Back to Avignon

Back to Avignon?  No, but I wish I was.  Still, there are the digital visitis and they don't involve packing! It will have to do for now!

I continue to learn about Photoshop and I am still totally entranced by its possibilities.  I am working with blend modes, selections, brushes and more.  I confess I'm still not sure where I am going with all of this, but the journey is exciting.

At the same time, I am continuing to learn about taking photos with my iPhone.  More learning.  And really, there are not enough hours in a day!!

There is a very real possibility that my head is going to explode!!

Building Dandelion Buildings

I recently took another class with Anna Aspnes (ArtPlay Un3dited) and so spent some time today playing around with some of the techniques that she taught in the class.  I took a photo of some dandelions on my walk this morning and then played around with it once I got home using some of these techniques.  
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I am learning lots from Anna's classes.  She is a very talented and generous teacher and always delivers more than promised in each class.  I have been very impressed and very inspired.

I am also taking an iPhone photography class.  (Both the iPhone class and Anna's class are online.)  It's another great class and I am learning lots about my iPhone and its camera.  And now that I'm out walking more there are lots of opportunities to practice.  Spring, I LOVE Spring!

iPhone photos and new technology.

I recently bought an iPhone, leaving behind my Very Old flip phone.  It's meant that I now have a monthly fee to pay, which is sort of a drag, but in the end I am having so much fun with my new phone.  Because it has a great camera (I got the iPhone 7+).  I am learning how to take pictures on my iPhone and all about its many features.  I confess, it's pretty handy to carry it around and have access to the internet, my phone and a camera all at the same time.  Who knew???

I took this shot on one of my early morning walks (and processed it in Photoshop).  I was intrigued by all the horizontal lines that this view presented me with.  I am looking forward to learning more and more about what my phone/camera can do......  And I am taking pictures on my WALKS!  New 'camera', new hips...it's all good.  Technology!  Wow.

Honesty Flower or Lunaria annua.

Love this little plant....it blooms rather inconspicuously at this time of year (well, if you can call magenta flowers inconspicuous) but it is its amazing seed pod that it is known for.  Which of course I can't show you now, because it's just now flowering....well, you see the problem.  Still I'm sure you're all familiar with it. It is apparently native to the Balkans and southwest Asia, but it has naturalized throughout the temperate world.  And it is having a go beside the driveway in my yard, in

a small, fairly wild patch filled with rosa rugosa, snowberries, native goat's beard and a holly tree (ok, not so wild).  And now this sweet thing is trying to bloom.  It will have to fight off the deer, however, that are constantly pruning my unfenced front yard.  (And I live in the city, honestly....deer, raccoons, rabbits....what next?!)  Anyway I hope it makes it because I do love the seed pods.  We'll see.

In the meantime, I snapped this shot this morning (loving my iPhone!!) and played with it in Photoshop.  (Content from 2lil owls and Anna Aspnes)

Another beautiful sunny day.  No complaints from this end!!!  It's all good.
Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be back.

Spring at last!!

We are at last getting some lovely spring weather and the trees that were waiting for some warmth are all blooming at once.  I think we are about a month behind, but at least it's all happening now!!  I love it!

I went out early yesterday morning to feed the birds and the sun was shining through the garden gate.  And catching these sweet bluebells.  I grabbed my iPhone and snapped a couple of pictures.

I love being able to catch these quick photo opportunities with my iPhone....what an invention!!  And so very portable.  Why didn't I discover this sooner???!!  But just happy to have it along with me now.

I'm off for my morning walk!!!  Yay!  Life is good!!!

Back soon.
Thanks for staying with me....

The dance with Photoshop continues!

I am continuing on  my adventures with Photoshop and my various classes.  I have been taking an Advanced Brushes class with Anna Aspnes and have been learning lots about creating and using brushes in Photoshop.  So interesting.  I created this piece from one of my France photos from a few years ago.

As one approaches the Musee d'Orsay, the time is displayed on a large clock face on the Museum's wall.  Quite lovely.  But even more interesting is the room one enters whilst touring the museum, the room that houses the clock itself.  In this room, one looks out on a view of Sacre Coeur, seen through the clock face itself.  And the silhouette of the clock against the sky is exquisite.  This is my rendition of the clock face, using several brushes that I made and various blend modes in Photoshop, starting with my photo of the clock face and the distant view.  Still a long way to go in terms of the learning but such fun to play with what I am learning so far!!!

Oh, and I made myself a brush that allows me to create a stitched line, that curves and sweeps wherever I want!!  More fun!!!

http://www.annaaspnesdesigns.com

Walking again!

So, I am still here and I am walking again!! I honestly didn't realize how much I had missed being able to go outside and go for a walk.  And since I don't take my sticks with me anymore, I am also able to enjoy walking in the rain....I love the sound of the rain on my umbrella!  Yay!

But of course, I am still totally immersed in the whole Photoshop experience.  I am continuing with my classes with Anna Aspnes and am currently taking one involving the use of brushes, including making our own.  So much to learn.  And what a lot of fun.

I created this one this morning from a couple of pictures I took a few years ago.  I used some of Anna's resources for the frames and the background of the main image.

I am trying to learn how to create an effective 'broken' photo look, as well as other bits and pieces. Learning, learning.  I have a Wacom tablet that I really like and it helps immensely with accuracy in drawing.

And it's nearly SPRING!!! Oh my, life is good,

Hip, hip, hooray!!!

At last, both hips are done now!!!  One month since my second hip operation and all is well.  How amazing to be living at a time when such things can be fixed!  How fortunate I am!!!  And with spring coming, I cannot wait to be out going for walks!

In the meantime, I have been continuing on with my Photoshop journey.  I have taken a couple of classes with Anna Aspnes now and have enjoyed them thoroughly.  Actually, the second class is ongoing...Art Play 2017.  Such fun.  In her December class I put together a book using my photos from my France trip in 2012.  It is so nice to see my photos on paper instead of just as part of my photo stream on my computer.

And I am at the same time continuing to play with my photos on my iPad and iPhone.  Will the fun never end?!

I apologize for my long absence.   It did seem at one point as if the hip surgery would never happen....but it did and it's all good.

I'll be back!

http://www.annaaspnesdesigns.com/