And Juliet Is The Sun

And Juliet Is The Sun - playing around with a vintage image, some textured backgrounds, blending modes and painting. I really like these vintage images - they are fun to work with.  I originally wanted a castle in the BG but went with this version - maybe next time.

Breath

Just playing around a bit with the new computer and my new Photoshop Elements. I think this is a Julia Cameron image that I acquired just trying out some textures and blending modes - nothing very interesting. I'm not feeling too inspired today.

O Holy Night

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

Dreaming of Christmas

Dreaming of Christmas - B&W Vintage image extracted and paired with a fur tree and other tree and lots of blending modes and coloring. Very simple  - I could have added more but thought this was just right.  I can't believe this year is almost over - time goes by way to fast.

A Winters Walk

Everything in this image is from other images. All extracted and added to make this whole. Textures and blending modes added last. This won am may need that umbrella to ward off the swans they can be nasty!!

The Wheel of the Year - Winter Solstice

The Wheel of the Year - Winter SolsticeModel kuoma-stock.deviantart.com/art/Blackbird-10-333758235The December solstice has influenced the lives of many people over the centuries, particularly through art, literature, mythology and religion. The December solstice is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere.In the northern hemisphere, the December solstice occurs during the coldest season of the year. Although winter was regarded as the season of dormancy, darkness and cold, the coming of lighter days after the winter solstice brought on a more festive mood. To many people, this return of the light was a reason to celebrate that nature’s cycle was continuing.

Yule

This is my Yule image for this year - Blessed Yule! 

Many cultures have winter festivals that are in fact celebrations of light. The Pagan holiday called Yule takes place on the day of the winter solstice, around December 21. On that day (or close to it), an amazing thing happens in the sky. The earth's axis tilts away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, and the sun reaches at its greatest distance from the equatorial plane. As a festival of the Sun, the most important part of any Yule celebration is light -- candles, bonfires, and more.

Origins of Yule:

In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millenia. The Norse peoples viewed it as a time for much feasting, merrymaking, and, if the Icelandic sagas are to be believed, a time of sacrifice as well. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins.

Inness Landscape

I have always love the George Inness paintings. I decided to do a Inness-like image in Photoshop.  Nothing about this image is real - all parts are taken from different images - I guess it is a Frankenstein landscape!   The sky, moon, clouds background, tree line, some individual trees and the foreground all from different images combined to make this whole.  Added to this some textures, blending modes and finally a canvas texture.  I plan on doing more of these Inness landscapes - he has such an amazing way of painting light, sunset and night.

George Inness (May 1, 1825 – August 3, 1894) was an influential American landscape painter. His work was influenced, in turn, by that of the old masters, the Hudson River school, the Barbizon school, and, finally, by the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg, whose spiritualism found vivid expression in the work of Inness' maturity. Often called "the father of American landscape painting," Inness is best known for these mature works that not only exemplified the Tonalist movement but also displayed an original and uniquely American style.

Look here for more information on George Inness and to see some of his paintings.

Totem Animal

Model faestock deviantArt faestock.deviantart.com/art/Ash5-269161542

Many layers, blending modes, textures and brushes. Girl, wolves, pentagram, smoke and trees extracted and added to background.

Eve

This image is from my new computer and my new version of Elements 12. I had been using Elements 7 on my old laptop - so I am having all kinds of learning curves ; ) She is way more warmer colored on this computer but I am getting used to the new monitor.  I have so much to learn!

Poinsettia

I saw the flowers and immediately thought of making this image. Very Christmas!!!!

Carousel

I created this image for dA Users Gallery Challenge #70 - People 068

Model with thanks to ISOStock 

The starting image is below.  I didn't want to use the complete image so I used the top 2/3 and placed her in front of carousel horses and an actual carousel.  I tried to tie the color of the pink in the original image to the background carousel images.

The Snow Queen

It is snowing here in NJ this AM but we are not suppose to get much of an accumulation. 

Model Faestock 

Snowflake brushes and edge treatment - Marie Otero 

Little Flower Girl

Image I completed a few days ago.  Not much to say about it - years ago I bought a couple of CD's with old time images.  I believe this is from one of the CD's.  It originally is B&W but I colored it with overlays and the flowers.  Then I added some texture.  I do love her face.

Week 12 Challenge - It Must Be Magic

So the week 12 challenge was to design our artist card.  Here is mine and I must say while it is dark it is so me.  If it really was my card there would be more info on it but this is good for the challenge - I may do more work on it and actually print some up.

Under The Mistletoe

I wanted the feel of an old Victorian Christmas card. This is so strange for me as I am a witch and skull kind of girl not a Hallmark moment type ; )

This is a compilation of many images - I extracted the couple, added parts of the background, added the tree, added some presents, added the bear, added the wreath, the bow on the top of the tree and finally the mistletoe (which was the whole point of the image).

The couple image is below.

Blackbirds

Blackbirds - The background on this image is a part of one of my abstract paintings.

The Wanderer

Model with thanks to Faestock

I added the trains, kitty, graffiti, texture, grass and grunge.

Two Roses

Not anything to say about this - just plating around with some background texture.

A Place To Pray

Created for dA Users Gallery Challenge #69 – The Black Cloak

Model with thanks to JoyfulStock

So I joined another Flickr group and they are having a challenge to so here is my entry. A Place To Pray.  below is the original image we have to use.

Gears and Wheels

I used a section of one of my abstract paintings for the background in this image.  I then added a ton of stuff on top.  The background is below.

Week 11 Challenge

1 The Character – Sir Thomas Bradley - financier, inventor and world explorer.

The invitation to attend the party at Ravenwood Manor came hand written by the Lady of the Manor herself, Catherine Ravenwood. A fancy costume party to welcome back Lady Catherine to the Manor.

2 The Setting – Ravenwood Manor

It once was a grand family home but it has fallen more and more into disrepair as the elder Ravenwood’s have passed on. There have been whispers in the village about strange and seceret doings at the manor house since our Lady Catherine has returned.

3 The Situation – The Party

Our main character Sir Thomas has arrived at the party mostly out of curiosity to see the beautiful Catherine and the interior of the manor. It is indeed a strange mix – so will it be a fun evening of dinner, dancing and polite conversation or something more sinister??

Girl Image - faestock deviant art faestock.deviantart.com/

Sunflowers

Yep there really are sunflowers hiding in this image ; )