Wordless Wednesday

"Looking Through" 

Resting On Love . . .

Today I head to the city for my annual oncologist appointment.  One would think that when you get to be 11 years out it would be a cake walk.  Sadly not for me.  Truth is that it feels like a big 'ol associated reaction.  I woke up with a headache this morning, feel crappy, and just want to go back to bed.  Actually I would prefer to hide under the covers for the day.  

I always tell myself this is the "easy" appointment.  I go for my mammo at the end of this month.  That will be the doosy.  The super stressful one.  Who am I kidding, each appointment is stressful.  

Last night I couldn't sleep.  It was anxiety for today.  So I created this digital collage using one of my recent paintings and a sketch.  She looks so calm.  She looks as though she is resting her head on love.  

That is what I wish I was going to do today . . . 

Digital Collage Love

Created this on my iPhone with the fun art studio app.  I used one of my paintings and a recent photo of some trees along the walk trail I frequent.  

I am a fan of inverting colors.  Not sure why.  And recently I am drawn to yellow, a color I really did not like too much.

Hope you are all doing well.  Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is upon us already!   And I hope that in all the holiday craziness you find some time to remember . . .

"love is everywhere" 

xo

Woman Over The Water And Another Storm . . .

Even my digital collaging seems to be morphing.  I did this new one on my iphone the other night and it felt weird to me.  Not typically what I create.  I used a beach image and the image of a woman that appeared in a recent painting.  

I have been posting art that is heading in a different direction, art possibly spun out of my hurricane angst.  I do like where it is going but I am in the stage where it still feels weird.  But then again since the devastation going on all around us up here in the Northeast thanks to Sandy I don't feel right at all.  Spiritually speaking I am a sponge.  All of the energy going on around me affects me deeply.  I need to block it sometimes.  I have been weepy and anxious.  I suppose that is evident in my latest pieces.  

We are expecting a Nor easter on Wednesday.  More wind, rain, and potential damage.  Another thing that is out of our control.  I only hope that those who are already suffering from Sandy will be ok as we get hit once again. . . 

Late Night Digital Collaging . . .

Sometimes my creativity hits me late at night.  Most of the time I try to ignore it as I hate to miss sleep.  I have enough trouble in that area that I don't want to press my luck.  However, last night I was playing with photos on my iphone and created this digital collage.  I used 3 images, 2 paintings, and a nyc photo.  

The bad thing is that the iphone is very small and tired eyes do not do well with that!  I woke up this morning with a really bad headache that I have been trying to get rid of to no avail.  

I do love the collage though.  lol

xo

Putting Myself Out There . . .

A few months ago I found out about a local art exhibit.  They were hosting their annual show exhibiting the art of local artists.  I was nervous at first to put my work out there at this type of event but decided it would be a good thing.  I decided on 4 pieces, one painting, and 3 digital collages. 

The opening reception was Saturday afternoon. When we walked in there was my work right above the welcome table.  It was very cool to see!  There was a really great turnout despite the humid rainy weather which is not typical for a fall day in NY.   

I also want to thank everyone who left a comment on my last post.  It helps to know that I am not the only one who feels the energetic changes happening out in the universe this year. 

xo

Its All About Love . . . New Digital Collage

When I am just not feeling like painting I do the next best thing . . . play with photos.  I recently found out about another cool iphone app called "art studio"  and that is where I did this collage.  I used a flower image and layered one of the images from my latest journal page that I shared in my last post.  The most fun though was writing love across the iphone screen.  

Bird In A Cage . . .

© cathy bueti

Here's hoping you had a good holiday weekend.  Thank you to all the supportive words on my last post.  I go back to the doctor today to see how the wound is progressing.  I have to say that I do believe I may be experiencing a bit of post traumatic stress from my cancer surgery 10 years ago.  The way I am reacting to this whole arm cyst thing is abnormal given what I have been through already.  I spent most of the weekend in a state of "high anxiety"  as my grandma liked to call it.  

I had not been in photoshop for awhile so the other day I decided to try a photo I had shared on here recently of a seagull and wondered how it would look if I used some of my scribbled artwork for a digital collage.  I layered the scribbles over the bird photo and inverted the image.  I kinda like it.  Maybe because I feel like I am trapped lately.

Digital Collaging . . . Love And NYC

I knew it wouldn't take me long to get back into photoshop. Early this morning I created this digital collage. At first I really didn't like it. But then I tried to invert the image to its negative. Well, that is when I fell in love (no pun intended!) :)

I started out wanting to use my latest mixed media painting. I had so much fun creating this painting with layers of collage, paint, stamping, and molding paste for the heart! I really love the contrast between the red and blue!

available on etsy

And I felt like it would be cool to layer it with this image I shot in NYC and altered in snapseed. Its a grungy view at the corner of 42nd and Park Ave.

