define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true); Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature » Getting Creative

Please visit my new, improved website!

>> Wildermuth Creative Portraits <<

  • Get creative with me!

    Things I’ve Learned

    January
    16
    2006


    A cardinal in my backyard on Saturday, 1/14/06
     

    Every year on my birthday, I like to think about what I’ve learned over the past year, to see if that old saying “Older and Wiser” is true. I try to learn lessons and allow events to better shape my character, and hopefully out of all of it I’m a little better of a person, and I like myself a little more for who I am and what I stand for. My list isn’t all-inclusive, but these are probably the most significant things that have moved me and got me thinking in a years time. Here are my deep thoughts from last year, of course all of those things still apply.

    I’ve learned that being the best friend I know how to be has to be good enough. I can try to be better, but I have to try on my own terms – not someone elses. If someone doesn’t like the kind of friend I am, they can opt out. I can’t handle the pressure I put on myself for disappointing other people. I try. Damn hard. I’m not perfect – no one is.

    I’ve learned not to expect anything from anyone. I will never, ever be disappointed – and I be delighted more often than not. Two thumbs up in that situation, every single time. Guaranteed.

    I do enjoy doing things for other people, as much as I hate to admit it. I realized that I spend most of my days doing things for other people, in hopes that they can have the same kind of happiness I have.

    I was disappointed to find out this year that I am NOT in control. Dammit. I have to let go, and trust God more.

    I’ve learned that nothing was ever resolved by sitting around doing nothing and accepting things as they are. You can promote change by taking action, and being one hell of a determined person. I’m not talking about politics or world events, I’m talking about personal lives and events.

    I actually have an interest in learning – and I thought I’d given that up when I graduated high school. I surprised myself with that one, teaching myself how to do things, researching so that I could learn and it would stick. No one is too old to learn something new.

    In a nutshell, this past year was a lot about lessons learned through relationships with people. My family, friends, and people I’ve met through the internet.

    I can’t wait to see what I learn over this next year!

    11
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: Available for Purchase, Chit Chat, Photography Prints, The Photog in Me

  • Church Mural Completed

    January
    14
    2006

    Remember the Church mural I started back in October? Well, I finished it today. Have a look:

    The wall space is 8 foot by – I don’t know – 12 foot? It took a while to finish, but I’m happy to have that scratched off my to-do list.

    I came home to a couple of birthday packages, so I’m all excited! I have to go make some phone calls and then get back to business, my first official project as a designer for EW is coming along really cool and will be finished some time next week. I’m all excited to make it perfect for the portfolio!

    Tomorrow, though, I’m not workin’ at all. Takin a day off, finally.

    Maybe.

    Well, I’ll try.

    9
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: Completed Paintings, Large Scale Projects

  • Making Lemonade

    January
    13
    2006

    “If life hands you lemons, make lemonade” they say. Or, in my case, cut one in half and stare in amazement at the little tiny packets of pulp wondering “how can they be so small, and pack such a punch?”, admiring the beauty and symmetry of one single fruit. Then take it out to the studio and ponder it as a still life painting, imagine it sitting among tubes of color – inspired by brightly colored things that exist naturally all around us. Photograph it, open it up on the computer and zoom in to 200% to see more detail than I could with the naked eye. Oh yeah. This will make for a wonderful still life painting, I think.

    In other news, my dear friend Taba asked if she could paint from one of my other photographs, Very Blue. Taba and I go way back as mentors and co-inspirers – and I was so giggly and excited when she sent along the link to her painting of my photography. Please, go have a look at it, it’s right here, listed for sale on ebay. Wouldn’t it be cool to own a painting of one of my photographs? C’mon, you know you want to. Go bid on it, you’ll be supporting a self-representing artist and buying her very first painting of 2006! She has other auctions up too, for custom pet portraits. Yes, I know, I paint those too – but every artist has their own way of painting, and I love her way. So, then, you can have one of hers AND one of mine. I won’t be offended. I promise.

    7
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: Available for Purchase, Photography Prints, The Photog in Me

  • A Glimpse of Spring

    January
    10
    2006

    Because it’s cold. Because there was frost on the grass this morning. Because while burning over 100 CD’s worth of data, photography and paintings lastnight, I saw this one image and stopped for a moment to appreciate nature, and what I miss over the winter months. I miss my flowers, birds, warm breezes, green trees, the smell of freshly cut grass. I miss my summer wardrobe, my flip-flops, not having to bundle up. I miss open windows. Bright beautiful skies. Kids on the swingset, popcicles hanging out of their mouths, shirts stained in purples and reds. Sigh.

    Soon.

    21
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: The Great Outdoors, The Photog in Me

  • Pelican

    January
    9
    2006

    I have never – in 13 years of living in this area – seen a pelican on the Mississippi River until this past Sunday. He was big. BIG. He surprised me, because he was among a big flock of geese, ducks, swans and seagulls that were resting along the river. Gorgeous.

    11
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: The Photog in Me

  • Bald Eagle Days

    January
    8
    2006

    Every year, several bald eagles migrate south to areas where it’s easier to fish on the ice. Since we live on the Mississippi, we get to host many of them through the winter months. Right now there’s no ice, really, but they’re hanging out, fishing on the inlets of the river and nesting in groupings of trees that are hard to access by people.

    We did get down to see them yesterday, and many of my pics turned out just plain crappy. Even with a 12x optical zoom, they’re just specks on a poster sized image. This is the best one I think, that shows the most detail of the bird. I tinkered with it a bit to make it as clear as I could. I’ve got a couple more bird pics I’ll put up tomorrow. Enjoy!

    5
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: The Photog in Me

  • Daggone Canadians…

    January
    7
    2006

    Caption these Geese!
    (As many times as you’d like, just for fun!)

    12
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: Captionable Critters

  • Grapple

    January
    6
    2006

    This is a Grapple. Smells like a grape, tastes like an apple! At least that’s what the package says. It does smell like it was hanging out in the grape drawer for a while. From the website:

    Experience the wonderful new flavor of Gr?pple® brand apples. Imagine the sweet distinctive flavor of Concord grapes combined with the crispness of a fresh, juicy Washington Extra Fancy apple.

    Now, instead of buying apples and grapes, dicing up the apples and putting them both in a bowl for munching ( umpteen servings of this for a combined total of around $4), you can have your grapes infused directly into the apple for about $2 (each apple)!

    I bought them. I thought they would be really neat to try. They were! And that was the last time I’ll spend $2 for an apple that smells like a grape and tastes – really – like a sweet apple.

    What will they think of next?

    12
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: The Photog in Me

  • “You’re Hired!”

    January
    3
    2006

    Were the words she said to me today. YEAHHH!!

    You’re looking at the blog of the newest designer on staff for E.Webscapes, the most awesomest blog and website design service joint on the web!

    Dang. I’m so excited. What a New Year so far, eh? Okay I’ll blog it in the TT Thursday, but you can go see the announcement now, too!!

    … Leanne will remain our staff illustrator here at E.Webscapes – but as of today, her responsibilities and talents in her bag-o-tricks have increased! Through several months of working, learning and banging around inside the inner-workings of WordPress and CSS – Leanne was determined to learn how to use her creative skills to design blogs, as well. As an artist, the creative part is like second skin to her – – the technical, back-end work was a bit of a challenge. However, not SO much of a challenge that she couldn’t tackle it – because she has. As a result, we’ve hired her on as a designer for E.Webscapes, as well as an artist. Talk about crazy skills, man! …read it all here!

    33
    Direct link to this post
    Filed under: Custom Illustrations, Graphics, Blog Designs, E.Webscapes
  • « previous page
    next page »

    {Latest Projects}