Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday ~ "open"

This weeks challenge was themed around the word "open" using one of Kim's marvelous textures.

Kim's Textures:  Annabelle (darker color@83%), Evolve (overlay@50%) and Providence (overlay@50%)

I choose roses in full bloom, or open roses and the quote is from from Frank Zappa.  Personally, I  believe that I need to keep an open mind in all things; it is an open mind that has given me and will continue to give me the opportunity to grow and learn.

Kim's Textures:  Empty Page (color burn@50%), Providence (overlay@100%)

And now for a little tattle; the photos were taken yesterday afternoon as my sister Melinda and I ran errands which included a quick trip to Michaels.  The roses are 100% artificial and taken with the camera on my phone while we were there . . . and I think they are rather lovely!

“Above all, remember that the most important thing you can take anywhere is not a Gucci bag or French-cut jeans; it's an open mind”  Gail Rubin Bereny

Texture Challenge/Nancy Donaldson

Nancy Donaldson (all pulped out) is the individual who introduced me to textures and the many uses for textures.  

Right after the first of the year Nancy gifted eight new images for us to experiment and play with, and below is what I did.

Nancy will be posting a sample of our work on her blog on Tuesday night, but because I have a full week coming up, I am posting them on musings a couple of days early!

Young Boy, Chengdu with Nancy's textures: Pole3, Pole7 and Encaustic with additional two backgrounds in varying blend mode.

I knew I wanted to render the photo of this little boy I took in Chengdu, and after finishing it up, decided to stay on an Asian theme, particularly with the Chinese New Year coming up on January 23. Below are the digital pieces I rendered:

Fresh Fruit with Nancy's textures: Pole2 and Pole5 with levels adjustment on both textures with one background in blend mode..

Year of the Dragon with Nancy's textures: Pole3 and Pole2 with levels adjustments and 3 backgrounds in varying blend modes.

For fun: Your Chinese horoscope for the Year of the Dragon (2012): Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.  If you are unsure of what your Chinese Zodiac is, you can get additional information at chineseculture.about.com.

Nancy wowed me with screenshots of a project where she used both textures and backgrounds, varying the blending modes and opacity; the photo she used in her art was of a chair.  I didn't have a photo of a chair, but I did have a scan of a Coldwater Creek catalog from about 10 years ago that I used in a piece of paper art . . . so here is my rendition!

In Vacation Mode with Nancy's textures:Pole8 with levels adjustment/Pole 1 and 1 background layers in blend mode.

If you would like to take a look at the sample that Nancy posted on her website, you can find it here: time to play

Always welcome the new morning with a new spirit, a smile on your face, love in your heart and good thoughts in your mind.

Photo Art Friday/Whoops

I got a week ahead of myself; the challenge for this weekend was to simply use one of my photo's with a texture by Bonnie.  The challenge for January 20-23 was the "abstract challenge" . . . oh well, guess I'll just have to play some more!

For this weeks challenge (January 13-15) I used a photo taken of the bunk house at the Carson Ranch.  It's a neat old rock building which had the interior renovated a couple of years ago.  All the unique interior/exterior characteristics of the house were kept, including the vintage doors and screen door, dating from the 40's.

Carson Ranch Bunk House using Bonnie's textures: Backlight/Gauze Sheers/Off Kilter/Cinnamon

I got so involved playing with textures, I forgot to straight the screen door, so what you are seeing above is a crop in an attempt to get the focus of the photo straightened! To give you a flavor of the building, here is the original, in all it's crooked splendor.

Rather than leave with a quote, decided I needed to remember the idiom . . .

"haste makes waste"!

PS:  Decided to go ahead and post tonight instead of tomorrow 'cause I really do need to put a dent in my real life TODO List!

Photo Art Friday/Abstract Photo Art

There were two challenges offered for the January 13-15 Photo Art Challenge, a 3/Three Challenge or Abstract Photo Art Challenge . . . I went with the abstract challenge which was to create a piece of abstract art using my own photographs and at least one of Bonnie's abstract art textures.

