kelly loves whales.

Tutorial. Digital Collage Lab

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:00:00 +0000

hi dears,
today's post features a tutorial on creating digital collage using Photoshop. for this tutorial, you'll need the following:

* Photoshop {or other similar software},

*A fun collection of Photoshop Brushes {there are lovely free ones available here & here},

*Photos or scans of artwork or stuff {you know how I love to experiment with the scanner--feel free to use scans & textures from my for the love of free textures set},

*The same patience you'd give your friends when teaching them something new.

ready? all right.

begin by opening Photoshop & selecting the size of document you'd like to create. {for web, use 72 dpi to keep file size smaller.}

i chose a scanned photo of my grandparents taken when they were expecting my pops. {please be kind & respect the copyright of others when looking for images. there are many creative commons images available here and copyright-free images here.}

layering is key in digital collage. by keeping each action on a separate layer, you can easily discard something if you later decide you aren't crazy about it.

this sweet brush is from a lovely pack available here.

layer styles can do so much for a piece. i often come back and back to a layer to work with the style even after i have ten layers over top.

this is one of my spring-time in seattle photos, taken on an afternoon walk with my love & our pup.

i love how this looks like they've walked in front of a projector slide show or something. very soft.

i added another layer, and used a great big map brush.

{the key is to P L A Y . it doesn't matter what it looks like. just add elements as you create a story: this one is all about the new world my grandparents were about to enter into as they welcomed a baby that spring of 1940-- oops, dad! i might have given your age away!}

now, it's your turn to try the digital collage. show me what you come up with dears! also, post questions below and i'll answer away!
xo

oh, and here is the final result!

wishful wednesday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:38:00 +0000

dreaming of summer vacation.
maybe camp.
a chic version of camp, that is.

{year of the ox print by dutch door.}

{something lovely to cover-up with from toast. }

{the most perfectly, "plain jane" head piece from which goose.}

{you know i'd rock these deck shoes from lacy lady vintage.}

{a nebular panda one-piece? yes! thank you 80s Purple.}

{a sweet card to write notes home, by tutti studio.}

happy trails, loves.

inspiration tuesday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:12:00 +0000

inspired by l o v e.
{the wedding this weekend was beauty-full.}
{the bride & groom, all the family & friends. lovely souls.}

la la la monday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:19:00 +0000

darlings,
i do hope you had a lovely weekend. we had a delightful time at the wedding of dear friends {at a castle in the columbia river gorge- so pretty}.
and now,
for the big news!
the sunrose studio shoppe has launched! you can now purchase any of your favorite photos and digital collages from my collection. {just click the image below.}

thank you all for the sweet support of this project! i plan to add new photos and collage-prints to the shop weekly & rotate original paintings through the shop as well. visit often, please!

{also, i was pleasantly surprised to be featured at Wickedly Chic within five short minutes of the launch. Wow! Delightful!}

happy friday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:03:00 +0000

oh good things. so many good things.
being blessed with sweet yoga classes to teach.
sunshine-y days.
early morning work-outs with the mister.
knowing my newly-moved sister is feeling the groove.
work makes work. {the more i do, the more i feel i can do.}
closing in on a special project for a special friend & her lovely family.
PODCASTING. {this is such a learning experience. the audio is up on my yoga blog, but i'm still trying to figure out how the feed gets picked up by iTunes--i'm in the iTunes directory under Sunrose Yoga Podcast.}
being in LOVE every single day.
opening my brand-new etsy shop Sunrose Studio on Monday. {bookmark this, loves.}

what are your blessings?
peace. & LOVE.
always.
k

{p.s. the working title of the piece above is "cat mountain." too much?}

wishful wednesday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:51:00 +0000

hi dolls,
After yesterday's post about managing inspiration (so to speak), I thought I would share a few things & concepts I'm coveting right about now.

