Found Memories Art

Old St Nick Book

2009-12-21T17:55:00.001-05:00

This is a digital montage I made of an antique book to celebrate the season. The original Santa image is from a black and white freebie of the The Graphics Fairy. She almost always has some spectacular freebies!

I can’t do any painting or hands on mess making collage right now because our septic is messed up due to the record rain we’ve had lately. It’s gonna get pumped out tomorrow late. Whew, that’ll be a relief!

We had a first Christmas celebration this past Saturday, as that was when most of the kids could come down. We were unfortunately missing our son in law who had to be in grad school all day. Other than that, we all had a happy gathering and plenty to eat, and plenty of fun to exchange! Himself and I will celebrate a quiet Christmas together on the 25th. Although I don’t know how quiet it will be with Tommy tearing at his new dog toys!

Here’s hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday no matter what you are celebrating. Joyous Days to all!

Ever onward my merry friends.

Technorati Tags: St. Nick,old book,vintage photo,digital montage,Christmas

Butterflies from Brother!

2009-12-16T11:58:00.001-05:00

My wonderful brother Michael, sent me some lovely pictures of butterflies he took up at his cottage in NC this past year. Told me to do my thing with them! Here is one of them:

Now because it came to me through email, low jpegs, it was a bit on the blurry side, but I didn’t let that stop me, no sir. That’s what CS4 and camera raw is for, right? Just takes a bit more noodling around with. So then here’s my take on it:

And if you want,you can go read a short story (2 paragraphs) over at There's a Story There about it.

The funny thing about the background texture (not color) on this is I used a close up picture of a couch that’s been in our family since the 60’s.First it was in our (my siblings’ and my) home growing up,then it was handed down to me and my family. And now my son and his wife are using it! Quite a long and fun life it’s leading, I’d say.

The brushes I used for the edges are freebies from Colorburned. The brushes I used for the butterfly’s tats are a mixed bag of random freebies and Photoshop brushes intertwined.

Ever onward my noodling friends.

Technorati Tags: butterflies,photo montage,background texture,Photoshop CS4,brushes

Waiting for Mother’s Present

2009-12-13T16:46:00.001-05:00

Guess it’s that time of year for everyone once again!

Busy Busy Busy.

Doing all those Christmas things that must be done before the big day and still keeping up with all the day to day of ongoing life.

We got thrown a curve ball when one of our cats started limping. Uh oh. We watched him after feeling for broken bones. When it got worse instead of better it was a trip to the vets. Then it turned into what looked like vet CSI! Turned out to be a defensive bite wound that had gone bad, from a stray we’ve tried scaring off a time or two. The puncture was hidden down in between the pads. The poor guy was running a fever and his paw started swelling up, he was really sick. Glad we got him in to the vet when we did. But he is almost all better now.

Hope everyone is doing well this holiday season. No matter what your faith or what you are celebrating I wish you joy!

Waiting for Mama’s Present digital montage 5"X7"

The main image I used for this is from Clearly Vintage. I got this a while back, I think, but I just checked her blog and she has loads of Christmas images that are wonderful.

The background is a mixture of free textures from several online sources. I’m on my laptop, so not sure of where they came from...just Google free textures.

Another thing I wanted to add about the artwork and a bit of a change: I have stopped putting the stories on this blog. I thought maybe I was boring everyone to tears. So I made a new blog:

There's a Story There

This has my really short stories that I write to go along with my collages and digital montages or even just souped up old photos. I figured I needed to keep the writing separate from the art. But the art has to go with the writing on the other blog. How’s that for weird?!

So there is a story for the above montage on There's a Story There if you want to go read it. Otherwise just enjoy the art!

Oh yeah,there’s a story for the first picture, Pete and Susie’s Sled Adventure, over there too!

Ever onward my bloggie friends!

Technorati Tags: Christmas,vintage images,backgrounds,textures,hurt cat,There's a Story There,short story,Pete and Susie's Sled Adventure

Fun Time Yesterday

2009-12-07T11:56:00.001-05:00

I went to a tea put on by my daughter’s mother-in-law’s friends. It was for Heather and her husband’s brother’s new wife Jamie. (That wasn’t too complicated, was it?) Tho they were married back so long ago, in the summer, only a couple of weeks apart, this is the first time all those friends could get together for this tea. I got gift cards for them and then decided to put my spin on things by using decorated tins rather than wrapping them.

