Pixeladies classes and abstracting photos

I know, twice in two days, really, what is going on!!  I have been working today on the course offered by the Pixeladies and since I'm trying to not watch so much Netflix I seem to have time for other things (quelle surprise!!).  Not painting today, which I also want to do, but perhaps tomorrow.  Ok, ok, I did watch a BIT of netflix this afternoon (I'm often up by 4 and the days get SO long), but I have also done a bit of photoshop elements as well.  Baby steps.

I have been working on a photo I took in Arles last year (one year ago right now, I cannot believe how the time has flown!).  Anyway, here is a series of photos.

Starting with the original (after straightening it a bit, something else I'm learning).

And then with a few tweaks to work on gradations and ideas for fabric and stitch.

And finally a piece that might be more accessible using hand dyed fabrics in gradations of greys and that could be highlighted with stitch to enhance the finer details suggested in the pieces above.

Such a lot of fun, with tons of possibilities.  I could take out quite a lot of the details in the windows (using some of the editing ideas that the Pixeladies explain) but am thinking of other ways that one could create the look of curtains using cut back applique and stitch.  The beauty of fabric is its tactile quality and I think it would be fun to play that up here.  Now, who knows when I might ever get to this, tied as I am to my kitchen table, but at least the brain is starting to turn over a bit.  That's a start, right???

Such a fun course (you were so right, Margaret!!) and I would really recommend it.

I'll be back.

www.pixeladies.com

Rose hips and small steps

I haven't been too busy lately and here it is almost the end of October already.  Fall is moving through the garden, along with the raccoons, squirrels, deer in the front yard and (new to me, good grief) several rabbits.  Does this mean the end of my vegetables I am wondering??? I hope not. I have been told that the rabbits are after the clover in my lawn (no herbicides or pesticides, happily for them) but I am wondering about my vegetables come spring time. We shall see.

But today a friend invited me over to her place to do a bit of painting, to sort of spur each other on since we both seem to be in a bit of a slump!, and I was entranced by the rose hips outside her window.

I was delighted to see them since I had arrived at her place with absolutely no direction in mind.  But after a lovely lunch we settled down to do a bit of painting.

And then I found this pic that I did a while ago in one of Jane Davies' classes.  I am enrolled in another of her classes for next month..,hoping I can accomplish something at that time.  In the meantime I am enjoying the Pixeladies class and am starting week four tomorrow.  Which happily is a review.  I am gong to have a go at abstracting some photos in the next bit, something that they teach in one of their lessons.  We'll see. (Quite a lot of 'seeing' in this post, not a lot of doing.  Alas.  But I'll show you if I get to the 'doing' part!!)

That's it for now.  I've decided that I've been watching too much Netflix so I am cutting myself back to evenings only.  Makes for some very long days but I'm hoping to re-establish some sort of art focus.  We'll see (again, already) how well I do with that one.

I'll be back.

Photoshop Elements 14 and Pixeladies

I spent a lovely evening last week with my elder son and his family.  And my computer.  My son is a computer whiz and he spent about three hours with me uploading Windows 10 and PE 14 and other related bits and pieces.  At the same time, I was able to spend some time with my grandkids and my daughter-in-law.  But mostly it was being able to hang out with my son, bless his heart, because he is usually such a busy guy with work that the three hours were an absolute joy and very precious to me. We had a lovely visit whilst we were waiting for things (see how computer literate I am!) to download to my computer.

I had signed up for the latest beginner classes with the Pixeladies (link below) that started this past week.  And so here is my first effort with adding a watermark to one of my pics.

This is a page from a little book that I created a while ago.  I started with painted Lutradur and added all kinds of bits and pieces, then hand and machine stitched onto the work.  I'll show you some more pics next time.  In the meantime, I'm pretty chuffed with the results and really pleased with the classes (thanks, Margaret for the recommendation!).

Not much else happening, still shackled to my kitchen table with these wonky hips of mine, but each day that goes by brings me closer to my surgery (the date for which is still far away and unannounced, alas).  But I'm taking this class for the moment, then the part 2 follow-up, and I am signed up for a class with Jane Davies in November that I am determined to have a go at, even though it means standing up to do it, but I'm going to try.  ( My pharmacist tells me I can always add Tylenol to the other mix of painkillers I'm taking, but I am really reluctant to do that).  You will know if I succeed with the course because I'll post!!!

I'll be back.

http://www.pixeladies.com/