What AEDM day is this?

I've been away for a couple of days.  But, I think I've been a tiny bit creative every day even though I don't really have anything to show for it.  I'm working through a book called "You Can Draw in 30 Days" and I'm drawing and shading balls and boxes.  Hope to share something with you in the coming days.

I did take some pictures.  I pulled a few of them up in Photoshop Elements and played around with the  color hue and saturation, and with the balance of tint and temperature.   I see photographs where these values have been changed, and I'm just not quite sure if I like it.  Sometimes the color combinations are so vivid that I'm immediately drawn to them.  And then sometimes, I think it's just too bizarre.  Take a look at these, and please let me know what you think.  

A Different Shade of Sanibel

AEDM 16 -- I've missed more days!

Yes, my blogging hasn't been as timely as it was for a bit.  Work seems to get in the way of all the things I want to do.  Art has been on my mind -- hope that counts.  Tried out those "inktense" pencils, and did a sketch of a bird and cage.  Lots of colors in the background -- I think I tried all the colors in the box.  Then... I thought of the words I wanted to add.  My writing looked out of place.  Got out the scissors, and this is all that is left of my bird and cage.  The green is going too, and then I have an idea.  You'll see this little bird later this month in new surrounding.  And with "printed" words.

I've also been working more in Photoshop Elements.  For my other blog, I made a little card and took a photo of it.

In Elements, I cropped and added writing (learned my lesson on doing my own writing!).

Also, in Elements I used my recently enhanced photographs to make some note cards.  This was the first time that I had added more than one picture to a layout.  The cards are 4.25 x 5.5, so two print on 8.5 x 11 paper.  To put the title and my name on the back of the folded card for those that were horizontal, it had to be upside down.  I did it.  The more I use Elements the easier it's getting.

And a Winter ATC.

AEDM - Day 13 (missed some days)

I've been under the weather, well more like knocked flat out.  My first experience with food poisoning.  From guilt I'm thinking it might have been that cupcake with a cup of cream cheese frosting.  More realistically, it was the raw, unsalted Brazil nuts from a bin.  So, the past couple days have been more about enjoying art than making it myself.  I received my three ATCs (art trading cards -- I wasn't familiar with them myself until a few weeks ago) from a swap among our "Fly" group and hosted by Sally Rose .  And I received a painting that I purchased from a fellow flyer, Lori Leissner.  It's called "Brave" and I've hung it in my home office to remind myself each day to be brave.

As I've been recovering, I have started on the little trading cards for our next swap.  No art to show as yet, so I thought I would share my studio with you.

Yep, that's it.  A yard sale child's table and chairs in the middle of our living area.  And I have to say that I do feel more comfortable (and I'm far, far from being petite!) working at that little table, a bit freer.  My daughter says it brings out the child in me.  Maybe so.  This is also where my five year old granddaughter, Lucy and I work when she's here.  Here's a painting she did a couple weeks ago.

She's a natural and I'm so proud of her.  Hope to be back to my normal dabbling tomorrow.

AEDM day 9 - Experimenting

I'm on a dabbling roll.  The amount of stuff at an art/craft store is amazing!  What does one do with all of it?  Well, of course, most people don't do something with "all" of it.  This is my month for experimenting with different mediums and techniques.  Some may work; some may not.  Those colored pencils didn't work for me, but from comments I learned about other options with more vibrant colors.  Thanks for the feedback!

Yesterday I took a picture of all the bare trees in our backyard with the beautiful blue sky in the background.  Changed the hue of the photograph in Photoshop Elements and printed the picture on card stock paper with my inkjet printer.  Mixed Adirondark alcohol ink (Cranberry) about half and half with alcohol blending solution.  Wet the paper and then misted (with a mini mister) the trees with the ink mixture.  When it dried, I added a flying crow to the sky.  I'm sort of happy with how it turned out.

I truly appreciate all of the wonderful feedback from the AEDM group and from my Fly Tribe!

