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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

200th Post and A Giveaway

It would seem I have reached another milestone - my 200th post. I have decided to have a giveaway to celebrate. More about that later in this post.

Yesterday was a milestone of sorts for me in another way. Late last Fall I took a faces class with Paulette Insall and was happy with the background and although not entirely delighted with the face, it was much better than any I had ever attempted before. The dilemma was I didn't know how to finish it, so she has been sitting on a shelf with a few other unfinished canvases waiting. I got her out and "finished" her - at least I think she is finished. She now resides in the room formerly known as the den (a little Prince humor there).


I also read a post in one of my Yahoo! groups about a tutorial using the art history brush in Photoshop. Well, of course, I had to try it. I think I used a brush that was too big and maybe covered too much area with each stroke, but for my first attempt, I am quite pleased. I can't wait to try another - maybe a bird. You know how I love birds!


On to the giveaway. At one time I ordered a boxed set of beginner acrylic paints with a lovely case, a selection of colors, an instruction booklet, a built in palette, a brush, an HB pencil, a pencil sharpener and an eraser. I have never painted out of doors, so the poor thing has spent its young life in my art room languishing to get out.


If you would like a chance to win this lovely travel set, just leave a comment in this post. I will choose a winner on Friday, August 28.

For now, I'm off to do last night's dishes (we had the girls for a couple of hours and not much got done, but we did have a blast) and get ready for another day.

See you tomorrow.......

42 comments:

  1. Vicki, I think her face is lovely! You did a marvelous job with her. I love, love, love the art history brush rose picture! Where did you get the brushes? I am a novice at photoshop but would love to give this a try!
    pat
    pupton58 at gmail.com

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  2. I am looking forward to meeting you on the 12th. I'm hoping maybe you will bring your hands canvass and these two you have just showed us. I love the rose. Barb J

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  3. Well, it's nice to see her lovely face again! You did an especially nice job on her eyes .... well done, my friend! As for the rose, it's beautiful. Did it start out as a photo that you altered, or did you paint it from scratch? See you soon, I hope ... hugs, nancy

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  4. wow!! i love the colors you used on her! congratulations on your 200th post!! what a generous giveaway!! :))

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  5. Digital is so much fun!! Where are the brushes located, Vicki?? Love your work - Isn't Hollander's the GREATEST??

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  6. What lovely colors in your painting!! The face looks lovely as well! Each face you paint will get better and better, so keep playing with them.

    Congratulations on your 200th post too!

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  7. On my way around Art Journal-world, I popped over at your blog! Love your page:0)
    And what a great give-away:0)
    Hugs from Norway:0)

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  8. Congratulations of this milestone!! Fantastic that you finally got your girl finished. Love the rose, beautiful.

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  9. Great painting. It must feel good to have finally finished it. Congrats on your 200th post. Maybe I'll be that successful someday.

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  10. I just discovered your blog, and I'm on vacation (using hubby's laptop), so I have lots of questions, but when I get home, I'll take the time to browse some more. Anyway, awesome blog!

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  11. congrats on your 200th post...that is fabulous!

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  12. Found your blog via Creative Everyday. Congrats on your 200th post! I too have art supplies languishing in my closet. Thankfully, doing art with my preschooler has made me pull them out more often.

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  13. I love the background colour and texture of your painting and the birds and butterflies are lovely.

    :)

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  14. Congratulations on your 200th post; that is quite a milestone. I think your girl is lovely. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your fabulous giveaway.

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  15. 200 posts is amazing! This is a beautiful blog - thanks for the great giveaway opportunity.
    Linda B.
    lindaablkb@yahoo.com

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  16. Congratulations on 200 posts and finishing your painting. The rose is gorgeous too. Awesome giveaway, I'm in!
    CindyB

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  17. If I'm fortunate enough to be chosen winner, I will give the traveling art set to my best friend, who travels a lot, and does watercolor during her trips...and keep the Photoshop CD for myself; it sounds great! Also, I plan to try the art history brush, now that you've shown that beautiful rose (which I really like, just the way it is; I think your brush was the right size.) On another note: I lived in Michigan for 22 years, so when I read your post about going to the UP, I knew immediately what you were talking about. I visited the UP several times, and enjoyed an unforgettable boat-tour while there. Also went to Macinac (sp?) Island several times. Remember the movie "Somewhere in Time" that was filmed there? When in MI, I lived in several different Detroit suburbs as well as the Owosso area. I've been transplanted into the Northeast since 1990, but I will always be a Midwesterner in my heart. Hope all goes well with your family!
    Cecilia Swatton
    crswatton@verizon.net
    http://heartworkbycecilia.blogspot.net

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  18. I spend too much time sewing to ever paint much, but I enter on behalf of a lovely young artist I know. If I win, I will wrap it up and send it straight to her! Here's her link --->
    http://thefish-bowl.blogspot.com/

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  19. Congrats on your milestone post and on finishing your painting! I think faces are very difficult and that you did a lovely job!

