Photo Art Friday

 

Lines define shape and shapes withing shapes.  Without lines we couldn't distinguish one shape from another, though we are often unaware of the lines themselves.  Lines are a component of our visual acuity ... they are part of a composite along with color, density, depth, plane and perspective.  The challenge in this prompt, to me, was picking pictures that demonstrate the subtlety of line as well as the more obvious lines.   To say this was fun is understating ... as is the case in all of Bonnie's prompts.

This old building is the perfect example of the use of line in Architecture.  I tweaked this picture in PSE using levels, brightness/contrast and then turning it into a black and white Photograph.  I then used the pencil filter to make it like a pencil drawing.  Finally I added pdpa Panache, Soft & Subtle texture.

Here the lines are secondary to the overall picture.  What you see is trees, but the lines define them.  I used my same tweak routine in PSE, the Dry Brush and Posterize filters, added pdpa Greenglaze overlay.  Using a mask/brushed out the trunks of each tree so they stood out.

In this picture, the wire lines suggest a shape that you are all familiar with even thought it is clearly not a real chicken.  I used Poster Edges Filter then added pdpa Spring Choir Texture.  With the mask I brushed out the chicken and the flowers.

Here you see leaves, you see grass, you see lines that define a color change.  There are also lines in the leaves, but do you really see the lines or do you just see the leaves?

I used my usual tweak then added pdpa Panach Morning Glory texture.  Using the mask/brush technique, I created new lines while muting lines within the new lines.  I then used the same Morning Glory texture as a frame.

This is my first ever attempt at Zentangle.  Zentangle is an art form that is all about lines.  I have to admit, I cheated a little.  I used a PSE brush to get the water lines and I am not sure you are supposed to start out with a figure in mind.  But, it does demonstrate how important lines are to a composition.
Oh my, what fun ... thanks again, Bonnie ...

Wordless Wednesday

Oak Leaf on Steroids ... :)

Mandarin Orange Monday

 

Mandarin Orange Monday #17

 http://www.lorikart.com/2012/11/mandarin-orange-monday-17.html

 

I am into owls this week ... I guess because I have started working with the raptors again it just seemed to fit my agenda :)   This is a stained glass window I have in my living room.  It is, of course, oranged up.   I had it for years before I saw the owl in it.  It is perfect for me because I am a raptor person ... I love the raptors even though they are predators, they are very necessary for keeping down the rodent population and even for culling small birds (I don't like that part, but do understand the need when I see how many sparrows and blackbirds there are at the end of the breeding season).  So that's where I am coming from today ... Enjoy!

I took this to PicMonkey and ran it through the Orten and Urbane filters to get the effect.  Then I added the Museum Mat framing. 

This is an oranged up Owl birdhouse that hangs on my front porch.  I don't expect any birds to settle into it, it is more for decoration.  I took this picture to Pic Monkey as well and ran it through the Urbane filter.  Then I added a fabric texture and framed it.  Of course all of my pictures are tweaked in PSE before I take them for editing.

This, of course, is not an owl, but I really liked this picture.  It is painted on a wood tray and I thought the artist did an awesome job ... and it is orange so It fits :).  Hope you all have a wonderfully  orange week ...  And, Don't let voter suppression tactics keep you from voting tomorrow.  Your country needs you!

Mandarin Orange Monday

It seems only appropriate that this weeks Mandarin Orange should be in the form of the sumptuous orange fall colors that we are surrounded by this time of year.  

 My first is a simple leaf picture boosted a little to bring out the orange on PSE with brightness/contrast and hue/saturation.  It is really a stand alone picture, but to give it a little interest I added the pdpa Dusty Rose Bokeh at 40% to one side.  I then used the pattern stamp tool on the overlay and pulled through some of the leaf color using a mask and the brush tool.

In this park picture I removed the sky using the magic wand tool then the magic extractor.  I replaced it with pdpa just peachy texture at 80% then faded it out using lighting effects filter.  Finally I overlayed with pdpa Dusty Rose texture at 24% and erased out the orange trees.

The background for this picture was just leaves on the ground.  I removed the color and spray painted them with various muted shades of orange and yellow.  The tree was extracted from another picture using the magic wand tool and the magic extractor. 

I had thought we were going to have a drab fall because of the drought.  For the yellows most of them were almost brownish and not as brilliant as they have bee in the past ... but the oranges are amazing!  I think it only fair that some good comes from a long, dry, hot summer, don't you?

  Everybody have a sparkly orange week:)