biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Nov 10

Interview with Marta Roca, Editor, Four&Sons

Interview with Marta Roca, Editor, Four&Sons

Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Marta Roca, founder and Editor of Four&Sons, and online and print publication. Marta possesses a graphic design background and a passion for dogs. Four&Sons is based in Australia and this print and online publication documents the relationship of man and his best friend. Four&Sons covers art, design, fashion, music, and lifestyle. Four&Sons brings together an eclectic mix of inspiring ‘dog-centric’ content to dog-lovers passionate about culture and creativity.

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

MARTA ROCA: I was lucky to meet a very inspiring teacher during high school. Although she was a painter, she was our ‘Graphic Design’ lecturer and she was great at bringing the best out of us, while honing our different skills. I have no ‘artistic’ talent (I can’t even draw!); however, I love the creative side of design, the fusion between form and function, and the beauty of good thinking. Once I started University, I realized editorial design was my real passion. Some people start designing album covers because of their love of music. I love reading, and I love books and magazines for their culture value and also as objects. That was the start. I cut my teeth working in great studios in London and Melbourne before setting up my own studio. It’s a tough gig to get projects in editorial, so ended up founding Four Publishing to work on self-generated ‘love’ projects.

KATHERINE CARVER: How did your fascination with dogs come about?

MARTA ROCA: A happy accident! Christina Teresinski from accessories brand Best in Park and I have been meaning to collaborate on a project combining all our passions: dogs, art, culture, and magazines. We started to wonder how we could bring it all together from a ‘dog-centric point of view.’ We then started to dig deeper on the ‘creative’ relationship between humans and dogs. The lightbulb moment came when we started to examine dogs as the ‘muse,’ as the inspiration.

KATHERINE CARVER: What impetus inspired you to begin Four&Sons?

MARTA ROCA: I got totally hooked on the somehow kooky, weird, and wonderful bond between humans and dogs — how it inspires people to create and how it breaks down barriers. The deeper I went, the harder I fell in love with it. We set out to discover more about the role of ‘dogs as muses,’ about the art and design behind it, and about the social/cultural aspects of it. And what we found was too good not to share it!

KATHERINE CARVER: How has your own dog(s) influenced you?

MARTA ROCA: Believe or not, I don’t have a dog of my own. I live vicariously through Four&Sons, through the interviews, and the art. I am a sort of ‘dog/culture’ voyeur. Sometimes I feel very deprived, but most of the time I feel this can bring a different edge to our content. A chocolate labrador is in the works though…

KATHERINE CARVER: What is your favorite breed (and type) of dog?

MARTA ROCA: I have a soft spot for dalmatians. I think it is the designer in me, for the black/white graphic factor. For aesthetic reasons, a Weimaraner. For fun, French bulldogs. Labradors for how sweet and dopey they are…

KATHERINE CARVER: How and when did you decide to move to a print version publication for Four&Sons, while maintaining an online readership?

MARTA ROCA: In 2013, we published a newspaper. It was a limited-edition ‘souvenir’ to celebrate our first year anniversary as online publication, and to say thank you to everyone who had supported us. We had always intended to move to print, and the response was so positive, we felt we were on the right path. People noticed us and understood better what we are trying to do — we featured beautiful work by artists inspired by their relationship with dogs, and our ‘dog as muse’ motto started to sink in. It would have been a shame not to publish on paper regularly. The content is really visual (almost tactile) — you just want to reach out and touch those mutts! We feel our content deserved to be on a medium that becomes an object, a gift, and a collector’s item.

KATHERINE CARVER: How did you bring your vision of a Four&Sons printed publication to fruition?

MARTA ROCA: The first thing we realized is we needed a more ‘specialized’ team, so to speak. We appointed our editor, Sam Gurrie. Sam is mad about dogs, loves art and culture, and it shows. Together we fleshed out the content –which sections we wanted to cover, how to get the right mix of features, who we wanted to approach (writers, photographers, and artists), and we set up to chase it all. It is very important to us that the content would appeal to someone who is not necessarily a ‘dog person;’ and it would still be interesting and culturally relevant. We have been really lucky that people understands the magazine is still a labour of love and people have been really generous with their time, and also trusting us with their work.

