Blog

- Listen To The Street -

It's been known that one of the most effective ways for writing stories is with the use of picture words. This is something I learned much about back when I was at Columbia College Chicago, as my favorite class (outside of photography) was Writing Workshop. And for most of the class sessions we did a thing called 'listen to the street'.

This is where the professor would open up the windows, as our building was in the deep of the Chicago Loop, and we all were still and quiet as we listened to the sounds on the street. After a short time the windows would close and all of us would share from our notes through picture words what we ' saw ' on the street.

This is where I came to understand the reverse of picture words for my photography, as ' word pictures '.... thus the thought behind my mantra of ' pictures people listen to '. What this means (to me) is that when you study my photographs you should find many elements to describe it in words. This photograph - Chicago L Between The Walls - is only one example:

-- A colorful photograph of the average neighborhood street scene in the Chicago Loop, with sunlight and shadow play, with an L-evated train track between the walls of several different old and new colored buildings down the street. There are cars and people moving about in the shadow of the ' L ' tracks. When I made this photograph there was a dog barking, a person yelling from their window to another person yelling back, a woman with her high-heel shoes tapping as she's walking across the street behind my camera, as well as the roar of an airplane overhead along with the rumble of a distant L train approaching. There's a van slowly moving through the scene with loud music echoing off the different buildings. Yet, amongst all of this activity there seemed to be a scene of peace and quiet moments if you looked for it. --

All this to say that, words play an important role in society and in our relationships. Unfortunately, in our present culture we all need to do a better job of listening to one another. Communication does not take place if listening has not taken place.

I remember back in grade school the Nuns used to say ' God gave you two ears and one mouth, so that you listen more than you talk '. It is said that Saint Augustine used to encourage listening with the heart, to receive words not outwardly through the ears, but spiritually in our hearts: “ Do not have your heart in your ears, but your ears in your heart ”.

And this too is how I aim to communicate through my photographs, spiritually with my heart. For example, watch this weekly short video (that I make) for ' my ' Catholic men's apostolate, here and is on this subject ' Listen To One Another '.



Image reference link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/chicago-l-between-the-walls-frank-j-casella.html


Thank you for reading,

Enjoy your day!

Frank J Casella, Art Photographer
Blogger on Fine Art America


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-- Grandpa --

With this photograph: Grandpa - A Grandpa gives a child a ride on his lap on the tractor. Telling from the smile on his face, he was enjoying this as much as the boy seems to be.

But this is only one role a grandfather plays in the family. Another one is to be a mentor to his children about parenting from the male perspective. I am sure you know of, or can think of, others ...

I never met my Grandfather from my Dad's side of the family, because he passed away when my Dad was a young boy. This got me to thinking one day how my Grandfather gave me something that only he could.

In his short life he not only gave me my Dad, and my Dad to me, but he gave both of us the family name: Casella.

Although as a Catholic my true identity is in Jesus Christ, here on earth I have my identity by my name. Family names are very important in the Bible, and they are also important with my Italian heritage.

My Dad instilled in my siblings and I how important it was to make a good on the family name. He had to learn growing up without a Father how to be a man, and then example this to my brother's and I. And example to my sister's what to expect from a man (to marry).

All this to say that the role of a grandfather transitions from that of a father setting the mission for the family, towards teaching life lessons to grandchildren. And with this picture of the boy on the tractor, Grandpa shows him what it's about maybe more by example than with instruction.




Image reference link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/grandpa-frank-j-casella.html


Thank you for reading,

Enjoy your day!

Frank J Casella, Art Photographer
Blogger on Fine Art America


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With this latest photograph Sunlit Pink Flowers - A bush of pink flowers illuminated by the morning sunlight along the neighborhood sidewalk in Midwest America - Illinois.

Life is filled with simple moments.

I have been making pictures for over fifty years. If you count before I become professional, back when I was a young boy. It has all been about the simple moment or, as I say, pictures people listen to.

