I can’t believe how long it’s been since I’ve posted here! You know how we sometimes go through rough patches in our lives? Well, 2016 was a humdinger for me with a lot of challenges: personal loss, health issues, life questions, and business learning lessons. It is what it is but when we get through those turbulent times, we can come out stronger and clearer. Throughout this time, I’ve continued creating art, researching, learning, and constantly collecting glorious ephemera. It was an introspective time, but 2017 has brought a shift to clarity and energy and boy do I have things to share with you!
This rose was a photograph I took of a Betty Boop Rose. I then used the Alien Skin’s Snap Art filter (the Stylized presets edited a little.) I then used a texture, vintage wallpaper, a vintage french script brush and various grunge brushes to create the background. (A lot of the grunge brushes and the vintage script available on French Kiss, some of the elements not yet available.) I think this design will be fun for a zip pouch.
This was the original photograph with the background cut out in Photoshop.
My garden is filled with roses right now and I can’t wait to start photographing again! I’ll be resuming the tutorials on photographing plants for design. Happy creating, everyone.
American Photographer and Designer living in France with my French husband, 2 Weimaraners and Cat Rescues. Camera, Mac, studio, garden.
This is beautiful. Would love for you to show the steps in cutting out the background. My results, especially with leaves like the one in your image, are pitiful!
BTW, I love your business brand, but am positive whatever new one you might come up with will be equally as awesome!
Thank you, Betsy! For cutting out the background, I photograph the flower in front of a white background, so that helps a lot. Then I use the magic wand, etc. to select it the best as possible, but I will always end up needing to keep adding to or subtracting from the selection. When I’m pretty close, then I use Photoshop’s Refine Edge feature which is pretty good at finding edges. My personal goal is to photograph the best I can so that cutting out is the easiest possible. If I really should be lighting the background separately. I’m going to look into starting to photograph on a light table, too. Short answer – cutting out is a necessary pain! I’ll try to do posts on this.
So glad to see you back, and sorry for your difficult 2016. Really love your art and playing with your wonderful brushes, textures, etc.
Thank you, Jeri!
Big welcome back, Leslie Nicole. Missing your wonderful creative, your works always my favor.
thank you for be back!
Thank you, Mai!
So good to see you back, I’ve missed you. I hope all the difficulties of 2016 are behind you and that all is well with you now. Whilst it is always good to receive your posts you must take care of yourself.
Jan
You do lovely work Leslie and you are very gracious in sharing your behind the scenes creative process. Just wanted to say thank you!
Thank you!
bonsoir, pas banal mais sincére: je vous souhaite le meilleur pour cette année et celle qui suivent.
je suis fan de votre site et de vos conseils
Merci!
So happy you’re back. I thought I’d been dropped from the mailing list. 😢 I look forward to new inspirations from you.
Hi Darlene, I haven’t been blogging here, but I have been releasing new products regularly and sending out newsletters, so if you aren’t receiving them, do contact us so we can check your subscription for you. Thanks!