{wouldn't this Rainbow Stacker look swell in my den?}

{Kime Buzzelli's "Flapper" makes me smile.}

{This Floral Life- dress looks like it was made for me.}

{What a sweet "Circus" by Mati Rose.}

{Earl Grey Sandwich Cookies! Need I say more...?}

{You know I'm a sucker for a vintage Polaroid Land Camera.}

{The colors in this Obi belt are delicious.}

{This map would be perfect in Shyla's room. We *love* Canada.}

Now, I'm off to work on the new Sunrose Studio Etsy Shop! GRAND OPENING on MONDAY!

xxoo

inspiration tuesday

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:14:00 +0000

Dear ones,

Inspiration overload: is it a term (or condition) you have any experience with? Me too. With so many sources of creative spice out there on the web, in print, and out in the world, one can become overwhelmed without a way to logically sift and sort through all of the beauty.

So what do I do? My number one secret to organizing my inspiration files and keeping my brain free for creating is keeping ultra-neat folders for favorites.

In my studio, I use a big red box with file folders that correspond to the type of inspiron (color, shape, line, fashion, etc.) as well as a bulletin board and clothes line. On rainy Saturdays, that box is a girl's greatest companion (besides an adorable husband, I mean!).

On my computer, I have several formulas: flickr has an easy way to capture what captures my heart: favorites. (I even enjoy going back over my pages and pages of favorites as a visual history of my creative evolution.) You may have noticed that I also make mosaics from my favorites (often using the mosaic-maker from Big Huge Labs), which is especially helpful if I'm documenting favorites with a distinctly similar theme. Favorites are also a great way for me to organize the new talents I would like to feature from Etsy. Tumblr also has a heart-it feature that works similarly.

I also love to bookmark websites. This way, if I'm pressed for time or just do not have the desire to go down a rabbit-hole of loveliness at that particular moment, I can easily find what I'm smitten with and dig in more deeply later on. My bookmarks are ridiculously-detailed in their descriptions (think "vegan desserts" or "hot colors").

Additionally, I oftentimes right-click and save things that I find inspiring into descriptive files. This is a great way for me to get to know an artist or designer I'd like to feature or who has plucked a chord deep in the root of my creative psyche. Obviously, I would never use any of these images without the permission of the artist, which is why descriptive labels can be so helpful.

Out in life, I like to photograph or sketch what moves me. Sketching in particular can be an immensely gratifying way to soak up the moment. I try to capture words, smells, sounds, forms and textures with my pencil. Years later, this helps me remember (almost viscerally) what happened that I just couldn't bear to leave out of a painting.

Of paramount importance to keeping the inspiration well from overflowing and threatening to ruin you with overwhelm is the art of stepping away, the art of forgetting (always knowing that what is meant to stay with you always will find its way), the art of surrendering to the moment, and the gift of turning off the computer.

What are your tips for keeping inspiration where you need it?

All good things,
kelly

and now, the winners!

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Thank you all so much for playing this fun game! The winners of this prize, chosen at random {using the old "drawing names from a hat" method} are:

Cindy, Mamichan & Leen.

Ladies, please email me your addresses at kelly {at} kellyloveswhales {dot} com.

Congratulations!

If you didn't win big this round, stay tuned for more giveaways in the future.

peace. & LOVE.
always.

giveaway contest!

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Darlings, I'm just so excited to share with you the latest creative bud that's beginning to bloooooom in my world. If you have been following my hints at all, maybe you've guessed it: I'm opening a new shop called Sunrose Studio.

Sunrose Studio will feature my fine art photography and digital collage prints as well as a rotating selection of original paintings. As always, I strive for my pieces to be affordable enough for you to become collectors of the work I create with LOVE.

Sunrose Studio will launch next week. . . stay tuned!

On to the contest/giveaway: I will be giving away one 8 by 10-inch and two 5 by 7-inch fine art prints to three luckies selected at random. To enter, leave a comment with your favorite photo featured below. This contest is open until Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 3pm Pacific Daylight Time. Good luck!

