Topaz is Soooo Much Fun

I wanted to post some more treated images from my playing around with programs projects.  Here's one:

I actually had a trial copy of Nik Pro Efex 3 that I did some experimenting with.  The trial has run out, but I still haven't decided if I want to purchase this set of filters.

I thought this was a fun little boat tooling around the lake on a beautiful day.

A sweet little rock garden leading up to a gargantuan mansion on the lake.

A guy fishing under a bridge.

No explanation  necessary.  Just took this image from the side of the road. 

And a little gazebo on the lake.  I used DAP on this one.  As always, I love getting comments.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Playing with Programs

I've been doing a lot of playing lately with other digital painting programs, even combining some of them.  I'll be posting some here. Love the color on this one.

All the images were taken by me over the past year. 

For those of you not familiar with Dynamic Auto Painter, it's a sweet little auto painting program that really produces some exciting effects--especially when coupled with other programs and plug-ins--PSCS5, Topaz, Corel Painter, and DAP.  So cool!

Another thing about DAP is that you can go to their forums and download additional painting styles.  Yea!

I thought I'd put the word out that I'm still looking for animals to paint.  So, if you'd like to see your pet painted, be sure to send me a photo.  janewoodenhorse@msn.com

  I hope everyone is having an awesome day.

Ballerina

My granddaughter recently started dance class--tap and ballet.  I brought my camera hoping to get a few good images.  Unfortunately, we had to sit in a small room to the back of the dancers behind a very dirty, smudgy window with lots of reflections, making it very difficult to take pictures. But, I caught a few when she turned around.  This is a painting from one of those.  Not too bad considering all the reflections.  Anyway, I'm hoping everyone is having an awesome day.

Waterscapes

I wanted to post some images that were considered more photography and paintings, although, lets face it, I can't completely stay away from Photoshop.  I was able to create an Action in Photoshop that included a BuzSim, Topaz adjustment and I used it on several images which I will be posting here on my blog and some on FineArtAmerica.

This image is from a tranquil scene on a lake and I hope that's what it makes people feel when viewing it.  This image is also posted on FineArtAmerica

And lastly, at least for today, this is another tranquil scene from our boat.  Also available for purchase here.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.  As always, any and all comments are welcome.  Take care.

Mr. Schnauzer

Here's another pet portrait from an image I saw on Public Domain Pictures.net. I thought he could use a little color, so I boosted the blues, and used traditional brush work in Corel Painter 11.  As always, I like to use Photoshop for all my adjustments.

Some days, I don't have much to say.  Today is one of those days.  I do hope that everyone is having a glorious day.

Mountain Streams and a Little Dog Too!

This week I've been experimenting with several digital plug-ins in addition to the usual digital paintbrushes that I normally use.  Here are two more images that I've used from the public domain website that I particularly like:  http://www.publicdomainpictures.net.

The first is a sweet little pooch with bows in his hair.  In addition to painting this little dog, I also used a little program called FotoSketcher to give him a watercolor effect.  You can find the original image here.  I also obtained permission from the owner of the image to post this to my Fine Art America site where I hope to benefit animal rescue organizations through the sales of my pet portraits.

The second is a oil painting done solely in Photoshop from an image from the same website.  I used the Art History Brush for this painting, taking several snapshots throughout the process to work from.  You can find the original here.

I hope you enjoy and be sure to leave comments.  I love them.  Also be sure to check out Artists in Blogland here.  If you are artist, this might be the place for you too!

Sweet Colorful Kitty

This is a painting from an image that I found in the public domain at PublicDomainPictures.net  I decided that this cutie needed some added color, so I gave her a boost.  I'm continuing to work with some of the plugins that I referred to in my last post. The majority of the painting was done in Corel Painter, as usual.  To purchase greeting cards or prints your can visit Fine Art America here.   Some of the proceeds from the sale of prints and greeting cards will help benefit animal rescue organizations.

I hope everyone is having a glorious Saturday!

A Painterly Portrait of a Cute Dog and a Cat, too!

I decided that I needed to paint some images with a more painterly approach.  One of my mentors recently did a webinar where she showed us how she approaches a painting while also using several programs/plug-ins in her "Digital Artist Toy Box".  I had most of these programs already, but I did purchase a new one and downloaded a demo version of another.  If interested in her products and workshops, you can find her here.

Another rather fun thing happened recently.  I found an email in my mail box from a writer, Jazz singer and art lover, who writes a weekly blog column and asked if I would like to be interviewed.  Of course, I said yes and that I was very honored to be asked.  You can find that interview here.  Here name is Deborah E and the name of her blog is Scat N Style.

Both of the images used in these paintings are in the public domain and you can find the originals here, and here.

The White Bird from Madiera

For greeting cards and prints please visit FineArtAmerica here.

I had this image from our past vacation down in Florida at Madiera Beach and thought, "I've never painted a bird before."  So here is my attempt at painting a bird.  I can't tell you what kind of bird this is, and I suppose I could look it up.  But, really, do I need to?  I thought it was a pretty bird, so I took a picture of it... so there.  Anyway, we are having the most outstanding weather here right now.  I almost hate saying that because of all the recent devastation from mother nature in other parts of the country.  Here Louisiana was battered yet again and next door, Texas can't buy a rain drop.  Annette, I hope you are doing OK.

I so hope that things will get better for some!

