Janet! Joel just stopped killing zombies long enough to draw one slip out of my pretty pink bowl, and Janet is the winner of a print of "Flygirl No. 4".
Janet, contact me with your mailing info at karen (at) ksmithey (dot) com
Sunday, March 29, 2009
And The Winner Is (Drumroll Please)...
Janet! Joel just stopped killing zombies long enough to draw one slip out of my pretty pink bowl, and Janet is the winner of a print of "Flygirl No. 4".
Janet, contact me with your mailing info at karen (at) ksmithey (dot) com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A Thursday Tutorial: 'Leveraging' Your Work With Photoshop
First of all, let me explain. By 'leveraging your work', I mean saving the work electronically and using it over and over again. For an example, let's take the piece I made using the 'Complex Background Technique' that I described here. (Note: you'll have to click on the screenshots of Photoshop to make them big enough to view clearly.)
Ideally, I'd have scanned this piece before I cut it up, but I forgot. Shame on me! Let's look, instead, at a couple of the pieces after I cut them up. I've opened them up in Photoshop, and the very first thing I'm going to do is to drag the background layer down to the "new Layer" symbol, so that no matter what I do, I'm not ever working on the original. This is just a good habit to get into.
Obviously, you can use the image just as it is, or enlarge it or shrink itthen print it out to be reused. But there's more that you can do. The first thing I'm going to show you uses a "Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer".
You can change the color (usuing the Hue slider) or the intensity (using the Saturation slider).
Another adjustment layer I often use is "Invert". Inverting my original image gives me this (notice the difference between simply using the Hue/Saturation layer to change the image to blue):
This next image takes the inverted image and does a Hue/Saturation layer above that:
This final piece has yet another layer above these two--a "Gradient" adjustment layer!
There are endless combinations possible--print some of them out and use them in other pieces--Many backgrounds for the price of one! Now that's leveraging your work...
Ideally, I'd have scanned this piece before I cut it up, but I forgot. Shame on me! Let's look, instead, at a couple of the pieces after I cut them up. I've opened them up in Photoshop, and the very first thing I'm going to do is to drag the background layer down to the "new Layer" symbol, so that no matter what I do, I'm not ever working on the original. This is just a good habit to get into.
Obviously, you can use the image just as it is, or enlarge it or shrink itthen print it out to be reused. But there's more that you can do. The first thing I'm going to show you uses a "Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer".
You can change the color (usuing the Hue slider) or the intensity (using the Saturation slider).
Another adjustment layer I often use is "Invert". Inverting my original image gives me this (notice the difference between simply using the Hue/Saturation layer to change the image to blue):
This next image takes the inverted image and does a Hue/Saturation layer above that:
This final piece has yet another layer above these two--a "Gradient" adjustment layer!
There are endless combinations possible--print some of them out and use them in other pieces--Many backgrounds for the price of one! Now that's leveraging your work...
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Frustration and Some Spring Cleaning
Hubby and the kids have been off all week on Spring vacation. I haven't gotten much accomplished in the studio, but have we ever been busy with spring cleaning! Two and a half acres gets pretty shaggy looking over the rainy season, even with the goats munching away out in the pasture, so Richard mowed and mowed and mowed some more. We chopped up two huge oak branches that fell, we made a dump run with all the crap from the barn and the shed and around the property, Katie got her room emptied out so I could start laying her new laminate flooring...
and the frustration? I broke my bathtub.
I tried to replace the whole drain/overflow thingie, and broke pieces and got new pieces and dismantled the whole pipeworks behind/below the tub, EXCEPT FOR ONE CONNECTION. If I could unscrew one little ***ing piece, I actually could fix the whole thing and feel all self-sufficient and proud of myself. But I haven't managed to do it yet, even with the extra big chunk of drywall I knocked out of the bottom of my linen closet in the hopes I could get better leverage (Richard took one look at it and said, "Oh, wow," and walked away. Quickly.)
Meanwhile, if one more child walks past and says, "I told you that you should have just called a plumber," I am not responsible for my actions.
Don't forget to enter your name in the drawing for a print of "Flygirl No. 4."
and the frustration? I broke my bathtub.
I tried to replace the whole drain/overflow thingie, and broke pieces and got new pieces and dismantled the whole pipeworks behind/below the tub, EXCEPT FOR ONE CONNECTION. If I could unscrew one little ***ing piece, I actually could fix the whole thing and feel all self-sufficient and proud of myself. But I haven't managed to do it yet, even with the extra big chunk of drywall I knocked out of the bottom of my linen closet in the hopes I could get better leverage (Richard took one look at it and said, "Oh, wow," and walked away. Quickly.)
Meanwhile, if one more child walks past and says, "I told you that you should have just called a plumber," I am not responsible for my actions.
Don't forget to enter your name in the drawing for a print of "Flygirl No. 4."