{the back-story: when I opened my kelly LOVES whales shoppe in November of 2007, I just went for it {as they say} without a lot of planning or forethought. While I'm glad I did this {it certainly helped get me started and let me surrender various fears about putting my art out for all the world to see}, I am now at a place where I have a vision for my creative endeavors in the long-term. kelly LOVES whales will continue to grow and thrive, though I will be using it for primarily paper goods & textiles-- journals, notecards, sweet lil' prints, tees and the such, whereas sunrose studio will be the place where I showcase my photography, digital collage, and original paintings. I cannot wait to welcome you to Sunrose Studio and the new kelly LOVES whales shop.}

inspiration tuesday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:17:00 +0000

right now, these things inspire me:
my garden. {more garden-y photos here.}
spending the evenings weeding and watering. {rather than t.v.-ing.}
my last few pages of breaking dawn. {what will i read after twilight-ing?}
designing & sewing a dress to wear to a weekend wedding.
my new project. {hints, there might be a new shopping destination for photos like the one featured in this post. stay tuned for a . . . giveaway.}

{i love when one's own life is the source of richest inspiration.}

la la la monday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:47:00 +0000

darlings,
thank you so so much for the sweet birthday wishes. it was as de-lish a day as ever {i ate my weight in Indian food, chocolate cake + macaroons}. it's definitely official, i am thirty-one. on with the show!

this weekend i...

*made major strides on a secret new project that will launch in the next week {more to be revealed soon, but hints may come up in my tweets}.

*organized our multi-media bureau as i cleaned the house from top to bottom {i love to embark on organizational projects. it pleases me to no end. now, i just need to keep it organized!}.

*had two magical cocktails at Barrio. {grapefruit soda + tequila + lime + salt = holy mother of yum}.

* enjoyed the sweet, colorful costumes for the gay pride events in our sister neighborhood.
added a few new seeds and starts to my urban garden retreat. {jasmine, another lavender, more pink poppies + something that will attract the hummingbirds. i did unwittingly run errands with dirt smeared on my cheeks, but no matter.}

how about you?
peace. & LOVE. always.

thursday. one year later.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:15:00 +0000

oh, thirty-one. hello.

i've been expecting you.
sort of.
thanks for another great year, dear readers of this blog.
peace. & LOVE.

wind-swept wednesday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:07:00 +0000

Things I love right now:
Lavender-scented wind,
Cookies,
Plotting new plans,
Learning new skills {podcasting is happening!},
Hoping for a wonderful birthday,
Life unsaturated,
All of my amazing friends and family,
Reading before sleep,
Open windows,
Reflecting…introspecting.

*) wishing you a lovely Wednesday night.

pounced. Blue Nimbus.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:43:00 +0000

I've pounced again!
Blue Nimbus creates illustrated animals with the most amazing personalities.
oh, i love that!

{from left: Fox & Kitty Nouveau.}

Also, please do visit Blue Nimbus' flickr page for arty goodness.

pounced! Pitu7 Design.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Darlings, Someone needs to take my computer away from me...I want everything in Pitu7 Design's shop. I am a true jewelry-lover, and the sweet, modern designs of Pitu7 Design's rings have me swooning. The amethyst ring featured below is *so* me. {They offer a watermelon tourmaline ring that is also on my "please buy me this for my birthday" list.} But enough about me already, the creator of these beautiful pieces comes from Sumatra, Indonesia and a long line of Batak people famous for their hand-crafted arts. Definitely check out the Pitu7 Design shop.

{amethyst & blue diamond ring.}

S A L E .

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:22:00 +0000

in my shoppe. 6/22-6/30.
{for my birthday!}

check it.
{highlights: 3 print sets for $30, individual giclee prints $12, marked-down original paintings.}

la la la monday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

this weekend,i . . .

enjoyed life without a t.v. {we are analog & didn't make the switch.}
ate yummy seafood pasta at la rustica and watched the sun set over the Olympic mountains.
planned some communal raised beds with our sweet sweet neighbors. {you know i love to garden.}
listened to lots and lots of music. {especially loving making art while listening to yoga mixes my friend bekah made me.}
made tons and tons {okay, maybe not tons and tons, but quite a few} digi-collages.

essentially, i recharged the batteries. how about you?

pounced! Candy Factory.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:30:00 +0000

I'm in LOVE with the juicy, girly photography of Michelle Campbell-Zurek and her brand new shop, Candy Factory. The COLORS and sweet forms immediately drew me in to her shop. it was so hard for me to pick a few to feature here, since I loved them all immediately.

