biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Mar 13

Victory: Photography Project — 51

Beginning in January 2014, I started a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog this year! My goal is to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories, while capturing moments of our everyday.

Well, we think that spring might be on the way with these warmer temperatures, and we hope that we have seen the last of the snow! Victory’s spirits are up with these warmer temperatures, and we walked around the neighborhood last night and took Victory in her Hound About, which she loved!

We are half way through our training class with our fur girl and she is doing well and making progress. Since Victory has quite a bit of anxiety with the outdoors and being afraid of new people, next week we begin private training lessons at home to help desensitize her when she is in these situations so that she is not so scared and anxious. She did a great job with her “come,” “sit,” and “touch” in her most recent class. She is quite a quick learner — we just need to build her confidence more, especially in situations that cause her anxiety. Hopefully, one-on-one training will help us with this issue. She loves all of the training treats and she worked so hard in class this week that she was tuckered out by the time we got home! We hope to make more progress in the coming weeks and we hope to build her confidence!

Below, Victory is walking around the neighborhood — she was happy the snow was finally melting!

Happy Friday!

Mar 12

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Inspirational Podcasts

I have started to listen to podcasts while editing along with Victory by my feet! So I thought I would share these podcasts with you. Below are a few recent podcasts that I found inspirational and interesting to listen to and I think that others will enjoy as well!

On Being: Mary Oliver: The famous poet discusses her journey as a poet. Mary Oliver does not give many interviews, so it was very interesting to listen to her speak about her life and her craft — very inspiring, indeed! Plus, she is a dog lover!

Good Life Project: Ed Catmull: The founder of Pixar, discusses how art informs and teaches us and the connection between artistic thinking and entrepreneurship. In his recent book Creativity Inc., Ed Catmull discusses how creativity is cultivated, what is required, and his own journey from studying physics to founding Pixer. My favorite quote from this podcast is, “When you take art, the thing you are actually learning to do is to see.” This is so true. So much about art and creativity is actually based on how you see and interpret the world.

Chopra: Elizabeth Gilbert: Discusses creativity and moving through fear. Elizabeth Gilbert also has a new book coming out later this year entitled, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. There is also an interesting brief Ted Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert on creativity and failure, which is quite interesting and worth watching!

Alt Summit: Lisa Congdon: An artist, illustrator, and author was the keynote speaker at the recent AltSummit. In this talk, she discusses her art career, her art identity, and big lessons that she learned along the way. I found these words inspiring to listen to.

Happy listening!

Mar 10

Staying Organized on Paper

I have always used a paper planner ever since I can remember. Along with my planner, I maintain a large to do list of everything that I want and need to get done in the short-term (daily and weekly) and long-term, which I update daily. Doug gets overwhelmed when he looks at this list, but I feel overwhelmed without my list! This practice saves me time and I make sure that items do not slip through the cracks. Usually during the summer months, I purchase a weekly calendar that contains an entire calendar year, January through December, and then I start marking it up before the year begins. I purchased this year’s calendar, shown below, in Montreal.

I think that there is something to be said for being able to quickly glance at my calendar and to do list without flipping through screens, typing changes, and updates, etc. Plus, there have been studies that indicate a higher degree of happiness from using a paper planner. For me, it is not as efficient to keep an electronic calendar. Everyone is different. I like the ability to write, erase, cross-off, use post-it notes, etc., which is faster than typing for me. Doug, on the other hand, does not keep a calendar in paper or electronic form — not sure how he does it…well, I do because I am the one keeping the calendar for us all!

Mar 6

Victory: Photography Project — 50

Beginning in January 2014, I started a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog this year! My goal is to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories, while capturing moments of our everyday.

Below are a few images of Victory from a recent walk together, just prior to sunset before the deep freeze and snow! We are looking forward to warmer temperatures and more outings together! This weekend marks daylight savings, a step towards spring, we hope!

Here is a video, a pick me up, if you will, for all you creatives!

Happy Friday!

Mar 5

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Inspirational Quotes: Creatives

Today we have more snow and it just keep coming. Victory is more than ready for warmer weather (as are we) — we are trying to keep her spirits up until it gets nicer outside for more outings together. Here are some inspirational quotes for creatives below along with an image of Biscuit in the snow — he really loved the snow and today’s weather reminded me of this image of our Biscuit.

