TAKE A WORD

SOMETHING FISHY

Having found a website full of free photoshop downloads : all free downloads (dot) com, I thought it would be fun to play with a few.  So here we have SOMETHING FISHY.  :D

Credit to all free downloads for everything except the background which is one of my own.

Thank you for looking and taking the time to comment.

DIGITALMANIA

SHOE TREE

MOONLIGHT

PULL

Last week across at Digitalmania we were looking at the work of a young Hungarian artist who specializes in the style of photo allegory .... softly surreal and, in my opinion, ingenious.

Here I three I made for  the challenge.

Credits can be found on my Flickr page.

Thanks for looking and taking the time to comment.

THREE MUSES

THE EYES HAVE IT

Sometimes only a shower will do!

Thank you, Marie, for a very creative theme.

Credit to Starscoldnight and Bluesse (Deviantart) and HolliewoodStudios (Deviantscrap)

Thank you for looking and taking the time to comment.

TAKE A WORD

ANGEL

As I looked out of my window into the dark night I saw a very strange sight indeed.  It was a girl dressed all in white, and I swear she looked just like an ANGEL.  A real one.  As I pressed my nose closer to the glass I saw that her wings,  for yes she did have wings, were tattered and torn and she was hugging herself as though for warmth and comfort.  Then something startled her, her eyes flew open in a kind of panic, and whoosh she disappeared before my very eyes.  Mmmmmmm.

Thank you, Marie, for a great challenge theme.

Credit to Sharing Tubes .

Thank you for looking and taking the time to comment.

THREE MUSES

ANIMAL MAGIC - WILD OR DOMESTIC

Whilst tidying out the attic the other day I came across some old photographs and this one in particular got my interest.  Apparently, they are third cousins three times removed, on my husband's side.  May I introduce you to Madge and Horace Feathers and their grandchildren 'Birdie' and Edward.   (Not entirely sure which child is which!)

Credit to Finecrafted Designs.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

PINK

Meet cousin Flora, who it has to be said, has a fondness for PINK.   Her apartment is decorated solely in white so she can waft about in a haze of PINK knowing she is always the centre of her world.

Surrounded as she is by every shade and texture of PINK her dedication knows no bounds and she has often been heard to mutter : it's hard work but someone has to do it!

Thank you, Marie.

Credit to HolliewoodStudios and CAJoline.  The font is Zoloft.  Flora, was shamelessly stolen from Matisse and then greatly altered!

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

You may already know that Marie (Ozstuff), has a challenge group across at Flickr called Digitalmania,  where each week we digital artists, take inspiration from the works of a chosen artist.

Last week we explored the work of FINNABAIR and that inspired me to create this.

 

This week, we've taken a slightly different tac and have been invited to use the face of MAUDE FEALY as our inspiration and to create some work in which she features.

For this one I extracted her from the background, then using a soft airbrush in Photoshop, I began to over paint the original black and white image.  

Adding a new layer each time on which to paint, and reducing the opacity as needed I began with the skin tone.   Followed up with the lip colour and blue for the eyes.  I added deep shade under the upper eyelids and around the eye itself to keep a three dimensional feel and and to define the eyes before adding colour to the lower lashes.  Before leaving the face I placed small areas of white on the lips and in the pupils to add light and shine, and then as a final touch to the painted effect I added a light shading of red to Maude's hair.

Finally, to define the light and shade I added the alfresco filter.  Then I knew it was done!

...................................

Next week at Digitalmania we'll be looking at the work of a very talented young Hungarian artist

called SAROLTA BAN.

So if you are a digital artist and like a challenge why not think about joining us at Flickr.  

You already know we are a friendly bunch and you would certainly be welcome.

...................................

If you need to know more why not email Marie who I'm sure would be able to help.

THREE MUSES

INCOGNITO

Please reveal your true identity, Sir!

Bev has chosen MASK as our theme for inspiration this week which let my Muse run wild.

Thanks, Bev.

Credit to JoeSistah and Bluesse.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

STEAMPUNK

Greetings from Lady Gaga who has discovered STEAMPUNK and loves it.  I knew she would!