The one on the left was for a Target gift card for Heather. The gift card had little presents on them in about the same colors. The casual shopping fit in with the way I know Heather will really already have something in mind when she uses this! The right one is for Jamie and held a Lowes gift card that had the same color as the “roses” and the background blue. She has just moved into their first home so I thought the theme for that fit perfectly.

So I had fun making the decorated tins and fun talking to the two about the tins and fun at the tea!

Ever onward my fun friends.

Technorati Tags: decorated tins,gift card tins

The Wizard Fixes the River

2009-12-05T15:43:00.001-05:00

The Heron spent many many days, weeks, and even months searching the whole earth for the first firefly who lights the evening sky. Finally, the Heron found the firefly in a glade at the foot of some mountains that reached and reached nearly up to the sky. Just as the day turned to evening, the firefly flashed on and the Heron tenderly took him into his bill. Then the Heron flew off on his long journey back to the Wizard’s Red Door to complete his quest.

The Heron presented the Wizard with the first firefly. It was placed safely in a woven wire container high upon a shelf and magically locked. The Heron was told to go home to his friends. They were to leave the drying river for a while. They would know when to return.

Now the Wizard had to change to suit the problem at hand. The Wizard, being a wizard, was able to shift form to fit the occasion and the need. So the Wizard got into a suitable swimming outfit, with goggles even, and went to the river that practically cried out for help.

The Wizard was now able to swim down into the very heart of the river and perform the magic required to make it healthy again. This took some time as an incantation like this is long. But of course the Wizard, with the right spell, could breathe underwater so this was not a problem.

After the incantation was finished, the Wizard came up to the banks overlooking the river. The Wizard waited a bit and sure enough, the waters started to rise again. The Wizard was now able to go back to his home behind the Red Door. The Wizard had fulfilled his end of the bargain as had the Heron. The animals would be returning in just moments to their much needed, beloved river. There would be great celebration then.

The Wizard Fixes the River 5X7 mixed media collage,acrylic,vintage image,neocolor II,colored pencil

And so the story continues! This is really the illustration and story that goes with the answers to the question from a prior post. I thought it would be fun to round that out. And besides, the image sorta presented itself to me.

Other news: It snowed this morning!! Luckily not much. Just enough to give the puppy a thrill. “What happened to my world” was the look on his face first thing. Then he attempted to eat it all! The cats, of course, were not amused.

Ever onward my snowy friends.

Technorati Tags: Wizard Fixes the River.mixed media collage,vintage images,acrylic,snow,puppy

Judith’s Almost Strange Time Christmas

2009-12-02T16:57:00.001-05:00

All Judith has wanted for Christmas was a dolly.
     She knew however, that there was little chance that she would get even one. It wasn’t that she was a bad girl. No, if anything, she had been better this year than last. It was just that Mother and Father talked often of something they called Tough Times and Hard Times. These didn’t seem to have anything to do with the clock, but more to do with money. It didn’t make any sense to Judith how time could make you have less money. But with grownups, you just never knew.
      What she did know was every time she mentioned a dolly for Christmas, Mother or Father said Hard Times or Tough Times and some other things she couldn’t understand. Usually not understanding meant no in Judith's experience.
Then they started having Strange Times. Judith’s mother went to work at an office everyday, leaving Judith with her Grandmother. Judith had to get used to Grandmother’s way of doing things all day, and her way of cooking instead of Mother’s. But Judith knew better than to complain. It wouldn’t do any good. Besides, Mother seemed tired all the time.
     Christmas time was coming nearer, and Judith was getting nervous. Everyone seemed very busy and a little ill-tempered. She thought maybe Christmas was going to be Tough Times, Hard Times and Strange Times all rolled into one this year.
     Christmas morning, Judith’s father woke Judith up as he always did. They went downstairs into the parlor. Oh my! Judith’s eyes sparkled. Judith let out a laugh. Then She gave her Mother and Father both big hugs.
     Christmas had come. No Hard Time, Strange Times, or Tough Times today. It was Christmas, as only Christmas tree all decorated with wonderful ornaments could say. And there, scattered around, were gifts for her! A sled, a doll’s crib, and a couple of games. But most importantly, not one but two dollies!

