Business Attire

Self Portrait

By Tom Willa

Well, I promised myself to be more diligent about blogging so here is my first post of October.

I was working with a client and we discussed business attire, after the his photo session, I decided to try wearing a tie. So I put on my old friend Winnie. Here is what I came up with. Working on both sides of the lens is tough but, I always try to create photos that captures the joy of the moment. I have a new professional image once again.

Cutting Cane

Hugh Cutting Cane
5x7 Photograph
by Tom Willa

Wow, where does the time go. That's twenty one days without post. That's our son Hugh glass blowing artist extraordinaire at work. I shot it with my prime 55mm lens, used day light and stopped it down or is that up ( just about wide open 2.o) to help it freeze the motion. I think the fact that the studio was filled with light from the furnace and warm long autumn natural light from a sky light created a harmony of color. I also shot a real estate listing in South Seattle this week, too. I have an early meeting so good night, good day and sweet dreams come true.

FREE September Holiday Giveaway

Miki, Bella and Diane
4x5 Photograph
By Tom Willa

Here's another shot from the other day. SEPTEMBER HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY

September is really here. It is my birthday month. In honor of this event, I am giving away an hour photo session to the first, fifth and tenth person who calls me (206 940 2162) about portrait photography. This includes the sitting fee plus one 8x10. This offer covers: head shots, family, groups, senior portraits and engagement photos. Photographs always make a great holiday gift.

Family Portrait

Grandma, Bella and Grandpa

8x10 Photograph by Tom Willa

It has been about three weeks since I last posted. I struggled with the results of another public painting venue long enough to shift my priority to photography professionally. This is one of the photos from the first photo shoot in the new studio. It is formal portrait capturing the air lightness, love and pride.

So now the specialities are Portraits formal to fun, Architectural, and Weddings. I am just letting putting the word out the ToMi Creations web page will be revamped and adding a Facebook page ToMi Photography is in the works. We will still do some paintings and posting but, the focus just has to change. Happy end of summer and remember to keep on the sunny side, Tom

Canna Lily Destiny

Canna Lily by Tom Willa

5x7 mounted $12 plus shipping

Destiny, this flower photo will become a painting. I am toying with just making into a 11x14 by adding a little more to the bottom edge. The Renton Antique and Art Walk is this Saturday 11-5 will be there with photo, paintings and glass works. If you are in the are stop down on 3rd street, and check out our booth. Have a great day

Peristeria Dove Orchid

Dove Orchid 5x7

$22 matted and ship in continental US

Photograph Medium Gloss Photo Paper

By Tom Willa

Today, I worked on some of my flower images, I spent a good amount of time matting and mounting some of the prints I have made recently. I am trying to get ready for selling a bunch of 5x7 flower images at Downtown Renton Art & Antique Walk on August 22nd. I wrapped that up for the day, then switched to looking through files for flower images. I found one of my favorites, this dove orchid is the national flower of Panama. My next neighbor in Hawaii grew this species, when he first showed me it, I was awestruck. This flower strikes hope in my heart, I see natural beauty in the image and more. I am pretty glad I rediscovered the photo in my files. I hope you all have a great week and take time to explore the flowers.

Stu Anderson

Stu Anderson

5x6 Photograph

Stu's photographs were created for the purpose of using on the Internet, online and printed materials. We ended up with several images, this particular one uses double source flash. I like it because it sets a professional tone which help anyone identify Stu. By profession he is a home inspector who you can rely on. His inspection reports goes from the exterior to interior, roofs, crawl spaces to attics documenting and photographing all concerns, creating a precise understandable report of the condition of a residence, building, etc..

World of Possibilities

Beth, Brian & Seattle Skyline

5x7 Photograph

In The Trees

5x7 Photograph

Yesterday was fun, an engagement session with Beth and Brian who are just a lot of fun to photograph because they have the most pleasant personalities. We explored Parker Park, Seattle Art Museum Walk and some water front images. This morning I did a little editing to one of the photos to explore the creative possibilities. Obviously In the trees, the background I desaturated, I also did some color adjustments prior to taking that action. I am scheduled to shoot their wedding next year, I am able to shoot engagement photos sessions for free to anyone who books their wedding with me. Well Monday is here, I hope everyone has splendid week. The Renton Antique and Art Walk is coming up on 22 August, I post more about that later.

