I want to be "Self-Taught" too!!!

    On my down time, in other words, 'time when I'm either in too much pain or in between projects', I like to scroll the Etsy search feature to see what I can see. I am drawn to good photographs and flowers usually. And good photographs OF flowers really get my attention! But one day I saw this photograph! It was in the shop of  cathymariecreations.

              My search for the day ended there!
    The header picture is a 4x6 black and white picture, a Fine Art Photo Card, of the Empire State Building in New York, taken at dusk. Isn't it beautiful?! The angle she took it from immediately caught my attention! In the description of it she says: "The black and white captures its essence. It makes a great card but would also look cool as framed art!" I totally agree! And when was the last time you had a piece of fine art that was signed and dated on the back by the artist, and you only had to pay $3.00 for it?!!!
    As I looked through her shop more I found that it was not only black and whites that she did......and she does those great!....

     She took this image while she was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.

       And this is her sweet pug "Bosco". She says: " He is very photogenic and I enjoy capturing moments like these! Pugs have such expressive faces!"
  ....But she also does colored and beautiful flowers!!!

     I mean,....Just Beautiful!!!
      Now, it's obvious that I really love her photography, but after you read her blog bio I think you'll really start to love it too! She says:

"I am a self taught artist, writer, photographer, pug lover, chocoholic, cancer survivor and author of the memoir "Breastless in the City". For me it is all about the journey. I have recently begun my own creative journey and am having fun learning all I can about art! I enjoy painting and mixed media! On my new blog "Artsy Butterfly" I will be sharing my creative journey. . . come join me!"

She's "Self-Taught"!!! I want to be Self-Taught too!!! But my 'Self-Teaching' thus far has not produced photographs that look like this!! :-/ LOL Don't get me started!!!...Maybe it's because I don't have a pug, or a book, or...on a more serious note,...I haven't been through the struggle of cancer! Any one of these things, or all of them together, must give you a unique way to look at the world. And that she does!

     She says that she looks for the beauty in simplicity and that her photos are moments of creation for her. Well, I have news for her...they are moments of creation for us too!! :-)
   For those who are particular about details, I should tell you that her photos are printed on premium photo paper and viveira inks. She uses heavy weight acid free white card stock. And each card is left blank for your sentiment.
    Me?! I'd have a hard time sending them to anybody! I'd have her photo cards in frames all over my house as framed art!!! And I could handle the price too! Most of them are only $3.00!! I'm an art connoisseur, but a cheap one!!! ^_^ Hey, I don't have to tell anybody how much they cost. They certainly wouldn't know from looking at them!!
    So, go forth on this relaxed Sunday and take in the scenic beauty of cathymariecreations shop. Tell her the appreciative, nutty, Poetesswug sent you!! :-)

Beauty

The sun is peeking through.
Its beam is flowing to the ground.
The Autumn at it's new peak,
and the leaves are fluttering down.

A baby girl's joyous laughing,
legs and arms kicking everywhere.
A mother, when she's  nursing,
playing with her baby's  hair.

The gentle rain, when falling
on a southern old tin roof.
A toddler's gap-faced grinning,
when they've lost their first front tooth.

A man with long, bow legs,
walking slowly down the street.
A colorful spring flower,
visited by a bumble bee.

A person who is kind,
and smiles at everyone they meet.
An artist's painted picture,
with the last brush stroke complete.

An "I love you" that's said
just because they wanted to;
and the person that gives hugs
when they hear an "I love you".
(And there's other beauty too.)

I think her photographs would fit the bill. Don't you?! :-)
{As a bit of local news--> 
Artisans of Western Mass stART On The Street: http://startonthestreet.org/ is today! And so is Old Deerfield: http://www.deerfield-craft.org/ ! Get over there and support the local handmade artisans, will ya!}

Have a good day everyone!!