12.28.2007

SPOTLIGHT ON...

... Julia Singer!

I'm still spotlighting one of my painting student's art work at least periodically. I'm late in getting Julia Singer's work up and meant to spotlight it weeks ago! My apologies! Anyway, Julia first and foremost is a creative writer and author, and she started painting with me a year ago and had never really painted before. Recently, I taught a class on using a palette knife, and Julia has really gone town with it! She hasn't used a brush since. I loved the graphic quality to this painting and how she really made great use of her undertoning colors (such as the turquoise color around the bull), and all of her scumbling effects! LOVE IT!!! Way to go, Julia!



Please read more below on Julia's credentials and what she submitted to me!

Julia Klatt Singer just finished writing her novel, Timothy Burning, this
fall. A fictional story set in southern Wisconsin that chronicles the lives
of the St. James family, whose mother leaves them in 1969 to be a nurse in
Vietnam. Set in two Octobers, the smell of timothy grass burning carries
with it, for Tara St. James, memories of her mother, of loss, of a world she
can no longer be a part of. The novel explores what happens, when one woman
walks away from her life, to the people who love her and the stangers she
meets.

Julia Klatt Singer writes fiction and poetry. She received a master degree
in Creative Writing from Hamline University. Ms. Singer has participated in
the Loft Mentor Series in Non-fiction and Poetry. She works as a visiting
writer to the school through COMPAS. She is one of four writers who
collaboratively wrote "12 Branches" published April 2003 by Coffee House
Press
, which was nominated for the Minnesota Book Award. Her stories and
poems have appeared in over three dozen journals. Ms. Singer lives in
Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Check out her wonderful work!

Looking forward to January's class, Julia!

12.23.2007

Christensen Shoot!

I was so lucky to have a photo session last week with a new client the Christensens - all of them! They came to me from a referral, so I obliged them with a photo session after my deadline for the year. I'm so thrilled that I did because like so many of my clients, they are wonderful people! The 3 children were so much fun and have great personalities and senses of humor as you will see from the images. I thought they were all so photogenic. These images are just some of the many great ones we got. Thanks, Christensens for a fun session together!!!











12.21.2007

Happy Birthday, Carl!

Today is my older brother Carl's birthday! I shot this of him when we were in Alabama at his wonderful home sitting around the pool. I'm so proud of my brother and the man and father he is! He has such a beautiful wife and 2 beautiful daughters. He's a cyclist of recent years and enjoys photography, too! What a great big brother he is!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARL! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Claire

12.19.2007

Happy Birthday, Tom!


Yesterday, was my Dad's birthday, and today is Tom's! Carole shot this of us the same day as Dad's picture below when we were sitting around my brother's pool. I'm so proud of Tom and the husband and father he is! We are so incredibly blessed with our 3 healthy, happy children and wonderful relationships in our lives. I wish for many more happy years ahead!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Claire

12.18.2007

Happy Birthday, Dad!



Yesterday was my Dad's 73rd birthday! I always feel a bit sad because I can't be with him to celebrate in Alabama, but I celebrate with him on the phone and in spirit the rest of the day. This picture is from last summer when we were all gathered at my brother's house. We were all visiting out on the back porch - something my Dad loves to do. Me, too! I'm so proud of the man he is and the father he has been to me all my life. I couldn't have asked for a better father to me, and by anyone's standards, he is a model father! He's been a great business man the last 45 years, and in the last few years, he has pursued his passion in writing his first book a couple of years ago called "The Last Witness from a Dirt Road" and now his second one is upcoming. Check it all out here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Claire