Abstraction

Today I have continued to experiment (play) with my Photoshop Elements program. First I took a detail shot from yesterday. It is of where the tin roof angles.



Then I duplicated it, flipped parts, and reassembled it.



Then I played with different filters.




The filter I liked best was the Neon one.




I duplicated and flipped some more and came up with an interesting composition. Yes, I know it could be even more interesting but that is enough play for today.

This is fun; who knew how much could be done with an image of a roof?

Playing With Images

In Deming, on Ash St., near the old County Courthouse, is an "Auto Shop". I have never seen any activity there, but the hub caps that are incorporated into the exterior are always shinny and clean. I have used one of my pictures of the building and broken it down into different pictures that are abstracted to the point that they are no longer recognizable as part of a building. The process of doing this is good for me, it forces me to see the subjects from another perspective.

Hmmm this could be even more fun if I start to experiment with the different filters in my Photoshop Elements program.

Jump Starting Creativity continued

ON THE EDGE


AFTER I DIE



ONE AND ONE


IS LIFE EASIER?

In all of the above the image came first and the words followed. Except "AFTER I DIE" the words were a question: "What will I miss after I die?" It was part of an exercise in writing. I had great difficulty dealing with that question because I have always thought of death as a form of moving beyond were one was. The best I could come up with was not an image of what I would miss, but what I might be moving on to. Hmmm, I guess I was out standing in my field, alone, again.

Jump Starting Creativity

But I Digress

The Light At The End Of

My Tunnel

Out, Standing In My Field

For the last several years the focus of my life narrowed; creative time in my studio was not a priority. Now I am able to extend my life interest again. To get my creativity jump started I have been playing; doing throw away exercises.

The first ones I am going to share with you were done in either my Photoshop Elements program or the Paint program that came installed in my computer. Some of the images started as words, and for others the words came after the image was started.

It is amazing what will fall out of your brain when you are playing without restraints. Each one of these images could be expanded into a much larger work of words and visual expression.

Cinco de Mayo 2007 Dancers

At the 2007 Cinco de Mayo there were Folklorio Dancers,

social dancers,

and Tadamara Indian dancers.

All so very different, all enjoying themselves, and offering such contrast. I do hope they will bring back the festival next year.

The Arbor

I have always wanted a Rose Arbor in my garden. At last I have one with Lady Banks roses. They are an old fashioned climber; blooming once a year, and oh so fragrant. They also are very happy in the desert and require constant cutting back.


Walking through the arbor is like walking on a different planet. Instead of harsh tough plants you are surrounded by soft green leaves.



Possibly it is the Guardian of the Arbor who makes the desert bloom.

Mother's Day Bouquet

My neighbors have a cactus garden. Every year, just in time for Mother's Day two small, nondescript cacti explode with pink flowers, wearing them like a crown.

Each of the flowers last only one day, and each cactus blooms for only a week, but such a glorious week.