- (click image for a larger view)

These images are not for sale; however, many other W. J. St. Christopher images are available at Art166.com.

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Fractalicious!

These images were created using a fractal program called "Sterlingware." It's a great piece of software, and when I started using it, back in 2000, Sterlingware was available as a free download. These days, it's a $25.00 purchase.

I guess that means I need to treat my backup copy very gently . . .

”

- (click image for a larger view)

These images are not for sale; however, many other W. J. St. Christopher images are available at Art166.com.

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Pop Quiz -

My guitar is hanging, innocuously, in its usual spot.

What do I do?

”

~ One Flower

~ Many Flowers

~ Definitely NOT a Flower!

- (click image for a larger view)

These images are not for sale; however, many other W. J. St. Christopher images are available at Art166.com.

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The Backstory -

Okay, I accept that my work is not to everyone's taste.
Recently, one of my sisters spent about two minutes flipping through my portfolio. She looked at me and said, "Don't you do anything pretty? Don't you do flowers? This (she was commenting on "Sweet Hearts") looks like someone threw up!"

Well, thanks a bunch, sis!

The not-so-subtle irony? "Sweet Hearts" is a manipulation of, yep, a huge display of roses! Hey, I can do flowers! But, sometimes, you just need to see a purple cow!

Aw, everybody's a critic.

Luckily, I've received very positive and encouraging feedback from the majority of my blog visitors and website viewers. What a relief to know there are so many open-minded people out there; creative, imaginative people who are willing to stretch themselves far enough to embrace the unfamiliar, contemplate it, and possibly, accept it for what it is.

A special "Thank you!" to those who've given my work very public, and very much appreciated, kudos on their own blogs and websites!

Gosh, who knew there'd come a time when I'd receive better reviews than Julia Roberts?

Go figure.

I'm listening to:

The delectably C.O.O.L Michael Buble, singing "Feeling Good." Follow the link, click the green "Watch" button, sit through the commercial, then click the purple button to see a snazzy-retro-spy video.

I hope this works -- I can't find an active code to simplify the process. Think I'll go test it, right now!

EDIT: It worked for me (on any number of levels)! Hope it works for you, too!

”

~ Irrigated - Airspace

~ Irrigated - Busy

~ Irrigated - Extreme

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These images are available at Art166.com.

They are conveniently offered in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $95.00 US, in the "Unexpected Hardware" gallery.

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The Backstory -

I've always lived in the city and, until last summer, had never seen one of these huge irrigation systems.

I was, inexplicably, amazed and intrigued by them.

Go figure . . .

If dreams come true, someday I'll see these, in large format, hanging in the lobby of some agricultural equipment manufacturer. Or in a sleek, contemporary, industrial-designed living space.

If you love them, you can purchase them, here.

If you're (inexplicably!) intrigued by them, you can read more, here.


I'm watching:

"Days Of OUr Lives."

Yes, it's a soap opera. Yes, it's horrible. I offer no excuses.

”

~ Exhibition 1

~ Some Saturdays

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Shop for images by W. J. St. Christopher, at Art166.com.

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The Ultimate Backstory -

Thought I'd post a little fractal-based eye candy for the Easter weekend!

"Exhibition 1" is the piece that started me down the path to digital addiction.

Several years ago, I dreamed that I was in an art gallery, walking down a long, white hallway. There were large -- 4' or 5' wide -- framed images mounted, and very evenly spaced, down the length of this long hallway, as far as I could see.

I stopped in front of a glimmering, silvery piece to read the artist's label. Surprise! My name was on the label! In fact, my name was on all the labels, along with info about them being created with the use of a computer!

I ran up and down that hall, looking at every piece, until I woke up -- smack dab in the middle of an asthma attack! I often wonder if the lack of oxygen to my brain caused all those vivid images to appear in my dream . . .

That very morning, I starting researching "digital art" on the Internet. I downloaded several free pieces of software, and eventually purchased Photoshop Elements 2. During that first year, I worked my way through everything I could get my hands on: a dozen demo programs, digital "painterly" effects, add-on filters and plug-ins, every sort of fractal, then started scanning in my own photos to try different manipulation techniques.

At some point during the second year, and after several miserably failed attempts, I was able to create "Exhibition 1" which is as close to the silvery image in my dream as I'll probably ever get.

I rarely sleep more than a couple of consecutive hours, but I guess that's plenty of time to stumble across a road less traveled!

”

~ A Death of Coil

~ Dodge Depths

~ Zombies on the Hoof

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These images will be available soon at Art166.com.

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The Backstory -

Here's a sample pack from Tuesday's impromptu road trip.

