Monday, December 31, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Purple and Turquoise

 
This week our challenge is to use purple and turquoise in our artwork.  The lady in my picture is from e-vint.com (coloured by me).  The background, word overlay and circles are by Rosey Posey.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Queen of Hearts

 
The quote is from Van Morrison (Irish singer-songwriter).  The lady (coloured by me) is from e-vint.com and other bits and pieces from Catherine Designs at After Five Designs.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - MOO

 

This week our challenge is to create a Moo or two or three or four or .....?  The slightly different orientation of the faces may suggest they are not all the same size but it's an optical illusion.  For this collection of Moos I merely extracted Mona from her home and painted on new identities from school girl to Christmas lady, Cut-and-Paste princess to a lady who has, ahem, perhaps seen better days.  (Painting done in ArtRage, a great  digital painting program).

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Take a Word - Textures and Layers

 
I placed Mona in a new background and added several layers to try to achieve a very old and textured look.  Overlays by Berna Datema and K Pertiet.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Take a Word - "Tis the Season

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, can you imagine a blistering hot Christmas  Day?  The stores, the radio and television play the usual carols about snow and sleighs and reindeer with red noses or the classic movies from another world.  The nearest thing to snow is the blinding white sand of our beaches!!

My kangaroo was found on Google and I added his hat, board shorts and beer.

May I wish all my Blog friends a peaceful and happy Christmas and hopefully a great New Year providing the Mayan calendar is wrong and the world isn't going to end on December 21!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - MALE

 
The man (coloured and overpainted in ArtRage) is from Moonlight Journey.  The background is by Lorie Davison.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Take a Word - Sewing

 
I suppose I should call this one "Sewing goes Surreal".  I have no idea where it came from because my mind, especially in my senior years, works in mysterious ways and sometimes not at all.
The sky background is from Holliewood at Deviantscrap.  The dress form is from Lauren Bavin with sewing bits and pieces from JenU Designs.  The face(s) and half dress were painted in ArtRage.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Gothic Arch/Red

 
 
Thanks to Ann for resurrecting the Gothic Arch!!  I have used an image from Wikimedia Commons (greatly altered), a word overlay by Createwings Designs and my own chequerboard background.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Take a Word - Mail

Who remembers snail mail?  My envelope takes a whimsical look at the days when we actually knew how to put a stamp on a letter and toss it in the mail box.
The background paper is by Lorie Davison.  The image came in two separate top and bottom.  The top half is from E-vint.com (altered and coloured). Stamp and snail Googled.  Address overlay by Createwings Designs.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Hat

 
 
I combined the hat challenge with practising for an upcoming still life challenge at another place.  I drew the face and hat, adding altered roses from my garden and a couple of Photoshop brushes.  The teapot was Googled as was the table.  The book, clock and floor tiles are by Irene Alexeeva, the blue flowers by Lorie Davison and the background paper by Rosey Posey. Sorry, Bev, I got a little bit carried away but it is REALLY all about the hat.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Fish

 
I have to admit that I enjoy those corny survival movies but, hey, fish stocks are dwindling in the ocean and fresh water is going out of fashion in some parts of the world.
Background, boots and steampunk dangly bits are from Marta at Deviant Scrap.  The fish is an Ozstuffe Originale and the lady was (ahem) found on line - at least half of her was.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Eyes

 

Googled vintage advertisements, face and body by me, frame by Lauren Bavin.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Art-Angel

Some poetic licence but then we don't know what angels REALLY look like!
Face by me and body made with cut-outs from background papers.  The shadow box, wings, word art, heart, crown and papers are by CreatewingsDesigns (Scraporchard).

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Animals

 
 
I don't often talk about Uncle Paul's demise as it is too painful.  However, it is part of my family's history and it deserves to be told.
Image from an old family album.  Ear trumpet from Finecrafted Designs.  Background, rhino and dust clouds from Lorie Davison.