Feeling as though it was just missing something I layered this azalea up in the top right corner. And it just seemed to fit.

Each time I get away from my other art and head for photoshop I always get scared. Its weird how I feel that way. Its as if I will never return to the other mediums. And yet somehow I always find my way back!

I am sharing this image today over at Paint Party Friday. I just couldn't miss the First Anniversary party!! It is sure to be a fun one! Thank you Kristin and Eva for hosting this amazing party each week!

xo

Love Me Some Collage

I am continuing to have fun with digital collage. I find that what I enjoy layering are my own paintings and sketches along with a photo image. Its the mystery that keeps me going with these pieces. Its the element of surprise that gets me excited as I work. Seeing something cool pop through from underneath is one of the things I love about this medium.

For this piece I used a photo I shot in NYC of a lamp post with "love me" written on it in graffiti, along with a sketch and the mixed media painting below. I had alot of fun creating this painting using layers of collage, stamping, and two of my fav colors. . . payne's gray and raw umber mixing each with varying amounts of titanium white for lights and darks.

"beyond the trees"

mixed media collage on 11x14 wrapped canvas

available on etsy

I am sharing this over at Paint Party Friday today.

We are expecting unseasonably warm temps for winter in NY so I am planning on some long walks at the trail! Wishing you a lovely weekend!

xo

Mystery at 42nd and Park

"42nd and Park"

prints available on etsy

One of the things I love about digital collage is the mystery. All the layers create these hidden spaces where anything is possible.

Yesterday afternoon I meant to paint but as soon as I opened up my iphoto I began a search for images to create a story. My favorite images are of NYC. I used one of those that I shot of city traffic on the corner of 42nd and Park Ave combining it with one of my mixed media paintings and a sketch I posted a few days ago.

A couple of the things I love about this piece are in the details. The taxi cab in the bottom right has the words 'love today' written on the windshield. And then there is the street sign popping through on the top left. The buildings create depth and the eye on the upper right is so mysterious. I wonder where she has been.

I am really learning to love creating this way. Its like painting for me. I hope I won't ditch the real thing for photoshop!

As you can see I am trying to change things up a bit around here. I finally figured out how to make a proper size blog banner. I used a cropped image from this collage. I feel like it represents pieces of what I am about as an artist. I am pretty fickle though so we will see how long it stays there!

So far I am liking it . . . although it may warrant a background color change.

See what I mean?! :)

A Sketch, A Journal Page, And Hearts . . . More Digital Fun!

I can't seem to tear myself away from photoshop. I have been playing with digital collage using my sketches and paintings and am becoming seriously addicted! lol

Yesterday I took a recent sketch and collaged it with a journal page you may have seen in this post. I played and played till I liked how she emerged from the background. Obviously I am liking just the faces of these girls without hair.

Whether its photos or collage, photoshop seems to be my go to creative outlet.

What is your go to creative outlet that you find yourself returning to again and again?

Would love to hear about it!

xo

Wordless Wednesday

Adding A Burst of Color To My Sketch

'you can see love'

prints available on etsy

Ok so I am pretty addicted to this digital collage thing! This time I took one of my whimsical sketches you may recognize from a previous post and collaged my watercolor painting over it. I played with layers, opacity, and that eraser tool till I was happy with it.

I love the results! Its pretty cool how I was able to add all this color to a black and white sketch! Looks like it was a painting. I thought the drips at the top were perfect with the rain drops in this sketch. Fun!

In other news I just signed up for Misty Mawn's new online workshop "Open Studio"! I missed her workshop last year so this time it was a no brainer for me! I have wanted to take a class with Misty for some time now. I am excited to get started! I just hope I can tear myself away from photoshop! lol ;)

xo

Her Mind Was Filled With Hopes And Dreams . . .

'Flower Girl Dreams'

prints available on etsy

Happy New Year my sweet friends!! It was a quiet NYE in our house. Lou and I just laid low at home and watched the ball drop in Times Square. This has been a tradition of our for a while now. I hope wherever you were it was a wonderful night!

Its quite hard to believe another year has passed. 2011 was a very tough year for me filled with much loss. Rather than dwell on that I want to focus on the new year which always holds such possibility and hope.

I have been thinking of my word for the year. I have seen many of you do this and it has inspired me to choose one for the first time! The past year I was filled with alot of worry and anxiety. Some of it was related to circumstances and the rest of it is just how I am. I long to live more in the moment. Although it seems like with each loss that comes along I loose a bit of myself and sink deeper into anxiety with only my creativity to help me out.

