Fond Memories: Vienna

During the recent NYC days of rain and snow, I remembered my trip to Vienna.  Essentially, the trip remains in my mind a fantasy of marvelous architecture, magnificent art, beauty and wonder.  I went to Vienna in November a few years ago.  The city is a paradise of sights and delights to please the senses, but the weather was cold and damp.  Snow and rain.  But such minor interferences cannot be taken seriously when there is so much to do and to see in the cultural wonderland that is Wien. Snow flakes frosted fancifully wrought arches and ornamented domes.  Rain misted enormous mullioned windows and huge wooden doors.  When my NY weather sometimes chills me to the bone, in my mind I visit Vienna where weather furthered charm.

Rain Misted Terrace: Vienna

Art genre: Sepia architectural photograph

Photography tip: Counterbalance dark horizontals with verticals/ diagonals

Location: Vienna

The Art Community

Today I received a delightful email from the marvelous Peruvian painter, Gloria Canales.  I met Gloria in person last Friday at my second opening at Jadite Galleries in NYC.  Gloria was opening a month long exhibit of her strikingly beautiful oil paintings.  The Peruvian artist paints wonderful surrealism from her dreams, she told me.  Gloria claimed not to speak English, but we were friends quickly: communicating through our shared language of art. We spoke for hours: not in English or Spanish, but finding just the right form of communication that bridged the language barrier with our mutual passion for art.  I was invited to stay with Gloria in her apartment in Lima and then we would tour Machu Picchu!  Gloria's son Carlos was also at the opening, sharing in his Mother's artistic joy and success.  Lovely people!  New friends speaking a common language!  

Gloria Canales with her painting: Jadite Galleries, NYC

Gloria Canales and I with her painting: Jadite Galleries, NYC

Carlos and I with my photograph: Jadite Galleries, NYC

Nature's Architecture

Architecture may be defines as "the act of building."  Nature architects our landscape continuously.  Humans have learned a great deal from nature about architecture and we will persevere in acquiring knowledge of essential building techniques from nature.  And, of course, natural beauty knows no bounds.  We are inspired endlessly by the natural world.  Here is an example of nature's architectural skills shot in West Florida: a natural landscape that provides convenience (rock ledge "steps"), HVAC, view, protection (there is a rock wall to the extreme left (not shown) and great natural beauty.  www.ellenfisch.com

Florida Fishing: Sarasota, FL

Art genre: Sepia art photograph

Photography tip:  Create interest with big sky shots and gradient tonalities.

Location: Sarasota, FL

Second Opening

My exhibit "Park Slope/ Prospect Park has been extended trough March 9th!  There will be a second opening tonight. http://www.ellenfisch.com/exhibitions.html

Grand Army Plaza Arch: Brooklyn, NY

PDN Photo of the Day

A great honor/pleasure to have my work be featured as PDN Photo of the Day on Friday, February 22, 2013!  My current NYC photography exhibition, "Park Slope/Prospect Park" has been extended through March 9th by popular demand.  I am sure the coverage by PDN was a factor.  Read the article here: http://pdnphotooftheday.com/2013/02/19402

Ellen Fisch studied photography and architectural drawing in college, and went on to lead two separate artistic lives: one as a photographer, the other as a painter. “I never combined the two,” she says. For the past 12 years she has focused on photography and says “I did OK as an architectural photographer,” but she adds, “I missed drawing and painting.” So she started drawing on her photographs with pencil, pastel, charcoal, and gold leaf. The results surprised and intrigued her. “I noticed that when used as accents and in small amounts, other art materials add depth and subtle nuances to photography.” She describes her technique as “enhanced photography.” She shoots digitally, desaturates the images before printing them on a fiber-based paper, and then draws on them. “I like the blacks,” she says. “I have the ability to [draw in] the real darks, and highlight the foliage so it appears to be capturing the light on the surface.” The images shown here are from Fisch’s “Park Slope/Prospect Park” series, which is currently on view at Jadite Galleries, 413 W 50th Street in New York, through February 26. Fisch will be at the gallery on Saturday, February 23 from 1-6 p.m.

Success Realized

There are many ways success may be realized.  Today was my day to reach a height of success that was deeply gratifying.
Last week I had the pleasure of making Valentines with my granddaughter's 3rd grade class.  I was invited back to talk with the children about Chinese Art today because they are studying China.  Being asked back in itself is indicative of success!  I was quite pleased.  The teacher knew that in the 1970's I had studied Chinese Art at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.  For several years I was a student of Sumi ink painting.  This form of painting is reliant on 7 brush strokes that are the keys to depicting all subjects: mountains, waterfalls, flowers, birds, boats and people.  I incorporated many of these Sumi techniques in my own watercolors, while developing a deep appreciation for Chinese Art.
The third graders were very receptive to my brief talk about Chinese Art and my own experiences with this very beautiful cultural expression.  Then, with bamboo brushes and watercolors, the 3rd graders made their own paintings.  It was a wonderful swirl of color, design, creativity, curiosity and fun. 
One lovely little girl came over to me with her picture of a river and a flowering tree.  "You came to my class today.  It was the best day of my life," she said shyly.  My success was surely realized!

Chinese Art:

My watercolors influenced in part by Chinese Art:

Three Brothers, by Ellen Fisch

Forest Lake, By Ellen Fisch

The Trek, by Ellen Fisch

Windows

Windows are wonderful.  You can see other spaces/places/subjects through them.  Even if you are looking out through a window onto a brick wall or air shaft, make it worthwhile:look at the  brick patterns or find that "shaft" of light. Many times I've examined seemingly simple or boring walls.  The longer you look, the more you may see.
There are other windows.  Those look out onto vistas of great beauty or, conversely, scenes of destruction.  The day I went shopping at Lord & Taylor on NYC's 5th Avenue, I found a window that presented an historic view.  Imagine the days when many of the buildings on 5th Avenue looked like this:

Art genre: Sepia architectural detail/art photograph with color

Photography tip: Windows are great subjects because they frame a second subject!

Location: 5th Avenue, NYC