tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62705789686699956572024-03-12T21:48:08.736-07:00Ruth Zachary MONTAGEMontage Art, Acrylic Collage, Vintage Montage, Photo Montage, Photography, Computer Art Techniques, Mixed Media Art, Miscellaneous Experimental Techniques, Tips, and Comments About Art, to Network with Other Artists and Viewers With Questions. Writing and Images Are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary, All Rights Reserved.Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-55373469772226128662012-10-27T17:51:00.002-07:002012-10-27T17:51:34.362-07:00Painting from Photographs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SP0AB19aEgz1rEECWyHO_wQm-Hhq3AGkOvRIwtboHH2jkSgx4umC_Ni7j-N09xex9y0jm7n-diolAJKAjQgzKYjldQgS98Hr1iJwwUGYb_vXYcCikqDWzIJVETtTSrSAeAmjEAWvEAc/s1600/++People+Window-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SP0AB19aEgz1rEECWyHO_wQm-Hhq3AGkOvRIwtboHH2jkSgx4umC_Ni7j-N09xex9y0jm7n-diolAJKAjQgzKYjldQgS98Hr1iJwwUGYb_vXYcCikqDWzIJVETtTSrSAeAmjEAWvEAc/s320/++People+Window-1.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BIKZ4z0tA1aGCyi2kUL56D2gfUA01znkk2wm-3pANsnUrk49tAdWv3DuiAKQkTf451KV1-G3-GY528EBATTm8BUU3Ir3qzfUhaXid3R1GMY6zcOvIbog-wdGPe5VVfunjEeNE-3JpnY/s1600/Emporium+Window+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BIKZ4z0tA1aGCyi2kUL56D2gfUA01znkk2wm-3pANsnUrk49tAdWv3DuiAKQkTf451KV1-G3-GY528EBATTm8BUU3Ir3qzfUhaXid3R1GMY6zcOvIbog-wdGPe5VVfunjEeNE-3JpnY/s320/Emporium+Window+1+copy.jpg" width="206" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5YaOFJEL01mJr6A9RBvJYx5x9KRbbEkgUwjWuK-K1FgbjeylzV3DpqM1izzLDbuYI69dPUi448f3aM2y8SkGvAwHrAnj4LV-S5JtCAcuNzuk7x7c1JSUQXqv_b8Dh1ZH4xaC_Ysz-tE/s1600/Gardner's+cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5YaOFJEL01mJr6A9RBvJYx5x9KRbbEkgUwjWuK-K1FgbjeylzV3DpqM1izzLDbuYI69dPUi448f3aM2y8SkGvAwHrAnj4LV-S5JtCAcuNzuk7x7c1JSUQXqv_b8Dh1ZH4xaC_Ysz-tE/s320/Gardner's+cottage.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPQzvvcHmixxnBnOdHR0ehkELDLXXbGc_Ff8ucOxli7YrFGmDZAc9vV9wCTPXH1dzgjX1LbtgPLoP3fLvqRtVcDKN-kRzJE5XAY5SD7pXtdw25VjcwjLB_5AZQRFphpbar0FKUZIh7rM/s1600/Emporium+Window3+acrylic+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPQzvvcHmixxnBnOdHR0ehkELDLXXbGc_Ff8ucOxli7YrFGmDZAc9vV9wCTPXH1dzgjX1LbtgPLoP3fLvqRtVcDKN-kRzJE5XAY5SD7pXtdw25VjcwjLB_5AZQRFphpbar0FKUZIh7rM/s640/Emporium+Window3+acrylic+.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Emporium Window<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Imaage size 12x18” .Acrylic on Masonite Panel ©by Ruth Zachary.</span></i></div>
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An old photograph taken in the 1980s looked interesting. A
photography class I was in at the time drove to a historic village fifty miles
from home. I chose to walk down an alley. Through a window (the back of a
store) I was intrigued by two figures in an animated conversation, silhouetted
against another storefront window on the main street. </div>
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Also a challenge were the ambiguous reflections in the
window which nearly hid the figures, unless just the right angle was found. I
didn’t want to have a picture of myself, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>to capture the figures.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of two or three
shots, I picked this one to be the subject of a painting. Since I have not
painted in a realistic style for many years, I expected this to be quite a
challenge, especially since it was in black and white. </div>
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I began with a tracing of the photograph to get the
relationships of some landmark features and to establish perspective. I
transferred the tracing to the panel coated with gesso. The camera lines led to
the angling of the window at the top. I wanted to balance the various interest
points and the dark tones in the window in the format of my drawing, and
decided to place a plant on a bench to the right of the window. I added a photo
of one of my plants to the copy of the original photograph, still in black and
white.</div>
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I began with the expectation that the finished image would
be in color, and decided on pale greige<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>as an undercoat, dappled with beige, pale gold and white. I had no
memory of the color of the window framing, or of the brick tones, and picked
green window framing, red brick, and cement gray for the stucco that had been
repeatedly applied to the back wall to keep it from crumbling. It had also been
painted white, as many bricks were visible, but were no longer all of the same
size or color, as far as I could tell.</div>
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After laying in many of the colors, and rearranging bricks and
stucco patches and textures</div>
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I saw that I needed a color reference before continuing. I
found another photo of a cottage with red and orange brick, whitewashed
surfaces, to use as a guide.</div>
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After the plant and other shapes were established, a glazing
of more gold seemed like a possibility. I scanned the image in as a Photoshop
file, and added a gold tone to the sunlit areas only. I did not like the change
as well as the more whitewashed look, and left the actual painting as it was.</div>
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One technique I used in the shadows and reflections areas
was to add a glaze of black, gradually until some areas were darkened to the
correct amount.</div>
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Another technique I tried was painting the window
reflections as if they were a black and white watercolor with a tiny brush. I
didn’t think to scan in at that stage, but then I added colors, greens, browns
and opaque blue sky areas on top of the blacks and grays. Even some of the reflections were thin gray, or opaque gray
overlays on the deeper blacks of the reflections. I left the reflection of the
car (actually in the alley behind me) in the window, but washed it in green
tones as well. I left it lighter than the original, so it could be identified.
The plant<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>details were painted last.</div>
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The goal was to use a photograph as reference, but not to
recreate another photograph just like the original. The challenge was to learn
something about reflections, but to be free enough to invent the details that
would enhance the composition. I did not use a magnification lens. I think if I
paint another window scene, I might use a larger format, as the tiny details
were quite difficult. The paint was applied to a white gessoed panel, and
finished with a flat varnish. It took four days, longer than I would normally
spend.</div>
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I apologize for being away for such a long time. I have had multiple computer problems,</div>
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and they are not resolved yet. I have no idea how these images appear because my internet computer is so badly calibrated. </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Images and text are
the copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</i></div>
Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-5854389482131253102011-02-21T17:56:00.000-08:002011-02-21T17:57:13.345-08:00Changes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0pNdKDYBxY-yjSOJqQsCDSCHps0I8T2bmFELFelpfmpvWBVR1v-V7pkjbg2nP4oQD2uQWOuHRKsvQgV0pj9gaTR3ePcfX-SLGRWiLJUZXWOPma6DLUJ1107bx64ZLqY0HyMenvpN1aU/s1600/%25E2%2580%25A2ChinoiserieWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0pNdKDYBxY-yjSOJqQsCDSCHps0I8T2bmFELFelpfmpvWBVR1v-V7pkjbg2nP4oQD2uQWOuHRKsvQgV0pj9gaTR3ePcfX-SLGRWiLJUZXWOPma6DLUJ1107bx64ZLqY0HyMenvpN1aU/s400/%25E2%2580%25A2ChinoiserieWeb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Chinoiserie, Mixed Media Collage, By Ruth Zachary. © 2011</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hello Readers, I am back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am still very busy. I have been involved in creating an art exhibit and art events program, Chalice Arts, on first Fridays of each month at my church. It is part of the Art Tour in Greeley, CO. If you are interested, see the blog about the group on <a href="http://chalicearts.blogspot.com./">chalicearts.blogspot.com.</a> This doesn’t begin to explain how much work there is to arrange publicity, mailings, contacting artists, and speakers and all that goes with such an organization. The past two months my own work was on display, as the program began in October of 2010, and there had not yet been time to arrange for featuring anyone else. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">After having a number of montages up on the walls, I began to long for the days of creating hand made montages and collages. I had stopped working that way, except for photo montage, and abstract collage, because I bellieved my drawing had become stiff, and I needed to do something else, to loosen up and become more free in my approach. I am now hopeful that I can return to hand made montages again. I have several themes planned. They will include works that are smaller than some of the collages I have done, and can be used as illustrations as well. I am not yet planning to work with etching as I did in the 1990s, although that could come in the future. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I finished my book of poetry, <i>The Woman Who Named Herself</i>, in the fall, mentioned in my post of 9-14-2010. It is available at <a href="http://xlibris.com/">Xlibris.com</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon.com. </a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am now working on another book of poetry which will be about family, and I believe it will include experiences that many people may relate to in their own lives.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><br />
</div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-46358803600607150172011-01-31T14:22:00.000-08:002011-01-31T14:22:36.911-08:00BLENDING ABSTRACTION WITH REALISM<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6270578968669995657&postID=4635880360060715017" name="2408042412526839899"></a> <br />