The biggest learning curve has been on the publishing/marketing/ business side — understanding how magazine distribution works (we have three different distribution houses covering different markets — Europe/UK, USA/Canada, and Australia/NZ. We are still trying to crack Japan). Additionally, we are learning to make decisions both from the heart and the head (well, still working on this one); how to position of the magazine (we are not a pet magazine!); which partners we want to associate with; and how to engage the support of dog-lovers around the world. We are fortunate we have a readership which is really passionate about the subject matter.

The stockist list for the United States for Four&Sons is: Alder&Co; B_Space; Bookmarc by Marc Jacobs; Casa Magazines; Hennessey + Ingalls; McNally Jackson, MoMA PS1; Mulberry Iconic; Portland Trading Co; Print Text; Shinola; Skylight Books; Space Ninety 8; Spoonbill & Sugartown; and The Primary Essentials.

KATHERINE CARVER: How often will you create print editions for Four&Sons?

MARTA ROCA: Twice a year.

Issue Two, available for purchase now, features: Nacho Alegre; Pia Arrobio; AtelierAce; Roger Ballen; Carrie Brownstein; John Darwell; Sam Edmonds; Lucian Freud; Matt Furie; Sophie Gamand; Amy Hempel; Daniel Johnston; Anna Kleberg; Thakoon Panichgul; Robin Schwartz; Romance Was Born; Ware of the Dog; Bruce Weber; William Wegman; and Eric Yahnker.

(The images contained in this interview features spreads from Issue Two, Four&Sons.)

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

MARTA ROCA: Editing yourself down! Keeping things simple and fresh. It’s tempting to over-elaborate but restrain has always worked best for me.

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

MARTA ROCA: It’s a bit like daydreaming meanwhile you are at work!

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

MARTA ROCA: To the risk of sounding like the biggest cliché, I just love what I do. I get to work on something I believe in, which is fun and challenging. We get to meet very interesting people, have great conversations, and chat about what they love.

KATHERINE CARVER: What are the most rewarding and satisfying parts about creating your work?

MARTA ROCA: Learning is a pretty fulfilling part of what I do, which feeds my curiosity; being involved in many aspects of the magazine; and feeling personally invested. From an ‘ego-boasting’ point of view, it’s great when people tells us that they enjoy what we do. That keeps us going too.

KATHERINE CARVER: What artists inspire you?

MARTA ROCA: Artists who don’t take themselves too seriously! Being quite a dry person, I love seeing humour, even recklessness, in art.

KATHERINE CARVER: What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a print publication?

MARTA ROCA: Do it! Enjoy the process, not just the end goal. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make some mistakes. Take into account all facets from the start — from the content to the design and print and distribution and the business. Be patient and respectful and you will be amazed how generous people can be trying to help you.

KATHERINE CARVER: What is next for Four&Sons?

MARTA ROCA: Hopefully we can become a quarterly publication in the near future. We are in for the long run, so longevity is key for us. We are also starting to focus on other ‘off-shoot’ projects: events; exhibitions; collaborations; product; other publications; and a pop-up store perhaps…? We would love to become the ‘one-stop-shop’ for any dog-lover passionate about culture and creativity.

KATHERINE CARVER: How can people learn more about you and Four&Sons?

MARTA ROCA: Via the magazine and the website — there you will obtain a glimpse of what makes us tick.

All images contained in this interview are courtesy of Marta Roca, Four & Sons.

You can read additional interviews here.

Nov 7

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Perfection and Creativity

The word ‘perfection’ and the word ‘creativity’ seem like very disparate words. However, perfectionistic tendencies can negatively impact creativity. You always want to produce your best work; however if you are looking for ‘perfect,’ it can really hinder your creative process and work.

Do any of these sentiments ever go through your mind?

I can’t begin my new project until the ideal moment, i.e., having a large uninterrupted block of time, no other distractions with a lot of motivation. There is never be an ‘ideal time’ to begin your project or artwork. Life just seems to happen and things come up that are unexpected. However, I find it is best to schedule set work times for your work and continue to stick to those set times even when you do not feel like working on your work. This way, it becomes part of one’s schedule and routine. With my current photography project, I set designated times for my work and I protect this time to ensure I am making progress each week. Also, I try to take advantage of “stolen moments” to keep working and thinking. After all, little actions taken regularly over time, often lead to a desired goal or result.

