Monday Rant: Dissapointed with Shock

 

As I have said before I am not really one to tote the label of Artist or Photographer.  I started using Photographic Artist a while ago to try and define what I do in a more recognizable way, but using terms that no one else is using only works for those Hollywood types.  I, on the other hand, am a nobody.  This isn't a dig at myself it is just the beginning of this rant.  The art world is full of people who know people and who create shock art with actors and other media types because they can.  They do this and it is considered art. The technical proficiency is typically there because these people have attended so and so university and received this or that degree in their particular breed of art.  It may not sound like it, but I'm happy for them, if I have to give them an emotional recognition, except for this little nagging notion that they are part of the obliteration of art.  They are one of the reasons why, these days, art is nothing more than shock imagery.

With the prevalence of good camera equipment, there are apparently more photographers in the United States than there are models.  I didn't look this stat up, so it could be hogwash, but I would believe it.  To some extent I am one of these, "if it weren't for technology I wouldn't be doing this" people.  As I said at the beginning of this, I am a nobody and beyond that my images are not shocking.  There is nothing repulsive or ludicrous about what or how I shoot.  I will never get a death threat because of my photography unless it is from an anti-gun fanatic and that would be ironic. 

 

At the same time, I have faith that there is room for my art in this world packed with photographers.  That one day those eyes will find what I do and see its merit.

 

Even if they don't, I will still do what I do.  If nothing else it is art to me.  I hope that is what those other artists/photographers are saying too.

 

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.  It will not lead you astray."  ~Rumi

 

Thanks for reading,

Sarah McTernen

www.anardentlife.com

 

Art Photography

http://smcternen.etsy.com

 

Art Jewelry

http://ardentlife.etsy.com

Homemade Butter

 

Yeah, sometimes I wonder if I've gone too far, but then I have fresh homemade butter and warm wheat biscuits and I don't think that anymore.

 

This started out as a fun homeschool experiment.  I read somewhere that you can make butter by putting heavy cream in a mason jar and shaking it for fifteen minutes.  We like making things in the kitchen in this house, so we gave it a shot.  It was fascinating feeling the change between stiff whipped cream and the sudden separation of butter and buttermilk.

 

This was fun, the first time.  I decided that if we were going to keep this up, I was going to use the stand mixer.  Shaking a mason jar for fifteen minutes is a workout that I wasn't sure I was willing to do each time I wanted butter.

 

This morning I made my third batch of butter, and this time using Darigold heavy cream instead of the Fred Meyer brand. Oh the difference.  Just poured the heavy cream into the stand mixer and let it run on the highest speed that won't make a mess until the butter and buttermilk seperate, then pour through butter muslin, saving the buttermilk for later (or the bisuits in this case).  Ta da, butter.

 

Next step, making cultured butter.

 

Thanks for reading,

Sarah McTernen

 

Art Photography

http://smcternen.etsy.com

 

Art Jewelry

http://ardentlife.etsy.com

 

www.anardentlife.com

 

 

A Day in the Life...

 

 

What a day!  I always sit down at the end of the day and think I have got nothing done.  The girls and I went to Costco and then Michael's.  I needed some more bead storage containers...I always need more bead storage containers, and the older one had $4 burning a hole in her change purse.  So I got my containers and a few strands of beads, because they were on sale and my brain started working the minute I saw them, and the girl bought new paint colors and a wood butterfly...of course after much debate to the little ones chagrin.  As we are leaving the store, I get a call.  I do not recognize the number and consider letting it go to voice mail, but I answer.  It is the hospital wanting to schedule the little ones surgery.  So we have a date now.  We are one step closer to a functional hip.

So, we came home and made play dough.

1 cup Flour
1 cup Water
1/2 cup Salt
2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
2 teaspoons Oil
food coloring

Mix all the ingredients in a small sauce pan and cook on low (medium low) heat until it looks like play dough.  Plop it out on the counter and let it cool for a bit (seriously, this stuff is hot) and then knead.

Yay for Play Dough!

Thanks for reading,
Sarah McTernen

www.anardentlife.com

Art Photogrpahy
http://smcternen.etsy.com

Art Jewelry
http://ardentlife.etsy.com

Kitchen Sill Herb Garden

Yesterday I was very busy taking care of my many plants.  I had neglected them for far too long.  On top of that, I planted a kitchen sill herb garden.  My lovely husband had given me a set of seeds long ago for this exact purpose, but I never got around to planting them because I didn't know what to put them in.  With all of my peering in on Pintrest I thought plain tin cans would do.  I hope they sprout!

Wanna know what I planted?
Basil
Oregano
Lavender
Garlic Chives
Marjoram
Thyme
Dill
Mint
Cilantro
Parsley

I am impatient though.  I keep wanting to check on them and see what is growing. 

In the mean time I have been updating some of the chopping block necklaces. You should check out the shop http://anardentlife.etsy.com to see the updates.

Thanks for reading,
Sarah McTernen

www.anardentlife.com

Art Photography
http://smcternen.etsy.com

Art Jewelry
http://anardentlife.etsy.com

Happy 2013

Even typing that sounds a little weird.
Wishing all of my readers a fabulous start to a new year.

Best wishes,

Sarah McTernen
www.anardentlife.com
http://smcternen.etsy.com
http://anardentlife.etsy.com

PS  Take 15% off any purchase today in on of my Etsy shops with coupon code NewYear13