Blood, Sweat and Lots of Ink

Well it has been a great few months around here and it's just the beginning. All kinds of new projects and new people have been shuffled into my life. After a wonderful trip to France (which was featured in Pure Green Magazine this month) I forged a new relationship with Elyse Connolly, my photography agent. It was like I met a missing part of my family and we hit it off famously. Everyone in the office has rallied around and supported me. Since then, all kinds of things have been in the works to relaunch my work. There are new promos, website gallery updates and new portfolios! 

It all starts with the portfolios and trickles down from there. If you are anything like me, you have seen all your work over and over again and it becomes almost impossible to set you feelings aside while compiling a body of work. Between Susan and myself over the years, we have spent tireless nights debating on what was right to include. So when Elyse and I came together to put the books in order, she recommended a consultant. A consultant is a completely unbiased opinion, without any preconceived notions. They look at the work as a whole and then pull out a strong vision. Elyse introduced my to Melissa McGill, an art director and photo consultant. All I had to do was compile an overwhelming amount my images from though out the years and handed them over. Well not quite, but thats how it felt.

Melissa brought together work that I was blinded by before, because I was so close to it. After weeks back and forth we finally had something to work with. One of the themes in my work is about contrast such as light and dark, or even seasons. Melissa saw that and suggested two food portfolios, one that featured the 'light' images and the other portfolio has 'dark' images. 

I will share some images of my actual books next week. As you can image, I used lots of ink printing these. Let the ink flow…

Flavor Exposed : Angelo Sosa

Over the Summer I had the great pleasure to work with Angelo Sosa on his new cookbook "Flavor Exposed". We had such an amazing team with Suzanne Lenzer (writer), Paige Hicks (prop stylist), Adrienne Anderson (food stylist) and Anja Schmidt (Kyle Books). 

This "Top Chef" contestant and restaurateur has made a name for himself infusing flavors together that will make your mouth water. Angelo has two restaurants in New York City, Social Eatz an American-Asian restaurant and bar and Anejo a tequileria. Both should be a stop for you, if come to New York.

When people ask me about the shoot and the food, I always tell them that "I ate at least 98% of what came to set and for the other 2%, I wasn't quick enough!" Seriously the food was incredible.

Angelo is a truly great chef and this cookbook is a must in your kitchen. Pick one up soon!

Making Cheese

Yes, I have completely gone over the edge and decided I want to make my own cheese. After seeing a recipe in the cookbook "Home Made" by Yvette Van Boven, and how easy they made it seem, I knew I had to try it. I kind of knew this was a long time coming, I have secretly had a subscription to Culture Cheese magazine last year and drooled over it. I think there was even a goat centerfold, just kidding.

So I did my research and then said "if I was a dutch farmer how would I do this?". I would hang up the cheese in a dimly lit barn, like a Vermeer painting and watch the liquid drip out of it until it was ready. Romantic, huh!

Well it is honestly doesn't take a lot of effort to make cheese, but it isn't necessarily economical either. It would have to be a true passion to make it worth it to me. My cheese wasn't bad, it was just a little over cooked. Nothing a little honey and salt and pepper couldn't cure.

All in all it was an experience I'm glad I had. Now I give complete praise to all you cheese makers out there and your animals.

Pure Green Magazine / France

This month in Pure Green Magazine, Susan and I were covering the oysters of Belon and the French countryside. We talk about being "local across an ocean" and what that means to us. Pure Green Magazine is such a joy to work for, and we hope you will enjoy their latest issue now available in Anthopolige in the US.

On Creativity

Creative funk: This ever happen to you? It's kind of like you are on a treadmill and you just can't turn the thing off? You hit a brick wall idea wise, or your ideas just don't sound that exciting? 

Well, that is where I'm at folks. I think looking at sites like Pinterest and so many other blogs confuse my visual self (although I love them as well because they provide inspiration). I almost feel overwhelmed with media and images, so much so I am not as sensitive visually. So my next question is what does one do to recover? Here are some of my steps I will take to recover:

No media for a week and two weekends. 

If I actually do this, I want an award. I LOVE my iPad. Like really love. 

Buy a cross stitch kit. 

I love doing projects with my hands. I need a project like this.

Keep a real visual journal.

I have never been a good journal keeper. I want to be, and admire people who excel at this. My college roommate and friend, Susan Norton is my champ. She has stacks of journals with illustrations and thoughts.

Leave the building.

For those of you that know me well, know that I live and work in the same building. I live on one floor and work on another. Some days I don't leave. I thought living and working so close would be awesome, and it is awesome if you want to do laundry during your lunch. I have to make an effort to leave the building. Period. If you want to get a drink, I am game. 

What do you do to stay creative?