How does she do it?
_{by Lois Lee Bravo}

 

 

Each 'lois image' is created from a photograph. A thumbnail of that photo is located in the upper left hand corner of each image page, except for images from individuals. I use several enhancing techniques as I 'work the photo' to create the final completed 'lois image'. I often tell my friends that I never know just what image will appear when I'm in the creative process.

For the most part, I have nothing specific in mind when I take a photo and begin creating the 'lois image', but as I 'work the photo' an image suddenly takes shape, or as I like to think, the image just shows up. Especially, when the image is a person or an animal or a bird, I like to think they just came to visit me so that I might bring them to life for the purpose of allowing others to get to know them. As I said in the 'How it all began' story, I've always had a good imagination; a very fertile imagination. And when someone might complain that a particular image is rather creepy or not in good taste, I simply say, "What can I do? I didn't ask them to come. They just show up!"

The photos that I use to create the lois images come from various places. I take some of the photos that I use, and now that I have a Nikon D70s camera, I will be using more of my own photos. I also have found a couple of great web sites where photos are available for no cost and viewers are encouraged to download and use the photos. These are the two sites that I use the most: morgueFile and PD Photo. Both sites are excellent repositories for downloading high quality, high resolution photos. Many thanks to the people responsible for the morgueFile web site and the many photographers who generously place their photos there for others to share. Also to Jon Sullivan whose generosity is amazing and who is the creator of the PD Photo web site.

I do hope that each person who comes to the 'lois image' art gallery web site will enjoy the images and perhaps be provoked to laugh, think, or just be provoked. Remember what I said before, "they just show up. What can I do?"

 

Yes, how does she do it?
_{by John Davenport Scheuer}

 

 

Lois forgets to mention that a very few of her images are made from photographs I supply. I'll forgive that omission in that I have ample opportunity to add my own comments here. I would also like to say that when Lois says these images "just show up", it reminds me of the many artists who say in effect, of their work; "It was easier to do it than not". This is not to diminish the skill, time and energy involved, rather to convey the mindset that demands completion of any work of art.

So, they "just show up". Where do they come from? In many cases I suspect, from a very deep place indeed. Other times it seems just a lighthearted jaunt through her personal arsenal of a lifetime's accumulated imagery. The deeper ones employ, sometimes yet uncatalogued, archetypal imagery. In either case these images have a 'just so' quality about them, a self evidence if you will. This leads me to think some, at least have arrived from what Jung termed the collective unconscious.

The familiar snake at right, for example coupled with the (out of context?) spaniel. As I comment on the page for "Fifi's Last Supper" in the galleries; "The dog being the animal nature, is unaware of the evil it is consuming or of the consequences of doing so." Odd and yet compelling might best describe it.

Then there is a personal favorite, "Fall Phoenicians" (though it is so hard to choose) that immediately called to my mind the story of Zeus and Minerva as well as the many tales of the Phoenix. Or, there is "Walking her dog". This is the Morton Salt Girl/Little Bopeep/Red Riding Hood walking the ©Coppertone dog/every representation of a scottie that ever adorned a refrigerator magnet, though Lois will tell you different, at least if you ask her what it was about when she made it. Aquila, the eagle at left heralds a much sought by many "Rebirth of a Nation".

There are many more like this and the others of a more personal nature, not to mention important series like one on a night out dancing and another on body image. A planned feature of these galleries is an annotated verbal index to those images which seem to have a particular depth and/or intrinsically interesting stories to tell either Lois or myself. However, don't ever let either one of us, or anyone tell you what to take from any image here or elsewhere. Perhaps the best part about art is its ability to speak individually to each person who sees it.

My task here would not be complete unless I were to mention a special feature that is part of one (so far) image's page in the galleries. For an added bit of fun, try clicking on the background of this page. In any case, please enjoy these galleries and tell your friends about them.