Monica Fritz Studios

Fourth of July Babies!

2011-07-14T10:37:00.001-07:00

I love these kids! Click on the image for full resolution.

Elizabeth & Robert

2011-05-17T10:17:00.001-07:00

Chloe

2011-04-16T07:48:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we got to dog-sit this precious pup. She was a little camera-shy, but I was able to capture this sweet portrait of the Australian Sheppard.

Macrobiotics - Carrot Diakon Drink

2011-02-05T06:15:00.001-08:00

It's a beautifully gray morning in February. This hot "drink" felt comforting and cleansing. I got this recipe from Jessica Porter's Hip Chick Guide to Macrobiotics. It is a powerful diuretic and IMO pretty tasty, too.

A friend just told me that it's bad to stick your chopsticks in a bowl of rice this way, and therefore possibly bad luck to stick it in a bowl of anything this way! Just passing the tip along. ;)

Lotus Root

2011-01-31T11:41:00.001-08:00

I made lotus root for the first time today. It was nutty, flavorful and delicious. The texture was similar to a potato, but crisp like a water chestnut.

View more on my flickr page.

Coverage of yesterday's seminar from WSLS

2010-09-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

Blue Ridge PRSA Professional Development Seminar

2010-09-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

Today I had the privilege of attending a seminar hosted by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the PRSA. A special thanks to my colleagues, Ernest DelBuono and Betsy Parkins, of ND&P for their hard work in organizing the event.

Thanks to them, the other attendees and I shared in the experience of hearing first-hand, the sincere story of Morgan Harrington's disappearance from her parents, Dr. Dan Harrington and his wife, Gil Harrington. It was in their honest effort to reach out through the media—the right way, that Morgan's story was heard and still lives today. Morgan's Story.

Digital Strategist, Valerie Elston was at the core of managing the Harrington's online and social media presence after Levick Strategic Communications volunteered their services to the Harrington family. Valerie shared slides that illustrated strategies and tactics implemented throughout the social media campaign.

Corinne Geller, Public Relations Manager of the Virginia State Police, gave us insight from her unique perspective on the crisis communications involved in this particular case. Her energy and wit shined a light on a side of the VSP, I and many others probably never think much about. It's thanks to hard work by her and others like her that stories are vetted properly so that the public gets the right information (most of the time).

And finally, Amy Morris, News Director of WDBJ, talked about her hand in the case of Morgan's disappearance and the role the local affiliate played in relation to other media outlets, including the national networks.

Never having met in person before, it was evident that these three women shared a unique bond through their experience in working on such a heart-wrenching case. Each, doing their job effectively and knowledgeably.

It's with understanding the importance of the role played by social media in these crisis communications that I can truly appreciate and learn from their efforts.

A special thanks to all of the speakers, the Harringtons, and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the PRSA.

Demolition Day

2010-08-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

For a while, everyday was demo day around our house and my husband often walked around with a sledgehammer slung over his shoulder. Here's a little piece of history.

Portrait Painting Process

2010-08-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

This is my process for painting a portrait from a photo. I always follow this formula, and it works best for me.

First, make sure you have an excellent photo reference. If your reference is not good, you will struggle and it will show in your painting. It's also important to remember that a photograph is the camera's interpretation of reality and things aren't always what they seem. Your knowledge and understanding of light, shadow and color should compensate for what the photo lacks. When in doubt, ask your model to pose again and do some life studies.

My photo reference was actually a candid shot of my husband, and at the time I didn't think to check it well, so I found myself going back to get better reference and I worked with the sledge hammer in my studio.

Also, please forgive the quality of these images, I took them while I was in the middle of working and i usually had paint all over my hands. Click on the image to view its full size.

Once I get a very accurate drawing on the canvas (I draw very tightly with pencil) I go back and ink the whole drawing. This way, I don't have to worry about losing my original lines if I mess up and have to use a cheese cloth to wipe away some paint.

Then, I cover the canvas in a wash of galkyd and burnt umber. Galkyd is a fast drying painting medium. It works better than liquin for this step because it's more fluid--not as sticky, and I love the smooth surface it leaves upon drying. Once the entire canvas is covered, I go back with a cheese cloth and rub out the highlights and lighter values. You can get as detailed as you want with this step using a paintbrush and more paint. I usually just like to get the rough values down. The painting may need a full day to dry at this point.