Credit to Altered Emporium, Finecrafted Designs and Holliewood Studios.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

KILLING TIME

Yes.  I confess it.  I am still 'Living Out Loud' with Angi Sullins and Silas Toball!   It seems nothing is to be done and I can only hope I work my way through it ..... soon.

I knew the theme was TIMEPIECE and I knew those clocks were ticking and would pop up somewhere, but in the meantime, I could only think of building my background layers ready for the giraffe.  Don't ask!

As you see the clocks did turn up.  It appears someone had been killing time.

NO ANIMALS WERE HURT IN THE MAKING OF THIS PIECE!

Credit to FinecraftedDesigns, HolliewoodStudio and Bluesse.

Thank you for looking.

 I think I'm feeling better now. 

TAKE A WORD

YANKEE DOODLE

This, believe it or not,  is my interpretation on the theme of WINGS!  I'm still in my Angi Sullins and Silas Tobell inspiration mode and I so wanted to create a fish ...... on a bicycle.  Yes, I know, I can't explain it either.

The question was where would the wings fit in?  The fish definitely looked silly wearing wings and anyway they still looked like fins how ever hard I tried.  Well the fish on a bicycle would not be denied and so I made it and in desperation added a blue bird (wings .... get it?) to his hat.  No sooner had I done that than the hat disappeared off the fish's head.  I think the blue bird did it!

Having gone through this odd creative process I still wasn't to be left alone.  'Feather in his cap' popped into my head and I seemed to remember there being a song.  Yankee Doodle came to town riding on a pony, he wore a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.   Yes, that's the one!

I know.  I know.  There's no hope for my sanity.

Thanks, Marie.

Credit to FinecraftedDesigns.

Thank you for looking.

(Also submitted at Digitalmania)

DIGITALMANIA

Inspired by the work of Angi Sullins and Silas Toball.

Credit to Finecrafted Designs.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

Penelope had settled down in front of the TV with a glass of wine when all of a sudden the hairs on the back of her neck began to bristle .... she had the distinct feeling she was not entirely alone!

Hee hee, it's my turn to host at the Three Muses!

Credit to BethRimmer, FinecraftedDesigns  and Numb Bumm.  The wicked clown was googled, whilst the 'bather' is courtesy of Magritte.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

ROSES

It's Spring 'down under' so the gardens will be full of ROSES which is handy since ROSES is our word for inspiration this week at Take a Word!

Credit to HolliewoodStudios.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

VINTAGE

I confess I am not usually even slightly moved to participate in Halloween type art so imagine my surprise when this VINTAGE themed piece turned out to be just that ...... trick or treat ..... the lot.

I wonder, is there some medication I could take?

Thank you, Bev, for a lovely theme.

Credit  to Shadowhouse Creations, Hidden Vintage and Finecrafted Designs.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

I love this lady, who for me,  epitomizes everything Art Deco and so fits perfectly into a Crime Film Poster for Rene Clair's adaptation of Agatha Christie's : And Then There Were None.  A good thing since guest host, Anja, has chosen POSTER (preferably crime related) as her word for inspiration at this week's Take a Word challenge.

To be truthful, I have no idea what the film (or book) is about but when I found the clipart hand and dagger and the fizzy pop advert lady, who to me looks lofty, arrogant and distant, even before I gave her a cigarette in a holder,  I knew it would create a story. 

Everything I've used to create  this poster is free to use (unless you tell me differently).  Credit should be given for the fonts to Obsidian Dawn.

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

ALPHONSE MUCHA

This week we have Mucha as our artist for inspiration at Digitalmania.

Credits can be found on my Flickr page.

Thanks for looking.

THREE MUSES

PIPE DREAMS

Inspired by Maggie Taylor's 'Cloud Maker' and created for the SEA theme at the Three Muses this week.

Credit to BethRimmer, FinecraftedDesigns, PlayingWithBrushes and Bluesse.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

BALLOONS

It seemed like a good idea at the time ....... Mmmmmmmmm!!!

Credit to HolliewoodStudios, MrWhiskers and IreneAlexeeva.

