Photoshop Artistry course challenges 1 to 4

By on 1-27-2016 in Life Book 2016, Mixed Media

I have had a love relationship with Photoshop since PS6 and when I first heard about the Photoshop Artistry course I knew it was going to be the first step of creating great digital art. The AWAKE course will be starting July 1 and I will be there. These pieces were created using the challenge prompts from the course. If you are interested in this course there is a link at the side. You do have to enrol in it before you can move on to the AWAKE course but it’s possible to do both at the same time. Here are the first four challenges I did for the course

rusty lizard

Loved this little lizard and his rust and bits of paint as soon as I spotted him on the back shed at our new house. That was several years ago and he gets rustier every year and more beautiful. I did two pieces for this first challenge.

canada goose

This Canada goose gander was watching over his flock at an Ottawa River park. I loved how he strutted and kept one eye open at all times, stretching his neck if he felt challenged. Awesome birds.

steam

Steam, the first of a double challenge. I love steam trains and have great memories of coming across to Ontario from Manitoba one one when I was a very young girl.

steam

Trains, the second of the double challenge. Both pieces had to be able to sit alone and together as well.

spider

It was a wonderful surprise when I first looked at this photo and realized I had caught this great little garden spider among the Lily of the Valley flowers in my garden. Isn’t he pretty?

bunnies

This piece is a collage, the base of the Chinese Elm with it’s beautiful toadstools and a bunny that would visit my garden frequently. These two bunnies are having a picnic I think.

Canada Day Paper Dolls

By on 1-27-2016 in Life Book 2016, Mixed Media

Happy Canada Day …. Canada is 150 years young this year … the red and white forever, Canada is THE BEST country to live in. These paper dolls are the first for this doll and what better to introduce them with but red and white Canada Day clothing.

Happy Canada Day doll 1

Happy Canada Day doll 2

Spring is here in Ottawa

By on 1-27-2016 in Life Book 2016, Mixed Media

I have this big beautiful apple tree with the pinkest blossoms beside our little rental house. It is glorious this year, so full of flowers you can hardly see anything else. I wish it could last longer as it takes my breath away.

apple blossoms
apple blossoms
apple blossoms

we can’t forget the little apple tree next door that has the prettiest white blossoms.

apple blossoms

Life Book 2016, April lessons

By on 1-27-2016 in Life Book 2016, Mixed Media

There are only 3 lessons for April, one week was a wonderful interview with Roben Marie Smith. April was a wonderful month of new techniques and depth.

Ripple effect, honoring your story

Ripple effect was created with Tamara Laporte … honouring our story in life and how it effects others as we go along.

life

Your life with Roxanne Coble was an interesting exercise. I do not work with many dark colours so found a compramise with a dark burgundy because I wanted to embrace the lesson and learn. In the end it was a very interesting lesson in design.

reframing

Reframing your story with Effy Wild was a delight to do although once again I decided on a colour other than black … I chose a metalic blue. I love how the colours shine in this piece.

Earth burns while man fiddles … Alberta fires

By on 1-27-2016 in Life Book 2016, Mixed Media

The fires in Alberta as well as British Columbia and Saskatchewan are the first time Canada has had to face the fact of global warming where it’s been to such a drastic extreme. Climatic heat is driving the fires along with wind and no rain. It is the rain that will finally put these fires out. The number of selfless people fighting these fires with no sleep and beyond exhaustion is numbing. How long can they keep it up ? Will the oil sands finally ignite? The animal MAN has created this scenario, ignoring all warnings. This piece puts everything I feel into one page. Mother Nature looking out at us with disbelief as she burns … on Mother’s day.

Earth burns while man fiddles