Digital Art - 10/8/14 "Blue Skies"

NF Photography prompt: Digital Art

I created this abstract quite a while ago so cannot remember every filter I used to make it. But it was actually a very simple idea and if you would want to make something similar, you would probably want to choose your own filters anyway. I recently pulled it up and reworked it slightly.

APOLOGY: Sorry I didn't get back to add comments on many of last week's posts.  I had an emergency medical situation, was in the hospital for a few days and now I'm catching up.   I had already set up automatic posts for several memes up through the next couple of weeks, so I didn't have to create those, but it will take me a few more days to catch up with this week and last week, too.  I'm fine now, just tired.

"BLUE SKIES"

I started by viewing lots of my photos that had large patches of sky
in them. I took horizontal blocks of many photos, finally choosing 12
of them. I made sure some were lighter or darker than others. some
grayer, some bluer, and that some had light or dark areas for variety.
I scaled each to stretch across my new canvas and scrunched or
expanded the height so that the design would be interesting. Although
I can't remember everything I did, I probably used levels to up the
contrast, saturated the colors, and added bas relief in an overlay layer
to create the appearance of texture.  I wanted the result to be rather
minimalistic and monochromatic, yet have enough variety
to make the final image somewhat engaging to look at. 

Composition created from pieces of sky
before enhancing them.
I take lots of sky photos so that, if I end up with
a photo with a washed-out sky, I can replace
it with a better one.  This was the image
after I chose all the individual sections of
sky, scaled and arranged them into my
basic composition, before enhancement.

The idea for my abstract was inspired by minimalist
artists such as Donald Judd who created many
versions of this style of wall sculpture in a variety
of colors.  His is, of course, made of evenly-spaced
geometric pieces, all the same size, all the same color.
I wanted mine to create more interest by changing the
sizes, dimensions, colors, and textures.

Imagine Sol DeWitt's minimalistic creation turned sideways.

PHOTOSHOP TIPS: 
• To make your image fill the available space while working on it, you can hit the control key and the number 0. (On a Mac use the command key and the number 0.)
• To make your image larger, hit control and the + key (command and + on a Mac.) Each time you do that it will increase in size. (See alternate method below.)
• To make your image smaller, hit control and the - (minus) key (command and - on a Mac.) Each time you do that it will decrease in size.

WHEN A SMALLER IMAGE IS USEFUL/NECESSARY:
Let's say that you are working on an image and decide to overlay it with another image that is larger. You go to the Transform>Scale tool, but the edges of the larger image are outside of your work space. By using the instructions above to decrease the size of your image as many times as necessary, you will be able to see the outlines of the larger image and grab the sides or corners to scale it down to the size you want.

I also make my image smaller when I have to straighten it by using the Transform>Rotate tool. 

Sometimes, I like to make my image smaller so I can, in a sense, stand back from it, to get an overall impression of what I've created.

Once you've completed your task, you can use the instructions above to fill the workspace or make your image larger again.

WHEN A LARGER IMAGE IS USEFUL/NECESSARY:
I usually enlarge my image to check for flaws or to see if things I've superimposed are in exactly the right place.  I check one section at a time, then move a little to the right or left, up or down to see the next section. I'm often sure everything is perfect until it has been enlarged several times.

If you are doing things just for fun, it might not be necessary, but when you are creating something for a client, exhibit, shop, or juried show, you don't want it to be filled with flaws.

Alternate enlargement method: use the zoom tool (magnifying glass) from your tool bar. Click on the image with it as many times as necessary.

Digital Art - 9/24/14: "Gaillardia Arrangement in Space and Time"

NF Photography alternates an Abstract Art prompt with a Digital Art prompt.
Scroll to the very bottom of this post to see this week's Digital Art composition: "Gaillardia Arrangement in Space and Time."

I just spent several weeks in Portland, Maine.  I took over 1500 photos of the city, the harbor, charming old houses (most built in the 1800's)  You can find some of those (more will be added in the future) and many of my other images on my Flickr page.  View my entire photostream or click on "albums" to the right of my profile image to view a specific set of images. 

There is an album titled "Maine."  The one called "Art from My Photos" contains images that may have been posted for this meme ---or will be posted in the future.

Click on any individual photo for a larger view, then scroll down a little to find more info about that image.

