The Valentine

Background made up of 2 photos combined

Model - extracted from http://ita-its-art.deviantart.com/art/rotes-Herz-4-434498852

Floating hearts - http://maureenolder.deviantart.com/art/STOCK-PNG-hearts-in-the-wind-116046901 Textures, dove, writing - all my collection

Well it's that time of year again so I thought I would make a Valentines image.  I am not particular inspired or happy with what I have been creating lately.  I just do not know what direction I want to go so that is a problem.  I make very simple images - I use Photoshop Elements and hardly anything else special.  I have some 3rd party stuff but tend not to use it.  I do not use actions because I prefer to make my own images my way.  I guess I will just keep plugging along and see where I get to.

Pastoral

Background - created using two of my photos

Sheep - extracted from an unsplash photo

Model - Aurora - extracted from a photo by Colby Files  

Textures, weeds and grasses - my collection

I wanted to make an image in the style of William-Adolphe Bouguereau - one of my favorite artists

Stripes

Model - Stephanie - extracted from a photo by Colby Files

Background - Mischief Circus

Back Zebra, chair - Mischief Circus 

Textures, moon, hair strands, striped stockings, bird, front zebra, weeds, sparkle, stars, feather, flower - all my collection

The Circus!!  I wanted to make an image with a woman in striped stockings and this is what I ended up with - quite a lot of stripes!!!

Radar Love

Background - made using 2 images

Models - Hannah &  Miles photo by Colby Files

Skeleton - http://sj-lykana.deviantart.com/art/STOCK-Gothic-6-376460167

Steampunk elements - Mischief Circus 

Textures and other stuff - my collection

So back to Photoshop.  I love making Steampunk art and haven't made any in awhile.  When I saw this photo from Colby I know it would make a great Steampunk themed image.  I wanted the figures to be the main focus but still wanted a steampunk theme.  I added the glasses to the male figure and created an appropriate background.  Lastly I ran it through a few filters.  I work pretty simply - I mostly do not use anything fancy - just Photoshop Elements and the filters provided with the program lots of masking and layers.

The Power Of Three

Models - extracted from a photo from unsplash

Textures, moon, stars, birds, stuff - my collection 

iPad apps - Repix, Icolorama, Stackables

Made this on my iPad.  I haven’t been using it much lately and wanted to get back into making some art there too.  I am finally coming to realize that I do not always have to make a polished digital image in Photoshop. What used to bother me was I wanted to make the same exact type of images on my iPad as I did on my Mac - I didn’t want to be able to tell the difference as to where I made it.  That caused me not to use my iPad because I was out of “my comfort zone”.  Now I am liking the different look of the iPad work and want to do more using the apps there.  Another goal for 2017.  

Stop

So nothing in this image is real and I guess I am into rain and umbrellas right now. And yea I know the stop sign is on the wrong side of the road - it needed to be there.
I made the model from bits and pieces of other photos. The face is Hannah - photo Colby Files. The skirt and feet from another image as well as the arms, top and umbrella from another.
The background is made up from four photos
Textures, rain, stop sign, birds, lantern all my collection

Gotta love Photoshop!!!!!

I am still thinking about recurring images and in this one I have my usual dark image with the birds.  I completely created this model and it was no easy task but I think she works pretty well.  I like working with the rain and umbrellas for now - I can see a few more with his theme coming up. I do think there is a story here!

Torrent

Background - created using six different photos

Model - http://senzostock.deviantart.com/art/Stock-Huh-2-48618080 

Textures, rain, hair strands, bird brushes, trees, stars - all my collection and AWAKE content

So this is my first image for February.  I spent some time creating this one.  I actually made the background first which is not how I usually work.  I made a similar background once before and I used that as the basis for this one.  After I made the stormy road I needed to put something on it.  This was not the original model I was going to use but I loved the way her white dress and umbrella looked against the dark stormy background.  I am going to use the other model in another umbrella image.  

Someone on the AWAKE group posted today about the Rule of Thirds.  I know all about that rule but never really follow it.  In this image I put my main subject smack dab in the middle and for me it works.  As I stated in my previous post I just finished a portfolio renovation with Brooke Shaden - on one of the days she talked about recurring themes or elements in your images.  Some recurring elements for me are the moon, trees, flowers, birds, skulls, a model, cats, keys, fog/mist and clouds. I never really thought about that before but now I am so much more aware of what I use in my images and how my props set the mood.  I also like the umbrella in this image and think I may do a few images if not a series using the umbrella.  My theme in this one as usual is dark and moody and for me this also tells a story.