Somerset Digital Studio Spring Edition !

I am so excited and honored to have two technique articles published in Somerset Digital Studio!  It is THE mag for digital artists!  

I have contributed one article titled "Fun With Faces"  where I share my inspiration and techniques for using face sketches to create cool layered digital pieces.  In "Mystery of the Moon"  I talk about my love of the moon and my techniques for using some really cool apps to add the moon to digital landscapes.  

The issue is on newsstands now!  Or you can order a copy online at Stampington.  

Click HERE to get your copy!

Moment of Sunlight . . .

Sunday night I was stunned by bright light coming through the trees into our sunroom.  I just knew it was a moment to be captured.  And as most sunsets go, or sunrises for that matter, you have to act fast before the colors and light change right before your eyes. 

I shot this image with my iPhone 4 through the window screen.  As I was looking at the image those words popped in my head.  This is filter free.  I am crazy about filters but this stood perfectly on its own.  I used Phonto app to add the text.  

Thought I would share the inspiration 

xo

Rocky's Photo Shoot

Yesterday morning I decided to dust off my Canon DSLR.  For the past few years I have only used my iPhone 4 (yes I still have that old version lol)  and occasionally my Canon powershot D10. 

I love macro photography, always have, but I don't have a macro lens.  I supposed I just couldnt justify the expense when I don't use the camera much at all anymore.  But I did play with it couple of years ago in the AV mode.  

One of my subjects was of course Rocky.  He was pretty patient with me but there are quite a few blurry shots from him moving around when he must have about had enough of the photo shoot.  lol 

I am sure at some point I will be playing with these images on my iPad in some filter apps but until then I kinda like them just as they are.  One of the things I love about the AV mode is how much light it lets in and you can get that blurred background that mimics a macro lens.  These were all shot in black and white.  Love monochrome even in my artwork.  

What is your go to camera these days?  

Rocky Steps View 2 Ways

I was going through some old photos the other day and found an image I shot back in 1990 during a trip to the Philadelphia Art Museum which of course is home to the Rocky steps.   I am a huge Rocky fan, always have been, so it was very cool to have been on those steps in person.  The image I shot was from the top of the steps looking out toward the city view.  

I wasn't sure how the image would work when I scanned it as it is pretty old.  The age though worked to my advantage.  The above image was processed through a few apps starting with my go to Snapseed to add the drama filter, then through Stackables, and finishing up in Procreate.  

Stackables is my new app addiction!  If you are not familiar with it check it out.  So much you can do with it.  Lots of fun!  

Less involved processing was done for this version which was completed only with Stackables.  I created this edit first and then took it further for the above edit.  

Here is the original image so you can see where this piece began . . . 

Have you been to the Rocky steps?  I hope to return one day.  Would love to see the Rocky statue.  It had been moved to the Spectrum that days years ago when I was there.  Bummer but there is always tomorrow!  

Which of the two images is your fav?  Would love to hear!

xo

Lets Fly Away . . .

Late last night I was sketching on my iPad using Paper 53, my favorite drawing app. Of course the drawing was filtered with Snapseed as well.  Just can't help myself.   This sweet girl showed up and her message quickly popped into my head.  

"she wanted to fly away and she did"

I always wonder if the words that come through onto my artwork are things I am feeling and wishing.  I suppose that may be a silly question to ask myself because isn't that what we all do when we create, leave a bit of ourselves on the paper/canvas?

And lately I have been feeling restless and struggling with anxiety.  That tends to leave me with the urge to "run away"  although the way she puts it sounds so much nicer doesn't it? ;)

Her - Filtered

Last night I grabbed my graphite pencils and sketchbook, dusted them off and created this girl.  I tried not to think too much, just created whatever needed to come out of me at the time.  

I miss drawing and sketching.  I have been in a bit of a funk lately, for months actually and am planning on trying to sketch everyday as a daily practice for my mind.  Maybe if I put it out there I will stick to it! 

