Last Hurrah Of Summer

   Fall arrives on Sunday and the signs are all around us. The leaves are rapidly falling and changing colors, the garden veggies are dwindling as are the flowers. The ducks are migrating, along with the butterflies and hummingbirds. The squirrels (oh those darned squirrels) are all over the place gathering. Mornings have been chilly enough to warrant putting the heat on a few hours here and there. But the sun is still warm enough to allow for an outdoor morning coffee and here's who joined me a few days ago:

  Oh joy that I was able to get a few photos for the first time this year! Last year they were gone by Sept. 24th so I know they could be gone any day now. These are two females. Haven't seen the males in the last week. Thank you little ones for keeping me company Sunday morning.

  Got into a bit of digital play again. It began when I had a bowl of glass pebbles on a newspaper drying out on a table outside. thought they looked kinda cool so I took a few pics.

  This is the first pic-the original:

and here's the same shot after some photoshop play:

 

   Added orange color, "multiply" under the layers tab, then "craquelure" under the effects tab.

  Original photo 2:

and after first layers of digital manipulation:

 

   Added orange/red color, "color burn' under the layers tab, then "twirl" under the effects tab. Changed opacity to 77%. On top of this I then made more changes:

   Here I added more orange, changed opacity to 89%,, then added "luminosity" under the layers tab. This one reminds me of marbled paper.

  Photo #3;

 

  And another photoshop manipulation:

   Here I chose gradient fill-Diamond, then orange color layer, then "linear burn" under the layers tab, "extrude" under the effects tab, and changed opacity to 62%. I'm continuously amazed at what photoshop can do and yet have only touched the tip of the iceburg so to speak-what fun!!

  I'm also continuing my series of wabi-sabi canvases inspired by Serena Barton's book and Keith Harkin's original songs. You can see my previous projects here, and here.

  This week I chose techniques from Chapter Two along with this song:

  Background Layers:

 

  Layer 1 began with a combination of Golden transparent Iron Oxide, Iridescent Bright Gold and American Bright Yellow mixed together. Layer 2 I added My Studio Vanilla and wiped back. Layer 3 I added Country Accents Soldier Blue and as I was wiping away a happy accident occurred . I had my fingertips on the canvas and when I lifted them away they also lifted the paint, causing the whitish blotches you see. In true wabi-sabi form I embraced it and left it be :). Next I mixed Adirondack Watermelon reinker with water and with an eye dropper allowed the mix to drip from top to bottom then from side to side. A wet cloth was used to spread some of the color and add into the background. A heart shape was painted in the center with US Artquest Duo Adhesive then a scrap of gold leaf sheet was applied over it. A little more tweaking with paints. Stamped compass (Judikins) onto tissue paper with Jet Black Staz-on ink, torn and adhered to lower right. Typed sentiment (the song title), aged it with inks and paint then adhered it to the heart:

"Don't Forget About Me" -  5" x 7" canvas

  On a final note, Bill and I will be celebrating our 30th anniversary this Saturday. Not bad considering we only knew each other 5 months before eloping and it was the best decision I ever made. Love you dahling ;)

  Have a great weekend all, and happy arting!

  Linking to: Creative Every Day,  Paint Party Friday, Mandarin Orange Monday, Glue It Tuesday

      

                                               "Departing summer hath assumed
                                                An aspect tenderly illumed,
                                                The gentlest look of spring;
                                                That calls from yonder leafy shade
                                                Unfaded, yet prepared to fade,
                                                A timely carolling."
                                                                             William Wordsworth