THE HUMAN CANVAS - Navel Maneuvers

This...

Was the beginning of something fun!

Actually, THIS was the real beginning.

This was the one that got the ball rolling.

A really quick design, on Kerri's last day in Kentucky.

It really just primed the well, as it were.

After getting back to California,

we started daily exchanges about the next 
time we could get together and do more 
Human Canvas work.

((((we both live there, but it took a trip to Kentucky
to get us really connected. Go figure!?!)

She was as anxious as I.

We also talked about clothing to go with the pieces.

Costumes as well.
But we'll get back to that.
I had a rough idea of what I wanted to do,
and where, but this first piece...

...Ended up being defined by a few things.

Kerri brought quite a few belly button rings to

choose from. We thought this would be the one to

go with the costume.  So this ring gave us the

height of the space between.

The space between...

These petals?

I know I was looking at doing some sort of cross.

Maybe even something ornate, and metal. 

But for whatever reason...

...I ended up doing

something more akin to flower petals,

laid out and adhered in a specific array.

I've REALLY been enjoying playing with blends

and tones, and was quite happy with how

this'n turned out.

Especially when we stand her up and let

the ring fall as it should.

And did I mention costumes?

This became

part of the fun of this shoot with Kerri.

It remains a part of the fun. Human Canvas

sessions with her continue.

At some point,

abandoning taking shots of the Sharpie work,

and just going with the flow...

...and cracking her up occasionally.

Okay.

Back to arranging shots...

...And playing with shadows.

And noting that these pieces

will compliment some articles of clothing...

...And contrast NICELY with others

(((note the change in belly button rings to comliment the drawing)))

This continued to be
a day of wonderful photography...

...And continued attempts at cracking up the model.

Here and there.

But it made for some of my favorite shots.

And there's gonna be a bunch more showing up at 

"David Fleming's Human Canvas"... 

link to it HERE.

Oh.

This Navel Maneuver, by the way, 

was only one of three pieces explored that day. 

Check back REAL soon!

And the beginnings 

of these fun little adventures, 

past one hundred now, can be followed 

through a couple of tabs near the 

top of this page.

Thanks for stopping by.

And telling a friend about it.

I mean, really. There's no 

money involved.

THE HUMAN CANVAS - Unleashing a MONSTER... AND a Pink Flamingo!

Okay?

We'll get back to this.

Believe me!

This...

This NEXT canvas,

Was an unexpected canvas,

Which is always - truly - such a treat.

I was back in Kentucky,

Helping to celebrate my parents,

And their 50th wedding Anniversary!

While there, I ended up doing several Human

Canvas sessions -  at the Big Apple Cafe in Murray,

at a school in Puryear, Tennessee, and later - at a

friends house, also in Puryear,

 

(you can link to those adventures with a hover

of the mouse up above)

 

and then, the night

before I left - at my parents house.

Coldwater, Kentucky.

Man, I was all

over!

No big mystery as to what this is going to be.

A flamingo has a rather - ohhhhh - obvious shape

and generally recognizable stance

and whatnot.

Besides,

It's mentioned in the title.

But I like to catch the step-by-step photos.

I enjoy SEEING the process, but I also enjoy being REMINDED of it later. Trying to remember

what lines were where...

and why.

 

The flamingo here is landing on Alesa.

She was Mom's boss at the time of her retirement

(and subsequent coming back in, retiring, coming

back in, retiring... etc.)

 

 

I'm told she has

flamingos all over her place.

I mean... ALL over her place.

I have yet to see, but

as of THIS night...

 

She really IS one step closer

to having flamingos all over the place.

ALL over the place.

Now take the time to notice

the pink of the flamingo, with the sweatshirt,

with the nails...
 

...and with the stance...

 

...Alesa.

Thank you.

That was the night before I left Kentucky.

The MORNING before I left...

Lenore.

I knew what I was

gonna draw on her before I started, but

it was still rather impromptu.

 

 

 

It went rather quickly.

Especially since I forgot to take

very many step-by-step shots.

A rather

innocent looking piece.

At least here, at Mom and Dads house.

...But it got her

searched at the airport!

After she got back home, she

stumbled accross an image online,

which was strikingly similar to what I'd

put on her arm.

Now...

There's barely a day

that goes by without her and I

exchanging images and ideas for the next piece.

The next pieces.

There've already been six since

that day in Kentucky. A couple of years ago,

she said to herself, "there's no WAY I'm gonna

let him draw on me".

Now she admits...

She can't wait for the next.

I've created a monster.

Her name is Lenore.

And she walks by night!

SO much more to come!

C'mon back.

Soon!

And I can't wait either.

Thank you Lenore.

THE HUMAN CANVAS - More Flower TO Ya!

THIS...

Was the end of the evening.

Or a bit into the morning, if ya look at that clock 
on the wall in the background.
 

 

But let's step back a bit.

While in Kentucky at the end of September,

I agreed to do an art presentation/art lesson for a

Girl Scout troop. I don't know exactly how I feel about

how I did. I hope I can do it again next time I'm there.

I know that I could do better. Meantime, I hope some

of the kids this time got SOMETHING out of it.
 

Speaking of which,

after the presentation, and after 
some of the youngest of the young had 
gone home with their parents, Marci (you've 
seen her on these pages before. Click HERE for 

a link), explained to a few of the remaining kids

(and a parent or two) that I also

sometimes drew on people -

instead of paper.

There was a short line soon.

Again, flowers on my mind, there were a couple of these 
done in the next couple of minutes.

It was also a Fall Festival of some sort,

so the flowers seemed to fit.

Or a clover.

Or ballet slippers.

This kid 
wanted a dragon though.

And why not? I do regret not thowing

a bit of grey in there. He wanted a black dragon.

I gave him a quick outline. I think, though, that this

dragon may have planted a seed for one I'd end up

doing in the near future. One that I REALLY loved.

After dinner,
and a Murray State University
production of The Woman in Black,
I went back to Marci's for a couple more pieces.

Well, a few more. Marci's daughter Madison got one more flower similar to the ones earlier at the Girl Scout event.

 

This one got

just a bit more attention to detail,

and I begrudgingly got a smile from her.

 

On then... to Heather!

 

I had designed a piece

for another friend named Heather,

but it may be a bit before we get together for

me to start drawing on her.

 

Actually, I have yet to even ask.

It would be some vines with heather,

intertwined with a crown.

 

But again,

I have yet to even tell her

I've designed something for her.

Maybe she'll see this. Maybe one of her friends

will, and tell her about the idea.

 

 

But back to this night.

A buncha little leaves later...

 

Heather on Heather.

 

Now...

Onto Marci!

 

 

Quite frankly,

I had come over with

the intention of putting a buncha

flowers on one side...

 

Do a similar piece on her other side...

 

Then something large,

Occupying most of her back.

But I couldn't. I just couldn't.

I mean...

 

Look at the clock below.
Right around 2:36 AM, if I read it correctly.
Anyway - Heather and Marci.
Thank you both!

 

And thank YOU

For checking this out...

For spreading the word - to anyone...

And possibly, for being next.

 

See the beginings of

this adventure through a few tabs

near the top of this page.

 

Thanks again for stopping by.