SENIOR MANIA!!!

Look at all of these good-lookin' seniors I've had the opportunity to work with! Seniors are probably my favorite kinds of shoots because of the creativity involved. Some are pretty particular in how the want to be photographed. Take a look! Book now for your session!

SISTER GRACE!

Ok, it's an incredibly exciting time for my twin sister (Carole) and her Christian band Sister Grace! They are releasing their first CD this Friday August 17 with a big kick off live concert on the square in Athens, AL our home town. Wish I could be there! I know my friends here in Minnesota won't be there either, but please check out their site and blog and check out their CD featuring Kevin Holly who is a seasoned guitarist currently playing with Percey Sledge and Little Richard and Kevin McKendree who is the keyboard player for Delbert McClinton - awesome talent on the first CD release. The band consists of Tina Swindell (singer, songwriter, guitarist), Whitney Hubbs (keyboard, vocals), Stephanie Fenton (guitarist), and Carole Foret (drums, vocals). You will be touched by their music! Rock on, gals!!! I'm so proud of you all!!! God Bless!

JUST OFF THE EASEL!

Just did this one today! I love chairs! I saw this in an old Anthropology catalog, and there was this chair with not much detail and not as intense light. I put my own spin on it. It's a 10x20" - so simple, fun and lovely.

Getting some paintings done for my show next month at Art Under a Hot Tin Roof in Jackson, TN. This image is in the same spirit as my "Live in the Moment" painting (3 women in the backseat of the car) which you can see on my site in the painting gallery. I'm not completely decided on a title. Any ideas?

My Beloved Cousin Jodi...

This is a picture I just found in the bottom of my button drawer (along with other old photos) of my Aunt Jerry and my late cousin Jodi who died of cancer a year ago July 1st at the age of 43. I didn't recall having this picture, but I must've snapped it one of the last times I ever saw her when I visited Lake Charles, LA a few years ago. I'm so happy I found this picture as it really shows the kind of person she was - forever an inspiration to me as someone who loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ profoundly and also loved her family and friends in much the same way. She was always one of my favorite cousins so fun, vivacious, funny, and loving... I'm not too surprised I found this picture in my dresser drawer after so many years. Just always a reminder never to let a day go by without saying you love the ones you love.

God bless you, Jodi! I love you forever, and I know that you are dancing for Jesus in your heavenly eternal life.

Love,
Claire

FALL PAINTING SCHEDULE!

Adults ages 14 - 80
6 - week block
Tuesdays Sept. 25 - Oct. 30
Morning class: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Evening class: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Fee: $295
$75 deposit to reserve your spot - goes toward fee
6 student limit

Contact Claire to sign up!

MICHAEL BUBLE...

ROCKS!!!! I love Michael Buble, and we got to see him at the beautiful Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on Friday night! He is such an awesome singer and performer. He's quite a complete entertainer on stage, and really shares the spotlight with all is his great band members - horn players, piano, and strings. Shot a few pics from the night. Go see his show for some serious fun, big band, standards, his own songs, remakes with his flavor - great energy! Enjoy!

Carole's and My 40th Birthday!

Yep, Carole and I just celebrated 40 years of being on Mother Earth!!! My family spent 2 weeks in Alabama - one week with my family in Athens and another week (4th of July) in beautiful Orange Beach, I'll be posting more trip pics from the vacation in another post. Our birthday celebration was in downtown Athens in front of Carole's studio. We had the street blocked off and had a live band the Valley Cats play. We served Southern-style barbecue inside and dancing outside. FUN!!! My dear friend Eileen came from St. Paul to Athens to be with Carole and me for 2 days and the party. That was one of the most special gifts I could've asked for. Life is all about our relationships and living in the moment - nothing's more special than spending time with family and friends, and that was what our birthday celebration was all about! Here are just a few pics!

Just after picking up Eileen at the airport!



