Petunias and Purple Flowers (Three Pattern Exercise)

Petunias and Purple Flowers (Three Pattern Exercise) Originally uploaded by randubnick

I have been making and using patterns from my own photographs on the computer with Painter IX. This compositional exercise uses three of the patterns. The center pattern is made from one of my posterized photos (Petunia Duet). It is the same pattern I posted here two days ago, but in this image, the focus is softer to make for better blending with the other patterns. The outer pattern also uses the petunia photo, but renders it in digital chalk over a colored background, purple in this case. (The image is bigger because I used a larger "pattern pen".) The third pattern is the border between these two, made from my photo of purple flowers (Little Purple Flowers Like Stars). I used a small pattern pen with a soft focus and swirled it around the border, moving the cursor just as if I were decorating a birthday cake.

Cabbage Closeup (Digitally Edited)

Cabbage Closeup (Digitally Edited) Originally uploaded by randubnick

This is a purple cabbage, growing in a patio garden. I took a picture with my phonecam because I love the pattern of the purple veins against the blue-green leaves. This is the digitally edited version; once I had posted the original photo, I saw that one of the inner leaves had been broken off or eaten, possibly by an insect with no aesthetic sensibility. So I opened the image in Painter IX and did a little repair with cut and paste and digital pastel. I thought this cabbage was worth the effort. Cabbage is really beautiful as it grows, especially purple cabbage. It looks like a rose, and it is easy to see how cabbage roses got their name. (Cabbage roses are the kind of roses that are in the "Ribbon Roses" collage that I have been working on.) Cabbage is quite an ordinary vegetable, and is easily found in every supermarket. But something ordinary can be quite beautiful. You just have to look. . . .

Petunia Duet Pattern

Petunia Duet Pattern (Originally uploaded by randubnick)

Last night I used the capture pattern function in Painter IX to snag the image from the digitally modified photo that I posted two days ago (Petunia Duet). Then I used the pattern palette to adjust the size of the image, and decide on the configuration of the pattern (offset or squared up). Then I just filled a new image file with the pattern, and here it is. I still haven't mastered the trick of getting the pattern lined up evenly on all sides, so I had to crop this image. It helps that the original image had similar colors on the top and bottom. I like this image the way it is right now, but still the next step is to use this pattern to make another image or design. . . .

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 9)

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 9) Originally uploaded by randubnick

I finally had a chance to go to Red Brick and work on this collage. There was just a little bit of work to do to finish bringing the background right out to the edge of the styrofoam tray. This is detail work, but it takes some time. I also put more gel medium down to make sure all the pieces are secure, and that all the gaps are closed. At this point, I think this image is complete, although I have been wrong about that kind of thing before. In any case, I need to decide how to finish the rim, outside edges, and the back, because although this can be hung on the wall, my idea was to make a tray (perhaps for letters, or paper, but certainly not glasses of lemonade!). So I guess I need to say "To be continued". . . .

Petunia Duet (Digitally Modified Photo)

Petunia Duet (Digitally Modified Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

When I sat down at the computer tonight, I intended to find another photo and make patterns with it. I found a picture of two petunias that I took with my phonecam sometime last month. The flowers had strong color and I thought that two petunias would make a nice pattern. But there were a lot of distractions in the background. I opened the photo in Painter IX and worked on simplifying the background, using digital chalk. I became more interested in the image and kept going, using color overlays and posterizing to get the effect I wanted. I didn't get around to making a pattern tonight, but will do that in a day or two. Anyway, here is how the image looks now. To be continued. . . .

Purple Star Flowers in Two Patterns

Purple Star Flowers in Two Patterns (Originally uploaded by randubnick)

It was too hot for the studio today, so I opted for digital art. I have had Painter for a long time, but I am still learning to use all its tools. Today I worked on using patterns. A while ago I used the "capture pattern" function to make a pattern from my photo of purple star flowers, so I started with that. I manipulated the pattern to get the size and configuration I wanted, then used it to fill the inner rectangle of this image. Then I opened the pattern pen, selected the same purple flower pattern, and swirled the pattern pen around in the outer part of the image. I adjusted the color, size, and transparency of the pattern pen to get the effect I wanted. (I am oversimplifying here, passing over the many mistakes, false starts, and discarded images.) I have used Painter's pattern palette and pen before with patterns that come with the program, but I am practicing using those tools with patterns I create myself from my own photos and images. All this trial and error provided me a lot of practice tonight. I worked until I got something pleasing enough to post, and here it is.