“A dream is our creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and unknown.” -Denis Waitley

“The monotony and solitude of a quite life stimulates the creative mind.” -Albert Einstein

“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.” -Ansel Adams

“Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative place where no one else has ever been.” -Alan Alda

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” -Scott Adams

“The aim of art is to reprint not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” -Aristotle

“The world is but a canvas to our imagination.” -Henry David Thoreau

“Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.” -Agnes Martin

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” -Jonathan Swift

“No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.” -Oscar Wilde

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” -Plato

“Fear is always triggered by creativity, because creativity asks you to enter into reals of uncertain outcome. And fear hates an uncertain outcome. This is nothing to be ashamed of. It is, however, something to be dealt with.” -Elizabeth Gilbert

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves all at the same time.” -Thomas Merton

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” -Walt Disney

“Nothing prepares you for making art except making art. You have to do it to get better.” -Philipp Meyer

Mar 4

Keeping an Eye on Your Dreams: Daruma Doll

My friend introduced me to the Daruma Doll. The Daruma Doll is a traditional handmade Japanese wishing doll, sometimes referred to as a “goal doll,” that keeps one focused on achieving his/her goals! It is a century-old tradition from Japan that is positive, motivational, and is believe to really work! As a result, I ordered my own Daruma Doll and set my goal.

Here is what you do once you have your Daruma Doll:

Step 1: Decide on a specific goal you are determined to achieve.

Step 2: Draw in one of the Daruma Doll’s blank eyes (either eye is okay) to signify your commitment to achieving your goal.

Step 3: Place your Daruma Doll somewhere visible in your home or office so that while he focuses on your goal, you will be reminded to do the same! I placed my Daruma Doll on my desk so I see him everyday reminding me of my goal/dream!

Step 4: Once you have achieved your goal, draw in the Daruma Doll’s other eye to say, “thank you!”

Step 5: Write the goal you achieved on the back of your Daruma Doll, and if you wish, you can display your Daruma Doll reminding you of your achievement!

My hope is that sometime in the near future I will be able to color in my Daruma Doll’s blank eye, signifying accomplishment of my goal!

Happy goal and dream setting!

Mar 2

Where to Find Wall Art

I have been and I am currently scouting for wall art to fill some remaining empty walls in our home. So, I thought I would share the places online where I have found great art options for original work and print work, which is shown below!

Additionally, Below are a few individual artists, whose print work I like:

Happy Monday!

Feb 27

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Victory: Photography Project — 49

Beginning in January 2014, I started a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog this year! My goal is to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories, while capturing moments of our everyday.

Below are a some images from this past weekend! We put on Victory’s fleece, boots, and hat and went for a walk in the snow! Once she got moving, she did well. However, her hat had to come off as it was impacting her orientation while walking in the snow; and because of the depth of the snow her fleece boots started to come off so we took them off so we would not loose any! This was the first time we really got outside in the snow with Victory! However, I think that we are all ready for warmer temperatures!

Happy Friday!

Feb 25

Interview with Heidi Lender, Photographer

Interview with Heidi Lender, Photographer

Recently, I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing Heidi Lender, a Connecticut born photographer who currently resides in Uruguay. Heidi was formally a fashion writer, editor, and photo stylist for various fashion magazines, while traveling to places such as New York, London, and Paris. She then changed directions and studied yoga in India and became a yoga teacher and owner of a yoga studio in San Francisco. However, in 2009, Heidi’s life changed forever when she purchased her first DSLR camera and began creating images like the ones from her project entitled, Once Upon. A selection of Heidi Lender’s work is displayed below. Please visit Heidi Lender’s website to view more of her wonderful work!

KATHERINE CARVER: What were your beginnings as a photographer and when did you realize it would become your chosen form of expression?

HEIDI LENDER: I bought my first dslr camera in 2009, while I was teaching yoga in a studio I owned in San Francisco. Though I had taken photos regularly most of my life, this was the year it clicked. Who knows why these things happen. I joined Flickr, gave myself an intense photo education and I was hooked within no time, almost obsessed. Suddenly, all the roads I had taken up to this point in my life made sense, and met in the making of images.

KATHERINE CARVER: Did you study art formally?

HEIDI LENDER: No, I majored in apparel and textile management in college, and went on to work in the publishing industry straight away – as an editor, features writer, and stylist. No art background whatsoever.

KATHERINE CARVER: How do you describe your style?

HEIDI LENDER: Stylized, personal, and balanced.

KATHERINE CARVER: Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating photographs was absolutely something that you had to do?

HEIDI LENDER: Within the Flickr community, I joined groups to help me learn. One was called “Bench Monday,” which had a weekly assignment. After half a year of submitting to this group, I was committed to my camera. Making images daily became almost as important to me as my yoga practice.

