I shot this last Sunday to show my nephew and nieces how you can animate with a digital camera. It was also a great excuse to play with my new camera remote and reacquaint myself with my old buddy After Effects.
One note: My website (mentioned at the end) is no longer up...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Owl Quilt Panel
A quilt panel I contributed to a baby shower gift for my friend in Atlanta years ago.
Program Art for Kennedy Center & Refugee International's production of George Packer's "Betrayed"
This is the program art I did for the 2009 Refugee International Kennedy Center co-production of "Betrayed".
Morgue Photos for the Kennedy Center and Culture Project's production of George Packer's play "Betrayed"
In one of the scenes in George Packer's play "Betrayed", the main character goes to a morgue in Iraq to identify the body of a fellow Iraqi working as a interpreter for the Americans in the green zone. The director, Pippin Parker, had the digitally distressed versions of these photos projected onto the back brick wall of the stage to aid the character in his search.
I did all bits of the "distressing" in Photoshop. These are actresses who are all perfectly healthy and weren't harmed in any way.
I did all bits of the "distressing" in Photoshop. These are actresses who are all perfectly healthy and weren't harmed in any way.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Create Culture's "A Conversation with Nature"
This past Saturday, I hopped on the train and trekked to Prospect Park in Brooklyn to have "A Conversation with Nature".
The walk was highlighted in Time Out, but a better description was in The Prospect Heights Patch and reads as follows:
What is Mother Nature trying to say to you? Engage in deep listening with musician Kaoru Watanabe in beautiful Prospect Park. As you move around, blindfolded, in a safe environment, you will hear the sounds of Japanese drums and flutes weave in and out of the music of the wind and the trees. With your perception of sound and space becoming radically altered, what sounds you contribute, in this conversation with nature, might surprise you.
A few things made this a really unique and mind-extending experience.
Being blindfolded and "guided" over different terrain, reacquainted me with my feet.
I walk on them every day, regularly force them into uncomfortable shoes, occasionally whack them on dressers, ottomans, and other objects, step on bees in the grass or splinters on the hardwood floor, and all the while, I've never considered their talents as "eyes". It was tremendously empowering, and I imagined myself as a caterpillar, following safely behind my antennae.
I accepted water from a female who appeared out of nowhere.
At the start, I was the only female in our group. About 30 minutes in, still blind, a female voice offered me water and I said thank you and drank it with no concern for possible poison. Newly sightless, I felt safe on my journey. It was lime seltzer too, which was an unexpected sensory experience. She thankfully turned out to be a part of the team.
I allowed myself to just be.
I rarely do anything without simultaneously doing something else. If I watch a movie or listen to a podcast, I draw... When I'm on the treadmill, I read... In my conversation with nature, I had no choice but to be fully present and to allow my senses to have their moments to shine. Afterward, I felt centered and refreshed. I believe the entire experience ran about an hour, and I felt like I'd just invented Yoga.
Lovely, earthy music enhanced the experience thanks to Kaoru Watanabe and to the natural inhabitants of our big blue planet.
In short, I highly recommend this! It's only offered for the next three weeks, so book now! Here's the Create Culture link and the brownpapertickets link with more info.
The walk was highlighted in Time Out, but a better description was in The Prospect Heights Patch and reads as follows:
What is Mother Nature trying to say to you? Engage in deep listening with musician Kaoru Watanabe in beautiful Prospect Park. As you move around, blindfolded, in a safe environment, you will hear the sounds of Japanese drums and flutes weave in and out of the music of the wind and the trees. With your perception of sound and space becoming radically altered, what sounds you contribute, in this conversation with nature, might surprise you.
A few things made this a really unique and mind-extending experience.
Being blindfolded and "guided" over different terrain, reacquainted me with my feet.
I walk on them every day, regularly force them into uncomfortable shoes, occasionally whack them on dressers, ottomans, and other objects, step on bees in the grass or splinters on the hardwood floor, and all the while, I've never considered their talents as "eyes". It was tremendously empowering, and I imagined myself as a caterpillar, following safely behind my antennae.