The Night Sky - AEDM 8

As I was walking my dog last night, I looked up at the evening sky.  Just last Friday the space station was visible for six minutes as it traveled across the sky -- so I always look up.  And there was that big beautiful, almost full, moon in a clear sky.  My attempts to capture the evening sky have been quite unsuccessful, and last night was no different.  Determined, I put my camera (the camera I need to know much more about) on manual and set it for a long exposure.  I wasn't steady enough, so I found a metal fence post in the garage and used it as a tri-pod, although technically it was a mono-pod.  Here is the result:

In Photoshop Elements, I added texture and made minor adjustments to hue and saturation.  And here you have my AEDM day 8:.

AEDM day 7 - Importance of Art Every Day

Something different today.  I am sharing with you "Art Every Day" by my father.

This is a little ink and watercolor sketch done my father while he was serving in the Marine Corps during World War II.  It's a small drawing, about 5 x 6, and is one of several.  Framed and hanging in my office is a 32 x 20 drawing which still has the fold marks from being carried with him in a knapsack throughout his two years in the Pacific.  The detail in the large sketch in unbelievable.  Bombers overhead and men on the ground getting blood transfusions.  He fought both at Peleliu and Okinawa.  In horrible conditions, suffering and dying all around, he was sketching.  He had his art every day.

AEDM day 6 -- Watercolor Pencils again

Since the watercolor pencils were new to me, I thought I would just doodle with them and see what happened.  Watercolor pencils are NOT for me.  First the colors didn't turn out the color I thought they would be.  And nothing was defined.  So, I thought "words" -- I'll add words.  And since it was a song, I added a little music to the flowers.  I wrote and wrote and wrote.  Still not defined enough.  So I outlined all the flowers and the music.  Better, but it's not me.  I guess that's a good thing about this "Art Every Day Month" -- I should be able to rule out a lot of stuff.  And who knows?  Someday I might become focused and find my style.

AEDM day 5 - Watercolor Pencils

A day of truly dabbling, and double duty.  Wanted a little pig for my Harvest blog, so I pulled out those watercolor pencils that I had not even opened.

In looking at this little fellow, either 1. my little pig has been fibbing and his snout has grown, 2. there was an anteater in the woodshed or much more likely, 3. I need to purchase one of those "How to Draw Pigs in Ten Easy Steps." 

AEDM day 4 - Which Door?

 Today I've dabbled with Photoshop Elements again.  Hadn't planned to, but Kim Klassen sent out a new "freebie" texture and I just had to try it out.  You can sign up for them on her website.  She calls it "Shades of November."
 

This is my photograph taken in Italy.  You walk down a street, and every door is a photo opportunity.  I used Kim's texture twice.  The first layer was soft light at 52% with the door area erased.  Next I used the same texture as overly at 81%.  I finished with it and liked the results.

But then I look back to the original (no texture, no Photoshop) and I really like the cleanliness of it.  Still can't get a clear focus (no pun intended, ha ha) even on my "style."  What do you think?  Door number 1 or door number 2?

AEDM day 3

For today's art, I'm altering my little acorn picture using some of Kim Klassen's textures and Photoshop Elements.  This is using two of her textures at different opacity settings.  When I mess around with photographs, I'm always reminded of the days when the best you could do was try to take a good picture, send the film out for processing and what you got was what you got.

AEDM day 2

I hope that my blog hopping creation will count as day 1 of the AEDM.  Like everyone else, there are so many things to do in a day that if we can make some of the things "double duty" it helps.  The same for today.  For my day 2 art, I'm working on my macro photography.

Acorns.  Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find an acorn this time of the year?  I was lucky that I wasn't mugged by a squirrel on my way back to the house.  This photograph is to use for my inspiration post to my financial resource blog:  www.livingwithinyourharvest.com

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."  -- Robert Lewis Stevenson

Harvest is good.  But as creative souls, we need to keep in mind that every blog post, mixed media canvas, piece of jewelry is a little seed that we are planting in the creative world.  

Spreading Our Wings Blog Hop

Spreading our wings and flying -- that's what so many wonderful souls have been doing for the past couple of months.  We met through Kelly Rae Roberts' e-course Summer 2011 Flying Lessons, and we've been exchanging ideas, cheering each other and answering/asking questions about art and life ever since.  I have been astonished by the overwhelming kindness of this group of women.  And the creativity from them is inspiring -- inspiring me to take some small, small steps.  Big hugs of gratitude to you all.