<div class="post-header"></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESly2RnypWrPmlNaKp65fdNHs34C1FNelOwWsIe6RAYMzupvz8IkKePZ2gpvGLYuAgy5Jo7LRfqWfHCLROF_lSWbd6YZbONGzH45N69y8RtPs9YtIGxs5OgEbdE07LBeao237GwuF1O0/s1600/AA+Visions+Gather+21SM.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482435585039924498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESly2RnypWrPmlNaKp65fdNHs34C1FNelOwWsIe6RAYMzupvz8IkKePZ2gpvGLYuAgy5Jo7LRfqWfHCLROF_lSWbd6YZbONGzH45N69y8RtPs9YtIGxs5OgEbdE07LBeao237GwuF1O0/s400/AA+Visions+Gather+21SM.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 262px;" width="262" /></a> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";">I have been planning to use abstract backgrounds to suggest detailed realistic drawings. After making the drawings, I plan to use the layering technique in Photoshop to integrate them into the background that stimulated them. </span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: ";">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";">The reason for changing from total abstraction to semi-realism is that I plan to make a series of drawings to illustrate some poetry books I am compiling. Above, are butterfly shapes found in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: ";">the abstraction, and accentuated. This is only an example, and not really an illustration for a book. Illustrations need to be smaller and closer to the final page size in the book to avoid too much reduction of the image and to not lose too much detail.</span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: ";">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";">The emphasis on putting the books together has caused a shift, so that I may not be blogging as often as I was from January through June 1, 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: ";"> .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";">Since I wrote this, in June of 2010, I learned that I can not keep up with as many blogs as I had before. I am entering posts from another blog to this one. At that time, I was working both on abstractions and on realism for different projects, reflected on two blogs. There was also a post on this blog, titled <i>Gosh Darn It,</i> where I was having trouble with a particular problem. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";">THANK YOU:</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";">Joe Willy, a follower on this blog, suggested I use a black drawing layer over the color, which was a great idea! Since I am now interested in returning to more recognizable imagery again, this may prove to be very helpful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: ";">.<br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";">I have since finished my first book of poems, <i>The Woman Who Named Herself</i>, described on another blog, <a href="http://rzwritestuff.blogspot.com/">rzwritestuff.blogspot.com</a>, and hope to have more time for visual art again.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: ";"> </span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: ";">.</span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: ";">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></div><i><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 12pt;">Writing and Images are the © Copyright of Ruth Zachary.</span></i> <br />
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</div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span class="post-author vcard"> </span><span class="post-comment-link"><a class="comment-link" href="http://ruthzachary.blogspot.com/2010/06/blending-abstraction-with-realism.html#comments"></a> </span><span class="post-icons"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-309640726"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4719222137273262367&postID=2408042412526839899" title="Edit Post"><img alt="" class="icon-action" height="18" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif" width="18" /> </a> </span> </span> <br />
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<a href="http://ruthzachary.blogspot.com/search/label/Combining%20Abstraction%20with%20Realism" rel="tag"></a> </span> </div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-51484158027521620172011-01-31T13:23:00.000-08:002011-01-31T13:30:26.911-08:00Geometric Abstraction<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6270578968669995657&postID=5148415802752162017" name="8148191462529984392"></a> <br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title">GEOMETRIC COMPOSITION </h3><div class="post-header"></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jGcfc3KrU-4/TI_ntSqOc8I/AAAAAAAAAGg/sFcUv2P49BI/s1600/A+I-ching+Image+25+websz.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516882833841222594" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jGcfc3KrU-4/TI_ntSqOc8I/AAAAAAAAAGg/sFcUv2P49BI/s640/A+I-ching+Image+25+websz.jpg" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 244px;" width="488" /></a> <style>
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<h1>Geometric/ Patterned Composition</h1><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This composition was created on the computer, by cutting out shapes from various brightly colored patterned fields. Each shape was placed in a separate layer over a background field. The shapes were manipulated by rotating them manually and placing them in relation to the other shapes, until a pleasing arrangement was found. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Using Collage: The patterned fields are printed out, and approximate shapes and patterns are arranged to be similar to the study. The finished Collage is usually different than the original study, more or less.</span></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is my first post since last fall, because I have been busy with several projects. I have finished my first book of poetry,</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Woman Who Named Herself</i> published by Xlibris. A longer description may be found on my rzwritestuff blog.<a href="http://rzwritestuff.blogspot.com/">rzwritestuff.blogspot.com</a>.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another project I have been involved with has been helping to set up a creative group where many art forms will find expression in the UU church and in the community of Greeley, Colorado. To learn about this, check out <a href="http://chalicearts.blogspot.com/">chalicearts.blogspot.com</a></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content"></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>All Images and Writing are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</i></span> </div></div><div class="post-footer"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="post-author vcard"> </span><span class="post-timestamp"><a class="timestamp-link" href="http://ruthzachary.blogspot.com/2010/09/geometric-composition.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2010-09-14T14:20:00-07:00"></abbr></a> </span><span class="post-icons"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-309640726"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=4719222137273262367&postID=8148191462529984392" title="Edit Post"><img alt="" class="icon-action" height="18" src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif" width="18" /> </a> </span> </span></i></span> </div><div class="post-share-buttons"></div></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"><span class="post-labels"><br />
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<h4 id="comment-post-message">Post a Comment</h4>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-11097808175795961952010-09-14T18:46:00.000-07:002010-09-14T18:47:45.960-07:00MONTAGE IN ILLUSTRATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7Vj9jGuX9O-Orh6dOUr6AKYSc9vxGffzLR6VCUzqIbO8O0vWsWm1hZQEDT5yLZrjRKD95gi4A-AgI-aQy4xFZbWKECmQ1L3_1f2gLsXLLigX54i62rgav1_RedACVZjTn-5So_ZZXjs/s1600/%E2%80%A2Wolf+Totemweb+size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7Vj9jGuX9O-Orh6dOUr6AKYSc9vxGffzLR6VCUzqIbO8O0vWsWm1hZQEDT5yLZrjRKD95gi4A-AgI-aQy4xFZbWKECmQ1L3_1f2gLsXLLigX54i62rgav1_RedACVZjTn-5So_ZZXjs/s400/%E2%80%A2Wolf+Totemweb+size.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><style>
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<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A MONTAGE APPROACH to ILLUSTRATION</span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Recently, I assembled a book of Poetry, which is about women who seek to define themselves within the culture at large, and have chosen new names which they feel help define this new identity. The cover, to be in color, was a colored pencil drawing on collaged papers and is shown above.</span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I decided to include 10 illustrations, black and white images of the etchings originally in color. The illustrations do not directly illustrate any particular poem. But the relationship of metaphoric imagery to metaphoric poetry reveals both to be part of a similar process. When and if the book is published, I will announce it on this blog and on my <a href="http://www.blogger.com/rzwritestuff.blogspot.com"><span style="color: blue;">rzwritestuff </span></a>blog, as well. </span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because I am so busy arranging the poems, proofreading and polishing them, I have fallen behind on my intended schedule for blogging on four different sites. I have not included many Etchings on this blog in the past. .I thought using the etchings as images would be appropriate at this time and might help me keep up with this blog. Many of the etchings are montages of more than one element. I will include the color versions here in the coming series of posts. They are still available as giclee prints, but most etching editions were sold out. </span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Times;">The image above used collaged papers which were created by cleaning off printmaking rollers after printing color etchings, and sometimes viscosity etchings. After the background was assembled, colored pencils were used to draw the wolf, the landscape and wolf pack elements, and the woman. I tried to make the woman look like a wolf, with almost golden eyes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">Images and text are the exclusive copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</span></i><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-15399187850914314572010-08-29T11:15:00.000-07:002010-08-29T11:26:00.983-07:00INTEGRATING REALISM INTO ABSTRACTION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1OYe5pjZL6AHMh3H7H7qiV6MFuFSkASkHjwXP7mgFAi69oweKxhoFVgFtwUSBgGTyuznq2b-s8_CaBqXGRcp2OdpQT3G0hV_QH5qm5Or6h6g5qV7hPKzLsYwFP-UMKLkBMR-aAyrhKQ/s1600/%E2%80%A2Alabama+Patchwork1+wbsz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1OYe5pjZL6AHMh3H7H7qiV6MFuFSkASkHjwXP7mgFAi69oweKxhoFVgFtwUSBgGTyuznq2b-s8_CaBqXGRcp2OdpQT3G0hV_QH5qm5Or6h6g5qV7hPKzLsYwFP-UMKLkBMR-aAyrhKQ/s320/%E2%80%A2Alabama+Patchwork1+wbsz.