I didn’t do any collaging/montaging on this vintage photo, Just some editing and playing around with color and texture. I wanted to keep the simplicity of this one.Make sure you click this one as it looks much better full size.

It’s a super sweet story, I know. But I just write them, I don’t make them up. Well I do make them up, but they come sorta pre made out of my brain and I can’t do anything about them!

Ever onward my sweetened art friends!

Technorati Tags: Judith's Almost Strange Time Christmas,vintage images,story

Tis the Season For a Helping Hand...

2009-12-01T11:20:00.002-05:00

My daughter asked me to share with you a donation site she has applied to for her students. As you may (or may not for newer readers) remember, Heather is an Art teacher for about 500 at an inner city elementary school with a high poverty level. She absolutely LOVES teaching there. I can sure attest to that. From the stories she tells to the personal visit and interest I’ve taken in her classes and kids. And yes,they are an hour away from me so I don’t know them from the neighborhood or anything! I help when I can with what I am able.

This year Heather is asking for donations for stamps through DonorsChoose.org.She explains on there how she uses the stamps for the kids in her art classes.

I thought if you have the ability to give a little you might want to help these kids who don’t have very much in a school that doesn’t have a lot.A little in these kids lives goes a long way.

Thank you for listening and if you help, thank you for opening your hearts.

Technorati Tags: stamps,DonorsChoose.org

Questions Answered on The Red Door!

2009-11-26T13:49:00.006-05:00

I was flipping through my email in between doing things to Thanksgiving dinner today and I came across one that had a bunch of questions about the story of The Red Door.

(you know who you are, and I appreciate the questions oh so much!!)

“WHO is the Wizard? Male,Female,Animal, or something else?

Does he ask the animals who come thru the red door to go on a quest? If so what's the quest?

And what do they get if they complete the quest?

And what does the Wizard get?"

So here is the off the top of my head response/ending to the story. Or is it?!

Do Wizards EVER just give you anything? Of course not!
Yes there is a quest the Heron must go on. As would anyone who came through the Red Door.
The quest is to find the first firefly who lights the evening's sky.
When the Heron returns with this firefly, the Wizard will present the Heron with the solution to the drying river.
The Heron will return with this to all his waiting friends by the river.
The Wizard will have the firefly who signals the the exact moment between the day and the night.
Another piece of the timekeeper's puzzle.

Ever onward my turkey eating friends, and those who are not eating turkey!!

Technorati Tags: the Red Door,heron,wizard,firefly,timekeeper's puzzle

The Red Door: story added!

2009-11-23T17:15:00.001-05:00

That summer, the river was drying up and no one could understand why or think of what to do. The fish, crabs, otters, crayfish, shrimp, raccoons, deer, beavers, and birds all put aside their differences to discuss what should be done. Unfortunately, not a single creature had a single idea, much less a plan of action to stop the river from drying up. So the Heron was elected to represent all of them. He had to go to the one entity who could fix this. The wizard.

The Heron traveled far into the woods. Luckily the wizard made it easy to find his home. He kept a pewter path winding through the trees for anyone to follow. And this path the Heron did follow. At the end he found a magical spot where all year round the trees maintained their beautiful autumn dress. The Heron felt if he looked just right he could almost see the corners where the wizard’s magical screws held the illusion in place.

In the midst of this fall feast for the eyes, there at the end of the pewter path, lay a wondrous floating red door. This then, was the doorway to the wizard’s enchanted home. The Heron simply had to find his way past the red door,and he would be able to get the river’s problem solved.

So I don’t know where the story was for this last time I put this up! It was hiding in the documents somewhere. Which I now know how to handle thanks to the lesson I took at the Apple store!

