Gangster Life

The challenge for Art On the Darkside this week is Gangsters.  I've been working on this for a couple of days and couldn't quite get it to pop for me.  But I had a blast trying out different things for this..and finally decided to go with this one. 

I love this art on the darkside stuff, so thanks Vron and June for the challenge. :-)

Queen Henrietta Maria

This lovely picture of Queen Henrietta, who was married to King Charles I, is the challenge from Art Freebies this week.  June also put a link to read more about her and it is well worth clicking on and spending some time there. It's really interesting!

Thanks, June for the beautiful picture and a great challenge.  

House of Wax

The challenge from Art on the Darkside this week was mannequin.  I remember seeing a movie a long time ago  with a fire and melting mannequins at the end, so that is what gave me the inspiration for this piece.  It was called House of Wax and I saw it the 1950's....spooky and scary! 

The background Portal is from Shabby Cottage Studio and I thought it was perfect for this. Thanks for another great challenge, and thanks for looking. 

Dreaming

The focal point for the SoArtful Challenge this week is hands.  While playing with some images and filters, this is what happened...no plan, just play. :-)  Thanks June for another great challenge.

Phenomenal Woman

This is my take on the beautiful image from Artarazzi for the challenge this week.  I had fun with it, changed the concept of what the original artwork is,  and decided to make her a phenomenal woman. :-)  Thanks for a great challenge, Vron..and thanks for looking.   

Check out the other fabulous entires by clicking on the above link, and join in the challenge too. 

(Let me be your) Teddy Bear

The challenge from Art Creations Friday this week was this cute teddy bear handmade by Hermine.  I was stuck for a while for an idea, but when I heard this song by Elvis Presley this morning I knew what I wanted to do with it.  I had fun with it..and thanks Hermine for a lovely teddy bear!

Background is from Dreamstime, Elvis picture and record label were googled, record digitally made by me.  Thanks for looking. :-)

The Seagull for Artarazzi

Vron at Artarazzi was was kind enough to ask me to be a guest designer for the challenge this week.  I chose this picture of a seagull that I took last year at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. I was snapping pictures like crazy hoping to get one like this that was clean and focused...and that's what I got..just one really good one. :-)  This is the first piece I made using the seagull from the above picture. I was going for a misty, kind of soulful atmosphere in this one:

I'm looking forward to seeing what others do with it.  I love seeing all the different and creative pieces that each person makes from one image.  The talent that is displayed by everyone in these challenges is amazing, and I think seeing the difference that develops from each artist's viewpoint of the image helps us all in our own thought process and creativity.

Thank you Vron, for inviting me to be a guest designer this week.  I hope everyone enjoys working with this seagull.

The Bench

This wonderful, eerie background with an empty bench is for the challenge from Art On The Darkside.  I thought it was a good place to put a startled and scared young woman with the shadow of a man (?) coming up behind her.   What had her thoughts been before this happened and why was she in this dark place alone? A mystery to be solved!  I love a good mystery. :-)

Thanks for a great background to work with, and thanks for looking.