Results from my first attempt using Bonnie's tutorial:

Four Garden Photos using Bonnie's textures: Chinks of Light/Off Kilter and Gauze Sheets.

and my second effort:

Three fall photos & one RAZR photo using Bonnie's textures:  Off Kilter/Chinks of Light/Tangled Tendrils

Experimenting with Bonnie's tutorial was a lot of fun and I enjoyed myself immensely!  I am also glad that today's "TO DO" list had a minimal amount of stuff that HAD to get done, because I didn't scratch one little thing off . . . even the more pressing such as replenishing Itty's dog food and cooking the chicken can wait till tomorrow!

"She realized that she was missing a great deal by being sensible."

Author Unknown

Last Sunday was a cold, blusterous day . . . not anxious to get out, not anxious to do anything constructive, my sister Becky, thankfully, came by to save me from myself!

Prior to her coming over and in an attempt to entertain myself without truly getting involved, I took a couple of photos of the bush outside my office window . . . which I totally forgot about until yesterday, so I've added some play time to my Friday.

Primarily just playing in PSE, seeing what different effects I could achieve, working with levels and textures.  The photo was taken from inside looking out, so I also captured the window screen, which annoyed me.  But after playing around, I wasn't displeased . . . the screen looks like it might be part of the texture!

Bonnie, from Photo Art Friday, has challenged us to create an abstract using three or more photos and has gifted two of her textures to use in her challenge;  going to be fun and I'm looking forward to working on it and seeing the results!

Today I leave you with a quote that we are all familiar with and one that often comes to mind:

“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”   Albert Einstein

New Year Blahs?

I have never assumed that a New Year would bring about great clarity and/or an instantant new direction, but this year, I seem to have begun my New Year with a general lack of purpose!

My personal year coincides with the universal year, "Change" 

. . .  Put your best foot forward.  Drop the routine.  Discard old ideas.  Do something unusual.  Be different this year......Keep active, not restless.  This can be a very satisfying year."

Maybe hibernating, catching up on my reading is a part of change; and allowing myself to just do nothing, can be considered change, for now! 

 

Itty

Upgraded my mobile phone to the Droid RAZR and above is the first photo taken with the mobile camera.  Not bad, probably not up to the standard of the iPhone camera . . . but there is very little that I post without some manipulation in PhotoShop!

Itty, my runt Lhasa Apso, started life as a black dog, with slight white markings on her chest and front paws . . . Itty is now 14 years old, and looking more white all over!  Always a little dog with a big attitude, she has mellowed, but not by much, and has added grumpy, being half blind and half deaf to her life and mine!  I have to admit, when I accidentally hit the front facing camera on the RAZR, I looked my age too!

Considering I'm trying to read myself out of where ever I am at the moment, I'll leave you with this quote:

"Miss a meal if you have to, but don't miss a book."

Jim Rohn

Happy New Year

I love "metaphysical gadgets", and one that I have followed for many years is a publication by Louise Hay, "your personal colors and numbers".  The book I have was published in 1987, given to me by my sister Merta, and "provides a fun way to associate colors, numbers, affirmations and spiritual ideals in your daily life."

I have followed along with the book religiously for the past 25 years, figuring out the universal year, my personal year, my monthly and daily vibrations.  While not complicated, it is cumbersome to explain, but what I would like to share with you going into the New Year is the Universal Vibration for 2012. Change is the key word for 2012 and goes as follows:

"Freedom and change are in the air.  Let this be your year to dress up.  Put your best foot forward.  Drop the routine.  Discard old ideas.  Do something unusual.  Be different this year.  Get out and experience life in a new way.  Make changes - in yourself, your home, your lifestyle, your business.  Make sure these changes benefit others too.  Look for good surprises.  Yet don't throw all caution to the winds.  Keep active, not restless.  This can be a very satisfying year."

"I WELCOME CHANGE AND EXPAND MY BOUNDARIES!"

 Happy New Year!