Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Dec 29, 2010

363- Willow Bowl

Last August my globe willow splintered in a thunder-storm and needed to be cut down. Our sweet neighbor came over with his chain saw and helped us cut it down and then cut it up. He took a piece of the stump home with him, which isn't unusual since he is a wood worker.

A couple of weeks later I cut off the rest of the stump and put it on my porch to remember my sweet willow.

363- wood bowl

Imagine my surprise when Kip called the other night and asked if he could come visit (yikes! he is a member of the Bishopric and that sort of call always smacks of a new-calling or give-a-talk) he brought us a present! He'd turned a bowl from our sweet-girl willow!  It is as smooth as silk!

Isn't it beautiful? I will be able to treasure it for years to come.

363- bowl side

Aug 15, 2010

226- Temple Garden Watercolor

The minute I looked at this photo on my computer is just screamed *WATERCOLOR*... so of course, I had to oblige.

226- temple garden watercolor

I thought you might like to see the original SOOC.

226- before

Aug 9, 2010

221- Lily Art

When I was at the Temple on Friday I wandered the gardens and got so many wonderful shots. I've decided that I'm going to deal them out slowly and savor them instead of OD-ing all at once!

I had fun playing with some filters on this photo. I love how it turned out.

(I learned this technique from a scrapbooking magazine article by Renee Pearson which I can't find online. If you are interested I will send you the tutorial that I cut and pasted in a Word document.)

221- temple lily

By the way... August and September are my favorite garden months. All the plants are in full bloom and splendor.

Nov 30, 2009

334- Moonrise

I happened to be outside at exactly the right moment tonight... just as the sun was setting and turning the mountains gold and the full moon was peeking over Hobble Creek Canyon. What a beautiful sight.

334- moonrise
FRAME- SP_ShabbyBorders1_StraightShabbyBorder, FONT- Georg, Freebooters Script JOURNALING PATH- JSprague_4-squareTemplate BRUSHES- RhonnaFarrer_2ps_SnapShotFrameKit, ACTION- (A2D)_Lomo V_2, TEXTURE- Clouds & Birds, Night Faux

Nov 25, 2009

329- Maple Mountain *Sunrise*

You all know, by now, that I live in the wonderful Wasatch front of the Rocky Mountains. I'm tucked back in a little area called Spring Cove. I have a beautiful view of Maple Mountain out my bedroom window. I've mentioned before that it is *my* mountain. I grew up in the High Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California and mountains are just in my blood.

When I was out at Camille's school I noticed that across the lake to the SE was *MY* mountain... looking beautiful, as usual. I pulled out my trusty dSLR and snapped away but when I got home I was disappointed with what my camera had captured... it wasn't what my eyes saw!

This is why I love PhotoShop! It allows me artistic license with my photos. And today, once I got started... well, I'll just show you what my heart saw!

329- maple mt
FRAME- SP_ShabbyBorders1_StraightShabbyBorder, FONT- Georg, Freebooters Script JOURNALING PATH- JSprague_4-squareTemplate BRUSHES- RhonnaFarrer_2ps_SnapShotFrameKit, ACTION- DPMoms Perfect Workflow, OVERLAY- Sun Shower (left), Sunrise

Here is the untouched photo... I like what my heart saw better!

329- original

Aug 24, 2009

236- Sunflower

This is an image that I had fun with adding filters and blending modes. I just love these wild sunflowers that grow wild on all the ditch banks, roadsides and fields. This on is in Grannie Annie's back garden.

flowers

Jul 18, 2009

199- Trampoline

Today is the last day of the JS class. It hasn't been nearly as intensive as some of the prior classes. I've enjoyed the diversion but I will be glad to just play on my own for a while.

The photos I decided to use for this Collage are of Rebekah and Tadhg jumping on the trampoline last spring. It was so fun to watch them play, interact and then compete with one another on the chin-ups. Happy times...

199- trampoline
FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, AASPN_WebChallenge18May, PAPER- SummerDriggs_VintageOreos_BlackPaper

Jul 16, 2009

197- Camille

Today's assignment was to selective recolor a photos (actually bring back color to a black and white by using a layer mask) As soon as I saw this photo of Camille I knew I had to focus in on her beautiful green-with gold-brown starburst eyes.

family
FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, BA_photomask01a TEXTURES- Chaotic Soul by Ghostbones, grunge2_0002

I had fun adding texture layers as well. I left just a hint of color in the second layer. What fun on this photo of my beautiful daughter.

