Still Working on my Photography Closeups

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Enlarged-photo-of-African-Violet
I have been practicing my close ups again. This time my African Violets are the subject instead of our little dog Annika.
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In a previous post I showed you an African Violet pot I was making in my slip casting class. Here is the pot which has now been fired with color on it. The color is more vibrant due to the firing. Today I painted it with a clear glaze and it will go back in the kiln for a final firing.  Next time you see it, the pot will be shiny and sporting a beautiful African Violet. No classes next week because of spring break, so I’ll have to wait two weeks to see the finished product. I can hardly wait to show you.

Photo Closeups with a Tripod

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Annika-2
This afternoon I was practicing using a tripod with my point and shoot digital camera. Annika was playing with her tennis ball and became my subject.
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They aren’t the best of photos, definitely too much flash, but I couldn’t resist posting them. Hope you don’t mind.
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A Trip to the Local Garden Nursery

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african-violet-plant

It’s Thursday which means it’s Artist Date Day. In my last post I showed the African Violet Pot I’m making in my slip casting class, and even though it will be a couple of weeks before I finish the project, I thought it would be fun to select a new plant. A visit to the local nursery would also be the perfect place for this week’s Artist date,  because it’s certainly colorful and has a creative atmosphere. Both are requisites for an Artist Date.

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I love the green house at the nursery where they keep the African violets and orchids. Here are only three of the many gorgeous plants I saw while browsing.
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It’s a good thing that I traveled by motorcycle and not car today, or else I would have come home with more than just the one African Violet.
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After this lovely white orchid I’ll leave you with a splash of color.
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It really was the perfect place to go for this week’s Artist Date.

Ceramic African Violet Pot

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African-Violet-Bisque
I started making ceramic African Violet Pots for all of my African Violets. This is a pot I poured in slip casting a couple of weeks ago. It has been fired in the kiln and is now ready for glazing and a second firing.
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I painted the top of the upper portion a bright yellow.
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I like blue and yellow together and thought it would be a cheerful combination. After the violet pot goes through the second firing the colors will be more vibrant. I’ll finish it with a shiny glaze and a beautiful plant. I’m really looking forward to seeing the end result.

An Artist Date to the Bird Store

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Macaw-parrot-2

 

Today I met this friendly young macaw at Omar’s Exotic Birds,  this week’s Artist Date. Omar’s is so colorful and I love seeing their birds. Our cockatiels came from Omar’s and we’ve been customers for over twenty years, so they know us well. I asked permission from the store manager before I took any photos. This lovely macaw was very friendly and not at all disturbed by my camera. In fact I had to be careful because he was a little too curious and kept reaching for the lens.
Senegal-parrot

I saw this bright little Senegal Parrot, while looking around the store, and it tugged at my heart. We lost our Senegal a little over a year ago and I still miss her.
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Before I left,  I went back to see the friendly macaw, and found him eating his lunch.
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I spent a few minutes looking at the wall covered with bird toys, but I resisted buying any and headed home.