Joanne McKinnon Artist - Photograher

Common Moss Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:34:00 +0000

Old Post Updated

The links and image on the Common Rose old post are now updated.
This was posted in February, 2009.

The site has been through a few changes since then.

The Crow Trap

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Vera Stanhope Mystery

I'm just about finished reading the first Ann Cleeves book featuring DI Vera Stanhope.
I can understand why it was turned into a TV series in the UK.

The Crow Trap is a clever psychological suspense story.
Set in Northern England it includes plenty of characters (mostly females) but remains easy to follow.

Too bad Amazon Instant Video is not available to Canadians.
They rent each episode for about the price of a paperback.

Next I intend to check out Case Histories by Kate Atkinson.

Read about the BBC series: Case Histories starring Jason Isaacs.

The Cruellest Month

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:32:00 +0000

By Louise Penny

In between chapters of The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby, I'm reading The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny.
There is something comfortable about Three Pines even though they have more murders per capita than any major city.
I can almost imagine visiting the old Hadley house.
Or enjoying lunch at The Bistro, talking about books with Myrna.
The best, of course, would be watching Chief Inspector Gamache unravel the mystery.

Next, I plan to read my first Ann Cleaves, The Crow Trap .

A Room Full of Bones

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Ruth Galloway Mysteries

Last week-end I finished The House at Sea's End,
the third Ruth Galloway Mystery.
Now I am looking forward to the fourth, A Room Full of Bones ,
to be released on February 14.
I wonder how long it will take for the books to be turned into a movie or television series.

The House at Sea's End

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:04:00 +0000

Ruth Galloway Mystery

I'm just about finish reading The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffiths.
This is the third Ruth Galloway Mystery.

It's odd how reading a book set in a country I've never visited is so comforting.
With the addition of the few photos on the author's site, it's easy to image the scenes.
With Google maps we can even get a street side view of nearby towns.

So it is next to impossible not to get lost in the story.

Maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:39:00 +0000

Photoshelter Update

No images will be showing for the next couple of hours.
Photoshelter is currently doing a major update.
They should be back in about an hour.

Wild Turkeys

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:18:00 +0000

Post Update

One more older post updated.

Wild Grey Turkeys is no longer offered on postcards.
At the moment, I'm offering only a print mounted on wood.
More options will be added soon.

Since last summer, there has been no visits from grey turkeys.
Two flocks still visit, but they are all brown.

Mrs Pollock update

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

ArtistGarden.net

Links and photo have been updated on the Mrs Pollock previous post.

Dead Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Armand Gamache Mystery

I've just finished the second Armand Gamache Mystery, Dead Cold by Louise Penny, and it's official.
I am a fan.

Winchester Cathedral Post

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:57:00 +0000

Updated

From time to time, I check to see if any of the old posts are still being viewed.
I update and bring back images only as needed.

Winchester Cathedral English Rose

The Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:03:00 +0000

Portfolio Updates

For you that scroll down for more, there is a sneak peek to other parts of the site.
If you like garden photography, then I hope, you will come visit and explore my work.

Canadian Art Suppliers

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Tools

Finally found a Canadian source for the Logan Art Deckle rulers, Currys.
I've ordered one this morning.

I will try it out on some natural fibre paper I found at Deserres.
The St Armand ph neutral Canal cotton paper looks and feels like a good start.

I also found sheets of handmade Nepalese and banana fibre papers.

Now if one of them would start selling the Logan embossing templates and
the freestyle v-Groover, I could expand my mat decorating skills.

Inspector Armand Gamache Mysteries

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:21:00 +0000

Author: Louise Penny

I am now reading the second Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery.
The stories are set in fictional Three Pines, Quebec by Canadian author, Louise Penny.
It took about a chapter to readjust to North American English interspersed with Quebec, French.

I enjoyed this mix with the Kathy Reichs books.
Again, I selected the Canadian, UK version.

The first book, Still Life earned the author several awards.
No doubt she will win many more.

Now reading Dead Cold

Book Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:45:00 +0000

About Bad Reviews

Every day, I visit the Amazon website searching for more books and read reviews.
This morning I was surprised by the negative reviews for The Hypnotist
by the writing couple, Lars Kepler of Sweden.
I consider this book one of the best I've read last year.
I wonder if maybe they read the wrong edition.

I'm fluent in both French and English and once as an experiment, I read a short story by Stephen King translated into French.
I hated it.
Anyone familiar with his work can tell you that Mr. King has a very distinctive author's voice.
This was lost in the translation.

Another thing I noticed, if given a choice, when I read a translation, I will choose the UK edition.
The Hypnotist is offered in five to accommodate their reading audience .
If you prefer American English and read the UK version, chances are, you will not be able to enjoy the book, no matter how good the original version is.