Yep, I thought after how many months(?) I oughta take some lessons to see what all this stuff was on my mac. I didn’t even know the little pen and ink thing down there was my documents…Ha! But as GI Joe says…”knowing is half the battle”.

I’ve been working on old pics in Photoshop. Fun for me, but not much to show for it at this stage of the game.

Those of you reading me on the readers, don’t be shy…jump on over here and leave comments or questions any time you want!

Oh yes, I did change my blog a bit. If you are over here scratching your head saying something looks different! The sides are from a journal page I painted.

Ever onward my learned friends.

Technorati Tags: digital montage,the red door,Photoshop,mac,heron,journal page

Almost Time to check The Pulse again

2009-11-20T07:43:00.001-05:00

Seth Apter over at The Altered Page is presenting The Pulse, edition 4, once again this year. It is a wonderful way to get to know new artists as well as know better your favorite artists in this fun world of mixed media that encompasses so many different forms of art and artists.

I believe he posted at last count there were about 175 artists participating this year! That is going to be loads of interesting info for us to find out, isn’t it?

As before,Seth will present this in installments as an online series and then a print project. This 4th edition will begin on Sunday November 22, so mark your calendars for the big event!

Here’s what Secret Sunday is in Seth’s own words:

“Secret Sunday will be a series of weekly posts that offer a window into the secrets of the participating artists. They could be techniques, products, places to pick up found objects, little-known websites, hidden shops, out-of-print books, or anything else. And even if you are not participating in this project, get ready to share your secret too. At least one Secret Sunday post will be dedicated to readers leaving comments listing their own secrets!”

So get ready for some fun reading and photo viewing and secret sharing as you delve into the minds of over 100 artists that are playing in the same playground as you. Don’t you want to know what toys they’ve brought and how they’re gonna use them in the sandbox?!

Ever onward my sandy friends.

PS…yes I did participate in The Pulse this year!

Technorati Tags: The Pulse,the altered page,seth apter,secret sunday

Old Bernie’s View collage and story

2009-11-19T15:53:00.001-05:00

Maggie had been up since 4:30 that Tuesday morning. She had helped her mother with the washes,the cleaning,and putting together the evenings big meal. The whole family was coming. All the relatives from across the bridge were even coming tonight. It would be fun to see all the cousins. But she was getting tired by the time Eddie drove up in his fancy car blaring that horn like he always did.

Eddie ran up the steps and knocked hard on the door to Maggie’s house. Why couldn’t she understand he was in a hurry, he wondered as she slowly walked to the car. Eddie was so happy that work was over for the day. He’d had a great day selling used cars to all kinds of people and that meant lots of stories to tell Maggie.

The best thing was good old Bernie had told him about a great place with an unbelievable view. Just the place he wanted to take Maggie. He had the car looking extra nice.

Maggie was thinking of the things she still had to do for the dinner tonight. Eddie was going on as he usually did with all the stuff that happened at the car lot, so she didn’t really have to listen to him too closely. She wondered where they were going as they left the city.

When Eddie got them to the area that old Bernie had told him about, sure enough, the view was great! The water, the bridge, the hills in the distance. It was perfect. Eddie got out of the car and helped Maggie out. He turned her toward the water. This was it!

Maggie thought of the tables to be set at home and the vegetables still to be cooked. She felt Eddies arm snake around her shoulders. She thought of the potatoes to be mashed. Maggie felt Eddie moving in closer. She crossed her arms as she noticed the cigar in his free hand.

That was it. The final straw. Maggie demanded to be taken home right then. “No kiss for you, Eddie. I don’t care if you did drive me all the way out here and try to butter me up with this view. I can’t believe you’d try to neck with me with a cigar in your hand. Take me home. I have so much to do, and I’m already tired.You’d know that if you’d have asked me before” Maggie said with a bit of stridency to her voice.

Eddie drove Maggie home in a quiet state of shock. He had no idea of what had just happened. This was not the way he thought the proposal was going to turn out.

Old Bernie’s View. mixed media collage, 8”X8”, acrylic, Neocolor II,vintage images, gloss and matte medium

Sorta going impressionistic these days I think! Just a different way to do the backgrounds. Fun for me.

