Diamond Notch Falls

As the winter winds down, I often think about other seasons. Looking through my prints taken in summer, spring, and fall seasons, I now realize that O'Henry's reference to a single, "last leaf" which is not the only "single leaf" that has influenced me.

"Upon whose bosom snow has lain........."

 I think that I shall never see,

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray:

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair:

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

The poet Joyce Kilmer created works that celebrated "the common beauty of the natural world" as seen in his widely known poem about trees from the poem (posted above) which most people "have to" memorize in elementary school. Like Joyce Kilmer, Ruth Orkin, a photographer known to most for her black and white photograph, American Girl in Italy, was also very inspired by trees as seen in Central Park South Silhouette, New York City. The trees from my balcony --the ones in between the buildings-- are not as inspirational, as they are Ailanthus altissima Trees (Trees of Heaven), and very prone to web-worms giving them an "Addams Family" look.

Snowy days. Starry nights. "And since we've no place to go, Let it go, Let it go, Let it go..." (A Case For Not Sending 'E' Cards)

Engaging conversations. Sipping Papillon Hermitage. Snacking on Prince De Clavrolle Cheese and a baguette from Tom Cat Bakery as we make up our own words to the "Let it snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow"  song and replace them with "Let it Go, Let it Go, Let it Go." 

We are snow-bound in my studio apartment and looking out onto my terrace garden celebrating my winter note-card collection and so this is my first 'in-between-Saturdays-post.' 

We are not 'E' card people, and while we are fairly proficient in using the computer, and are very much concerned about our environment (we don't "waste" paper), we like to keep in touch in a personal way which is often by mailing a card.

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupped the chamber-door;
Let in a maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

Yes, Ophelia, you are right; tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s Day, and while I’ve yet to create a card specific to this occasion, I have been somewhat sentimental about it. Pictured above is one of my first valentine’s received in grade school — fourth grade — when as students we were assigned to bring Valentines to class. This one was from Michael Brink, a boy who lived in a much more posh area than me. I felt so good that it said “song of love” perhaps like Laura in Tennessee Williams’s play The Glass Menagerie, but after he sent me that card, Michael never spoke to me in grade school or high school. I haven’t saved the valentine because I harbored a crush on him. I just liked the card and the feeling I had when I first received it.

Another Valentine’s card (posted below) that I’ve saved is from Catherine, the subject of one of my black and white portraits and also featured in my black and white prints including Dinner is Served, Cocktails and Engaging Conversation, and Thanksgiving in Riverdale, the print discussed in my eighth posting. All these prints can be viewed in the black and white gallery on my web-site.

Catherine sent me this Valentine upon my receiving five straight “A' s” in undergraduate school and included her acknowledgement of this in the card:

I had saved this correspondence because not only had I been inspired by Catherine in a way that caused me to photograph her, but I had hoped to write about her one day. As you will see, in her obituary posted below, she was an interesting woman.

Paper cards stored in desk drawers provide great inspiration on days when there seems none to be had. Just looking at them can cause a wealth of ideas to come forward during dry spells in the creative process. There is nothing that comes close to a personal card to preserve a moment and I offer a wide variety of unique cards that can be viewed more closely on my web-site.

FALL 2018 ADDENDUM: 

I no longer actively produce event program covers, invitations and the types of greeting cards described here or on my website but arrangements might be able to be made under certain circumstances. My focus is on the Words In Our Beak book series, pictured below...

WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

...whose stories are told from the point of view of Cam, a female cardinal, whose photo is on the cover of each book. Words In Our Beak’s goal is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. Set in my rooftop garden in NYC,  Words In Our Beak is directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective. The books include hundreds of images of flora and fauna, links to movies, as well as to informative narratives that have been created by the author.

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books.

Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

SUMMER 2020 ADDENDUM: 

                             

"Never say never," the saying goes, and I suppose that applies to saying, "I no longer....," which I did in my 2018 addendum and now I'm here to announce at the advice of Chris Deatherage, my book series formatter, who is also my web-master (for patriciayoungquist.com) I now have some versions of the greeting cards that are referenced in this blog post available via FAA, please click here to view them.

$nowballs for $ale

I came across this newspaper clip while cleaning out a desk drawer on this snowy day. I suppose I had saved the clip to write about the spirit of entrepreneurship, but upon reflection, I think the image and accompanying headlines speak for themselves. I apologize for not having the exact source information as I initially kept this clip during a time that I was not blogging. I do know that it is from several years ago, and I can assure you, dear reader, that it is from either The New York Daily News or The New York Post. If you happen to know which paper ran this image, I'd appreciate clarification so I can update this post.

Sunset in Riverside Park, NYC, New York

I would like to take a moment to comment on the color photo work that I have done where I have used pinhole cameras to create photographic prints with kaleidoscopic patterns, These works are mysterious, seductive, and liberating. The intricate designs give the viewer permission to feel emotions. The mood created by these is meditative. A whisper, not a shout. The delicate patterns in this series of photographic prints add tranquility to meditation and yoga centers. They create a sense of calmness in public spaces. They enhance Pilates studios. And they add ambiance to your summer home in the Hamptons - the one where your study overlooks the Atlantic. They are inspiring; as seen in the rendition of  Sunset in Riverside Park, which is posted below:

On my web-site, Sunset in Riverside Park, can be seen with other kaleidoscopic prints.The photograph above was taken at my one woman exhibition that took place in the Art Gallery of the Manhattan Borough President's office. This exhibition took place a few years after my interview with John Montone (see posting of January 6th 2010) and is the print we discussed in that interview.