So my word for this year is . . .

FEARLESS !!

I am actually a bit scared sharing this out loud fearing (there's that word again!) that I cannot live up to the challenge. (this is why I never make resolutions! too much pressure!) But all I can do is try. So try I will!

Yesterday I created this new digital collage using the same sketch from my last post along with two of my textured photos. I LOVE this one! I so enjoyed creating this. It feels like painting to me without all the mess!

I look at her and she reminds me of myself. Her mind looks very busy but filled with hopes,dreams, and beauty. I will let her inspire me to fill my mind with only good things.

Wishing you all peace, love, happiness, and hope . . .

xo

Digital Collage Play . . . She Dreams of Being Free

"She Dreams of Being Free"

print available on etsy

Ok so late last night I opened up photoshop and started to play. And man was it cool! I took an image of one of my butterfly mixed media paintings, a textured photo, a favorite sketch of mine and layered them. I played with blending modes, opacity, saturation, and the eraser for the push/pull of bringing different aspects of each piece through.

I was so in a moment and felt as though I was working on a painting. I have always admired digital collage and months ago made a few attempts but nothing I really was that happy with. This was the first one in which I decided to utilize a painting along with one of my sketches. I LOVE how this turned out! I may have discovered a new way to incorporate my sketches into my art! You know how I always say I am afraid to paint my faces? Well to me this sketch now looks as though it is in a painting!

I am hoping to spend more time trying a few others like this. I will be sure to share with you!

Wishing you all a creative night!

xo

Sunset Love . . . New Digital Collage

Sunset Love

prints available in my etsy shop

Here I am again with more digitally altered photos! What a surprise right?! :) There is a serious addiction developing here. But I am having fun so that is what matters right?! My blank canvas is still yelling at me. All I have done is sketch out my landscape and added a bit of purple for a sky. Then I happily went back to photoshop! lol

The above image was created using two of my own images. One is a sunset shot I captured in Puerto Rico on our honeymoon and the other is a photo of a heart a drew in the sand on the beach in newport. I layered the heart over the sunset, moved it around till I liked the image , and spent some time adjusting opacities as well as hue and saturation. I could spend hours playing around with all of the image altering techniques to be had!

I love the results! Hope you do too!

PS . . . I think I may need to change the title of this blog soon to "Photoshop Addict"!! lol

Angel Collage And Exciting News!!!

I put together this digital collage the other night. I used one of my lake photos and layered my angel photo over it. I really loved the surreal feel it has. I did try adding a texture layer but it was too much. I think the leaves and trees lend enough texture to the image. Funny I never thought I would say no to texture! lol I am really having fun playing with this new medium, so much so that I am neglecting a big blank canvas that has been begging for paint!

Now for my exciting news! I have been wanting to share this for a couple of weeks but wanted to wait till I was sure it was a go. And now it is! My art will be displayed in a gallery! It is the Gallery Off Broadway in Excelsior Springs, MO. I found out about it from my sweet friend Kelly over at Kelly Berkey Designs and with her encouragement have jumped aboard! The owner Kathleen Fenton is so lovely and encouraging to new artists such as myself. You can check out the facebook page for the gallery HERE!! I have sent some of my original paintings and was excited to find out that she also loved my altered photography! So I framed a few of my favorite textured photos and sent them along as well. My work arrived there on Friday and I am so excited that it will soon be on display!

It hard to believe that little over a year ago I was just beginning on this amazing journey with art and now I have an incredible opportunity to share my work in a new venue! I am so grateful to all of you for your encouragement and support along the way! I am having a blast!

Hubby and I are off to a local art museum on this beautiful Sunday. I am hoping to take some photos of the grounds and will be sure to post them! They may even have some texture! :)

Wishing you all an amazing day!! xo

Dreamscapes . . . My First Digital Collage!!

I have been sharing my new addiction to texturing photos and now I have taken it a step further. I wanted to share some digital collage. The above image was my first attempt using 3 of my own photos. I used a beach sunset image, butterfly image, and a lake image. Then I added the text on top. I layered the images and played around with opacity, hue, and saturation.

For this one I used 3 images again. My chrysler building photo, my butterfly, and an image of some trees.

On this one I used some texture as well as 2 of my own photos. One was of a lake and some tree branches. I like what the texture does for this image.

These I did through trial and error as I don't really know what I am doing yet! I did mostly layering of the images similar to how I learned to add the texture. I am reading one of Susan Tuttle's books Digital Expressions which is great so far. If you are interested in learning about digital art using photoshop elements than I highly recommend it!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!! xo