When adding color, the most important thing is to first establish your true lights and darks. Work on the painting as a whole, in layers, always thinking about how one area relates to the next. Finally, I block in large areas of color before I add the more refined details.

Here is a close up of the first stage of the face. Again, it's important to block in lights and darks and get the flesh tones right before developing final details.

I hope you find this information helpful. Feel free to email me with any questions at monicakjf@yahoo.com

See my next post for the final painting.

Dishing It Out Contest

2010-06-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun shooting these foodie photos with ND&P for our Dishing It Out Contest. The contest took place from April 28 to May 10 and was posted on Downtown Roanoke Inc's facebook page.

The photos featured here are from Downtown Roanoke's On the Rise Bakery. See more from other restaurants on my flickr page.

Financial Team Portraits

2010-06-20T09:09:00.001-07:00

I've been really bad at updating my blog lately, but that's only because I've been so fantastically busy. It's time to play a little catch up.

Here are a few portraits I took for National Financial Services. See more on my flickr page.

Leadership Roanoke Valley Event

2010-03-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

I recently had the privilege of attending the Leadership Roanoke Valley (LRV), Economic Development Group event at Greenfield Education & Training Center, located in Botetourt County, Virginia.

LRV, a program under the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, was founded in 1983. The group is dedicated to raising community awareness and applying leadership skills to help organizations thrive in the Roanoke Valley. The group seeks to understand the infrastructure that makes our region work and the ways in which they can improve it.

Pictured above is speaker, Jim Barney, founder of Click & Pledge. See more photos of the event.

Oakey's Funeral Home

2010-03-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

President Sammy Oakey, fifth generation in the family business. Read Sammy's Blog here.

Writing this Work Space story for Valley Business Front Magazine allowed me to go places most people don't get to — or even think to, for that matter. For me, touring behind the scenes of a funeral home was fascinating. I hope you enjoy the story on page 34 of this month's issue. Visit Oakey's Funeral Service & Crematory's website.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T09:55:00.000-08:00

View on Flickr

View on Flickr

Novozymes Biologicals Inc.

2010-02-02T15:50:00.000-08:00

Check out my latest Work Space story in Valley Business Front Magazine, by following this link and turning to page 34 in the Development Front section. I truly enjoyed touring these facilities and meeting so many wonderful scientists.

Twitter is all a buzz after the #RRWC

2010-01-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

My experience at the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference was inspiring, energetic, and moving. Moving because it made me want to move my pencil. Move my life forward. Move stories and lives, like those around me.

It was in Janet Jaquith's class, The Personal Essay, that I thought: I LOVE being an artist. How lucky are we, to be among one another? To learn from one another?

And although Janet's class was about radio, and I am not a radio journalist, it spoke to me in so many ways. I love radio. I've always found it to be this fantastically raw form of media. Media at its finest. I just don't think I truly understood why I loved radio until Janet's class. It was as if I discovered it all over again; through the personal essay.

Janet may not have realized that her tips on delivery, rhythm, and how to engage the listener were as easily applied to writing as they were to my everyday life. See, I've never been particularly good at speaking. I'm not sure if it's some kind of genetic defect (nature) or nerves (nurture). Yet, I have decided recently that I can do something about it. And with the tools she provided, I felt closer than ever to figuring out how to do just that.

Something else I think we all took away from Janet's keynote speech was a lesson from her refreshing honesty. Dan Smith called her, "Brave," and I thought, yeah, brave. I realized then that admitting your insecurities isn't a weakness, it's a strength. I shouldn't be discouraged for admitting what I don't know and need to learn; a place I find myself in everyday.

In Mary Hill's, When the Muses Flee: How Writers Woo Inspiration Back When They Hit Writers Block, I learned that I stink, to accept that I stink and that my mother still loves me. Sometimes we're all so afraid of stinking it keeps us from doing what we love most. So here I am, stinking up my blog.

In Cara Modisett's, This is Not Q&A: Interviewing, I learned that many of the things I was already doing were very good! While other things were not so good. I learned that interviewing was something I kind of love. And it made me want to get back out there.

As if the day weren't fulfilling enough, my last class was, Rex Bowman's Nothing Less than the Secret of Writing. And he delivered.

He gave me hope that a painter like me, an artist who loves to write, can actually learn to write. After giving us some basic tools and tips (and of course the secret!), I thought, you mean there are rules?! Okay, so I knew there were rules, I just didn't know how easily I could aquire and apply these rules to improve my own writing (I haven't started yet).

