Welcome Spring Sale! { nature photography } [ throw pillows ] { phone cases }

I'm so excited to announce the arrival of Shower Curtains in my Society6 shop! These are so pretty and perfect for changing things up for Spring and getting some fresh decor in the home! And through Sunday March 9, 2014 you get FREE SHIPPING and $5 off EACH item in my shop (*Offer excludes Framed Art Prints, Stretched Canvases and Throw Pillows with insert.) To take advantage of this sale, just click on this link.


Shop my pretty new floral designs, new abstract modern art and wall art with quotes and typography! Happy Spring! Don't forget to turn your clocks AHEAD this weekend! SPRING FORWARD for Daylight Saving's Time!! CLICK HERE to activate your sale.

A Dream Comes True - My Photography in Urban Outfitters stores { Ohio Photographer } [ Michigan Nature Photographer ]

I was an artist before I knew I was an artist. It is just how I experience and walk through life and the world - seeing beauty everywhere.... fascinated with light .... interested in lines ... a love affair with nature and the world. There were days when I got frustrated with my work not being seen or appreciated. And like everyone, I thought about quitting. But I realized I must photograph. It is not just what I do - it is who I am. I can't "not" photograph. And so, continuing to do what I love and creating from my heart has finally paid off. I'm delighted to announce that my fine art nature photography will appear in the Urban Outfitters stores in the future - a dream come true. So while browsing, keep a lookout for my art prints featuring places in Ohio and Michigan! And until then, you can find these and more of my work in my ETSY SHOP and SOCIETY6 SHOP! Keep track of my daily wanderings on INSTAGRAM!

DAISY LOVE

CRASH

THE COLORS OF MY SOUL

SEA OF HAPPINESS

THE WAY THAT LIGHT ATTACHES TO A DREAM

Fine Art Photography Featured in National Groupon Event! { Home Decor } [ Dreamy Photography ]

It has been a wonderful year on so many fronts and 2013 is ending with a happy bang! I'm so excited about my fine art prints being featured in a National Groupon Event! It has been a fabulous success so far, and this is the last day of the sale, so hurry over. As usual, I'm a bit behind in blogging about it! Better  late than never, though! Some of my happiest, dreamiest beach photography and nature photography is being featured in this event. Spiff up your home sweet home with some new wall art for 2014!!

See the event HERE.

Happy 2014!!

You Make Me Happy When Skies Are Gray [ Typography Print ] { Modern Nature Photography } [ Home Decor ]

Who doesn't love this quote! Who doesn't want to just sing out loud and smile when you see it?!
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...
You make me happy when skies are grey...

This song is just so timeless and infused with good memories and energy! It was the perfect quote to pair with my fine art forsythia photograph on gray background. I've been thinking of this creation for a while and finally just sat down to put it together. I hope it makes you smile and feel loved! The pillows, mugs and tote bags would make great Valentine gifts, Mother's Day gifts or birthday gifts. And of course the print would looks fabulous in a cottage bedroom or as nursery decor!

You Make Me Happy When Skies Are Gray

MUG

CASE

PILLOW

TOTE BAG

IPAD CASE

I'm so delighted to have my work and journey featured on the Love Ohio Crafters and Artisan blog today!! Thanks so much Vicki for the fabulous job you did!

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Oh Joy…Or Should it be Ode to Joy?

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Vicki

 

My last featured artist for 2013 is photographer, Joy St. Claire.  Joy and I met initially when we were both vendors at Daniel Colvin’s Hit’n'Run events at CS Gallery a couple of years ago and then ran into each other at a couple of other art/crafts shows.  I fell in love with her muted tones and her adorable dog pictures immediately!  Since that time, we have ‘talked’ on Facebook, I’ve interviewed her for another blog and met once last winter to walk our doggies on the chipmunk trail in Westerville.

I’m so happy for the many successes she has had with her photography and am pleased to be featuring her here on my blog.

Her business aptly describes her photographic style: Oh Joy! Photography.  Every picture that I have seen of hers conveys joy and happiness.  From the nature photos to still life and portraiture to pictures of Mags, her photography celebrates the good in life and the beauty of all that surrounds us on a daily basis.

Although her dream was to go into photojournalism or landscape architecture when she was younger, she was discouraged because: “Don’t do what you love or you won’t love it anymore.”  As she sees it now this was very bad advice as she is doing what she was meant to do all along and is thoroughly enjoying every minute of it!  To that end, she always encourages young people to do what they love – to be tenacious and creative enough to follow their passion.

