Photoshop Fun and more

 I've been playing if Photoshop Elements this week and learned something new and very very fun. Here is what I did:

So, that's what I did.  I pulled two images into Photoshop Elements. Next, I dragged and dropped the pencils on top of the face.  Next, I used the layer menu and chose various layers and you see what happened.  

FUN!!!

All this fun was had during my "morning art" period and don't you know I had a reason for the fun.  


I was designing a DVD cover for my latest offering.  This is not a new lesson.  It is the DVD of my on line class Inktense Faces on Fabric.  After receiving a few request for the DVD, I decided to do it. 

Here is what you get with this DVD:

2 hours of viewing

A printed supply list

and

A small print of one of the faces demonstrated

all as shown above. 

$39.00

includes shipping and handling

---------------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥---------------
I can't help but share with you some of my students Inktense Faces on Fabric projects.

 Student Showcase

for

Inktense Faces on Fabric

by Suze Rose of New Zeland
and Sam Johnson aka Gollywobbles

Student Showcase

Faces In Collage

where

Images Inspire the Story

Do you believe this amazing student ART?  Oh my!  And there is more.


I have added a special "Classroom"  for those of who may feel like they are not ready for the "Gallery".   This classroom is a place to share works in progress at any stage and ask specific or general questions.


It is a place where no talking is allowed except by the Artist and Teacher.


An example:

Hello Malinda, First of all, I don't know why you feel a struggle with acrylics because It certainly doesn't show here. You have created a powerful and dramatic story with these images.
♥She is mysterious.  And I think the juxtaposition of her with her swans is very interesting.  In the moonlight, they are "black" swans....sorta like her.  I think you might define the swans right where the body is touching the water with a very tiny tiny hint of a white (irregular) line.  In other words, separate them from their shadow. It is like a little reflected light at their edge.
♥The mystery of where she is continues and we are wondering, if that is a window to her world.  I think you could give the bars a hint of being a window with a dark line at the bottom of the bar where it connects to the horizontal bar.   And then a miter/diagonal line at the corner.  That would be enough but if you wanted to carry it a little further, load your brush with a very very light load of paynes gray and run a very tiny stripe of it on the left side of each bar and along the inside bottom bar. It will add a little depth to the flat bars.
♥I like the drama of this piece.  I like that she doesn't look like Jennifer and I would not have known if you hadn't told us. I like love her green eyes. And her voluptuous lips.
♥The limited color palette works wonderful.  I can see just a hint of her lip color in the cityscape of her world and I wonder how maybe a few more tiny dots of that would work.  I wonder if it would be like markers on a map. Part of the mystery.
You have created a wonderful story with the few images you chose.  Next time we want to see the "before".
When you feel like you are all done, please do show in the Gallery because this piece makes us want to respond to it. That is what ART should do.
Hello Students, just wanted to remind you that this is the Classroom where no talking is allowed.  Just watch over our shoulder and then when the piece is finished, the artist will post in the Gallery where talking, shouting, clapping and jumping up and down is most certainly allowed, appreciated and encouraged. ♥

Her response:

Oh Sharon! My husband is laughing at me now because I am crying tears of joy! I never imagined you would find it a powerful and mysterious piece, even though my husband had told me the same thing and his usually pretty honest.
What he can't give me is all of your  very detailed and thoughtful feedback. You look at EVERY aspect of the piece and then give suggestions. I really do love your way of teaching ; ) and I am going to add those touches you've suggested. Wonderful suggestions, each one of them made me think, huh, I should have thought about that! Thank you for doing the heavy thinking for us ; ) And thank you for your compliments, that should keep me on another cloud for a couple of days at least!!
And yes, I'm disappointed too that I don't have the before shot, that's half the fun. I won't make that mistake again.
Warmest regards and hope your coffee was perfect this a.m. I'm sipping mine as I type from my bed with my MARTHA STEWART magazines that just came in the mail while I was responding. Now I can find cool things like bowls of lemons and stuff ; )
With much warmth, Malinda

Now, I'm going to finish a masterpiece. I'm having a great 4 day weekend!
♥

Student Showcase

It occurred to me that art retreat teacher come home and showcase their students class art.  So, with permission from my online students, I'm posting a few Faces In Collage.


