Monday, June 16, 2014

Abstract Photo and Summer of Color - Week of 6/16/14 "Carnival Lights"

NF Photography prompt: Abstract Photo

Scroll down for my Summer of Color version of this design.
This week's colors are Coral and Teal with a Smudge of White.

For anyone who thinks they aren't good at creating abstracts, I have created 3 easy lessons on creating successful abstract designs in any media.  If you are interested, you can find "Lesson 1: Color" by clicking HERE.   Lesson 1 has a link to "Lesson 2: UNITY" which has a link to "Lesson 3: ADDING VARIETY."  

"Carnival Lights"
I used the liquify tool in Photoshop to create zig-zag lines with the photo (below). 

Using a large brush, I dragged it up near the left, then moved a little to the
right and dragged it down, then up and down a few more times across the canvas.
Then I copied parts of that and pasted them into a new layer, rotated the layer

and lowered the opacity so the lower layer would show through ---then stretched
that layer horizontally to cover the layer below it. I kept essentially the same
colors as were in the original.
Summer of Color version
Besides changing colors, I manipulated the design slightly differently
and added textures that weren't in the design above.
For my smudge of white, I used a digital brush to create
smudges of white zig-zags across the page.
Original photo taken at a hot-air balloon
festival in New Castle, PA,
July 2012.
The balloon festival was a bust because of fog
and possible storms, but I took photos of closed
carnival booths and rides so it wouldn't
be a wasted 2-hour round trip.

25 comments:

DVArtist said...

Wow Wow Wow Wow Wow done in sing song. LOL This is awesome. I absolutely love how this all turned out.
Nicole/Beadwright

Tammie Lee said...

fun and dreamy

Karla B said...

Wow,wow,wow,Fabulous!

Heartwideopen said...

Ohhhh, very very pretty!!!! It turned out vibrant and with tons of energy!
HuGGs!
Debi

peggy gatto said...

Vibrant , nice layering!!

sheila 77 said...

This is fascinating. I haven't used these techniques but will investigate. It's wonderful how the second photo-edited image is not at all like the original photo. I quite like the first version too where you can see the connection.

Kristin said...

xo

GlorV1 said...

I liked the abstract look and this came out really good.
gloria

Linda Kunsman said...

really nice digital art !

gma said...

Love the SOC version. The colors are awesome together.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Oh wow. First, I love that this is abstract. I'm simply no good with abstract. Second, I like that you manipulated this in Photoshop. Although I have a very, very old version of PS, I have used that liquify tool a lot. It's fun to see how you manipulated the photo and turned it into a work of pure beauty and art.

kat said...

Great, your SOC version has such a cool and refreshing feel to to, makes me think of being in the sea!

sue :) said...

Great piece of digital art.

Linda Gibbons said...

These are all so interesting. I love the way they move, and the transformation of the original photo is amazing!

Halle said...

Cool digital art!!

NatureFootstep said...

would be great pattern for scarfs. :) Did take a look on your lesons. They are great and useful all of them. :)

Caz said...

The colours work so well in this way! Love it!

Cindy McMath said...

Great piece for SOC! I am fascinated by this digital world that can look so much like paint! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a great story about the girl who glued her clay piece back together to make something even better... A great story!

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

You are so clever and creative and I love both of these abstracts, though I think I am more attached to the colors of the first. Also, thank you for the tutorials ... I just looked through them briefly and they are full of good information. I will give them a closer look when I have a moment. Thanks again ...

Andrea @ From The Sol

Lmkazmierczak said...

Love, love, love your results...thanks for sharing your process♪
http://lauriekazmierczak.com/forensic-focus

massofhair said...

Stunning use of colour :-) x

joy said...

It is fascinating to see what others do with digital art - something I've never tried. This is so amazing!!

Anne said...

It looks amazing !
Im seeing water ripples. I haven't tried digital art before.

Sharon Fritchman said...

WOW!!!!! Your photography and editing looks absolutely amazing and so beautiful! What a creative way to use the colors this week!

TwinkleToes2day said...

Liquify is the perfect name for the end result. I am always amazed at what people accomplish in PS. A programme I don't have, but I imagine it to be very absorbing :o)