Friday, October 29, 2010

New Studio but little time.

I'm happy to announce that I now have studio space at EBCO ArtWorks 1201 Erie Ave. Sheboygan.  I've been super busy (where was all that work in the first half of the year?) and have yet to even try taking a portrait shot there.  Perhaps someday this photographer will have time to work on his own pictures.

The latest efforts with SVA include purchase and use of a Kodak zi8 HD video camera.  I've shot a few movies to help SVA promote itself and members.  Learning new programs and new ways of using youtube, facebook etc.. takes time.

I'm pondering buying a monitor and printer calibration system (software and hardware) so that I can offer calibration services to my fellow artists. 

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Studio Space

I have recently rented studio space at EBCO ArtWorks located at 1201 Erie Avenue in Sheboygan.  This will allow me to once again have indoor shooting capabilites for portraits.  I hope to increase sales of my artwork and bookings for photographing other's works.   Given the fact that Sheboygan Visual Artists holds events there every month, the exposure will be a big plus.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Summer fun

Where did July go? I've been mixing some fun summer activities in with work. I hope to have some pictures to prove that soon. Here are two. The first one is the world's tallest invisible flagpole and invisible flag. Be proud Sheboygan even if it really isn't a tourist attraction.




This one is a few of the sand casted pieces made by Shayna Illingworth and me at the Art In The Park workshop we facilitated on Aug. 7th at Lakeview Park in Sheboygan, WI for the Sheboygan Visual Artists.  The Art In The Park workshops were the culmination of the Small Works Project and gave anyone the opportunity to make and take home their own creations. 

Monday, June 14, 2010

Show at Z-Spot

I have some work hanging in a two person show with Dale Knaak at the Z-Spot Espresso and Coffee shop on Indiana Ave.  Prior to being the neatest coffee shop in town the building housed MotoPhoto, where I worked for a few years.  That's another story.  Stop in and see the show until late July.  I'll post pictures soon.

First Painting


Here is the first finished painting I've ever done.  It was painted for the Small Works Project by SVA.  I call it Mosaic Project, which was the first name given to what is now the Small Works Project.  I'm happy with it and have two other paintings started.  

Friday, June 4, 2010

My Small Works for Sheboygan Visual Artists

Clicking the title above will take you to SVA's facebook page showing the Small Works donated by mostly local but some faraway artists.  SVA is selling the work to fund art in the park projects free and open to anyone this summer in Sheboygan WI.  Here is the first piece I've made.
It's called Fragile Memories and is made with Polaroid film emulsion lift onto canvas and oil paint.
The film is really old and the exposures were made with a pinhole camera.  I went through a pack of ten trying to get a good exposure.  I didn't ever get one that wasn't overall blue.  So I decided to use these as emulsion lifts.  I had intended to use liquid emulsion for the SVA Small Works Project canvases that I took.  Three things changed my thinking. First, I got so busy tracking, photographing, and posting all the other work that time got to be a consideration.  Secondly, I never decided on an image of mine that I was sure would pack enough punch for printing on canvas.  Thirdly, after seeing so many great paintings come in I decided to take the plunge and give it a try.  So, I combined  photography with painting for this piece and then painted another canvas.  More on that later.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

I'm a board member.

Not a bored member.  In April I accepted a seat on the Sheboygan Visual Artists board. of directors.  I'm happy to serve and look forward to the challenge. 

Friday, April 16, 2010

Three Bench Photographs

Here are three handcolored pinhole photographs that I made this month.
I'm entering these in the Sheboygan Visual Artists 2010 Membership Exhibition.

It's a juried show. I'll have at least one in the show and perhaps all three.  I still have a stash of Kodak Ektalure G surface paper, long ago discontinued.  It may be showing signs of aging but the surface has yet to be surpassed for handcoloring, in my opinion.  The prints were toned in Kodak Rapid Selenium toner.  All the coloring was added with colored pencils, Marshall's and Prismacolor.  The coloring is always very soft looking with the pencils as compared to using oils.  I like the control of the pencil. 
The light leaks, dust, and softness of the images is the stuff you deal with when working with pinhole cameras, well mine anyway.  I just made a new one that gives me a full image with a 4x5 film holder.  The third picture was made with it. The other two pictures were made with pinhole cameras that hold the sheet film at the back of the box instead of in a film holder.  I get more dust in those cameras.  All but one of my pinhole cameras are homemade.  The other is a throw away plastic 35mm camera that I took the lens out of and poked a hole through the shutter.  The pics are really blurry with it, but I can use roll film with it.  April 25th is world wide pinhole day!
Trying to create a lonely mood that works with the empty benches.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Shooting artwork

I've been busy taking pictures for Sheboygan Visual Artists members and contributors to the small works project.  If you need pictures of your artwork let me know.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

A few oldies

I got around to scanning some of my older work.  Here are two. 
The matches I call "John, Paul George, Ringo, and Brian".  It was done with close up filters, 35mm film.  A minimal amount of handcoloring added. They were the extra small matches. 
The cup was shot on 4x5 film.  I used the overlay that simulates a bromoil print when I printed it.  Then handcolored it.  I made several to try out different colors.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Working with Artists

I've been doing an increasing amount of work for artists lately, especially since taking on the photo resposibilities for the SVA Small Works Project.   It has been rewarding just to get to know the artists and their work.  I see that there is a great need to provide quality photos and I'm going to seek more of that business.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Day In Milw

Spending the Day In Milw.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Photogram

"Self Portrait"
I dug up an old photogram.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Flickr, A Great Place To Share Your Art.

I use Flickr to post my work to various groups that I'm interested in, like Pinhole or Hand Colored.
Here is a link to my page.
Richard Biemann's Flickr page

Saturday, January 30, 2010

January 29th. A good day for beautiful people.

So, I come home to find numerous FB entries wishing me a Happy Birthday. Erika's post got me to thinkin' Who else besides me and Oprah on Jan 29th? And what do we have in common if anything?


W.C. Fields, I'm funny. Victor Mature, I'm handsome. John Forsythe, I'm handsome. Katharine Ross, I liked The Graduate. Tom Selleck, I'm handsome. Ann Jillian, ?. Greg Louganis, He's good looking too. Heather Graham (played Felicity Shagwell in Austin Powers sequel), A gentleman doesn't brag on his shaginess. Sara Gilbert, I have a cousin named Darlene and a nephew named Connor( that's close). Andrew Keegan, I can't say I was a teen heart throb but I am good looking. William McKinley, I have no political aspirations but I do try to vote 2 or 3 times each election. Finally, Adam Lambert, we have nothing in common.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

New Work for Sheboygan Visual Artists' Final Friday

Here are the pictures that will be on display at EBCO ArtWorks on January 29th.

The two colored images are part of the silent auction.

This last picture was made with a 4x5 pinhole camera, the others with a 35mm camera.

The coloring is a combination of partial sepia toning and application of colored pencil.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Sheboygan Visual Artists Final Friday Poster

I'm still working on my photos.  Just two weeks to go.  Will I be ready??? 
Here is the SVA announcement.  Click on it to see it larger.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

January 29th Sheboygan Visual Artists - Final Friday

Sheboygan Visual Artists have an event featuring a few member artists and some local musical talent on the final Friday of most months.  January 29th happens to be my birthday and I will be one of the featured artists.  I'm working on a musical instrument themed show.  Since I'm still in the shooting stage, I have no pics to post at this point.  So, stay tuned.