Spending too much time obsessing over every detail of the potential project, which leads to revising and editing at every step of the way versus giving yourself permission to create an imperfect draft, piece, etc. I have found that it is better to be open while you are working instead of having an inflexible view on your final work product. Sometimes, the most amazing ‘good surprises’ present themselves unexpectedly; and, if your are closed off, you might not see these gifts.

The best piece of advice I have ever received from my artist friend, Deborah Samuel, is to just show up each day and to push through and move further than you think that you can go with your work. At times, this is terrifying, but I have learned to lean into it to get through it — even though there are some days that are so tedious or days that I am not sure how it will all work out in the end. To work on something for an extended period of time takes faith and trust. Otherwise, I am not sure how I would keep going.

I love this quote from Anne Lamott in her book, Bird by Bird, on the topic of perfectionism. (Bird by Bird is a wonderful book if you have not yet read it).

“…Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen. Repent just means to change direction—and NOT to be said by someone who is waggling their forefinger at you. Repentance is a blessing. Pick a new direction, one you wouldn’t mind ending up at, and aim for that. Shoot for the moon.”

Nov 5

Dog Beds: Finding the Right One for Your Furry Family Member

These days, there are so many dog bed options for your furry family member! At times, it can be difficult to discern what type of dog bed to purchase for your favorite furry family member! Outlined below are descriptions of a few different types of dog beds — and you might find the perfect dog bed match for your furry family member!

1. Therapeutic/Orthopedic Support Beds: Therapeutic/orthopedic beds are designed especially for dogs with arthritis or other orthopedic problems. These type of dog beds are typically made with high quality thick foam, proving extra support for dogs’ bodies, which prevents less stress on dogs’ joints. These type of dog beds are mainly designed for seniors and thin dogs.

2. Lounging Dog Beds: Lounging beds typically offer the softest and roomiest spots possible for your furry family member! If your dog falls asleep on his/her back, these classic square or round beds deliver ample room to stretch, and plenty of cushiony support. Many of these beds are covered with materials such as fleece, flannel, denim, faux suede, or microfiber. They often contain a polyester filling and/or foam padding. Lounging beds range in quality from basic economy to more expensive designer versions.

3. Nesting Dog Beds: Nesting beds provide a pillowy nest with lots of protection. These beds feature higher walls and supportive sides for dogs. Some nesting beds also have raised edges. The raised edge feature makes it ideal for your dog to lean on or curl up — just like a nest. Dogs look so adorable all nestled in their nest!

4. Donut Dog Beds: Much like nesting beds, described above, donut dog beds provide a rim or edge around the bed. This edge is a pillow that lets your dog really curl up and sink in. These beds are typically round or oval and made of very soft material.

5. Outdoor Dog Beds: Outdoor dog beds are ideal to have during the warm months during the year. Most dogs like to be with their human companions, so having the ability to provide your furry family member with comfort outside via an outdoor dog bed is very fitting! Most outdoor dog beds have a polyester/canvas cover, specifically treated to prevent water absorption. Also, the covers on outdoor dog beds are usually removable for cleaning purposes.

6. Heated Dog Beds: Heated dog beds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, while providing gentle heat and warmth to your furry family member. Some beds even utilize your dog’s own body heat to reflect the warmth they crave. Heated dog beds are ideal for the cooler months, small breed dogs, or for senior dogs that need a little extra warmth.

7. Cooling Dog Beds: Have you ever noticed your furry family member lying on a cold hard floor after he/she has been playing outside? Fortunately, there are dog beds that offer a cool yet comfortable surface for your dog to relax and cool down. Cooling dog beds are usually made out of plastic and are filled with a water or gel like liquid. Dog breeds that have a tendency to overheat will benefit the most from a cooling dog bed.

8. Travel Dog Beds: If you enjoy traveling with your furry family member, then you might want to have a travel bed on hand. These beds are much like a typical dog bed, except that they roll up, which saves space, while traveling. A travel bed gives you the flexibility to provide a comfortable spot for your furry family member while your furry family member is away from home.

All of the dog bed types, briefly described above, are offered in many different designs and colors. Victory loves to sleep in our bed during the night; however, during the day she loves to sleep on her lounging bed!

