Brushstrokes and Bloopers: Hilarious Adventures and Unforgettable Moments from "My Harbor View" Photo Shoot

Every painting has its story—but sometimes the behind-the-scenes stories are just as vibrant as the artwork itself! In this blog, I’m thrilled to share the funny, unexpected, and downright entertaining moments that unfolded during photo shoots and most recent my art series titled "Harbor View." By the end, you may feel that I should rename it to "Just Keep Swimming"—and you’ll see why!

Battling wind, navigating gravel roads, and holding my props steady turned my quest for the "perfect" photo shoot into a humorous adventure. These experiences reminded me that art isn't just serious work; it’s messy, memorable, and bursting with laughter. So, buckle up for a ride where every masterpiece has its share of outtakes!

The Windy Challenge

Let’s dive into the biggest challenge of the day: the wind. Nebraska is notorious for its unpredictable gusts, and on this day was no exception. It started out as a beautiful calm morning. Imagine this: I had just set up my canvas, perfectly angled to showcase the stunning "Harbor View" series on the walkway of the dock at our local lake, oh what a beautiful picture I thought. I turned to grab my camera and heard four splashes in the water... I knew in that moment what had happened! My beautiful art that I worked so hard on, so many days and nights creating them only to land in the lake!!!.

I heard myself yelling NO NO NO!! I threw my phone; my shoes went flying as I started wading into the water. A gentleman came and stood on the dock and said, " Is it deep?" I said, " I hope not because I can't swim!!" at that moment I thought I can doggy paddle if I have to. The gentleman grabbed my easel that hadn't blown off the dock and stuck it into the water and found that it wasn't that deep, so I continued to wade out, socks and all till I reached them. Thank goodness they had all landed somewhat together like the boats from the titanic tied together. I grabbed them two at a time and brought them to the dock, the nice gentleman laid them out in the sun so I could go back and get the other two.

Eventually we got them to safety and dried in the sun with no visible damage, Thank you Jesus!! I thanked the man for his help a thousand times over.

I messaged my son later that night that I had gone fishing that day in the lake that he use to fish in as a child .... He asked if I had caught any big ones, I said " I sure did, two 36x36 a 30x30 and a fourth at 24x30. well, you can imagine his confusing when he called later to ask for an explanation!

I went back the next morning even earlier and tried it again but stayed away from the dock with greater success!

A serene view of the local lake featuring a tranquil dock and a gentle fountain amidst lush greenery, capturing the essence of a peaceful retreat.

Side note: I went to church the morning after the photoshoot and was telling a fellow church goer about the event that unfolded. When I was finished, he commented, "Oh my gosh what an experience, but the good thing is your Art was been baptized in the lake." We all laughed, and it was a great way to look at it!

"Harbor View" series

The challenges continue. A few years ago, I took a handful of recent art and a piece of furniture I had upcycled and decided to do a photo shoot on the backroads around my hometown. So, with a pickup load of these items, along with easels camera and tripod I headed out on a glorious day determined to spend the whole day getting amazing shots, never seen before, highlighting my work! I drive around looking for a good place to start, looking for less traffic, noting the direction of the sun and so I start to set up for the first of many scenes. I have my easel up with my art and a beautiful scene in the background, I turn to get my camera ready on the tripod and I feel it. yup! here comes the wind! As I rushed to gather my blown-away props, my trusty easel decided to join the ruckus. It tipped over, and I found myself performing an impromptu balancing act to save my beloved canvas from a messy fall into the gravel. Who knew staging a photo shoot could turn into a circus act? After a few fails, I started getting good at timing the wind. Set art on easel, wait, wait, go run for the camera! SNAP! Got it! Yay! I got this!

An old dirt road with Nebraska winds makes a very interesting photoshoot with staging my floral art.

Staging your canvas art on a bridge is also a challenge with the movement of traffic driving by.

The Semi-Truck Surprise

Just when I thought I had regained some control, I was brave enough to try to photoshoot my furniture in an area with heavier traffic ... yes, semitrucks! This is a common road for trucks hauling corn from the fields. Silly me! I love the long view of this gravel road, so I began to set up, keep in mind I have no assistant at the time. I haul out the desk and chair and get it at the right angle, perfect, I'm ready! I turn to set up the tripod, and I hear the gears... you guessed it! A huge semi with trailer turned onto the road and was coming in the distance! I had seconds to hurry and move my things, or they would be obliterated! I man-handled that desk and chair like it was a light fluffy pillow. As I safely moved everything to the side of the road on time, the truck driver drove by smiled and gave the horn a blast to say good job. My heart was pounding, what a workout! Dramatic backdrops are great, but a massive truck barreling through my photoshoot was not on my checklist. I should expect these disruptions living in a rural town, on a gravel road smack dab in the middle of corn country!

A beautiful country roadside view to stage upcycled furniture

These moments were a reminder that the process was about more than just capturing images. The delightful mess-ups, the laughter, and the surprises all contributed to an unforgettable experience. Art is not only about the finished product; it’s about the journey and the tales we gather along the way.

Reflections of Photoshoots

As I wrapped up my photo shoot for the "Harbor View" series, I couldn't help but smile at the beautiful chaos that unfolded. It reminded me of challenges of past photoshoots. The pesky Nebraska winds, the unexpected semi-truck, and my balancing act all combined to create a days filled with laughter and cherished moments.

While I set out to craft a serene art series, I ended up with a collection of stories that are as vivid as the paintings themselves. Art isn’t always serious—it’s messy, full of fun, and packed with surprises. If you find yourself in a similar situation, just remember: the best moments often come from the most unexpected turns. So, let's embrace the creativity and keep swimming through these adventurous endeavors!