Foto Art Friday – January 20, 2017

Wispy Winter

A tree in winter is the inspiration for this piece.  This was from a storm a few years ago, but I decided to play with this image to make it look a bit more “liquid” to create a sort of wispy and fluid look.  I was inspired by viewing the paintings of cottonwoods by Georgia O’Keeffe.  No, the tree is not a cottonwood, but it was a good tree to inspire some abstract musings.  Vintage text, an image of a rock I took a while ago, and various paint brushes complement the tree.  The rock image provides some wonderful texture that add a nice touch and remind me of what the tree trunk and branches feel like.

Wispy Winter

Enjoy!

This piece is available for purchase in a variety of products (prints, greeting cards, tote bags, etc.) by clicking on the following link:   http://fineartamerica.com/featured/wispy-winter-nadine-berg.html

Foto Art Friday – January 6, 2017

Flow

For this week’s piece, I was drawn to a recent image I shot while on a photo op drive a bit south from where we live.  I first started playing by layering and blending some backgrounds – a page of vintage text in French, a copyright free sheet with a lovely silhouette of a bare tree, and some background I created using Citra Solv on magazine pages.  I then added in splashes of color using a variety of specialty brushes in PhotoShop Elements.  I then layered the image that inspired this piece.  As I played with positioning it, I noticed that the branches of the background tree seemed to flow into both trees in the photo image.  That gave the feeling of oneness to the piece, and I decided to name it after the flow that seemed to spring from the trees and tree elements in the piece.  The final touches were some additional brush elements.  The lesson I took away from this piece is that sometimes, we just need to go with the flow that life is handing us at the moment and see where that will take us.

Flow

Enjoy!

Foto Art Friday – December 30, 2016

Into Tomorrow

As I thought about creating this week’s piece, I reflected back on this past year – after all, isn’t that what one does when the end of the year rolls around?  And, then, I thought, that instead of looking back, looking forward might be a better way to approach this time of year.  This piece reflects that change of mind set.  Vintage music and a copyright free background make up the foundation of this piece, while specialty brushes of coffee rings and written words provided the finishing touches.  My own image of some trees in winter along a deserted country road brought to mind the idea of looking forward into the unknown – into tomorrow.

Into Tomorrow

Enjoy! 

December 16, 2017 – Foto Art Friday

Fly Away All

During late fall/early winter, I photographed this empty bird’s nest that was nestled in a large bush just off our back patio.  It reminded me of the summer, when I would sit on the patio in the early morning, listening to the birds chirping and flying around greeting the day, and seemingly wishing me a good morning!  I would also hear cheeping, most likely the baby birds that once called this home.   But, they are gone now, and only dead leaves are left in the nest.  They have all flown away…..and least until next spring!  The thought of the circle of the seasons keeps me from feeling too sad.  I don’t know – could this be another bird’s nest next year?  Home to yet another bird family of little ones?  I hope so!

Fly Away All

Enjoy!

Foto Art Friday – December 2, 2016

Two

I have an image of some Joshua Trees that I took which I had converted to a black and white photo.  I loved the sort of creepy feel the trees had in that particular image and decided to play on that feel for this piece.  I merged a background I made using Citra Solv and a book text page.  I then added the image and blended it with the background so that the trees were highlighted.  More blending and merging of digital elements allowed some of the text to sort of “pop”.  The two trees that are in the foreground gave the piece its name.

Two

Enjoy!

Foto Art Friday – November 24, 2016

The Raven

On a recent trip to Joshua Tree National Park, I was lucky enough to capture a wonderful image of a raven soring overhead, with some boulders in the background.  The raven became the focus of this piece, because I just feel like he perfectly illustrated the freedom that everyone loves and craves in their lives.  I complemented him with some CitraSolv background I created, and then used a variety of brushes and other effects to create the final piece. 

The Raven

Enjoy!

Foto Art Friday – October 28, 2016

Let Go

Recently, I saw a quote that spoke to how autumn was nature’s way of telling us letting go can be beautiful, or something to that effect.  The sentiment, if not the exact words, stuck with me, and became the inspiration for this piece.  The rainy autumn leaf was taken while wine tasting in Napa Valley, California, but it could have been a leaf taken anywhere that experiences the brilliant colors of autumn.  I added in collage elements of vintage music (as sometimes a song takes on much significance during a time of loss), brushes of birds flying (as birds leave their nests every year in autumn when they migrate), and other colors of the season.  I found it appropriate that the leaf was covered in raindrops, perhaps signifying the tears that comes with letting go.  And, finally, the advice to simply “let go”.  At times, we cannot move forward without letting go of the past.