Technorati Tags: mixed media collage,acrylic,neocolorsII,vintage images,Old Bernie's View

Harold and Evelyn: Their story and collage

2009-11-16T16:07:00.001-05:00

Harold and Evelyn had known each other since middle school. They were friends who could talk easily about the happenings of the day as they walked home from school. They always wore silly hats that their friends kidded them about. As Harold and Evelyn moved into the high school years, friendship became harder as other interests tugged them in different directions. Harold was not very athletic, being more inclined towards mathematics. Evelyn on the other hand loved sports, both watching them and participating. So while they dated for a while, they eventually had to go on to separate universities and separate lives.

Years and lives and miles passed. Both Harold and Evelyn married and had children and were very happy. Unfortunately, both lost their spouses just as their children were marrying and having families of their own. It took them each a few years to adjust.

One day Harold decide to come back to his home town to see how things looked after all these years. Who did he run into at the old high school? Evelyn. She was working as a volunteer. Harold invited her for coffee and the old times were back. They caught up on their lives. They commiserated with their losses. They rejoiced over their blessings. When it came time to leave, Harold realized he had strong feelings for Evelyn. He thought, what the heck, and told her. Evelyn laughed and said she felt the same way.

Two weeks later, Harold and Evelyn decided to run off and marry. It was a Friday when their family and friends seemed busy with other plans. That way no one would try to stop them. Harold and Evelyn thought it was a grand idea. They were very much in love and had the same sense of style in fun hats to prove it!

Harold and Evelyn is a mixed media collage. Acrylics,Neocolors II,vintage images,various papers.

Yes, this means my back is all better and I’ve been down in the studio again working!! It was fun to get “back” to scissors and gel medium and paints. Tho even as I sit at the computer to type this I can hear the digital fun pics calling me. “Come make another digital montage Laura. You know you want to. You know it’s not so messy.” No. I must stand firm. I must post this and go back to the physical collages. I must they are so much fun if messy and sooo much slower for me.

Ever onward my fun hatted friends.

Technorati Tags: mixed media collage,acrylics,vintage images,neocolorsII,various papers

Ida’s Dream

2009-11-11T16:23:00.001-05:00

Ida had lived very quietly all her 24 years. Her mother and father did not like disruption and noise. They only had Ida because she came along. They frowned highly on her crying when she was a baby and quickly let her know as she grew older that they would not tolerate any undue commotion in their lives.

So Ida’s life turned into a routine of oatmeal for breakfast, then off to her all girls school, then home in the evening to study quietly in her room. Supper was a very quiet affair as Ida’s father believed conversation and digestion were not a good mix.

As soon as Ida graduated from high school her father put her to work in his office. She spent her days sorting papers and putting them in large filing cabinets in a small room in the basement of her father’s building. It was a very quiet job.

Ida may have been quiet all day for those 24 years. But. At night as she lay in her bed waiting to drift off to sleep, Ida had dreams before her dreams.

Ida dreamed she would travel to Paris and become a Can Can dancer. Ida would dance to the loud beautiful music every night and hear the men and women laughing and applauding and cheering.

The music would be loud. The people would be loud. The color would be loud. And she, Ida would be loud.

Ida’s Dream a photo collage created in PSE7 and Photoshop CS4. The 2 vintage images are freebies from Gaby Braun.

Ever onward my dreaming friends.

Technorati Tags: Ida's Dream,photo collage,PSE7,PhotoshopCS4,vintage images

Lion In Winter

2009-11-10T15:34:00.001-05:00

Samhai was a king of lions many seasons ago when the animals and humans were still on talking terms. As king, he was of course, friends with the kings of all the communities around his. This included the king of the humans in the small, nearby village. As friends, the kings were committed to helping each other out in times of need.

It became necessary one day for King Samhai to so with the King of the humans. The humans’ village was struck by hording pillagers from the east. The King was mortally wounded and called for Samhai. When the human king lay dying, King Samhai promised, that he would guard the village from further marauders until they could care for themselves once again.