Basket of Artichokes (Posterized Photo)

Basket of Artichokes (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

I would love to be able to say that I took this photo at an open-air market in France or Portugal, or even a quaint New England farm stand. But in fact, I used my phonecam to take this picture close to home in my local supermarket. During a recent grocery store run, I found myself admiring this arrangement of artichokes in a basket, so I took a quick picture with my phonecam. Tonight I cropped the image, and then posterized it in Painter IX. I also used some color overlays on the neighboring squash and eggplant, just to bring the highlights down a bit. Even though the only artichokes I bought this week were in a jar, I enjoyed this little visual treat in the produce aisle.

Roses in the Field (Posterized Photo)

Roses in the Field (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

A few weeks ago, on a walk at Long Hill, I saw these bright roses. But they were not growing in the gardens there, but were at the edge of a grassy field near a vegetable garden. Apparently these roses were volunteers, and it was a nice surprise to see them.I liked the contrast of the roses and the grass, so I took a picture with my phonecam. Tonight I cropped the image to get the composition I wanted, then opened the image in Painter IX to posterize it. I also used some color overlays to restore color where the bright sunlight had washed it out, just to make sure this image does justice to the beauty of these roses, almost hidden in a field.

Tuscan Cantaloupe (Posterized Photo)

Tuscan Cantaloupe (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

This image began this afternoon with a trip to BJ's Wholesale Club to buy groceries. That's where I saw this beautiful cantaloupe, labeled Tuscan Cantaloupe, right there in the middle of American wholesale market mania. That in itself made me laugh! I love cantaloupe anyway, but in this case, I bought this cantaloupe because it was so beautiful, with a scalloped shell and green stripes. Once I got home, I was hurrying to fix dinner and cut up the cantaloupe to serve it. I had forgotten to take a picture first, but I decided that it looked nice sliced as well, so I took a couple of phonecam photos before dinner. (The cantaloupe was absolutely delicious, by the way.) After dinner, I cropped the photo to get the composition I wanted, and posterized the image in Painter IX. A lot of trouble to go to for cantaloupe, Tuscan or not. But I think it is important to pay attention to the beautiful things in life, no matter where we find them.

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 8)

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 8) Originally uploaded by randubnick

Although I thought I was almost finished with this collage, yesterday I realized that because I have been adding foliage to the bouquet, the vase needs to be bigger. This morning I was thinking very hard about how to do that, so I decided to go to the studio and try out my idea. I enlarged the vase by about a quarter of an inch all around. I did this by adding darker pieces of ribbon, alternating with the original red ribbon. My idea was try to some contrast as well as a sense of volume, trying to approximate what I would do to make a vase look three-dimensional in a drawing. Of course, I also had to move the shadow beneath the vase. This felt like a pain in the neck at first, but it was worth it. Now the composition seems a bit more balanced and the vase shows up better. I think I am on the right track, and the collage looks better to me, though it still needs work.

Path to the Beach (Digitally Edited Photo)

Path to the Beach (Digitally Edited Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

This image began as another of the photos I took during last week's early morning walk at Lynch Park Beach here in Beverly. I liked the way the sandy path looked in the morning light, so I took some pictures with my phonecam. When I cropped the image, I noticed some distracting marks in the sand and the grass, as well as a white boat in the ocean that was positioned in a way that spoiled the line of the blue and yellow boats on the path. So tonight I opened the image in Painter IX and used digital pastel to eliminate the distractions. Now the little boat has disappeared and the path to the beach is clear.

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 7)

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 7) Originally uploaded by randubnick.