Monday, November 12, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - PINK

 
The image (coloured by me) is from E-vint.com.  Other bits and pieces from Alana McCarthy (frame), Cryztalrain (halftone brushes), Irene Alexeeva (background and fabric flower), Createwings Designs (berries), Lorie Davison (metallic elements).

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Masks

The lady with the soulful eyes is from E-vint.com which is a great source for thousands of vintage photos (I do not work for them!!).  Background and elements by Irene Alexeeva (sadly retired from designing) and the mask was Googled.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Take a Word - Steampunk

 
"Suzy" began as a black and white picture from E-vint.com (altered and coloured).  Background and elements are from Finecrafted Designs, Marta van Eck and Maya at Scrapbook Graphics.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Timepiece

 
Originale Ozstuffe design except for Googled clocks and vintage clock by Kubivet and dot stamp by Lauren Bavin.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Wings

 
"Stop the World, I want to get off!" was a stage musical in the early 1960's, written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.  The quote is said to have originally come from graffiti on a wall.
The lady is from E-vint.com (coloured from the original black and white).  The background is by Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics (colour enhanced and filtered).  Wings were found on Google.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - The stuff of nightmares.

 
Halloween has never been a big thing in Australia.  In fact, it was not until very recent years that stores began to stock costumes and other bits and pieces. It's all a bit foreign to me so my picture is about the stuff of nightmares.
I found the image (a romantic era portrait, artist unknown) on Google along with the skeleton and the gravestone.  A few filters have been used to achieve a grungy, vintage look.


Monday, October 22, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Roses

 
 
This week the theme for Take a Word is Roses.  The image is a freebie from Kubivet (greatly altered and re-dressed).  Background and mushroom seat by Lorie Davison.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Vintage

 
Thanks to Bev for a vintage challenge which we all enjoy from time to time.  The dancing couple are from E-vint.com and other elements are by Lauren Bavin.
 
 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Movie Poster

 

Anja is hosting the challenge this week and she has suggested creating a poster (movie, theatre, etc).  I have chosen the movie "She Done Him Wrong".  Doing wrong to Cary must surely have been a crime.  In 1933, Cary Grant was a newcomer to movies and Mae West was the big star.  Images Googled, backgrounds by Irene Alexeeva and the ticket by Kubivet. Colour added to black and white images.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The Three Muses Challenge - THE SEA

 
Mermaids must tire of draping themselves in seaweed and scales so why not some high fashion designs for them?
 
My mermaid has a face drawn by me and an outfit (complete withpeplum)  all cut from a fish tail by Irene Alexeeva.  The bubbles, shell (re-coloured) and raffia bow are also by Irene.  Background by Lorie Davison.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Balloons

This really is my Uncle Paul (by marriage).  He lives in an old family album that was passed on to me and every now and then I drag him out and give him an airing in various guises.  He hasn't been seen on the Blog for quite a while but I am sure many of you will remember him.
Family photo greatly altered and coloured.  ArtRage balloons.  Googled boots and hat.  Background and clouds by Createwings Designs.
 

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Journal Page

 
Some people equate solitude with loneliness but for me it is enjoying a peaceful time alone, removed from the rat race of life.
Backgrounds by Joanne Brisbois.  Image from Flickr free-to-use images (made into a digital brush). The quote is by Henry David Thoreau.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Take A Word - Manuscript

 
This week Sim has suggested a great challenge theme - MANUSCRIPT.  Here's my interpretation created from Googled pieces (the image is a Botticelli).

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The Three Muses Challenge - Bird

 
I call the "significant other" the BATTERY HEN because he sits in one place all day waiting to be fed. My title for this picture is "Ode to a Male Chauvinist"
Painted in ArtRage digital painting software.