Being very shy as a child, I found pictures to do my talking about how I see humanity and the world around me. People responded to them, and often said I should put them in Art galleries.

But I would have none of it.

I may have an Italian name, but my other half is German, and you know what they say .. you can tell a German, you just can't tell him anything.

Truth be told, I didn't have the energy to do the gallery circuit, as well as travel around doing art shows .. set up, take down, and repeat. I grew up in a family business where it was hard enough to bloom where you are planted, and watching the mailbox each day for receivables.

That is until the internet was invented.

So, in 2013 is when I found Fine Art America or, rather, it found me - FAA takes care of presenting my work and fulfillment, and I create it and get the word out, short of the long.

I learned about how this works from when I was a photojournalist: Shoot the film and then hand it to the lab, etc. .. it's about teamwork

When I worked for Cardinal Bernardin (mostly) in the 90's it became evident to me the importance of having and knowing your platform - what is your ' WHY '

Over the decades, this has never been about the money or making sales, it has always been about how society needs examples, through works of Art, of goodness and hope - The Simple Moment. Fine Art Photography is a by product of my work through the Catholic men's apostolate that I co-founded. Likewise, I could not have done any of this without my family!

All of this to say thank you for enjoying my artwork, and, how it inspires you so much to share it with others. That is what it is there for and why I do it. Again, thank you for how you make a positive impact on the world.

Life is too short (otherwise), and we need simple moments to inspire us more than ever in recent history.


"The only thing we take with us when we die, is what we have given away."
~ Francis Cardinal George




Image reference link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/sunlit-pink-flowers-frank-j-casella.html


Thank you for reading,

Enjoy your day!

Frank J Casella, Art Photographer
Blogger on Fine Art America


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With this latest photograph Morning Blue Hour Abstract - Pine tree silhouettes illuminated by the blue hour sunrise in the America Midwest of Illinois. The Blue Hour is at twilight, when the Sun is quite far below the horizon, coloring the sky deep blue. As for abstract, its deffinition is just as subjective as its name implies.

Abstract images are conceived or imagined outside of ‘reality’. They can encompass a huge variety of subject matter, take us out of our comfort zone, make us question what we see, or invite us to enter another realm.

If you look at my favorites by others artists, you will see more of their abstract works than you may find in my own artwork gallery. This is because when I create an abstract work it is not the original intention, rather the work lends itself to being a tweak away from reality. I am mostly a person of reality, as those who know me best will tell you.

Though I do have a great appreciation for people who are abstract thinkers, as much as I do for abstract artworks.

A true deffiniton, that I learned in college, for abstract photography, sometimes called non-objective, experimental or conceptual photography, is a means of depicting a visual image that does not have an immediate association with the object world and that has been created through the use of photographic equipment, processes or materials.

However, on Fine Art America it says that abstract art is the process of using unusual forms, color schemes, and materials to create an art product. The work is not meant to duplicate the real appearance of an item. Instead, it is used to elicit thoughtfulness and feelings based on the overall abstraction.

Discover my abstract photographs and the thoughtfulness that they evoke for yourself.

Image reference link: https://pixels.com/featured/morning-blue-hour-abstract-silhouette-frank-j-casella.html


Thank you for reading,

Enjoy your day!

Frank J Casella, Art Photographer
Blogger on Fine Art America


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The Yes Of A Mother

This photograph Family Out For A Walk, an American family plays " follow the leader ' with a young boy and his red wagon, who can't wait to get to a parade.

As you know, Mother's Day is a time to remember the women in our lives who have experienced a child in her womb, born or unborn, or raises a child through adoption, and the important role that a mother plays in society.

St. Joseph was a man who understood the 'why' of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and her 'Yes' to God as that her womb is known as the first tabernacle of Jesus.

We would not have Jesus without Mary. Likewise, every man who understands the 'why', and every woman who says 'yes', to a child makes a positive impact on the world.

After Joseph dies, Jesus is raised by a single mom.