On with the BLOG HOP!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to subscribe, like and follow us!!!

Amaranthine Violet:  http://magic-gypsy.blogspot.com/
Amy Hillenbrand:  http://amyhillenbrand.blogspot.com
Beatriz Peñas B.:  http://beatrizbepe.blogspot.com/
Beth Cougler Blom:   http://sobliss.wordpress.com/
Carmen Patti:  http://carmenpattistudio.com/wordpress/
Carol Bray:  http://theredpaintedcottage.blogspot.com
Christina Fajardo:  http://christinafajardo.blogspot.com/
Cindy Jones Lantier:  http://www.lantier.org
Connie Rawlins :  http://www.dabblinginlife.blogspot.com/
Dana Brock: http://www.dzynbydana.blogspot.com
Deborah Velásquez : http://deborahvelasquez.blogspot.com
Elissa Brown:  http://thefreckledarmy.blogspot.com
Hillary Courson:  http://www.hillarycourson.com
Jacquie Williamson:  http://www.jacquiewilliamson.blogspot.com/
Jane Paynting: http://inkspiredwings.wordpress.com
Janet Forrest: http://tatterednworn.wordpress.com/
Jennifer DeVille:  http://jenniferdeville.com/blog/
Jill Lambert :  http://www.jill-lambert.blogspot.com/
Julie Hamilton:  http://spaark.wordpress.com
Kanchan Mahon:  http://Kanchan-Mahon.blogspot.com/
Karen Claverie:  http://giddyupletsride.blogspot.com
Kari DeSaulnier:  http://karidesi.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Conard : http://newfromoldcreations.blogspot.com/
Kathleen McKinnon:  http://harmonyschoolhouse.com/expressions-blog.html
Kathy May:  http://kathymaydesigns.org
Kelley Miller:  http://www.kelleymillerartworks.blogspot.com/
Kelly Corso:  http://birdinatreecreations.blogspot.com/
Kelly Hoernig:  http://www.kellyhoernig.blogspot.com/
Kim Hyer:  http://www.apaperaddict.com/
Kris Lanae Binsfeld:  http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Lenore Angela:  http://www.lenoreangela.blogspot.com/
Linda Barutha:  http://lindabaruthadesigns.blogspot.com
Lisa Michele Products:
http://www.lisamicheleproducts.blogspot.com/
Liza Zeni Baker:  http://lizazeni.wordpress.com/
Lynn Richards:  http://alittlebluesky.blogspot.com
Lori Leissner:  http://leissnerart.blogspot.com
Lori Moon:  http://lorimoonstudio.blogspot.com
Mary Cottingham:   http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com/
Mary Sterk:  http://justmarydesigns.wordpress.com
Megan Schmitt:  http://www.schmittenwithwords.blogspot.com/
Melanie Douthit:  www.douthitgallery.blogspot.com
Michelle Dwyer:  http://www.magnetisedbylife.com/
Michelle Reynolds:  http://shellsinthebush.blogspot.com/
Rachél Payne (Rae):  http://collectingyourself.wordpress.com/
Rain Hannah:  http://honeyandollie.com/
Rhiannon Connelly:  http://www.starrybluesky.wordpress.com
Ruth-Mary Smith:  http://patchworkfamilieshub.blogspot.com
Sherry Richert Belul:
http://simplycelebrate.net/cherry-blossom-soup
Shirley Ann:  http://leonardarenaissancewoman.blogspot.com/
Stacey Chadwick
Brown:  http://staceybrownarts.blogspot.com/
Susan M. Walls-Beverly:
http://www.susanscharmingtrinkets.blogspot.com
Teresa Cash-Czech: http://www.asmilemaker.com/
Tina Carlborg:  http://www.tinachicky.blogspot.com/
Tonya Love:  http://passport2creativity.com/
Ursula Smith:  http://www.EasyScraps.com/blog
Zulma Cadena:  http://edustory.wordpress.com/
Mary Cottingham  http://www.barnbugstudio.blogspot.com