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Welcome!!

My name is Penny Cheng, Chainmaille Artist and the Owner/Designer Of Jewelry by Saniki Creations. I am lucky enough to work on my designs at home while taking care of my three girls. Life is hectic, but fun...

This Blog is about my life, my business, and my creations plus I enjoy promoting my fellow Artists.

Enjoy!!!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Meet Rebecca Nash of Rebecca Nash Photography - Featured Artist

Rebecca Nash of Rebecca Nash Photography is our Featured Artist today.  A fellow Canadian and fellow member of The Artisan Group, Rebecca's camera is her muse as she captures moments in time.


Rebecca Nash, Photographer
How and when did you discover your love for your craft/art?
I have been a hobby photographer since I was a child. I loved photos looking at them and taking them. There was something about that captured moment in time that lured me in.
I began pursuing my passion more seriously after the birth of my daughter. I want to capture everything she did in a way that really conveyed everything that was so exciting and magical about that time in our lives. At the time I was back in college and then working as an Early Childhood Educator. My business (or even the thought of turning this passion into a business) never really happened until I was speaking to parents admiring the photos of their children hanging on my classroom walls. Over and over it became "Wow! I've never seen that good a picture of _____, could you come out to our house and take some photos?"Pretty soon it was clear that this was going to be the way I could incorperate my passion for photography and my joy of spending time with people into my dream job!

Do you remember the first piece you ever made?
The first set of portraits I was paid for I did a 2 hour on location shoot and only charged $50 including prints and a disk! My first Fine Art Piece I sold for only $10

"Amazing Orchid" 16x24 Gallery Wrap
Every Artist has a creative process, can you explain yours?
Wow...thats a tough one. It really depends on what kind of project I'm working on but I guess the basic overall process would be:
1) Deciding on the subject - sometimes it's commisioned and this isn't my option but other times it's finding something that really speaks to me
2) What kind of tone do I want to create or emotion do I want to evoke? This really helps shape the direction I take with a piece
3) Scout out locations and props - I will drive/walk around town looking for locations, browsing through stores for complimentary items to my subject and purpose of the photo
4) I sit down and sketch out ideas of things to try with notes of different possibilities - This is always in my back pocket - sometimes I'm really inspired and never touch it but sometimes it helps me step outside the box and get the creative juices flowing
5) Setup lighting, subject and start shooting!
6) Download and back up every image
7) Start sorting images - I have a rating scale I use to help me narrow down the one image of the subject that really captures my goals and any other images that have interesting potential
8) If I'm happy with the image it gets printed and starts appearing online - if I just havent got the shot I want I repeat step 4-7 as many times as needed!

Rebecca Nash Photography

When people start doing their craft/art, they tend to try a lot of different things before settling down to something that resonates with them.  How has your work changed since you began?
When I first started shooting I would shoot anyone or anything that would get in front of my camera. I hadn't figured out yet what things that made me most excited and what I had an eye for. Don't get me wrong I love looking at landscape and wildlife photography but this just wasn't for me...my heart wasn't in it and my images were just mediocre. They didn't tell the story I wanted. For me I need those people or things that tell a story for me to be able to put my passion into it.


"Antique Rose" 6x9 Photo Paper Print
What inspires you creatively?
Inspiration comes from all around me! It's the music I listen to, the books I read, the shows I watch, my everyday life, watching my daughter, talking to people...anything! It's all about people, stories, emotions, and connections for me.

Can you tell us about some important goals you have achieved with your work?

Some of my greatest goals I've achieved thus far include selling my first fine art piece, building a collection of pieces which could form an online store & collection, building my own website, and being hired to photograph the wedding of a stranger (they aren't doing it to be nice, they honestly enjoy what you do!).


Rebecca Nash Photography

Who are some of your favorite artists/crafters and why?
A few of my favorite artists would definately include Jay Maisel, Cliff Mautner, Jeremy Cowart, David Zisers, Monet,  Divinci. They all have found their way to capture a moment in time not simply as a frozen moment but as a piece of art which evokes emotion, thought, conversation, and/or contemplation. This is while I aspire to achieve in my own work.

Any goals for the future you would like to share?
Some of my biggest goals including continuing to build my collection of fine art images, creating an off site studio, photographing celebrity portraits or weddings, and publishing a book of images, among others. I'm a dreamer and there will always be another dream to work towards.


"Floral Radience" 8x12 Fine Art Paper Print

What do you do in your spare time?
Spare time? What's that? More seriously, in my spare time I spend as much time as possible with my family - they are the joy of my life! I also spend time reading, hiking, camping, shopping, and writing whenever I can.

If you are displaying or selling your craft/art? Where?
At the moment my artwork is only for sale through my website at www.rebeccanashphotography.com but I'm working on an upcoming Gallery Exhibit and hope to have prints available throughout the tour and various galleries.


Rebecca Nash Photography

If you sell online or at physical store.  How many hours per week to you spend in the creative side versus the business side?
Unfortunately, lately more of my time has been spent on the business side of things, probably about 75% of the hours I work. Now that the online store is set up I look forward to getting back behind the camera more often.

What advice would you give to someone who want to start out or start a business in their craft/art?
Follow your passion, learn everything you can, find a great support system, and reach for the stars! It's always scary starting out but if you have a team of supporters behind you, a true passion for what you do, and are willing to ask for help or advice from others when you need it then anything is possible!


"This Old Fence" 16x24 Fine Art Paper Print
If there is anything else you want to add, please feel free to do so.
I'm a stickler for quality of product that I'm offering and for this reason I've now taken the whole process into my own hands. All prints and gallery wraps are created in my home office/studio. This way I know that what I'm sending out is something that I'm truely proud of!


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Thank you Rebecca for sharing your art to the world.  More information about Rebecca Nash Photography can be found:


Website
Facebook
Twitter


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Penny Cheng

1 comment:

  1. I loved reading this in depth look at the artist and her work!
    Thanks for sharing the tips, tricks and talents of Rebecca Nash!

    Joyflower
    http://joysilk.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

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