Sunday Postcard Art--Phrenology

Whew, this was a challenging theme. Looked on Google Images and found this antique phrenology head, carved from wood circa 1900. This was probably during the heyday of the American phrenology craze.

Don't you love those big, sad eyes. I think she misses her hair...

The textures are my own, the alphabet is something I use often, the owl is from the Graphics Fairy.

Thanks for visiting

Soartful Challenge--background provided

This week's Soartful challenge was to use this background, by Jeanette and make of it what we would. This is what I made.

I used a texture by Nancee art at Textures for Layers; the hand was Googled, and some filters and PS brushes.

Thanks for visiting.

Art Creations Friday Challenge 59

What a fun image this was to work with! I know she will be popping up in my artwork over and over again. Didn't know she was a twin, did you? Don't they look ready for anything?

Background textures from Norma Frances and Boccacino at Textures for Layers, dictionary pages from a flickr free images site, and the map from mapsorama.com, whick has lots of funky old maps free for use. Check it out.

4 x 4 Friday--Imbolc

I've been thinking about Spring, since Wednesday, when it was almost 50 degrees here, and we saw jonquil leaves beginning to break through the warmed soil. Today it't 11 degrees; it snowed a bit last night and the world is winter white and beautiful again.
Ah, Nature...

Here is my take on Imbolc, the Gaelic celebration of the hope of spring in the dead of winter. Printemps by Alphonse Mucha, winter texture from Clive Sax at Textures for Layers, cherry blossoms were googled.
Thanks for visiting.

Three Muses Challenge-Quotes or Quips

Not sure whether this is a quote or a quip-maybe both- but I like it.
Photo from Graphics fairy, backgrounds from Pareeerica, Rubyblossom and E. Christina at Textures for Layers.

Bunnie just decided to join the fun.

Project 365 Days 24, 25, 26

Day 24-in Dunkin DOnuts

Day 25 Rainy day, old film texture applied

DY 26 Clock in Cleveland Circle, camera preset blackboard

Collage Obsession--Spirits Linger

This was another challenging challenge. Thanks, Ladies, for the inspiration.
I chose to use both the wonderful image of the mansion, albeit not the whole image; and the theme word, Abandoned. My vision is that the house, though abandoned, still retains memories of its better days, spirits, if you will. I further followed the theme by using an image of the dancer, Loie Fuller, who was the epitome of "danced with abandon".
Backgrounds and textures by E.Christina and Kersten Franks at Textures For Layers and the text is from the Graphics Fairy. The rest is filters, blending and brushes.

Sunday Postcard Art--Time

Here is my entry for this Week's challenge. I got to thinking about how time sometimes alters memories, and causes them to fade. I created this memory of a long ago child, almost forgotten, but never fully lost.

the seven gifts that come from working from your inner world--the ability to listen

Here is the third of the seven gifts--the ability to listen to yourself.

This is a difficult thing to master--listening to your self. So much of the time it's very hard to hear your own voice in the midst of the hullabaloo that is the world around us.

Yet, when we take the time to really listen, the small still voice within each of us can be heard.

Thanks for visiting.

Art Creations Friday--Explore Your World

Here is my entry for this week's challenge. This little girl, all dressed and ready to GO inspired me to explore blending layers and changing colors and using photoshop brushes made of light...

Imagine! Brushes made of LIGHT!

4 by 4 Friday--Peter and the Swan

This week's theme is a boy and a bird. What a great challenge to incorporate the two elements. As I searched my stash of images, I came across this swan from Graphics fairy. It had a very "fairy tale" look to it, and I immediately thought of Peter Pan. Perhaps this is how he first arrived in Neverland...

Project 365--Days 19, 20, 21

Icy outdoors on Tuesday; the plant in my office window on Wednesday; the tunnel at the T stop today.

Three Muses --Another one

I started this postcard several months ago for another challenge site. but wasn't ever able to call it done. Looking at everyone's entries for this week's Three Muses challenge--In the Air, inspired me to finish it.
Thanks for visiting.

Three Muses...In the air

Here is my entry for this week. I tried very hard not to make it about love, but the Muse wouldn't let me.