This post is in partnership with Swell Pets. You can view Swell Pets’ dog beds here.

Nov 4

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Victory: Photography Project — 37

“If you don’t have at dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you. But there may be something wrong with your life.” -Vincent Van Gogh

Beginning in January of this year, I began a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

Victory had a wonderful Halloween! Doug carved a pumpkin with dog paw prints along with Victory’s nick name, “Tory!” It turned out really well! Victory sat outside with us on my lap while we handed out candy on Halloween! Below are a few images of Victory on her second Halloween! You can see Victory’s first Halloween here!

Happy Tuesday!

Nov 3

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Photographs: My Sister’s Wedding

It is difficult to believe that it will be a month tomorrow since my sister, Kassie, got married at Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Lovett Hall! Kassie looked beautiful and very happy on her wedding day! Everything turned out very beautifully. Below are some images from my sister’s wedding taken by Marc Williams, who photographed the wedding; I edited and curated the images shown below, creating a narrative of the wedding day. The wedding was elegant, timeless, and iconic, and these images shown below speak to this theme reflecting the highlights of the wedding day.

Additionally, here is a link to my images of the “getting ready” portion of the day along with a few wedding images as well!

Kassie and Jason, we are so happy for you and we can’t wait to see your honeymoon photographs from Spain, Morocco, England, and France!

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller

Below is a color image of the wedding party, illustrating the beautiful fall wedding colors.

Oct 31

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Victory: Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! I cannot believe how quickly this year is flying by that it is already Halloween! Victory was a ladybug last year, and this year she is a monarch butterfly (I love butterflies — and her costume seemed fitting due to all the positive changes that Victory has experienced this year, similar to a butterfly!) She looks adorable in her costume shown below. She is going to help pass out candy to the trick or treaters tonight!

Last weekend, we took Victory to the pumpkin patch! She had a great time! We could only find one pumpkin patch located in Delaware, after looking in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, that would permit a furry friend after checking websites and making many calls in order to find a pumpkin patch that we could all go to! We are so glad that it worked out! We had fun, Victory had fun, and the weather was just gorgeous!

Doug is carving our pumpkin this year for Halloween so stay tuned on Instagram! Enjoy the photos below!

P.S. Here are links to pumpkins carved by Doug last year and the year before!

Happy Friday!

Oct 29

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Interview with Robin Schwartz, Photographer

Interview with Robin Schwartz, Photographer

Robin Schwartz, Ruby, 2011 © Robin Schwartz/Aperture

(Ruby Schwartz for Robin Schwartz)

Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Robin Schwartz, a photographer and animal lover who resides in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and animals. Much of Schwartz’s work examines and explores interspecies relationships. Schwartz’s work has been exhibited internationally; her work is in museum collections at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The Museum of Modern Art; The Smithsonian American Art Museum; and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art . Schwartz has also published several books including her most recent book, Amelia and the Animals, published by Aperture. I truly enjoy Schwartz’s work, and I am sure that you will too!

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: I loved photographing with an instamatic camera. At ten-years-old, I used this camera to photograph my cat. I was a latch key kid and was home by myself a lot. I only was able to major in art after my father died when I was 19-years-old. It would not have been acceptable in my economic situation to be an art major in college. A graduate teacher at the Pratt Institute, Arthur Freed, made it possible for me to not only get into the program, but helped me obtain a graduate assistantship and a Ford Foundation Grant. I don’t know what would have become of me if not for this teacher. I was on my own and quite lost.

KATHERINE CARVER: Did you study art formally?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Yes. As an undergraduate, I studied at William Paterson College, which is now a university, William Paterson University, where I am an Associate Professor in Photography. I earned an MFA in Photography at the Pratt Institute, New York.

KATHERINE CARVER: How do you describe your style?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: I actually don’t use the word “style.” I am a portrait photographer; if you categorized me it would be fine art and editorial photographer, specializing in portraiture, animals, and environmental portraiture.

Robin Schwartz, Ricky and Amelia, 2002, from Amelia and the Animals (Aperture 2014) © Robin Schwartz

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: I photograph because I want to remember. I have been around a lot of death, early on in life.

