Finding Love On the Trail . . .

On my walk this weekend I found this cool graffiti heart.  It was on the wall of an old rusty bridge.  I love the colors and textures.  

You just never know where you will find love  ;)

xo

Love And Texture

Sometimes I just never know where art will take me. I had this 8x8 canvas collaged and ready a few days ago unsure of what to do with it. Then I realized I wanted to try a heart. I hadn't used my molding paste in a long time so I thought the texture would be cool. And I even mixed my own blue for the background. I used a combination of phalto blue (green shade) and some titanium white. I am getting pretty lazy when it comes to mixing. So I have been using a lot more of the folk art craft paints. They are just fun!

This is how the canvas started out . . .

I promised myself I would be patient and wait for the molding paste to dry. In the past I have screwed it up by painting over it when it wasn't fully dry. I added some stamping and then more texture to the background with white paint and bubble wrap. I am really loving that technique lately as you can see from my past few paintings! :)

I had a letter stencil that I purchased months ago and was excited to use it on this piece. I thought the black would be too bold for the lettering but I figured that my other colors were pretty bold (at least for me) so I just went with it. I used my black faber castell gelato for shading on the heart and the edges. It is so fun to use as it smudges really well dry.

In the end I am really happy with the finished piece!

I am sharing this piece today over at Paint Party Friday. If you haven't joined us yet be sure to check it out!

Click HERE!

xo

Simplicity . . . Love Is Enough

I am taking Kim Klassen's new ecourse 'Beyond Layers'. It is a fab course that goes for 52 weeks full of inspiration and photography. As you well know by now I am a big fan of Kim's work and am thankful that I found her as she is how I discovered textured photography.

Kim challenged us to texturize an image with simplicity in mind. Well, I have to say that I had a hard time with that concept! When I add texture to my photos I go all in. I love to use "multiply" blend mode and grunge everything up. Although I do love to look at images that are simple and soft I just never thought I could do it.

Well, the image above is my attempt at simple. I used a photo I recently shot along the walk trail with alot of negative space. I actually shot it in manual mode trying to get a lovely blur effect which I think I succeeded at. I added 2 layers of Kim's 'awaken' texture set to soft light at 100% opacity. Then I added the text expressing the words that popped into my head at that moment.

I will be sharing more about this class as I go along.

Hope you enjoy this monday inspiration!

xo

Always Time For Photography

"A Peaceful Winter"

I didn't have time this week for painting or rather I never made the time but somehow I always have time to play in photoshop. It feeds my creativity when I cannot find the motivation to get out the paints.

I shot this image last year at the trail near my house after a snowstorm. I used a fab new texture from Kim Klassen and love it! Its called "more magic" and the texture is actually black! Very cool when you use it to layer over an image! I love the words and the distressed look it gives. You can read more about that HERE and even download the texture for free. Kim is very generous with sharing her talent.

I thought this image would make a lovely holiday card so that is what I spent time last night creating. It was alot more fun making my own cards. What a great way to share my inspiration with friends and family.

Hope you are finding time to create, dream, and fill your soul . . .

xo

Antique Ford

mouse over to see the before

I was so excited to post this photo but had a few blogger glitches as you can see from the new template. That was so not planned and I almost lost all of my side bar stuff in the process! lol I won't bore you with that long story except to say that a. I am happy I didn't loose everything, and b. I am not sure which template I will go with but this will do for now.

As for this image, it is an old Ford that I shot at a local farm that was having a Tractor Show last summer. Lou is a big fan of any and all antique cars, tractors, machinery etc, so off we went and he really likes this image. And today I used one of Kim Klassen's latest textures "the ladder" and just LOVE what it did for this old car.

AND the big news for this post is that I was able to use a mouse over technique for my photos!! If you mouse over the image you can see the original thanks to Kim's video tutorial she graciously shared on her blog. You can watch the video HERE. I was shocked that I figured out how to get it to work although as you can see the image is still too big for the space. Not sure yet what that is about or how to remedy it yet. But I do love the mouse over!