Yesterday I went to Red Brick and worked on this collage for a while. I extended the upper part of the image to the edge of the styrofoam tray. As I worked on the pink background, I also added more leaves to the bouquet, extending the foliage out to the edge as well. I am almost finished with the front of the tray, which is good because I was worried about running out of pink ribbon. I have been thinking about how to finish the edges of the tray, and what to do about the back, as well.

View of Woods in Fog (Posterized Photo)

View of Woods in Fog (Posterized Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

We still have cool weather today, with mist, rain, and some fog. Tonight I used Painter IX to posterize the photo of the woods in fog that I posted last night. I am slowly learning what sort of photos look good when they are posterized. In this case, I think the posterizing works with the soft edges and muted colors created by the fog.

View of Woods in Fog

View of Woods in Fog (Originally uploaded by randubnick)

It has been rainy and misty all day, and by late afternoon we had fog. It was still foggy when I took a walk after dinner. I like the way fog reveals patterns and shapes, and makes you look at things differently. I took several photos. In this one, the woods look mysterious in the soft light. I am happy with this photo as it is, but I think it would also be interesting to posterize it. Perhaps tomorrow. . . .

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 6)

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 6) Originally uploaded by randubnick

Today I took some paintings up to the studio. I wasn't intending to stay and work on this collage, but of course I did. I couldn't stay long, so I decided to just work on the lower part of the collage, extending the blue background to the edge of the styrofoam tray. As I worked, I realized that I only had one ribbon with that pattern, and worried that I wouldn't have enough of it left to finish. But I just made it, and then it was time to leave. To be continued. . . .

Newburyport Street Lamp (Digitally Modified Photo)

Newburyport Street Lamp (Digitally modified photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

My friend Pam was visiting today, and we drove up to Newburyport for art galleries and lunch. I love the flowerbaskets on the old style street lamps in Newburyport, so I took a picture with my phonecam. I liked the composition of this photo, but in the original version, there were some scraggly tree branches in the background that were too distracting. Tonight I decided to open the image in Painter IX and used digital airbrush to do a little pruning. (While I was at it, I decided to clean up the glass in the street lamp.) This photo may have needed a little help, but it would be hard to improve on our visit to Newburyport. We had a great time!

Beach Grass in the Morning Light

Beach Grass in the Morning Light (Originally uploaded by randubnick)

I used my phonecam to take this picture today, on a very early morning walk on the beach at Lynch Park. This is the beach grass that lines the sandy path from the beach back up the gentle slope to the road; I liked the way the soft grass looked in the muted morning light, and apparently my camera did too, because I didn't have to change a thing.

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 5)

Ribbon Roses (Collage Day 5) Originally uploaded by randubnick

This morning I went to Red Brick to work on this collage. First, I added some red to the sides of the vase to add more definition to the shape. Next, I added some dark purple ribbon at the bottom of the vase to suggest a bit of shadow. Then I began to extend the image onto the edge of the styrofoam tray which is the base of the collage. Because I am now working out to the edges of the tray, I decided not to crop the image this time. I worked quickly, and although I began by thinking things out, once again I had the sense of working without effort (flow) as I got more involved in the project. It was great! To be continued. . . .

Purple Daylily (Digitally Edited Photo)

Purple Daylily (Digitally Edited Photo) Originally uploaded by randubnick

On a recent morning walk, I took a photo of this purple daylily. I liked the contrast of purple and yellow, and especially liked the droplets of water on the petals of the flower. Later, when I tried to crop the photo to get a good composition, I realized that there were some discolored leaves that were very distracting. So tonight I opened the image in Painter IX, and used transparent digital pastel to correct the problem. I used a light touch on the problem leaves, and didn't touch the blossom at all. Then I was able to crop the image to get this composition.

Road in the Woods

Road in the Woods (Originally uploaded by randubnick)

During last week's brief excursion to Bradley Palmer State Park (Ipswich, MA), I took some photos with my phonecam. It was late morning; the morning weather had been foggy and overcast, but the sun was just about to come out. I liked the soft light on and through the trees. Tonight I cropped the photo to get the composition I wanted.