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRQfMtoqtOpFVyr2dcfpLsrH0fqDg6rDXh3STHXoa8SfUSZGz5BOpTfXrd_ZJxsmZNa53zTtborcbP43W64gVWc3AgQ5kBV01EgbZvLssS3utKcfdT4eIsbydHGMbfYTMZ34cDDfP1Ik/s1600/%E2%80%A2Alabama+Patchwork2+websz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRQfMtoqtOpFVyr2dcfpLsrH0fqDg6rDXh3STHXoa8SfUSZGz5BOpTfXrd_ZJxsmZNa53zTtborcbP43W64gVWc3AgQ5kBV01EgbZvLssS3utKcfdT4eIsbydHGMbfYTMZ34cDDfP1Ik/s320/%E2%80%A2Alabama+Patchwork2+websz.jpg" /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Alabama Patchwork ii </b>Collage by Ruth Zachary </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The first image shows how the figure looked after layering it over the blue background, in the luminosity mode. Note that very little color change occured in the gray scale drawing of the figure. The color in the figure drawing was achieved with acrylic paints used as watercolors matching hues in the background. Some distortion occurred in the second version because the varnish deepened the color. The image was photographed. The camera also distorts the straight borders at edges.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i></span></span> <meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b>INTEGRATING REALISM INTO ABSTRACTION </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the previous post a figure was layered over an abstract black and white background, with the clothed model contrasted in grayscale tones.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I keep trying these experiments with color as well as black and white, because my original vision was to integrate realistic imagery into abstract shapes and textures.The blue-toned abstraction from the “<i>Where Visions Gather</i>,” series was chosen to be the background for the same fashion figure used in the previous post, inspired by Natalie Chanin, an Alabama clothing designer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The figure, in grayscale tones when tried in various modes, applied as a top layer over the blue background resulted in a primarily grayscale image in many modes, with a few areas where the colors from underneath came through the figure. (luminosity mode)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The solution for this piece was to print the figure out in gray tones and then to paint areas which were in the color palette of the blues in the abstraction. Acrylic paint was used in thinned watercolor technique. Once dry, the whole composition – background and figure could be collaged to the Masonite panel with acrylic medium. Some compositional changes were made to the background before it was complete.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The figure was thus subdued to blend with the motifs of the underlying composition.This is much different than the figure used over the bold black and white patterns of the previous illustration. Both have merits, and the artist must choose the effect wanted.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Masonite panel was prepared with a coat of water-based Kilz on both sides, and a second coat of gesso to the smooth surface side. Usually papers are collaged to the smooth side. The paper used was Epson matte Professional paper in a medium weight. Epson inks are colorfast, but some mediums and varnishes will dissolve and deepen the colors when applied to the surface. Test the products used together to be sure how they will work.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Small areas of the design elements were briefly soaked in water and the medium was applied to the panel, carefully placing the paper on the surface. One or two coats of matte medium were applied to the finished surface of the collage.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Note to my Readers:<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have been elected as secretary of the board of my church, and have less discretionary time than I had prior to taking on that duty. I still try to produce art, to write and create or manage other projects, including yard maintenance, but I will not be able to attend my blog as often as before.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h1>Writing and Art Images are the sole © Copyright of Ruth Zachary</h1><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-12702326988839057352010-07-20T19:30:00.000-07:002010-07-20T19:30:06.498-07:00LAYERING FIGURE DRAWINGS OVER A BACKGROUND<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1OfFwMw9ZPfVBoEgESbJy51qgRzov2TdxtEx3V0wDGnCVHTaF_66y3tIGTdK0nrd5zfIkP4W0RYgzfkkxoTMlpUp6Nx6BH3d7udNg7e8MzfJGmFIZYr1LMn5mdHU1m0ZcdmW3jeOr30/s1600/Alabama+Patchwork+wbsz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1OfFwMw9ZPfVBoEgESbJy51qgRzov2TdxtEx3V0wDGnCVHTaF_66y3tIGTdK0nrd5zfIkP4W0RYgzfkkxoTMlpUp6Nx6BH3d7udNg7e8MzfJGmFIZYr1LMn5mdHU1m0ZcdmW3jeOr30/s320/Alabama+Patchwork+wbsz.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb51CrgPGPZ_8OQAgUqfnfZmVDMA74db0jP86oX1wjlAI5mPDceXDk_JTdT5HEQeBCuinCTohyphenhyphen_mLUT256t6bc8IsZ-DQR1hdFEFPSV3Bc-k0v7qlJKxcEWyU7H9B5ThdIv2nTD2R_zI/s1600/A+Sign+city+7+wbsz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb51CrgPGPZ_8OQAgUqfnfZmVDMA74db0jP86oX1wjlAI5mPDceXDk_JTdT5HEQeBCuinCTohyphenhyphen_mLUT256t6bc8IsZ-DQR1hdFEFPSV3Bc-k0v7qlJKxcEWyU7H9B5ThdIv2nTD2R_zI/s320/A+Sign+city+7+wbsz.jpg" /></a></div><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">DRAWING USING AN ABSTRACT BACKGROUND.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have been experimenting with creating abstract black and white drawings. For this I have been using the computer. Several related pieces of the series started with the same basic shapes, including lettering in some shapes, and rearranging them in different configurations. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Drawing has been done on the computer with various techniques. These include, erasing through a dark layer to a white layer beneath, or through a light layer to a dark layer beneath, directly with the paint or pencil tool in black or white on a contrasting shape, or cloning from another area of established texture to put bits of it somewhere else. Some shapes were cut out, copied and rotated to complete the design. Lines and directions were accented to make the composition dynamic and balanced. Cutting a shape creates an additional different set of shapes. Often I use the “invert” command under image, to create dark where there was light, and vice versa. This too creates different shapes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was inspired by a fashion design I saw in Vogue, recently, and wanted to capture the rich textures of the different fabrics, using ink and pencil. I used my own model for the face. I changed the fashion design slightly from the one created by Natalie Chanin, from Alabama, in my drawing. I included her name as a tribute to this woman’s work, because she is both an innovative artist and a person who values recycling.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Notice how she collages different patterns and textures into one design, and then sculpts the figure with the volume and depth of fabrics and cording in the clothing and headdress. As an artist who works in collage, and has also worked in fabric collage, how could I be anything but inspired by her designs? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The drawing was rather light or high keyed in value next to the stark darks and lights of the background behind the figure. I increased the contrast of the drawing so it didn’t get lost, but left it in a grayscale to contrast with the background. The background creates the impression of a patchwork quilt. I think the blacks, whites and grayscale tones are very effective. You almost get a sense of color where there isn’t any.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Writing and Art work by Ruth Zachary © Rights reserved. </span></i></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-22130694403981817272010-07-12T10:31:00.000-07:002010-07-12T10:38:14.962-07:00COMPOSITION IN BLACK AND WHITE<span id="formatbar_Buttons" style="display: block;"><span class=" down" id="formatbar_CreateLink" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseup="" style="display: block;" title="Link"><img alt="Link" border="0" class="gl_link" src="img/blank.gif" /></span></span> <meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<h1><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3lfssBNcdxWCe9bgPZX8CE9pN7vGXm7c_koqx1OMHmZV85PvhwLROc8jRyO-uBMAVcuUC0p9DWKVVTu6QMO6Vp6g7Nvllf_jM2njC5gsAp6H8hFC3Jd8Cdwz2MHJkzpo5VMLN2XWO5U/s1600/A+071110Letters+websz+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3lfssBNcdxWCe9bgPZX8CE9pN7vGXm7c_koqx1OMHmZV85PvhwLROc8jRyO-uBMAVcuUC0p9DWKVVTu6QMO6Vp6g7Nvllf_jM2njC5gsAp6H8hFC3Jd8Cdwz2MHJkzpo5VMLN2XWO5U/s320/A+071110Letters+websz+.jpg" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Playing with Letters, unfinished study </span></i></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">for black and white abstraction © by Ruth Zachary. </span></i></span></h1><h1 style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. </span></i> </span></h1><h1><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Shape Shifting Approach to Composition<o:p></o:p></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> .</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moving varied shapes around the picture plane is my first step in starting a composition.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> .</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When using color, the shapes are best when they are varied by hue, value, and size. I prefer organic, irregular shapes in uneven numbers. I prefer to work in related hues, or family colors on the color wheel. The values of the shapes might range from dark to light, unless they are to be placed against a background, which should contrast with the shapes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> .</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of the same principles apply when arranging shapes in a <b>realistic</b> composition. </span>A variety of blacks, grays and light tones are effective when limited to black and white, as I have been showing in planning this series of illustrations.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> .</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In collage the first step is to put the shapes, either 3, 5, or 7 into a pleasing arrangement. When working on the computer, I create a set of irregular shapes, and try the same shapes in several different configurations. Diagonals are more dynamic, and often suggest depth. The more rectangular the shapes are, the more the composition appears to be on one plane.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> .