Just Because³

Text Effects – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-06-28T14:07:00.000-05:00

For this week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge we were to create an advertisement or decorative element showcasing the text in the image. We could be as simple or complex as we wanted to be! The challenge was to become familiar with all of the fun things we can do with text in Photoshop. We were also asked to show how we completed our challenge.

Here is my first design using a Light Burst Effect. To see a video of how I did this effect, please check out my Photoshop Tutorial – Light Burst Effect at my YouTube account.

Here is my second design using a shadow effect on the text. To see a video of how I did this effect, please check it out my Photoshop Tutorial – Text Shadow Effect at my YouTube account.

Don't forget to check out all of the other wonderful examples at the Weekly Photoshop Challenge blog.

"For Dummies" Bookcover – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-06-16T09:59:00.000-05:00

For this week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge, we were to create a "For Dummies" bookcover of our choice. The bookcover could be as funny, serious, or as bizarre as we wished. I chose to do a more serious topic using a photo I took of an antique train we saw when we visited Ohio a few years ago. Everything was drawn in Photoshop (including the little "For Dummies" conductor), except for the "For Dummies" title text which I photoshopped out of a scanned Dummies book I have on my shelf.

Comical Characters – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-06-10T11:42:00.000-05:00

For this week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge, we were to take an existing photo and create a comical character. I decided to take a recent silly photo of my daughter, and make it even more silly!

Here she is before I made her even more silly:

Spherical Design – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-06-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

This week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge was to create an original design into a sphere of our choice. We could create a glass orb, a snowglobe, a bubble...whatever we wished! However, the end result MUST have looked like a 3D sphere! I'm posting at the last minute because I've been a bit under the weather....grrrr!

Here is my submission!

Painting/Line Art Challenge – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-05-24T20:20:00.000-05:00

This week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge was to use provided line art/silhouettes and create an image using only the painting and drawing tools in Photoshop. This is my submission for the challenge! What fun!

Click on the image for a bigger and better image!

To create the image, I drew a path with the bezier tool, and filled it in with various colors. I added in some detail using the bezier tool, and used a custom shape for the lifesaver. I then added shading and shadows with a brush to give the shirt a little depth. Of course, I added in the provided images found on the challenge at the Weekly Photoshop Challenge....and, VOILA!

Fixer Upper – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-05-18T12:31:00.000-05:00

This week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge was to give a house a makeover. Here is my entry! Amazing what you can do with Photoshop, isn't it?

After:

Click on it to see a bigger and better photo!

Before:

Don't forget to check out the Weekly Photoshop Challenge! Enjoy!

Tattoo – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-05-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

Above is my entry for this week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge, tattoo. I didn't do anything fancy (didn't have time)...but, nonetheless, it came out pretty nice! As you can see, I also gave my "macho man" a nipple ring...he just looked like he was missing something.

Colorization – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-05-03T22:32:00.000-05:00

Above is my piece for this week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge, "Colorization." I added color by using the quick mask to make my selections, created new layers for each of the different colored elements, set my layer mode to "Color"...and, simply painted with a brush. I then created a matte and frame, and then added in the shadows behind the image so it looks like the image is hanging on the wall. Voila!

Here is the image prior to adding color:

Silhouette – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-04-27T08:28:00.000-05:00

Above is my piece for this week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge, "Silhouette."

For this week's challenge, I used a photo of my daughter trying on her new "punk pants" she got from Hot Topic. As you can tell from the original photo, she was posing and acting as a perfect "bad" person in her new "bad" pants. I didn't follow any of the tutorials...I just traced my daughter with the pen tool, filled with black, added the background and text, duplicated the filled silhouette, and made her shadow by distorting the shape. Voila! A fun iPod-type advertisement.

If interested, please check out the Weekly Photoshop Challenge by clicking here!