Remembering A Sweet Moment. . .

Lou and Bosco

Newport, RI 10/7/04

As you all know creativity is a healer. During the most difficult times of my life I have turned to my writing, photography and now painting to help get me through. This time is no different. I am still reeling from the loss of my pug and some days feel as though I won't ever stop crying. On Saturday I went looking through some photos of my Bosco, shed some tears, and then put my focus to creating something beautiful.

I love this photo I shot of Lou and Bosco 7 years ago on a trip to Newport. There is something so amazing about capturing those candid moments that cannot never be posed or planned. I thought this image would be great with texture and I cropped it in such a way to leave room for an inspiring quote I found about dogs.
Lou loved what I did with this photo and I do too. The words really complete it for me. It made me feel a little better taking my pain and translating it into something beautiful.

Thought you might like to see the original image . . .

Thank you all for your ongoing support and kind words as I weave my way through this maze of grief.

I am grateful for all of you . . .
xo

Wordless Wednesday . . .

Tilly Foster Farm, Brewster, NY

Texture Tuesday . . .

I just love Kim's new texture "Aurora"! I am a sucker for anything with script writing. I was flipping through images and found this image of a heart painting I did last year and wondered what it would look like if I added the texture to it! And well, I loved it!

I added one layer in soft light, and muliply. I also decreased the saturation to tone down the pinks.

Would love to hear what you guys think?

As always you can check out all the amazing work this week over at Kim's Blog!

Click HERE!!

xo

Paint Party Friday . . . Strawberry Shortcake

Good morning and Happy Paint Party Friday!! Its only my second week posting but I am having fun already! Thanks so much to all those who left a comment on last weeks PPF post. I was welcomed with open arms.

This painting was inspired by a friend's daughter who loves Strawberry Shortcake. Do you remember her? I sure do. I was a big fan back in the day. ;) I wanted to create my version of this classic character. I sketched her out and colored her in with my caran d'ache crayons and then got to work on the background. I had a lot of fun with this. I collaged some papers onto the canvas board and applied layers of pink and green paint along with white gesso. I used a paper towel to wipe away after I applied the paint. I typically don't do that but I have to say I loved the results. Between the papers and paint layers it has lots of great texture. She looks better in person . . . was fighting with my scanner to get a good image. I think I lost that battle! lol

To see all the other lovely creations for this week pop on over to the blog!

Just click HERE!

Wishing you all a great weekend!

xo

Texture Tuesday

I struggled with the challenge this week, I suppose because my mind is cluttered with emotion for the past few days. We were to use one layer of Kim's golden texture on any photo. I chose this photo I took a couple of months ago of the dogwood tree in our yard. The sun was setting and I just pointed the camera up, snapped and there it was.

I added a layer of golden in soft light and multiply. Then I took down the saturation and played with the levels a bit. Not sure I am liking it but my mind is jumbled today!

As always here is the original image . . .

Hope you will hop on over to Kim's blog and see the other beautiful work for this week. Just click HERE.

Wordless Wednesday . . .

Texture Tuesday

print available on etsy

This week we could use any image using one of Kim's texture's. It was our choice! So I chose to share this photo of the roses my husband gave me for our wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. I used one layer of Kim's "subtly yours" texture in soft light and multiply. I also made adjustments to the saturation to achieve the muted tones. Of course "love" came to mind as I was processing the image!

Here is the original image . . .

Be sure to pop over to Kim's blog and check out all the amazing work being shared this week! Just click HERE!!

And The Winner Is . . .

Thanks to all who entered my giveaway last week!

I have so much fun with these!

The winner of this beach cottage print is . . .

MARLENE !!!

Congrats Marlene!

Blog Giveaway!!!

I just realized that I have reached my 200th post!! So I thought what better way to celebrate than to have a giveaway! :)

Since summer has unofficially begun I will be giving away the above photo of the Newport beach cottage. You may recognize from a texture tuesday post awhile back. The original image was altered to sepia and beautiful texture was added as well. I just love the vintage distressed look the texture gives to this image! I have to say that I think it is one of my favorite textured photos I have done so far!