Giveaway: Flygirl No. 4 Print
To celebrate 30,000 visitors to the blog, I'm having a drawing. The winner will receive an 8 x 10 archival print of "Flygirl No. 4." To enter the drawing, leave a comment below before next Sunday, March 29th. I'll do the drawing Sunday morning and announce the winner.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Coming Soon to a Blog Near You!
I haven't been watching very closely, and apparently the blog counter went over 30,000 sometime in the last week, so I'll be doing a drawing for one of my prints to celebrate. Look for it tomorrow.
Tuesday Tutorial: Making a Photoshop Brush
I've talked about this before, but since it's one of the things that I use all the time, I thought I'd cover it again.
First of all, let me explain that the type of Photoshop brush that I like to use actually behaves much more like a rubber stamp. So, the first step is to find an image that I like and want to be able to use repeatedly in my artwork, without having to continually find and open the file.. I'll use the postage stamp from Friday's freebie for my example.
After you've selected the image, you want to crop it and clean up any extraneous marks or discolorations.
then you'll go to Edit>Define Brush Preset. You'll need to choose a name, and then save. Now that brush will show up in your brush list, so that you can choose that image and use it in what ever color you want.
Feel free to make this postage stamp a brush for yourself! Just 1) click on it, 2) right-click on the resulting image and choose "Copy image", 3) open a new document in PS (Photoshop will open a new image that's exactly the size of the image you just copied to the clipboard--how cool is that?), 4) Paste the image into the document, 5) go to Edit>Define Brush Preset.
Done!
I'll be posting some of the PS brushes I've created for you later this week--LMK if you have any questions!
First of all, let me explain that the type of Photoshop brush that I like to use actually behaves much more like a rubber stamp. So, the first step is to find an image that I like and want to be able to use repeatedly in my artwork, without having to continually find and open the file.. I'll use the postage stamp from Friday's freebie for my example.
After you've selected the image, you want to crop it and clean up any extraneous marks or discolorations.
then you'll go to Edit>Define Brush Preset. You'll need to choose a name, and then save. Now that brush will show up in your brush list, so that you can choose that image and use it in what ever color you want.
Feel free to make this postage stamp a brush for yourself! Just 1) click on it, 2) right-click on the resulting image and choose "Copy image", 3) open a new document in PS (Photoshop will open a new image that's exactly the size of the image you just copied to the clipboard--how cool is that?), 4) Paste the image into the document, 5) go to Edit>Define Brush Preset.
Done!
I'll be posting some of the PS brushes I've created for you later this week--LMK if you have any questions!
Friday, March 13, 2009
A Clipart Freebie For Friday
Here's a scan of an old postcard from my collection, addressed to Miss Clara Petersen in Edgar Nebraska. The postmark is July 12, 1913. Feel free to take the image to use in your own artwork!
To copy the image, click on it, then, when it loads full size, right-click and choose "Save As" from the menu. Give it a cool name (like "Fantastic clip art from Karen" --ha!) and save it. It's 200 dpi at full-size, so it will print out well.
Have a good weekend!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Yesterday's Painting
I actually worked in the studio all day yesterday, only taking a break for lunch, quitting when the girls got home from school. This one's almost finished; I'll finish the other one today.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tuesday Tutorial: Complex Backgrounds
I've decided to post a weekly tutorial, sharing what I've gleaned from others over the past couple of years. Today I'll talk about creating what I call a 'complex background'--this will give you a quick, easy background, great for ATCs or postcards or even larger art.
Step One: Find and prepare substrate. In this case, I used a discarded Apple Jacks box. I primed it with cheap white house primer, using a little roller. I keep the whole setup in a plastic bag in the studio so that it's ready when I want to use it.
Step Two: Glue down some text. I used pages from an old dictionary that was falling apart. The easiest way I've found to apply this is using an old credit card. I dip the card into my glue (Golden's Soft Gel Gloss), spread it thinly, place the paper down, and run the edge of the card over the top (this squeezes out all the extra glue).
Step Three: Give the whole thing a watery wash of gesso. Using a paper towel or baby wipe, blot the gesso off a little bit in some places.
Step Four: Find a couple of stamps and stamp randomly across the surface. I try to use at least one 'soft-edged' stamp (in this case, the berry stamp) along with stamps that have more angular edges. You''re trying to break up the edges of the text here, so the more random, the better. I like to use Staz-On Ink, as it stamps on anything and doesn't smear.
Step Five: Add some color. Here I chose a light golden yellow. I used a dry brush and sort of flip-flopped it around, trying to cover the white areas, some of the text, and some of the stamping. Blot or rub with a towel if desired.
Step Six: Dry brush again. This time, I used a slightly darker gold color on one side of the brush and white craft paint on the other side. Again, flip-flop the brush (it's actually got a name: scumbling). Feel free to blot with a towel again, if you'd like.
Step Seven: Overstamp with white or cream. In this case, I used a foam stamp, but purposedly did not put paint along the square edges of the stamp so that it had a rougher look..