Amazon lets you read a preview chapter: this is a great way to get the feel of the story.
This is my prefered method of selecting my next read.

Old Post Updated

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:07:00 +0000

Topaz

When I closed the Zazzle store, some of the older post lost their image.
I've just updated Pasque Flower Topaz Enhanced with a new image link.
Postcards are no longer available.
The effect was created with Topaz Clean.

Ruth Galloway Mysteries

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:27:00 +0000

Forensic Archeology

I've nearly finished reading the second Ruth Galloway Mystery, The Janus Stone
by Elly Griffiths.
Dr Ruth Galloway is a forensic archeologist in Norwich county in the East of England.
I intend to read the whole series, in order they were published.
On the author's web page, we can learn more about Norfolk, archaeology and book tours.
I'm enjoying the books and do recommend them.

Next book will be Still Life by Canadian author, Louise Penny

Photo Sharing

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:19:00 +0000

Tumblr

I have another blog to show off the photography of other artists.
A link to their site is always included.
Tumblr is a great site for sharing your love of photography!

Specialty Papers

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:10:00 +0000

Paper and Art

Yesterday, I searched for ways of decorating mat boards protecting my artwork.
I found a mat design article by artist Kathy Mann.
She shows several samples of artwork with deckle-edged mats.
It does make the framed art more attractive.

This sent me on a search for handmade paper, and I found a site called Mulberry Paper and More.
They have an attractive selection of papers made from unusual material.
I like the Thai Banana and the Nepalese Lokta papers.
You can browse by categories or by colour.
Every paper includes a description.

Creative Edge

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:03:00 +0000

Digital Library

Creative Edge is another example of digital reading.
I made good use of this service when I designed my own site.
A monthly fee gives you access to a huge selection of books on photography, web design, illustration, graphics and more.
From the main page, you can view book and video samples.
There is a lot to discover on Creative Edge.

Tablets for Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:27:00 +0000

Handy Tool

I'm considering adding a tablet to my gadgets.
So far, I've looked at Apple iPad 2 , Acer Iconia and ASUS Eee Pad Transformer .

A tablet would be handy to show my online portfolio.
I would also be able to accept orders for prints wherever I am.
I just need to pick the right one.

More Books

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:36:00 +0000

Kindle Editions

I collect books, and this can get a little costly.
Getting a Kobo eReader saved me money and space.
However, sometimes I find the selection a bit limited.

Like most people today, when I look for a book the first place, I go to, is the Amazon website.
I read some of the ratings and if available I "Look Inside."
This morning I had a nice surprise, we can read Kindle editions on a PC.
Since I just bought my Kobo eReader, I'm not ready for a Kindle yet.

The best part, is that I can now get books for less.
Kindle edition prices are lower and there are no shipping charges.
And I don't have to buy new bookshelves.

About the Blogs

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:02:00 +0000

Reading

If you visited other parts of my site, you already know that I have different blogs.
I post updates of my artwork and photography on the Artwork and Photography Blog.

The Garden Journal is for comments on varieties I grow and places I visit.
New pages and changes to ArtistGarden.net are also posted in the Garden Journal.

That leaves my first blog, this one.
Here, I will now share my other interests.
For example, I love to read, and I recently purchased a Kobo Touch eReader.
Right now I am reading a Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer Series.
The first book I've read in this format is The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen.
I'm looking forward to the next one.

Contessa Double Lavender

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Work in Progress

In early summer, I visited a local garden center for the first time.
There I found a Contessa Double Lavender trailing pelargonium.
I already had the Double Pink.
When the flowers start to open, they look like tiny roses.
This gives the pelargonium an old-fashioned and elegant look.
When the brushwork is finished and uploaded in the Portfolio, I will post it on the Blog.

P.S: I've done a bit of research and it turns out the label was wrong. My pelargonium is a Colorcade Lilac.

Free soil amendment

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:28:00 +0000

Autumn Leaves

The weather today is perfect for raking leaves.
Shredding them allows me to store more bags in the garage.
Some are set aside for protecting the roses and clematis.
I won't be using white cones this year because of the turkeys.
Garden blankets, and jute worked best last winter.
I do have to wrap the shrubs with flexible fencing material first to support the cover.
The blankets go on the shrubs only when the weather stays below zero.
Since my garden is surrounded by a forest, I need to be more creative.

Garden Chores

noreply@blogger.com (Joanne McKinnon) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:02:00 +0000

End of the Season

Now the bulbs are all in the ground.
The only garden chores left are covering the roses and bagging the most leaves that I can.
This gives me more time to sort through all the photos I've taken since early spring.

My yearly visits to the Ottawa Experimental Farm begins when the magnolias are blooming.
This year, I remembered to photograph the name plates.
I did plant a magnolia in my own garden a few years ago.
It died after the first winter.

This year I am testing the hardiness of Blue Moon, a wisteria macrostachya.