What, How & Why: A Closer Look - Featuring Janna Bissett

At iPrintfromHome.com, we work with artists and photographers from across the United States and Canada. We're inspired everyday by the images that they send to us and by the stories they share.

In our "What, How & Why" interview series, we take a closer look at some of these fascinating people.

We've asked each participating artist or photographer three simple questions:

1. What do you do?
2. How do you do it?
3. Why do you use iPrintfromHome.com?

Please read on to find out more about Janna Bissett.








Janna Bissett
Fine Art Photographer
Clawson, MI


What do you do?
My day job is shooting stills and virtual tours for real estate, but my passion is for fine art photography. I have my BFA from the University of Michigan and have been shooting for 12 years. My favorite thing to do is to challenge myself by taking something normally seen as uninteresting or discarded and make it intriguing and beautiful. I also love to experiment with photography and try different techniques.



Besides photography I also paint, draw, make jewelry (metalwork as well as using found objects in it), and I make handmade accessories.


I've always been influenced by fashion and the figure and it shows through in my work.




How do you do it?
I did a series where I combined abstract painting/graffiti art with photography. I used a cleaner on glass and spread it around so that it looked like brush strokes, similar to illustration type ones. Then I set up the camera and took a self portrait. I took it even further by manipulating the photo digitally as well.

I love to experiment like that. I do so many different forms of art that it's exciting when I can combine some of them.

I print all of my photographs on metallic paper, which in a way crosses over with the metalwork I do too. I sell my work locally in stores and galleries as well as online in my etsy shops: lilacpopphotography.etsy.com and lilacpop.etsy.com.

Why do you use iPrintfromHome.com?
I love iPrintfromHome and recommend them to anyone who asks who I use to print my metallic photographs. Not only do they give a consistent product done right, they are so personable. If you have a question you can call or email and get an immediate response. I love their blog and the accessability that twitter gives you as well.

Contact Information:
Janna Bissett
lilacpopphotography.etsy.com
lilacpop.etsy.com

Reality to Fantasy and Back: photography by Matt Buckley

We're having an art show!

If you're in the Buffalo, NY area, please join us for the opening reception this Wednesday night at iPrintfromHome.com.

Date: Wednesday, April 28 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: iPrintfromHome.com/the Campos Group
1016 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Artist's Statement:
Over the past year, I have had the chance to visit some of Western New York’s most beautiful, natural landscapes. I feel that in my 6 years being a photographer, my recent images have been stronger than ever. Exploring known and new parks to myself, I help bring the natural beauty to you, in an unnatural way.

Exploring places such as Forest Lawn Cemetery, Woodlawn Beach, Tifft Nature Preserve, Niagara Falls Gorge, Buckhorn Island Park, all stretching from Dunkirk to Niagara Falls. Exposing areas that might be over looked, allows the viewer to not become bored while looking at my pictures. Starting on the left side of each image you visualize the reality of the picture, and as you move towards the middle, you start to question, “What is going on here?” With the viewer getting lost in the heart of the image, objects appear, and spit you back out to the reality on the right side.

Symmetry can be defined as the beauty based on or characterized by such excellence of proportion. My images strongly rely on the idea of symmetry, where people are not used to seeing nature in a symmetrical way, but once you do it is hard to look away.

Taking each picture into Photoshop, and flipping the image to mirror itself, brings out a number of new features for the viewer to see. Most frequently, creating faces and animals, bringing the landscapes to “life”. When looking at my photographs don’t be afraid if they “look back” at you!