Monarch and Their Relatives

 

 

Happy Monday!

Last Monday I had mentioned that I was rearranging my work/office space and so far it is working out fine.

This Monday I have 3 new photographs that I have added to both my Etsy shop and Fine Art America.

 

 

Common Crow Euploea core

 

The beautiful butterfly above is known as the Common Crow.  Who would name such a beautiful butterfly such a name?  Some interesting facts about the Common Crow also known as the Oleander Butterfly.  They're related to the Monarch in that they have similar body types and feed on Milkweed and the Oleander plant which both have a toxin which the caterpillar ingests to protect it from predators as a caterpillar and as an adult butterfly.  The Common Crow is found in Australia,  South Asia and India.

 

I photographed the Common Crow at the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, Massachusetts.  For the past couple of years on my way to Connecticut I stop by and do some photographing and to just enjoy the quiet and beauty of these magnificent butterflies.  The Monarchs I photographed in my gardens.

 

Monarch Danaus plexippus

I've been playing around with some new techniques and I wanted to get your opinion on which photograph you like better.  The process with the above Monarch is using French Kiss textures to soften and give the photograph a more pastel feel.  Where the Monarch below is what I like to call a traditional photograph with some minor adjustments.

I have to say that I'm kinda in between, I love the softness of the above Monarch, but I love the bright boldness of the Monarch below.

Monarch Danaus plexippus

 



I guess it is a matter of preference.  The softer Monarch photograph would be great in a little girl's room or nursery.  Would even look great in a bathroom as would the bolder Monarch.  Well needless to say you can find them both in my Fine Art America and Etsy shops.

Speaking of shops....in the next few days I will be in the process of revamping my shops, mostly adding keywords and description for better SEO. 

 

In case you missed it here is last Friday's "Food Friday"post.

 

Tomorrow is Tuesday Treasuries and there are some great fines!

 

Have a great week! 

Happy New Year!!!!

I hope everyone had a safe a happy start to the New Year!!!!

With a New Year there are new starts.  Most of us take the time to reflect on 2012 to see what changes if any we want to do.  For me there will be alot of changes.  This year I am giving my business a fresh clean look. Time to get rid of the black and go lite and bright.  That includes everything from my online presence to my show booth presence.  I have been editing and creating new photography that will be added to my websites and at my shows.  I have been working on my show schedule for this year and hoping to be adding more shows this year than last.  I also know that I really have to improve my social media skills.  I go through this every year and every year I say I will get better.  I hope this year I can prove to myself that I can get better.  I have created a marketing plan that I hope will get more traffic and sales to my websites. 

So with all that said on a positive note I would have to say that 2012 was my best year for website sales! I'm thrilled with the results and in 2013 I expect it to be better.

 

 

 

The Burrows House Sewing Room

 

When I do the Art Show in Mystic, Connecticut, I always stop at the Mystic Seaport to visit friends and to do some photographing.  Last year I left with some interesting shots.  I will be posting more of them in future blog posts. What I really like about this shot is it has a ghostly effect.

 

At the Mystic Seaport:  The Museum of America and the Sea, this is the sewing room of the Burrows House in the Mystic Seaport Maritime Village, Mystic, Connecticut.  Mr. Burrows was a storekeeper and this is his wife's Jane sewing room.  The museum even has the pattern for this dress. 

 

I would like to point out that the Seaport is a Maritime Village that was brought together in one location to show folks what types of businesses and homes where found in the Mystic area as well as preserving the history of Mystic and other surrounding towns.