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"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster..." ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche

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Saturday, February 27, 2016

"Autumn Hues Journal" - Postcard

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I created an Autumn hues theme postcard as a journal cover.

I had created a steampunk type background for my "Stylish Men / Sepia" postcard, and I liked how it looked, so I re-used it for this piece. I know in the northern hemisphere we are heading toward Spring, so it's a little early for a Fall theme, but the accents I chose for this all ended up being rich autumn tones.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

"Alphabet Card - Z is for Zebra" - ATC

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This week’s Three Muses challenge was "Alphabet Soup."

I made an Artist Trading Card (ATC) Alphabet Card featuring Z for Zebra.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Wood Bridge Over Stream - Photograph

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This is 1 of 3 posts of photographs that I took of the trails at the Audubon Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary in Fairfield, CT this past week.

I liked the wood bridge over the stream, and how the water on either side of it looked.

Streamside Trail - Photograph

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This is 2 of 3 posts of photographs that I took of the trails at the Audubon Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary in Fairfield, CT this past week.

There is a lovely Streamside Trail that I don't usually walk on, so I enjoyed this Winter visit. I also liked the stairs in the woods.

Owl "Solo" - Photograph

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This is 3 of 3 posts of photographs that I took of an Owl at the Audubon Larsen Wildlife Sanctuary in Fairfield, CT this past week.

Besides having trails for walking, there is also a bird rehabilitation center here. Sadly, most of the birds must remain here for life, due to their injuries. "Solo was found tangled in barbed wire by a hiker. His left wing was necrotic (dead) by the time they found him and got him to the rehab facility. He has an amputated wing and can not fly."

Solo watched me fixedly as I walked through the area. I was careful not to startle him, but every time I turned to look at him, he made clicking noises. Finally, he watched me silently. There was something about his face and big brown eyes, that captivated me.

Monday, February 22, 2016

"Stylish Men / Sepia" - Postcard

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This week’s Take a Word challenge was "Vintage Sepia."

I used several G'MIC filters to achieve the scratchy sepia colored look to this.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Seagull Walking At Low Tide - Photograph

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These are some photographs that I took of a seagull walking around at low tide at Southport Beach in Fairfield, CT this past week.

I liked the lighting in these photographs.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

"Spring Art / Nudity" - Postcard

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This week’s Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Nudity."

I spent far too much time on this piece, and I almost abandoned it. But I was finally able to find and add the right finishing touches that adequately complemented it.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Friday, February 19, 2016

American Wigeon, Seagulls - Photograph

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These are some photographs that I took at Ash Creek Open Space in Fairfield, CT this past week.

There was a group of American Wigeons swimming in one area while I was here. Closer to the shoreline, various seagulls searched for food.

The first photograph is my entry for the following:

Camera Critters
Saturday's Critters

The second photograph is my entry for the following:

Weekend Reflections

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Common Mergansers - Photograph

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This is 1 of 4 posts of photographs that I took at Perry's Mill Pond in Fairfield, CT this past week.

There were several Common Mergansers swimming around while I was here.

Hooded Mergansers - Photograph

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This is 2 of 4 posts of photographs that I took at Perry's Mill Pond in Fairfield, CT this past week.

There were several Hooded Mergansers swimming around while I was here.

The first photograph is my entry for the following:

I'd Rather Be Birding

Pied-billed Grebe - Photograph

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This is 3 of 4 posts of photographs that I took at Perry's Mill Pond in Fairfield, CT this past week.

This lone elusive Pied-billed Grebe was swimming and diving under the water while I was here. It was very hard to get a clean photograph of him. And despite it being Winter, he still has a partial bill ring and possibly a partial black chin.

The first photo is my entry for the following:

I'd Rather Be Birding
Wild Bird Wednesday

Perry's Mill Pond - Photograph

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This is 4 of 4 posts of photographs that I took at Perry's Mill Pond in Fairfield, CT this past week.

Monday, February 15, 2016

"Valentine's Day Box" - Wood Box

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I created this cream and gold colored Valentine's Day wood playing card box using a similar design as my "The Dream" postcard, which I really liked.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Because everything in my design is old, I am entering it in this week's Tuesday's Treasures.