So King Samhai left his own pride of lions and came to the village of humans. He sat with his shield for weeks and months and years keeping watch over the humans so they could be safe. King Samhai sat for so long on his corner keeping watch that he finally turned to stone. And now, even in the winter, he guards the large city that has arisen around him.

Lion in Winter photomontage.

Many layers including a picture of a lion from Savannah, a fence, 2 different flowers, toy truck, and cloth. Made in PSE7.

Technorati Tags: Lion in Winter,photomontage,PS,King Samhai,layers

News of the Day

2009-11-09T19:13:00.001-05:00

Well that’s what it says in the paper that I’ve put in this digital photo montage. I don’t have any news other than I’ve made this for you to enjoy!

I started this with a lovely lady freebie from the internet. She was hearing something far away and I had just the shell she needed to use to catch the words flowing towards her from somewhere out there.

I masked her onto a shell I took a picture of this past summer. I also gave her some color and a spotlight. She deserves one, don’t you think?

The very back background is a portion of an art journal page which I duplicated and added a color burn to as well as a mask.

The next thing I added was some weird lit squares I had a picture of. I masked that and added a soft light to it.

Then came the newspaper clipping which is another from our cabin walls. I stretched it out to where I liked the placement. I used multiply at 92 percent on it. Hey,no mask on that layer, amazing!!

I next put a black color fill layer in and used a couple of different brushes with white to get the border.

I decided I still needed something in the background, it didn’t look layered enough or textured enough for me. So I added a layer of crushed oyster shells with a screen style and yes, masked it. Then it was done!

Getting easier to use the PSE7: not thinking so hard about where things are anymore. The mouse is easier to use now too, altho I still miss my pen tool!

Ever onward my listening friends!

Technorati Tags: digital photomontage,PSE7,masks,vintage photo,log cabin,art journal,layers,texture

So I Only Made One Photomontage Today!

2009-11-08T18:18:00.001-05:00

This is called: “Here Spot, Can I keep him?”

I imagine the little girl having dragged him away from his porch just down the street.. You know how little girls and puppies can be. And Spot’s Mom just realized he is gone and is calling him.

The little girl, I got from the internet a couple of years ago a freebie. I did extract her from her background and messed with her color and contrast and all that good stuff plus wiggled her around till she fit in the chairs better. (I think with CS4 I could have done a much better job of this ‘cause it has the warp feature. But I hafta work with what I have at hand:PSE7.)

The chairs are from the World’s Longest Yard Sale,I think last year. I thought they were cool looking between the color and the rust.

The dog is my daughter’s, Oscar. I’ve added some of my paper with a layer style.

The main background is actually an art journal page of mine before I added the words.

I then blended in a picture of a building in Chicago(turned sideways) and a log, for their textures.

I just painted in the edges after adding a gradient layer.

That’s it for today. I’m hoping my back is better. Thanks for all the words of support! At least I’ve been able to keep up with my email the last few days!!

Ever onward my spotty friends!

Technorati Tags: photomontage,PSE7,texture,dog,vintage photo,chairs

Last post of the day!

2009-11-07T18:01:00.001-05:00

Really!!

I just had to show you the final photomontage I did today in PSE7 sitting here at my laptop. This was with no Wacom pad either! Just my mouse and my little laptop, sitting here with my stupid back, trying not to twist the wrong way!

I call this Flower Girls. I made this with an old cabinet card I found as a freebie on the internet a long time ago.Then I masked and blended like crazy and used five pics from my garden to decorate the dresses.

The yellow is just a solid color fill layer that I masked to just get the areas I wanted. This included painting in a belt! There is a layer in there of marble for texture from a photo I took in a bathroom somewhere!

I used a photo of the underside of an old lawnmower I took a couple of years ago for the background.Again used blending and a mask to make it work. Blending is what I call using the layer styles in case you haven’t figured that out yet.

The final thought for the day: will I do more tomorrow, or have I now burnt out for now?

Technorati Tags: Photoshop Elements 7,PSE7,photomontage,flower girls,flowers,texture,vintage

Two posts in One Day!

2009-11-07T12:15:00.001-05:00

So you can tell I have nothing better to do than sit at my laptop and work at PSE7! I can’t go tripping up and down the steps to the studio, and I can’t really figure out what to do art wise that I can get himself to corral in just a few minutes down there. So this seems the best thing to do with my time.

