Texture Tuesday - Orange

Yay, I made it this week for Kim's texture tuesday challenge! lol This image I shot at the NY Botanical Gardens this past spring. And it is the only image that I have with orange which is the requirement for this weeks challenge. In processing I used Kim's "cracker jack" texture in soft light and multiply, then I added a layer of "serious magic" in screen mode which she recommends. That is a really cool texture as it is black when you first put it on and then in screen mode it gives all this white scratchy texture! Lastly I took down the saturation alot but was able to figure out how to erase that layer so the orange in my flower remained! Its the first time I tried that and was successful! lol

Here is the original image . . .

Don't forget to hop over to Kim's blog for all the great work being shared this week!

Click HERE!

xo

Using My Photography For Fashion :)

Happy Paint Party Friday!! I almost didn't have anything to share this week. Have not been motivated or feeling creative the past few days. But this morning I worked on this new 'she art' girl and my it was fun! This time I wanted to try creating a background with just acrylics and stamping. I have to say I think I miss the paper collage! Maybe its the texture I miss. Anyways, while I was working on the background I was looking through my collage paper and really couldn't find anything I wanted to use for clothes. And then I spotted (in a pile . . . cause I am so cluttered in the studio! ) an 8x10 print of one of my textured photos. I grabbed it and thought it would be cool to use it for an outfit!

I really had so much fun putting her outfit together with pieces of my photo!! Then I thought, why did I not think of this before?! My only regret was not changing the black and white to a sepia tone because of the brown in the background. But I think it all works.

Here is the textured photo I used for her clothes. . . it is a shot of the front gates to the Bronx Zoo. . .

I mostly used the right side of the image because I liked the words. :)

I am debating about adding text to her as I have some words in the stamping I used.

I am sharing this for PPF and if you want to see all the great work being shared follow me over HERE!!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend! And to everyone on the east coast . . . stay safe as Irene flys through town! She is due here in NY tomorrow evening! ;)

xo

Wordless Wednesday . . .

Tilly Foster Farm, Brewster, NY

Vintage 'She Art' Girl

mixed media on 8x10 gallery wrapped canvas

Today was supposed to be my Sunday Sketches post but alas, I don't have a new sketch to share. However I did do some painting this week in the form of "she art"! I had so much fun creating this new girl! If you haven't taken Christy Tomlinson's "She Art" class I highly recommend it! So much fun and she shares tons of mixed media techniques as well.

I created this background in a vintage style using a layer of papers that I tried not to cover up too much. I used raw umber and payne's gray cause I just love them together but I like the distressed look the raw umber gives this piece. I had so much fun with her outfit! I was trying to create a look that wasn't too modern and how cute are the shoes! lol

I have yet to add a phrase. And I am never at a loss for words. But just this morning I found a tag I saved from a new shirt I bought that says "life is beautiful, dress accordingly" and I think that will fit perfectly with this girl! I may just cut up the words and collage them on! What do you think??

PS . . . thanks for all the amazing comments on my pink Paint Party Friday post!!

xo

Paint Party Friday . . . Pink Love

"love is falling all around us"

mixed media on 8x10 canvas board

available on etsy

This week I got back to one of my favorite sketches. I finally got this pretty girl on a canvas. I love hearts and as you can see love pink! I used my pink caran d'ache neocolor II crayons with white acrylics and my graphite pencil for the details on this piece. Typically I don't use just one color for my palette but I do like how this came out.

I did a layer of collage paper and stamping first and then collaged the girl image onto the board. I had fun sketching out the tree again and coloring it in. I had debated in my mind for a bit when it came to the hearts. Originally I wanted to color them but with all the pink I was afraid they would get lost and I needed them to stand out so I went with the graphite.

Here is the original sketch I worked from. . .

Hope you all have a great Friday!! You can see all of the amazing work being shared this week HERE!! Come and have a look!

And for those of you who commented on my last PPF post. . . here is the link to the blog post where I shared the finished version of my collage piece I shared last week in its beginning stages! click HERE!

Be A Star . . . New Sketch!

"be the star you already are. . ."

Good morning friends! Well, its the second week in a row that I have slacked on Texture Tuesday. lol But I have been doing some sketching in its place!

I think I was inspired to do the side bun from my last 'she art' girl. I really went overboard on her eyes but I like them! As you know it is my favorite part to sketch. Sometimes I want to put eye makeup on my girls. And I obviously tried to on this girl! lol

The stars came to me after I had finished her and looked at her face. It almost feels as though she told me what she wanted. (weird, I know!) So I listened. I want to try and paint her. If I do I am seeing lots of blue. I would like to use a palette of only blues, even her hair.

Sometimes I jump all over the place. Who knows when I will get to painting her but I am trying not to worry about it and just create what speaks to me at the time. (I will let you know how that works out! lol)

Wishing you all a creative day!

xo

Beyond The Trees - New Photo Collage Finished!

For those of you who missed yesterday's post I shared the beginnings to this piece. I decided to go with the blue and raw umber color palette and I am very happy I did! I love how this piece turned out. It looks better in person as I still don't take good photos of my work and this 11x14 was too big to scan. lol

Here is the photo of how it began that I shared yesterday. And I did love what the black background did for my painting process.

I really was able to get in a zone for a bit and smear some paint around trying not to worry about what was happening. Here is part of the process below. I liked it at this point and debated going any farther. This is always the point where I fear ruining it! This canvas had 2 other 'paintings gone bad' on it but that gave great texture to the new painting!

That payne's gray is my fav. I love the shade of blue it becomes when mixed with titanium white! And the raw umber goes so nicely with it. And then there is stamping . . . my dogwood once again (love) and butterflies!

Beyond The Trees

mixed media on 11x14 wrapped canvas

available on etsy

Thanks to those who left a comment on yesterday's PPF post!! I so appreciated all the encouragement at the beginning stage of this piece!

Wishing you all a great day!!

xo