When she was finished I took a pic of her with my iPhone.  Of course the next thing I did was throw her in Snapseed (on of my fav filter apps)  and filtered away.  

And just like that she is transformed into something completely different.  

If you have never tried this with a sketch or even a painting give it a whirl.  It is addicting and fun!  Snapseed is a great app to start with.  For this gal I used the "drama" filter first and then the "grunge"  filter to achieve the effect you see here.  

Be sure to stop back and share a link to what you create!  I would love to see!

xo

Wordless Wednesday

"Looking Through" 

My Eye Selfie

As many times as I use my iPhone I am still amazed at the art that can be created with it.  The other night I took a quick selfie with the native camera on the phone.  Using the native camera will render a higher resolution image.  

Despite the fact that I didn't like the image I knew that I was going to filter it.  First I cropped it down to just one of my eyes looking up.  After stacking filters from SnapSeed and Pixlromatic I ended in DistressedFx for the final layers of grunge with some cool birds.  

Susan Tuttle offers a great online class in iPhoneography.  I am currently taking the class and its pretty amazing! 

Click Here for all the details! 

Are you an iPhoneography addict too?  Do tell!

A Sketch, Some Butterflies, and IPhone Apps . . .

I found an old sketch I had done very quickly on watercolor paper using a stabilo pencil and water.  I hated it.  lol  Well, hate is a strong word.  I just didn't vibe to the image.  

So when I saw it again yesterday I grabbed my butterfly stencil and some homemade black spray paint.  After a few pumps of the black paint I felt I was on to something.  

I quickly took a pic of it with my iPhone.  It traveled from there to my iPad where I started playing with apps.  I added filters to it with Distressedfx and Pixlromatic. If you have not checked out these apps they are really cool!  I also put it through one last filter via PicTapGo another of my go to photo apps.  

You never know what you can create with a limited supplies!

xo

Empire State Of Mind . . .

I hopped a train the other day to NYC.  Its only a little over an hour ride.  I was going to bring my regular camera and then realized that I have my iphone camera at the ready.  

Walking down 5th avenue I passed tons of great photo ops.  Like this slice of grandness.  I pointed up to the sky and clicked.  That was all it took to capture the fabulousness of this building.  

Filters were added via instagram.

Finding The Beauty . . .

Yesterday I was waiting for Lou at Home Depot, sitting in my car.  All of a sudden the clouds appeared and it started to rain.  It was close to the time of day when the sun would begin its decent behind the mountains.  

As I looked out the car window I noticed how cool all the rain drops looked plastered to the glass.   The sun was trying to burst back through the darkness that had so quickly consumed the sky.  It was a moment.  One that would not last long. 

I quickly held up my  iPhone and snapped a couple of pics.  This one is my favorite.  I love the mysterious little metropolis that seems to be hidden behind the wet glass.  

If we take a moment to look we can find beauty in most everything . . . 

Cat Eyes For Cat . . .

"Cat" is a nickname that some have called me.  I have always liked it although I have never liked cats!  lol  They just seem too independent and snooty to me (sorry all you cat lovers out there!).  They make me anxious. 

 Anyway, I did a selfie with my iphone the other night.  I bought another pair of eyeglasses online at Coastal.com and I was not sure if I could pull off the "cat eye" shape but I am warming up to this style!  The color is a nice deep burgundy, and there are little hearts on each side.   It is a more bold than I am used to wearing but with some encouragement from my husband I am trying to rock the look!  

They only cost me $30 (50%off sale)  including the lenses.  Now how can you beat that??

(no I am not a spokesperson for coastal, I just think its a great place to order frames!)

If you want to give them a try you get your first pair free.  That is how I started, and I love those frames too.

Sleeping Like A Human . . .

I wish I could sleep this good.  At times Rocky can be found turning our couch into a bed.  If you have a pug there is no way you will keep them off the couch or out of your lap for that matter.