Springtime Daffodils

Springtime Daffodils

7x4 Photograph

I am plowing through my flower photos from over the years, I found this early springtime image. Miki and I discussed what makes a good flower photograph she summarized it as the difference between a portrait and shot of an event(snapshot). Sometimes it takes a little cropping but the central focus should be of the flower. Defined edges, interesting shapes, highlights, shadows and aerial perspective are characteristics to include while creating a flower photo portrait. It's Sunday morning so, I am not going over the edge with technical chit-chat but want to wish everyone a productive happy week. Aloha Tom

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore Memorial, South Dakota

8x10

Some days cropping an image comes from the verbage of the earlier post. Thanks for your paitence.

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore

10x7 Soft Gloss photo paper

Later this evening, I have an appointment to take some head shots, I think this is an inspiration posting. I have another shot which is just the presidents' heads but this one tells a little more about the location of the memorial in South Dakota. Have a great day, all.

Upper Falls & Wine Cellar Entry

Upper Falls

7x5 75 lb high gloss photo paper

By Tom Willa

Wine Cellar Entry

5x7 Photograph 75lb high gloss photo paper

By Tom Willa

Hi all. Photographic edited is time consuming. I woke up this morning and decided to work on the Upper Falls photo an hour or so later I was ready to print an image. I am working up some of my photos as fine art images. I am going to be selling them online in the near future. I am driven to strive for excellence working in digital images. I have a tendency to take it to the pixel level. I guess it is about understanding the relationship between final creations size and print characteristics which determine final product qualities. These two images one with an hour plus of editing and the other "as is" are a good example of that. The Falls probably could have a few pixels, I might want to chase down and work on, the cellar door has a extension chord which if I were going to print as a large image, I would Photoshop away. I just wanted to share some of the realities of a modern professional photography with all.

O'DELL CENTER

O'Dell Bridge

O'Dell Pond

Photographs By Tom Willa

This week South King County Event and Wedding meet up group did a show case event at The O'Dell Center. The Center consists of 180 acres of facilities and Grounds honoring the beauty and diversity of the Pacific Northwest. The serenity of this venue for a wedding or reunion is hard to comprehend so I am posting a couple of images of it. I didn't do any painting this week so enjoy the photos, have a great weekend. Stay cool Tom

Twilight Daisy

Twilight Daisy

Soft Pastel

18x24 Framed $240

By Tom Willa

The good news is that Renton River Days begins tomorrow. It was the catalyst to creating the frame for Twilight Daisy. It now has a koa veneer frame with a double mat. The interior mat is a grey green which adds to the visual strenght of the pedal shadows. Please stop by and check it out we will be at Liberty Park this weekend. Thanks to my friends and family who have sent supporting emails for the Art Sale. Love Tom and Miki

ToMi Creations Sign

Renton River Days is this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We will be there under the ToMi Creations Canopy.

Art Sale

ToMi Creations

Renton River Days T Shirt

By Tom Willa

I worked up this T-Shirt design for our booth at Art Market during the Renton River Days. We are going to transform it onto some shirts. The Art Market will be located where Bronson Way and Houser Way interesect in Renton. The booth hours are 12pm - 8pm Friday, July 24, 1000am - 8pm Saturday, July 25 and 12pm - 6pm Sunday, July26. Miki and I both will have paintings for sale so please if you are in the area, come by, check out our work or say Hi, dee-ho- neighbor. That's run down for now, if you have any suggestion on making a three day event a success please feel free to send us any suggestions. Thanks

Twin Falls Summer

Twin Falls Summer

By Tom Willa

Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum

7x12 $75 Framed

Twin Falls Trail is a very popular 2 mile trail in the Snohomish area. It is moderate trail with two hills leading up the bridge where you can see the falls. It is a great trail for younger hikers unfortunately during the summer many adults feel it is a playground. The number of children who are unsupervised or not informed that going off the trail will cause serious long term consequences is a little sad.