Let Go

Enjoy

Foto Art Friday – October 21, 2017

Reaching

I was looking thru images that I shot earlier this year, and an image of daisies caught my eye.  They were reaching up high, as if they could touch the sky or the sun.  And, I thought that the happiest people I know are like those daisies, always reaching high for something better, different, or new to them.  They are always looking for new experiences, and yet have their feet firmly on the ground – they have good roots!  This piece is dedicated to them. 

To create this piece, I used a vintage handwritten letter, background that I created using CitraSolv and some specialty brushes in Photoshop Elements.  Credit: On Thin Air (coffee ring brushes)

Reaching

Enjoy!

Note:  This piece is available for purchase in my Etsy shop – www.photoimagerybynadine.etsy



October 14, 2016 – Foto Art Friday

Surf Play

Summer is at its end, and the thought of this made me reflect back to some enjoyable summer memories.  When in San Diego, a friend of mine and I walked along the beach.  I saw a little girl playing with the surf, not IN the surf.  She would run down to the shore and then squat down and wait for the waves to roll back in.  Then, she’d race the waves into the shore.  This would happen over and over again, to her delight!  I’ve been thinking about her for a while, and decided to make her the focus of this piece, celebrating summer, life, childhood and fun.

Surf Play

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday – October 7, 2016

Autumn Day

It’s getting to be that time of year again – autumn.  My husband and I were in the Moab, UT area, driving along a mountain backroad when a beautiful autumn colored scene appeared.  In the mountains, the air was crisp, but not yet cold – in short, a perfect early autumn day!  I decided to savor the memory of this time in this piece.  Hopefully, you live in a place where you, too, can enjoy the colors of autumn!

Autumn Day

Enjoy!

This piece can be purchased from my Etsy online shop at www.etsy.com/shop/photoimagerybynadine

 



September 30, 2016 - Foto Art Friday - Old Barn

 

There’s this small little barn that apparently hasn’t been used for years on the road that I drive on all the time to head to the store.  I have always thought it had such character, and planned to photograph it.  However, I hadn’t until recently.  I noticed there was a “For Sale” sign on the property, and I realized that when it sold, whoever the new owners were might tear it down to build a newer, bigger barn.  So, I finally made a point to stop and photograph it.  I decided to have it be the focus of this art piece, to sort of honor the farming community that used to live in the area.  The piece has my own Citra Solv paper as its background, with some vintage handwriting blended into it.  Add my image, some grunge effects and specialty paint brushes in PhotoShop Elements, and it’s done! Credit: on thin air and soul poison (brushes); GTD Grunge Collection (grunge effect) #FotoArtFriday.

Old Barn

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday - September 23, 2016 - Outside Looking In

 

The inspiration for this piece is a small chapel on the Johnson Mesa, in northeast New Mexico.  It appears to be deserted, but periodically, there are services that are held there, attended by people who used to live on the Mesa, or their descendants.  It is well kept up, and clean.  As I walked around the outside of the chapel, I couldn’t help but look into the windows and see the benches, the windows on the opposite wall, and what lay beyond.  It sparked my imagination of what life was like when this chapel was used regularly, and that is what this piece is meant to evoke.  From the outside looking in, imagining the life that once was. 

Outside Looking In

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday - September 16 - Page From the Past

Earlier this year, we had a real cross country trip, from New Mexico to the tip of Florida, then up the East Coast and thru the Midwest back to New Mexico.  In our travels, we saw many farm houses, and my imagination took off.  I imagined what life was like back when those “old” farm houses were the “newly built” homes for folks.  And, of course, every farm house has a barn.  To me, this barn is what I think of when I hear the word “barn”.  Cows and horses in the barn, bales of hay in upper lofts and the smell of both – the thought of smells in the barn take me back to my childhood when we visited some friends and family who called a farm home.  This piece is mean to honor all those old barns and all those old memories.

