Diane Jarvis-Schuller

Oh – ooh — oooh, it arrived! One of the pieces of fine art photography that I offer for sale has arrived. Well actually, I ordered this one for myself and it’s one I will also be using for an upcoming gallery showing. As you know, equine art is a current home decor trend these days, and I’m hoping to spread the word as much as possible. Although equestrian chic is a current trend, equine art really never goes ‘out of style’ — it is classic and has been around for years, whether in royal castles, as western / rural decor, or as a contemporary and elegant work of art.

I couldn’t wait to get it home. I had this image done on a high quality canvas gallery wrap and am extremely pleased with the result. This and other images are also available as fine art prints that can be matted and framed instead. This particular image titled “Whisper” is so well suited as a canvas gallery wrap and I can hardly wait to show it off! What do you think of this one?

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Dare to be distinctive and unique: allow me to provide you with fresh and imaginative equine art portraying the powerful and alluring essence of the horse!

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There was a winner! Remember the great giveaway by Kelly over at Jax Does Design? She was giving away one of my equine prints, “Listen” and the lucky winner was Christy over at Lil Welsh Rarebit! Congratulations Christy, your print has been matted and will be on its way to you right away!

Welcome! … Ottawa designer Kelly James is featuring my equine artwork over on her blog this week.

“Listen” being given away over at Kelly’s blog — go enter!!

Since my recent posts are mostly about my recent trip to Hawaii, I thought I would put this one here as a welcome to those who are coming from Kelly’s lovely spot on the web (to the first handful who arrived earlier, I’m sorry I didn’t have a welcome post before you arrived). As part of my introduction, I welcome you to scroll down and see some of my images of all subjects but if you’d like to see some of the equine-only ones, simply go to the menu bar above: click “Categories” and then select “Horses – Livestock” from the drop down menu. That way  you will see some of the more recent posts/images of horses. Or, visit my website to see a few more of my equine images listed in my “Gallery” under “Pets-Livestock” (I am currently in the process of setting up a specific area for my fine art prints so if you’d like to see more, let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.). Let me know what you think. Enjoy!!

“Power Pair” by Diane Schuller, shown as a 5×7 matted to 8×10 (this is how “Listen” will look when sent to the winner over at Kelly’s blog.

And don’t forget, if you’re interested in purchasing equine art, I ship anywhere. Please contact me if there is something that catches your eye and we’ll work something out. I’d love to help you add some beautiful equine art to add to your home or office decor.

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Diane’s photographs have appeared in two recent gallery showings as well as being included in publications such as Trot magazine, Dog Sport, Dogs in Canada, Country Guide magazine, Canine Review and newspapers Hythe Headliner, Peace Country Sun, and The Edmonton Journal.

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“The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.”  ~Arabian Proverb

“A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” ~Pam Brown

Coming Soon: Horse art in feng shui!

I’ve recently had some exciting email discussions with Ottawa interior decorator Kelly James of Jax Decor regarding the huge trend for equine chic. Kelly featured some of my equine art in December.

Nancy Marcus Gueret of Marcus Design recently featured a post about Equine Chic. She also just posted the Top 5 decor trends for 2011 and equine chic is right there on that top list! As we know, home decor and fashion are tightly woven together so it’s no surprise that equine chic also hits the fashion runways. In Canada, the program Cityline will be talking about equine art for home decor on Thursday, January 6th — check it out!

I have several images that fit the bill and plan to take many more this year. Whether it’s rural related as the ones in today’s journal post or more refined and sleek, I have it! In my mind, equine art is classic and never goes out of style but it’s great to know it’s such a hot trend this year. If you’re interested in seeing more of my equine art, please contact me so I can direct you to a slideshow of available artwork. As I mentioned yesterday, I have just opened up an Etsy shop though I have so few items there yet — but you will see the beginnings of equine art offerings (including that beautiful soft image I posted here yesterday). Stay turned (subscribe by email or RSS or subscribe to my newsletter) as I trot out more equine art throughout this coming year.

Something else I will soon have available are small size equine art images on solid wood ‘blocks’. These will be smooth and not rustic and will have a permanent finish. The added bonus with these is that they come ready to hang; no framing necessary.

Don’t forget, if you live in Alberta or BC and would like me to come and take beautiful photos of your horse(s), you can have custom equine art for your walls with images of your magnificent horse! Visit my website and get in touch!

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Serving Alberta and BC and have been to the following areas to take memorable photographs for other clients: Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Beaverlodge, Hythe, Valhalla, Dawson Creek, Rycroft, Sexsmith, Spirit River, Grimshaw, Peace River, Valleyview, and more!

I am so excited to announce some changes to my photography business that are now in effect.

COMMERCIAL:  As some of you are aware, I have been doing some commercial and editorial photography (for magazines, newspapers, and businesses) and I have made the decision to focus much more on this commercial aspect of my business. That means I will be giving priority to and pursuing more of the commercial photography opportunities both locally and nationally. If you, or someone you know, is seeking photography for your business I hope you will keep me in mind and refer me to friends or their businesses. Coverage of corporate or family events will fall into this category and I look forward to continuing to photograph events of all kinds. Special commercial rates apply.

