“It’s All About” Me

I’ve decided to start another blog – this, after abandoning my last one for reasons I can’t quite remember. Actually, make that 2 blogs I’ve abandoned. They fell prey to my social networking sites and my photography online community. This blog will be the more fortunate one.

I live in the Eugene/Springfield area of western Oregon with my sweetie, Steve and our unusual dog, M’Lady. I’ve been here for close to 35 years. The only other place I can imagine living is New Zealand. The beauty here – and there – astounds me. As does my community of friends and family here in the Pacific Northwest. I am truly blessed.

I am a wearer of many hats.

My main hat is a personal one – as mother to two beautiful daughters, grandmother to four delightful grandchildren and partner to my sweetheart, Steve. I consider his 4 daughters and grandson as family, too. I consider my dear friends as family, as well. I am grateful and blessed to have them all in my life. As many of us do… we create family as we move about in this world. I’m sure I’ll be writing about them on occasion, as they all can bring a truckload of entertainment to any situation.

I am also a PhotoGraphic artist and  full-time student.

I love hanging out behind my camera and in front of PhotoShop….  This is where I can lose myself for hours and hours and hours. I love the creative outlet it offers. When I add my love of PhotoShop to my passion for photography I may not surface for days.

I have rediscovered the world of photography after an absence of over 20 years. I particularly love macro photography and photographing and digitally editing flowers and the smaller, beautiful pieces of nature. There are so many secrets that are hidden from the naked eye.  And I love taking a photograph out of it’s realm of reality and moving it into something else – either using the photograph as a whole or using parts of it as elements of design for another art form all together.

I used to be a software instructor and also provided skills assessment and training, for vocational rehabilitation counselors and their clients, but now that I’m a full-time student, I have almost eliminated this work from my life. I suppose it sort of eliminated me, too… when the economy took a dive. I miss working with my clientele. Some of my earlier musings will speak of them.

And… last but certainly not least…I am a graphic artist. Creating product illustrations, graphic designs & photographic art. I love creating art whether it is on the computer or the old-fashioned way – by hand. When I was first starting in product illustration and graphic design I used pen and ink, Rubylith (a masking film) and my wonderful electric eraser. Now I use InDesign, Illustrator and PhotoShop.

So – it is my hope that I can make this interesting enough that some of you will come back and visit.

Roka Walsh

roka@rokawalsh.com

Copyright Notice – I hold the copyright to all work here and have the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute and/or sell copies of my original work. Reproducing, coping or distributing the images or writing on this blog, by anyone else, without my express permission is strictly forbidden.
In other words – a simple request – with a link back – will most likely be accepted.