True Nature

The Three Muses challenged us to look at "Nature" this week and in this piece I decided to reflect upon the feminine essence of nature (Mother Nature) or the feminine face of God. I'm not an overly 'religious' person but like to think of myself as a 'spiritual' person- one who likes to embrace the deeper meanings of life, perhaps the magical /more natural essence of life and its cycles . Certainly true nature is balanced by the masculine more aggressive/ active part of the equation but it is the nuturing side that speaks to me right now. Imagery credits go to scrapbookgraphics, wikimedia, Dover books.

Fantasea

After last week's theme of fiery hot "Reds" at Mixed Media Monday, they have asked us to "Cool it Down" with cooling colors used in our creations this week. This piece came together well using fabric, shells, and fairy images from (Dover) to create a water world enchantment.

Nocturnes

The Sunday Postcard Art challenge had us tap into our inner vampire this week and go "on the darkside" for our creations. My digital postcard is made from a magazine image overlayed with fashion art papers, post card clippings, a little steampunk from scrapbookgraphics and artistic filters and brushes in photoshop.

Spirit Keeper

This is my entry for the Collage Obsession Challenge where the theme is "Animals". I used a portion of the image provided (Lions), image from (Dover), background from (scrapbookgraphics) and moon (wikimedia).
I have always been fascinated with the relationship between humans and animals -as totems, teachers and spirit guides on our journey. We all have powerful draws to certain animals and we can learn from their characteristics and natural behavior to use in our lives. All cultures seem to carry stories and powerful legends of animal guides and sometimes "shifter" people who can take on their animal guides' persona and become them. This digital collage as in the "Strength" card in the Tarot, shows a woman at peace and unafraid amongst her powerful and majestic animal companions at home in the natural world embodying her deepest roots.

Red Queen

This is my entry for the Mixed Media Monday challenge "Seeing Red". This is my digital version of the ominous Red Queen with her red roses (from my garden) and her haughty attitude. Image from evint.com, background made from various art papers. Gradient and soft light hues all blended in Photoshop.

Unveiled

I played with some brushes and multi- layers of reduced opacity images for this digital piece. The woman is from e-vint.com, curtain or veil from Cemerony, background is my own and ornament is from a photo of ironwork I took. I added makeup and shading in Photoshop.

Angels Among Us

This is my entry for the Collage Obsession challenge where we were given the image of the woman and cherub and the gritty window wall background is from Digital Whisper . "Angels" is the theme and I like to explore the idea of softness and light against the urban landscape of brick, concrete and graffiti. Wings are wikimedia and text is from one of my journals. Played around with the gradient and multiply filters for neon effects.

First Harvest

As summer winds down I am beginning to feel and see the first edges of fall begin to appear. The amber sunsets , the shortening of days, the honking geese flying over our home and a wonderful rich rust color emerging in the landscape. Granted California is not Vermont but we do get a stunning show particularly in the wine country of Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. I am drawn to the colors of Autumn and in this digital piece (part of my Tuscan Summer series) I have used a background from scrapbookgraphics, overlayed with sunflower photos I took last year. The woman is from Wikimedia, dragonflys from Dover and hinges from Lorie Davison.

Fairy Glimmer

This is my entry for the 4x4friday challenge "Glitter". Multi layers of artist papers (DCWV- Once Upon a time) on top of one of my own botanical backgrounds. Mixed difference and multiply filters used. Opacity reduced for shadowed silhouette. Wings are glittered and enhanced in Photoshop. You may click on the photo to enlarge for enhancement.

Urban-ology

Had some fun with watercolors, stamps, cut images and digital images printed out and applied for this Journal page. This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge "Buildings". Images are from Artchix, Cemerony, rubber stamps from Lost coast and cut images from assorted artist papers.

Threshold

Time stands still

hovers

holds it's breath

at the threshold

awaiting your move...

This is my entry for The Three Muses Challenge this week where "Doors " is the theme. I am always intrigued by the symbolism of doors, a passage to who knows- something better, something worse. We often stand at the threshold of change wondering whether to pass through or stay where we are comfortable or safe. Should we knock or boldly step through to a new level of experience. This digital piece uses an image from Magic Moonlight Free Images that to me expresses someone who shows a bit of hesitancy , someone caught between dream and reality. Her mirror image reflecting a merging or moving on to what awaits her on the other side of the door. The doorway is enlarged from an Artchix image, blended with botanical overlays and text all blended and layered in Photoshop.

Rue de Seine

This is my entry for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge "Houses". I used a vintage image of historical houses in Paris overlayed with stamps, old text and clip art from Stampington. Digital painting for color effects.

Legends

This is my entry for the 4x4friday challenge "Kings". In this digital 4x4 I was inspired by the legend of King Arthur. Images from Dover, Finchley Paper Arts, Lost Coast Designs all layered and blended in Photoshop. Inverted and gradient filters used.

Nichos

I want to thank Mixed Media Monday for their theme this week "past loves" to awaken us to do some art that we haven't done for a while; something we love to do but get sidetracked . So I set off to my art room (gave Photoshop a rest) and was going to do some journal pages but saw a wonderful tin nichos laying on my table that needed altering and embellishing. What fun! I think I will try some journal work too as I have a few days to myself!