Thursday, October 15, 2009

Art Rage and Photoshop

at 10/15/2009 07:18:00 AM Blog Owner Vicki Holdwick
Well, my house is clean; I don't know how long it will last, but it looks great right this minute. We spent about 1 1/2 hours full steam ahead and got it done. It really doesn't take all that long when we both work at it; and it is almost enjoyable.

I did find some time to play with Art Rage and have produced a blue bird that I think you can tell is a bird. I'm not sure you would call this a good first attempt, but I am thrilled with it. The first time I tried Art Rage (before I watched the little videos that told how to select color, change the brush size, etc.) it was a disaster. The only thing I forgot with this bird was to make separate layers so that the paint would "glop" all together, and there were some spots where I didn't want the colors to interact with each other. I can't wait to try again. Here he is:




After spending a lot of time working with Art Rage and trying to becoming familiar with it, I had to go back to my old friend Photoshop and play somewhat mindlessly. I hope you like my backgrounds and if you do you may use them. I'd like to see what you do with them, though.


Look closely and you will see little outlines of birds in between.



The large custom shape offset and then a second custom shape put in the middle.



You know how I love birds.


 
The large green leaf offset and then the flower colored and placed in the middle.



 
The leaf with twirl filter set at 999,  offset and then another leaf added to the center.



The leaf in blue, twirl filter set at 999, then offset; then added a different custom swirl to center.

Are you getting tired of these backgrounds over and over? Let me know and I will move on. Right now I am really enamored with making these repeating patterns - the possibilities are endless! I was having so much fun making these it was a chore to make myself take a shower and drive out to meet the Statistics student I am tutoring.

I do have a couple of photos from the wedding in late September. I used Photoshop on a couple of them mostly to reduce the busyness in the background and would like to share them with you. Give me some input, please!


Threshold adjustment, tinted.







Okay, I'm off to play with Art Rage, maybe do some wax painting, make time to walk the treadmill, maybe try a new recipe for dinner... What are you planning to do today?

Bye!



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9 comments:

  1. I think your bird is really nice. I don't know what Art Rage is (I bet I'll find out tomorrow). Your wedding pics are great. What a lovely couple. I'm sure they're thrilled with the photos you took. I know I would be. hugs, nancy
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  2. I love your bird. i don't know what artrage is either, but I would like to find out. And the papers you have made on photoshop-very nice! Janet
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  3. I really like your bird. I don't know what artrage is either. I will have to find out. Like your papers too. Very nice. Janet
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  4. Is Art Rage the free Mac art program? I love what you have done with it. Concerning the graphics- if you enjoy them, then do them. I see the possibilities in them and will keep them in mind as I journal. Would love pink on pink roses for a back ground if you need any ideas. Good work.
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  5. These backgrounds are wonderful and would make fantastic wall papers, wrapping papers, fabrics, etc! I've never used artrage, but I can see great potential there!
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  6. Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat forever. Where did you learn how to do these backgrounds? I'd like to learn how rather than depend on others. Do you have a book that you learned from or a class? If this is all you, do you offer a lesson yourself?

    The backgrounds are so cool.
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  7. Hi all, thanks for your comments.

    Freebird - I couldn't find an email link at your page, so I will answer you here.

    I have a tutorial on my blog for making these patterns. It is here:

    http://vickiholdwick.blogspot.com/2009/09/photoshop-tutorial-make-and-use-custom.html

    Let me know if this isn't clear enough for you. Sometimes it is hard to follow tutorials of this length.

    xoxo
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  8. the art rage application looks really nifty! thanks for mentioning it - i hadn't heard of it! love your little birdies :)
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  9. i love artrage--it has helped me tremendously--i can try out ideas on there willy-nilly--and worry not about 'wasting paint' which is an issue for me as i tend to paint rather thickly. love to take projects from artrage and then turn them into real paintings! http://www.flickr.com/photos/mociehocie/
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