I'm back!

I've been a bit MIA lately...still working my tail off at school while raising a family & trying to wrap my head around my brothers situation while he fights cancer.

I've also started a Tumblr & Flickr account so trying to build and maintain all three can be a bit of a challenge, but I'm finding my rhythm and hopefully getting my work seen by more people, in more places.

My big project for the summer is a self-portrait series that myself & a few good friends are collecting.  As the summer draws to an end, our hope is to have a collaborative show of our work...fingers crossed.

Here's my favorite 'selfie' so far.

Day 61: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...a day late"

Day 61: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "...a day late"

March 2, 2013

So...had some friends over yesterday...went out to dinner and had a bit too much fun...This shot is from March 2nd, just something random taken during the visit...but I missed out on posting yesterday thanks to my 'over-indulgence' last night so I feel like even though this may be a day late...the photo is still accurate to the correct day...Darn it!  I made it 60 straight days without missing one...GRRRRR....

Day 60: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "ambiguous"

Day 60: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "ambiguous"

March 1, 2013

Feeling exactly that...ambiguous...about so many things.  Life is such a mix of good & bad...happy & sad...that's just how it is.

Day 37: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "Kickin' back"

Day 37: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "Kickin' back"

February 6, 2013

All I'd like to do right now is kick back and put my feet up for a few minutes...but that's just not going to happen.  I started my day with an 8 a.m. class, headed from there to another until noon, came home to eat lunch and then created my mock-up artbook and finished to blanks for my class which I will be heading out to in a few minutes and won't be home until 10 tonight.  The next couple of weeks are going to be madness as I have lots to do for school along with financial aid and scholarship applications AND getting my taxes done!  Right now, I feel like crying...but I'll get through it...I always do...just feeling guilty for the kids who will have to 'wait' for this all to pass before they get their Mom back...and that just sucks!

Day 36: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "flowers in her hair"

Day 36: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "flowers in her hair"

February 5, 2013

Most people get flowers for some special occassion or as a pick me up after a rough week...my hubby brings them home for disection!  That's right, the kids need to disect flowers for science today...so these beauties will be meeting their fate a bit early.  But I couldn't help notice the colors in my favorite hat happened to match the bouquet...perhaps that's why I love this hat so much!

Day 35: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "a helping hand"

Day 35: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "a helping hand"

February 4, 2013

For those of you who don't know...I took a bad fall a few days back, my hand is the only thing that doesn't hurt.  Typically I'm the type of person to always offer a helping hand; today, I could use one...

Day 33: 365 self-portraits Susan Komer "slip & fall"

Day 33: 365 self-portraits Susan Komer "slip & fall"

February 2, 2013

Oh God!  Major slip & fall...stepped up on my side step to my truck and slipped...fell on my lumbar straight onto the curb and twisted my arm...back & arm hurt like hell right now...I HATE WINTER!

Day 31: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "My little buddy"

Day 31: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "My little buddy"

January 31, 2013

"My little buddy"...Dozer is our little rescue pup.  We aren't sure how old he is...his teeth have been so damaged along with everything else, that the vets can't really tell us his age...we're guessing he's about 5 but the gray in his face makes me think he's a bit older.  This little guy was left for dead...tied to a tree and abused to the point his little feet pads looked melted off.  Once rescued, a puppy mill got their hands on him making his situation even worse!  He could not breed because of prior abuse but they sure did try...the little guy was just in awful shape when I responded to the ad to 'adopt a rescue' when in truth...they just wanted their money back!  My husband sat in shock as I wrote the check to buy this miserable looking little guy...he couldn't believe I'd pay money for an animal that looked half gone already.  But in my mind...I just couldn't leave him there...NO WAY!  I wrote the check without thinking twice and got him to the vet ASAP...we've had him now for just over 2 years and he's the best little buddy ever! I love puppies as much as the next guy/gal...but there are pups out there like Dozer, who didn't even have a name when we found him...but he has been so loving, so attached & committed to every member of my family and friendly to every person he meets...he didn't deserve that awful start to life...and we've done our best to help him forget...or at least to know that life can be good and he does deserve all the kisses and cuddles in the world!

 

Day 30: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "book-making"

Day 30: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "book-making"

January 30, 2013

Many of you know I'm a student at Ohio State University, and this semester is flat out loaded!  Book-making is a required course in which we are learning to make art books.  Today I was working on a hardcover pamphlet...which these seem simple enough to do, until you sit down and seek perfection in your edging and board covers.  That's when you realize how exact everything must be to truly achieve a quality piece...today was my first try at board covering, though it was not a complete success; I did find what I need to do differently...so I've learned from my mistakes.  I need to have four different types done, two of which I have successfully completed; but I will be giving this another try!

Day 26: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "FAILED"

Day 26: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "FAILED"

January 26, 2013

So today I shot 107 different shots...wasn't happy with ANY of them!  I felt defeated and frustrated...changed locations and positions and lighting and approaches...NOTHING made me happy.  I thought I'd post one that just says...well...sometimes you win, sometimes you lose...I still had fun, and tomorrow I'll try again.  I think my issue today was that I was shooting too close to yesterday's thoughts...I need to keep changing it up...falling back is almost like falling down...I skinned my nose on the pavement today...tomorrows a new day and you'll see me back here with something new!