Page from the Past

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday - September 16 - Page From the Past

Earlier this year, we had a real cross country trip, from New Mexico to the tip of Florida, then up the East Coast and thru the Midwest back to New Mexico.  In our travels, we saw many farm houses, and my imagination took off.  I imagined what life was like back when those “old” farm houses were the “newly built” homes for folks.  And, of course, every farm house has a barn.  To me, this barn is what I think of when I hear the word “barn”.  Cows and horses in the barn, bales of hay in upper lofts and the smell of both – the thought of smells in the barn take me back to my childhood when we visited some friends and family who called a farm home.  This piece is mean to honor all those old barns and all those old memories.

Page from the Past

Enjoy!



September 9, 2016 - Foto Art Friday - Thou Shalt Not

This past week, we explored some New Mexico back roads that we hadn’t been down before.  Along one road, there was this sign warning us not to trespass.  We had no intention of doing that, but it struck me that how amazing it would be to have that view in one’s backyard, so to speak.  And, truly, a century ago, in this area, that was probably considered a very common back yard view.  I added some vintage text to the inspirational image, some texture, paint drips and a bird literally sitting on the fence!

Thou Shalt Not

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday - September 2, 2016

The summer is drawing to a close and soon fall will be upon us.  That means all the birds that I’ve enjoyed over the summer will be gone.  That made me think of some birds that I saw at the beginning of the season, when we were traveling down along the Gulf Coast.  One of my favorite is the heron.  It’s such an awkward looking bird when it walks and moves, and yet, it is full of grace.  Hence the name of this piece…..

Awkward Grace

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday - August 26, 2016

Tuscan Autumn

Tuscan Autumn

This week’s art is inspired by a couple of different things.  First, my oldest niece is traveling Europe and has been in Italy this past week.  It reminded me of our trip last fall, and I found an image that sort of captured a distant view of a Tuscan home, perhaps now abandoned.  I wanted to do something a little different with it and that brings me to my second bit of inspiration – a new online photo course.  I have just signed up for it, and I haven’t done any of the actual coursework yet, but I’m not letting that stop me!  I downloaded some extra content that I can use as background, ephemera, framing, etc., and played with my Tuscan image.  I kind of like the way it turned out.

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday – August 19, 2016

Whitehorse Road

It was just about 2 years ago today that we were on the return leg of our 84 day Alaska trip.  It was a cool and rainy morning as we headed down the Alcan Highway, back toward Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territory of Canada.  The road stretched out in front of us, the clouds were low overhead, and the moment had an earie quality to it.  I took a view images thru the window of our RV.  One of those images is the foundation of this week’s piece.  The background consists of an abstract background I made using Citra Solv with National Geographic magazine pages, vintage book text and a vintage postcard.

Enjoy!



Foto Art Friday - August 11, 2016

Sunbonnet Drive

One day this week, I noticed a classic car (and a convertible!) in front of us as we drove thru our neighborhood.  I grabbed my cell phone and snapped a few quick shots.  One of them worked up well as a watercolor painting.  I thought the softness of a watercolor captured the overall feeling of these two sunbonnet clad folks coming back from their morning drive.  I decided to make this image the focus for this week’s Foto Art Friday.  I imagined these two as they perhaps meandered some country roads and the songs they may have sung along with the car radio.  I also thought about postcards that could have been sent to friends in other places sharing the enjoyment of their ride.  So, I incorporated some sheet music and postcards into the piece.  I merged all of those with some fun background paper, added my image and finished it all off with some specialty brushes.  I decided to call this piece Sunbonnet Drive because it’s the sunbonnets that sort of “make” the image!

Sunbonnet Drive

Enjoy!

Foto Art Friday – Star Grazing

 A few years ago, we visited my husband’s brother and his wife at their home near Spokane, WA.  They had just recently gotten a new horse, and were understandably very proud of her.  Her name is Star, and I visited the meadow where she grazed so I could capture an image of her on her “home turf” so to speak.  This week, I heard about a silent auction that is going to be held here in the little town where I live to benefit our local animal shelter, and I decided to create a piece that will hopefully be acceptable to the folks organizing and running the auction, and I can donate a finished piece to the auction to benefit some fuzzy souls here while they are waiting for their own “home turf”.

Star Grazing

Enjoy!