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thanks lol -- that is not my head, it's a sunflower
i bought some nice macro-lenses for my camera that let me get very close-up pictures, because i like the idea of revealing all these details that i couldn't normally see, or would over look (♪ looking over, a four-leaf clover, that i overlooked before .. ♫)
that's how i can get detail like this, but it means i have to keep the camera very steady, and the plane of focus is very small, so i have to be very precise, and i also have to get the lens about 3 inches from the dragonfly! it's not very easy to get a bug to sit still long enough to get a picture of it when you have a big reflective lens that close to it. *usually* takes a lot of patience!
this dragonfly was just absolutely posing for me yesterday when we went out to the car to go to church. dragonflies are especially beautiful, and especially skittish about the camera, so i dashed back into the house to get my equipment, and the little thing obliged
we ended up being a bit late for church, but we thank God for it - i don't have any other explanation for what a good subject the little critter was being other than that the Lord directed her to pose for me, knowing how much we love them.
Yesterday we were out in our garden and hubby wasn't sure what he was seeing. So, I turned and scared the little bird away. God was gracious, and the little thing returned.
I'm from NJ and actually remember the state bird is a goldfinch. I remember that because I grew up looking and waiting for the state bird to come near me. (After all -- state bird. Must mean they can be seen fairly easy in that state, right? lol) Last year the state bird of PA visited our garden. A wood grouse, which is very cool, since we live in a city, so, by default no woods to have wood grouse citings. Yesterday I saw my first goldfinch... and no camera! Where were you and your camera when I needed you? lol
We have photos of a hawk that visited, a hummingbird, and the wood grouse. Missed the parakeet (I think someone's pet escaped) and the goldfinch. Got a hummingbird moth once, but it's hard to see it. We get so excited, I have no idea how you still your hands. lol
Obviously the last one is photoshopped (or kindred cgg program.) Are the first two? I'm envious of the computer-art generation. I tried Photoshop for over a year and just couldn't get it. Microsoft's old-school photo manipulation programs had a steep learning curve with me. And if not cgg, how'd you do that?
I've been wondering about your avatar since I first saw it. Glass painting? Stained glass work? Or both? (Never could paint, so painting on glass is past my abilities by a long shot.)
Its a self portrait.
IDK, something seems off, l was wondering if l should maybe fix the flesh tones?
Some have commented that it looks great......l'm thinking they're just being nice.
Obviously the last one is photoshopped (or kindred cgg program.) Are the first two? I'm envious of the computer-art generation. I tried Photoshop for over a year and just couldn't get it. Microsoft's old-school photo manipulation programs had a steep learning curve with me. And if not cgg, how'd you do that?
All of them were. Its just using a certain brush for the grass, a gradient for the background, a solid circle brush for the sun, and then for the clouds I would click to make a dot and then used the smudge tool to shape it into a swirly looking cloud. Then of course, I would use certain effects to give it the color it has, such as exposure, curves, and gradients on lighten (blending mode for the layer).
Ah. What age does to me. I remember pen and ink. I just wasn't that good, so I usually went for pointillism. (If I hit the wrong spot, it only left one small booboo. lol) Ever consider going back to it now?
Ya know, I've tried. But I think something strange happened to me. During that period of time when I was into art, I was VERY introverted. And it seems that art must have been my way of saying what I really couldn't verbalize.
Now, ya can't shut me up, and I have lost both the desire and ability to draw or paint much.
I wish I could understand French as well as you understand English. But I do love how I'm connected the words. I think I'm seeing something like solid and faithful, among other words. (Did I get it right?)
And the second one -- I cheated and looked it up. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." I like the play on the light and the immensity of the world along a quiet city path. (It might not be a city, but it looks a bit like my park, so I dreamed a little.)
All of them were. Its just using a certain brush for the grass, a gradient for the background, a solid circle brush for the sun, and then for the clouds I would click to make a dot and then used the smudge tool to shape it into a swirly looking cloud. Then of course, I would use certain effects to give it the color it has, such as exposure, curves, and gradients on lighten (blending mode for the layer).
In the second piece the trees were a PSD. (a render of a tree). The glow effect to them was added. Everything in the first piece was done from scratch. In the second piece all of it was done from scratch except for the trees.
Ya know, I've tried. But I think something strange happened to me. During that period of time when I was into art, I was VERY introverted. And it seems that art must have been my way of saying what I really couldn't verbalize.
Now, ya can't shut me up, and I have lost both the desire and ability to draw or paint much.
Must be different for a guy. I can talk and talk and talk while drawing... chewing gum, bookkeeping, paying my toll with a line of cars behind me, watering my plants, (no they don't talk back), talking to 911 -- whoops. Sorry, that was screaming. lol
All of them were. Its just using a certain brush for the grass, a gradient for the background, a solid circle brush for the sun, and then for the clouds I would click to make a dot and then used the smudge tool to shape it into a swirly looking cloud. Then of course, I would use certain effects to give it the color it has, such as exposure, curves, and gradients on lighten (blending mode for the layer).