It's been awhile...

Yes, I've been behind on my bloggings. Can you blame me? I moved up to Interlochen, MI for the summer, and two days later was proposed to (!) and the last couple of weeks have been a wonderful blur of love, work, and wedding planning. I did finish editing James and Natalie's wedding - see those photos and many more on kathleengrady.zenfolio.com - and the next venture is a granite engraving for my dad's tombstone along with the laptop skin for Devin, plus (possibly) two engagement sessions and another wedding in July. It's gonna be a very busy summer!

I did run across this in checking my social media sites...I follow GOOD and mentalfloss on twitter, and I often find great things to read and look at through those sources. Today's link came from mentalfloss - Netflix envelope art!

And then that link led me to this freakin' awesome blog, Doodlers Anonymous. Lots of creative, inspiring work and an active online community. I won't be forgetting about this one!

So while you guys check out those sweet links, I just might have to edit some photos from MY engagement (strange to be on the other side of the camera!) and share in the next post. Our wedding website is right here, and fyi, we'll be chronicling the planning process on another blog, which will continue into all of our married adventures as well. If only we could come up with a title for it...........will be posting that link ASAP. :) Thanks and love to all!

Vid Wednesday #2

Alright, this is an official attempt to start a weekly video posting. Next Wednesday I will arrive at Interlochen Center for the Arts to start my summer contract with them (workin' with my boyfriend...yay for no seven-hour separations!) It's a good day.

This is a video that I first saw about three years ago, and I still find it to be one of the most creative things I've ever seen. The song is gorgeous and the concept is just...awesome. And if you go to watch it on YouTube, it links to several videos/websites on how it was made. Pretty great stuff. "Her Morning Elegance" by Oren Lavie:

Sneak Peek: James & Natalie

It's another sneak peek already! YAY! I was so excited to photograph James and Natalie's wedding. They're the nicest couple you could ever imagine meeting, and after spending the day with them it was obvious how perfect they are for each other. They had a gorgeous traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Patrick's in Kokomo, and the remodel that was done a few years ago provided a beautiful setting for the ceremony.

Outside...gray, but the weather held off until the reception!

Inside - all decked out for the Easter season. Breathtaking!

Beautiful bride checkin' out her 'do

The ladies...

...and the gentlemen.

Ready to be a Mrs.!

James's "I'm the luckiest guy in the world" face

                

 

 The grand exit

Portraits at the Sieberling Mansion - I didn't tell him to do this ;-)

All you need is love...

Possibly my favorite of their portraits

Their centerpieces were wonderful! All different, with a great romantic touch

In lieu of a garter toss, James and Natalie washed each other's feet - a great thing to witness

And then they read letters to each other! Awwww...

AMAZING cake by a friend of the bride

First dance

Parents' dance

And this photo sums up their love and their marriage...

James and Natalie, thanks again for letting me be a part of your day! Another two weeks or so and you will get to see EVERYTHING.

Love to you both :)

Couldn't resist another one--

TWO IN ONE DAY!

While my first video post was thought-provoking, this one is just plain awesome: graffiti/street art (mad respect), stop-action photography (probably the best thing ever invented), and romance (we all need some!) So take this 3:20 to get happy and inspired.

Maybe Wednesdays should be Vid-Wednesdays, no?

Gwenn Seemel has some great things to say

Imitate this. from Gwenn Seemel on Vimeo.

I just found this video and really agree with what Gwenn is saying. Intellectual property has become such an issue in the digital age, and some artists are so incredibly picky with how and where their art can be displayed or used (trust me, part of my museum internship was going through these contracts!). But, as she says, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. I love it when someone looks at one of my paintings/photos and says, "wow, how did you do that?" Even better when they add, "Can you teach me?"

And really, we all copy ideas and techniques. I think it's necessary to figure out who you are as an artist, what speaks to you, what you excel/struggle with and what new things you discover. Part of how I've developed (am still developing) my style is by copying other techniques and ideas that I have seen and learned. It inspires me to look at my world differently and take everything a step further. After an hour in an art museum, I leave with ten new ideas/projects to try.

So really, no one is original. ;-)