</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText">In black and white I do not use layers in different modes. I use layers one over the previous layer to arrange shapes. I began with the letters on the bottom or background layer, gathered from an assortment of sources to vary the texture from the first studies in the series. Over this I arranged the shapes in different relationships to each other. There will be several versions of this same beginning, with different textures, drawn lines, etc. </div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: right;"> .</div><div class="MsoBodyText">One way to change relationships within the picture plane is to divide it into thirds and reposition . This often changes the number of shapes as well as the relationships, offering surprises and challenges.</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: right;"> .</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last step is usually to move some of the shapes within the picture plane to a new position, to rotate them, extend some of the lines to carry the eye, repeat some shapes or accent colors, and to balance the dark areas, by deepening or lightening the values, moving them, (or changing the hue when working in color.) To compare this process to working in color, see my post on <a href="http://ruthzachary.blogspot.com/">ruthzachary.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>.</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like the connotation of Shape Shifting as a title, because it is a metaphor for adjustment within the self, the way an artist tries to put various design elements into good relationship with each other in a composition.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> .</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Writing and Images on this blogsite are the sole © Copyright of Ruth Zachary. </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-89594736639305819192010-06-30T18:23:00.000-07:002010-06-30T18:25:31.496-07:00DOUBLE DUTY USES FOR YOUR ART WORK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVFXlwbmSwXFzQDPA3x_DUfthOO2BlG6BGbESm9aJY5j64IMgUBNTRLNXrDk7_5dqebf3b32RtDqW8NFZj3BTZnkB_Y2PURbr1o-27er-oV6mFfF8wpQan6QxUh6FmkBWFqzGLhKQCNI/s1600/%E2%80%A2MGrandmother+Time+web+sz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVFXlwbmSwXFzQDPA3x_DUfthOO2BlG6BGbESm9aJY5j64IMgUBNTRLNXrDk7_5dqebf3b32RtDqW8NFZj3BTZnkB_Y2PURbr1o-27er-oV6mFfF8wpQan6QxUh6FmkBWFqzGLhKQCNI/s320/%E2%80%A2MGrandmother+Time+web+sz.jpg" /></a></div><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<h1><span style="font-weight: normal;">Grandmother Time, drawing in pen and ink and on the computer about 7x8” by Ruth Zachary<o:p></o:p></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br />
<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Last week I planned to try more experiments to draw into abstract background compositions, and hopefully to produce a combination of abstract design and realistic imagery, so that they could serve as illustrations for poetry chapbooks.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My reason for wanting to do them in color was that even though black and white is more economical to publish, having a larger colored version would allow the work to serve double duty. A second black and white illustration of each piece would meet the second goal at the same time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My color layering experiments did not work for two reasons. Black or white do not work in the layering process very well. Also realistic imagery does not work well either. The boundaries of realistic shapes would have to dominate but be compatible with the underlying layers. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have since decided to work in a new way. I am making black and white background drawings, designed in a similar way as my approach with designing colored compositions. The drawings are sometimes done using technical pens on white paper, and sometimes I also create a composition directly on the computer. I expect the optimum size of images will range from 9x12” down to 4x6”. In some cases I will use parts of drawings done in the past for card designs. I expect they will do double duty again as new designs for note cards.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I use three or four major tools for drawing in black and white on the computer. First I establish shapes, geometric or organic in solid black and whites with <b>select </b>tools. Next I place a layer under the first design attempt, and fill it with solid black. Using the <b>eraser</b> tool in a very fine size, I begin to draw by shading and scribbling with the eraser on the white areas of the design to create black textures. Sometimes I use a large uneven brush. This creates contrast and variety.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To reverse the look, I try using the <b>pencil</b> or <b>paintbrush</b> on the black shapes with white to create more textures. It is best not to have wet edges, as this will not create totally black and white sharp edges, best for reproduction. Also a sharp edged point on the <b>pencil</b> will have a jagged rather than natural look.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another great tool is to <b>select areas</b> of the composition and go up to Image> adjust> and then go t o <b>invert.</b> This will reverse black to white, and white to black. It is easy to make a very complex drawing in a couple of hours using just these tools.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My plan now is to draw figures, people, faces, landscape elements and animals to be scanned into my computer, and cut them out, and place them carefully over the background I have made, and to continue to draw into the background to reconcile the appearance of the subject with that of the background. This process is much more simple than layering. The modes are not used. The top layer is merged with the background.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To have consistent drawing textures and qualities to tie the series together, I will take parts of the backgrounds previously created and include bits of them into new drawings.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Writing and Images are the© Copyright of Ruth Zachary.<o:p></o:p></i></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-55284994302520016272010-06-20T16:37:00.000-07:002010-06-20T16:37:59.734-07:00ANOTHER EXPERIMENT IN PHOTOSHOP!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh4x28oNs5TbaACBFW7Ac9j_05QtZn9Nn8L86b-_LqBOCHl5xlgLqZUlCebunQ0SNxbHJJOWgpFDKJOg28wE0DIvHRPxNb5ifp3NZ0oTETRGwVUVK-eFVppDXVZlbykHBCarsGxbR84M/s1600/%E2%80%A2M+Drawn+Images+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh4x28oNs5TbaACBFW7Ac9j_05QtZn9Nn8L86b-_LqBOCHl5xlgLqZUlCebunQ0SNxbHJJOWgpFDKJOg28wE0DIvHRPxNb5ifp3NZ0oTETRGwVUVK-eFVppDXVZlbykHBCarsGxbR84M/s400/%E2%80%A2M+Drawn+Images+.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nvc2DbPRp3REhE-xXx-Fv2IuK9hYJzK1Ud7LrY0nglBy4MX9g_QX-qeA-PkQ-GIuBZebInHemth8kq7H4WPrugps15fwi6lr0jqykZWw4xzIlGmvumcms5mxxk23CG-GxYBEpCoSltY/s1600/%E2%80%A2M+Drawn+Images+layered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nvc2DbPRp3REhE-xXx-Fv2IuK9hYJzK1Ud7LrY0nglBy4MX9g_QX-qeA-PkQ-GIuBZebInHemth8kq7H4WPrugps15fwi6lr0jqykZWw4xzIlGmvumcms5mxxk23CG-GxYBEpCoSltY/s400/%E2%80%A2M+Drawn+Images+layered.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;">.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Time Goes Flying By and I Am Running Out of Time.<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, another week has gone by and I still have not made my concept work the way I envisioned. Above are two more attempts.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first is a set of note cards first executed in black ink on white. Since I have already learned black and white do not work in layering experiments, I colored the blacks using the gradient tool. This offers a set of variations of gradients, of which I picked a rainbow colored option, applied diagonally to the images. These still retained the whites but darks were colored at 70%, in color mode and transparency also selected.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The second version shows the image with two layers of abstractions lain over it. The top layer was a magenta composition used in the “overlay” mode, and the second layer was a blue composition used in the “lighten” mode. As you can see, white does not allow the other colors to be seen. Affected colors are seen in the dark areas. This is closer to my original concept, but not satisfactory. Never the less, there are things to be learned from experiments which don’t work, and I do like the color better than pure black and white, where it did work. I like # 2, 4 and 5 the best.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My next approach may be to draw the illustrations using hand made methods without consideration of the abstract designs. I might try copies of layers over copies of these drawings, and experiment with erasing the portions of the overlays that don’t work. At least nothing is lost in these experiments!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Writing and Imagery is the Copyright of Ruth Zachary </span></i></div><br />
<br />
Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-32106185339777099062010-06-13T18:55:00.000-07:002010-06-13T18:55:45.704-07:00GOSH DARN IT!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0VlJKCPw_QSnDpNcmOjqPaeqOkTNesTH1fZ9R1uamDbpbzDBOdmpeSSDuQEGafaaDrCETCBuxYHGz0LEgGQeY4nMjXPWJ2Q4mmb1cVRoNxjIea0Ksz-3_TyGAE_EPlnfFI6qBfxmM5I/s1600/M.+Illumination+2+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0VlJKCPw_QSnDpNcmOjqPaeqOkTNesTH1fZ9R1uamDbpbzDBOdmpeSSDuQEGafaaDrCETCBuxYHGz0LEgGQeY4nMjXPWJ2Q4mmb1cVRoNxjIea0Ksz-3_TyGAE_EPlnfFI6qBfxmM5I/s400/M.+Illumination+2+sm.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Illumination. Experiment by Ruth Zachary.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i> <meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <style>
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</style></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Only
a percentage of these experiments with layers of textures in Photoshop produce something worth while. If
one thing is gorgeous by the end of one work session, I am usually satisfied.
But I have tried several different approaches to the idea I wrote about on May
28<sup>th</sup>, and so far none have resulted in the “look” I was trying to
achieve. Above is an example. It would make a greeting card, but the technique doesn't conform to my vision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-family: Times;">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">I
believe I know why it doesn’t work. White seems to act as an opaque when
layered in many modes, so often the white areas block out the layers underneath.
