Creative Explorations in Photoshop

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I love making digital collages and art in Photoshop. I feel it is one exercise in creating in graphic design where I’m not as controlled. My overall design sense is pretty controlled layout and type-wise. When I take a photo, I am also very controlled in how I take it. I usually play by the rule of thirds rule. It is very hard to break away from thinking so structured when your mind just goes there.

That’s why I love making these little “explorations” as I call it. It takes me anywhere from 5 minutes to 30, but basically, I layer several images on top of each other in Photoshop, then choose different layer styles (whichever one looks best to my eye) as well as airbrush and erase areas as needed.

Here’s one where I merged these two photos from my Flickr stream…Shoes and More and Me N Ed’s and Sparkles in the Grass.

photoshop-exploration-one

As you can see, I added in additional orange and red coloration, but a lot of it was just the layers saturating over top of each other. I think it turned out to be cool graphic art. I would totally make frame this. It makes a bold statement.

Here’s another one I did where I merged Silvia and Joshua take on the Fun House, aluminum christmas tree color wheel light, and SSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I think it turned out pretty cool too.

creative photoshop exploration 2

As you prob. can tell, I gravitate towards the brights and saturated colors. I can’t help it, I just do.

Here’s one I did last year that was a little more subtle and probably a little more thought provoking.

the ties that bind

I find that creating these little works is a very satisfying process. I always complete a finished project that I’m happy with. I can’t always say that about some of the crafts or graphic design projects I’ve worked on.

Off to bed!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

A quick digi project and this and that

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buggin'

So, I whipped up this project last night on the fly. It’s for a friends’ coffee table. Several other people I know are makine 6×6 canvases to go under his coffee table as well as an interesting art series all focused on bugs.

I am feeling a little icky today over dealing with confrontation. I really hate doing it and don’t have to in day in day out situations, but you know when something rears it’s ugly head, sometimes you just have to approach it even when you don’t want to. I’ve always had anxiety over such things and don’t always feel equipped to deal. I guess I need to just do it and learn and experience…seems like most times it is not usually as bad as I seem to make it out to be in my head. Just not fun.

I just went to Subway. Why is it that I always gravitate toward the same type of sandwich? Anyone else do this? My favorite is the Italian BMT on Italian herbs and Cheese. I guess when you find something you like it’s hard to change. Thankfully, though I’ve gotten over chicken finger ordering at nice restaurants. That used to be the thing I always got. Now, I figure it’s one of the worst things I could get on the menu health-wise, so I tend to avoid it.

I’m all by my lonesome today at work. Just the sound of me typing and the air conditioning going. I really hope this afternoon goes by quickly. I plan on going to the arboretum later tonight and out to eat. Trying to make an exercise plan. Last night, I rode around my neighborhood 4 times. It’s actually not that much, but I was still sweating by the time I got through. I came back in and I had only been gone for 15 minutes. Geez. Well, atleast it was something!

Until tomorrow Swellions. Have a great day!

Alexa