Cyber Temptress

cyber-temptress-charr-crail

I don’t always know where I’m going when I begin an art piece.  Really.  And I let the image talk to me.  When I choose the original image it’s an instinct.  Something in it inspires me, speaking in a silent voice.  This image originated from a session I did about two years ago and as I was searching my archives today came across it.  At the time we’d done some really fun pictures– and truth be told the images stand on their own as very cool.  Artsy, sexy, weird, spacey and I just love that kind of stuff.

A make-up artist created a head piece skull cap and I created the wire wrap.  I find it very futuristic and the directness of her gaze and body language is what made me choose this particular photo.  Also the clarity in her gorgeous eyes.  I also used one of the fractals I’ve made as pattern and detail.

For about two weeks now I’ve been massively inspired and when those juices are flowing you must ride it out.  So I’ve been knees deep in one art piece after another.  I love to “paint” pictures.  I can’t seem to get enough.  My minds eye sees splashes of color and texture, muddled skin, brush strokes.  So instead of doing what I’ve done most of my photography career– doing the simple, appropriate retouching– I’m going whole hog into what my brain and hands are craving.  Honoring truth, the kind of truth that sets each and every artist apart from the person next to them.  Not better, wiser, smarter or more beautiful or quirky or creative.  There is no measurable thing in making art, in my opinion anyway.  You think it up, you express it.  There is no correct medium to work in.  The perfect medium is the one that calls to you.  Digital painting has me firmly in it’s deliciously addictive grip.

 

 

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About charr

Charr Crail is a Northern California photographer and artist with an avid passion for creating unique digital imagery. Charr, a full-time freelance photographer, spans the divide between photojournalism and extraordinary art via photography and can trace back her evolution as an photographer/artist from three dominant sources. Her father made his living as a newspaper photographer and as soon as he could, was taking young Charr, then four, on assignments to capture a lifetime of experiences and images. He instilled a sense of adventure and curiosity in her as they would often meander down unknown country roads of the South – just to see and capture what was out there. Soon after, Charr would develop her eye for photography and journalism as “the river that runs through everything she does”. Charr’s mother blessed her daughter with the ability to appreciate art in its various mediums. Further, her mother was able to pass along the joy, satisfaction and excitement one can experience in actively creating something beautiful. It’s no surprise, then, that Charr would become a photojournalist and later a photo editor spanning two decades working for Northern California publications including The Sacramento Bee. Often, her assignments would include community events with a “close to home” theme woven into every image and story she captured. Her photojournalistic experience has therefore been nuanced through everything she produces. She’s also drawn to the wonder of color and the beauty that can be found in the composure of a face and the make-up of the human bodyscape. Charr has won countless awards for masterful pieces including; the Professional Photographers of America LOAN Collection for two consecutive years, WPPI Grand Award and her work has been featured in the Di Rosa Museum in California’s beautiful Napa Wine Region and is also part of the permanent collection. Separately, she instructs digital photography workshops that teach students how to blow out the creativity of their photography in simple methods using programs like Adobe Photoshop and how to market using mobile devices-- Visual Content Creation using Mobile Devices.. Charr lives in Sacramento with her husband Chris and kitties Leeloo and Sadie.

2 Responses to Cyber Temptress

  1. For any other emerging artists out there, a little note about persistence and determination… last year I sent a few images of my earlier work to Gregg Irby, and to my disappointment, never heard a response back. Fast forward to January 2013, I had continued to push myself and paint, paint, paint. I decided to give it another shot and sent images of newer pieces, but this time… I got an e-mail the very next day! It just proves to keep going, and continue to develop your portfolio. I’m shipping down three of my largest pieces Guide You , Let’s not lose sight , and Canyon (below) this week to be displayed in the gallery!

    • charr says:

      Congrats, great story about your persistence and passion paying off! Thanks so much for sharing your story!

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