Enough of that, year round the trail transforms with the seasons. I have hiked it twice with family this year. Once in the spring and recently this summer seeing the falls is wonderful but observing the transformation of the seasons is inspirational, reminding the hiker what a dynamic lovely planet we live on.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin blown glass

by Hugh Willa

Photographed Tom Willa

I wanted to show you some of the glassware we took to Return to Renton Show. Miki fell in love with this one. I shot it on the way out the door with a flash and my 50mm lens, I rarely shoot hand held images but this one turn out pretty good. These gems have wonderful optic qualities and are quite fantastical. It is way late as a matter of fact it tomorrow. Have a great day.

55 Hardtop

55 Chevy

Photograph

By Tom Willa

Hugh and I set up a booth for his glass art works today at the Return to Renton Automobile and Art Show. We had a very good time meeting people and I grabbed a couple of cool shots of automobiles. This shot had an ugly Towing Sign on the wall behind the car, bam, Photoshop it out. I really like the composition of the parking lot lines with the image of a classic automobile.

I am a little tired so just felt like sharing, you all have a great week. Thanks to all who took the time to check out Hugh's glass wares especially to those who bought those pieces. Aloha and mahalo nui loa

Daisy Scape

Daisy Scape

Soft Pastel on Pastel Paper

24x20 Framed $140

Here's the painting from the earlier post, today. I worked with a palette of green and purples palette with beige, pink and blue tints for the daisy. I used a similar style on some paintings while we were in Hawaii, they were appreciated for the contrast which is a little dramatic.

Daisies Grey Study

Daisy Grey
20 x24
by Tom Willa

Why do I paint flowers? I am greatly motivated by concept of capturing their beauty. I think many have a concept of what flowers should look like, I sometimes have to work hard at not painting a symbol for a bloom. I attempt to capture the essence of a flower by painting a realistic image while using some abstract techniques glorify the beauty I see and feel. All this being said, I am approaching this painting with a value study in greys which I will use as under painting. Stayed tuned folks,to see the final image.

River Stream

River Stream

9x12 Pastel $75

by Tom Willa

Wow, more than two weeks have flown by since I last posted. Miki opened her show at the Cormerstone Coffee Cafe in Bremerton last Friday. Her paintings will be showing there through the 31st of July. Stop by check out original paintings of the Northwest, her glass blowing series and some great still life priced to be very reasonably for all.

This is a painting from last summer road trip. I remember we were in Maine's Mountains very close to Canada at a camp ground that was a canoeist favorite launch site. I was thinking about the water in some of the eagle images that I hope to create and decided to continue working on the water in this painting for practice. Now it is done.

During my sister's visit we talked some about the joy of artistic creation. She makes beautiful quilts which are inspirational unique. I think she has a lot of fun with the challenges that are required in that process. I've decided to paint some more flowers(not a big surprise). I am going to go big and bold while sowing some fun for myself. So stay tuned and for now "That's All Folks."

Flyer Framed

Flier

9x14 Soft Pastel

By Tom Willa

$78

Hi happy Tuesday. I posted the framed image from last Wednesday. I had some trouble so it ended up a little smaller than I had originally planned. I also grabbed a different camera and shot this under incandescent light. I usually only shot in natural light but wanted everyone to have an impression of what it looks like in house light. The true color is closer to the blue in the original image. I try really hard to make my pastel paintings easy for anyone to buy, receive and hang up. Sometimes as an artist you finish your work controlling the process other times not so much. I think the cropping of the Flier painting gave the eagle a little more intensity which I accepted. Have a great week.

Haiku Mountain Meadow

Mountain Meadow

By Tom Willa

Soft Pastel

9x11/framed 11x14

$78

Happy Day to all.

A framed mountain landscape

Sky, mountains, meadow

Trees wildflowers

Pathway morning shadows cast

Majestic beauty

Winner Tulip Image Giveaway !

Vicky you have won , Royal Reds. Congratulations.

Thanks so much to everyone who participated. I appreciated the kind comments and appreciated hearing from all.

