{What If}

What if"ing

What if I painting a portrait without using skin tones?

This is what I came up with.

I also tried showing some ears.

Well sort of. LOL

She came out sorting of elfish looking.

{First Attempt at Painted SP}

Well sort of.

I got the hair a bit to straight down rather than flipping out
and it really should have my ears showing a bit but

I was not so sure on how to do that... yet.

But it was fun!

{10,090 bRewEd}

Yep!  That's right.  It's not a typo

I guess to say I (we) enjoy lattes and cappuccinos ~ hot or iced would be an understatement

Would'nt you say? ;-)

{two-for paintings}

Trying my hand at other paintings.

This is an altered  photo of the original painting below.

I prefer the altered version.  It has a lighter appearance and

reminds me of the snow storm we were having while I was painting.

The original painting.  These little friends will be showing up in

more art journals. 

{Wide Eyed She Met the Day}

Experimenting with different methods of painting

I am learning some artists start with painting the dark shadow areas first then going lighter

others start with the lighter flesh tones and go to the shadowing.  I'm not sure if it is because I began learning  with the lighter flesh tones first and then doing the shadow area or not.  But I do find adding the shadows

after the flesh tones is simpler and easier for me.

{Blogaversary and Give Away}

My Blog is one year old this month.

When I started this blog a year ago I did not

know if or how long I would continue with it.

or even if I could do it for that matter.

I knew virtual nothing about blogging

But over this last year I have learned quite a bit.

Not only about creating the kind of blog I wanted

but I have also learned alot about PSE7 which has helped me create the

kinds of pictures that are Artful.

To me my blog is a very beautiful art journal

and it is always a pleasure to me.

I have also enjoyed sharing it with others.

So... drum roll please

I am doing my first Give Away in honor

of the first person to add me

to her blog favorites

Rebecca Smith at

http://patinamoon.blogspot.com/

 will recieve the above hand made fabric post card.

I would also like to thank everyone who stopped by and

left a comment.  It really is nice to hear from you all.

{Color on Color Scarf ~ Kathryn Alexander}

Finished (mostly)

This scarf is from the book scarfSTYLE

and this is my favorite scarf in the book
its by Kathryn Alexander and is call
Color on Color

I really love this I-cord fringe

This is the second one I have made

each time I improve upon it to suit

my own style and taste

{Magical Winter Storm ~ 2010}

While Arizona per say is not known for it's winter snow storms

We folks in the mountains of central and northern Arizona do get some wonder

winter landscapes

I love the "orb" that showed up for me this early winter morn'

{PSE7 Fun!!!!!!}

Did I say this was fun?

I think I have spent enough time for today.

But beautiful to look at.

{Photoshop Happy Accidents}

I don't have a clue about what I am doing.  But I like how this came out.

It's not even close to what I has trying to do.

So for now I will have to be content with what just happens.
Maybe some day (8,000 hours from now) I'll know how to accomplish what I set out to do.

So for now I'll play ;-)

{Making Overlays for PhotoShop}

My Overlay used on an altered photo of DJ's

Above is the Overlay I made from a Brush I made.

and the photo I used the brush on.

Wish I could say I know what I am doing LOL

{Making my own Photoshop Brushes}

I have been so busy trying to learn new things in PSE. 

I have managed to create a few of my own brushes.

This one is made from a photo of pine needles on my deck.

The one below was a photo of dry weeds from my yard which I took a few weeks ago.

And this one is from a doodle I made a few months ago.  Little did I know

I would be creating a PSE brush with it.

I am not sure just how I will use any of these at this point.  But I need to start somewhere.

{Portrait Painting is Getting Easier}

Spending my free time even during this busy time of the year for portrait paintings.  I never know how they will look when complete.  All I can do is just jump in and see what happens.  So far none have turned out so badly that I throw them away.  And even more than that I like them.  I feel like they are all parts of my soul.I will be starting DJ workshop soon.  Which I am very excited about.  So I will take a break from portraits and perhaps spend a few relaxing hours with some fibers before switching my focus to photos.