I accepted water from a female who appeared out of nowhere.
At the start, I was the only female in our group. About 30 minutes in, still blind, a female voice offered me water and I said thank you and drank it with no concern for possible poison. Newly sightless, I felt safe on my journey. It was lime seltzer too, which was an unexpected sensory experience. She thankfully turned out to be a part of the team.
I allowed myself to just be.
I rarely do anything without simultaneously doing something else. If I watch a movie or listen to a podcast, I draw... When I'm on the treadmill, I read... In my conversation with nature, I had no choice but to be fully present and to allow my senses to have their moments to shine. Afterward, I felt centered and refreshed. I believe the entire experience ran about an hour, and I felt like I'd just invented Yoga.
Lovely, earthy music enhanced the experience thanks to Kaoru Watanabe and to the natural inhabitants of our big blue planet.
In short, I highly recommend this! It's only offered for the next three weeks, so book now! Here's the Create Culture link and the brownpapertickets link with more info.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Yellow Bird in park amongst pigeons
Saw this little chap in the park by my apartment with the pigeons. He was very proud of himself.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Artistic Biscuits: Dark Chocolate Fennel Biscuits
My coworkers at "Team Umizoomi" spanked a huge project the other day and to celebrate, I made them these.
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 a bar (or whatever looks like the right amount) of dark chocolate (I used 77%), chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried fennel seeds, roughly chopped into smallish bits
1 cup well-shaken light buttermilk
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and fennel, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in chocolate. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.
Form dough into 1 1/2" round balls and place about an inch apart on a large buttered baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, roughly 10 minutes.
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 a bar (or whatever looks like the right amount) of dark chocolate (I used 77%), chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried fennel seeds, roughly chopped into smallish bits
1 cup well-shaken light buttermilk
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, and fennel, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in chocolate. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.
Form dough into 1 1/2" round balls and place about an inch apart on a large buttered baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, roughly 10 minutes.
Friday, April 1, 2011
April Fool's Shenanigans
THIS MORNING'S EMAIL CHAIN:(with only a few responses, posted without names to protect the dignity of the gullible)Sent: 4/01/11 8:30 amFrom: Linda Beck
To: familySubject: And overnight we become a family of 8
Even with all the tests at the vet a week or so ago, I guess it never occurred to anyone to check and see if our little Naps was pregnant. Well, after a night of inexplicable spasticness on her part, i awoke to see the population in our apartment had increased by four. Strangely enough, none of the kittens have tails, reminiscent of my precious long gone cat, Nougie.
Way to go stray cat. Way to find a place to deposit your kittens.
___
Sent: 4/01/11 8:31 am
From: Linda BeckTo: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8
Did the picture go through? I'm having phone issues. Argggg technology!!
Family members and friend kindly congratulate us on the new arrivals!
"How cute is that" What color are they? and--- WHERE did she have them? Can't wait to see the proud family! Congrats g'ma and g'pa!"
"Nope no pics. Congratulations! 6 new kids in one year. Man! You guys must be exhausted~!!!" ___Sent: 4/01/11 8:40 amFrom: Linda BeckTo: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8
Well, apparently the picture didn't go through. I'll try to send it from work. I don't remember Momkey or Half-Nose's kittens being able to walk when they were just born but apparently my memory is failing. I had to chase three of them back into the apartment before I left.
Oh, and they're almost purple in colour... lavender whiskers. Very pretty.
(Various responses from family members and friends arrive - none of which convey disbelief in the fantastical colour of the kittens.)
"This email chain is almost crazy enough for me to think someone’s sending spam from your account! Congrats on the purple kitties"
___
Sent: 4/01/11 9:00 amFrom: Linda BeckTo: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8
Thanks! They're very cute, even if they look a little like were dropped in the Paas Easter Egg dye. Any theories on what would make them come out like that? I can't find anything on the web. She's a street cat, so who knows what she got into. Their toes are kind of turquoise. Very strange.