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

We are exploring the work of artist Jerry Uelsmann at Digitalmania this week and taking inspiration from his style.

Credits can be found on my Flickr page. 

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

 

ENJOY THE RIDE

Matilda and Penelope were adventurous types and liked to indulge in foreign and exotic travels whenever they could. This was possibly due to their mother frequently telling them : Life's a Journey so  Enjoy the Ride.

Credit to Rebecca McMeen (Scrapbookgraphics).

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

MANUSCRIPT

Sim has chosen Manuscript as our word for inspiration at Take a Word this week and when I found this lovely soft scripted background by the ladies at the WaterLO Project I thought of lazy Summer afternoons.  So imagine my surprise when I spied these young mums with their offspring (CAJ Designs) enjoying just such an afternoon as I strolled through my local park recently! 

Thanks, Sim, for a lovely theme.

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

 

 My take on Liz Huston's  'Betwixt'

My interpretation of 'Familiar Wounds' 

Here's Mabel helping out with a piece inspired by Brandie Butcher

Both artists were inspiration at Digitalmania.

Credits may be found on my Flickr.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

BIRDS

I have no idea where this came from ..... or what it means.  I blame my Muse!

Credit to Irene Alexeeva, NumbBumm and Bluesse.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

BLUE

Our word for inspiration is BLUE and that reminded me that here in the northern hemisphere we're sliding in to Autumn and then Winter ...... time to batten down the hatches, bring out the furry slippers and an extra layer of clothing .... brrrrrr. 

Here's a little charm to keep me going until Spring!

Credit to the ladies at the WaterLO Project.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

The theme is TURQUOISE across at the Three Muses this week and after finding some difficulty in getting started I eventually ended up with two pieces!

The first piece was me playing around with layers and blends and colours.   Mmmmmm .... not sure!

The second is inspired by a holiday I'm about to take with my family in the Lake District.   Plenty of fresh air, good food and long walks will be the order of the day.  :D

(Have to confess I've just got back from a week in Cornwall too ..... hee hee)

Credits to Finecrafted Designs, Holliewood Studios and Irene Alexeeva, whilst the boot was filched from the internet.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

HEARTS AND FLOWERS

I couldn't resist incorporating this gorgeous swirling black and white background into my Hearts and Flowers collage for this week's theme at Take a Word.   A perfect contrast for the gorgeous deep blood red of the background.  Mmmmmmm.

Credit to Finecrafted Designs and Cali Designs.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

SCHOOL DAYS

Bev, has chosen School Days as her theme for our inspiration this week, and that made me think of an apple for the teacher so here we go!

Credit to Hidden Vintage, Granny Art and Efie.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

NUMBERS

This week we have NUMBERS as our word for inspiration at TAKE A WORD, and that reminded me of the beautiful nymph I saw in my garden early one morning recently.  She was sitting serenely beside the garden pond gazing at her own reflection ...... or may be it was at the water lilies.   Had she not moved slightly I would have missed her clothed as she was in hues of green and blue.  I was distracted by a bird flying high overhead and when I looked back in her direction she was gone! Mmmmm.

The 'nymph' is courtesy of Dover, the backgrounds are from the ladies of the WaterLO Project, whilst the numbers of the clock I am unable to credit but if you know their origin please let me know.

Thank you for looking.

RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

Each week, in a random act of kindness, Chris Rowe who I call friend on Facebook, puts up one of her lovely pieces of art to be won by one lucky person, and earlier this month that lucky person was me   :D

This morning my post lady dropped this beautiful, eye popping and simply gorgeous bird hanger through my letterbox.  Yay!  Thank you, Chris.

Chris is an accomplished artist, she lives in the north east of England, and creates art in a wide range of mixed media ..... and she creates faces to die for!

If you'd like to see more of her work try looking her up on facebook.

THREE MUSES

BLACK AND WHITE WITH A DASH OF .....

It's my turn to host at the Three Muses this week and I chose red as my dash of colour!

We have very sophisticated mushrooms in our garden it seems.  :D

Credit to Clix at StockXchange.

Thank you for looking.