Flying

Flying

10x14 Soft Pastel

By Tom Willa

$78 framed plus shipping

Here is first one of the eagle series. After working yesterday afternoon and all this morning on this painting it is done. I am going to frame it in a white frame we picked up at Daniel Smiths. It was painted to fit in the frame.

Last day of the Tulip Image Giveaway . I have to go get some lunch then do the framing for Flying. I hope you all have a great week, peace

Rose Bloom

Rose Bloom

5x7Photograph

By Tom Willa

Here's the rose by another name, June is filled with opportunity for me to make cards. Everything from family birthdays, anniversaries, etc.. I sometimes just can't resist the temptation to do some digital editing so this is June Bloom being prepared for use on a card. It is a little more in your face, I used some channel mixer adjustments to bring out the yellow while posterizing after cropping it to format it for a card.

This is the week:

TWO DAYS left in the Tulip Image Giveaway Contest.http://tomsimages.blogspot.com/search/label/Floral-tulipsYou have to enter to win, one of these FREE original images, it would make an excellent gift for a friend or family member. They range in size from 5x7 to12x16. I will post and annouce Friday who the lucky winner is of one of these images.

Hunter

Hunter

8x5 Pencil Drawing

By Tom Willa

First and foremost, thanks to Rich who took some awesome photographs of this eagle. He takes the best images of birds I have ever seen. He gave me permission to use some for paintings. I was working on some shading and light lessons with the number two pencil last night which turned out pretty decent. This morning I woke up and decided to do a study of this eagle for amusement. It has been about ten years since I painted any birds so it maybe time, that and movement of the water are my current inspiration. So I hope you like this and are amused, too.

On another note,

only five days left in the Tulip Image Giveaway: You have to enter to win, one of these FREE original images would make an excellent gift for a friend or family member. They range in size from 5x7 to12x16. Thank you to all of you who have participated to date, Floating Tulips and Royal Reds are tied for first place. Hoping all have a happy day.

Living Room Built-Ins

Photograph

By Tom Willa

10933 SE 235th St

Kent, WA

Only one week left in Tulip Image Giveaway. Today I am figuring out how to use hyper links, a little more efficiently. It hit me like a sack of bricks that my posting of the links for The Giveaway may have add an extra step in the process, now I think I have that under control. The link on the photograph leads to a slide show of the property in Kent I shot on Tuesday. To my friends who I worked with in marketing hopefully you are doing well. You know I love making the bells and whistle images not those pesty mechanics. I got a little carried away with the links here but, I haven't figured out how to clear them on this site. Have a great day.

June Bloom

June Bloom

5x7 Photograph

by Tom Willa

Tulip Image Giveaway only Eight more days left. Today was spent editing photos for real estate David Edwards had me shoot a new listing in Kent yesterday before my indoor cycle instructor audition. My focus today was very random but I managed (imagine is more fun than managed) to get the project completed. I snuck out sometime this morning capturing one of the roses in the backyard. I am little tired out, I did some yoga this afternoon which slowed down the internal chatter. I am considering this as an image to print on canvass and touch up with the oil pastel but that's another day. I wish you all well. Peace

Pink Bloom

Pink Rhododendron Bloom

12x9 Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix

by Tom Willa

$60

Ten days left in the Tulip Image Giveaway . Painting is like life, letting going sometimes it is hard. I was trying to use an more abstract background for capturing this backyard beauty but, I didn't quite go completely down that road. It is funny because the sketch and notes I did looks a lot like the painting. What you plan for sometimes is what you get. Painting rhododendrons is a challenge after years of painting hibiscus in Hawaii. The similarity of the process works both ways, I did a lot of large floral in Hawaii, so I decided to paint up a smaller image just to keep my brain from using symbol of hibiscus. I think that worked for me but the challenge of the background may have to addressed in another painting. Sometimes you have to accept what you made, going with the flow and knowing when to move on.

Early Lupins

Early Lupins

By Tom Willa

Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix

8x12 $70

Lupins are another one of my favorite flowers. These beauties pop up a little later then the rhododendrons. I selected a split compliment palette for this painting. I wanted to keep the blossoms and the foliage in contrast, I think the palette helped achieve that end. The foreground details against the background abstract helps draw the focal area to the blossoms,too.