Images from Suzee Que, Gaby Braun, Frannie60, and backgrounds from Rubyblossom and others from Textures for Layers Flickr Pool

Thanks for looking.

New Challenge Blog--Collage Obsession

I found a new weekly (monday) challenge blog this morning. It is Collage Obsession http://collageobsessionchallenge.blogspot.com/ and belongs to Elegia and Itkupilli, two artists who are probably known to most of us, both through their own work and through the collagesheets and other art materials they put together and sell on thier shop sites. Both do beautiful work.
Every Monday they will post a word or phrase and an image--you can use either or both. Today is the first challenge--


Today's image is a lovely photo of Sarah Bernhardt and the phrase is "worn out"
I chose to use just the image.

the seven gifts that come from working from your inner world--Curiosity

Here is the second piece exploring the seven gifts that come from working from your inner world.
The curiosity to open closed doors and explore what's behind them.

I found, in thinking about this, that for me it as a much about courage as curiosity, This is a personal challenge for me--I HATE change and am almost always afraid to try new things because I always feel that I will fail,or worse--just be Not Good Enough-- and be both disappointed and disappointing.

That said, I will say that while those feelings were present as I ventured to explore altered art, and especially digital collage, my curiosity overcame the fear, and here I am--loving what I'm creating and not afraid to put it out here.

Anyway... Can't you just hear this woman's thoughts "should I or shouldn't I? What's out there? what will happen next?" Personally, I think she's leaning toward going. And the wise little owl will go along too.

The image is from Art-e-ology's Free Image Tuesday Flickr site; the owl from Graphics Fairy. The doorway is googled. The photoshop brushes are Neutron Colllapse and 8 2nds of Light, found on myphotoshopbrushes.com/brushes

Sunday Postcard Art--Eyes

Here is my entry for this week. As I looked through my images for inspiration these eyes really held me. Very hypnotic and mystical. I DID enhance them just a bit :-)

I think the photo came from Art-e-ology. The backgrounds and textures are from Sigmaman, Pareeerica and Rubyblossom at Textures for Layers. The rest is filters and photoshop brushes, expecially Arcane Circles from Obsidian Dawn and Eight 2nds of Light by DSGVisuals.

A great big THANK YOU to all the talented artists that freely share their creations.

The seven gifts that come from working in your inner world

"Allow into your art space these seven gifts that come from working from your inner world:
The courage to sit and wait.
The curiosity to open closed doors and explore what is behind them.
The ability to listen to yourself.
An appreciation for the experience of all life.
A respect for the power of your imagination.
The compassion to try to embrace all things with unconditional acceptance.
And an awe for the path of knowing."
From Spirit Taking Form by Nancy Azara

A couple of myYahoo art groups post a Quote of the Day. The quote above is from yesterday and it struck such a chord im me that it inspired me to attempt a series to explore them. Here is the first gift--the courage to sit and wait.

4x4 Friday-- Hearts

Here is my entry for this week's 4x4 challenge--hoplessly romantic, I know. The image is from Suzee Que's Flickr site, several textures and backgrounds from Textures for Layers and other sources; a heart collage image from a freebie collage sheeet from Gaby Braun , PS brushes and blending. It was a lot of fun to put together, and it makes me smile when I look at it. Enjoy!

Art Creations Friday

My entry for this weeks ACF challenge, to use this sweet image. She looks like she's wishing very hard for something.

I tinted it and added the bird. The background has several textures--from mbgrigby & m.r.nelson at Textures for Layers and Cottage Arts. Can't remember where I found the alphabet, but it's one of my favorite pieces. The text and music are PS brushes

Project 365 Day 13 & 15

Day 13--still at home. I got this little guy at a craft fair a few years ago. He came from a village in Central America.