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY: Another aspect of my photography that I will be pursuing is fine art photography. One of my canine photos appeared in a fund raising book for cancer in 2010 plus I had two gallery showings of my photographic art with plans to sell my art as home & office decor (prints, canvas, and matted or framed options). Changes will soon be made to my website to reflect this additional focus and I will be seeking out additional opportunities for gallery showings in 2011 and beyond. To that end, if you know of any business that may be interested in hosting a showing of my photographic art (one month or beyond), please let me know and share my website with the decision maker for the business (there is ‘something in it for them’ when they host my photographic art).  As I recently announced on my photo journal (blog), in December my equine photographic art was featured by an Ottawa designer and will be featured again later this month on her design blog (details coming up on my photo journal/blog). Also, to help provide exposure and offer feature artwork, I’m proud to announce I have opened up an Etsy shop. At the moment the ‘shop’ has less than a handful of items so next month once there is a better selection of stock on the ‘shelves’, I’ll provide a link plus another link where you will find some of my other available photographic art.

EQUINE & PET PHOTOGRAPHY: The third important change to my business will be a re-focus to the subjects that got me started in photography to begin with and that is equine and pet photography. Commencing 2011 my portrait photography will re-focus to a specialty in photographing horses, dogs, and pets — as well as the connection with their people. Some of these will fall into the commercial category for breeders or ranch owners needing professional photographs for advertising and promotional needs; others will simply be those who love their pets and want beautiful photos of them.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN REGARDING ALL OTHER LIFESTYLE PHOTO SESSIONS?:

Although I am shifting my business focus in the areas noted above, I will continue to take on lifestyle sessions for individuals, couples, and families where booking dates are available.

I am very excited about the growth of my business and successes for the future. I hope you share in the excitement with me and will let others know about my business.

It was great having the month of December off and I’ve already hit the road running in January! What a busy year it was in 2010 for my photography business. Many new and creative progressions are coming for 2011. Thank you to all of you who have supported me and believe in me! I am very grateful to each of you.

“I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.” ~ Diane Arbus

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Diane is available for a wide variety of commercial and editorial photography assignments. Diane also serves the entire Grande Prairie and peace regions of northern Alberta as an equine, pet, and dog photographer though she is always available anywhere in Alberta, BC, and beyond.

Thank you! A big thank you to everyone who has supported me this year — actually everyone since 2008 when I embarked upon this exciting photographic adventure. There is more to come in 2011. Without your support my photography business and photographic inspiration surely would be hidden away as it was for years (decades). May you and yours enjoy a year ahead filled with energy, enthusiasm, good health, and many special moments with those you love.

“Go to the winter woods: listen there, look, watch, and “the dead months” will give you a subtler secret than any you have yet found in the forest.” ~ Fiona Macleod, Where the Forest Murmurs

“In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want.” ~ an Old Irish toast (those Irish surely have fine toasts and wishes).

A few images from earlier this year. Since so many of my recent posts are wildlife or horses, I thought I’d shake it up with a little something different although all three are in a rural theme. I hope you enjoy.

For those who are interested in my weekly environment column. Here is a link to where the newspaper posts them after they’ve appeared in the newspaper. As you can guess, my recent columns are all related to Christmas in a variety of different ways. The more you scroll down on that page, the further back are the columns with a diverse range of topics.

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Photographs Never Forget!

Diane offers fine art photography in many sizes and shapes, professionally mounted and ready to frame, or have Diane do the framing for you. Watch this photo journal for an announcement in January regarding horse and animal photography. Diane currently has a limited number of fine art photographic prints available if you’re looking for a unique gift for someone special. Ideal for home or office decor! Contact Diane today for more information.

In recent weeks I have finally been able to resume work on a part time basis. This has allowed me time; time I’ve spent getting out and experimenting with my camera. Any time I have the freedom not to worry about technical details and simply get out and take photographs for the fun of it, the results are always like a treasure chest.

Like any treasure chest, what I’ve found in that treasure chest excites me and adds to my list of photographic treasures. I’m thinking I should create a simple slideshow to insert here in my photo journal simply to show the results of my recent photographic experiments and free time expressions. A few years ago, I did some of these and a few turned out, but the other day I tried two different versions of what you see below. I love the results and ended up keeping most of them; only a few hit the trash bin.

With this one, although I love the red from the Amur Maple, it’s the imperfections emphasized that I find of interest. It’s an explosion of fall colours coming right at you!

Those of you who know me well, are likely cocking your head and wondering about these since you know my stance on fake blur. Well this isn’t fake blur (blur created in Photoshop rather than in camera). I love a photograph in which the photographer has adeptly created a lovely soft blur (called shallow depth of field) behind the sharply focused main subject. The blur you’re seeing here is created in camera and definitely not in Photoshop. That’s why I find these so exciting. Any creativity that is done in camera, to me, is like opening a box of treasures. Although I must have about two dozen keepers from my recent experiments, here is my favourite. I love this one so much, I am so tempted to blow it up really large or maybe even on canvas — something with texture.