A reminder about the Tulip Image Giveaway get out there and make a choice to win.

Have a great day,

Tulips Original Painting and Photo GIVEAWAY

Eight Tulips Image Creations 09

by Tom Willa

WIN A FREE TULIP ORIGINAL PAINTING OR PHOTOGRAPH!

Choose your favorite and let me know which one you select by posting a comment on this blog.
You may also send an email, or message by carrier pigeon. I will confirm receipt of your choice within 48 hours (Longer if by carrier pigeon.). Everyone who votes will be entered in a random drawing to be held on June 18th, 2009. The winner will receive the creation they selected. It will be shipped matted, ready for framing. If you would like more information about individual images or want to view more details of each one, click on the label Floral-tulip in the sidebar. Thanks for taking the time to choose your favorite tulip image.
Best regards happy summer,

Hearts and Trees

Hearts and Trees

7x5 Photograph

By Tom Willa

Here's the last in image in the Tulip Series. That means later today or tomorrow, I will be posting the information about Winning a Free Tulip Image. Stay tuned it is going happen.

Luipin Rainbow

Rainbow Lupin

Photograph 4x6

by Tom Willa

I am always glad to see Lupins blooming. I used my creative license to merge a lupin and rhododendron photo creating this image which celebrates summer. Photoshopping the two images using layers is dramatic when one using the overlaying blending option with some opacity adjustments, a little bit of masking to soften the edges,cropping. I am runnig a little late this morning, I spent the morning filling out an entry form for a booth at Renton River Days July 24, 25 and 26. I have some yoga to do and more errands... where does time go?

May Flowers

May Flowers

Photograph by Tom Willa

8x10

May Flowers is an afternoon photograph of the fence in the backyard. The light on the fence with the rhododendrons blooming reminds me of Secret Passage in Anna Haina which was the access to one of the world's best surfing locations..that's another story. I really like the composition, it is solid enough to stand on its' own or could be used as background for outdoor portrait session. I touched up the fence with the stamp tool and used it to take out a ground spot light that was a distraction. I am bouncing back and forth between painting and photography so stayed tune to see what will post up. Thanks for stopping by, have a great week's end.

Red White and Blue

Red Rhododendrum Blue Bonnet and White Fence

Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix

7x10

By Tom Willa

I hope all are well. Best regards Tom

Winter Passes

Winter Passes

Photograph 7x10

by Tom Willa

This is a couple of photos I took in the last week. I combined the shadow of our Japanese maple tree with shot of a pink rhododendron in the back yard. I left little touches of the background from the rhododendrum image and the blind's shadow to bridge the images, together.

I hope all have a peaceful Memorial Day holiday. Best regards

Bonnets

Bonnets

8x10 Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix

By Tom Willa

$70

This is the fourth painting posting in a row. That's a good thing. I saw these flower blossoming a couple of weeks ago during a walk in Renton by the Cedar River. I was captivated by presence of beauty of these small flowers. The individual bloom, the cascading strength of the blooms of each plant and majestic quality of the groups of plants springing up combining to celebrate a new season of growth. Winter is a tough season for me, I am so glad that flowers our blooming. The coolness and dark values maybe a little over stated but like the seasons my paintings seems to be tied to my emotional state. Be happy and live.

Red Yellow

Red Light, Yellow Light

6x9 Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix

by Tom Willa

$60

May tulips are still hanging around this is number six in the series. I may have one more of these in me but the tulip series is just about over for '09. I found these two growing in a yard of church in downtown Renton. I have a photo shoot this afternoon so I can't dilly dally to long, have a wonderful Wednesday. Peace out.

Purple Step

Purple Step

12x16 Pastel on Art Spectrum Color Fix

By Tom Willa

$90 matted 16x20

Hi everybody. The tulip series continues. I scouted out some purple tulips growing around town, they became the motivation for a little surrealism. A long time ago when I first started painting, I kept a dream journal (college course assignment) it was fun. Like writers who keep the note pad by the bed you keep your sketch book on the night stand. It was a kick to wake up start drawing subconscious thoughts consolidating them onto a page. I think this is where my habit to wake up start painting immediately and my fine tuning of painting image concept mentally comes from. Well the day has begun to slip away, I have to go the gym for some exercise before the rain storm arrives. Stay dry,stay comfortable and most of all stay happy with you.

