First there was a journal page...
...then there was a close-up of this guys wing..plus lots of clicking...
...to end up with the final product. Remember I said there were so many possibilities?
A close-up cropped section of this guy is my banner background!
I can't offer you a photoshop tutorial because, truth be told, if I had to recreate yesterday's art from scratch, I probably wouldn't be able to exactly match it. There is so much you can play with and adjust, my best advice to you is to open up your photo editing program and PLAY. (Oddly enough, that was the same advice given to me at the beginning...as I pulled my hair out and emailed for desperate help from fellow artists.) Like journaling...there is no right or wrong way to do it.
What else? You should splurge and get the premier issue of Digital Studio. It's an annual publication. So many light bulbs went off when I read this beauty...I still refer to it! One more thing...I'm a huge fan of anything Ree. Put her photo blog in your feed list...her tutorials on photoshop won't teach you (at least not so far) mixed media digital journaling, but you can follow along and get familiar with tips and tricks to add to your artwork later.
Start building your image library...it's a new way of thinking for me and el camera.. it took some work at first, but in everyday activities I am not only looking for complete shots but "parts" that can be used later too! Save your images in large file formats...you're gonna to need a bigger boat.
Photoshop can be intimidating at first...but like anything you desire to be good at, it takes practice and focus to learn the ropes. You don't need the big fat fancy version...there are so many other programs you can try too..why not give it a shot today?
Ah so many great toys and techniques, so little time !!!! I will get there some day, I hope ! One thing though, I need to find a way to do blog visits, Etsy shop maintenance and digital collages on the computer while on the treadmill or the recumbent bike because if I spend anymore of my time sitting on my butt in front of this screen, keyboard and mouse, I will be in big trouble !!! Do they have a Wii version of Photoshop ?
(off to go for a walk, right after the next blog...maybe...;-) )
Posted by: kim mailhot | October 30, 2008 at 05:12 AM
I love what you're accomplishing with your photography, digital edits and art combined!
Posted by: Carmen Torbus | October 30, 2008 at 05:55 AM
Julie,
You've been tagged. If you don't already know the rules, come to my blog and see them.
Hope you have as much fun with this as I did.
Posted by: Vicki | October 30, 2008 at 06:07 AM
Oh wow, such beauty in your close-up of your butterfly wing and with your writing the effect is so stunning! I also want to thank you for sharing your comment of Robyn blog. I agree with you. And love your work! Roxanne
Posted by: rivergardenstudio | October 30, 2008 at 08:20 AM
It's so interesting to see the things you've combined--and to see the larger photo you cropped down and "julified" for your banner. Awesome.
I have been a reader of Ree's blog(s) for a long time and love that she can make complicated things seem much easier.
Thanks for sharing some behind-the-scenes pics and resources.
Posted by: Star | October 30, 2008 at 12:26 PM
It is so true that we can't be afraid to play with our image program! Fairly soon you learn that you're not going to break it! And it can do such fabulous things.
I'm still a way off from Photoshop, though...
I love that vibrant orange, don't you?
Posted by: Chris | October 30, 2008 at 03:30 PM
The final product --woohoo! Gorgeous girl!
Susan
xo
Posted by: Susan Tuttle | October 30, 2008 at 06:44 PM
The final product --woohoo! Gorgeous girl!
Susan
xo
Posted by: Susan Tuttle | October 30, 2008 at 06:45 PM
I have been collecting up the images since I got my digital camera - and I have now bought a small version of Photoshop - but now I am stuck and don't know how to use it. I can open, edit and save, but I have no ideas about layers etc.
Love your results!
Posted by: Mixed Media Martyr | October 31, 2008 at 12:03 AM
WOW your results are awesome! I really need to work with photoshop! You ROCK!
Posted by: Kim H | October 31, 2008 at 07:16 AM
Love that journal page! And THEN you added the wing . . .sooo love that!
Posted by: Cat | October 31, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Wow! This is so dreamy! I've been playing around more in my photo program lately, finding functions I never knew existed. It's so true...the image files start growing when you find out about these things. Now my computer is starting to look like my workshop - completely cluttered with things I can't throw away because they can "come in handy." Anyway, I'm no where near turning out anything like this stuff. BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by: Serena | October 31, 2008 at 10:31 AM
That digital collage is gorgeous. I was never able to unravel Photoshop but I've become quite good with MS Digital Image Pro. I agree with everything you said....just open your pictures and play. I too have a digital collage on my blog that started with a simple photo. I love to just play around with my pictures like that.
Posted by: Lisa Riseman | October 31, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Thank you for the advertising of this new magazine and sharing your fantastic, colorful results with us.
Posted by: Christine Baier | November 01, 2008 at 01:37 AM