So what did I take away from the conference? Inspiration, hope, guidance and a hunger for more.

Thanks for reading. I hope to start writing a little more on this art blog of mine.

-Monica

Follow tweets about the conference here: #RRWC

Read Dan Smith's recap here: A Brief Report Card on the Writers Conference

Roanoke Regional Writers Conference

2010-01-22T06:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am going to the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia.

The event is hosted by Dan Smith of Valley Business Front Magazine and it features workshops from several area writers and editors. It takes place tonight and tomorrow. See the schedule. You can still register (pay $50 at the door) or contact Dan Smith at editrdan@msn.com

For more information visit:http://www.hollins.edu/news-events/writers/writers.htm

I hope to see you there!

Monica

Happy Christmas!

2009-12-24T13:18:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and yours Happy Holidays and best wishes for a happy new year!

Melting Snow

2009-12-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

See more on my flickr page.

Blizzard 2009

2009-12-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T13:11:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately I don't have any super-cool Halloween photos to share, but I did do some shooting on this beautiful autumn day. Out on assignment, I had to pull over to photograph this church. There's been quite a mix of dark stormy clouds with patches of blue sky and bright sunlight breaking through these past few weeks. This was one time when I finally had my camera with me and I wasn't heading to work.

Self Portrait Photo Shoot

2009-10-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

Working photographers and artists grow accustomed to using themselves as models. Today, I set up different variations to test lighting for standard headshots and well, basically whatever else I could do... these are fun, personal shots. Enjoy the rest on flickr.

Welcome Fall

2009-09-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

See more on flickr.

Taubman Museum of Art, Fund Raiser Event at Barnes & Noble

2009-09-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Join me this Saturday at the Barnes & Noble Tanglewood location in Roanoke, VA, for a day of art, crafts and more. Barnes & Noble stores nationwide, will be participating in this fund raising event. Just tell the cashier you'd like to support the Taubman Museum of Art (or give them ID# 594077) and they will donate a percentage of your purchase. For more information, click here.

For more information about Taubman Museum of Art events, visit their calendar page.

Bells, Whistles and Locomotives....

2009-09-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

... is featured on page 54 of this month's issue of Valley Business Front Magazine, "Roanoke and New River Valley's Exciting New Progressive Business Publication "for the up and coming and already arrived" - a voice for your business." www.vbfront.com

Bridal Shoot Part 2

2009-07-28T17:22:00.001-07:00

Bridal Shoot - Dominion Images

2009-07-28T17:12:00.001-07:00

Bride Amanda, studio, and studio lighting courtesy of David Hungate. I just brought my camera. David has been kind enough to open his doors and show me around. I hope to be working with David on a few projects in the future.

Portrait Demonstration

2009-07-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

Night at The Taubman Museum of Art. High school student and intern of the museum, Jenna, was my model.

What: Dinner A L'Art Series - Portrait Demonstration

2009-07-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

When: Saturday July 25, 2009
Where: Taubman Museum of Art

I'll be demonstrating a portrait painting during an evening of art, music, dining, and theater at the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, VA on Saturday, July 25th. This is a unique event centered around the museum's collection of 19th century portraits in American Art. The evening begins at 6pm. For more information visit www.taubmanmuseum.org or call 540.204.4122

We have also scheduled a portraiture workshop for October 2009. Details coming soon

-Monica

Mom

2009-07-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

I call this painting "The Keeper". I suppose I have a habit of being vague. Simply put, this is a painting of my mother. She is loving, endearing, silly and kind. She is also one of the strongest women I have ever known. She is the keeper of many things; of family, life, and my heart. Also, of her history, family and culture. The hat she holds is a traditional Bolivian hat worn by the natives that live there. In this painting I capture a side of my mother that is not always easy to see. It's the side that I believe makes her the most beautiful.

5 x 5 for $55

2009-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

I did this small 5'' X 5'' painting of my good friend Jessica for Roanoke Pride.

Matt & Season's Wedding 06.09.09

2009-06-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the full slide show here. Click on images to view full size.

Pairs

2009-04-24T10:29:00.001-07:00

Just fooling around with how I layer the paint. Pears have translucent skin, so here I scratched into the surface taking away the paint to mimic what I felt captured the skin.