Jul 15, 2009

196- Raspberries

I've written before about my love of all-things raspberries! I love the color (it is just so lick-able), the tangy-tart-sweet taste, the look of them hiding on the bushes, the memories they evoke, the statement of elegance they make when they are included in any dessert, salad or candy. Yes... all things raspberries... yummy.

garden
FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, BA_photomask01a, ACTION- DP Moms Perfect Workflow action, TEXTURES- SA_muse0709_aclegg-photo-crinkled1-4-black, Lost & Taken coffee stain 02, freaky665.deviantart.com/art/Victorian02 JOURNALING SPOT- AASPN_FotoBlendzClipMask7_7

This is day 10 of my class and when Jessica said we were going to pull out all the stops and apply everything we've learned so far I knew just the photo I wanted. I really enjoy adding textures to photos... the dimension they add and just their sheer funkiness.

BTW... did I mention Raspberry Crisp? How about Fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing?

Jul 14, 2009

195- Gerberas in a jug

This year I've planted a plethora of Gerbera daisies. I just love their happy little faces. But I've discovered another wonderful thing about Gerberas... they make a wonderful cut flower. I put some in this little milk jug that we used when I was a girl and they've stayed beautiful for a week.

flowers
FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, ACTION- DP Moms Perfect Workflow action, TEXTURE- Old & Grungy Film textures 2, memories_01

This is also one of my class assignments. I'm not even beginning to keep up, but that is ok, I'm having fun and that's the important part.

Jun 12, 2009

163- Art City Days

Springville is known as Art City. We have a lovely art museum in town that has wonderful exhibits. Each June Springville celebrates Art City Days. They used to have the celebration at the city offices at the corner of Main and Center, but because of the new city office buildings being under construction they've moved the festivities to various other locations.

As I was driving down Center this morning I could see the hot air balloon and it took me right back to that first June we were here and I saw all the hot air balloons as they were taking off... including a PIG balloon!

Since it is Art City Days I thought I would get in on the act. I am offering up my "altered-reality" of what I think Art City Days should look like... you know, deep blue sky, big fluffy clouds, beautiful weather (not torrential down-pour worthy of Cambodia!)

This is what it should look like!

163- balloon
Balloon photo taken 6/12/09 Sky photo taken 4/5/09)

May 12, 2009

132- Out to Pasture

Several months ago this old Dodge pickup showed up down on the corner of 4th S and 13th E. I've been captivated by its presence ever since. Tonight when the light was just right (well, it was the first time I drove past!) I took my camera to get some shots of this old worker who's been put out to pasture!

I can only imagine all the loads it has hauled, Scout camp-outs it has been on and how many kids have piled into the back for a fun ride with the wind in their hair (I used to love to do this, but now I cringe!)

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FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, (A2D)_Lomo Action, TEXTURE- box bottom

May 4, 2009

124- Dandelion Wishes

Remember when you were a child and used to pick the puffy dandelion heads, make a wish and then blow? Do you ever wish for those days again... when life wasn't so complicated? or hard? Yeah, me too...

Yesterday one of our little 12-year-old deacons got up to bear his testimony in church. He said, "Yes, I've had an interesting life. I've had lots of trials. People keep leaving (sister married, brother just left on mission) and people keep coming (he is one of 12 children)". Then he said something that was wise beyond his years. "When you have trials (sweet boy, doesn't know about real trial yet) you either learn how to help yourself or you learn how to help others."

Wish it was that easy!

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FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, kimi inked edge, jb's red moss texture

May 3, 2009

123- Reaping Where They Sowed

All of my adult life I've moved into houses that would be referred to as a *fixer-upper*. Usually the yards were non-existent and the inside was in need of lots of help.

This house...

123- My home

... what a blessing to move here and find that the previous owners had put much so love and hard work into it. I am reaping what they sowed!

I could just start enumerating the list of everything they did that I love and am so thankful for; but for today I will sing the praises of my Japanese Maple. It is planted in a nice ivy-covered flowerbed just outside my front window. I love the color red (almost as much as I love the color green!) This beautiful tree gives me a seasonal show of color and beauty. It starts in the spring with this bright, clear scarlet. It has little dancing fairies that play in the afternoon breeze... [can you see their little tutus?]

123- Japanese Maple

Through the summer it fades to an orange-y red and then a yellowish-mottled-green. In the fall it returns to a similarly beautiful scarlet that it displayed in the spring.

What a delight!

FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerFrames, CoffeeShop Texture 1, Selective vignette. I picked the selective vignette color from the leaves... I love the effect.

Apr 6, 2009

096- Put out to Pasture

We are all familiar with that phrase: put out to pasture. We normally apply it to people, horses, and other animate objects. But when I saw this dilapidated old tractor I couldn't help but think that this faithful friend has also been put out to pasture.

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I don't know the whole story but I'm guessing that it goes something like this:

Not too many years ago this whole area of Springville was just rural pasture lands with a few homes dotted along Canyon Rd. But as happens, cities begin to grow. In 1993 the tract where I live was built and many of the homes here are still inhabited by the original owners. But the explosion that is now called Hunter's Valley/Hidden Cove is much newer. And now there is a sea of houses where a friend my age used to drive her pony cart through the fields.