The Unexpected – Weekly Photoshop Challenge

2006-04-24T20:05:00.000-05:00

Above is my piece for this week's Weekly Photoshop Challenge, "The Unexpected." My students inspired me for this week's challenge because they often like to monkey around.

If interested, please check out the Weekly Photoshop Challenge by clicking here!

A Series of Art – Inspire Me Thursday

2006-04-12T22:04:00.000-05:00

This week's Inspire Me Thursday was quite a challenge for me. Not so much coming up with an idea...but, rather finding the time to create what I really wanted to create! Therefore, since I ran out of time...I decided to do something fun and crafty! So, I created a series of Americana bookmarks. I drew the images in Adobe Illustrator, printed them in color, and added the eyelets for a little interest.

Please note! I am starting a new venture in cyberland! I have decided to try a weekly Photoshop Challenge. You can read more about it at my new blog, Weekly Photoshop Challenge. I feel it would be great to have a nice, clean weekly challenge for anybody interested. I hope many of those of you that use Photoshop will play along!

Also, please don't forget to check out my Illustration Friday blog!

Monochromatic – Inspire Me Thursday

2006-03-27T10:51:00.000-06:00

This week's Inspire Me Thursday topic was "Monochromatic." I wish I had more time to dig out my paints, pencils or pastels...but, sadly...I ended up back on the computer using Illustrator and Photoshop.

Don't forget to check out my Illustration Friday Blog!

Sense-Less Artwork – Inspire Me Thursday

2006-03-13T10:44:00.000-06:00

This week's Inspire Me Thursday theme was, "Sense-Less Art." We were to create a piece of art without using our senses. This was a bit difficult for me because, as many of my friends and family know...I'm quite the perfectionist. So, letting go of my senses was quite a task in itself.

Sound

I usually like it quiet when I draw. But, today I didn't turn off the television and, in fact, had it on an obnoxious channel the entire time I worked on my creation!

Touch

I decided to get out my pencil, watercolors and Sharpie to create my piece. I rarely draw the conventional way...so, what better time than now. I usually use my mouse to draw all of my pieces!

Sight

I shut my eyes and pencil drew the bird, flower and a birdhouse. My husband watched me to make sure I didn't peek! I didn't like my first birdhouse...so, I drew another one. This was probably against the rules...but, I couldn't get all of the perfectionism out of me in one try!

After I created the main pieces for my final piece, I then traced over my pencil lines with my Sharpie. Gotta love those Sharpies! However, some of that perfectionist in me was dying to come out! So, it forced me to erase some of the lines I didn't quite Sharpie over correctly.

Smell

I didn't smell my paints...that's a good thing...right?

Taste

I tried to change my "style"...but, somehow it came out of me even though I had my eyes closed! So, for my lack of taste...I didn't eat or drink anything while I was creating! :)

The Finished Piece

To come up with my finished piece. I scanned it, then placed it into Photoshop where I created two different backgrounds. I also created some "masking tape" in Photoshop and placed them in the corners to make it look as though it were taped to my desktop. This is senseless...why would I tape this to my desktop? LOL!

Don't forget to check Inspire Me Thursday for some wonderful artwork! Also...please check out my Illustration Friday blog!

Five Senses – Inspire Me Thursday

2006-03-09T06:58:00.000-06:00

This week's challenge looked quite appealing to me...however, I couldn't come up with an idea that truly felt like me! I attribute this to a lack of creativity this week. Sick kids, lack of sleep and art sometimes don't mix.

Watch for the next challenge...my daughter is healthy again!

Don't forget to check out my Illustration Friday Blog!...and, check out Inspire Me Thursday!

Self-Portrait – Inspire Me Thursday

2006-02-28T16:06:00.000-06:00

This is my first submission for Inspire Me Thursday, as well as my first attempt ever doing a self portrait. As you can see, I decided to play it safe, and create an abstract image with a medium I am comfortable with doing quickly (pastels take me weeks!). Click on it to make it bigger!

Don't forget to check out my Illustration Friday Blog!...and, check out Inspire Me Thursday!