    Marian

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  20. Good morning Vicki. I haven't branched out to digital yet, but I love what I see here. I have had Photoshop for almost 2 years now, but every time I open it I get overwhelmed!

    Congratulations on your 200th post, and would love to be entered for a chance to win that really nice travel set *smiles*.

    Have an art-filled day today!

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  21. Congratulations on the milestone.
    I love the candidness of the site.

    GIna
    noginarules@yahoo.com

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  22. Congratulations on the milestone.
    Love the candidness of your site.

    Gina
    noginarules@yahoo.com

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  23. Oh I took Paulettes class too. I learned so much about how to draw a face. Congrats on your 200th post and hopefully you have many more. Please enter me in your give away!

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  24. Congrats on the 200th post! I enjoyed looking around your blog. That art history brush is a winner.

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  25. Congrats on your 200th post! I haven't found that much time yet, it stretches just putting things on flickr! I love the rose and the girls face is wonderful--I am face challenged and need to take a class also! Thanks for having a giveaway-it made me look at your blog!
    Barb

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  26. Vicki,

    I love your canvas, I am trying to work up the confidence to paint my own images instead of collaging images. You inspire me to continue on. Would love the chance to win your lovely gift.

    Thanks

    Rob

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  27. the rose is lovely,,great technique I think..
    CONGRATs on your milestone, I am anew blogger.. its a wonderful world

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  28. Found you through Latest Trends yahoo group...congrats on your 200th post...quite an accomplishment! I'm still hoping to get 1 going myself one day and I'm very new to Photoshop, so would love the chance to watch that DVD. Love that rose picture...and your latest collage! Hope all goes well with your Mom!

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  29. What a great giveaway. If you pick me I'd love the DVD!!

    Sorry to hear about your "family" issues. Hope all goes well.

    Katina H
    kjkoukla(at) hotmail (dot) com

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  30. Congrats on 200 posts. I enjoy reading and looking at your blog. Thank you.

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  31. Wow, I'm also so inspired to people so brave to try things like you did with the face. And I hope that you keep doing so! I love that you went back to the face after some time, as well. Perhaps time is the key. I'm so grateful to keep learning from sharing like this. And congratulations on your 200th post! Wow, a great milestone!! Be well...

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  32. I am just a raw beginner with Photoshop so greatly admire your work with it, the collages, etc. Oh, to be that proficient! Love your work.
    Jcanyon

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  33. Hi Vicki,
    I truly enjoyed your blog. I am going to have to study, investigate, whatever the history brush. I love Photoshop. I have photoshop cs and something called photoshop image ready(which I haven't really tried yet.) Thanks for sharing your art with us. Will be checking your blog frequently.
    Love and Laughter,
    Gale

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  34. Your face picture turned out great. Her eyes are very luminous. And it's so hard to get the nose right and you did a fabulous job. Good work all around!
    Lisa@cooz.com

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  35. c1Congrats and I too try to work with Photoshop. I'd love to see more of your work

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  36. Congrats. I too am new at Photoshop -keep tryng new things and then can't remember how I got there.

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  37. Vicki,

    Congrats 200th post! Love the picture and nice drawing of face. The background colors are wonderful.

    Michaela

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  38. congrats on your 200th post and what a great giveaway! I enjoy your blog.

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  39. Vicki, love your blog and way to go with your 200th post!

    Family always comes first and I know your mom will appreciate your help along with your sis.

    I also love the rose you created; roses are my favorite flower and you made it look so real.

    As for your giveaway...we would all like to be the lucky one. Thanks for making it possible for a couple of lucky bloggers.

    cbs - Trends

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  40. Vicki-

    I'm searching the internet looking at art on blogs - trying to find the inspiration and courage to start painting again. My son has just turned 18 and I am almost an empty nester and I have DREAMED of this day for so long only to find out how bittersweet it truly is! LOL! Maybe there are 2 burgeoning spirits going forth into the world now!??!
    Thank you for your inspiration and your courage to say when you are not happy with something in your piece. It gives those of us who are grappling with the idea of just picking up the pencil the realization that EVERYONE has these trials... Thank you so much!
    Warmly,
    mcstack00@aol.com

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  41. Hooray for 200 posts!

    You made me interested in the art history brush - I have Elements and need to read a book I have about it, as well as notes from a continuing ed. class I took....

    I also like your birds and butterflies on the painting. Great accents.

    Hoping I win your giveaway - Kathy
    dentzl@aol.com

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  42. Vicki
    Now I am interested in getting that watercolor book. Otherwise I would like a book on handmade books.
    Your water color bird is wonderful !

    wish you were in MN
    Carol A

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