KATHERINE CARVER: What was the impetus that inspired you to begin photographing dogs and animals?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: I love and am very comfortable with them [animals]. They comfort me, and as I mentioned before, I was home alone a lot as a kid. When I was ten-years-old , the deal was that I could have a cat that lived in the house to keep me company, (as opposed to my cats who lived outside and were not allowed in the house, those cats got run over, killed in construction), and then my mother could go to work full time, including the summers. Before that cat, which went with me to college and graduate school, he died when I was 27, we adopted a beautiful Shetland Sheepdog from the pound/shelter in Newark, New Jersey, after we saw this beautiful Shetland Sheepdog being given up as we came into the pound/shelter. The pound asked the people who were giving him up whether he was up to date on shots, they said he was – and he wasn’t. Three weeks later, we had to put him down because of the distemper he caught while at the shelter. Those seizures where quite horrible, and the vet said he was never vaccinated. It was a crime that haunts me today.

KATHERINE CARVER: How have your own dogs/animals influenced your artwork?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Absolutely, my animals at home are in much of my work; to remember them; and keep them young.

Robin Schwartz, Shiba Up, 2006, from Amelia and the Animals (Aperture 2014) © Robin Schwartz

KATHERINE CARVER: Where did the idea come from for your work and book entitled, Amelia & the Animals?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: The title came from my editor at Aperture, Lesley Martin. I guess it is an apt description.

KATHERINE CARVER: What has it been like collaborating with your daughter, Amelia, on photo projects with animals?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: The project and our collaboration has grown as Amelia matures. Our balance has changed as in any growing relationship. Amelia is my partner.

KATHERINE CARVER: Can you describe your successful Kickstarter process for your new book entitled, Amelia & the Animals, published by Aperture?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Aperture did everything relating to the Kickstarter process – Aperture is a wonderfully supportive publisher, the fact that they are historic and not-for-profit makes them extraordinary. I am so honored to be published by Aperture and have had Lesley Martin and the team, Kellie McLaughlin, Barbara Escobar, and Jason Bailey supporting and rooting for me. The Kickstarter and the Amelia and the Animals book are what they are because of Aperture. Aperture is like family. (You can view the Kickstarter video here).

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Right now Aperture is representing me, specifically Kellie McLaughlin, she is wonderfully supportive. I had left a New York City gallery this past August and asked if Aperture could handle my work.

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Good question, I think I will ask that in the class I teach. Creative means, that after you have a handle on skill, on craftsmanship, and can work and think beyond the basics — that to be creative you figure out what is unique to you or simply, what makes you happy, what is authentic for you. I think if you find your passion, art gives you the reason to immerse yourself in what you love.

Robin Schwartz, Paris Greyhoud Hair, Belle de Nuit, and Pioute Van Guartd Mattenet, 2010, from Amelia and the Animals (Aperture 2014) © Robin Schwartz

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: The most challenging aspect of being a photographer is having confidence on several levels, personal, skill, social skills, managing your time, and a deal breaker can be the finances of it all. I am finally a full time, tenured professor. Only when I achieved full time status did I qualifying for health insurance at work. This greatly helped me financially, supporting my personal work.

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Another good question. I teach for a living, and I aim to be a good, generous, kind teacher, but I want to be remembered as a photographer. A curator who was a mentor to me early on, who has since passed away, said to me once, “You came a long way for what you do.” At the time she meant the Primate Portraits, having the Like Us: Primate Portraits book published by Norton and my work in the museums like the Met and the MOMA both located in New York City. So at 19-years-old I was on my own, and not far from homeless, and it was a scary time. During and after graduate school, I hung out with and photographed stray dog packs; I now see that I identified with being a stray myself. So my motivation in life is: my daughter as she is my family; my animals as I need them emotionally; and photography as that is a huge part of my purpose, very stimulating and exciting, and my identity. Being a photographer means I accomplished something.

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: I procrastinate enormously; I clean the house instead of editing my own work. I like to edit on Adobe Bridge. When I worked in the darkroom I had a television with a red filter…but I work all digitally now and the television is distracting. I multi-task a great deal and I juggle responsibilities and work hard to met my many deadlines.

