Daniel Sroka Open Studio http://www.danielsroka.com/blog Thoughts and art of Daniel Sroka, whose abstract photography reveals the physical and spiritual grace of the simplest elements of nature. Wed, 16 May 2012 16:28:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.danielsroka.comhttp://www.danielsroka.com/ui/danielsroka_flight_icon.jpgFlight: an abstraction of a maple leaf ©Daniel Sroka www.danielsroka.comdanielsrokahttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with Google abstract of a new oak leaf http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/danielsroka/~3/_fUMBEf2hNk/abstract-of-a-new-oak-leaf.htm http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/new-art/abstract-of-a-new-oak-leaf.htm#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:10:06 +0000 Daniel Sroka http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/?p=1845 read more

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abstract of a new oak leaf

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I was dropping my daughter off at school when I found this small cluster of baby oak leaves on the sidewalk. Each leaf is no more than a half inch long, bright red and covered in fuzz. It was so fragile, I had to work quickly before they wilted and faded.

More photographs of these leaves will be coming soon!

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abstract of a new oak leaf

]]> http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/new-art/abstract-of-a-new-oak-leaf.htm/feed 0 http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/new-art/abstract-of-a-new-oak-leaf.htm Bach said it best http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/danielsroka/~3/ifYWy12ylYk/bach-said-it-best.htm http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/thoughts/bach-said-it-best.htm#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 14:14:46 +0000 Daniel Sroka http://blog.danielsroka.com/?p=59 read more

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Bach said it best

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I was just browsing through Ted Orland’s excellent book Art and Fear, and came apon this great quote from Johann Sebastian Bach. After he wrote a set of training pieces, Bach said that he wrote the music to:

“…glorify God, to edify my neighbor, and to develop a cantabile style of playing in both hands”

I love this, and it is a great description of the purpose of any art — to celebrate the world, to inspire others, while at the same time improving our own artistic abilities.

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Bach said it best

]]> http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/thoughts/bach-said-it-best.htm/feed 1 http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/thoughts/bach-said-it-best.htm Lonely Mountain – abstract of a leaf http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/danielsroka/~3/g9lsP4gYe_U/lonely-mountain-abstract-of-a-leaf.htm http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/new-art/lonely-mountain-abstract-of-a-leaf.htm#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 17:01:19 +0000 Daniel Sroka http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/?p=1825 read more

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Lonely Mountain – abstract of a leaf

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This is another portrait from the same leaf I used in my last photograph Entreaty. I have been intrigued by the interaction of the two main forms within this: the swirling energy to the left and the isolated peak on the right. As I worked on it, these shapes reminded me a little of the story of Smaug the dragon and the Lonely Mountain from The Hobbit. Crazy, I know, but there’s no predicting what you’ll see when working with abstracts.. which is why I love them.

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Lonely Mountain – abstract of a leaf

]]> http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/new-art/lonely-mountain-abstract-of-a-leaf.htm/feed 0 http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/new-art/lonely-mountain-abstract-of-a-leaf.htm small discoveries http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/danielsroka/~3/FTzOugnH__8/small-discoveries.htm http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/thoughts/small-discoveries.htm#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:39:05 +0000 Daniel Sroka http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/?p=1809 read more

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small discoveries

]]> I was having a hard time focusing on work this morning, so I decided to take our dog for a quick walk to clear my head. (I do some of my best business planning while walking the dog.) The sun was bright but the wind was cold and blustery. As we walked down the street, we got pelted by all these seeds and leaves being blown by the strong wind. One by one, I collected the most interesting ones to take back to the studio. By the time I came home, my hands were filled with these little discoveries.

discoveries while walking the dog ©Daniel Sroka

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small discoveries

]]> http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/thoughts/small-discoveries.htm/feed 0 http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/thoughts/small-discoveries.htm Entreaty – an abstract of a leaf http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/danielsroka/~3/6fEsleecsbQ/entreaty-an-abstract-of-a-leaf.htm http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/new-art/entreaty-an-abstract-of-a-leaf.htm#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:52:28 +0000 Daniel Sroka http://www.danielsroka.com/blog/?p=1788 read more

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Entreaty – an abstract of a leaf

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Purchase a print of 'Entreaty'.

Even in the midst of spring, I am drawn to these fallen leaves. There is something compelling about them, something those bright new leaves of spring have yet to experience.

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Entreaty – an abstract of a leaf

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