The Canvas at Dogwood

The oddest thing is happening -- I am trying to get to an old post -- the post titled "The Canvas."  I cannot get it to load for me.  Oh well....

I wanted to let you all know that "The Canvas" will be hanging at Dogwood Gallery for the next few weeks.  The canvas is actually titled "Daisy 4" and it is featured in the 'Gifts by Hand' section of the new issue of Arts & Expressions Magazine.  Tonight is the party at Dogwood for the new issue.  Artists with pieces in the magazine will have them on display.  

The canvas gallery wrap of the black and white daisy print is very nice.  I think it is so nice that it has been in my living room since it arrived last month.  

In addition to the canvas up for sale tonight -- I will offer up an 8x10 print as a door prize.  The door prize print is the photo on the blog today.  I love the simplicity of this photo.  

The Canvas

Remember last week when I told of ordering a gallery wrap?  I ordered that date (Jan. 14) I posted about it.  The photo I chose was one of the Lensbaby daisy photos.

It arrived yesterday morning!  That is quick service.  It did come from North Carolina -- which is pretty darn close.  

Besides being pleased with the rapid service -- I am pleased with the print.  I have seen some canvas gallery wrap photos before and not really liked the look.  I don't know the process of those other prints.  

This is a 16x20 1.5" thick gallery wrap of that black and white image.  It looks terrific!  I love it so much -- I am hunting wall space for it.  You know I like something when I am figuring out what can move or come down to make space for the new piece!  The vendor I used is Canvas on Demand.  I am now looking at giving Mpix a try -- just to see how they do and there turnaround time.

Also, a big reason I want to give Mpix a try -- they have agreed to help sponsor the Nature, Undisturbed photo exhibit!   Way to go Mpix!

Don't forget -- Nature, Undisturbed is open for entries now.  The deadline is Jan 31 -- postmarked no later than this date.  A link to the call for entries, including entry form, is found in the upper left of this blog.

Prints

For the past couple years I have been a member of the North American Nature Photography Association.   I love their website.  The resource section is great --  they have been a wealth of information with the mess floating around about photographers being charged for shooting in national parks.  I have some photos on the site that occasionally are picked to head a page for a day.  CanvasonDemand.com offered members a code for a freebie gallery wrap print.  A code to order a 16x20 size gallery wrap for no cost -- OK -- charges for shipping -- but we always know there is some type of catch.

So this presented me with a dilemma -- which photo?  I have a hard time making a decision -- I had to choose one photo to try this vendor.  I have had this code for a long time and not used it because I could not make up my mind.  I have these photos of a fork and scissors that I really like.  I was leaning to the fork -- then to the scissors -- then neither.

I finally chose a photo that I use for my wallpaper on the laptop.  It is one of the first photos I ever took with my Lensbaby.  I really like it -- and of course it is black and white (the fork and scissors photos are b&w too -- big surprise).  I sent the daisy Lensbaby photo.

I have printed on canvas at home -- canvas sheets.  There is not a lot that I haven't tried with printing.  For most of my prints I have been a loyal Ilford paper user.  I used the Ilford Galerie Smooth Gloss ever since I got my Epson printer.  I love this paper -- and I love that I get 100-count boxes of 8.5x11 sheets at Sam's Club for less than $24.  Please Sam's Club -- always have this in your large store!

Matte paper has been a menace for me.  I love it when I see someone else with it -- but when I try it I do not like the outcome.  Even if I like it once -- the next time I print with it -- I don't.  My stash of matte paper has been pushed to the "office supply" side of my part of the office.  I use what I have left to print my portfolio booklet or some other thing.

Watercolor paper is almost the same menace.  I love it and I hate it.  Then I look at this giant, dull print and realize I am a glossy girl.

The only other paper that I feel can give good ol' Galerie Smooth Gloss a run for its money is Ilford (yep another Ilford paper) Galerie Smooth Fine Art Paper.  And guess what -- it is matte!  I have liked every photo I have printed on it -- so far.  I have been choosey with which photo is printed on this paper.

The photo I have in the Southeastern Flower Show is printed on this paper.  I am very interested in the canvas gallery wrap that will be on its way to me soon.  I hope I like it.  Waiting for it is the worst part.  I think that is why I like printing at home -- it is instant.  I think I am an instant, glossy girl -- most of the time.