ACF # 72-FIREBIRD

This week at Art Creations Friday we were provided with a very interesting background to work with. I wasn't thrilled with the colors, so I converted it to black & white and overlaid a deep red texture, by SkeletalMess, over it. It still looked very visceral to me, so I decided it needed something DRAMATIC. I used a Photoshop brush from a set of tribal symbols/tattoos by Redlilith, and stamped it in white, yellow and orange. I applied the pin light blending style--this often gives unexpected and dramatic results-- and gave my firebird a beady black eye.
I'm really quite pleased with him. I often have the feeling that some pieces create themselves and I just push the buttons...but not this time-- I MADE Him--he didn't make himself.

4 x 4 Friday--Beltane

Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. The name means fire of Bel; Belinos being one name for the Sun God, whose coronation feast we celebrate. Beltaine begins at sundown on April 30-May Eve, and ends at sundown the next day-May Day. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken.Lighting fires was customary at Beltane, and traditionally a Beltane fire was composed of the nine sacred woods of the Celts. All hearth fires were extinguished on Beltane Eve and then kindled again from the sacred "need fires" lit on Beltane. People would leap through the smoke and flames of Beltane fires and cattle were driven through them for purification, fertility, prosperity and protection.
Many people would rise at the first light of dawn to go outdoors and gather flowers and branches to decorate their homes. Women traditionally would braid flowers into their hair. Men and women alike would decorate their bodies. Beltane marks the return of vitality, of passion.
(From Wikipedia, herbalmusings.com & Wicca.com)

Images are from Elizabeth Golden, Dover and Google

Three Muses --Music

There is nothing more amazing to me than people who can make music--be it playing an instrument, singing or even clapping in rhythm. I am SO without musical talent. I especially love the way children make music--so joyous and exhilarating and LOUD! And the gift of witnessing a child with a real musical gift is quite miraculous.

The elements of this piece came from Magic Moonlight Studio, Graphics Fairy, Heidi at Shabby Chic, and Green Tea an Pareeerica at T4L. Some other texture-y bits were googled, along with lots of blending, filters and brushes.
Thanks for stopping by.

Collage Obsession-Flowers

Don't get me wrong, I love flowers...they are not my favorite element to work with, though, so this was a real challenge for me. You may not believe it , but somewhere deep within the layers is (part of anyway)the original image we were given to work with with. And yes, that is Marie, or rather, her cousin, Flora, a somewhat shy relative who often chooses to hide in the garden.
Elements are from Graphics Fairy and Textures for Layers, lots of blending and overlay, and of course, Photoshop brushes.
Here is "Flora"

SPA-Oriental

Here's my piece for this week's challenge at Sunday Postcard Art-Oriental. Everyone seems to have a fascination with things Asian--from the sublime teachings of the Buddha, Confucius and the Tao Te Ching to the also sublime and exotic beauty of the Geisha--from Asian food to feng shui--it interests us.
My piece combines two cultures, Japanese and Chinese; the geisha and the lotus are from Japan and the calligraphy is Chinese. The textures are freebies from a class I took and the rest is brushes and blending.
Thanks for visiting.

4x4 Friday--Cityscape

What an interesting challenge this is. I can't wait to see what everyone does with it. I worked with a photo I took in the neighborhood in Boston where I work, Cleveland Circle. It's home to many brick and brownstone apartment buildings. When I was little I always wondered what it would be like to live in such a place--I imagined round rooms with great high ceilings and filmy curtains fluttering in the open windows.
So here is my city mini-scape. The photo and one of the texture pieces are mine-you can see the originals on my FLickr page, there's a link on the sidebar, and the textures are free to download and use. Another texture piece is from Irene2005 at T4L. The other bits were googled, and altered with filters and PS brushes.