This came out of the photoshoot that I posted about last week describing the perfect hobby. It has been garnering lots of comments on Fine Art  America and is well on its way to becoming my most viewed photograph. I think everyone can relate to feeling this way! Also, waves + one very sad looking old man teddy bear = fun 🙂

Available as a print here.

My youngest daughter loves all things art. If I turn my back for too long she will scam my paintbrushes, pencils, markers, and paper, anything she can get her little fingers on. One day I was really busy with commissions and packaging, I left my paints out on the table to be put away later. She decided to help herself and took a little piece of canvas I had laying there and made a painting. A six-year-old painting can be quite a mess as I am sure you can imagine. She had paint on the floor, the table, the tea towel from the kitchen (in her misguided attempt to clean it all up) the paintbrushes tossed aside, paint tubes knocked over and dripping. So basically a complete disaster. When I came across this I just about lost my mind, as I went to call her down from her room…

No, not an actual edible mushroom. I am talking about my abstract mushroom painting. I painted a Magic Mushroom sitting quietly on the forest floor waiting to be picked. It glows with anticipation and glee. If you really could eat it, imagine what it would taste like. Would the soft glow coming from behind it forever alter the taste of this fungus? Would that be better or worse. I am intrigued by the idea that this painting is a kind of Jack o Lantern abstract from another dimension. Can you imagine that there is a party going on on the other side of this screen? You can barely make out shapes and shades of colors that seem to glow and move. Oh that is right, a mushroom not a party. What was I thinking, or is this just the mushroom talking. After all we did just try to taste it…..

Visit…

With the recent passing of Maya Angelou, I was inspired to go through my books and find a few of hers for a reread.  A favorite is “I know Why The Caged Bird Sings.”  It has been said that a caged bird sings because it wants freedom. I’ve had a bird and he sang whenever he was in his cage, but he also sang when he was freely moving around my home.  He sang on my shoulder as he nuzzled my ear. He sang when he was having his bath.   He even sang when he was eating.  In fact, the only time he didn’t sing was at night when I would cloak his cage in darkness.  Only then did all go quiet.  I believe we are all like birds.  We sing because we must.  Whatever your song is be it art, music, writing, cleaning, building things, dancing, speaking…

Colorado evening lightning thunderstorm nature’s avenging spirit striking the country plains.

Colorado Fine art nature landscape photography poster prints, decorative canvas prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, corporate artwork, greeting cards and stock images by James Bo Insogna

Please click on the photo for the lightning weather thunderstorm photography gallery.

A mysterious door to nowhere…or is it? While this photograph was taken at the abandoned and overgrown marina in Alviso, California, this image reminds me of some half-forgotten fantasy tale from childhood. Who knows what fantastical realm, alternate universe, or historical time awaits you, once you venture through the door…

From: http://priya-ghose.artistwebsites.com/featured/through-the-door-priya-ghose.html

Stone Rock’d that is…..I just cannot seem to get rid of these crabs!  Growing up in Florida, crabs have always been a big part of my life.  As a child I romped freely on Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota Florida.  Crabs would often come ashore and I was completely fascinated.  The little fiddler crabs were great fun to watch scurry about, but Stone Crabs are especially interesting because they have one claw that is significantly larger than the other.  Funny looking creatures.  A gourmet delight in many restaurants they are ecologically sustainability harvested here just for their claws.  These guys can regrow their claws so when the fishermen take one it grows back.  How cool is that!  I found it both amusing and fitting to Stone Rock a stone crab…I love to paint and create and there is no end to inspiration on our planet!  The shape for this…

Scenic evening view of a lightning thunderstorm putting on a great light show in the sky with nature’s fireworks. Black and white version.

Colorado black and white fine art nature landscape weather photography poster prints, decorative canvas prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, corporate artwork, greeting cards and stock images by James Bo Insogna – Please click on the photo for the fine art photography gallery.

This is one of those photos that I keep coming back to. I’m not exactly sure why I like it so much, or even how much credit I can really take as a photographer. Lighting, water, cement blocks, pose, and expression all seemed to come together magically. There are a lot of contrasts, oppositions, and surprises here: hard concrete vs. soft fur textures, stationary land vs. moving water, strong sunlight vs. dark shadows, the fact that a stuffed animal seems to be pondering the nature of the universe, and to me even something about the liminality of being where sea meets land. Maybe good luck in photography is, like good luck in life, a co-production of skill, opportunity, and chance!

Available as a print here.

The title of this work is “Secret Garden”. I see an enchanted pathway leading into a hidden place. Go down this lane and wait for colorful surprises around the corner. The sunlight is brilliant and muted at the same time. Trees overhead cast a gentle archway through which you can walk, and the soft smell drifting on the wind is like a caress to your senses as you enjoy the warm breeze.

Daisies play hide and seek with the other flowers in this space. The lilies are not yet appearing and the Peonies spread their petals in brilliant pink pleasure.  Little blue forget me knots are smiling cheerfully as they bask in the sun. The tulips are a vivid memory but no longer a part of the picture. Patient rocks keep tabs on them and overall, I am imagining that this would be a really nice place to wander through…