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Altered Photos Using ArtRage3

It has been two years since I added any work to this blog. I have done a few pieces here and there, but I have not put any up here. Time to do so. I am still using ArtRage Studio Pro version 3. I start by drawing and painting an abstract image using my Wacom Bamboo tablet. I import an image to a layer and start checking out what happens with the blend modes. I duplicate layers and erase portions out or draw over them. I save the images in PNG and JPEG formats as I go. Sometimes a save the paint file. I should do more of that incase I want to revisit a specific image at a later date. I don't keep track of all the modes that I use. I should.

Chrysanthemums

 Here are three images that I added the chrysanthemum image from the public photos in my ArtRage art.  Along with a new laptop, I bought a Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet.  Very fun.

A Bit Art Historic

London Fog Crib

This one is a bit Rene Magritte.  The black of the crib reminds me of the soot on old London buildings.  It doesn't seem to be too thematically dark for a baby crib, but some might disagree.

Another Crib, Rug, and Writing

Sleep Schedule - Wooden Tape Ruler

This one reminds me of an old wooden (tape-type) ruler that my dad had in the garage when I was growing up.  It folded on itself and I don't know what it would have been called.  Maybe something like "carpenter's ruler"? The yellows and greens look old to me, which reminds me of an earlier time.  The flat, dull background adds to that effect as well.  Milk paint comes to mind.

Crib, Rug, and Writing

Sleep Schedule - Down At, Up At

Here are two ArtRages combined with images from the Internet based on a sculpture that I have been working on in my head for many years.  It reflects my obsessive documentation of my daughter's sleep schedule in my journals.  The words on theses cribs are lifted directly from the years when my daughter was born.

A Few More Cribs and Rugs

Three more cribs this time with a different rug.  I like the flat middle one, probably because it is different from the other two; it is not as busy.  Still using quite a few blends.  The rug is not in the right place.  I used a flat, overhead shot and pulled it out digitally.  It seems to need more of the same treatment.  Next I will add some text to the crib as if it is written on.

Crib

Crib on Rug

I am starting another series, this one of a crib on an oval braided rug.  This is the first so far.

Two Different - One More Cherry Pits

These two images are my latest playing around in ArtRage.  The first is just the background; the second is a photo of cherry pits in the blend mode luminosity. The second one is the most recognisable as a photo of cherry pits.  It looks like there is a red rose over the pit.

Cherry Stems This Time

Cherry Stems

This one is using a blend in ArtRage.  I think it is the luminosity one.  Has a certain 60's vibe. I like the simplicity of this one.  

Cherry Pits With Red

Red Cherry Pits

Cherries Once Again

Cherry Pits

Back to the Cherry Pits for some reason.  Not sure if they are done or not.

Harp Like

Pluck

This one reminded me of a harp up close.  The dots are vibrations making notes.

Cherry Pits Again

                                    Cherry Pits 10



Not sure how many of these I have done so far.  This one is quieter than the last.  Not sure of the composition yet, but I think I like the background.  There are many blend modes used with this photo, and, of course, there is paint in the lower layers.

Cherry Pits Again

Cherry Pits 7

These cherry pits photos remind me of roses and stems.  I lightened this one with Picture Manager after I created it in ArtRage.  I like the halo effect on the upper stems.

Cherry Pits Again

Cherry Pits 4

This one is more photo and less ArtRage.  I am liking the square format.  It may be a bit dark.  This one might warrant another try.

More Cherry Pits

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Cherry Pits 2 & 3

Cherry Pits

The first ArtRage image is just paint in layers.  The second image has a photo of cherry pits that I took with my camera some time in the spring added to the first.  I think I will start a new series of cherry pits and stems.

I just looked back at the images on the first page of this blog.  I realize that I have been all over the place in terms of content and technique.  I have not been working with any consistency for some time now.  I am glad that I like the cherry pits image.  I am inspired by the photos and want to create more of these. 

Recent Abstracts in ArtRage 3

I have finally gotten back to my home computer to make a few images in ArtRage.  Here are a few abstracts that I came up with.

Brown Shoulder Cat

Another try at this image with a different background and erased out layers using blends.  The cat is brown, more like the original image. 

Shoulder Cat Again

Shoulder Cat Blue and Yellow

Another try at Shoulder Cat.  Lots of fussing around with this one.  I started out with an abstract background and imported the first Shoulder Cat Blue into a layer.  Many erasures later...I got this one.  Not as harsh as the last one.  I like the blue lines of the face on the yellow background.

Harsher Shoulder Cat

Getting rid of most of the color in this one.  The cat is harder to see.  The face is getting harsher as well.

Another Try

Shoulder Cat Blue 2

Cropped this one a bit and changed the blends.  Added some textures to it too.

Shoulder Cat With ArtRage 3

Shoulder Cat Blue

This is a softer, lighter shoulder cat and figure.  Trying my hand at watercolor.  My computer is old and I still use the mouse to draw.  I find the speed of the watercolor tools to be a bit dragging, but I am happy with the effects.  The cat is an altered photo using the blend mode with two layers.  The first cat layer is in highlight and the second is in difference.  The figure is watercolor and pencil.  I am also placing the screen capture for this image.

ArtRage3 First Try

This is my first try using text with ArtRage3 Studio Pro. It has taken me a while to figure out the Selection Tool. Once I activated the shape, I had a hard time figuring out how to get rid of it. I think I have a handle on it now. The text feature is finally here! I had had to use Paint before and import the text image that way. I am so glad to see it here. The stickers in ArtRage 3 Pro are great also. The fur options are very cool. Glad Christmas break is coming up, so I have some time to play with this new software.

Realistic Shoulder Cat

Shoulder Cat 4

Screen Capture of Shoulder Cat 4

I tried to do a more realistic rendering of a figure holding a cat in this ArtRage. The original cat was quite light colored, but I was able to get the effect of a brighter, darker cat that resembles my Bengal cat Spotty. Of course, I used the blends in ArtRage to achieve the "glimmer" of my cat's fur.

The screen capture is done by pressing the Print Screen/SysRq button (PC) then opening Paint and using the edit tab to paste the image. Save the image as a jpeg.

Shoulder Cat Redo of 2

Shoulder Cat 4

I reworked Shoulder Cat 2 to get another color mood. Most of the changes are made by changing the blends of the various layers.

Another Shoulder Cat

Shoulder Cat 3

Another in the series called Shoulder Cat. The cats are from images of people with their cats on their shoulders. The people have been erased and suggested in separate layers. The cats seem to be in charge in this series. That is the nature of a cat, after all. Just try to make one lie on your shoulders against its will and see how cooperative it is.

Shoulder Cat 2

Shoulder Cat 2

Another Shoulder Cat image done in ArtRage using blend modes. This one is a Siamese cat that I found on the Internet. I am liking the grays theses days.

Shoulder Cat

Shoulder Cat

I got the idea for this ArtRage from a memory of my cat Pinky riding on my shoulders while I drove to and from my hometown every weekend back in the mid 80s. I was surprised at how many shoulder cat images there are on the Web when I did an image search. The cat in this ArtRage is layered using the blend mode. The rest of the artwork is just layered paint with a simple, smeared line drawing of the figure on the top layer. Feels good to get a post back up here again.