. I look forward to receiving your emails with anticipation. I am always so thrilled with your creations.

    Regards – Mari

  58. Hello Kim! Congrats! Nice to see you here!

    I love creative things for example your photo and other photos. I write diary and with a diary I can always shoot creatively. 😉 My diary is a little creative book. I stick into it all that reminds me of something. This year I've chosen especially a thick book, so I can glue a lot and can write a lot.

    http://oneyearofourlifeliundbelle.blogspot.com/2011/01/6365.html#links

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/mangerk/5329996977/in/set-72157625594154755/

  61. Great to have you at Shutter Sisters!!!
    My creative passions are creative writing and photography. I found blogging to be a great way to combine the two.

  63. Kim, how great to find you here (well, I came over from your site, actually). I love your photography, and your textures are just yummy. I love to combine photography (my first love) with making art (second love) using paints, paper (lots of!) and stamps. Your use of texture with photos is so inspiring for me!

  67. Congratulations, Kim.. So happy for you.. I admire your work, enjoy your classes and looking forward to seeing more of you in Shutter Sisters, too… Best wishes…

  69. Hey there Kim…so very pleased to see you here. Have I told you how much I adore shots of your studio. I drool over the art supplies every time. 🙂 xxo Denise

  71. Congratulations Kim ~ What wonderful news!
    Everyday I am amazed at all that you are doing. I love your work and have long been an admirer since first being introduced to your photography throught flickr.

    Personally, I joined flickr to challenge myself with something new and get me using my camera again a couple of years ago. I was at a point where I was feeling a bit bored with other things and needed a different direction – I am thrilled I did! I have learned so much and it has allowed me to meet so many amazing and talented women through this medium. I have even used several of your textures in my own images and have always been thrilled with the results.
    Here is one of the first ones I used from you: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplystated/4456188546/

    Some of my other loves are baking and the art of decorating cakes. Some of which you can see here: http://www.simplystatedsignaturecakes.com/
    There is something about creating something from scratch that gives me such personal satisfaction…I have even found I love photographing my creations.

    Again, many, many congrats to you!!! Thank you for sharing your creative talents with us and giving us more beauty in the world.
    Rebecca