I have been using that mask action like crazy! Here it is used on just about every layer of this photomontage.

That’s a picture of our driveway and a great blue heron from the nearby lake. Also I used a headlight from an old fire truck. The plaid on the heron is a pattern I made. The door is a picture my sister Chrystal sent me last year.

Fun stuff, fun times…oh except for the little back thing. That’s ok. As long as I’m having fun,eh?!

Technorati Tags: Photoshop Elements 7,PSE7,photomontage,masks,heron,bird,door,fire truck,headlight,pattern

I AM ZORRO!!

2009-11-07T08:23:00.001-05:00

Why you ask?

Because I have a mask now!!

Yes I went poking around the old internet this am as my back is still yelling at me. And I found an action for using a layer mask on Photoshop Elements 7, or PSE 7 or Elements 7 or whatever you want to call it.

I found it at at a wonderful site called Coffeeshop. She has a plethora of info on PSE and lots of free actions that I’ve not started to explore yet as I wanted to quickly pass on the info to anyone passing this way!

So now back to our regularly scheduled day.

Ever onward my masked friends!

Technorati Tags: Photoshop Elements 7,masks,Coffeeshop,free actions

My Stupid Back!

2009-11-06T18:22:00.001-05:00

Is totally acting up again. So no trip to SC for us this weekend. Drat it all anyway! I was really looking forward to this as both a getaway, and a photo op. Not to mention, it would be a chance to see folks I haven’t in about ten years! And I would be with Brian and Lori, our son and his wife all weekend. That’s always so nice. They are a joy to be with.

So I should have been on the road all day today, enjoying the lovely fall scenery between TN and SC. I have instead been carefully moving around so as not to blow my back completely to the screaming point.

I caught up on my Google reader and cleared a lot of junk out of my email!

And now I’ve loaded Live Writer on here so I can add this to my Blog. Busy gal, I’ve been!

I then decided to load Adobe Elements 7 on here (I’m on my PC laptop upstairs, not my Mac, down in the studio). I never had figured out how to really use this, so thought I’d give it another try. Boy is it weird (when compared to Photoshop CS4. So here is what I did with it this afternoon.

All of that is my doing. In another words, I didn’t use any of the gadgets from Elements. Oh, unless you count a drop shadow, and I don’t, ‘cause CS4 has that!

But I sure miss masks in Elements! Did I just not see it? I looked around. That is a major drawback for me, as I use masks all the time.

Oh, I just remembered. An interesting tidbit about the piece that is corrugated with the cowboy comic on it. It actually came off one of the logs that make up our cabin walls! We had to strip the logs when we got them, of all the nails and various bits of papers before they could get built back up again. I’ve got the bits and pieces saved. Fun, eh?!

Ever onward my strong as oxen friends!

Technorati Tags: Photoshop elements 7,flamingo,photo collage,log cabin

On art journals and other things

2009-11-05T17:35:00.001-05:00

So I said last time I would share a few more of my art journal pages from the class I took. Here are the last few I made to go with the various lessons/videos Julie shared with us.

This was done with layers of monotone. Then I just pulled the lady out of the paint using a dip pen and India ink. The white is also done with a dip pen and ink.

This is many layers of several colors built up over some collage pieces. Again a dip pen with ink is used for the writing.

Just 2 colors here followed up with some oil pastel on the edges and dip pen and ink for the sketching and writing. The figure at the top of the bird house is just what I saw when the color blocks were finished. The bird is made from a photo I took. I used deli paper that I stamped and watercolored to make the individual segments.

This had a couple of blocks of color laid down first then I spray painted through a couple of stencils. Reversed the flower one on the bottom to make the flower at the top look so faded and cool!

I’ll end today with a photomontage I quickly did this morning for my sister Chrystal. Her husband took the initial picture of her out working with him.

They and some other guys have to pull and count all these thousands of small fish out of this net. Hours they spent doing this! It was an unusual situation. Usually they have bigger fish that they are tagging and counting and releasing.