Pink Light

Pink Light
8x10 Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix
by Tom Willa
$65 , $75 framed

April 27th the day after Arts Unlimited art show, it was a very comfortable location at the Taste of the Landing in Renton. We had space in a vacant commercial building with plenty of space. Everyone was most pleasant, the number of people was okay, the reality of showing at a combination event was no sales for us. Our 10x10 space was expanded to 15x10 which makes everyone a lot more comfortable. The hard part about a day like that is getting motivated to paint,again. This made me realize why I paint is to capture the beauty, presenting others with my view of loveliness. So that hurdle seem to vanish quickly and quietly this afternoon. The last couple of days I have been thinking about this painting while getting the framing done. So today I was very enthused about it. I actually did this sitting down on a very small board as an easel. I used a new set of faber-Castell 24 soft pastel Sticks basic colors which I picked up at Daniel Smith while getting framing supplies. I enjoyed painting the blossom on flat surface first because all the pigment stayed on the surface which allowed me to use some nu-pastels to blend them in. I worked the background keeping with the style of my tulip series which turned out pretty good. Finally I need to set up vertically on my easel to make some texture strokes, touch up and additional blending. I may add a few more paintings to the series because I enjoyed doing this paintin a lot and we went for a nice walk and saw some more really beautiful blossoms.

Pink Delight

Pink Delight
4x6 Photograph
by Tom Willa

Today I spent most of the day in the framing workshop preparing The Arts Unlimited Art Show Date: Sunday, April 26Time: 10 am - 4 pm (there will be a 5K race that starts at 9:30 am)Location: The Landing is located off exit 5 on I-405. It's a new urbanvillage development in Renton - just south of Lake Washington.The Arts Unlimited Art Show is scheduled to be located in an empty retail-space on block east of the intersection of N 10th Street and Logan Ave N at the round-a-bout.

I needed to get several pieces into frames. My commitment to painting had to go to the back burner for a couple of days. I have decided to post a photo from my visit to the garden this morning. I will work on turning Pink Delight into a painting once I get all my framing for the show completed.

Royal Reds

Royal Red Tulips
8x10 Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix
By Tom Willa
$65 matted to fit 11x14 frame

We had another sunny day. Spring may have arrived. Here is number three in the tulip series. I am working on getting my fuchsia recovered beside painting these days. I have decided that I am going to do a give away once I finish this series of tulips. My plan is to post my the details here and on my face book wall. I let you know how to sign up once I get the next two paintings create. Have a great day, stay healthy, be happy.

Floating Tulips

Floating Tulips

9x12 Soft Pastel on Art Spectrum Color fix

$50

by Tom Willa

Today was an uplifting experience. I have been hiding away from the easel, I'm glad to be back. One could consider this my second in a series of painting about tulips. Tulips are huge here in the Northwest, they are short lived but abound around the Sound. My goal is to paint 5 in this series so keep you eye out.

Tom Willa, Graphics

CD Cover

by Tom Willa

It is spring, some days here in the Northwest. I painted a couple of fuchsia paintings last summer. I used the photo as a reference. I applied for a graphics job last week, I am thinking about posting an online portfolio. This creation is a little tidbit I made a couple of days, ago as an asset for that. I want it to be attention grabber also it should represent what I see as beauty. The photo is good, vertical text for effect, with contact info, a basic three layout. I like the photo series a lot. One or a combination of them may become an inspiration for a large studio painting.

Gathering Glass Artist, Cross Processed

Gathering

Photograph

By Tom Willa

This photograph was tweaked to resemble cross processing from back in the days of wet processing. It was a practice which added saturation to the blacks and caused some shifting in other colors. I also am trying to figure how to create a glass blowing photo alblum in Picasa, making them available on my blog or from my facebook. It is kind like driving somewhere knowing where you want to get with any specific directions.