Just kidding. Could you imagine? If i went full Fstoppers and started clickbaiting all my blog posts? How crazy would that be haha……unless?
Anyways. This all started about May 2021. I receive a surprise email from the good folks down at Artist Circle Fine Art that they were looking for a local photographer to help create some images for a new Kaiser Permanente facility that would be opening up in Timonium, MD the following year. Naturally, I JUMPED at the opportunity! This project was a collaboration between Artists Circle Fine Art, Gresham Smith , and numerous other local Baltimore based artists.
The premise of the commission was to create images that were centered around iconic Baltimore landmarks, while not being “cliche postcards”. We wanted to create images that were recognizable as Baltimore, but not strictly the kind of image you’d see on a tourism brochure. We wanted unique, but still clockable, with a focus on pattern and texture. If you know me, you know that I’m always looking at light and texture. The way light interacts with different surfaces, different scenes. Sometimes the morning sun looks like a gentle milkshake on the treelines. Sometimes the beams of light through a break in the clouds makes the sky look like a tiramisu you loved. I’m a huge believer that there’s beauty wherever you go. And Baltimore is filled with fantastic, juicy opportunity.
And so as soon as we finalized the details, I set out to start shooting! For 2 days, I made appointments with Miss 5AM and broke bread with her. The third day was a meal with her elder sibling, Miss 8PM. The idea of these images being printed and displayed in a medical facility made me think that it should be oriented towards hope, and sunbeams that nourish your bones like sul lung tang. But I knew that I’d be remiss to ignore the beautiful evening golden hour (morning golden hour is nice, but it Is quite different).
Anyways. You didn’t come here to watch me wax poetic about sun patterns. Here are some of my favorite images. As always, you can click on the images to see them bigger!
I’d like to thank the team at Artists Circle for entrusting me with this incredible project, and Kaiser Permanente for making this entire project happen.
If you’d like to work with me on an upcoming project of yours, holler at me through my contact page! Let’s make something awesome. :)
COLLABORATIONS: i.d. Kathi 2
Kathi and I are back for ROUND 2! The Illustrator extraordinaire and your favorite neighborhood photographer join forces to make some more delicious art.
Last time we worked together, she approached me with the idea her creating illustrations inspired from photos I send her. This time we decided to flip flop and run it the other way! We started this with her sending me 3 illustrations and this time around it was my job to create photographs that would not only fit the illustration compositionally, but also thematically. (Okay, the themes part was just a personal goal, but I do think they fit fairly well)
The previous project, which you can find here, was primarily focused on the blending of architecture and insect life. For this project we took a turn and delved into creatures of fantasy. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do.
Hint: CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THEM BIG ON YOUR SCREEN.
BETTER YET: Buy them as a print to see them even bigger
Kathi Ha (@i.d.kathi) is an illustrator and graphic designer based in MN, USA. Originally from the east coast, she misses the ocean but enjoys living in the midwestern tundra. Her art is inspired by nature, etching methods, and other creatives making the world a more interesting and honest place. She works hard to support her ferret, enjoys indoor gardening, and naps as often as she can.
Prints are available purchase on her shop, customizable cards and stickers are available for purchase via etsy and more of her work can be found on Behance!
Siren
“The tenth-century Byzantine encyclopedia Suda says that from their chests up, Sirens had the form of sparrows, and below they were women or, alternatively, that they were little birds with women's faces. By the Middle Ages, the figure of the siren has transformed into the enduring mermaid figure.”
Adze
“In the wild, the adze takes the form of a firefly, though it will transform into human shape upon capture. When in human form, the adze has the power to possess humans.”
Longma
“It was spotted blue and red, and covered with scales. Its mane resembled that of a dragon, and its neighing was like the tone of a flute. It could cover three hundred miles. Its mother was a common horse which had become pregnant by drinking water from a river in which it was bathed.” (Taiping Yulan, 10th century)
These are available as prints on my Darkroom shop here.
You can find more of Kathi’s work at @i.d.kathi
Interested in making some magic with me? Shoot me a message via my contact page! Let’s chat
COLLABORATIONS: i.d.Kathi
Hey hey!!! Some exciting stuff!
Even though the state of Maryland has been issued a Stay at Home order due to the situation with the Coronavirus, that doesn’t mean we can’t stop connecting with people and making art! Recently, the INCREDIBLE illustrator+designer, i.d.Kathi hit me up with an idea for a collaboration that I couldn’t have been more excited to hop onto.
Kathi Ha (@i.d.kathi) is an illustrator and graphic designer based in MN, USA. Originally from the east coast, she misses the ocean but enjoys living in the midwestern tundra. Her art is inspired by nature, etching methods, and other creatives making the world a more interesting and honest place. She works hard to support her ferret, enjoys indoor gardening, and naps as often as she can.
Prints are available purchase on her shop, and more of her work can be found on Behance!
This is admittedly a new thing for me, but seeing illustration and photography come together in such a fantastical fashion has me excited to keep on creating. I’m super excited to be able to share the result of this awesome collaboration!
Be sure to follow the both of us to stay up to date and catch our next collaboration.
series 1: goliath beetle, oak leaves
series 2: promethea moth
series 3: two-striped grasshopper, primroses