In the modes which do not destroy transparency, it seems that the blacks and
whites are inverted. I have not tried making different layers more transparent,
and I will try that too, in my next trials, and share my results.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Times;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">But
in the mean time, I think I must work in color… using colored pens, and either
colored pencils or water colors in my “drawn” illustrations for the realistic
sections of my work. I will start small, with small sections only slightly
larger than my eventual illustrations. If the edges are vignetted, (blended)
they may be used in different configurations for future layering, I believe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Times;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, On to the next good thing! All this does take time, and so I'm not blogging as much lately.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Times;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Times;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: Times;">Writing and imagery are the Copyright ©
of Ruth Zachary.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-52140070084817286212010-05-28T18:28:00.000-07:002010-05-28T18:49:35.211-07:00COMBINING ABSTRACTION WITH REALISTIC IMAGERY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZUCjCp7hiyLTHc7jdv9te22aKUlmSXIHYPKDfZXfPX2DxO3jI2KKExdwOym0tXNbBW-Jv3CEClGaLYXYqoaX1SfSjMQXehtJgOr1Ytubh-zsqrHcIw_gGbcZVLjEqoEG5pGW6vQbvcU/s1600/M+Abstract+55+b+sm+web+sz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZUCjCp7hiyLTHc7jdv9te22aKUlmSXIHYPKDfZXfPX2DxO3jI2KKExdwOym0tXNbBW-Jv3CEClGaLYXYqoaX1SfSjMQXehtJgOr1Ytubh-zsqrHcIw_gGbcZVLjEqoEG5pGW6vQbvcU/s320/M+Abstract+55+b+sm+web+sz.jpg" /> <meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beginning a New Project Combining Abstraction and Realism.</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small;">Recently I decided to self-publish some of my poetry, and to illustrate it with about ten images. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For this project, I decided to continue with the abstract work I have been pursuing for the past year and a half, using the same process of layering different textures etc. over each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have proceeded with this process to come up with about 35 different textured abstract images that imply an ethereal impression, which suggest figures, natural animals, insects, and other fanciful creatures to me. Using one such abstract “background” I plan to draw over it with layout paper, and create detailed scenes which these creatures inhabit. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The drawings will be in pen & ink, and colored pencil. They will be drawn in a montage style. Ideally they will emphasize areas which will balance the composition. Once the figurative drawings are scanned into the computer, they will be layered over the composition and treated in the same manner as the abstract work I have previously demonstrated on this blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The overall result I am hoping for is a combination of abstraction and figurative realistic work. Most likely, various selections will be cropped out of the larger image to make up the smaller size illustrations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">For the next few blog posts I plan to show the process in stages.</span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writing and Imagery are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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</style> </div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-68401999245254603682010-05-12T16:11:00.000-07:002010-05-12T16:11:42.539-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6mpoQBWTg0wlgRMlqczrPO3OrKXa7PQdmvPj7ixCrx_jKvhYsh6guC9Q5Oy03NCxfCfbFxJVTXjJFLdSlBZWiqSoPmkr4xKmY4DumdUXXttS9dnSylMwhN5V4CLvF7OTRKQm4_BY5Tc/s1600/%E2%80%A2MWinter+Concert+photo+websz" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until It Is Sold, That Is.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I habitually keep making small changes to a composition as long as it is in my possession. I may put it away for a while, and then some new change seems to occur to me, and I get out the paint again. And to add another thin coat of varnish, and photograph the latest version. Again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is difficult to hang on to a piece until you are sure it is really finished, because there is always some place to show it before you reach that point. I am probably not going to be able to change that habit. For that reason, I tell people I do often change my work. Once it is sold, I have to let it go as is.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t have any problem letting my work go out into the world. This means it is ready to give others pleasure. That is my reason for creating it. Selling work allows an artist to keep on being creative… sustains us so we can continue to buy materials and to live, and to go on being in that creative mental space. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">See my blog of March 29 to see the previous version of <b><i>Winter Concert</i></b>. The changes were made using acrylic glazes to deepen the maroons and balance the composition. (I really do believe it is finished, this time!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Writing and Images are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</i></span> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-24651351689913975582010-05-03T15:54:00.000-07:002010-05-03T15:55:11.513-07:00More Photoshop Experiments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlhcETL_6Vxwnmx7Smq4BjoEMi-w2IfHhwEMkYYpcL83AokaVfz3_mhU6MwmnbZ0KKCacV9eMuuOLncP_3DRZY4uBnZzeI3L1eyH4L0ZXYKr-tlVY4uEsg2b9jtOCZE2OyS-GbEiapxc/s1600/ShiftingUniverse+web+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<h1 style="font-weight: normal;"> .</h1><h1>IMPROVE THE ODDS OF HAPPY ACCIDENTS Part 3</h1><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next experiment is to use three layers in the same way as two layers are used in the previous exercise. The “mode” setting is applied to the <u>top two</u> layers in varied combinations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It is possible to work for hours and not find one happy accident that has potential to become a finished work of art. Other experiments may produce many images that can be the start of something really worthwhile. This approach can be quite time consuming.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are certain elements of composition which make an image more or less effective. When combining layers in Photoshop, using the “mode” setting under the Layers tableau, to create accidental effects, choosing combinations that contain certain elements tend to produce better compositions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">These include: One layer with fine but varied textures, a second with medium to large shapes that will affect the division of the picture plane, and a third with medium sized patterns. A range of light to dark values in all three layers usually result a more dynamic composition. A combination of geometric and organic shapes will also create more interesting images. Usually. They are accidental, after all!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A good composition leads the eye of the viewer to various focal points within the picture plane, but creates enough interest to keep the viewer’s attention for a reasonable length of time. An all-over texture or pattern by itself tends not to offer enough variety to maintain that interest. The artist strives to learn what is effective in achieving this. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the past demonstration, from April 26, three kinds of images were layered to produce a fourth image. Go back to that post to consider the following points about the process of using modes in Layers. The first textural image feels unbalanced. The second is incomplete, and somewhat unsettling. The third (from a tie-dye) is exciting, draws attention, but is rather symmetrical, almost static, and can quickly lose the viewer’s attention. The fourth version, obtained by combining the previous three layers using mode adjustments is more interesting. The three rectangular shapes were created by copying parts of one area into other areas, but more work was needed to command the viewer’s attention. I would add some other shapes, keeping to an uneven number as this us usually more dynamic. I would like to accent the suggestion of depth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later, I did take example #4, and added shapes to make it more interesting. Then I layered it again with two different textural images, resulting in the image above. One was a crackle texture, originally photographed from an old door. The other was a texture created in Kid Pix, which used paint tools, geometric divisions and outlining of the shapes thus created. Experiments with these three layers resulted in an image close to the one shown above. I made color adjustments, dark and light adjustments, and contrast, to deepen areas of the composition. You can see the resemblance to the tie-dye configuration, but now the picture plane contains areas of emphasis, textural interest, and areas of hazy mystery, with a hint of depth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is a study. At some point I will probably print it out. Other papers of related colors and shapes will be added and moved around until the whole is transformed into a pleasing environment where I want to take a vacation for a while.When it seems finished, I will eventually show the finished collage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Images and Writing are Copyrighted © by Ruth Zachary</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-11346371277478755222010-04-26T18:11:00.000-07:002010-04-26T18:13:24.845-07:00ANOTHER EXPERIMENT IN PHOTOSHOP!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3EWQuQzyqmNfX2pl7GdcuvFo1bdxN5pHTImgAoqqi9uARXv60PKXz7hNhI6q1A_qBIIqTz0nubGlRDePDGZ7qVbdw-azgIs_VV8a2c8-Eu6ec0bXUUbRgG4EWlylBtcidPJbzWqRMFY/s1600/M+Demonstration2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3EWQuQzyqmNfX2pl7GdcuvFo1bdxN5pHTImgAoqqi9uARXv60PKXz7hNhI6q1A_qBIIqTz0nubGlRDePDGZ7qVbdw-azgIs_VV8a2c8-Eu6ec0bXUUbRgG4EWlylBtcidPJbzWqRMFY/s320/M+Demonstration2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">USING PREVIOUS HAND MADE IMAGES IN PHOTOSHOP TO CREATE NEW WORK.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The first three layers, scanned into my computer separately from previous works were layered into one Photoshop document<b> </b>and resulted in the fourth image.</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> To achieve this</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">, I pulled down the menu for </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">various modes in the Layers Tableau, and kept selecting different modes in the box, for each of the top two layers. As each layer was changed, it affected the image seen on the screen. Numerous options are possible with this method. I know how each of the original images was made. The first was begun in KidPix, using the paint tools to create the linear textures. The second was a fabric piece from a </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">hands on tie-dye </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">workshop later sewn into a vest. The third was an abstract painting incorporating collage. Next I saved each desirable image as a separate merged document. The last step was to alter those resulting images by adding shapes, repeating shapes, changing colors, sizes and the orientation of some sections within the picture plane. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Images and Writing are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</i></span></span>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-65446897850913794442010-04-19T15:24:00.000-07:002010-04-19T15:27:25.223-07:00EXPERIMENT WITH PHOTOSHOP!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGECE31IgurCV1-YbMZY68eWb_hBO0A9v7bZ3NIW1m8VBNCmgN0oaDQiD6JCWMXgbpiGu40r9bwrsfzPTPVVTZC102Bf5YY8id58F1Nt7HaTxKd6wDik9hRm3UVGG8ZB_h8kWYhl-6Wc/s1600/M+Still+Life+Demo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGECE31IgurCV1-YbMZY68eWb_hBO0A9v7bZ3NIW1m8VBNCmgN0oaDQiD6JCWMXgbpiGu40r9bwrsfzPTPVVTZC102Bf5YY8id58F1Nt7HaTxKd6wDik9hRm3UVGG8ZB_h8kWYhl-6Wc/s400/M+Still+Life+Demo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> <o:p></o:p>PHOTOSHOP CAN WORK FOR PAINTERS, TOO!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>. </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are an artist who likes experimental techniques, this method offers infinite possibilities! If you have a full version of Photoshop, and a scanner, or a digital camera, you can try this. Start with a stack of paintings that aren’t finished, photographs of nature’s textures, or some experiments with painting techniques. Import the images into your computer, at about half the size you would want a finished piece to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I chose a photo of an old still life originally painted in oils, a recognizable subject, to demonstrate the technique will work something realistic or completely non-objective. All my layers were about the same size in inches and the dpi count. This image was 12x18” and 300 dpi. (Dots per inch) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second layer imported was from a painting experiment with spattered paint, and washes of run and flow in blues and greens. A box will appear showing the two layers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The top layer was made active. (The highlighted box shows which layer is active.) An eye in both boxes shows that both layers are visible. The active layer will be affected by what you do to it. It may be predictable, but so far I haven’t found controlling the method results in anything better than I have created purely by accident.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The experimental part of the exercise was to change the <b><i>mode</i></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of the top layer. (Look for the little box above the layers that says “Normal”) A pull-down menu will allow you to run through each of the <i>modes</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">, one at a time. The top layer, if active, will create changes with the bottom layer in combination. Try each of the modes to see which version(s) are worth saving. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do a “save as,” to save the version you like as a jpg, a pdf, or other type of document. The layered version in Photoshop will remain unsaved, so you can keep checking all the <i>mode</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> versions you want to save. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another method for further experiments is to change the top or bottom layer by rotating it, flipping it vertically, horizontally, or by changing the color. The subsequent versions in the same modes may be completely different than from the first run-through. The examples pictured show the change made to the original still life. Ultimately I saved two versions of the still life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some versions may not retain recognizable imagery. It is up to you to decide what to save, and if you like the composition of an abstract versions of your experiments. Ultimately I use the textures or images printed out from these combinations, in collage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">What I love about this approach is that I am not creating an artificial texture by using a filter. I know the painted textures are original because I painted them myself! And the choices are all mine. The computer is my studio, and my set of tools. It maximizes my creativity because it offers unlimited choices!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>.</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Writing and Images are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</span></i> </o:p></span></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-15293332179668853602010-04-13T19:13:00.000-07:002010-04-13T19:13:30.153-07:00COMBINING ORGANIC WITH GEOMETRIC COMPOSITION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghBmKEktgJ1GQ9Zc3fsdAGKMpVmBtiE_nAeVoB2fCMAvMPiChL5427yIxSEBGgL_CnZvXXA5oPA-aGV-jK5W5sANI7TEJrSCQ-01InnJezzCrIt9rsSs1-btIcVldSoMnKsrGtSBl1Jo/s1600/%E2%80%A2piano+suite+pink%23major.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghBmKEktgJ1GQ9Zc3fsdAGKMpVmBtiE_nAeVoB2fCMAvMPiChL5427yIxSEBGgL_CnZvXXA5oPA-aGV-jK5W5sANI7TEJrSCQ-01InnJezzCrIt9rsSs1-btIcVldSoMnKsrGtSBl1Jo/s400/%E2%80%A2piano+suite+pink%23major.jpg" width="400" /> <meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Combining Geometric with Organic Motifs in Abstract Composition<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The above composition is an example of the dynamic effect achieved by combining both organic motifs and geometric elements in the same picture plane.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The pale marbleized textures are contrasted to the sharp straight lines of the geometric shapes. The repeated narrow black shapes remind me of piano keys.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The general effect of the geometric shapes is one of looking straight down at a design with the same depth of field, which creates <u>a two-dimensional composition</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The curved lines and shapes, if predominant could create an impression of depth, or three-dimensional space. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the future I will include examples of organic-geometric combinations, which produce different effects, and attempt to explain how they exemplify particular elements of design and principles of Composition.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><h2><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Images and Writing are the Copyright of Ruth Zachary ©<o:p></o:p></span></h2>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-82300725633953777062010-04-06T11:17:00.000-07:002010-04-06T11:21:17.408-07:00Composition with Abstract Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsopqdjPTqSp4kj4aZVn5pTElSDTcxHMi1xKx8tmPRy_pXHrT96QepBwCX6W2PoI8zqn9xwM1jvzXF15Am4TjYQTa8JMEqiHvA84bZ2SAmbPLN1jpptwkPwWbdMXlOIYpKtVCi7d6ZPg/s1600/Concert-blue+flat+minor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsopqdjPTqSp4kj4aZVn5pTElSDTcxHMi1xKx8tmPRy_pXHrT96QepBwCX6W2PoI8zqn9xwM1jvzXF15Am4TjYQTa8JMEqiHvA84bZ2SAmbPLN1jpptwkPwWbdMXlOIYpKtVCi7d6ZPg/s320/Concert-blue+flat+minor1.jpg" width="208" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOUkiwV4FumnRsVD4nqtrd_V8XP6uujkCraebZXwJU6uMiBOBLDaT844DF8WS0Nza_VB4AesE8pXB7bEt514f4DPhHRDPnpwnwhr4qzs8QTRFnzpFCVQR9Dp6o_aR_bCXgRIOoW0rZ2o/s1600/CONCERT+IN+BLUE+FLA+18X24" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOUkiwV4FumnRsVD4nqtrd_V8XP6uujkCraebZXwJU6uMiBOBLDaT844DF8WS0Nza_VB4AesE8pXB7bEt514f4DPhHRDPnpwnwhr4qzs8QTRFnzpFCVQR9Dp6o_aR_bCXgRIOoW0rZ2o/s320/CONCERT+IN+BLUE+FLA+18X24" /><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/user/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/user/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Composition, whether it contains recognizable imagery or is limited to purely non-objective content, is much the same process. Shapes or forms of varied hues and values, lines, movement, balance, are arranged to create interest, and hopefully to keep the viewers interest for a period of time. Collage is a medium which allows moving shapes, lines and colors around within the picture plane before adhering the papers to a background.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The three images above show the steps this composition went through before the final version was chosen, and also that after choosing the final arrangement, many changes may continue to be made, using acrylic paint. (Not all the images were allowed on this post, but the numbers will identify the order of creation)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">In the first is shown the original computer concept. In the second, is the rearranged version, also on the computer. Paper textures scanned into the computer were used to come up with the layout, and printed out with colorfast inks on archival papers. The computer study was printed out as well, as a 4x6” image to work from. Working small initially helps me to overcome the difficulty I often have with larger scale proportions. The floral images were included at the end to convey the idea of a garden concert. The final image was size 18x24.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Acrylic medium was used to adhere the papers to the canvas, and the finished image, which included tonal washes of acrylic paint to strengthen the composition, and the black border, was sealed with acrylic varnish. The final image was a photograph of the piece. I am having difficulties with my ten- year old camera, and put it on auto focus, which still comes out a little blurry. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The piece expresses a sad theme, using letters written home from soldiers in Iraq, which is why I called it <i>Concert in Blue Flat Minor.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">This piece was shown about one year ago in Greeley’s Madison and Main Gallery for the annual Garden Show.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Please note: I have a new blog site, which features Abstract Art Exclusively. Go to Google and ask for Mixed Media Abstract Art by Ruth Zachary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">This site is about the <u>techniques of creating art</u>, especially in photo montage, and in mixed media collage and includes the various kinds of art I have made in the past, or am creating in the present, and includes both abstract art and realistic art.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><i>Images and Writing are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-14687876674423611582010-03-29T18:43:00.000-07:002010-03-29T18:47:05.305-07:00The Value of the Thumbnail Sketch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvcLkZLe0_vVALsSTS7DdbnhAl8Y9XFR6klWDDEGHM0NHLulKndg_uXsbS3GxRxzeir-ONgv8DOZh4cTjmaKzWJDSR4BQ6gn2J10zQy3vJx-5jTGsuC9fJkLWQ47e5zRjUpG7e8r1uhc/s1600/WinterConcert+%E2%80%A2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvcLkZLe0_vVALsSTS7DdbnhAl8Y9XFR6klWDDEGHM0NHLulKndg_uXsbS3GxRxzeir-ONgv8DOZh4cTjmaKzWJDSR4BQ6gn2J10zQy3vJx-5jTGsuC9fJkLWQ47e5zRjUpG7e8r1uhc/s320/WinterConcert+%E2%80%A2.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This Winter Concert played on into Spring! I can't believe it took me a whole month to show the final result of this collage. (And there still may be more minor changes) As you can see the previous stage of planning this piece was not quite satisfactory. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ideally, changing the initial concept of a piece as the creative urge prompts, allows the most freedom of expression. I have a problem working directly on larger pieces, but working on the computer to make a study where I can make changes is very helpful. It is a matter of scale, and since the change in my vision occurred, I am even more grateful to be able to do some of the work, especially the initial p</span></span>lanning, on the computer. If others who see this also have a hard time working on a large scale, planning a composition as a thumbnail sketch may help you too!<br />