While single mothers often live heroically amid difficult circumstances, and the absence of a father does not condemn a child to a life of hardship, it has long been known that such families face an uphill battle among children in fatherless homes.

This is why together the virtues of mother and father over lap, yet, it is the mother who nurtures and the father who sets mission for the family.

All of this to say that a Mother deserves to have a day set aside a place of honor, though we should be mindful of this everyday.

Thank you for reading,

Enjoy your day!

Frank J Casella, Art Photographer
Blogger on Fine Art America

Image reference link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/family-out-for-a-walk-frank-j-casella.html



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Note: This is information about FineArtAmerica / Pixels member blogs only and not other third-party blogs.



One of the hidden secrets free to all of us members on Fine Art America / Pixels, in addition to contests and groups, is the blog tool. All of us who use this tool do so in several different ways. Some of us do not use them at all (yet). Those of us who use the premium website tool (AW) have a few more features to benefit from. ...

So, I want to host this blog entry to talk about the how to's, because a part of the Pixels community is about helping each other in life as artists, and the business of Art. As the slogan goes 'Independent. Together.'

If you are intimidated by the idea or feel like you don’t have enough time, trust me this may be a misconception. Here are some things for you to think about ..

FAA resident Artist coach Barney Davey has this to say about blogging - "I also hope you are blogging because it is the single best way to develop an email list and pull your collectors, fans, friends and followers closer to you. You can use a blog to show your business and your personality, and snippets of your life to your readers. They don’t care what you had for dinner, but they are interested if you attended a recent gallery opening, took a museum tour, or like listening to Beethoven or Muddy Waters while you work at making your art."

He also offers the tips below found on his website.

Reference link https://artmarketingnews.com/why-artists-should-blog/


Top Ten Reasons Why Artists Should Blog:

1. Help sell your art direct to buyers.
2. Promote awareness and gain interest in your art.
3. Grow your email list.
4. Control your digital brand and reputation.
5. Drive traffic to your website.
6. Open the door to guest blogging.
7. Create links and SEO value for traffic and search engine rankings.
8. Make a positive influence on juried show judges.
9. Introduce your work to gallery owners.
10. Provide content for social media platforms.



If you want to get started and don't know what to say or write, or just want to get a feel for blogs, then I suggest you visit the blog feed on FAA / Pixels and just read some of them and make comments. https://fineartamerica.com/blogs.html

If you want to start using your AW blog, as a premium member, you can add live links and there is also a search bar at the top which is really important for when an art collector visits your website and blog. The FAA / Pixels side at present is text only, so no live links.

Finally, if you go to the sell art online page, it describes blogs as such:

https://fineartamerica.com/sell-art-online.html


"Blogging is a great way to attract the attention of search engines and bring more visitors to your profile and your artwork.
Fine Art America allows you to post an unlimited number of blogs on our site. Each time you post a blog, you'll automatically generate a new webpage which is meticulously designed for high rankings in Google.
If you post regular blogs on the topic of "landscape paintings", for example, Google will eventually realize that your a painter focused on landscape paintings... and over time, you will move up in their search results for that term."


So, if you use the member blogs please comment why and how, and your experiences? If you do not use the member blogs then please ask questions?


FAA / Pixels members, I have started a private discussion thread in the main forum, they are now closed but if you'd like to learn from reading the comments:

Reference link https://pixels.com/showmessages.php?messageid=3875066 ( Private discussion thread, login to FAA first )

More information (also private) https://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=3932920

Enjoy your day!

Frank J Casella,
Photographer and Independent Artist
Blogger on Fine Art America

Among Friends


There is this saying that goes ‘friends are like flowers in the garden of life’, and I think this could not be more truer as such a time as we are living in now. With the lock downs and distancing we have experienced that past few years, there is nothing more comforting than to be Among Friends.

This iPad photograph – Among Friends - I made a few years ago, because I found the lighting to be inviting, and the repetitive subjects and patterns to balance the composition and lead the viewer to the main message – a friend is a person who you know well and who you like a lot, but who is usually not a member of your family.