I wouldn't even know about this little lost tractor, hiding behind her old master's home, had it not been for some developer who bought up a huge hunk of land, punched through a new road and graded a bunch of huge lots for $1M homes. (Sadly for that developer the housing/economy crunch has stopped that subdivision in its tracks).

So here sits a once useful machine... I can only imagine the stories she could tell about the valley she used to cultivate, the crops she has harvested, the feed she has hauled to store for the winter, the animals, wild and domestic, that she's been friends with. And now she sits alone, forgotten and rusting.

Mar 14, 2009

073- Alien





I sat down to my old-lady-can't-see-up-close-make-up-mirror and was putting on my only make-up (mascara. see... that's a real money-saver to have sensitive skin!) and saw this un-earthy glow around my pupil! EEeee-EEeee-EEeee... (Hear Psycho music!)



I knew no one would believe that I'd been taken over by those aliens from Stephenie Meyer's book if I didn't get photographic proof!! Do you suppose I am safe on the streets with all the humans around! Questionable... definitely questionable!

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FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, OVERLAYS- photo texture 2, JB's brick smoke-stack

Feb 28, 2009

059- Use It Up...

... Wear it out... Make it do... Or do without!

I learned that fun little poem years ago from my friend Nancy Lenker. I've always liked it since it typified how I was raised.

Last weekend a DS called and asked if I could repair some of his jeans prior to him going out of town. (Funny aside his brother had been here a few days before with a *new* pair of jeans that were all patched and frayed looking! I told him MY patch work wouldn't show like that! LOL)

He arrived with the two pair he wanted patched and then what he termed a pair of *sacrificial jeans*. I experienced more than a little bit of anxiety because he wanted me to use white thread and go for the look his brother had. (I normally use a thread that matches the pants and you don't notice the patched area.) He was delighted with the results and took off early the next morning with 2 stylin' pair of jeans!

But then I just had this pair of now-sacrificed jeans that kept calling to me... you know what I mean? So last night in a fit of creativity I attacked what was left of them and made-it-up-as-I-went. I dug into my fabric stash and pulled out some fabric (green, of course) that was left over from making Camille some throw pillows, my old embroidery thread roll (that I inherited from my Mom... I just love the memories attached to it) and a lime green zipper that I've had around for I-don't-know-how-long... (but the price was 40 cents, so that should give you some idea) and a different black zipper. By bed time I had the purse all finished except for the embroidery. The funny part is that I spent as much time this morning adding the embroidery as I did last night constructing the purse.

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Feb 16, 2009

047 Snow Frog

Every winter we are treated to a wonderful array of snow sculptures by our neighbor down by the Stake Center (@ 4th S & Canyon Rd). I've stopped several times to thank him for his wonderful creations. I am so excited to see what he will make next. This winter we've had the characters from Madagascar, Thomas the Train, a 12' round birthday cake and now Mr. Froggy.

I drove past the day he was working on Alex the lion and there, in the snow, was a little plastic character that he was using as his model. Luckily my friend Debra got photos of that! I always manage to drive past when they have been snowed on again or they are in various states of melting.

But I caught this little guy (yeah, you can see how *little* he is compared to the mail box) with only a small skiff of snow.

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Feb 14, 2009

045 Valentines to You

Just want to send out a Happy Valentine's greeting to all of my friends. Happy thoughts to you today. Love you!

045 Valentine
FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, My Hearts Desire

Feb 11, 2009

042 Black Swan

I found these beauties when I was out and about on my serendipitous photo explore on Monday. I didn't know there were black swans! A quick Google search uncovered some interesting facts. They were first described by botanist John Latham in 1790. Prior to that time the term *black swan* was used to denote something that probably didn't exist.

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FONTS- Problem Secretary, CK Cursive, BRUSH- KPertiet_LedgerGrids-9, CoffeeShop Vivid Action, CoffeeShop Grunge Frame BRUSHES- My love hearts

What's more I didn't know there was a somewhat negative connotation to the term Black Swan Theory. And a book by the same name.

But enough of all that... I spotted these beautiful cobs (male swans) swimming in a little pond right next door to the Three Little Pigs!

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And I'm not kidding... the piggies were so cute; one all black, one mostly pink and one pink and black but none of them were trying to build houses of straw, sticks or brick ;) So sad, I had to shoot through this ugly fence!

With some inspiration from my sweet niece, Cindy's Rosehaven Cottage Blog, I got a little creative with some brushes. What caught my eye when I was taking this photo what how the cobs neck and its reflection made a heart shape. Yes, serendipity!