Diane Jarvis-Schuller

One of my favourite crops for artwork, whether it’s photographic art or a painting is the square. {Another favourite is a panoramic rectangle — say a 10 x 20 for instance, but that’s a different post.}

I’m not sure if it’s the symmetry of a square crop, or if it’s something else that makes the square crop appeal to me. Whatever the draw is, it works for me. The square crop is also ideal and really appealing for cards such as thank you or greeting cards, for instance. Not all images will work in a square crop, however, so the image needs to be carefully chosen, as these examples demonstrate.

Do you like a square crop? Show me an example of one of your favourite square crops (leave a link so I can come take a look).

PS: Another giveaway coming up for you lucky readers very soon. Stay tuned or be sure to add my photo journal to your RSS feed (above).

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Original photographic art makes a unique and thoughtful gift or something special for your own home or office decor. Diane offers photographic art either as a matted print, as a high end canvas gallery wrap (like this beauty), on fine art standout, or even as a poster! Call today and get your favourite. (IMPORTANT NOTE: I never have your photographic art produced by consumer labs; all artwork is produced only by labs that deal exclusively with professional photographers & artists, resulting in images of museum quality.)

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!

Dare to be distinctive. As I’ve written before, Equine art is definitely one of the hot 2011 trends. But equine art really never goes “out” of style.

Here’s an example where some hot designers are utilizing the elegant equine to add to the classy look of theirs or their clients’ homes. This first one is Summer Thornton Design’s lovely example of utilizing equine art. See what impact it has because it’s large and because it’s much more fresh and unique than other subject matter.

Although equestrian art and style existed for hundreds of years, it was Ralph Lauren who mainstreamed the equestrian style in our homes as this example from Ralph Lauren Home demonstrates:

Style at Home editor Erin McLaughlin has also incorporated her love for horses in her home’s interior design. The exquisite paintings of her gelding by artist Jennifer Pratt are hung in her front entry (photo credit: Erin McLaughlin).

And look at the impact of this horse art in a modern bedroom (photo credit: Christine Lane Interiors).

And the winter issue of Arabella magazine boldly uses a magnificent horse on their cover. Arabella is a Canadian Art, Architecture, & Design magazine.

I’ve just ordered a canvas gallery wrap of one of my equine photographs for my own home and can hardly wait for it to arrive. I should have ordered it much larger.

You too can bring horses into your home (or office) decor and wow your family and guests! Although I do offer equine images as fine art prints or canvas gallery wraps, I have another unique and reasonably priced option. Large as life, loose canvases are simple to hang (in the way quilts or rugs are hung for instance). Unlike large stretched canvas gallery wraps, this option is easy to ship or store since they may be rolled and can be hung in a snap. Eliminate framing expense (and that is often more costly than the art itself!) and you get a lot of canvas for your investment. These can hang either by a rod, a drapery wire, or more rustic methods depending upon your decor. Ask me about this or any option for including beautiful equine art in your home or office (I ship anywhere!).

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

“In the steady gaze of the horse shines a silent eloquence that speaks of love and loyalty, strength and courage. It is the window that reveals to us how willing is her spirit, how generous her heart.” ~Author Unknown

One thing about living in Alberta, the winters may be cold but the sun shines!

I received a lovely note in the mail today. Serge Gouraud had contacted me about a year ago wanting to purchase or license one of my photographs. Today he wanted me to see the launch of his new website, complete with my photo and photo credit, and I’m sharing his new venture with you. If you find yourself traveling to France, you must check out his exquisite accommodation. Besides, anyone who goes about doing business in such an ethical and conscientious way (paying for the use of a photo instead of stealing it, like so many people do) deserves recognition. Please pay a visit to his newly launched, La Caneda.

“May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the way to your door.” ~ Irish Blessing.

The top two images were taken at a small lake near Princeton, B.C. The image below was taken at large wilderness lake while driving through Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.

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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.

Original photographic art is a unique and thoughtful gift for Christmas or anytime. Pick something yourself or give a gift certificate so the recipient can select their own art.

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.

These ‘apples of the earth’, pomme de terre, are freshly dug from my garden. Yukon Gold are absolutely my favourite potato. They’re ideal baked, boiled or fried. They have a lovely almost nutty flavour and I love the consistency — they’re never gummy or mushy. I’ve always enjoyed digging up potatoes. That’s never been a job to me; always a pleasure. The earthy scent as the fork lifts the soil, revealing the earth apples, the feel of the soil, the cool wet weight of each potato — all those senses provide so much pleasure.

Yukon Gold are the first Canadian-bred potatoes to be marketed and promoted by name. Developed in 1966, registered in 1980. Unlike some of the other yellow flesh potatoes, these store well. Delicious.

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In addition to custom portrait photography, Diane is also a freelance photographer available for commercial photography, special event coverage, and editorial assignments.

The photo workshop I did last night was very well attended and the participants had some great questions.

A pair of simple photos for your viewing pleasure while I’m busy, busy, busy. These I took several weeks ago while on a creativity break and before all the leaves were gone. Enjoy.

“Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn.”-   Elizabeth Lawrence

What are you taking time to sit still and enjoy?

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.

“Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter.” ~Ansel Adams

“Life is like a good black and white photograph, there’s black, there’s white, and lots of shades in between.” ~ Karl Heiner

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