KATHERINE CARVER: What are you working on now?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Well, I just quickly wrote the answers for another interview before this one, but your questions are much deeper, interesting to answer – I am learning about interviewing these days by how differently each person approaches it. I am working on how to work. I am finishing a sabbatical proposal with supporting materials, updating my resume and website – editing comes last. I am updating the keynote presentation I gave at SVA (School of Visual Arts, New York City on October 7, which you can view here.) Now, I have to re-edit it for the talk in San Francisco at the Photo Alliance held on November 7. Then, I go to Paris Photo with Aperture for an Amelia and the Animals book signing. On December 1, I give my keynote for a presentation and exhibition at Aperture. Finally, I am having prints made. The list goes on and on. I will resume shooting in December, when I travel back to Mexico to follow up on a new project. I am also a full time professor in photography at William Paterson University where I am an Associate Professor in Photography and on those days, that is all I do — teach and commute.

KATHERINE CARVER: What artists inspire your work?

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: It changes, historically, Juliette Margaret Cameron, Eugene Atget, August Sanders, Eugene Smith, and Sally Mann – well Sally Mann is contemporary and historic…There are so many photographers and many contemporary photographers in photojournalism, fine art, documentary that inspires me – it is impossible to mention them all.

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: Have a good work ethic; be able to take criticism; don’t be embarrassed as I was of what you love; practice social and writing skills; and, above all else, be persistent about working.

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

ROBIN SCHWARTZ: www.RobinSchwartz.net (I am currently updating!) and Aperture. Only the Amelia and the Animals is in print, the other three books are out of print: Like Us: Primate Portraits; Dog Watching; and Amelia’s World.

All images contained in this interview are courtesy of Robin Schwartz and Aperture.

You can read additional interviews here.

Oct 27

Good Read: Art Inc. by Lisa Congdon

I recently finished reading Art, Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist by Lisa Congdon. This was a good read! This book offers a concise guide for anyone seeking to start or enhance their career in art, with actionable tasks and helpful tools. Lisa Congdon’s writing is clear, easy to understand, and inspiring. I especially enjoyed the interviews with other artists that appeared throughout the book. I also enjoyed reading the information relating to exhibitions and gallery representation. The information contained in this book was very helpful.

So, if you are a creative, I highly recommend reading this book!

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the word.” ~Albert Einstein

Oct 24

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Victory: Photography Project — 36

“Every once in a while a dog enters your life and changes everything.” ~Unknown

Over the weekend, I had a photo shoot for my long-term dog photography project at Great Falls Park, and Doug and Victory came along too! We had never been to Great Falls Park (we visited the Virginia side); it was very pretty and the falls were gorgeous! Victory had a great time! Below are a few images capturing our outing together!

Happy Friday!

Oct 22

2014 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge

Anyone who has been following this blog knows that we are strong supporters of dog and animal rescue! The ASPCA recently contacted me to share the results of its recent challenge entitled, the “ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.” The $100K Challenge is a contest in which 50 shelters across the country competed their own records at saving animals’ lives. Throughout the months of June, July, and August 2014, each competing shelter was required to save more dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens than each shelter previously did during the same three months during the preceding year in 2013. A total of 68,000 animal (dog and cat) lives’ were saved during this challenge — an increase of 17,000 animals’ lives saved in 2013!

After three months, the ASPCA has concluded the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge and the winners were recently announced! The ASPCA and Rachael Ray awarded grant prizes to 12 shelters who went above and beyond their duties, including:

$100K Grand Prize and Best in Division 5 Winner: Central California SPCA, Fresno, California

$25K Community Engagement Prize Winner: Kansas City Pet Project located in Kansas City, Missouri

Second Place Overall: City of Stockton Animal Services located in Stockton, California

Division 1 Winner: Angels of Assisi located in Roanoke, Virginia

Division 2 Winner: Clay County Animal Care and Control located in Green Cove Springs, Florida

Division 3 Winner: South Pines Animal Shelter located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Division 4 Winner: Foothills Animal Shelter located in Golden, Colorado

A BIG THANK YOU to all the shelters who participated in this challenge and for each shelter’s continued commitment to help animals!

Pictured below are several photographs, courtesy of the ASPCA, showing the Grand Prize winner of this challenge! You can also view the video about this year’s ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K challenge here!

Please consider Biscuit’s successful rescue story and Victory’s successful rescue story and consider rescuing an animal today! Your life will be forever positively changed!

Happy Wednesday!