Cay Denise

5-27-13 Version 5-28-13 Version This piece uses three photographs plus the base drawing.  The lips were not quite right in the initial photo I posted (5-27).  I've reworked it tonight by diffusing the background and changing the lips as well as the subject's profile.  Thoughts after comparing them?

I've redrawn this image, since the earlier version wasn't as successful in my estimation  This has five (5) photos incorporated into it in various forms.  This is better than the original version, but I'm not sure that I like it yet.  I was trying to alter the background (hue primarily), but couldn't select it in the later TIF file.  I don't know if I'd actually end up changing its color, but I would like to see the range that would be possible to see if another color scheme works even better.   This post also linked to  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .

If you look at my posts for the last two months...you're probably wondering what happened to my art quilting.  The best description is that I'VE BEEN DIGITALLY DISTRACTED! Over the last few months, I've thoroughly enjoyed drawing freehand pictures and using color and personal photographs (altered and not) to give those drawings character and bring them to life, so to speak.   I'm getting to know how to use my Bamboo pad/pen and am learning a lot more about Photoshop especially layers.  Since I'm not one to read instruction books and do prescribed exercises, I'm learning through making mistakes and happenstance occurrences which result in creative adventures unique to themselves. Where this path will lead is unknown.  But I trust where I'm being led and have committed to a disciplined practice, as you can see from many of the results.  Forward!

I did the drawing for this a couple nights ago as well as some rough color fill in.  Yesterday, I finished a first version that incorporates two of my altered photos (unlike the normal four), and it had a much darker color scheme.  I initially posted a photo of that one until reworking it today and liking this one much better! As part of today's rework, I've learned much more about Photoshop.  The "Layer via Copy" is a nice feature that allows for color correction of the base image that are altered by layers of different types of adjustments made to that layer when you don't use a mask. I've also learned something about myself through the process on this project.  If the result of my work triggers any inkling of dissatisfaction or a sense that something just isn't quite right...the piece is not yet done, even if I've already worked on it a long time.

I've changed this piece slightly over the weekend to account for some perspective correction. This post also linked to  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .

Four photos were used in this piece in addition to the base drawing. This post also linked to  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .

I had a neat experience last weekend in a workshop about writing ekphrastic poetry. So just what is that? Ekphrassis, the Greek root (a verb), means 'to describe'.  So, it is poetry written that is inspired by a different type/piece of art work which is described in the poem.  The description doesn't have to be the full poem, but is helpful to provide the reader a way of imagining what the author is writing about or even identify it when seen. First step:  Choose an inspiration piece based on how you connect with it and vice versa. Second step:  Look at and study the inspiration piece...take notes.  What I had to do was to look more deeply than I normally would at the subject piece I chose.  What were its colors?  What were the shapes in it and what did they remind me of?  Was there a story already there?  What did the artist say about his/her work in the label?  What was the ambiance in the piece?  Did a stare from one of the characters in the piece evoke something

Four photos were used in this one! This post also linked to  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com .