Materials:

Unfinished Wood Card Box

Martha Stewart Vintage Gold Metallic Paint (346 433 / M18121)

Apple Barrel Antique White matte acrylic paint (20505E)

Delta (Plaid) Ceramcoat Gloss Interior Varnish

Liquitex Matte Gel Medium

Abbreviated Steps:

I printed my box design decoupage panels on card stock. I painted the box, allowed time for it to dry, then used the Delta (Plaid) Ceramcoat Gloss Interior Varnish as my decoupage medium. I used the Liquitex Matte Gel Medium to coat the inside of the box.

Heavy Snow Covered Trees - Photograph

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I took these photographs of the trees in my yard a few weeks ago during a snow storm. If you look closely at all of these, you can see the snow falling, besides the heavy coating on the tree branches. The weight of the snow ended up toppling two small trees in my yard, in addition to snapping a few branches. Thankfully I didn't lose electricity.

I live in a coastal Connecticut town, and our snowfalls are usually "wet" snow, where moisture from Long Island Sound mixes into it. We rarely get the fluffy light powder snow that falls in places like Utah or the Alps, that one could easily sweep away with a broom. Our snow is heavy like cement. However, normally the snow isn't so wet that it sticks to the trees, but this time weather conditions were such that it did. Every year or two, we get a storm like this, and the end result is healthy trees losing large branches or falling completely.

"Primrose" - Postcard

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This week’s Take a Word challenge was "Children."

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Gold Purple - Week 08 - The Book of Days

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The week08 theme for my Book of Days was Gold Purple.

The images are from an Internet search.

The master index for all of my entries is here.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

"Valentine's Day" - Postcard

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I made a romantic dancing couple card for Valentine's Day.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Saturday, February 13, 2016

"Love Gives You Wings" - Postcard

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This week’s Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Love Gives You Wings."

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

The words are from the song "I Could Have Danced All Night" from the musical "My Fair Lady."

The font is Cambria Bold.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

"The Dream" - Postcard

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I made a song/romantic vintage piece.

The aria (song) is "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls" and is from The Bohemian Girl by Michael William Balfe.

The background is layers of old book pages. I cut the hearts and stars out of a background that I had created using old book pages. There is also a subtle diamond stencil pattern in this.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

This piece is my entry for the following:

Moo Mania Hearts
Tuesday's Treasures

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

"Shrove Tuesday" - Postcard

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I created a Mardi Gras themed postcard.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Mardi Gras" - Postcard

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I created a postcard from my 2015 Book of Days Mardi Gras art journal page.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Il Carnevale" - Postcard

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I created a postcard from my 2016 Book of Days Mardi Gras art journal page.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Monday, February 8, 2016

"Add a Charm" - Postcard

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This week’s Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Add a Charm."

This week's Take A Word challenge was "Hearts."

I created a celestial/heart themed collage for this, and added two charms at the top once it was completed.

I decided to show the steps involved, because I find that helpful when other artists do that.

I started with a blank old book page and added text from another old book page onto it to create the background. I determined the layout for my four focal point images, then glued down the two underneath ones first, as well as glued down a top border. I decided I needed a little more balance, so I stenciled on three red birds. Next I glued down the two female gods/celestial bodies and their names. Then I color tinted the flaming heart. I completed the piece by adding paper text strips about the heart and ghosts from a poem in an old book. I also stamped the word Library. The final step was adding crescent moon and star charms at the top.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images and charms are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Mardi Gras - Week 07 - The Book of Days

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The week07 theme for my Book of Days was Mardi Gras.

The images are from an Internet search.

The master index for all of my entries is here.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

"Super Bowl L" - Postcard

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This is 1 of 3 souvenir postcards that I created for Super Bowl L (50).

This one shows both the AFC champion Denver Broncos and the NFC champion Carolina Panthers. Are you ready for some Football?!

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

I'll be watching the Super Bowl tonight! Neither of the teams I root for are playing, but I always enjoy watching the game, regardless of who is in it.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

"Super Bowl Panthers" - Postcard

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This is 2 of 3 souvenir postcards that I created for Super Bowl L (50).

This one is for the NFC champion Carolina Panthers.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Friday, February 5, 2016

"Super Bowl Broncos" - Postcard

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This is 3 of 3 souvenir postcards that I created for Super Bowl L (50).

This one is for the AFC champion Denver Broncos.

I created this using GIMP 2.8.16.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)