Photos In Swamp Ape

Hi there friends!

Welcome to the New Year! I hope that 2018 is all that you can make of it. This is really late, but I do hope that everyone is having a good new year, especially if you've had a rough past few years. January has absolutely flown by, but I still wanted to get in a Happy New Year before February!

Are you ready for the cold weather? It feels like it came on all at once and now we're smack in the middle of winter without any preparation for it. I love snow, but these super low temperatures can go away whenever they want. Brrr!

Back in January 2017 I had some photos published in Swamp Ape Review. I haven't had much chance to show off my photographic work in print, so this was an exciting first for me! Both of the published photos are from a autumn trip to Lake George, so they are quite old, but I love that more people got to see them through the magazine.

The 2017 issue is still up if you'd like to peruse it. Please check it out!

Happy Holidays

Happiest of holidays to all of my friends and readers. Thanks for hanging out with me for however long you've been enjoying the blog. I wish for nothing but the best for all of us in 2018.

This year I discovered a new love for learning calligraphy. I'll admit that I'm still building my skill, but here's a my wish for your holiday season.

Have a Happy New Year! See you in 2018!

Fabric Roundup

Hey friends!

I haven't forgotten my surface pattern design buddies out there. I hope you're still there, or if you're new, welcome! I didn't get to do quite as much fabric design this year as I would have liked, but I did do a lot of work on my painting and watercolors, coming in another post. There are a few new fabrics I designed and put for sale on Spoonflower this year, and I've rounded them up here.

Turquoise Mosaic -- I made this for the mosaic challenge on spoonflower.com, and I really love the way it came out.

Photos with Synergy

Hi there friends!

Long time no see! Lots of things have happened, good and bad between this post and my last. I'm really glad for the holiday season and all the time off I have from school.

That's right! I went back to school at the beginning of this calendar year. See, I told you  -- it's been a lifetime since I've posted! My photography studio, which I reopened this spring, is now called Erin McClain Studio. I've taken so many photos since then! I wanted to share some of the great highlights of the work I've done since then, so expect a few more posts from me soon.

For now, let me share one of my favorite photos from this summer. Meet Synergy Real Estate:

Summer Break

Hi gentle readers,
It's time for summer break already! I know I haven't been around much this year and then I've come back only to tell you about a break, but hear me out.

2016 so far

This year is flying by, friends. I cannot believe that we're already to the middle of March. It's been an incredibly busy year so far, both personally and professionally. I've got some good news to lead with -  first, if you haven't read my story "Purpose" published by Devilfish Review in January, you should. It's a free read.

Read "Purpose" here

Try A Little Tenderness

Dear Gentle Readers,
I am reminded every so often how beautiful simple things are, how wonderful the quiet moments are and how healing they can be for the soul.

No Deadlines, Just Progress

It's been a while, hasn't it, gentle readers?

Sorry for the radio silence as of late, but there's been a lot of work going on here. There still is. I'm not working toward a deadline for anything, just trying to make progress the best way I know how.

Late Light

A preview of a new preset from my Four Seasons collection.

A few fall pictures

A few of my fall snapshots, now that the season is officially upon us.

Take care, friends!

A short, happy update

Hi friends,
There's been a lot going on lately, but I just wanted to share that I've had another story accepted by a publisher and it will be out this December. I am very excited to share this news, especially since my last post dealt with the inevitable rejection that comes with creation and finding a market.

More details to come later!

Aren't you glad it's almost fall?  I know I am! I hope to reopen my etsy shop to orders in October, the perfect time for enjoying all the fall photography and colors. Until then, my Society6 shop is still open, and I've got a tumblr for my art, if you want to follow me there.

That's all for now!

Rejection

Recently I got a rejection for a story I wrote, from a magazine I've submitted stories to before. Even though my story didn't make the cut, I was happy to hear back from them. There have been enough rejections in the past and they no longer sting as much.

Free Background Wallpapers

A while back I offered some free background wallpapers for download here on the blog.

Recovering

Hi all!
I'm writing on the other side of a successful eye surgery.  I am recovering well at home. 

Let me tell you, my spirit is so light.  I feel so much better.  Things feel like they are turning for the better in my life, and it is making my smile reappear.   I am eager to go back and start some new work, even though we're still in the process of moving.  This change is so inspiring y'all!  There is so much relief in my heart too, now that I'm done with both eyes.  I don't worry about losing my livelihood anymore, or slowly watching the important moments in my life shift out of focus.

It's been a healing time, and I'm so happy to share it with you all!  Things are starting anew, and here's a budding picture to symbolize it all.

A New Still Life

I've been thinking about doing some more still life photos recently.

Another Montreal Visit

Hi friends, I'm going back to Montreal again this week for more eye surgery.  Hopefully this will be my last eye related trip there.  But in the meantime, I've been reading some great books on Black and White photography, and I decided to revisit one of my Montreal photos from last year and redo it in Black and White.

Back to Black

A favorite older photo of mine.

Taken with a Pentax K100 D in my early days of taking digital photos circa 2009.

On Taking Breaks

One of the best pieces of writing wisdom out there is to write something, then stop working on it and put it away for a while to come back to later with fresher eyes.  Honestly, I think that applies to any long term project.

It's hard to step away from doing your job - especially when it's one that you've created for yourself and that you love.  But it is also necessary to do so every once in a while.  This past weekend I stepped back and I'm not ready to come back yet.  I have a lot to do that has little to do with my work, and finding time to balance it all has been a challenge.

So enjoy a picture while I am on a break this week, getting everything back together and resting.

Slush Pile: Steam on a Horseshoe

Another picture from this past winter's visit to Horseshoe Falls.  This picture was edited in Lightroom with my new preset "Breeze" and then in Photoshop with the texture "Spring Green" from the Dramatis Set I.

I'm still busy packing up my house.  Hopefully for not too much longer.

Making New Textures

Note: Right now I'm in the middle of packing up my house, so these posts may be shorter than normal.  Never fear, I'll return to regularly scheduled posts as soon as I can.

A while back I made a texture pack and release it for sale, but despite my best efforts, I haven't released a follow up pack yet.  I have, however, been working on new textures for a while, they just haven't coalesced into a whole set yet.