Carole and I each had our own cakes, and here we are cutting pieces for our guests. Mine had a rainbow and sunshine and Carole's - flowers and sun. :) (Carole's in foreground, me in back)


My Dad STILL can cut a rug like nobody's business!


A fun group of us!


Eileen, Yvonne, & Marcia!


Sister Grace played some tunes while the Valley Cats took their break. A shot of Carole on drums!


Carole and Van Trent who was like a big brother to Carole and me growing up. He's a great dancer, too... ;)))


A shot of beautiful downtown Athens, AL at midnight after the celebration.

Our Evening with the Grays!

Jason and Taya Gray and their 3 handsome boys had dinner with us Kaysers on Wednesday night. Jason is a very talented Christian music singer/songwriter who was recently signed to a record label last fall. His music can now be heard on Christian radio all across the country! Here in the twin cities the station is KTIS FM 98.5. His latest record is "All the Lovely Losers" featuring the hit track "Blessed Be." Check out his music! You will find his writing to be refreshingly clever and he really ROCKS on his acoustic guitar. Sometimes, you might think you're listening to Lyle Lovett or Tom Petty.

First, we did a family photo session just a couple of blocks away. Then we had a wonderful salmon dinner that Tom made. YUMMY! We enjoyed hearing hilarious stories of experiences on the road and staying with host families. Such an enjoyable time we had before they hit the road again now through December! Safe travels, Grays! Catch them in your town if you get the chance - you won't be sorry!

KIDS ART CAMP!

My Kids Art camp just started today, and we had a blast! I have quite a range in age and wanted to see where each student was in their skill level - a wide range. Tomorrow, we will be painting on canvas - self portraits! What I love about teaching children is their inhibition to dive in and try things and the honesty in their work. Learning to paint is so much about knowing color, learning to mix and produce new colors, and putting it on canvas. These kids dove in with both feet! I'm so proud of them!
Day 1

Christopher's Self Portrait

Anna's Self Portrait

Mimi's Self Portrait

Emily's Self Portrait

Clare's Self Portrait

Sam's Self Portrait

This image of Mimi shows her newly missing tooth! Yes, while I was knelt down instructing her with something in her painting, she held out her hand, and said, "Oh, I just lost my tooth!" She had pushed it out with her tongue - no blood or anything! I think it was ready to come out! Hope the tooth fairy was good to you, Mimi!

This was our last day (day 3), and everyone had finished their self portraits, and we moved on to animal themes. Everyone at least started, and I gave them each some tips to continue on their own.


Thanks, Christopher, Anna, Mimi, Emily, Clare and Sam for a great camp! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Cheers!
Claie

Today is our 12th year anniversary!!!

Tom and I got married 12 years ago today! It was a blazing hot day in Athens, AL (95, humid and sunny). The northerners who attended really suffered, but the day was lovely otherwise with our 4:00 ceremony and reception to follow. It was fun, but I remember not ever even making it into the room with the food at the reception. :( Our honeymoon was an awesome trip to Lugano, Switzerland, Munchengladbach (spelling wrong, I'm sure) Germany, and then on to Amsterdam. Very romantic! Carole took the picture below after our ceremony in the beautiful courtyard of our church. This sits on my nightstand... ;)

Driscoll Shoot

Last Thursday, the weather here in St. Paul was very unstable with sustained 30 mph winds all day with a forecast of possible tornadoes later in the afternoon/evening. So, we shot earlier rather than later. It was very sunny at 10:30, and other than the wind, the day turned out to be fine. Anyway, enough weather talk - it was a joy shooting these 3 out and about in St. Paul. We shot in front of so many great textures and colors just within a 3 block area of my studio. St. Paul is so rich in wonderful architecture and lush landscapes. Thanks, Driscolls!

Just Some Recent Work!

I've been so blessed with so many great client photo sessions lately. I just wanted to share some of my favorite images of late.

3 Handsome brothers...


from a senior shoot...



Precious 2 yr.-old at her home!


Fun little one who was sipping water off the day lilies after the rain. So funny!


Mom and her new son! Gorgeous!