My loving family member sincerely asks, "Are you're sure they're KITTENS?"
___
Sent: 4/01/11 9:44 amFrom: Linda BeckTo: family Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8
Just talked to Jeremy -
Now there are 6 kittens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
___
Sent: 4/01/11 10:20 amFrom: Linda BeckTo: family
Subject: And overnight we become a family of 8
Take 4 on sending the picture... Fingers crossed that it goes through this time.
"Yeah, something is weird with them. U should get them checked out. It's a stray cat, so it could be anything. It's in their eyes too they're like bright blue. Either it's something that will go away later or they're just gonna be that way. I would take them to the vet though."
But finally:
"Damn you. April 1st huh?"
And by the way, I Photoshopped those kittens purple - I didn't borrow any kittens and dye them. Sheesh, people.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Artistic Biscuits: Thank You, Umiz Monterey Jack & Chipotle Biscuits
As a thank you for going above and beyond with sweetness, I made some savoury biscuits for my terrific coworkers at Nickelodeon's "Team Umizoomi":
Monterey Jack & Chipotle Biscuits
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated
2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chipotle pepper flakes
1 cup well-shaken light buttermilk
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, ground pepper, and chipotle flakes in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in Muenster cheese. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.
Form dough into 1 1/2" round balls and place about an inch apart on a large buttered baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, roughly 10 minutes.
Check out some cool Umi stuff on the Nick, Jr. "Team Umizoomi" website!
Monterey Jack & Chipotle Biscuits
2 cups all-purpose flour2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated
2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chipotle pepper flakes
1 cup well-shaken light buttermilk
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, salt, ground pepper, and chipotle flakes in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in Muenster cheese. Add buttermilk and stir until just combined.
Form dough into 1 1/2" round balls and place about an inch apart on a large buttered baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until golden, roughly 10 minutes.
Check out some cool Umi stuff on the Nick, Jr. "Team Umizoomi" website!
Unitarian Universalist Chalice
The Flaming Chalice is the traditional "symbol" of Unitarian Universalism. Because the U.U.s are such a small part of the religion pie chart (less than 1% of the U.S. population, I believe one of our ministers at All Souls reported), Unitarian Universalist Chalices are not mass produced and therefore there isn't a wide selection from which to chose. Many of the handmade chalices, though beautiful, are a little too ornate for my taste.
For my son's dedication gift, I got him the above footed soup bowl, which I think proves a charming alternative. Here's a link to the very mainstream store where I found it.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
group hug
A really great impromptu group hug with some dear friends a couple of Saturdays ago provided strength for a difficult Monday.
Big love, Goldstein and Stuart.
Big love, Goldstein and Stuart.
"Victorian shielded shawl and diaper pin"
Here's a new note card I illustrated followed by a tidbit about the history of its subject:
The Diaper Pin
The Diaper Pin
According to Henry Petroski in his book “The Evolution of Useful Things”:
In 1842, Thomas Woodward, of Brooklyn, New York, patented “a manner of constructing shielded pins for securing shawls, diapers, &c*” which he called “the Victorian shielded shawl and diaper pin.” His device consisted of a pin hinged to a cupped piece of metal that covers the point, and it is highly suggestive of a modern safety pin. According to Woodward’s patent, “It will not become loosened by motion of the wearer and …the point of the pin cannot, by any accident, be caused to puncture, or scratch, the person.” However, this pin had no integral spring, and so it had to rely upon the bulk of material compressed within it to hold the point in the shield.
The shortcoming was removed by the “dress-pin” invented by Walter Hunt of New York City and patented in 1849. His pin had “the distinguishing features of…one piece of wire or metal combining a spring, and clasp or catch, in which catch, the point of said pin is forced and, by its own spring, securely retained.”
Here's Hunt's original patent illustration, also from Petroski's book:
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