Step Eight: Dry brush over any harsh edges left from your white stamping. You're done--all you have to decide now is what size to trim it!
I trimmed this cereal box into 24 ATCs that are all prepped and ready to add a central image and/or words. This saves tons of time when you're mass-producing--I did Christmas cards using this approach, and it was quick! The key to saving time is to cut AFTER you're done doing all the gluing, stamping, and painting.
Step One: Find and prepare substrate. In this case, I used a discarded Apple Jacks box. I primed it with cheap white house primer, using a little roller. I keep the whole setup in a plastic bag in the studio so that it's ready when I want to use it.
Step Two: Glue down some text. I used pages from an old dictionary that was falling apart. The easiest way I've found to apply this is using an old credit card. I dip the card into my glue (Golden's Soft Gel Gloss), spread it thinly, place the paper down, and run the edge of the card over the top (this squeezes out all the extra glue).
Step Three: Give the whole thing a watery wash of gesso. Using a paper towel or baby wipe, blot the gesso off a little bit in some places.
Step Four: Find a couple of stamps and stamp randomly across the surface. I try to use at least one 'soft-edged' stamp (in this case, the berry stamp) along with stamps that have more angular edges. You''re trying to break up the edges of the text here, so the more random, the better. I like to use Staz-On Ink, as it stamps on anything and doesn't smear.
Step Five: Add some color. Here I chose a light golden yellow. I used a dry brush and sort of flip-flopped it around, trying to cover the white areas, some of the text, and some of the stamping. Blot or rub with a towel if desired.
Step Six: Dry brush again. This time, I used a slightly darker gold color on one side of the brush and white craft paint on the other side. Again, flip-flop the brush (it's actually got a name: scumbling). Feel free to blot with a towel again, if you'd like.
Step Seven: Overstamp with white or cream. In this case, I used a foam stamp, but purposedly did not put paint along the square edges of the stamp so that it had a rougher look..
Step Eight: Dry brush over any harsh edges left from your white stamping. You're done--all you have to decide now is what size to trim it!
I trimmed this cereal box into 24 ATCs that are all prepped and ready to add a central image and/or words. This saves tons of time when you're mass-producing--I did Christmas cards using this approach, and it was quick! The key to saving time is to cut AFTER you're done doing all the gluing, stamping, and painting.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Creative Blogger Award
Sunrise Sister has graciously gifted me with The Creative Blogger Award! It's a real pick-me-up during a time when I've been feeling out of sorts and grumpy...
Sunrise Sister sent the award along with some rules I'm observing to pass this award along to some of my favorite sites -
List 7 things that I love and then pass the award on to 7 other bloggers - tagging them and letting them know they've won this award! If you'd like, you may copy the picture of the award and place it on your sidebar.
So, hmmmm--seven things that I like:
1. The sound of rain drumming down on the roof. Our old barn is really the best for this, with it's old tin roof. The year the baby goats came (has it already been two years? Yikes.) I spent a lot of time out there with Momma Goat--nothing like sitting in an old barn, by the light of the lantern, sitting on a bale of hay, keeping company with an expectant goat, while listening to the raindrops singing on the roof...
2. Reading a really good book, one that keeps me totally enthralled. I remember my mom and sister used to get frustrated at me when I was reading and didn't answer their call, but I can get so involved in a book that I'm literally somewhere else. Even now, my kids sometimes have to say my name three or four times before I leave my book and say, "What?"
3. A cup of hot tea. My dad's mom (my Gramma Hansen) was the one who got me started drinking tea. She always had green tea and black tea, and kept a bottle of Half and Half in her refrigerator. she drank her tea with milk and sugar, so I do, too. No one else in my family or friends drinks tea, but now I've raised three little tea drinkers of my own, so I have someone to share this pleasure with. My mom used to pack a Thermos of hot tea for my lunch when I was little, and I remember that the teacher was surprised at conference time when she found out that my parents weren't British!
4. Soup for dinner. I love having a big pot of soup simmering on the back of the stove all day long--love the aroma and the fact that dinner's ready whenever we want to eat. One of my high school friends and I decided a loooooong time ago that there were some nights just made for warm socks and hot soup.
5. Real letters in the mailbox. I think I still have all the letters my family has ever written to me. Now that my mom's gone, I can come across one of her letters and talk to her all over again.
6. Singing harmony with someone. My dad used to harmonize with my sister and I while we did the dinner dishes every night. Such fun, and such a good memory. Now the girls can both sing harmony with me--love it.
7. Big hugs. Mmmm. Can't get enough snuggles and hugs.
And now, seven bloggers upon whom I can bestow the Creative Blogger Award. Hmmm. I think I'll make this a separate post so that I can think about it for a bit.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Some ATCs
My wonderful art-teacher friend Jacquie, is doing ATCs with her students. She asked if I could share some of the ATCs that I've collected--which of course, inspired me to make some of my own to send along.
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