This blog is moving!!!

Starting January 1, 2010 this blog will be moving to my personal website www.nathanlarimer.com.  Just click the "Blog" menu.

Kickstarter!!!

Unfortunately, my recent Kickstarter project failed to meet its funding goal.

I want to thank everyone that gave money and expressed support for the project.  Rest assured that the project will still be completed.  I am exploring other avenues of funding and the project may take more time, but I will finish.  You can still support this project by talking about it, linking to my website, and following my progress on this blog.

I am in the proccess of starting a self-published zine.  This zine will contain new work and work in progress along with an essay.  My first issue will be about Beetle Kill.  Look for this zine to be available for purchase on my website early next year.

Again, thanks to everyone who continues to support this important project.  I won't let you down.

Busy Busy

I've had so much going on in the last month.  I've been out of town a lot with Thanksgiving, the SPE West Conference, and Photo Nola.  I've been attending some interesting events from the Petaluma Art Council and others.  Check back in the next few days and I'll post a wrap-up of all my recent activities with pictures.


Highlighting my busy-ness is a renewed focus on commissioned portraiture.  I am starting to build a portraiture business now that I am feeling settled into living in California and have done some good networking here.  (I moved to Petaluma, California over the summer if you didn't know.)  Don't worry art fans, my artwork will still be my main focus, but I gotta pay the bills and I really love portraiture too.  In fact, a new fine art documentary project I've been working on includes many portraits of fishermen.  Look for that in the coming months.


I can no longer neglect this blog!!!

20x20 The Annual Members Exhibition

My work will be on display along with many Petaluma Arts Council member artists at the Petaluma Arts Center from November 19th through January 2nd.


Please join me at the reception this Friday, November 19th from 5-8pm.


Petaluma Arts Center
230 Lakeville Street
Petaluma, California 94952


Holiday sales encouraged!

I-17, Central Arizona, 2009

Archival Pigment Print

11x14 inches (framed at 19.5x16 inches)

$200

Kickstarter FAQs

As many of you know, I launched my first Kickstarter project a little over a week ago.  I understand that many of my supporters are not familiar with Kickstarter, how it works and its purpose.  Let me explain.


I should be clear that the point of a Kickstarter project is to raise money from individual donors.  That means you.  If you are the type of person that would read my blog, then you are the type of person I would look to for support on my projects.  Any financial support, large or small, is more than appreciated.  In return you should expect to receive unique rewards, like a thank you note personally written by myself or a signed limited edition publication from the project or a framed, signed, and numbered print from the project or I might even take you out to dinner.  Its up to you.




Here is a video promo I made for this important project on the American West's Pine Beetle epidemic.

Click here to pledge.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions...

What is Kickstarter?

Kickstarter is a new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors.

We believe that...

• A good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide.

• A large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement.

Kickstarter is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands.

Why do people support projects?

REWARDS! Project creators inspire people to open their wallets by offering smart, fun, and tangible rewards (products, benefits, and experiences).

STORIES! Kickstarter projects are efforts by real people to do something they love, something fun, or at least something of note. These stories unfold through blog posts, pics, and videos as people bring their ideas to life. Take a peek around the site and see what we're talking about. Stories abound.

Who can fund their project on Kickstarter?

Kickstarter is focused on creative ideas and ambitious endeavors. We're a great way for artists, filmmakers, musicians, designers, writers, illustrators, explorers, curators, performers, and others to bring their projects, events, and dreams to life.

We know there are a lot of great projects that fall outside of our scope, but Kickstarter is not a place for soliciting donations to causes, charity projects, general business expenses, or raising funds without a specific goal. 

How does funding work?

Every project has a funding goal (any dollar amount) and a time limit (from 1 - 90 days) set by the project creator. When the deadline is reached, there are either of two results:

1. Funding Successful: If a project has met or surpassed its funding goal, all backers' credit cards are instantly charged and funds go directly to the project creator. Project creators are then responsible for completing the project and delivering rewards as promised.

2. Funding Unsuccessful: If a project has NOT met its funding goal, all pledges are canceled. That's it.

How do I make a pledge?

To make a pledge to a project, click the green “Back This Project” button on any project page. You will be asked to pick your pledge amount and select a reward. From there, you will go through the Amazon checkout process. Note that you must finish the Amazon checkout for your pledge to be completed.

If I make a pledge, when is my card charged?

If the project you’re backing is successfully funded, your card will be charged when the project reaches its funding deadline. If the project does not reach its funding goal, your card is never charged. That's why we call them pledges.

If funding does not succeed, do backers pay anything?

Nothing. If funding fails, all pledges are canceled and that's that.

How does the money stuff work?

Amazon Payments processes all the pledges on Kickstarter. When you decide to make a pledge, we'll quickly send you to an Amazon Payments page to confirm. If you have an Amazon account this takes only a few clicks. If you don't have an Amazon account, Amazon will ask you to register during the pledge process — it's painless. You won't need to do anything annoying like stop in the middle and check your email.

Can I cancel a pledge?

By pledging, you are committing to supporting that person’s project; canceling that commitment is discouraged. If you must cancel, visit the project page and click “Manage My Pledge.” At the bottom of the next page you’ll see the “Cancel My Pledge” button.

Can projects be shared on other sites and social networks?

Absolutely. Kickstarter projects are all-or-nothing — they either happen or they don't. Every project depends on their backers' and creator's networks for its survival.

There are simple buttons for the major social networks in the share section of each project. Just look under the project video slot.

Is there a widget that can be put on other blogs and MySpace pages and other sites to promote a project?

Yep. You can find it right underneath the project's video/image in the share section: "grab the widget."

Is there a way to share a project on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg or via email?

Yes. Click on the icons for email and the major social networks in the project page's share section.

Do projects have RSS feeds?

Each project has an RSS feed of its project updates. You can find it in the project's share section. (Note that backer-only updates are not included.)

More info can be found at the Kickstarter website here: www.kickstarter.com/help/faq#WhatIsKick

You may support my project by clicking here: http://kck.st/aOVzP9

Thanks so much!!!

NPR.org - Touching Strangers: A Creepily Wonderful Concept

I came across this series of portraits today on NPR's The Picture Show blog.  Although neither my project Beetle Kill nor Imprint have any portraits in them I have been working on a side project about fisherman that does.  So I have been thinking about how to photograph people.  The series Touching Strangers is an intriguing way to think about bringing yourself and your sitter out of their comfort zone to create compelling pictures.


Here's the link to: Touching Strangers: A Creepily Wonderful Concept
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130974145&sc=emaf

Show me the Puppets!: The Beauty of Forests Ravaged by Pine Beetles

How we view forests damaged by the Pine Beetle is what my new project Beetle Kill is all about.  I want my audience to question the validity of their personal definition of natural beauty.  I feel the scenery of the American West plays a role in our national identity, and as powerful as we are, we can't stop the way that its changing.  However, we can use it as a catalyst for changing the way we perceive and understand natural beauty.


I came across an interesting blog called Show me the Puppets!.  A recent post poses some intriguing questions concerning the aesthetics of beetle kill.  


Here's the link: http://sturgis.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/the-beauty-of-forests-ravaged-by-pine-beetles/


And please don't forget to support my Kickstarter project Beetle Kill by clicking here: http://kck.st/aOVzP9.  Even small donations will go a long way towards the completion of this important project.  There are some great rewards available too!

Support This Project!