Babies can be tricky to shoot. (That sentences would sound horrible out of context.) But seriously, newborns are sensitive. Be set up to shoot indoors if the temperature isn’t warm enough for a little guy. Watch your flash use. In fact, I won’t use a flash on a baby, especially a newborn. If stuck inside, without a flash option (I hate using flashes anyway) bring an umbrella light, or a make-shift light box. Babies look lovely in soft light, so be smart and don’t shove lights right in there face! Remember in portrait photography, it’s important to be patient (especially with babies), take your time, you’ll get your shot.

Here another tip, that gets overlooked sometimes… focus on the mother! She just had a baby, she’s not feeling her best. Make her look as lovely as you make her new child look.

x Tamara

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These ingredients are common in most households, but if you don’t have them, they are easy to pick up next time you’re at the market.

Lemon slices or lemon juice work, doesn’t matter. (I use lemon juice). Take a couple spoonfuls of baking soda and mix with a couple spoonfuls of lemon juice. Mix up really well. I apply this on a clean face, using a gentle cleanser. (My daily cleanser is usually Simple Moisturizing Cleanser). When I apply the lemon juice and baking soda, I gently rub it on. You don’t need to scrub hard. Some people say to wash it off right away. I usually wait about 5 to 10 minutes.

The baking soda exfoliates your skin. Lemon juice is a natural acidic fruit, and helps fight bacteria. Together, these two ingredients can help soak up oils, remove dead skin cells, and even your skin tone. *Lemons can lighten your skin, so pay attention to your colour if you use lemons. I don’t know if this is good for rosacea, I got rid of mine through IPLs treatments.

I use one egg, and add a spoonful of honey. Mix it up really well, and apply it all over your face. I leave it on my face for about 20 minutes. Afterwards I wash it off using the same mild and gentle cleanser. I find using a gentle cleaner to remove the mask, helps rid the stickiness of the mask.

Honey is great for your skin because it is a mild antiseptic, and contains mild alpha hydroxy acids, such as gluconic acid. Honey also works as a gentle exfoliate because it loosens up dead skin cells. Honey helps balance oily skin, while holding on to your skin’s moisture. Honey also stimulates collagen production, which in return minimize lines and wrinkles. Honey is great for acne prone teens, victims of oily skin issues, and women fighting the aging process.

*This is a little secret I picked up during my training as a med spa tech… For those of with oily skin, we think drying our skin out is a good strategy, it’s not. You want to remove excess oil, but dry skin just promotes more oil and dead skin, hence starting this acne cycle all over again. So after you remove that over-production of oil, use a moisturizer! I started using a daily moisturizer (again it’s from Simple) and my skin breaks out significantly less.

Eggs have been used for years. Not surprisingly, because eggs help reduce acne scars, pore size, and wrinkles. Eggs are not only awesome for breakfast, but for your face as well!

I do not have naturally good skin. However, drinking lots of water, gentle cleansers, using a moisturizer with an SPF, and these homemade skincare remedies, have greatly improved my skin.

Some extra tips: You can use honey as a daily gentle exfoliating pre-wash step. Use honey and water, rub all over face and rinse. I would use a gentle cleanser to make sure you’ve completely washed the sticky honey off your face. Not because leaving honey on your face is bad, just because having a sticky face is not that cool.

Some people swear by these home remedies, some people don’t. For me they work. I try to use these remedies about 2 times per month. You can use the honey face wash more often. You can also play around with these masks. I do. Maybe lemons and honey work better for you than the baking soda. I switch it up. It’s your skin, you need to decide what works for you. I would recommend a test spot first, and if you have any allergies to these ingredients, don’t do this!

Hope this helps!
Love, Tamara

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This week, I painted a Pug Dog.

Tamara loves these squishy faced dogs, and I love the film ET, so it made sense to paint one. Just kidding, (with the ET reference), but these dogs do remind of that film!