The Simple Plan:

Joe and W. J. head into the wilderness to photograph wildflowers.

The Reality Check:

We took a wrong turn on the road to Bastrop.

The wrong turn enabled us to see a herd of the scariest cows on the face of the earth. When I took a step closer, the herd took a step back. The plan for getting as close as I wanted to be involved me jumping the fence and chasing them down. After contemplating things like very fresh manure, giant flies, and cows that looked and sounded like "The Herd of the Living Dead," I decided I was close enough. I'm pretty sure if I'd jumped that fence, I'd never have been seen or heard from again.
W. J. St. Christopher -- Mad Cow Fodder!

Joe's camera took a heart-stopping tumble. (But seems to have survived!)

The truck's A/C went on the fritz. (Which is why I now have photos of Dodge guts!) Luckily, the weather stayed mild all day.

I ate fake ice cream swirled with Oreo bits. Yum!

This was a most excellent road trip, as road trips go, and I've got 120 photos to prove it! Of course, you've already seen three of them!

”

~ Antiquity's Gold

~ Variation 1

~ Variation 2

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"Antiquity's Gold" is now available at Art166.com.

This image is available in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $150.00 US, in the "Abstraction" gallery.

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The Backstory -

Once upon a time, during a week-long frenzy of boundless creativity, I drew up a complete set of plans to build my "dream house." The kind of plans that include everything. Everything, that is, except the multi-million dollar windfall that could finance such an ambitious project.

"Antiquity's Gold" was originally designed to be the mosaic-tiled floor of my heated, indoor pool. (Doesn't every dream house need a heated, indoor pool?)

So, hey, I can't afford the house -- yet. But, no worries, good design lasts forever!

Today's quiz:

”

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

~ Foundation 1

~ Foundation 2

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"Foundation 1" and "Foundation 2" are now available at Art166.com.

They are conveniently offered in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $95.00 US, in the "Lensitivity" gallery.

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The Backstory -

I love shooting pictures of trains! Luckily, they tend to be cooperative and photogenic models, and are always on their best behavior.

Well, not always . . .

”

~ Yesterday's Trees

~ Dreamscape

~ Storybook

From the "Yesterday's Trees" Gallery

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"Yesterday's Trees" and "Storybook" are now available at Art166.com.

They are conveniently offered in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $95.00 US, in the "Yesterday's Trees" gallery.

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A day or so ago, over at Dr. John's Fortress, the good docter lamented the abundance of birch trees showing up in photo-blogs. His post, of course, inspired me to post trees, today! Hope you stop by, Doc!

The Backstory -

Last summer, I fell in love with and purchased my lovely, little Canon 5.1mp, "pro-sumer" camera. The "pocket-sized" User's Guide? 185 pages. Yikes!

I figured out pretty quickly that the only way to learn to use the new camera, was to get out there and use the darn thing.

Enter Joe and the b-i-g Dodge truck. On the itinerary -- a 90 (or so)-mile drive to beautiful, and oh-so-picturesque, Garner State Park.

In the park, the Frio River nourishes about a zillion tall, stately Cypress trees. These wonderful trees grow right up to the water's edge, and I dare you not to reach for the camera! I sure couldn't resist!

Joe took an hour-long "power nap" in the truck, while I walked along the river, talking to strangers (kids, don't try this at home!) and shooting everything in sight. It was about 100 degrees F, and the sun was crazy-hot; the tops of most of my fingers and both of my hands were sunburned from holding up the camera. It seems there are limits to how much protection you can wring out of SPF-45 sun block! Who knew?

When the 128SD card was filled (the only one I owned at that time), I went back to the truck to transfer the pics to the laptop. Of course, I had to wake Joe to let me into the truck; it seems that diesel engines don't mind idling, indefinitely, even with the A/C running full blast, while someone gets their mid-day beauty sleep!

I dumped my pics, Joe decided that a longer nap could only be a better nap, and I, happily (or, perhaps stupidly) went back to work.

Learning to use a high-tech camera -- my personal digital baptism by fire -- and I had the peeling knuckles to prove it!

P. S. You guys played together so very nicely while I was away on Monday. I'm so proud!

”

The "Found My Marbles" Series

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These images are now available at Art166.com.

They are conveniently offered in a variety of sizes, priced from $35.00 - $150.00 US, in the “Circular Logic” gallery.

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Hi, guys!

On Monday, I've got places to go and people to see, so I'm taking a 'blogger's day off.' However, it seems I don't need all my marbles to get through the day, so I'm leaving some here, for safekeeping.

Treat them as you would your own, and everything should be fine!