KATHERINE CARVER: What was the impetus that inspired you to begin creating self-portraits, which include your dog, Bubba, in your work entitled, “Once Upon”?

HEIDI LENDER: See above: The “Bench Monday” group!

KATHERINE CARVER: Where do you show/exhibit your work?

HEIDI LENDER: I’m represented by three galleries in the U.S.: Richard Levy Gallery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Guthrie Contemporary in New Orleans, and Wallspace Gallery in Santa Barbara. From time to time, I’m also part of group shows.

KATHERINE CARVER: What does “being creative” mean to you?

HEIDI LENDER: Expressing myself in ways other than thinking and talking, which might be anything from how I choose my clothes, the way I decorate my house, make my bed, write a letter to writing essays, making images, drawing, and collaging, etc…

KATHERINE CARVER: What is the most challenging aspect of being a photographer?

HEIDI LENDER: Timing. I wish I were more patient. I think I’d make better work.

KATHERINE CARVER: What inspires you to keep going and what keeps you motivated?

HEIDI LENDER: As you mentioned above, once you realize that you HAVE to take pictures, it’s not hard to keep going. Because you HAVE to. Because it feeds you. And if you don’t do it, you feel empty. Hungy. Of course, I have bad or down days, or long dry periods of not making any substantial work, but my iphone is just about attached to my hand, so I am always practicing and recording and honing my eye.

KATHERINE CARVER: What are the most rewarding and satisfying part about being an artist and creating art?

HEIDI LENDER: Freedom. Freedom of expression. And being inspired and hopefully inspiring back, effecting, touching, and motivating someone somewhere.

KATHERINE CARVER: What kind of patterns, rituals, and routines do you have while making your art?

HEIDI LENDER: I make it a point to post to instagram every morning. And I look at a lot of images all the time, on the internet and in books. I’m a mad photo book junkie.

KATHERINE CARVER: What are you working on now?

HEIDI LENDER: A new idea is incubating, something that is evolving from my iphone work. It is too early to discuss.

KATHERINE CARVER: What artists inspire your work?

HEIDI LENDER: Irving Penn is my hero, and I’m all giggly girl for Wes Anderson. I love vintage fashion photos – they probably inform a lot of how I interpret what I see…color, composition, and style.

KATHERINE CARVER: What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

HEIDI LENDER: Keep practicing. And showing up. Your work will evolve and grow even if you can’t see it happening. I promise!!

KATHERINE CARVER: How can people view and purchase your art works?

HEIDI LENDER: My projects are on my site: heidilender.com. The about page lists the galleries that sell my work. And my instagram photos (@heidilender) are all for sale through me.

Please note that all of the images contained in this blog post are courtesy of Heidi Lender.

You can read additional interviews here.

Feb 24

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Around Here: February

Well, it is still February, and we are so ready for spring, which will bring more light, warmer temperatures, and longer days! Only about four weeks to go! We are counting down. Below are some items that have occurred around here in February!

-working really hard editing images for my long-term photography project. I have spreadsheets keeping me on track as I work through this project.

-gearing up for the final photo shoots for my project this spring.

-training class is in full swing with our Victory! Victory has some anxiety with new situations and she does not like to share the sidewalk with anyone in the neighborhood! If someone opens the door to their home, is walking/running on the sidewalk, is walking a dog, etc., she will have no part of it! Plus the builder is still building and the earth movers scare her, too! We are trying to get her to a place where this will not be so troublesome and we can have smoother walks in the neighborhood without her getting so scared of her surroundings. However, when we go to new places and take her on walks and outings she walks just fine — go figure! Hopefully, we will make progress to make our morning walks during the week a little easier!

-began reading this book.

-scouting for a few more fine art prints to fame and display in our home!

-making homemade dinner with Doug on Sundays. Doug has been cooking fried talapia and pulled bbq chicken, to name a few.

-making breakfasts together on the weekends. I love Doug’s homemade donuts and chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes!

-began watching Better Call Saul, a prequel to Breaking Bad — an entertaining show!

-still watching Season 5 of Downton Abbey, which is coming to an end as the season finale is next week.

-burning lots of candles around the house!

-having date nights with Doug!

-enjoying the snow days at home!

*Finally, thank you all for your feedback on the survey, I greatly appreciate your insights! Thank you. If you have not completed the survey, please do! You can take the survey here. Thank you!

Happy Tuesday!