Happy 4th of July

Wow..I can't believe it has been almost a month since I posted here. I have been busy trying to learn my new camera, taking pictures, and learning how to use some terrific Topaz plugins on them!

I hope everyone has been well and for those of us who live in the U.S. that you all have a Happy 4th of July.

Life in the Cemetery

I was visiting a cemetery this morning, and this little fellow played hide and seek with me. He would run behind a head stone, then come out and get fairly close to me..then off to hide again. He had some playmates there too, but this one was the friendliest. Perhaps they get lonely for some live company. :-)

Poppies

One of my neighbors has some lovely poppies growing in her "field of flowers", so I had to run over and photograph some.  There are so many beautiful flowers this time of year..I wish I could photograph each and everyone of them. :-)

Have a wonderful day and take a moment to enjoy the beauty nature gives us.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is celebrated this weekend here in the United States. Traditional Memorial Day celebrations have diminished over the years, and I think many of us have forgotten the meaning of Memorial Day.   I hope we all take the time to remember and honor those that have served our country.  

Take a few minutes and go here for more information about Memorial Day and what you can do to help honor our men and women who gave their lives for us.

 

Reflections

This is a digital oil painting from a photo I took a couple of weeks ago.  I loved the way the trees bent and curved and the goose enjoying the shade, along with all the reflections.    

Nature's Moments

Using another picture from my adventures at the park I went to last week I made this to give credit to Mother Nature for all the beauty we can see everyday.  If you're like me, though, I don't always see it...or take the time to appreciate it. :-)

Thanks for looking.

Reflections of Summer

A friend and I went out for brunch and then I grabbed my camera and we made our way to one of the beautiful local parks.  It was a glorious day,  sunny and the temperature was in the 60's so I was happy.    I've loved the photos I have gotten from this camera, but it is 7 years old now and I've been having some problems with it,  and the time for a new one is getting close.

I loved this photo as the water shows all the colors of the plants, flowers, and sky that surrounded this spring fed pond in the reflections.  I never noticed it as I was taking the picture, so I was pleasantly surprised when I unloaded them this afternoon to see that the reflections showed up so beautifully. Being a novice can work wonders at times....LOL

Nature Awakens

Just playing around this morning with this graphic.  We have been having some beautiful weather and I've been spending some time outdoors, and just enjoying life.  I've also been doing some walking to get rid of this extra 10-15 pounds I gained during my winter hibernation. :-)  I'll have to try and join a challenge this week or I'll forget how to do graphics!  

Hope everyone is well and that you are enjoying Spring.

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. 

Silvinaqua

What a fun challenge from SoArtful this week.  We had to design a book cover using a title that June gave us which is "Silvinaqua, Queen of the Sea".  I had a blast with this..been playing with it all morning (so much for work!)  

The book cover is from Stock.xchng, and I added texture, changed the color and made it a little older;  the picture of the sea and rocks is one of mine of the California coast, and the other images are bits and pieces of PSP tubes from one of the groups that I belong to. A lot of layers, blend modes and fun. :-)  

Thanks so much June for a great challenge..and thanks for looking.

Artist at Work

This is my take on the beautiful piece of art that Artarazzi gave us for this weeks challenge. The Artist is Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones; and I thought I would  show a sketchbook that might be the beginning thoughts of what ends up on a canvas.  The sketchbook and pencils with shavings are from Stock.xchng.  Thanks for the beautiful image to work with and thanks for looking.

Dark Kiss

Here is my take on the new challenge for Art on the Darkside.  The subject is Kiss this week, and I did use the  lip image they provided..you must be careful who kisses you. :-)  

Thanks Vron and June for another great challenge.

Butterflies & Daisies

Here is my entry for the Artarazzi challenge.  Thanks for the great image to play with. :-)