Copyright: All artwork/content protected under ©2007-2011 Lynne Ciacco

All content herein copyright © Lynne Ciacco


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Chips Ahoy!

Every time I get dragged along to the hardware store, I amuse myself by gathering various shapes and sizes of paint card samples.  I recently put together a series of them, individual collages that would fit together as a set.  My intention was to post one at a time here but I found, in scanning one today, that it didn't translate too well.  So I started playing around with various effects in Photoshop.  Here's how it went...

Paint chip collage


On the left is the original paint chip collage.
Cushion cover close-up
Out of curiosity, I combined it with a close-up of a cushion cover
(see right)







Oh.  Hot hot hot.  Maybe a tad overkill?


Let's tone her down

This is the "motherlode" where I pulled out all the stops, changing the hues, adding a background texture from Kim Klassen and paint splotches and lines from a Shadowhouse Creations "brush."


Next incarnation I cooled everything down  with a canvas textured  cream-coloured overlay which I switched up in Exclusion mode..  The writing at the top was balanced by cloning it to the bottom.    
Using Hue/Saturation  in Photoshop is almost like having a box of paints, changing colours at whim but without the messy clean-up.


This one has the most graphic feel to it.  I added more text from a postcard I have in my digital files, downloaded from...somewhere.

I think these could make attractive prints, matted and simply framed.


15 comments:

  1. WOW! This has been a walk through an amazing process...I love how you take such wonderful turns using textures and tones and who knows all what but I end here loving this piece!

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    1. Blue Sky,
      I hardly know how I get from point A to point B to version C52 along the way, but try to take some note of the procedure for the few people who stop by here that like to play in Photoshop as well. Just as with my preferred way of painting in recent years, it's a process of experimentation and instinct,trying this and that until something feels right. If the end result resonates with you--I say huzzah!

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  2. Nice to know I am not the only one....I grabbed a few this weekend from Martha Stewart's textured collection...but I pick them up for my Zentangles...never thought to tear them and use in my art journal.....hmmmmm....I will have to make an errand run tomorrow ;)

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    1. Danielle,
      I once embarrassed a friend while we were in the paint dept. by trying to grab a paint card of every colour they had in the rack on the wall. We came away with bursting handfuls, giggling like teenage girls who had just shoplifted lipsticks. Hey, but they're free for the taking! Martha Stewart colours, you say--classy! Also, some of the paint names would make great painting titles.

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  3. The first tone-down and the final product have a feel of coastal Alaska. Coincidence?

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    1. DCW,
      Most perspicacious! But how could expect anything less from you? Actually, the "coincidence" must have occurred at a subconscious level because there was nothing intentional in my efforts. But I see what you mean. There is definitely a boat motif, with mountains and sea happening. Glad you saw that.

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  4. you are expert at photoshop. like the way you integrate text. the changes from one to the other are amazing. an interesting experiment.

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    1. Sukipoet,
      It was an interesting experiment. An art form, Photoshop...so much I don't know how to do with it, so it's great fun and a real challenge to continually experiment. The text is actually Persian in the original piece, with French post card script added in the final rendition.

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  5. super cool!! what an original idea!

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    1. Johanna,
      Glad you like! Feel free to try it yourself, should you be tempted.

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  6. Looks like you're having fun. The blue is my favourite.

    Ruby

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    1. Ruby,
      Yeah, too much fun, really.
      I think the blue one would be the easiest to live with, in terms of a picture on a wall.

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  7. Wow- I like all of them! They would look great as prints, I think, and I envy your photoshop finesse!

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    1. Sharmon,
      Thanks! Photoshop finesse can often be confused with obsessive compulsive disorder! I'm glad you appreciate my affliction.

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  8. Fun combinations.. what a difference it makes shifting tones and over layering.. very unique feel to each.

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