Potpourri

I have spent some late night hours lately playing in Photoshop and I don't know if the time of day influenced the outcome or not, but I have two Halloween themed pieces and I don't usually do much related to Halloween. I know that retail-wise, Halloween is second only to Christmas in dollars spent, which I suppose translates to popularity. However, having been a high school teacher for 16 years, I can't help but be apprehensive about the possible damage from that evening.

I am no longer teaching but still haven't changed my mind much about the holiday. But now that I have little girls it is hard not to get caught up in the excitement just a bit. They are already planning what they are going to wear, who they are going trick or treating with, which neighborhoods they will go to.......

So without further ado, I will show you my Halloween art:

 

The hat and the shoes are courtesy of ArtsyFartsyQueen.

I am also still thinking about wings as I try to get my puzzle pieces finished. There is no rush as they are not due until mid-November, but they are still residing in the "work" area of my table so they are naturally on my mind. Here is a piece I made while playing with the Photoshop's pattern maker that I wrote about previously. You can find that tutorial here.

Both the "dance" piece and the "costume" piece are ATC sized and are available for trade.

I want to wish Luthien at Pimp & Paint a happy birthday as the blog is 1 year old and she is having a giveaway. I really want to win the coasters, but if I am not chosen I thought it would be nice if maybe you were. Aren't these gorgeous? If you aren't yet a subscriber/follower of hers, I'll bet you will be after you visit her site. You have until Friday to enter for this prize.

Moving on..... I have a Hobby Lobby coupon to pass on. I am trying to stay out of the stores until I use up more of the mountain of supplies that I already have, but I hate to see a coupon go to waste.

I have discovered many lovely sites for free vector art (you Photoshop addicts know what that is) and some lovely freeware to generate patterns and schedule downloads, among other things. I will share this lovely treasure/information with you tomorrow.

I have a day off today (I have had the girls Tuesday thru Sunday this past week) and hope to get a ton done. I am hoping to have a jam-packed week and am planning to take my camera with me so that I can share some Fall pix with you.

I still really NEED to clean house, but somehow that doesn't appeal to me the way that art and photography do. At any rate, I'd best get this bod in gear and make the most of this lovely Monday.

Talk to you with lots to share tomorrow....

Bye!

Puzzling and More

I began the puzzle pieces for the swap at the next meeting of michiganab, a Yahoo! group. Here is what the original pieces look like straight from the box.

First I applied a layer of thinned gesso and let it dry and then I began to randomly add some color. At that point I realized that the largest piece had a break in it. You can see it in the base of the joining part in the dark area. I think it is a horses hoof. At any rate it really showed up more once it was gessoed and painted. I was concerned about this so I decided that I would put some background paper on each piece instead of just paint.

I looked around my room looking into various containers looking for something I liked when I almost literally stumbled over a large ziploc bag full of interesting "art starts" that I purchased for $2 at the USArtQuest warehouse sale earlier this year. I found the most fabulous papers - well see for yourself:

Aren't they just gorgeous? The theme is "things with wings". Now the fun part will begin - deciding what to add.....

I've been having a great deal of fun playing with a picture that Kate Johnson posted and invited the everydaymatters Yahoo! group to correct/alter.....

If you don't know Cathy Johnson (Kate), she is a prolific artist, author, businesswoman.....

I first "met" her through the North Light Books book club, which no longer exists. North Light Books is a wonderful place to find art books at good prices. If you go there you will either see artists you know and love and/or find new artists and techniques.

On another topic altogether, I received an email from FatCow yesterday announcing the free download of 1000 icons suitable for web, desktop and Photoshop use. You might even find other uses they haven't thought of. You don't have to be a FatCow customer to get them. Click here if you are interested.

I also want to pass along to you an announcement about a wonderful class/retreat being offered with the superbly talented Sarah Fishburn. It is being offered December 5th and 6rh at the cutest studio I've seen in a long time (all I've seen is the outside, but it is just the cutest little house). You can find out more here. I'd give my left arm (I need my right arm and I am suffering a terrible case of tennis elbow in the left, LOL) to be able to attend this class.

My son was here last evening working on his Algebra class homework with me and I am expecting him again today and tomorrow. I have such fun - I love math (so I'm a nerd!) and I love spending quality time with my boy (he's actually a man - soon to be 28 years old - but he will always be my boy). I also got an email with a possible tutoring job. This one would be Intro to Probability and Statistics. I'll find out more tomorrow, but the initial plan is to meet on Saturday.

I have an online webinar (is it redundant to say online and webinar together?) today. It is from Creative Techs and is a Special Guest Event: Photoshop Smart Objects + OpenType Tricks! I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully the baby will be napping then or Poppa will be in charge for that hour. This is a free event and you can register here.

Well, I've got the 2 year old today - she should be arriving soon - and then will take her into town to meet the 6 year old's bus (actually the bus is not hers) and stay at their house until their Mom gets home around dinner time. I'd better get this old body in gear and fuel up....

See you tomorrow!