So what’s a blog hop?

It’s an ongoing weekly post that’s passed on from artist to artist. It’s an online adventure in discovering new artists and the beautiful things they are making. Last week Jennifer McIntosh, an artist I met in a Facebook artist group, invited me to participate and I’m super excited to be a part of this worldwide art project!

Jennifer is a very talented Australian artist who uses various mediums to express herself including photography, painting, and drawing. She’s currently working on a series of charcoal nudes using her own photography as a reference. Check out her blog hop post from last week to see more photos and get a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process in this series.

Charcoal drawing by Jennifer McIntosh

Jennifer’s ability to create such beautiful art in any medium is awe-inspiring! Don’t believe me? Check out her painting gallery and her photography gallery to get a taste of what I’m talking about. You have to see her painting titled “Sacred Cove” and her fine art photo “Reflections,” they are my personal favorites!

Now, for you fellow blog hoppers, a bit about my art

1)What am I working on?

Since January 2014 I’ve committed to creating a new photo and 100 words to go with it every week. I’m only 10 weeks away from hitting the 1 year mark! Although I don’t think I’ll be stopping anytime soon.

I’m currently working on a series I’ve titled, “Life’s a Blur.” Each photo in this series incorporates a mixture of motion blur with a still subject. I’d like to think of each photo like a meditation: stillness in a sea of chaos. This is my first journey into long exposure photography and I’m really enjoying the experimentation process.

“The Pocket Watch Between Tick and Tock” Photography by Rebekah Nemethy

2)How does my work differ from others of its genre?

It’s not often that my fine art photography is “found.” Seeing with my eyes is only half of it, I also see with my mind what something can be and I do my best to make my art into what my mind wants it to be. A minimalist result is what I strive for.

“Steady Heart” Photography by Rebekah Nemethy

3)Why do I create what I do?

Why does a bird fly? Because it has wings of course! So, the simple answer to this question could be because my father gave me a camera when I was 14 years old. I love making things, always have, and the camera has been my go-to tool for a long time.

I do have a bigger picture in mind, however. I would love to be able to say one day that my art really contributed to something bigger than myself. That something bigger is animal rescue. Right now I donate 10% of my art sale profits to several animal rescue organizations, and I plan on increasing that amount incrementally until I can share 50% of my profits with the fur and feather babies in need.

“Fall Spectrum” Photography by Rebekah Nemethy

4)How does my creating process work?

It always starts out with an idea, and most of my ideas are inspired by subjects I come across (this could be anything from a flower to a piece of trash), but sometimes I’m inspired by a color, or as is the case in my current series, a certain technique.

Once I decide on a starting point I start to brainstorm the set up. This often leads me to hours of sifting through my prop drawers and wandering through craft stores for new materials.

Each set I make is different from the last. Building my set is a creative process in itself. Sometimes building the set can take a full day if my idea is very involved.

Lighting is the next step, followed by the actual photography. I experiment with my lighting and composition and reshoot. Light, compose, reshoot, and repeat. I’ll shoot between 250-500 photos over the course of a day or two.

The selection process is next, only the best of the best images make it through; maybe around 10 images. Then each of those photos are color adjusted and retouched at the bare minimum. Sometimes there is additional Photoshop work, but not always.

Then it’s time to write a story to go with every image. Behind the scenes happenings, my feelings about the photo or a related subject, and sometimes even poetry accompanies my photography when it’s published.

Then I start all over again!

“Autumn in Orange and Blue” Photography by Rebekah Nemethy

Continue the blog hopping adventure with these awesome artists on 11/24/14

Kali Parsons

I discovered Kali’s whimsical work several months ago on Daily Paint Works. She paints and draws a variety of subjects, but her florals and owl paintings are repeating themes and they are my personal favorites. Kali creates, and posts, a new piece of art to her blog every single day, and has been since 2011! Her daily blog posts are always about something wonderful/amazing/funny/whimsical that happens in her life.

“Saluting the Sun” A painting by Kali Parsons

Kali’s actively working on a number of picture book manuscripts and has just recently started working on illustrating a story of her own. When she’s not doing all that, she’s a wife, mother, and a teacher of 3 and 4 year old students with disabilities at a local public school… and yes, they do A LOT of art.

Make sure to visit Kali’s blog to read her blog hop post on 11/24! You can also see what paintings she has for sale over on her Daily Paintworks Gallery

Divinity Chan

I also got to know Divinity’s work through a Facebook artist group, and I’m particularly in love with her “Sensual” series which the painting below belongs to. She is currently working on a series of Chakra Goddesses and getting ready for her first solo show as you read this!

“Ecstasy” A painting from Divinity Chan’s Sensual Series

Since that first encounter with a box of crayons, which inspired youthful works of art all over the walls and furniture of her home, Divinity possessed a desire to spread and share her love of color with the world. Synergy of bold and vibrant colors, and contemporary imagery, marks her artistic style. Divinity’s vibrant images will remind viewers of the joys of life, and spur vision and creativity.

Be inspired! Experience “Awakening the Colors of the Soul” at www.divinitychan.com Be sure to visit Divinity’s blog too on 11/24 to follow the blog hop over to Canada!