Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature

Leanne the Photographer

Who’s on Bass

January

2006

I forgot to post this pic of Martina’s Bass player. It’s so moody and jazzy and c o o l .

Did I mention I filed our taxes already? I did. And now I’m thinking about ripping out a few more walls in our house, but not before I finish the blog design I’m working on – and the custom dog portrait that is waiting in my studio.

So little to do, so much time.

Scratch that, reverse it.

(Thanks Mr. Wonka, that will forever be stuck in my head.)

We’ve been looking at houses, too. We’d like to move far far away from this stupid snow. I’ve found two homes that are completely out of our price range but they’re beautiful and I want them. Which one can you “see me in”?

Beautiful Gorgeous Immaculate House #1or

This Wonderful Private Southern Belle of a Home

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Filed under: Available for Purchase, Home n' Hearth, Photography Prints, The Photog in Me

Martina McBride

January

2006

Tonight was the concert, I bought these tickets for my hubby a couple of months ago for Christmas.

WOW. That’s all I can say. This woman is larger than life, has a purpose she is most definitely fulfilling, and she’s just out and out beautiful, period. I’ll let the photos say the rest.

Keep reading »

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Filed under: The Photog in Me

Things I’ve Learned

January

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!

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Filed under: Available for Purchase, Chit Chat, Photography Prints, The Photog in Me

Making Lemonade

January

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.

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Filed under: Available for Purchase, Photography Prints, The Photog in Me

A Glimpse of Spring

January

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.

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Filed under: The Great Outdoors, The Photog in Me

Pelican

January

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.

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Filed under: The Photog in Me

Bald Eagle Days

January

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!

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Grapple

January

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?

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Angels & World Peace

December

2005

This is my small (but growing) collection of Willow Tree angels. Each one was given to me on very special occasions from very, very special people in my life. The two sitting angels were gifts while my hubby was in Iraq, Serenity (on the left) is from Clara, one of my closest, dearest friends. The Angel of Protection is the Angel sitting with a bunny on the right, Paige sent her to me around the time my hubby was awarded a Purple Heart. Perfect, perfect timing I’d say!

This Christmas, I added a new one to my collection, the standing piece is titled “Mother and Daughter”. Catybug picked it out (all by herself, sniffle). I love it. So of course I set them on the piano and let the piano light give them a special glow, and lastnight before I went to bed the peaceful scene really touched me so I thought I’d share.

This next one is date stamped, an actual 35mm shot! Those are antiques now aren’t they? Well. I was be-bopping around Los Angeles at the time and saw this.

I thought it fit the World Peace theme, what do you think? No? Well. I thought Angels and Whirrled Peas would be a great New Years Eve wish to have for everyone. Especially that Angel of Protection if you’re going out tonight.

I hope you bring in the New Year with enthusiasm, optimism, love and peas in your heart. Stay cozy!

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