Ever onward my drier art friends!

Technorati Tags: art journal pages,dip pen,india ink,stencil,oil pastel,collage,photomontage,fish

So it is just so nice outside

2009-11-02T16:09:00.001-05:00

that I don’t even want to be in the studio at all!

I want to be out with Tommy and whichever of the 5 cats are awake!

I feel like soaking up any little bit of the sun ‘cause I know soon there won’t be any…just cold dreary days. And then I’ll be hunkered down under lots of layers of warm winter clothing.

I’m a summer gal now! Give me a glowing sun, warm days, green grass or even better sand and ocean, and I’m a happy camper. The winter chill that is coming cuts right through to my bones, and leaves me unable to think clearly.

So, I’ve been gathering the wonderful rays of warm yellow to keep safe for as long as I can during the coming winter siege. But that means art takes a back seat.

I did make this digital montage this morning. (be sure to click on it to get the full effect) I had been thinking of Van Gogh lately, and this is a tribute to his Starry Nights, called Starry Hollyhocks.

I would like to thank Renate over at Put a Little Magic in Your Life for letting me use a picture of her freshwater pearls as a background texture in this.

There is more texture in this,including a fabric piece and the log cabin itself that is behind where the hollyhocks grew.

So now back to the sun, with the dog and cats before that gorgeous moon comes up and steals it away!

Ever onward my sunlit friends.

Technorati Tags: digital montage,digital collage,flowers,texture,sunshine,Van Gogh

Happy Halloween!!

2009-10-31T11:46:00.001-04:00

Still busy doing lots of different things around here. Not taking many pics though, it seems. And Nothing much worth blogging about.

I mean do you want to hear about my wonderful puppy anymore and the fact that he only does tricks for treats? Ooh that’s great on Halloween, isn't it?!

Or that I have still been working on art journal pages? But wait, I will post some of those I think.

Or that I’ve started working on my Color Block series again?

Or that I am STILL working on cleaning up the studio. I said it would be a long process. I do it bin by bin. And I don’t do it every day. I can only stand it that way. But I’ve made a lot of progress. I’ve gotten rid of lots of things I thought I needed. But now I know I’ll not use them in the future. Just not geared that way now.

You probably do want to hear that the class with Julie Pritchard was fantastic. She says she has another class coming soon. And the 3 classes she already has, stay open, so you can sign up for them any time.

I found online classes a refreshing way to learn. I do believe I will investigate these types further. If anyone has experience with some. let me know.

I leave you with a pic of Tommy from last month!

So I’m Still Here!

2009-10-15T16:22:00.001-04:00

I’ve been here, there, and nowhere in particular.

I’ve done this and that, and a whole lotta nothing in particular.

I’ve seen Him and Her, and no one in particular.

BUT.

I’ve been doing a whole lotta art journaling ala Super Nova’s Julie Prichard.

Here are a few examples:

Fun stuff! I love this class! I’m learning ton’s and bunches.

I’ll be back!!

Technorati Tags: art journal pages,acrylics,breast cancer month,Super Nova class

Having A great time,Wish you were there!

2009-09-22T17:46:00.001-04:00

I have started an online workshop with Julie Prichard at the Land of Lost Luggage. It’s called Super Nova Art Journaling. How cool is that for a workshop?

So any way, I’m having a wonderful learning experience over there. And that's after only two, yes 2, videos!! I still have many more to come.

Julie is terrific in that she is always there answering questions and providing feedback. And there are lots of others in the class to do the same. This will be a fun few weeks, I can see that from these first couple of lessons.

So here are the first few backgrounds I did. I haven’t added the words yet as I’m awaiting further instructions ala some super spy, ya know! But I have what I want to say for them written on Post It notes, so I won’t forget! (I’ll eat them if the bad guys get too close!)

I’ll write in the pink blocks, later.

This smaller journal page, I’ll add a picture to.

Again, the writing will be in the light bocks.

Now I’m off to work on the second lesson. What fun. This is really helping me loosen up. I sure needed this.

Ever onward my studious cohorts!

Technorati Tags: julie prichard,land of lost luggage,art journals,workshop,acrylics