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<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Comments are Welcome!</div><br />
<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Images and Writing are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</i></span></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-22414069226822605432010-03-14T16:28:00.000-07:002010-03-14T16:35:21.884-07:00Visualizing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDIq0IRnSh_MObuD6LJ2VjrPcL5W24lhggoAAvrV7KPHD_xf7e7ngNIaA0g1O8Y_r8MhxcGxmZNaognWymy8j1Tj6IzF9bDRJ_jGcjHdX91NIEPh8zHsZeoB3cb37p-GIZp14ZOTvghQ/s1600-h/+++031410+I-ching5sm+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDIq0IRnSh_MObuD6LJ2VjrPcL5W24lhggoAAvrV7KPHD_xf7e7ngNIaA0g1O8Y_r8MhxcGxmZNaognWymy8j1Tj6IzF9bDRJ_jGcjHdX91NIEPh8zHsZeoB3cb37p-GIZp14ZOTvghQ/s320/+++031410+I-ching5sm+.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Fortune Cookies, Study for Collage, by Ruth Zachary©</i></span></div><br />
Imagining new art is the first step in manifesting it.<br />
<br />
I recently left an invitation on my Mission Page to viewers, other artists or visitors to this site to comment, suggest techniques and to interact with other artists on this site for an exchange of ideas. Perhaps visualizing an ongoing commentary was the first step in manifesting that too.<br />
<br />
And maybe the first step is for people to simply comment. Someone named John recently left a comment on the site, which was highly complementary. Apparently he was responding to an older post, "SUBJECT TREATMENT: More on the Line" He liked the post and the blog in general.<br />
<br />
To John: Thank you so much. Your comments are very encouraging!Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-2250143402018261732010-02-28T15:20:00.000-08:002010-02-28T15:26:31.071-08:00Creating With Collage, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii482CZMQ-vH6GWLoM_zw_FWnTHl67RGiytP1r9jQD0rKYqpuGFjrn7QbGbGIbhtdz6J5u9VH4eixwqQNMhhoF6QrYKyXqoVB2-zuUcIGVa4030V4TjrRujm-qri6TUijckzhMTZdOZrk/s1600-h/Winter+Concert+pix2jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii482CZMQ-vH6GWLoM_zw_FWnTHl67RGiytP1r9jQD0rKYqpuGFjrn7QbGbGIbhtdz6J5u9VH4eixwqQNMhhoF6QrYKyXqoVB2-zuUcIGVa4030V4TjrRujm-qri6TUijckzhMTZdOZrk/s320/Winter+Concert+pix2jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOLB24plSCa1MtLv9tvKEyYJM6_YBbD2Je9Hl8T6WtKty1aw28FGEbKTDQqgdfoYFt6QgCBhUxzNC88vfXG5OrOYjiwodhsoGcuBHEto0dIA5ulQMVKc3JoWiILzChN2BuHh36IKoNsU/s1600-h/Winter+Concert+pix3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOLB24plSCa1MtLv9tvKEyYJM6_YBbD2Je9Hl8T6WtKty1aw28FGEbKTDQqgdfoYFt6QgCBhUxzNC88vfXG5OrOYjiwodhsoGcuBHEto0dIA5ulQMVKc3JoWiILzChN2BuHh36IKoNsU/s320/Winter+Concert+pix3.jpg" /></a></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Winter Concert, Views 2 &3 in Progress. Mixed Media Collage, size 24x30" by Ruth Zachary. Final Version not shown.</span></i><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt;">Process of Collage part 2 -Winter Concert <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The arrangement changed from the original concept as I went along. (See the previous post)The top and bottom were darkened, while the sides were lightened with acrylic grays, and tissue paper layers were applied over that. I do not use colored tissue papers because they are not colorfast. For color, they are painted with acrylic pigments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not satisfied with the composition at that point, I took a photo of it, and imported it back to the computer. Having worked close up and on a small scale for quite some time, I find it difficult to see needed changes when working on a larger scale, unless I experiment first with a smaller version, as on my computer screen. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I proceeded to copy small sections from the original layout and to arrange them in the side panel areas over the gray, turning, flipping and rotating to get something I liked. Repetition helped to tie the sides to the center, and touching the edge promised to anchor the center to the whole. I copied the small sections to one document to print out for the final layout. Adhering these to the panel, I attempted to maintain the sense of movement while retaining quiet areas at the edge to separate the image from the frame.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>Check out my new blog, <b>Ruth Zachary's Mixed Media, </b>which is intended to focus upon my Abstract Art, Patterned Field Landscapes and Geometric Compositions. </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>This blog will continue to feature my Women's Heritage Art, Symbolic Photo-montages and Vintage Photo-montages. Techniques for all of my work, explaining Mixed Media Collage and Montage Art, as well as Abstract Compositions will also continue on this blog site.</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Images and Writing are the © Copyright of Ruth Zachary.</i></span></o:p></span></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-74759798219923591062010-02-22T15:06:00.000-08:002010-02-22T15:08:14.080-08:00Creating With Collage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wFFtmaikV9_VSwiBOYPu6fGzolnL5fYkjLY9sZOsmOuaGHq9ZGUE5-Qavvg3gToKBg3TUK4p56VdVomDE5XNNns02BbX3PnG8VT4KnUB_CHrn2JABp1fw_yqxvNcGeCA4ZGcBq4Duaw/s1600-h/Winter+Concert18x27+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wFFtmaikV9_VSwiBOYPu6fGzolnL5fYkjLY9sZOsmOuaGHq9ZGUE5-Qavvg3gToKBg3TUK4p56VdVomDE5XNNns02BbX3PnG8VT4KnUB_CHrn2JABp1fw_yqxvNcGeCA4ZGcBq4Duaw/s320/Winter+Concert18x27+1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Study for Collage, Winter Concert© Ruth Zachary</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 2in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 18pt;">Process of Collage - Winter Concert</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 2in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-right: 2in; text-indent: 0.25in;">The name refers to the black and white stripes which remind me of piano keys. The other colors are deep and almost somber, like winter, but warm, like being inside on a winter evening.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-right: 2in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-right: 2in; text-indent: 0.25in;">Some of the papers originated years ago, when I began saving papers that were the result of cleaning my print making rollers. The papers were newsprint, something I would never use in collage because of the high acidic content. Still the patterns and textures were so intriguing I couldn’t bear to throw them out. But imported into the computer, and printed on good papers with colorfast inks, the image will retain the details and hold up over time. These textures can be seen in the background grays of the composition.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-right: 2in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">This and other patterns, both geometric and organic, were layered one over the other in Photoshop. When some rich shapes and textures emerged, I cut them apart and arranged them on the computer. The first result could be seen in the long narrow image, and I planned to work from that. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Among various gessoed panels, none were long and narrow. I picked one, sized 24x30” to leave equal space at the edges. The collage would be mounted over a pre-painted dark tone. This separated the image from the frame, even though the borders would later include more elements. The creative process continued as the papers were cut up to be rearranged and adhered to the panel, using clear acrylic medium.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">This is part 1 of 2, to come later.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All images and writing are the copyright © of Ruth Zachary.</span></i></div>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-56430900911053112272010-02-15T15:19:00.000-08:002010-02-15T15:19:45.337-08:00"Virtual" Housecleaning<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks0bYhatyxz6MUiQUcjMWhLFN6O-uFKP2eeRZRLRlue-e59CjUvBg302tiAnk2XvN6j3W260OQYdHuuQHmXR52WrPZxr_HZwlRW7mGTnDQ_cGd7SKViBcvjrSob3XQlNIfX6u4xC1Oxk/s1600-h/+++021510Laura%27s+Refrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks0bYhatyxz6MUiQUcjMWhLFN6O-uFKP2eeRZRLRlue-e59CjUvBg302tiAnk2XvN6j3W260OQYdHuuQHmXR52WrPZxr_HZwlRW7mGTnDQ_cGd7SKViBcvjrSob3XQlNIfX6u4xC1Oxk/s320/+++021510Laura%27s+Refrain.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laura's Refrain. Study for Mixed Media Collage. © Ruth Zachary 2010</span></div><br />
Dear Readers, <br />
<br />
Today, I started another blog, because my work has been evolving over the past year into abstraction as a style. I will not be abandoning my other forms of expression, but I plan to separate the more abstract work from the forms which contain more realistic subject matter. The heading on the new blog includes “mixed media art”. As yet, It is not complete enough to come up with a search on Google. <br />
<br />
My web site at <a href="http://www.rzachary.com/">www.rzachary.com</a> will continue to feature Montage imagery, as will this blog, with more recognizable subjects. This is an effort to meet the needs of people looking for my work on line, so they can find what interests them most. <br />
<br />
Eventually I may have a second website with the abstract work on it, but I am not very proficient with these programs, and my months away from the technical side means I can’t build a website as quickly as I can a blog. <br />
<br />
Today I have done some “virtual” housekeeping, and am removing files from this blog which seem less relevant. I have removed most of the poetry, and eventually will transfer the purely abstract imagery to the other site. The emphasis for this site may also change to address techiques and methods for montage composition. <br />
<br />
Note: Many of the images I have for the web are “studies” because the process of creating the final work results in a changed version. That is the nature of collage. When finished I will take a photo of the final image, but in most cases, final photos are not yet available. <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All writing and images are the exclusive © Copyright of Ruth Zachary 2010. </span></i>Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-43991484970018645292010-02-07T16:45:00.000-08:002010-02-07T16:49:34.370-08:00Being Part of Your Art Community<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbQNN_0iizaoIhoY_fvFJS31c4i2wh2JqP1XXP-0JbEuiqKMByqcycRXlYjVTQm_RtuFrtWeYWdzzToVhXPDN_Fw2V5xugV9LFqjj4xtRUyG1uLvIYCoLxtfkKpESoEh7oRiRpFSP2yQ/s1600-h/+++DeJaVu6x5_X..jpg+copy"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbQNN_0iizaoIhoY_fvFJS31c4i2wh2JqP1XXP-0JbEuiqKMByqcycRXlYjVTQm_RtuFrtWeYWdzzToVhXPDN_Fw2V5xugV9LFqjj4xtRUyG1uLvIYCoLxtfkKpESoEh7oRiRpFSP2yQ/s400/+++DeJaVu6x5_X..jpg+copy" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435657458362606818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >DeJaVu</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Backward Look,</span> Acrylic Collage with photo images, 20x24." $400.