Day 24: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "home school"

Day 24: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer "home school"

January 24, 2013

For me to be able to finish my own education, I needed to move my family to the 'big city' where an education for my children would not quite have been all we'd have desired.  To make it all work, I decided to home school the kids...not a choice made lightly!  So when I finish my own day of classes, I come home and do theirs...and THEN I get to do my own homework.  We tried the hour commute for nearly 3 months and it just wasn't happening...so now...though I have more time and easier lab & studio access...my life is always school...either my own or theirs.  For me, my own education...a dream I've held onto for over 20 years...makes this all worth it!  One day, I'll be finished...something I'm doing for myself but will hopefully be a benefit to us all...So when I'm feeling totally beat...I keep my eye on the light at the end of the tunnel...and remember that the sacrifices I'm making now serve a greater purpose...I HOPE!

Day 19: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "scary movies"

Day 19: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "scary movies"

January 19, 2013

I have always loved a good scary movie, even though I'm a huge chicken!  Watching them with my little chickens cuddled on the couch makes them even better!

Day 18: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "passed out"

Day 18: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "passed out"

January 18, 2013

Today has been one very long day...It started at 8 a.m. with a very heated debate in sociology that took me way outside of my comfort zone when the teacher asked ME to be the mediator...WTH was he thinking...that stress hung with me for most of the day until I went and enjoyed a dinner out with the hubby & my twins.  I quickly let go of the day and when we got home...though I had to do this...passing out is what I had wanted to do and will do soon!  But I am committed to this 365 day self portrait series...so...here it is...yep...tired but not defeated!

Day 17: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "attack"

Day 17: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "attack"

January 17, 2013

These first few weeks back in school have been hell...one thing after another has gone wrong and my work load is strangling.  I thought it was time to be a bit playful while still revealing a bit of how I feel...attacked by one strong force...but still fighting back!

Day 15: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "paint class"

Day 15: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "paint class"

January 15, 2013

After shooting in the photo lab yesterday...I decided to give you a bigger glimpse into my life on campus.  This shot was taken at the end of my painting class...I had most things cleaned up and put away, but I needed to gather the last of my things to run off to catch my next class.  While everyone else had moved on...except for my instructor...I shot this pic while packing up my bag and was nearly late for my next class.  Photography is so addictive for me...I could have cared less if I were late...I wasn't...I had to run...but made it on time and couldn't wait to get home to see what I'd caught on my camera...yes..its safe to say...photography IS my priority!

Day 14: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "working my film"

Day 14: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer "working my film"

January 14, 2013

Today was one of my long days at school...I had to go in a bit early for my late class to cut some negatives for my film/darkroom class and thought you all might like to see a little something I LOVE to do!  To be able to develop film...make my own prints...there's something so magical about it all...a true passion of mine.

Day 3: 365 self portraits by Susan Komer for 2013

Day 3: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer for 2013

January 3, 2013

For today's self-portrait I decided to choose a happy memory from my childhood.  As a little girl, my older siblings use to put on little plays for my younger brother & I by drawing little characters on their chins.  To honor fresh beginnings, I'm moving away from hurtful memories and learning to focus on the positive...this was definitely one of them!

Today I introduced my children to Felicia, my chin character, and we made a little video...the black & white is my portrait for today, but below you'll find a little extra as Felicia is quite the camera ham!

Felicia

Day 2: 365 self-portraits for 2013, by Susan Komer

Day 2: 365 self-portraits for 2013, by Susan Komer

January 2, 2013

After much thought and over 100 shots today, I decided on this photo as an expression of renewal and new beginnings.  A peeling away of the old...letting go of the useless, the dead and moving into a transformation of new thoughts and ideas.  I sit upon the lower step...a full stairway yet to climb...I will do so with a new outlook, fresh perspective, fresh self and firm determination...I hope...

Day 1: 365 self-portraits by Susan Komer for 2013

365 Self-portraits for 2013

For quite some time I've wanted to try to shoot a self-portrait each day of a full year.  A few days ago, a friend of mine completed a series of 52; one for each week of the year.  I thought, hmmm...this is doable...when I announced I'd like to try that, another friend informed me that he has done one a day for the past 15 years...yes...I said 15 years!  If he can do that, surely I can do a year!

So that is my challenge for the year...it doesn't seem like a difficult task, until you try it...it can be quite a humbling experience to fail at such an 'easy' task: I know, I've had this thought for years and am just now seriously taking on the challenge.  I've decided to blog each one as a way to also get serious with my efforts to keep this blog going and to try to create some sort of following for my work.

This first image is to represent a fresh start to this new year...washing away my own insecurities and moving ahead with a clean slate.  I encourage you all to leave comments &/ thoughts as constructive feedback is always a benefit to an artist.

Thanks for stopping by...Susan