The image size is 7 x 10.5 printed on 8.5 x 11 matte photo paper. So there will be a border for framing.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment! That is it!! I will be picking the winner next Friday June 10th!

Good Luck!! :)

Texture Tuesday . . . Vintage

This week's theme was to share a vintage inspired photo. I instantly thought of using my city traffic photo. You can see the original below. I used one layer of Kim's "she loves you yeah" texture which is one of my favorites! I have used it on quite alot of my city images. I also altered the image to a sepia tone. Between the sepia and texture I feel like this image was transformed into a vintage shot of NYC!

As always you can join us for Texture Tuesday's! For more info head over to Kim's website HERE! And to see the entries for this week's challenge check out Kim's blog post HERE!

Mother's Day Gift Made With Love And Photoshop!

Mom and I circa 1969

It must have been because of my current photo altering addiction that the idea for this mother's day gift popped into my head. Truth be told, my mom and I are not close. Our relationship has been difficult and at times it still is. But in the end she is my mom and love is what matters. As I get older I realize how hard it must have been for her to raise my brother and I especially with a husband who was an alcoholic.

I found this photo and knew that I wanted to make something special with it. This was taken the day she brought me home from the hospital after I was born. I loved that you couldn't see her face, I think it did something wonderful for the image. The words popped into my head as I was altering the image.I added a sepia tone and one layer of texture. I think it gives the image a lovely vintage look. And this time the image is already vintage! lol

Thought you would enjoy seeing the original image so here it is below!

My mom was only 20 years old when this was taken. So unbelievably young that I cannot imagine what it must have been like at that age to have a baby.

I myself have always sensed that in this life I was not meant to be a mom. It was something my soul knew. And when I got cancer and lost my ability to have children via surgery and chemo it was confirmed. Maybe that was why I always knew it wasn't for me since I was a young girl.

On the bright side though I get to be a mom to a furkid! ;)

Wishing all of the mom's out there a very happy day! And to those who are not. . . .wishing you a happy day too!! xoxo

Wordless Wednesday. . .

Newport, 2009

Wordless Wednesday. . . Bunny Love

"Bunny Love"

Newport, 2009

Texture Tuesday

I took this shot at the Bronx Zoo last year. It is a photo of the front gates that face Fordham Road. I am posting this today for Texture Tuesday's hosted by Kim Klassen who I blogged about last week. Each week I will be posting a textured photo for her challenges. I am excited as it will be such fun! For this weeks challenge you could use any one of her textures that you wanted for your photo. For this one I used the "She Loves You Yeah" texture. It is the one I have been using on all the photos in my last 2 posts. Love it! I thought I would share my before picture so here it is . . .

I used two layers of texture, and altered it with a sepia tone as well. I am loving the vintage look this particular texture gives the photos!

Click on the link below to participate or just check out the other entries!

Texture Tuesday's With Kim Klassen

More Fun With Photo Texture And A Blog Feature!

"City Traffic"

NYC, 2010

Thanks for all the amazing comments on my last post! It was so much fun! This weekend I spent some time printing my photos and framing them for the art exhibit. Since they are all black and white/sepia I went with simple black frames. As you can see I had more fun altering a few photos! Addicting!! "City Traffic" was shot on the corner of Park Ave. and 42nd Street at dusk, altered with sepia, texture, and blurring. I really love this one with the texture!

"View From The Top of the Met"

NYC, 2010

The above image was altered with texture and I lightened the hue to make it look more aged.

"Wishing Well"

Our yard, 2009

For this photo of the well I used a yellow toned texture, sepia tone, and blurring. I think the blurring gives it a dreamy quality don't you?

Hope you are enjoying these! I cannot promise that I will be able to stop posting these anytime soon! lol

Oh, and in other news I was excited that one of the first mixed media pieces I incorporated a photo into was featured on the Creative Catalyst Productions blog! You can read the post HERE!