Since this class is ongoing with new students arriving constantly, I look forward to sharing more in a Student Showcase. 


I debated about weather on not to show the "before" collage but it is just so interesting to see how they started. Aren't they all so fabulous!
♥

About my Arizona Company

The first thing we did before the to-do list was posted was to show and share in the sewing studio.  Kristin and the girls brought their aprons-in-progress for me to see and I was so thrilled with how they each made them so personalized with their own likes. Of course I showed off my aprons and my quilting projects too.

I thought we might have time to start the free motion stitching on the aprons (number 3 on the list) but we ran out of time.

They wanted to make charms for their ankle bracelets so we got started with that early Thursday morning so the charms would have time to set up hard.  They selected and strung their beads and then the next day we attached the charms. 


We had enough time to make memory wire bracelets too. 

On Saturday more family came for dinner and I spent the day in the kitchen.  I managed to get 2 food pictures.  Edamame Salad and Stuffed tomatoes.  Both were yum. We had 26 at the table and everyone enjoyed the get-together.

Everyone left Saturday night and I pretty much crashed all day Sunday.


Then Monday morning Kristin called to say they wanted to come back for a couple of hours.  We managed to have a little Inktense on Fabric class and when I looked at this picture this morning, it looked like they each painted self portraits.  Funny how that happens. 

We didn't get to "take a break to wash windows" but Mark (brother) and Andy (nephew) did that Saturday.  In other words, they came to play and I put them all to work.  


We did pretty good with the list.  I will tell you about number 6 in another post.  We didn't make the peanut butter cookies and didn't get back to the sewing studio to free motion.


They stopped back by this morning on their way back home to Arizona.  A good and fun time was had by all. I just wished they didn't live so far away.  I'm thinking my SIL and I could really get into some fun stuff together. 
♥ Sharon

Student Showcase

Just in case you were thinking that my Tree Castle Apron class is just about making an apron,  Think Again!

I simply had to share this student's first piece with you this morning because I'm blown away.

Here is what she said when she posted this in the class Gallery:

Hi Sharon , I was stuck in my studio today keeping my dogs out of trouble with the telephone man! He was here for several hours???  Darn the bad luck ...so I just had to play art with you!  LOL This is somewhere between # two and # three face videos when I lost internet and just went on playing by myself and the dogs! 

Stephani first signed up for "Faces in Technicolor" at the end of last September. Then in October she signed up for "Faces: All Norah'S".  She had never painted faces before.

This painting is a technique that I demonstrate using Inktense watercolor pencils on muslin.  It's not all about making a beautiful apron.  The class includes nearly 2 hours of face painting instruction.

I'm just one proud teacher this morning.  As soon as I do my morning walk, I will continue with more MorningART videos.

Of Towers and Turrets - Session Two

Back By Popular Demand-Of Towers And Turrets

Deryn Mentock and I had such a great time, the first time around, we're offering it again...registration for our popular online class Of Towers and Turrets is now open, once again!

Session Two 

Start date:     April 1st (no foolin)

End date:     June 1st

Registration will close for this session May 1st

Of Towers and Turrets class fee is $130.00

Deryn and I were absolutely thrilled with and humbled by the response to this online workshop and inspired by the work that came out of it. We're so pleased to be able to offer it again. If you love collage, painting, jewelry making...even rubber stamp carving...this class has got you covered. We hope you'll join us. Click on over and see our class site.

If you want to take a class

and

You are not already a member of my class site, please sign up first.

Then, you will find a Paypal button within the description of the class that you wish to take.

student spotlight

And now, I would like to spotlight some of our students from the first session.

One of the things that thrilled me was how they watched the videos and then "made it their own".

 

"The Teacher"

Castle towers mixed media

by Renee Troy

Castle towers mixed media 

by Janine

Castle towers mixed media 

by Verlene Brooks

Tower bezels 

by Paula Hardesty

Castle Tower mixed media

by Manon Clarke

Tower bezels 

by Sunny Carvalho

Student work by Lisa Bommarito

Tower bezels focal pieces are from Of Towers and Turrets class

Elements to complete the piece of jewelry from Deryn's class, The Build Zone.

I know you enjoy blog hoping, so check out these talented artist. 

♥Sharon