Monday, September 24, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Blue

 
For this week's blue theme I chose a black and white photo of actress, Maude Fealy, whose face was perfection.  I laid it over random water colour effects and added a word overlay by Lauren Bavin.  "Diamonds" by Jofia Devoe.Texture filters also used. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Autumn

 
 
My seasons blend in one to another with very little change in the landscape.  I once had the opportunity to tour New England in the fall and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.  I painted the face and shoulders and cut the dress from background papers and leaves.  The feet and legs were Googled.  Background and twiggy tree by Jofia Devoe.  Quote by Stanley Horowitz.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Zetti

This is my interpretation of Zetti.  I really have no idea what I'm doing but I did have fun doing it. Crown and heart by Fiddlette, gesso and stamps by Tangie Baxter.  The rest by me.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sunday Postcard Art - Flappers

There was a lot going on in the 1920's!!  I painted the flapper.  Background by Jofia DeVoe.  Headlines Googled.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Turquoise

Face by Botticelli (altered), digital stamp by Lauren Bavin.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - HEARTS-AND-FLOWERS

The image (coloured by me) is from E-vint.com.  Background, flowers and frame by Lauren Bavin.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Three Muses Challenge - Back to School

 
Thanks for the challenge, Bev!!  The little girl is an image (altered) from Art Creations Friday, the letter stencil by me.  Background by Phuong Ton.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Numbers

 
Image (altered) from Hidden Vintage, background numbers by Tangie Baxter.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Masculine

One of my favourite things to do is using cut and paste collage to alter portraits, re-costuming them and generally making a mockery out of famous paintings. To the artist my apologies.  This was originally a dark and sombre painting by El Greco.  His costume is a flight of fancy  (everything cut from background papers).  The pages, cards and checkered background are by Irene Alexeeva.  Other papers by Kay Balint.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Clockwork

The beautiful face is from a Botticelli painting.  Background paper - Maya at SBG. Papers used with image - Irene Alexeeva. Clockworks - JenU Designs.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The Three Muses Challenge - Black and White


Thanks to Ann for a black and white challenge!!  I made the "room" from background papers by Kay Balint and altered a Flickr free to use image to make her whiter than white and add a black and silver leotard.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Tattered



Background pieces by Irene Alexeeva and Lorie Davison.  Image is one I have had for many years and I am not sure about its source.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Mail Art/Invitation.



I have created an invitation and matching envelope for this challenge (thanks, Ann).  The "model" is by me.  Bits and pieces by Rosey Posey.  Blackbird Googled.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Wings




I drew the face and added metallic hair from my software.  The girl is dressed in butterfly wings, cut from one butterfly tinted and obtained from Ztampf.  The background is by Lorie Davison. (No butterflies were harmed in making this picture).

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Strawberries


This week Bev has challenged us to use strawberries in our artwork.  . My strawberry lady is a collage of  bits and pieces - face by me everything else Googled.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Memories

This quote is so true it gives me the shivers.  There is no going back - just memories.
The vintage group is a brush by 500ml Brushes (no longer in existence).  The background paper is by Createwings Designs and the brush frame is by Katie Pertiet.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Windows and Doors


The lovely old window is from Lorie Davison (altered by adding layers and a backdrop).  The lady is from an E-vint.com collage sheet and the aged roses are from Trish Jones. Background papers Createwings Designs.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Butterflies



Painting of face by me.  Other bits and pieces Joann Brisbois and Createwings Designs

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Steampunk

Thanks to Ann for a great Steampunk challenge.  My take on it is "Adam and Eve in the Garden of Steampunk".  Adam and Eve Googled.  Frame and background by Lorie Davison.  Steampunkerie by Marta van Eck and Finecrafted Designs.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Take a Word Challenge - Messy

Thanks to Rian for the messy challenge.  The girl is from Hidden Vintage at Deviantscrap (altered).  Background room by Irene Alexeeva.  Paint cans and cat Googled.  Briefcase and some splotches from Marta van Eck.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Three Muses Challenge - Alone

The words are from a very old English Music Hall song called "Waiting at the Church" (with a sting in the tail).  It gave me an idea for the "alone" theme.  Background and flowers by Lauren Bavin, window by Irene Alexeeva, image from Kubivet.  She was originally sitting on a beach ball and wearing a swimsuit but I have overpainted her to look like a bride and added some tulle pieces for the veil.