I am determined though to keep him out of our bed.  That is where I draw the line! lol

I have a feeling that I may get a better nights sleep if he was in our bed because  he would be happy and more comfortable except that I would not.

If you have a dog, where does he/she sleep??

:)

Signs of Spring . . .

I took this photo yesterday in our yard during a brief lull in the wind.  It was shot with my iPhone using the olloclip macro lens.  (love!)  Processing courtesy of the new app PicTapGo.  Very fun!  

How nice to see this little crocus popping up from the dirt after a long winters nap.  Although I am not looking forward to a steamy, humid, hot summer here in NY I am glad to be saying goodbye to winter for now.  

Hope you all had a really nice weekend!

xo

PicTapGo And An iPad Yes or No??

I took this photo back in December at the walk trail I long to go back to.  Since I have been sick with this stinkin flu I have not been up to walking or much of anything really.  Its 3 weeks now and I am still not back to 100%.  I have alot of rib pain from all the coughing which seems to be getting worse and not better, the pain not the cough.  

Anyway, I tried a new app called PicTapGo for the iPhone.  I added the filters with that app and you can get some really cool effects with it.  It will also save your recipes and it recalls your "style" if you will.  I highly recommend it!

I have also been thinking of and resisting getting an iPad.  I use my iphone for my photography and digital art.  It is pretty small but what I can do with it is amazing.  I hardly ever go on the computer and open up photoshop anymore.  The phone makes it so darn easy!  I have been reading some blogs and checking out the digital art created with the iPad apps.  There are some cool ones for drawing and painting.  And then I thought that maybe I should just keep it old school, stick with paper and pencil.  I certainly do not need another digital device to become addicted to!  But I bet it would be lots of fun to sketch digitally.  

Do any of you have an iPad?  If so do you love it?? 

Let me know!

xo

Wordless Wednesday . . .

iphoneography,  olloclip lens macro,  filtered with snap seed

Don't Forget To Look Up . . .

You never know what you may find when you happen to glance up to the sky.  I stopped at the walk trail this afternoon not expecting much.  Just wanted to stretch my legs and get some much needed fresh air on this mild NY winter day.  Mild for us is like 45.  

I always have my iphone with me and instead of quickly walking along, I was scanning around for interesting images. I was trying to take the time to stop and look.  Surprisingly there were many cool things I found within a short distance.  And then  I happened to look up.  And there were all these tree tops joining together almost like an umbrella.  When I pointed the lens upward it was like a whole new world.  

It was a moment.  And want more of those . . . 

xo

Beauty Is Everywhere . . .

While out shopping at a local store the other day I was stopped in my tracks at the amazing sunset happening before me.  We had just stepped out into the parking lot and as we headed to the car I glanced up and saw oranges, purples, and pinks in the sky. 

Rarely do I take advantage of these moments.  But this time I grabbed my iPhone (one of the perks is the camera you always have with you)  and snapped away.  The colors change so very fast that if you pause, you could miss it.  Funny how I can't even tell this was shot in a store parking lot.  

I am glad I stopped for a moment to soak it in.

Wishing you moments of beauty today . . . 

Lost In Love . . .

So the new year has begun and I am having trouble shaking off the difficulties of last year.  I know I need to just move on, start anew but my anxiety is high these days.  I am not sure why.  

The only thing that keeps me focused and calms me down is creating.  I am not sure what I did without it in my life.  I need to get lost in something.  I need to create something from nothing, I need color, grunge, love.  

Yesterday I bought one of those olloclip lenses for my iPhone.  I love macro shots and this little lens clips on your iphone and allows you do shoot macro as well as wide-angle, and fishbowl.  The above image is a macro shot of a very small pendant I wear.  I used snapseed for the altering affects.  

What I loved most about it was getting lost for over an hour in the world of digital art.  

I loved getting lost in love . . . 

xo

Wordless Wednesday . . .

sunset at the walk trail 

12/11/12