Comfort Cottage

Back to the Studio

Hello, my friends!  It's good to be back.  I've been out of the studio for a few days, enjoying the celebration of Christmas.  I've actually spent most of the last two days in the kitchen - a rarity for me.  It was good to know that I haven't forgotten how to cook!  We had a houseful yesterday.  My wonderful son, Michael, turned twenty, so a birthday celebration always immediately follows Christmas.

Before the holidays, I had started a painting that I was finally able to finish this morning.  It's primarily an abstract work, with suggestions of realism.  I didn't have a particular plan in mind when I began.  I just allowed it to evolve naturally.

 

 

The Ascent

Acrylic on Canvas

14" x 18"

 

I wish you peace and contentment as this year comes to a close.

 

Until next time,

 

A Break From Christmas

I've been spending so much time working on my Christmas Journal and winter digital art lately!  I've kind of missed my watercolors.  I've had this painting on the table for awhile, and I decided to finish it.  Right about now, when the weather is drizzly, damp and cold, I'm really starting to miss Maine.  It's way too early in the season for that - not even officially winter yet.  Now, I have the next best thing:  a painting of Maine.  I used a photo I took in August of a scene in Stonington Harbor on Deer Isle.

 

 

Stonington Afternoon

Watercolor and pen and ink on 140lb. cold press paper

9 x 12

 

I can still dream!

 

Until next time,

 

In The Bleak Midwinter

Hello there!  I have the Day 7 offering for Kim Klassen's Twelve Days of Texture.

 

 

I combined two of my photos in Photoshop CS5 and used several of Kim's textures.  Here's the layer by layer:

Layer 1:  kkEdward; blend mode: normal; opacity:  47%;  with a gradient overlay

Layer 2: Fence photograph; Blend Mode: color burn; opacity: 100%

Layer 3:  Lily photograph; Blend Mode:  Lighten; Opacity: 94%; added an Underpainting filter; added a layer mask to paint out unwanted parts of photo

Layer 4:  kkCosmos; Blend Mode: Screen; Opacity: 100%

Layer 5:  copy of kkCosmos; Blend Mode: Screen; Opacity 100%

Layer 6:  kkScratched Magic; Blend Mode: Screen; Opacity 100%

Layer 7:  Font: Enid; Opacity 85%; drop shadow; Stroke: color, black; size 3pts

 

In The Bleak Midwinter is a beautiful hymn, written by Gustov Holst in 1905.  The lyrics were penned by  poetess, Christina Rosetti.   The hymn was masterfully reworked by the late singer/songwriter, Dan Fogelberg, and recorded for his 1999 Christmas CD, The First Christmas Morning.  The song expresses the poignant desire of a soul wishing to give something to his Lord in gratitude for the gift of His Son.  The only gift worthy of his Lord is his heart.

I created this work in honor of Dan, who passed away on December 16, 2007.  His was a beautiful soul, and he is joyfully remembered and sadly missed.

 

Until next time,

 

Christmas Past

Another offering for Kim Klassen's Twelve Days of Texture!

 

 

I captured this image of a vintage bicycle last year.  The building it is leaning against dates back to the early 1700's.  My Photoshop CS5 recipe:

 

Bottom Layer:  Kim's Zuzu texture; blending mode:  normal; hue adjusted toward the magenta side; opacity: 77%

Photo Layer: In color; Blending mode set to Normal

Copy of Photo Layer:  photo converted to black and white; bumped up the curves settings; added a noise filter;  added a sepia toned photo filter; added a layer mask to loosely paint the poinsettias back in (I set the brush to 20% flow); blending mode:  Darken

I then merged the Photo layer and the Copy of Photo layer.

Top Layer:  Kim's Annabelle texture, inverted; blending mode: Color Dodge; opacity 100%

 To learn more about Kim, the Twelve Days of Texture, and for free textures, class offerings, and links to all of the "Twelve Days" participants, click here.

Have a fabulous day!

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

Love Came Down At Christmas

This was supposed to be Day 4 of Twelve Days of Texture at Kim Klassen Cafe, but it's after midnight.  It's now Day 5!

