Saturday, January 29, 2011

Half Dome with Broken Pieces

Oh, how do I love the challenges at Inspiration Avenue! Often they force me to try something new or really put my thinking cap on - anyway, they are a challenge and sometimes it's a real stretch for me. This week I was mainly pre-occupied with One World One Heart which starts tomorrow - look for my OWOH-post then - so that the IA challenge was put on the backburner - until yesterday. The last bit was done this morning before breakfast. The challenge was "broken pieces".


I took a photo of Half Dome in Yosemite and converted it to Black&White in Lightroom. I had some scrapbook paper that I tore into pieces and reassembled it by gluing it to a gessoed canvas panel. Then I attached the photo and used the paper towel technique to apply some blue acrylic paint around the edges of the photo. Unfortunately, I applied a tiny little bit too much - and the top of Half Dome was covered with paint! Not my intention! What to do? Well, it took some courage, but I finally sanded it with a small piece of fine sandpaper - and look at the outcome! I'm really pleased how Half Dome now peeks through the paint. That was something very interesting to learn. I'm glad I did it. The last few touches were applying snowflakes, a quote and some more gesso at the edge of the panel - done. Not difficult at all (honestly, if I can do it, everybody can do it).

This also has encouraged me to go and convert more of my pictures into B&W or sepia. How convenient that I am currently taking the "Photoshop - the Essentials" class with Kim Klassen!

There are many inspiring and very talented artists who participate in Inspiration Avenue - please check it out.

7 comments:

Yvonne said...

ohhhh, this is lovely, Carola!

Felicia Kramer said...

Very nice! Love the blues ....

Maggie said...

Beautiful way to show off this amazing photo! I love the cool blues.

foxysue said...

Dear Carola,

How exciting! This reminds me of my first year in Art School, one of the first lessons we learned about being precious is that you can't spoil anything, everything can be viewed as experimental and you can always turn it into something more!

Great Work!

Love Sue x

Molly said...

As always - such a lovely creation!

I must thank you for providing the link to Inspiration Avenue. On that site they had a link to a wonderful tutorial on collage techniques - something I have been wanting to try for quite some time. I am very excited to begin my mixed media pursuit with an introduction to paper piecing collage.

Kim Collister Studio said...

Ooooooh I love it. Very creative and clever!

Priti Lisa said...

Great work. And a perfect quote. Isn't it fun to 'discover' new ways through 'mistakes'
xox