The Champagne region of France offers beauty all around. I begin my morning by wandering around the Eglise Saint André Church in Orquevaux, which is located in the Champagne region of France. A genuine smile greets me at the front door as the French language quietly lingers in the air. I only hope to understand…
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Chateau Orquevaux is located in the heart of the French countryside. The majority of my stay will be at Chateau Orquevaux, which is located in the Champaign region of France. After nearly four hours of driving from Charles de Gaulle, I pull up to the chateau just in time to attend the champaign reception. This…
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Mid-morning fog welcomed me to Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France. After exiting the aircraft, I follow my fellow passengers to baggage claim. Next, I follow the signs which direct me toward my rental car. Hopefully I wasn’t tricked into any unnecessary upgrades due to the language barrier. The language barrier is real…
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California Artist Helen Steele came into my life for a reason. Sometimes people come into our lives for reasons unknown at the time. I met California artist, Helen Steele just a few short weeks ago during our artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux. Although I knew her for only a brief moment in time, Helen impacted…
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International travel looks different than it used to. Luckily, it’s not that different. International travel requirements seem to change on a daily basis so it’s important for me to focus elsewhere. My travel journal is a documentation of my personal experiences through the French countryside and beyond. My parents hug me good-bye after we pull…
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My solo travel adventures through France begin today. Chateau Orquevaux is the final destination for today, but a lot will happen between then and now. It’s important for me to begin this travel journal with a grateful heart. This solo travel experience wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the support of my incredible family,…
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The process starts with abstract paintings. After fifteen years, I dust off my paints and brushes. It feels natural to paint again. With a minimal palette, I layer and blend oil paint into abstract paintings. Ironically, inspiration for my paintings comes from photography produced in the darkroom. My creative process cycles through my favorite mediums,…
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German engineering attracted me to Leica and convinced me to buy a Leica M6. My Leica M6 never disappoints. This 35mm rangefinder film camera helps me get back to the basics of why I fell in love with photography in the first place. My goal as an artist is to teach you how to see.…
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Negative comments about my useless fine art photography degree are nonstop. “Why would you be interested in learning about film photography when it’s on the brink of extinction?” they ask. This is a question I hear and contemplate nearly every day. Twenty years later, I’m still photographing film. I love it as much as I…
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Three years ago I wrote about my dreaded life question. What do I want to be when I grow up? I realized the importance of that original blog post while attempting to edit it. That post is part of my story and I can’t change it, so why try. After reflecting on how far I’ve…
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