DIGITALMANIA

  

INSPIRED BY MICHAEL PARKES

Created for the Digitalmania challenge where this week we are inspired by the work of Michael Parkes.

Credit to Irene Alexeeva, Bluesse (Deviantart) and Finecrafted Designs.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

This week we have TATTERED as our word for inspiration.  Looking at the state of this chair me thinks I should go out and buy a new one ..... and a clock.  Anyone seen my other shoe?

A very enjoyable challenge theme.

Credit to HolliewoodStudio.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

When I was a child  there was a song we used to sing when skipping a rope with friends : There's a party on the hill will you come, bring your own cup and saucer and a bun ....'  the next girl would jump into the twirling rope and we would chant her name into the song 'Mary will be there throwing peanuts in the air' .   And then the whole song would begin again as an invitation for the next girl to jump in.

It's my turn to host at the Three Muses and I have chosen the theme of INVITATION by Mail Art.

Credit to Scrapping Cop, Plainster, ObsidianDawn and AlicePopcorn.

Thank you for looking.

TAKE A WORD

WINGS

We have WINGS as our word for inspiration at TAKE A WORD this week and that reminded me of what I saw in the pale moonlight not too long ago.  There was the hoot of an owl and then I heard what sounded light sticks being broken underfoot.  I stopped and watched, and then I saw her, the goddess of green things bathing in the light of the moon.

Mmmmmm.

Credit to Finecrafted Designs.

Thank you for looking.

THREE MUSES

THE CASE OF MISS SCARLETT AND THE STRAWBERRY

Bev, asked for STRAWBERRIES this week so I felt compelled to tell you it was Miss Scarlett in the Morning room ....... with the dagger.  :D

Credit to Bluesse, RubyBlossom and BethRimmer whilst the strawberries were filched from Google.

Thank you for looking.

WOOHOO - AND THERE'S MORE

MY JOURNAL PRIZE FROM PAULETTE

During April of this year Paulette, from the beautiful ART DUST art blog,  worked on an altered journal specifically to give it away at a prize drawing later that month.  It looked absolutely stunning and so I made a comment  and entered the draw.

Then my husband was taken seriously ill and for me the land of art and blogs disappeared into the blue as my world turned upside down.

In early May Paulette having had no response from me emailed me to let me know I was the lucky winner!  One or two quick emails passed between us in which all was explained.

The journal never arrived and I assumed it was lost in the postal system and I worried Paulette would think me very rude indeed for not thanking her.  Then an email arrived from her in which she told me she had just discovered the journal she thought she had already sent!

Well, two weeks on and I am the very proud owner of the beautiful journal which finally found its way to me here in the UK.    Thank you so much, my friend.

Why not pop over and see Paulette's fabulous Art Dust blog.

TAKE A WORD

MEMORIES

This week Deann is our guest host at Take a Word and she has chosen MEMORIES as our word for inspiration.

After much consideration I thought family memories might be a way to go and I got out my box(es) of old family photos.

Here are some very happy memories of our children and grandchildren (now all grown up) our parents, grandparents and great grandparents.  I am so lucky, not only to have the memories but also the photographs to show them off.

Thanks, Deann.

Credit to Irene Alexeeva for the book and window frame, the clouds background is courtesy of Night Fate Stock (Deviantart) whilst the rest is my stock of family photographs.

Thank you for looking.

WOOHOO - I GOT MAIL

Across on Facebook there is a group of artists who are making art and then abandoning it in public places in the hope that whoever finds it will love their unexpected gift and might even use the attached email to let the artist know it has been found.

It's lovely to see pictures of  some of the art that is being abandoned and often I wish a small piece might be abandoned where I might find it.

Imagine my surprise and delight then when this lovely mail art package came through my letterbox this morning.  I knew immediately it was from Bev my fellow Muse as I had unashamedly hinted that she might consider abandoning something near my home for me to find.  Impossible, of course,  as she lives in the US and I live in the UK.  Undeterred Bev abandoned this mailart in the mail system and it found its way to me.  I found it abandoned in my letterbox.  :D

Thank you so much, my friend, you made my day.