Sweet Anna

Feeling a little melancholy...the weather is rainy and chilly.  A reminder that winter is soon to come.  I shouldn't complain, I know, especially since we could live in New Jersey or Vermont.   The destruction out there is something else.  So, I painted Anna to cheer me up.  Enjoy!

Myah and the Lily

Had to take advantage of this sweet little pic of my granddaughter.  She does look sweet here doesn't she?  I did a simple painting this time.  I tried some post processing, but it didn't look right.  Sometimes you should just let things be.

A beautiful day in Minnesota today!

Leo

This is Leo.  Leo hasn't been feeling well lately.  He was just diagnosed with Lyme's Disease and he's also getting up in years--15 years old. He was looking pretty haggard in the image I was working from, so I made sure to restore him to his former glory.  I'm posting three different crops, two of which I did a lot of post processing on...those are posted on FineArtAmerica.  You can order greeting cards and prints HERE.  Anyway, I thought he had such a sweet expression, I just had to paint him.

We are having beautiful weather here in Minnesota, although we will be getting super hot in the next couple of days.  I just can't get over how quickly life is passing by--it's almost scary--and, only 4 more months til Christmas.  Oh My Goodness!  Anyway, I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Lady

This is Lady.  It is thought that Lady is half Doberman and half Grey Hound and is a rescue. Her human mom says this about Lady: "She does not have an aggressive or mean cell in her body. I could take a steak out of her mouth and she would let me. She’s very sensitive and runs and hides if she thinks we’re angry at her or anything else. When she does screw up and she knows it, she will slink over to you and put her head in your lap....her way of apologizing."  

You can purchase greeting cards and prints Here.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit animal rescue organizations.  If you are interested in having your pet portrait done, please send me a digital (jpg) copy of the image at janewoodenhorse@msn.com. I'd love to paint your pet.

The Barn at Afton

I've been itching to paint a landscape and thought I'd go back to the images I took while down in St. Francisville.  This barn is situated on what is left of the Afton Plantation which is now a huge botanical garden.  I remember the day I took this photo...so hot and the humidity was so high.  They were also in a drought even though the flood gates had been opened on the levees, and miles and miles of land and homes were underwater.  Anyway, here is a painted version of the image.

We are having an awesome day today.  I actually have the house open and there is a cool breeze coming in, and I'm off to babysit the grand kids.  I hope you are having a lovely day.

Puginese

Well, I had to paint Winston again, this  time I chose a more neutral palette.  I've been trying to come up with other methods and styles.  I will again be offering greeting cards and reproductions here.  If you would like to see your pet painted, just send me a nice jpg via email. A portion of the proceeds will benefit animal rescue organizations.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

I realized I hadn't painted Myah for awhile, so I nabbed this photo off our daughter's blog from a recent vacation they took.  In addition to rowing, Myah is becoming quite the fisher-woman and a regular water-bug as well.  I thought she looked rather fashionable here with her stylish pink shades and her curls glowing in the sun.  She is and will always be one of my favorite subjects to paint.  So here she is.

Just a reminder that if you would like to have your pet portrait painted, please do send me a cute digital jpg.  Proceeds from the sale will benefit animal rescue organizations and I will also send you a copy of the portrait as well.

Here's hoping everyone is having a awesome day!

Miss Molly

This is Miss Molly.  Miss Molly belongs to a blogger friend who graciously allowed me to paint her precious pup.  I have to admit, however, that she was easy to paint as the image of her was so wonderful to begin with.  Molly's owner, Kate, says that  Molly is almost 7 years old and is a very sweet girl.  "She loves to run and her favorite thing to do is to try to herd us over to her food bowl!" Kate says.  I can just see her trying to do just that.  Don't we have such clever animals?  Anyway, here is Molly's portrait. She's a beauty!

If you would like to have your pet portrait painted, please send a jpg image to me at janewoodenhorse@msn.com.  Proceeds from any sales will benefit animal adoption/rescue organizations.  I will also send you copy of the painting as a thank you for allowing me to use your image.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Ciara's Last Day of Soccer

So, we finally made it to Ciara's soccer game. Good too, because it was her last.  I brought my camera with my telephoto lens and set up down near the goal.  The mosquitoes found me promptly...millions of them.  So, in the midst of all this I see her traveling toward me, I put the camera to my eye and start shooting, my setting on continuous. And then my battery died after 12 shots.  But...I think I got the shot even though I had to remove a player that was covering half her body.  So here it is.

I  hop everyone has a wonderful day!

Winston

This is Winston.  Winston belongs to my son, Eric, and his wife, Anne.   Winston is a mixed breed--Pug and Pekinese--or Puginese for short.  He's still a puppy and according to Anne, is still quite exhausting.  I think he's just cute, cute, cute. 

You can purchase prints or greeting cards HERE.  As with my other animal paintings, proceeds will benefit animal rescue organizations.

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend.  Happy Saturday!

Oscar

This is Oscar.  Oscar belongs to a former neighbor whom we miss very much.  Oscar has been known to dress up for Halloween as The Oscar Meyer Wiener.  Oscar is a Toy Dachshund and so, so, cute. 

You can order prints or greeting cards HERE.  Proceeds from sales will benefit Animal Rescue Organizations.  If you would like to have your pet portrait painted with proceeds benefiting rescue  organizations, please send me digital jpg's of your pet at janewoodenhorse@msn.com .  Please include information about your pet also.

I hope everyone has an awesome day!