Day 15 Looking through the window of the train, and out the other side. I added an old film texture for a free textures froup on Flickr

Project 365 Day 14

The clock at Cleveland Circle. Added texture by Papercutter John at Textures for Layers

Three Muses Challenge-Water

Ladies, another interesting challenge. My first feeling about water is always the calming strength of the sea. I always feel restored just by the sight and smell of it. It's funny, there are two places in the country that I would choose to live in if I could--the Atlantic coast, represented here, or the high desert of New Mexico, in or near Santa Fe, which was the inspiration for last Sunday Postcard art's piece

The original photo was taken in Conecticutt, down around New London. Artistic filters applied and the ocean was actually painted back in after the filters removed all the colors

Project 365 days 11 & 12

Here are my photos for days 11 and 12. I missed taking any photos yesterday, spent a few hours in the emergency room after I did something to my knee--just by WALKING!
I didn't have the camera with me, too bad. By the time I finally got home I was too tired to raise the camera.
Much better today, can even walk a little without the crutches. Doctor tomorrow.

Project 365 Days 9 & 10

Sunday Postcard Art--Windows

Here is my entry for this week's challenge. I have been remembering my trips to Santa Fe from several years ago and looking at old photos. I just loved the turquoise windows set in the adobe walls.
The photo is mine, texture from Inka at http://alteredartifacts.blogspot.com/ and photoshop filters and brushes. I made the stamp from a template and the New Mexico flag.
Thanks for visiting.

4x4 Friday-- Scent

A new challenge site http://4x4friday.blogspot.com/

The square format is very challenging for me

I love this image, I think I found it on google-if I'm mistaken, please let me know- it's so evocative and sad

...just a photoshop filter and the text...

Project 365 Day 8

Getting ready to put away Christmas until next time

Art Creations Friday " In Good Hands"

Here is my entry for Art Creations Friday this week. We were provided with the image of this lovely little girl, sitting on a bench. I just knew she wanted to be sitting somewhere more exciting, and Bunnie hopped along for the ride.

The background frame is by Rubyblossom at Textures for Layers, the music is from Frannie60 at Totally Free Textures, the image was provided, the rest is photoshop brushes and blending modes--and Bunnie just is.

Thanks for visiting.

Project 365 Day 7

Unitarian Church, West Roxbury

Project 365 Day 6

Day 6 Sun in Cleveland Circle

Three Muses Challenge-Angels

I believe firmly in guardian angels-not because I ever knew that I needed one, but because I knew she was there and didn't fear. I still know this.

The angel is from a photo I took in a nearby cemetery; the children are from a Reubens painting; the music,a lullaby, from the lovely Inka from one of my Yahoo groups, serendipitously was offered as a freebie last Sunday.
Thanks for visiting

Project 365 Day 5

Another photo from the bus.

Project 365 Day 4

Couldn't decide between these, but can only post one a day so went with the hands. I really like my plant too. It's in my office and has been blooming almost continuously for 10 years

Ready to Explore

This is a piece I was working on for a Three Muses Challenge--Pairs, from a few months ago. I lost it somewhere in the bowels of my conputer and just found it again.
The main image is a beautiful vintage birthday card from the Graphics Fairy, over an old map from somewhere. The little girl I don't remember where I got , but have seen her on several freebie sites.
The more I look at it , the more I like the vibrant colors. I feel like the bird and its passenger are ready to take off. What wonders will they find?

Project 365 Day 3

Three days in a row!

Soartful Saturday Challenge--Roses

The image supplied this week just called out to me for a sentimental treatment. I created this postcard using a beautiful vintage image from Heidi, I can't remember the name of her blog, but thank you Heidi.

Sunday Postcard Art "Top Hat & Tails"

Here is my entry for this week. I really enjoyed this.
Backgrounds are from Pareeerica and j_freznel at Textures for Layers. The top hats and tuxedos were googles and cried out for better heads. The sunflowers are a botanical illustration, angels from Graphics fairy.
Thanks for visiting.

Project 365 Day 2

I took this this morning while clearing the driveway. It's been snowing all day, everything very grey and soft.

Project 365 2010

I joined Project 365 today. I really want to get back to photography-it was a big part of my creative life for many years, although the muse has been quiet for a while now. I'm hoping that this project will help me rekindle my love for making pictures.

Here's the shot form January 1. My christmas tree in the dark, jiggling the camera during the capture.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

Here is my entry for this week's Art Creations Friday Open Theme.
As you can see, the boys were celebrating last night. The image is from Graphics Fairy, and the rest is brushes. The font is Sabrina Star.