Addendum, 10/4/14: I have chosen the image at the bottom of this post ("Gaillardia Arrangement in Space and Time" as my choice for my Photo/Heart Connection. This is an image that took many hours to complete. I was in new territory (for me) here and had to experiment to figure out how to make my image look as I imagined it. When enough time and effort is put into something and one is pleased with the result, it becomes dear to one's own heart.
Scroll to the bottom to see my result.

This week's Digital art image and where I found my inspiration:
Although most artists want to develop their own style, we are all consciously or unconsciously influenced by other artists. When I see something I find unique or interesting, I might borrow an idea, but I try to change it to become my own.

In July I attended an artist talk and photo exhibit opening at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Artist Corey Escoto uses innovative methods to create his photos, but I caught only about 15% of what he said because he didn't project his voice, mumbled, and faced away from the microphone when referring the slides on the screen behind him.

I liked his basic idea, though. He uses old Polaroid technology. He creates black stencils to mask parts of the Polaroid film, exposes the unmasked areas, then uses other stencils to expose or hide additional areas, creating compositions with numerous exposures. He presented some of those framed photos in his exhibit along with sculptures he created using mounted photos to create 3-D houses of cards, to cover the sides of pedestals, and combine photos with an assortment of materials to create 3-D works. I liked some of his work. Other items left me cold.

 Here is a small sampling of Escoto's work, 3 photos and 2 sculptures. (click on any image for a larger view.)




I especially liked how he created images that almost appeared to be mounted photos arranged to create the appearance of 3-D space in the 2nd image above.  I decided to attempt to create something similar myself. I, however, didn't use Escoto's Polaroid technique, but created mine digitally.

I cropped the photo to create a
square image.

"Gaillardia Mix"
Using several photos of the gaillardia in my
garden, I began by creating this digital
composition in Photoshop.

 

"Gaillardia Arrangement in Space and Time"

Finally, I created this digital art composition to give it the appearance
of mounted photos in a 3-D arrangement. In addition to using principles
of perspective, I made the images at the back slightly smaller, darker, and 
with less contrast and saturation to add to the appearance of depth.

This took about 5 hours to create.  I had to redo some of the images several
times before I was satisfied.  The one good thing about creating
a symmetrical arrangement was that once I was pleased with an image
on the left, I was able to duplicate and flip it horizontally to add the
same image on the right.

Abstract Photo, Good Fences, Wkend in B&W - Sept 3-6: "Wrought Iron"

NF Photography Abstract Photo prompt alternates with a Digital Art creation every other Wednesday

Good Fences asks us to post fence photos each Thursday.

Weekend in Black and White is a prompt to post a black and white photo each weekend.

SIMPLICITY:

Simple can be unsophisticated, but it can also be elegant. It is usually basic, straightforward and uncomplicated.

My original photo is simply a small section of wrought iron fence and the shadow it casts on a sidewalk.

ABSTRACT ART attempts to achieve an aesthetic effect with lines, shapes, colors, and textures without depicting objects as they really are. It may be representational  or nonrepresentational. It can be simple or complicated.

My abstraction was created by taking parts of my black and white photo, rotating, scaling, overlapping, and coloring them. The abstract is much more COMPLICATED than the original photo.  It is not as straightforward, but it is more interesting visually.  

Some people prefer one over the other, but simple and complicated both have their merits. 

I'm taking a 2-week break.

I hope to have a bunch of new photos by the time I return the week of Sept 21st.

"Wrought Iron"
original black and white photo
taken at North Park, Allegheny County, PA

"Wrought Iron"
abstraction created from the photo above

Weekend in Black and White & Abstract Photo - 8/15-8/20/14: "WINDOWS"

The Weekend in Black and White asks us to post a black and white photo each weekend ---no sepia, no spot color, just black and white.
During the last few weeks, I've posted photos of the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh for this meme. Today I'm hopping over to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, just a few minutes walk away.

NF Photography posts an Abstract Photo prompt and alternates it with a Digital Art prompt every other Wednesday. This week is Abstract Photo.

My abstract image was created digitally from one of my photos, so it is both an Abstract Photo and Digital Art.

SCROLL DOWN to see a tip for replacing colors in Photoshop (near the bottom of this post.)

Find links to three free online photo-editing sites.

Also find tips for saving photos in various versions.

"Library Windows"
This photo was taken from the stacks in the main
branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Looking through the window, I could see other windows
in other parts of the library.  Including the one I was
shooting the photo through, I count parts of ten
different windows.  I thought it made for an interesting
abstract design in and of itself, but then I used this
photo to create another abstract (below.)