{from left: wounded but not conquered & simone.}

Michelle has another shop, filled with beautiful work at Urban Junkies Photography. Also, check out here main photography site & blog.

my trip to st. louis

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:32:00 +0000

was exquisite.

big, fat naps with the ruggies.
hugging all of my people close.
sunrise over the city museum.
my first show at the fabulous {truly fabulous} fox.
mcgrupp.
dancing through this fountain at midnight.

Pounced! Great Patterns.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:00:00 +0000

I've been on an amazing Pouncing expedition on Etsy and cannot wait to share all of my finds with you.

Great Patterns sells just that: great patterns. Gorgeous, vintage patterns perfect for summer sewing. {I love to bring my sewing machine into whatever room my husband and I are hanging out in at night and sew away while listening to music.} The patterns offered by Great Patterns have ignited the sewing spark, and I think I'll sew a dress this weekend.

{ from left: vintage 1960s Size 14(--includes a bathing suit!), vintage 1970s size 10 caftans, vintage 1960s Mod Pleated tent dress, vintage 1970s mock-wrap dress. }

moving letters all around.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:27:00 +0000

i love to rearrange the view inside of our house. while i was cleaning the house before our trip to st. louis, i simultaneously gave the art-arrangements in our house a makeover so that when we returned from the lou, it would be like a whole new house {and a magically clean one at that!}. here are a few shots of the new-ness.

{top photo: all hanging prints made by me; middle: golden girls giclee print on canvas by Ellen Lohse, glass pieces by Chris Weber, flying cat card by Reiko Yamaguchi-Barclay, paintings by me; bottom: skunk cabbage screenprint by Sue Allen, mermaid giclee print by Holly Kitaura, paintings by me.}

LOVES it.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:10:00 +0000

It is such an amazing time to be an independent artist. . . and support other artists. While browsing Etsy the other day in search of gift ideas {um... for myself...i'm turning 31 soon!}, I found the work of Mara Pollins and instantly fell in love.

Mara is an art teacher in the D.C. area. {I imagine working with kiddos every day is a major source of inspiration.} About her work, Mara writes, "My paintings are inspired by the colors, forms and patterns found in the natural world. Many of my paintings reflect patterns found in plantlife, fugus,biology and cells as would be seen on a microscopic level. I use many layers to create a sense of depth and light."
{check out her shop right here.}

{from left: Cellular, Blobular, Original collage.}

Inspiration Tuesday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:00:00 +0000

darlings, i love finding inspiration using really random search terms on flickr. . . like wacky, lovely, vintage, and kooky. here are a few of my finds.

{please click the links below to connect to the wonderful artists.}

{ 1. maybe we can live in a house and live in it until we're old., 2. Vintage bokeh, 3. threesixtyfive - day 342, 4. Funky Rock, 5. Wacky Ice Bokeh, 6. greg - now it's wednesday. }

la la la monday.

kellyloveswhales@gmail.com (Kelly C.) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:05:00 +0000

darlings,
i hope you had a sweet sweet weekend.
you know i did.
guess what we're doing tomorrow. . .

sitting way up close at the phish show at the fabulous fox theatre in st. louis.
i am beyond excited.
{fingers crossed for an icculus. . .}

kelly loves whales.

Tutorial. Digital Collage Lab

wishful wednesday.

inspiration tuesday.

la la la monday.

happy friday.

wishful wednesday.

inspiration tuesday

and now, the winners!

giveaway contest!

inspiration tuesday.

recommended reading.

la la la monday.

thursday. one year later.

wind-swept wednesday.

pounced. Blue Nimbus.

pounced! Pitu7 Design.

S A L E .

la la la monday.

pounced! Candy Factory.

my trip to st. louis

Pounced! Great Patterns.

moving letters all around.

LOVES it.

Inspiration Tuesday.

la la la monday.