Thursday, October 11, 2012

Photo Art Friday 12 October 2012 ~ Liquid

I had several ideas for this prompt, yet ultimately I went for simple. Simple works for me. Especially at the moment...

Last week my "baby boy" turned 34. Does that ever get old?! I don't think so. Since I had been working and working and getting nowhere with this Very Old Photo of him, one I DO NOT have anymore, I was delighted with how I was able to tweak and digitally fiddle to make it into something I really really like.



I added the poem when I made it into his birthday card. It is a poem I wrote back in February, and it seemed like it was just right for Right Now.

Today I brought it back into PSE8 and fiddled more... 

1. I used the "original" from Happy Timmy Day 2012 at multiply 74%. 
2. I added Bonnie's pdpa dreamwonder texture at multiply 100%.
3. I added Bonnie's pdpa vintage vellum texture at multiply 38%.
4. I added my name and 2012 in viner hand 14-point screened 100%. 

[I don't quite get how to make a standard watermark or signature that will go on everything, so I have that on my list for figuring out next week. Anyone with an easy way, please feel welcome to share ;~D]

I love that Timmy calls Nantucket "my island" and that he and his wife have made a wonderful home there. He has his own care-taking business, ACK Property Management, and a wonderful group of friends who I had the pleasure of meeting when he and Justine got married in 2010. 

He wasn't as fond of the water as I hoped when he was little, yet I will never ever forget this image of him sitting out on a dock with his ball, just BEing tamed and taming the water surrounding him.

I'm looking forward to what all else people have come up with for Photo Art Friday. What a grand group of very helpful and encouraging people, starting with Bonnie and running right on through every single other person I am having the pleasure of "meeting" and getting to know, little by slowly...

Photo Art Friday

33 comments:

Maboe said...

I like your photo very much.

But it also makes me sad. My boy had been 34 this year, but we lost him 6 years ago.

His initiales were BE by the way.

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

What a lovely card and gesture to show your son that he is so special to you. I think hand made cards are the best. Valerie

Jeanne said...

I absolutely love what you have done here, and what an awesome way to honor your son! This is so cool, and happy birthday to him! How do our kids get so old so quick. Great job on your fun editing. also want to thank you so much recently for stopping by my blog and your lovely comments. Am a bit late replying, but I so enjoyed hearing from you! Have a wonderful day and love your art here!

Anonymous said...

I love this photo and the story behind it! The watermark is something Im still trying to figure out lol! Thanks for sharing:)

Prairie Jill said...

Great processing! It's a beautiful image to start with, and I love the effect you created.

Evelyn S. said...

Oh, this is so wonderful! Beautiful image, beautiful editing, beautiful verse.

Anonymous said...

So satisfying to achieve that elusive effect! I do love the wax drawn effect of the subject(s) against that green-blue plus the poetry of that existential dilemna Very becoming! Hope your son liked it.

Merike said...

This is lovely piece of art :)

Miriam said...

This is sooo gorgeous, Currie, and Happy Birthday to your boy.

Stephanie said...

I really like this too. It is beautiful and should be hanging on a wall to be seen all the time. Lovely!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful image and original verse. what a lovely and personal birthday card!

EMily said...

What a sweet card! I love the original verse.

Unknown said...

Currie, this is simply amazing. I love the poem, it speaks to me very strongly, especially these days.

As for the watermark you could just fade out the text layer or play with layer modes.

As for something more permanent so you don't have to write it every single time, you can change the text layer into a brush tool ready for you to use anytime you want.

I do not use Photoshop but if you google "how to make watermark/brush" in Photoshop you'll find many tutorials out there. Go for the youtube kind, they are the best!

have a wonderful weekend
~Ewa

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

What an incredible piece of art - all the more beautiful because of the personal meaning it has for you and your son.

You are really mastering your photo editing tools!

The poem is so insightful - what so many young adults need to learn - that they need to catch up with who they really are and shed the teenage angst. Your son is blessed to have such a wise mother.

I appreciate the parts of yourself and your life that you disclose here, Currie.

Thank you, as always, for linking up with Photo Art Friday.

Ida said...

This is wonderful. I think you did a fantastic job with the edit and the verse you added worked so well with your photo. Great job!

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

Now this is art ... and it is good because it came from your heart. There is nothing like a child (grown or not) to inspire. Your picture and your poem are genuine ... I love them both.

Andrea @ From The Sol

The Artful Diva said...

Beautifully done!

Sylvia said...

What a lovely birthday card for your son, beautiful words !
Nice weekend,
Sylvia

Rita said...

Very sweet memory you have captured! :)

Leovi said...

Wonderful processed with that beautiful, delicious work of art. Happy Birthday to your "baby boy"

libbyquilter said...

love the colors and the magic of BEing that this image projects.
a beautiful poem and perfect fit for this image.

your work inspires me.

i'm still working on the watermark thing too.

:-)
libbyQ

Anonymous said...

A beautiful card made with a lot of love...

Sherri B. said...

This is beautiful! I absolutely love your editing and creative process. The poem is so touching...and filled with very wise words! Thank you so much for sharing this...I love it. Have a wonderful weekend, Currie. :)

Monica S Engell said...

Wonderful post, and the Birthday card for your "baby boy" is beautiful! Great poem and processing!
Have a nice weekend:)

Anonymous said...

Currie, this is great because we do change and people to tend to see us as we were -- especially family, i.e., we grow up as women and sometimes our siblings still see us as that awkward little girl; I really like what this says. Blessings Terri

Anonymous said...

I love your image and the meaning behind it..so very special!I really appreciate what you share about yourself here on your blog. I can relate very much to what you say. Life is wonderful and full of all sorts of lessons, challenges and more learning.. (:

lorik said...

A beautiful post and birthday tribute to your beautiful boy:) It reminds me of those days when my (33yo) son was that age..... I really like what you did with the photo ....the contrasting and glowing colours, the soft texture of the sky and water compared to that of the pier - the drawing like quality ....Lovely.

Janet said...


This is so gorgeous Currie!
...I was working on developing a watermark just today!
This was the best site I found for simple directions in both video and text with photos!
http://www.essential-photoshop-elements.com/watermark-brush.html

Lynne with an e said...

I love this composition--everything about it! It reminds me of a style of art from maybe the early 1960's. The poem is timeless and universal, yet so personal, as good poetry should be. What a fantastic card this makes.

joelsuma said...

Hi Currie,
you made a fine, personally, thoughtful birthday-card with a special remembrance, only a mother is able to feel.
LG joelsuma

NatureFootstep said...

love bot the photo editing and teh poem. Wise words I´d say.

Anonymous said...

an easy way to make a watermark:
choose a font you like, type what you want to appear in your signature, save it as a brush and then you can use it any time you like, adapting the size and colour of the font to the colour and size of your final image
Carol aka traveller

Marilyn said...

Such a wonderful picture of your "boy" and a very interesting edit.
The poem is very special and is just so "Currie".