"Distorted Windows"
(black & white version)
I copied the above photo several
times, then I rotated and scaled
each image to fill the space.
Then I copied each image once or
twice, making each smaller to
fit over the image under it.

"Distorted Windows"
(colored and enhanced)
I upped the shadows/highlights in the medium range so the
stone blocks on the side of the building would be more
apparent. I then used bas relief to add texture and depth.

I chose the very darkest areas , then filled them
with red on a new layer. I made the red transparent so
there was a hint of red in the  black areas. 
I chose medium tones & filled them with a warm tan on a
new layer in color mode and did the same for the lightest
areas with yellow orange.

Color mode doesn't work well with black or white,
so the lightest areas remained white and I had to use
a transparent normal mode (in red) over the black
rather than a color mode layer.

"Distorted Windows"
(blue version)
When you have your various
colors on different layers, it's
easy to replace them with
other colors. (See instructions.)
Scroll down for more versions.

PHOTOSHOP TIP - REPLACING COLORS 
There are several ways to replace colors in Photoshop.

First I made this version.  When I wanted to change colors to make different versions, I did this:

In this case, because I made separate layers for the red, tan and yellow orange, it was easy to do it this way:

 I went to the red layer and hit control and A (command and A on a Mac.)  That selected everything in that layer, but I only wanted to select the red parts, so I hit the up arrow once to select only the red, but that also nudged the red up a notch, so I hit the down arrow once to put it back into its original place.


I filled the selected areas with a royal blue on that same layer to replace the red.
An easy short cut for filling a selected area is to hold the shift key and hit F5. (Make sure you have already selected the color you want.)

I did the same for my tan and yellow-orange layers.

It took less than a minute to create a new color scheme using three shades of blue.

FREE ONLINE PHOTO-EDITING SITES:
I wanted to see what I could do on several free online photo editing sites.  I tried Fotor, PicMonkey and Pixlr.  I liked Pixlr best because many of its actions have names similar to the ones I am familiar with on Photoshop.  With a click of the mouse (or 2 or 3) I was able to create the images below. I used my original photo for one and the design I created from it for the other two.

If you don't already have or use photo-editing software, you may want to try all three to decide which one you like best. It is possible that there are actions you can do on one site that aren't available on the others, so you might want to use all three for different effects.

I suggest trying the three I mention above. (Some have basic free actions and then you have to pay if you want to use more sophisticated tools.)  Or search for other free online software.

Note: if you save your image on Pixlr, it saves to the Pixlr site. If you click the X in the upper right, it asks if you want to save your image before exiting and then you can choose a title and location to save it to your computer.

SEE IMAGES CREATED WITH PIXLR BELOW.

SAVING SEVERAL VERSIONS OF THE SAME PHOTO:
When saving any version of your original photo, keep the photo number in the title.  I don't use the letters that identify the camera in my title (such as DSCF or DSCN.) Because I have had several cameras over the years, it's possible that two different photos will include the same number, but I can easily determine which is the correct one.

Today I was searching for a photo I knew I had enhanced, but couldn't find it because I couldn't remember the title I gave it.  So, I found the original, told my computer to find the number of that photo (the one the camera assigned) and discovered I had mistakenly placed the enhanced one in the wrong folder months ago.

For the photos in this post, I titled my original photo "LibraryWindows" but the abstract version is "Distorted Windows."  These are some of the titles I used:
DSCF4108.jpg (original photo) I always keep a copy in case I want to start over.
LibraryWindows4108.psd (enhanced photo in photoshop)
LibraryWindowsBW4108.psd (black and white version)
DistortedWindowsAbstract4108.psd
DistortedWindowsAbstractBlue4108.psd
Notice the one constant is the photo's number, 4108.

Besides the psd (Photoshop) versions, I always save a jpg version of each.
I recently began to save a second jpg in a smaller size ---big enough to see online, but too small for anyone to copy and make a good print. The word Blog at the end indicates it is the size for blog posts. (DistortedWindowsAbstract4108Blog.jpg)

That way, it is ready to post online sometime in the future when I won't have to create a special jpg version because it is already done.

