Hi; it's me again! Been awhile! I hope everyone is keeping well during this challenging time we are all experiencing right now, world-wide.

This month (May 2020) marks a return to an artwork installation in physical form. For me, there's a definite excitement to seeing your digital camera images created as something tangible and sometimes even larger than the screen used to compose, shoot, and edit. A photo comes to life when put onto a medium for display, whether that be canvas, polished metal, acrylic, or various types of photo paper.

If you know me, you know that I'm "old school" and enjoy the visual and tactile treat (and, for some old photo albums, even the smell!) of having photos printed out and on shelves or walls in my living and working spaces. For the longest time, it always felt a bit odd to me to have my own art photos on my walls; I instead preferred to reserve those spaces for the works of others. But there's nothing saying I can't enjoy my own work as much as that of someone else!

One of the interesting and fun things about "art" is that it is always in the eye of the beholder and what seems "pretty" or "interesting" or "wow!" to someone may not even get a second glance from someone else. And that's great! If we all liked the same things, it would be pretty boring! I mean, everyone in Saskatchewan would be wearing green and white every day... ;)

LINK TO THE FEATURED ARTWORK: CLICK ME

ENOUGH READING, JEFF! SKIP TO THE PHOTO GIVEAWAY: CLICK ME

How many of us have thousands of images on their phone or computer that we never "do anything" with? I'm guilty of it myself and I make a little bit of a business with pretty pictures. Art in all forms is meant to be enjoyed and I, for one, am always in favour of any amount of time my eyeballs can get a break from the electronic screens they spend so much time staring at. And flipping upwards with my finger looking at pretty pictures on Instagram is a way to rapidly see a bunch of photos quickly and then I always stop to hit 'Like' and comment on ones that really grab me. 

But in my office, bedroom, living room, kitchen, and yes even bathroom I have printed photographs that I can pause and look at. Appreciate. Remember where/when it was taken (or at least try to) and who I was with if it is one of my own.  It's those moments where I'm so happy I decided to print something or buy a photograph or other piece of art from someone else. 

The Bushwakker Brewing Company in Regina is a fantastic pub food experience (mmmm nachooooos, fish n chips, Rueben, and the Chico IPA and Procrastinator Doppelbock are some of my favourites) and have always been very supportive to local artists by providing a large 7.5ft square wall space which rotates monthly. And you may not realize but it's so popular that I've had to book my slot 18-24 months in advance! This show has been set for nearly two years!

With the Covid-19 pandemic affecting so many people and economies, I was going to bow out from putting the artwork up this time with all that's happening but as the saying goes, "the show must go on" (cue the Queen tunes!)! I'm confident that our province is going to safely and cautiously and slowly going to get back into "a new norm" over the next few months. And, besides, even if we are currently not able to go hang out with friends and family at our favourite social spots, we can always have the mental wellness benefit of looking at some artwork, yeah?

Yeah!

I've got 10 printed photo pieces on display (AND FOR SALE!) at Bushwakker and will also be doing as much virtual sharing of the images and their stories as I can over the next month (check my Facebook page Jeff Hamon Scenic Fine Art and Instagram profile JeffHamonPhotography). So if we are able to go in person to check them out at some point before June 5, fantastic! If not, I'm still glad they got to go hang out somewhere other than my basement for awhile!

There are some new images, some old images, and a couple popular favourites. The pieces are mostly on canvas this time because it really suits the rustic feel of the old buildings that are the subjects of this month's display. And with this challenging time we are in right now, I know that a lot of us are "seeing the same four walls" and longing for socialization and the outside world. It occurred to me that both in the present and the past we have looked out our doors and windows to see what's happening in the neighbourhood, to check the weather, to dream, to make sure the kids or dog are still within sight, or to enjoy a sunrise or sunset.

To paraphrase from Aldous Huxley, "discover a world of visionary beauty" by looking out your doors and windows. It's there. All day and every day. Take time, each day, to look for the beauty in the world around us and to appreciate it. 

This month most of the pieces are on sale, you can choose any photo in various sizes/mediums, and I'm also donating $15 from each sale to the Saskatchewan Heart & Stroke Foundation. The charities and non-profits are in need situations at the best of times and we can all use extra support these days. And to give back and say thanks to my photo appreciators I'm giving away a picture from my web collection at the end of the display June 6. I had considered adding one more photo to the printed display but had trouble picking one and I had two old inventory 16x20 frames (one classy black, one rustic brown) kicking around so thought "hey why not ask people what THEY would like to see all framed up?" Like I said... art is in the eye of the beholder! So I decided on the #filltheframecontest to give away a photo from a selected set of images found here (make sure to read the rules/how to enter!). If you're the lucky winner, I'll work with you to select the black or brown frame to best match your image if you want the frame shipped/delivered or can just take the print-only.

The featured pieces in "Doors & Windows" May 2 - June 5 will be posted and discussed on my Facebook and Instagram accounts throughout the month so stop by there regularly or have a look at the slideshow here (controls pop up at the bottom):

LINK TO THE FEATURED ARTWORK: CLICK ME
 

Thanks for reading! Give me a comment here or under any of your favourite photos on my website and I hope to see you around the social media pages and in the contest entry! p.s. bonus entry for you if you chat me up here in the Blog :)

Jeff