textures

Practice In Monochrome

I know it’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been so busy with the holiday preparation and visits and an increased work load. It’s been very hectic around here and I’m trying to take every available opportunity to catch my breath and soak in some peace.

John and I have gone out to view several sunsets and on a couple of those occasions, I’ve snapped a few photos myself. I have two to share with you tonight, though there are more which I hope to share with you soon. I edit my photos in Gimp. If you’d like to know more about them or purchase prints or photo gifts of either of these, please visit my deviantART page.

"I Know Where I've Been" - photo by Melody Kittles

“I Know Where I’ve Been” – photo by Melody Kittles

Well, I was hoping it would show a bit bigger than that. I don’t have much time to fix it now but perhaps I can do so later if any of you will let me know if you’d like that. If you don’t mind taking a little extra time, you can definitely see it better on deviantART and all you have to do is click the photo to get there. This is my first successful attempt at using the panoramic mode on my cellphone camera. I could’ve left it without the texture but I think this is pretty appropriate for me to convey the feeling I wanted.

"Nature's Ballroom" - photo by Melody Kittles

“Nature’s Ballroom” – photo by Melody Kittles

With the second photo, I was attempting to capture interesting textures so I could translate them in black and white. I’m not really sure if I was able to do a good job with this one but I am pleased with the overall setting. Again, you can find out more about this photo by clicking on it.

I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season! Be expecting a Christmas themed post from me. (Our family celebrates that winter holiday.) Starshine, Magiba, and I created some homemade Christmas cards I hope to share with you soon. See you then!

Artistic Inspiration

I have some photos of things that inspired me over the course of the past week…or2…or 3… I can only hope that what I see in my head translates well through my hands and fingers! Anyway, I’d like to share these photos with you. I’m still not mentally ready to begin the last canvas for Mask series #8 but I’m getting there. There’s just too much going on right now and I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to work as quickly or be as focused as I feel I’ll need to be. I’m probably thinking too much…but I really do want to be able to work without too many deadlines and activities fluttering around in my head. As soon as we are done with the play, I plan to start the work and we’ll see what we will see!

This is a close-up photo of my headphones. There's a whole story behind these. I'm not really a 'blingy' sort of gal but this is dark bling...with spikes. Yeah, that's more like me.

This is a close-up photo of my headphones. There’s a whole story behind these. I’m not really a ‘blingy’ sort of gal but this is dark bling…with spikes. Yeah, that’s more like me. I used my cell to take the photo and the Pixlr Express app to edit it.

When I started experimenting with my acrylics two weekends ago, this was the first practice sheet. I limited myself to 4 shades: black, red, golden green and copper. This one was done all in black. I took the photo with my cell and edited it with the Pixlr Express app.

When I started experimenting with my acrylics two weekends ago, this was the first practice sheet. I limited myself to 4 shades: black, red, golden green and copper. This one was done all in black. I took the photo with my cell and edited it with the Pixlr Express app.

These are dark, metal coin charms I found at the craft store. I'm going to use them in the next mask project but I'm not sure how yet. I took this photo with my cell and edited it with the Pixlr Express app.

These are dark, metal coin charms I found at the craft store. I’m going to use them in the next mask project but I’m not sure how yet. I took this photo with my cell and edited it with the Pixlr Express app.

I crinkled some aluminum foil, then unfolded it. I was intending to cut shapes out of it and use it "as is"...but I had the (hopefully) brilliant idea of painting it gold. Then when I got home, I realized we had gold spray paint, as well as some matte black spray paint. I used those two and this is the result. You'll probably notice I didn't totally uncrinkle the foil before painting it so that I'd have some of the silver still shining through. This could be quite interesting by the time I'm through.

I crinkled some aluminum foil, then unfolded it. I was intending to cut shapes out of it and use it “as is”…but I had the (hopefully) brilliant idea of painting it gold. Then when I got home, I realized we had gold spray paint, as well as some matte black spray paint. I used those two and this is the result. You’ll probably notice I didn’t totally uncrinkle the foil before painting it so that I’d have some of the silver still shining through. This could be quite interesting by the time I’m through. I took this photo with my cell and edited it with the Pixlr Express app.

I tried to keep a theme of black and white throughout the photos but I couldn’t take all the color out of the last one. It’s still not an exact representation of the color but you get an idea…a vague idea. I’ll be sure to post updates as the project progresses. We have 4 more showings of “The Diary of Anne Frank” with our last show being this Saturday. Once the show is done and we strike the set, I’ll have a little more room in my schedule for art. I can’t wait to get back at it! I’m so thirsty for the opportunity to express myself in my art once again!

“Don’t think that because you haven’t heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. I am still here, like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry, seldom stopping to rest.” ~ Spike Lee (This quote is so appropriate, it’s kinda scary!)