Although I took these on two separate days in the past week, I am still overjoyed with the opportunity to rev up my creative juices. What about you? What have you done recently that revved up your creativity?

PS: I will create a slideshow to show all my ‘keepers’ and will post it here by tomorrow morning. I have a wedding rehearsal to attend later today otherwise I’d do it now.

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Photographs Never Forget! Keeping memories alive with custom albums and portraits.

Autumn is definitely one of my favourite times of year.  With a little extra time on my hands this past week, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying getting out and photographing for the fun of it. There is a magnificent old horse barn I’ve driven past and have always thought how I’d love to take some photographs. This week, I made a point of going there specifically to take photos of that magnificent old barn.

I walked in and took all kinds of photographs of it, from different angles, including close ups and some that included it within the landscape. I’ll likely go through the series and include a few more here in my photo journal in the near future.

This weekend has been so enjoyable so far. Yesterday was a sunny autumn day ablaze with fall colours, my dear husband treated us to a trip to the city for a great dinner, and I’ve been methodically working away at some long overdue household chores. It’s amazing how certain chores, such as ironing, seem much less like work when there is time to do them — besides there was some excellent, intelligent radio to listen to on CBC. With the wind, it’s also been two great days for drying clothes on the clothesline.

I hope you’ve been enjoying your autumn weekend. What has been the best moment of the weekend for you?

Your home or office can and should be a unique expression of who you are, changing and evolving with you, over time. So rather than mass produced prints from the local box store, hang art that is meaningful and representative of you and your lifestyle. Canvas gallery wraps are one way of accomplishing this simple aesthetic.

These are beautiful products and come ready to hang (framing not necessary) – a true work of art.

24 x 36 canvas gallery wrap in darkened room highlighted with picture light

Have one of your images created on canvas or order one of Diane’s fine art images. Canvas wraps are printed directly onto archival canvas, UV protected, then stretched over a wood frame. Please note that part of the image actually wraps around each of the four sides of the wrap. These are made only at a top quality lab using the highest quality materials & workmanship (cannot compare to those sold at retail box stores). The fine canvas gallery wraps begin at 11″ x 14″ and up — the larger they are, the more impressive they are. Custom sizes are also available for special applications.

detail showing the tight corners and properly finished backing on a canvas gallery wrap

What you may not know about purchasing your canvas gallery wrap from Diane … you get a huge BONUS: For each image from your photo session that you order as a canvas gallery wrap, you receive the corresponding high resolution digital file. Since I provide a full print release with this item, you may then print as many copies in any size(s) your heart desires. Imagine how many gifts you can print off with this amazing offer! This bonus does not apply to Diane’s fine art images; it only applies to images from your custom photo shoot.

Here’s an image that I’m going to order in a large canvas gallery wrap for my home. Several things about this appeal to me and express elements about me. This is from a personal experience I had on a particularly sunny day. I love animals and was intrigued by this playful, soft-eyed harbour seal. I’m drawn to many other elements of this image. I have a deep connection to water, especially the sea with it’s ripples and the ebb and flow of the tides. The ripples in the water from the seal popping its head on the surface plus the play of the many reflections provide so much visual interest. The way the seal is nearly camouflaged among all the undulations and reflections gives the overall image an almost abstract quality. How’s that for multiple reasons for wanting this blown up on a canvas?!

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Photographs Never Forget!

Art is another way of keeping a diary. Each diary and its contents mean something different to every reader or viewer.

Who says livestock and horse photography can’t be considered fine art?! Bah humbug, of course it can. This exotic looking Scottish Highland cow is a prime example of how a photo can be transformed into fine art. Plus, when printed on canvas or fine Hahnemule art paper an image such as this becomes a beautiful work of art enhancing anyone’s home or office.

Sometimes simplicity is the key to high impact.

This draft [draught] horse study is one of my favourites after being turned into a work of art through mixed media including photographic texture. I can imagine this printed on canvas, enlarged to beyond life size, and hung in a prominent place on someone’s wall in their home or office. What a conversation piece! {{NOTE: I have recently opened up an online storefront where you can purchase prints, matted & framed, or canvas gallery wraps of some of my work. You’ll recognize some of these images at my shop. Feel free to share the link with friends.}}

Some of you may recall my recent post discussing the value of purchasing original works of art. Whether you consider something from me or from any other artist, when you support original works of art, you are making an investment that you can treasure for years to come but also supporting the future for all artists. Some things are well worth saving for — art is one of them.

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Diane can also create original fine art from photographs of your pets, horse, or livestock. She also creates fine art from a wide variety of subject matter. Get in touch and find out more.

The creative act lasts but a brief moment, a lightning instant of give-and-take, just long enough for you to level the camera and to trap the fleeting prey in your little box. ~Henri Cartier Bresson