She received her degree from Kent State University with a BS in Criminal Justice and minors in Urban Planning and Sociology. After graduating from college, she worked for a police department doing intelligence work but eventually found that was not where she was happiest, choosing to turn to more artistic endeavors and leave the old advice behind.  Hence, O Joy Photography was born!

one of her fav subjects and best buddy, Maggie, aka Mags

Joy describes her art as modern vintage style/ fine art/ home decor photography featuring nature, flowers and landscapes.

Her inspiration comes from what she calls a bit of an interactional process.  As she states:

It is a connection to what I am photographing, a connection to something larger than myself and a connection to something deep inside. They all combine to what you see in my art! I love soft morning light, fog, primal woods and trying to come up with a new way/view to photograph something I have photographed many times before or a common object (fruit for example). I try to catch myself when I say “oh, I’ve photographed that before so I won’t do it again” and instead try to say “How can I present it differently?”

Workshops or books about creative process also help to keep her fresh and open for new techniques and ideas.

She has also ventured into a new realm with her iPhone and the photographic apps that are available.  It has allowed her  to have a camera with her constantly, so she can always try to see the world in a new light…different from when she had to carry around her camera and be a bit less spontaneous.  She says that is has recharged her creative process and inspired her to shoot in new ways with my Nikon. Some of her favorite apps are Snapseed, Pictapgo, Lo-Mob and Distressed Fx.

sky project 346.365

You can find Joy’s work  at Society6, Turning Art, Caseable, Modern Mural, The Kase, Fine Art America, Redbubble along with some pieces at Getty Images as well as in her Etsy.com shop.  Just recently, her work was featured on Zulily, and PI Creative in Canada. Her photography was also featured at the Golden Globes 2 years ago, both in their gift shop and in the swag bags given to celebs.

Something tells me that her creative journey has just begun and I am so happy that she ignored the naysayers and followed her “joy”!

 Contact info for readers:

joy@ohjoyphotography.com

614-446-6569

www.ohjoyphotography.com

www.etsy.com/shop/joystclaire

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ohjoyphotography1

Instagram: http://instagram.com/joystclaire1

Friday the 13th is a Lucky Day! Zulily Feature { fine art photography } [ nature photography ] Michigan Photographer

Well, Friday the 13th has turned out to be a lucky day for me! Are you superstitious? I'm definitely not! We create our own lives and luck by positive energy and intention. And this energy and mood is infused into my fine art photography. Stop by on Zulily today where I am a featured artist. Following my bliss and living my dream each day! Happy everything, merry always!

Holiday Sale at Society6 - $6 off Pillow Covers - FREE SHIPPING over $50 { home decor } [holiday gifts]

Not just for pillow fights, throw pillows have become the prettiest, hottest trend in home decor today! They are easy to switch out as the seasons change, or as your interior decorating colors change. I have pillows in just about every color - greens, blues, pink,s grays. Today only, take $6 off each pillow cover in my Society6 shop! There are bright colorful abstracts, pretty cottage decor pillows, pillows for a dorm room or first apartment or home, pillows for decorating a nursery or kid's room, pillows for your beach house or just for your living room! But hurry!

AUTUMN INKBLOT PILLOW

SUMMER OF LOVE - ADVENTURE RED PILLOW

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS PILLOW

EXPLORE EVERY DAY PILLOW

CHIN UP BUTTERCUP PILLOW

INNER PEACE PILLOW

WALK TO THE LIGHT PILLOW

WINTRY MIX PILLOW

READ BOOKS PILLOW

BLOOM PINK PILLOW

Holiday FLASH SALE [ home decor ] { fine art prints } [ winter photography ]

This is such a great sale and perfect for Christmas gift giving - finished and ready to hang wall decor - an instant art gallery. Today only take $10 off framed fine art prints in my Society6 shop!. My fine art photography has been featured in HGTV Magazine, Artful Blogging and in the Golden Globes Gift Lounge! Hurry, this sale only lasts one day, December 9, 2013! I have new nature and winter photography in my shop each day!

Many people ask me about where my photographs are taken. They all start someplace deep inside me, like a dream or a wish. In my wanderings when I come upon different places, these pieces of art just seem to unfold from inside... and from something larger. All photographs are taken wandering the wild places of Ohio, Michigan and the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. I hope they touch a place deep inside you.

See my gallery of framed art prints HERE.

INNER PEACE

LIGHTNESS OF BEING

BLOOM PINK

BRANCH

 

 

SEA GLASS

SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW

AUTUMN INKBLOT

BEACH TIMES

AUTUMN APPLES

EAT YOUR VEGETABLES

THE MAGIC OF FOG

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP

BEACON

CUTE COUPLE

THE SOUND OF FOG COMING DOWN