Maybe you have a pet that you would like me to paint?

Let me know, and I will see what I can do.

James

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I also love their work. Wade gives a feel of the dramatic landscape of Tasmania, while Jen creates colourful, fun pieces of art.

When we won pieces of art from another artsy blogging couple, I was really excited!
James took some photos of our prizes, so I could share them with you…



I love how they turn some of their artwork into jewelry. It’s lovely.

Please visit Red Parka at their blog, and take a moment to visit their shop.

Thanks Jen and Wade!

This post is included in…

THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST

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This is the before shot.

Recently, I’ve been back into trying to get back in shape. I’ve been using My Fitness Pal for help. Saturday, I just did not feel like getting on that treadmill again, so gardening was the perfect substitute. In fact, I’m more sore from getting that dirt ready for plants, than I get circuit training.

Right before we started this dirty worm-filled process of getting the ground ready for plants, we went to a garden center, and of course I had my camera in hand.

I had to include another shopper in a red coat.

I love bell peppers, all colours, red, green, yellow, I love them all. But, we found purple peppers! I never knew there was such a thing.

We got a variety of tomatoes and peppers, including the purple peppers, and planted away.

Of course, my aunt’s cat Nakoma, got very curious.

My aunt’s says this is our version of American Gothic.

Here is our finished product.

You can see by the shadow compared to the ‘before’ photo, how long we were out there.

After we got done the tomato and pepper garden, we planted a blueberry bush.

Gardening turned out to be a great work out, and a great source of pride. Every time I walk outback, I smile at the sight of our garden. I can’t wait to taste those purple peppers. Let’s see if I’m still in America or back in England by the time they are ready to harvest. I call this my ‘purple pepper countdown’ I’m eager to taste them, but I think I’d rather have England beat the peppers in this case!

Love, Tamara

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When I promised a tutorial on sketching portraits?

Sadly, I have been so busy with work, that the aforementioned tutorial never materialised…

However, here is a recent sketch that discusses my preliminary approach to sketching portraits.

This morning, Tamara woke up, to hear me shouting at my computer screen.

“Be more squishy!”

“Not fat enough.”

I was busy sketching another image for our website.

A British Bulldog.

I traced a reference image, and did what I have started to do with all my recent pencil sketches. I measured the distance between the key facial features with a ruler.

Then, I set about increasing the measurements to correspond with the size of the final image. That way, I am sure that the final piece will resemble the image that I am working from. Obviously, the skill comes with the shading, the texture, and depth added to create the piece, but this guideline should help create an instantly recognisable portrait.

On this occasion, admittedly, I didn’t follow my fool-proof plan, and set about my sketch free-hand.

However, Tamara thinks he is a cute dog, and hopefully you will to.

Being one half of Red Coat Studio, (and the British one), it seemed appropriate that I sketched something of a British icon.

James

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This is linked up with Wordless Wednesday
Project Alicia
Erika Price
Black House Studio

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Being artists, and rolling with other artists, we find ourselves not only accumulating our own pieces to display, but wanting display artwork from friends and family. I’m always keeping an eye out for creative ways to display art, without being overwhelmed, or over cluttered. Recently, I keep seeing these low couches that allow for a lot more wall space.

Most of these low seating couches seem to have a bit of a modern flair to them. However, with pillows, the look uses the same principle of design, but with either a more zen like, or boho feel, not to mention way cheaper.

Having a sofa low to the ground, gives the appearance of having higher ceilings, by giving more space on the walls. This new space can be used for decor, such as art, or shelves.

Another approach to this design can be found outside. A little sun nap can be quite nice. I would recommend the use of plenty of pillows, if your objective is to create a lovely place to lay out on your deck or garden area.

I don’t know how comfortable it would to get in and out of these low sofas, but I’m guessing once seated, it would be pretty comfy. Either way it’s a great option to create the illusion of higher walls, and give more space for displaying shelves and artwork.

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