Sometimes our friends are like family, more so than our own family. Other times friends are those whom we hang out with most of the time, people whom we relate with. More so, a true friend is one whom you can not live without. For these reasons and more, the best way to make a friend is to be one.

If you notice the flowers in this photograph, each is at a different height, and each has petals in a different postilion. A couple flowers have a bug on their petals. All of which to me illustrates our differences and imperfections or humanness, or our vulnerability to outside elements. Yet, they all complement each other in some way. …

But the most powerful element of this moment in time is that each of these flowers are vibrant and beautiful, that even though the soil seems hard and dry, these flowers are full of life. These flowers are a creation of God that is full of joy, hope, and makes you smile.

“Prayer is to our soul what rain is to the soil. Fertilize the soil ever so richly; it will remain barren unless fed by frequent rains.”
~ Saint John Vianney

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God in the World --


You are the hands of God in the world. ....

... Go now and make Him something beautiful.


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Fast for judging others; feast on Christ dwelling in them

Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude

Fast from anger; feast on patience

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives

Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope

Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm

Fast from suspicion; feast on truth

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast from promises that inspire

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence

Fast from problems that overwhelm, feast on prayer that sustains

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We live in time like never before of spiritual poverty, you don't have to look very far to see all of the confusion in our land. We have many faiths, places of worship, and the Holy Bible at our fingertips, yet we are at war, and in our own homes, anger and division is widespread.

This is why I feel compelled that we all need to work together to bring us back to the fundamentals of the Founding Fathers of our country -- prayer.

To let these words each day absorb into our souls and transform our lives. May it guide us to make Christ the center of our lives even more than now.

Many people do not believe the God loves them. May they see that God is in the world -- through you.



Photo: God In The World - Color art photograph of Catholic relics in hands Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella



Reference Link - https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/god-in-the-world-frank-j-casella.html


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With this photograph - Surrender - Sqaure - A man surrenders his will to God for a better life. To do this, nothing else matters but to pray. When we pray, it is more important to listen than to talk.

In our fast paced world of instant gratification and information at our fingertips it's easy to have impatience.

Impatience is often times associated with anger. We can never make peace with our anger. Anger is caused by hurts and fears in our lives, and when things are not going our way.

On the other hand, when we focus on others and enjoy the beauty of the simple moments, and love people where they are, we see our purpose in life and have more peace.

Likewise, I have learned to have an eternal outlook in life. When we live for eternity we live for others.

If you are a prayerful person, it is important to rest in the Lord for direction. Sometimes the wait may cause impatience, because of not feeling close to God.

When we focus on Jesus, the Father will reveal His presence when we stop looking at self. This is the secret.

God works with us how He wants to work with us -- don't tell him how to do that -- it will often happen as a complete surprise as we surrender our will to Him.

All that is not given is lost. It is through our giving that we are blessed, and our impatience for this world goes away.



'The only thing we take with us when we die, is what we have given away.'

-- Francis Cardinal George




Enjoy your day!

Frank J Casella
Lensmen
frankjcasella.pixels.com



Image Reference Link https://fineartamerica.com/featured/surrender-sqaure-frank-j-casella.html


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This photograph - Dusk Light Spring Magnolia - These budding trees in the springtime forest, illuminated by the end of day dusk light, make the flowers from a magnolia tree pop with beauty against the blue sky backdrop.

This scene reminds me that of all the worries we may collect by the end of the day, the bloom of God's paintbrush shows us how looking at things in a different light that, with His mercy, all will be well.

That our concerns are a moment in time, as day turns to night, and there will be more tomorrows until we see Him in glory.

This picture is from my Same Subject Different Day collection.


Dusk Light Spring Magnolia - Color Photograph Copyright 2020 Frank J Casella - www.frankjcasella.pixels.com


Thank you for reading,

Talk with you again next week!

Frank


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'



Reference Link - https://fineartamerica.com/featured/dusk-light-spring-magnolia-frank-j-casella.html

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