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<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/macuser/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>383</o:Words> <o:characters>2184</o:Characters> <o:company>retired</o:Company> <o:lines>18</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2682</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"New York"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 16777216 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:"New York"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family:"New York"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} h1 {mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:1; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-font-kerning:0pt;} span.Heading1Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 1"; mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Helvetica; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <h1>A Dynamic Art Community Needs You.</h1>
<br />If you want to be part of an exciting art community, it is important to give of yourself. Take part in the events, and give it your best effort. What you offer will have an impact, large or small! Talking to other artists has the potential to affect the attitudes of the Area you live in.
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<br /> <p face="times new roman" class="MsoNormal">Friday Night, I attended an art opening for the Greeley Art Association show, Art from the Heart, held at Showcase Art Center. The show will be up until Feb. 26.</p><p face="times new roman" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">I was very excited to see the wide range of styles, media and subjects shown in the exhibit, something different than other GAA shows I have participated in during the past five years. To me, the change meant that the community of artists here is becoming more dynamic and reflects a growth in ability as well as increased openness to new ideas. I believe it is partly because more artists have followed their own path toward individual styles and modes of expression. I talked with a few artists that I had not met before. It was quite exciting. A wall-to-wall crowd visited the open house reception.
<br /></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">I have been involved in many different artist’s groups, coops and communities since I began my full time art career in 1977. I think it is good to have a good variety of approaches offered by different artists. <span style="">Another </span>positive factor is to include pieces by artists who are at different stages of development, if there is space. <span style=""> </span>What happens is stimulation between contributors, creating mutual cross-fertilization of ideas. When this happens, there is almost always a growth process for the community of artists as a whole. The influence of this process also tends to evolve in a kind of Regionalism for a particular city.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">In the city where I previously was active, Kalamazoo, Mi, there had evolved a regional trend of Surrealism and or Symbolism. Abstractions also took their place among the Impressionistic Landscape images. Printmaking and Photography were also very strong.
<br /></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">I am not advocating any particular style of expression for Greeley. I am pleased to see an atmosphere of openness so that freedom of expression is encouraged through acceptance of a variety of approaches. I am hopeful that an increasing dialogue between artists will occur here. If a different regional character of art emerges in Greeley, the artists who work here and in the areas around Greeley will influence that. It will be exciting to be a part of it.</p><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Creative Process</span>
<br /></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">I had the pleasant surprise of being awarded two ribbons on pieces I entered. All three pieces represented the direction of work of the last year, which I feel is moving toward a synthesis of several different ways of working, which has evolved for the last thirty years. One piece includes faces integrated into an abstract composition, <i style="">“DeJaVu</i>”. The other is completely abstract, titled, <i style="">‘Shape Shifting, Unbeing Myself.”</i><span style=""> </span>All three pieces were acrylic collage; using papers adhered to a gessoed panel. Two incorporated photographic imagery layered in Photoshop within an abstract background, printed with colorfast inks on acid-free paper. I attempted to interpret broad conceptual ideas using a montage of images. I used experimentally painted textural papers and layout papers also. The composition was adjusted in the collage process, including fading some areas, painting over, removing some, and adding geometric shapes. The third piece was titled “<i style="">Dream Fragments</i>.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<br /><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Writing and Image are the Copyright© of Ruth Zachary.</span>
<br />Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270578968669995657.post-73430904897307009262010-01-04T15:47:00.000-08:002010-02-07T17:05:13.681-08:00NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulvBWl14Z1cVBHamQ00UvsNd2zCNwlsRGdM-EqjN1cJM4WTeiOdMIko-Ngz0hyjrWgPNzNrrXXxMr-hmalXkTIC5M8O4nph-6L87-rrJVA0YJ9qBDSvC75V_IBclBLne1Eb_e3X_bBtg/s1600-h/++%E2%80%A2Flight+of+Imagination7+.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulvBWl14Z1cVBHamQ00UvsNd2zCNwlsRGdM-EqjN1cJM4WTeiOdMIko-Ngz0hyjrWgPNzNrrXXxMr-hmalXkTIC5M8O4nph-6L87-rrJVA0YJ9qBDSvC75V_IBclBLne1Eb_e3X_bBtg/s400/++%E2%80%A2Flight+of+Imagination7+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423038419219887186" border="0"></a><div style="text-align: center;"> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>165</o:Words> <o:characters>946</o:Characters> <o:company>retired</o:Company> <o:lines>7</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>1161</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"New York"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 16777216 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:"New York"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family:"New York"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} h1 {mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:1; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; mso-font-kerning:0pt; font-style:italic; mso-bidi-font-style:normal;} h2 {mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-next:Normal; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; page-break-after:avoid; mso-outline-level:2; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; font-weight:normal; font-style:italic; mso-bidi-font-style:normal;} span.Heading1Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 1"; mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Helvetica; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal; font-style:italic; mso-bidi-font-style:normal;} span.Heading2Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 2"; mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Helvetica; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica; mso-hansi-font-family:Helvetica; font-style:italic; mso-bidi-font-style:normal;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><font style="font-style: italic;" size="2">Flight of Imagination. Computer study for Collage</font><br /></div><h1><br /></h1><h1>Not a Dress Rehearsal</h1> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="georgia" size="2"><i style="">I don’t want to act as though anything is different than it is. </i></font><font face="Helvetica"><font style="font-family: georgia;" size="2"><font style=""> </font></font><i style=""><font style="font-family: georgia;" size="2">The only acting I want to do is to act as if I am the person I most want to be; the artist I most want to be in the present moment. That kind of acting is practice, not pretending.</font></i></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><font face="Helvetica"><i style=""><o:p></o:p></i></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica">Hi, Readers,</font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><font face="Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica">I hope you have not given up on me. I am happy to report my Eye Doctor says my Surgery went as well as is possible, and I can look forward to improved vision.<o:p></o:p> I had two cataract surgeries in December, and am trying to limp along with my old “readers” since I must still wait for a new prescription for glasses.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><font face="Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica"><font style=""> </font>The new year often stimulates new plans for an artist, and after a year of not planning much, I am anxious to get on with it. This week I started experimenting with Photoshop, to take up where I left off almost a year ago. The above imagery is a piece in progress, working with layers and making experimental adjustments to the mode and the opacity oprions of the layers. If you like experimenting, you might try this. I used painted textures, painted imagery and photos in different layers.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <h2>Imagery and writing is the © Copyright of Ruth Zachary</h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <!--EndFragment--> Ruth Zacharyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11311274219663141720noreply@blogger.com1