Experimenting at pixlr.com

Experimenting at pixlr.com

Experimenting at pixlr.com

Abstract Photo - 7/23/14: "Screened In" 2 versions

NF Photography prompt: Abstract Photo

"SCREENED IN"

After an evening event at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh,

I noticed a new, large, screened structure behind the museum.  With lights on

inside the structure, which appeared to be a storage area for large equipment,

I liked the designs created by the dark lines, screens, and lights, so I snapped

a few photos.  I wondered why some of the structure (black pieces) were

closer together and why there was a diagonal piece and a very thin one with a

curved corner. But that made the design more interesting than if the black

lines had been the same width, all vertical and horizontal and evenly spaced. 

I decided this image made a great abstract without any

enhancement at all. But, of course, I decided to have a bit of fun with it.

"SCREENED IN #2"
á la Mondrian

Because of the geometric design created by black lines in the original photo,

I decided to make this image resemble a Mondrian painting using primary

colors, black and white.  After making the image more vertical and horizontal

with Photoshop's distort tool (to undistorted it) I created 4 new layers above
the original photo, one for each color and white. On the red, blue, and
yellow layers, I changed the mode from normal to color. I selected
the sections I wanted red and filled them with red and did the
same for blue and yellow.  I left the fourth layer in normal mode

and filled in the sections I wanted to be white, then made the layer

transparent enough to see some of the texture of the screen. Using color

mode doesn't allow very light or very dark areas to accept color, so for the

very lightest spots, I used 3 more normal mode layers for the primary
colors, colored each and then made them transparent so a hint of
color would be visible on those very light areas.

Abstract Photo and Summer of Color - Week of 7/7/14: "Barred WIndows"

NF Photography prompt: Abstract Photo
Beginning July 2nd, each week NF photo is alternating a prompt for Digital Art with a prompt for an Abstract Photo. Most of my digital art is also abstract, so many of my creations will work for both.


Scroll down for the Summer of Color version.
Week 5's colors are: Red, Royal Blue, and Light Blue.


I opened my file that holds photos of textures. The two main elements I chose were my kitchen curtains and a rusty old grate from a local park. Initially I chose a second photo of a different grate, but later decided not to use it.  I purposely chose images that I thought wouldn't go well together, to challenge myself to make them work in one abstract piece.

 I also wanted some background texture, so I chose 3 overall texture photos to add to the background. (I take lots of texture photos so I can use them in artistic pieces.) I made my main elements transparent enough that the textures show through, although in the final piece it is difficult or impossible to determine what they were originally.

"Barred Windows"
The first thing I did was use the distort tool in Photoshop to UN-distort the grate photo
to make the bars vertical. I upped the red saturation a little and created more contrast
with levels (because the photo lost some definition when I made it transparent.)
I basically kept the original colors: gray, ecru, orange, and rust.
There is one complete photo of the curtains (again transparent) but I also duplicated
just the lace and placed it in several locations. I added patches of 3 textures under
everything else.  If you look at the photos below, you will see what they were and be
able to identify them in this image, although I was using them for visual interest so
it doesn't matter what they are. I chose the title "Barred Windows" because the
only reason for bars and curtains to be together seemed to be on windows.

Summer of Color version:
Week 5 colors: Red, Royal Blue, Light Blue

My kitchen curtains and other photos
I used to create the above design.

Grate over storm drain at a local park, with
sunlight brightening some of the bars.

Linoleum

Asphalt parking lot

Small white gravel stones applied to
the outside wall of the municipal
building close to my home.

Kitty Par-TAY, Digital Art, Summer of Color - 6/27 to 7/2/14: "Tuxedo Cat"

I am joining the following memes with my "Tuxedo Cat" image:

Kitty Par-TAY ---a place to submit cat art (or other art) each Friday.

Caterday Art asks you to edit one of your cat photos to make it artistic. I didn't start with a photo. I designed this cat myself to look like folk art and donated cards and prints to a homeless cat organization.

For six weeks this summer, Summer of Color gives us three colors to use in a piece of art work.
The colors for Week 4 are: pink, apple green and dark green.
SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW MY SUMMER OF COLOR VERSION.


NF Photo: DIGITAL ART
NF Photography has been having an Abstract Photo prompt each Wednesday. Beginning on July 2nd the promo will be for a Digital Art creation alternating each week with an Abstract Photo prompt.


Cat Art
Considering that my husband and I have had a number of cats over the years, I haven't produced much cat art.  But recently a friend who volunteers at a non-profit that spays and neuters stray cats asked me to donate to a benefit auction.  I could have donated anything ---it didn't have to be cat-related. However, I decided to design blank cat greeting cards and small matted prints featuring a fat tuxedo cat with a toy mouse.

