During a visit to the National Zoo in Washington, DC, the male Lion was out for a photo session. It was a cool morning in November and the Lions were very active. This is a full frame image thanks to the Nikon 80.0-400.0 mm lens.

Image Captured with a Nikon D300S Camera, Nikon 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6G lens, focal Length 400 mm, ISO 800, 1/100 sec at f/6.3, hand held. Noise removed using Nik Dfine 2.0.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/heart-star-colorful-art-stone-rockd-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

I am going to be in an art show.  This doesn’t sound like big news as most would expect that an artist would be in art shows.  However, after 10 years as a professional artist this is my first show.  My career has not followed a traditional path due to certain physical disabilities that I have faced over those 10 years.  I’ve never made an issue out of them and I never wanted anyone to buy my artwork out of pity, so you will not see mention of any of it in my bio.  Even most of my friends never knew of my greatest issues as I suffered in silence.  Some learned of it as I had times where I could not avoid telling them because it was severe when I was with them.  Most of the time, I just found ways to cope so no one would know…

Accidents happen….But sometimes they are pleasant surprises!  This piece was one such oopsie.  For those that work in Photoshop you know what a clipping mask is.  I was working in one space where I had created one and one layer accidentally went over another and I realized that parts of the bottom layer were included in the clipping mask (accidental) and this most beautiful pattern emerged….I kept moving the top layer until it covered the entire bottom….magic!  Pure magic!  Now I will have to try to replicate this “accident”.  I love creating art ….so much fun!

You can see more here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/colorful-layers-vertical-abstract-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-drums-music-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

I’ve been playing with music again.  I do not play musical instruments.   but I create melodies for the soul.  I adore the sound of a guitar, the beat of a drum and the vibration of piano keys in my ears, but I have never learned to master any of them.  Instead I paint and design.  To me seeing art is like “visual music”….I not only see it, but I also hear it, feel it and it resonates deep within me.  Surely in another plane of existence, we would see all of the hues of sound and we would hear all of the colors of art.  I seem to already be there…..

Please enjoy my latest addition to my music series, “The Drums” at this link:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-drums-music-art-by-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html