"Tuxedo Cat in Green"
I wanted these to look like folk art.
I created them digitally using Photoshop.
It took about 20 hours to create this one
and about 15 minutes to change to each
color for other versions. The Summer of
Color took even longer.(See below for the same design
in other colors.)
Click on any image for a larger view of all.

My husband's mother worked for the Humane Society so his family always had a cat and a dog. My family had never had cats, only dogs, but when I bought a house  in 1978, I adopted a cat and soon had three. Two were gray and white, one short and one long-haired. The only female was a gray tabby.

When I met my husband in 1984, he had no pets because he lived in an apartment.

Three years later, on my summer break a tortoise-shell kitten crawled from under my car and came right up to me. We didnt feed her at first, but she stayed in our yard, so then we had four.

Two of them died over the years and then an older calico showed up with an all-white male kitten.  A few weeks later, she had a litter of four, so for a while we had eight total.  We found homes for three kittens and kept one, a long-haired calico female. We had the older calico spayed so we would have no more "surprises." As the years went on, several died and then a tuxedo cat adopted us. (Stray cats must sense that we are suckers for furry faces.) She was actually quite small, not fat like the one in my illustration.  It was sad when we finally lost her. She and my husband had a special bond, but we both miss her terribly.

By that time we were retired and wanted to travel.  Previously a friend took care of our cats when we traveled (not often) and I would walk her dog and feed and play with her cats when she was away.  But she had moved three states away and we had no one to take care of our very-spoiled cats.  So when the tuxedo cat had an inoperable tumor on her back that eventually affected her to the point she could no longer walk, we sent her to the great litter box in the sky and decided not to adopt more cats, at least for a while.

We know that once we are too old and decrepit to travel, we will probably adopt two from an animal shelter.  My husband isn't a people-person, but he absolutely loves animals.  He is a cat magnet. Strange cats go right up to him ---so they certainly must love him back.

SUMMER OF COLOR VERSION
I never saw a greenish cat
I never hope to see one,
But I can surely tell you that,
I'd rather see than be one.
(With apologies to Gelett Burgess who
wrote the famous purple cow poem.)

"Tuxedo Cat in Orange"

"Tuxedo Cat in Turquoise"
Click on any image foe
a larger view of all.

"Tuxedo Cat in Purple"

"Tuxedo Cat in Blue"
I created these in various
colors so I could package
cards in several color
combinations and so
that matted prints could
be selected by buyers to
match room decor.

"Tuxedo Cat in Gold"

"Tuxedo Cat in Red"

"Tuxedo Cat in Pink"

 

Cards are available with a larger face
as in this card.

Cards are available with an entire cat
including mouse toy as in this card.

 If you are interested in buying a set of 4 blank cards or a matted print:
All proceeds to be donated to The Homeless Cat Management Team (I donate my time and materials.)
Your check will be made out to that organization, so it will be tax deductible.

1. Leave a comment that begins with "DO NOT PUBLISH." (I monitor my comments, so I won't publish it.)

If you wish, you may also leave an additional comment about the post that will be published. In that case, please submit 2 comments, one for purchasing items and one for a general comment, not just one.

2. Include your email address and I will get back to you with information on where to send your check.

3. Specify your interest in the items listed below.

Prices include postage within the U.S.  If you want an item shipped elsewhere there will be an additional postage charge.

• 4 blank cards, full body with mouse toy (folded to 5.5" X 8.5") +4 envelopes (assorted colors to be chosen by us from what is available): $7.50

• 4 blank cards, larger face (folded to 5.5" X 8.5") +4 envelopes (assorted colors to be chosen by us from what is available): $7.50

• 5"X 7" matted print, $7.50,  specify color of print you prefer - mat will be either white or black depending on what we have available and will fit a standard 5" X 7" frame

• 8"X 10" matted print, $9.00, specify color of print you prefer - mat will be either white or black depending on what we have available and will fit a standard 8" X 10" frame

Note: Because of the mats, the outside edges of a print will be covered so it will appear to be slightly smaller than what you see above. Prints include the entire cat with mouse toy.

Prints are available in these colors: blue, gold, green, orange, pink, purple, red, turquoise and the special Summer of Color combination of: pink, apple green, and dark green.