 

 

I used two of my photos for this one.  Both photo layers have a drybrush filter and a colored pencil filter applied to them.  I tweaked the settings until I got the look I was after.  I also used Kim's Cosmos texture above the photo layer, inverted, set to screen with a reduced opacity.  The font is Aquiline and the quote is by Christina G. Rosetti.  To see more texture art, click here to find all the links.

 

Until next time,

 

Twelve Days of Texture

Kim Klassen is having a wonderful twelve day texture-fest over at the Cafe.  I'm jumping in on Day 3.  I posted the original photo a little earlier today in my previous post.  I added a few layers of Kim's Lilly texture and added a "posterize" adjustment layer to the photo layer in Photoshop CS5.

 

 

For some beautiful examples of digital artistry combining photography and texture, you can click here to go straight to the Twelve Days of Texture event at the Kim Klassen Cafe.  You'll find all the links there!

 

See you again soon!

 

A Haddonfield Christmas

Today, since I don't have my latest journal entries done yet, I wanted to share a few photos from my day in New Jersey.  My sister and I had originally thought of going to Pitman, but we ended up in Haddonfield.  We were blessed with a beautiful day. 

 

 

We wandered into a shop called Patricia of Mullica Hill.  It was a cross between an antique store and a home decor shop. 

 

 

I love the wool-applique pillow on the sofa.

 

 

Isn't the quilt wonderful?

 

 

Don't they look cozy?

 

 

A splash of berries and greens.

 

 

I just love their cute little faces and bright red sweaters!

 

 

A country Christmas tree.

 

 

This cute kitty is the perfect way to salvage what's left of an old, threadbare quilt.  Isn't that a gorgeous piece of furniture?

 

 

 

The lovely painting makes me want to run for the paint brushes!

 

 

 

A colorful choir.

 

 

I love the way the left side of this cabinet angles back. 

 

 

We eventually made it to the tea shop, where I finally found this year's new ornament for our tree.   Lorrie and I had lunch at a new sandwich shop.  While we were there, the middle school let out.  This particular shop seemed to be their destination.  I really love middle-school age kids.  They always make me smile.  They were actually all quite polite, and their cheerful, noisy presence added to the holiday mood...and I'd forgotten just how much they can eat!

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

A Weekend of Journaling

This was a quiet weekend, so I got some of my Christmas Journal done.

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of today and tomorrow will be a blur.  My husband's annual office Christmas party is Wednesday.  That means lot's of work for Terri.  I'll be making chocolate covered pretzels today and trying to figure out a gift for the gift exchange.  I won't be able to do any of this tomorrow.  I'll be traveling to New Jersey to spend a day with my sister Lorrie.  We're planning a day of shop-hopping and lunch in Pitman.  It is a wonderful little town that has plenty of Christmas cheer to offer. 

I hope you are not stressing too much over holiday preparations.  This is a beautiful time of the year, if we just remember the true reason for celebration.  I'm thinking of all of you.  You have a special place in my heart, my friends.

 

Until next time,

 

Signs Of The Season

Since I started a few days late on my journal, I've been running behind.  I decided to do today's topic today, and catch up on the rest as I'm able.  So, no, you didn't lose five days, I just gained them!

 

Today's subject was signs of the season.  I took out my camera and photographed many of my old Christmas friends.

 

 

 

Journaling:  The signs of the season are abundant here.  The quilts, paintings, and ornaments are treasured old friends.  They are cheerful reminders of goodness and blessings.

 

Are there special ornaments or treasures that hold a place in your heart?  I'd love to hear about them.  I wish all of you goodness and blessings. 

 

Until next time,

 

How's The Weather?

This is Day 2 of my Christmas journal. 

 

 

The weather for Day 2 was anything but Christmas-like.  It was downright balmy!  I shot these photographs on a day a few years ago that was much more appropriate for Christmas.

 

 

I had a little story I wanted to tell, so I added an insert.

Journaling:  When my sister and I were small, growing up in New Jersey, we had colossal snowstorms.  One winter, our Dad joined us outside.  He got a bucket and we filled it over and over, turning out piles of snow bricks.  We were fascinated as he worked with us, erecting a huge igloo in our backyard.  We had fun playing in it for a week!

 

 

I finally found a use for the sticky-back felt I found at the dollar store!

 

 

Journaling:  Now this is Winter...snow on the ground and a chill in the air, my breath turning to steam as it meets the frozen atmosphere.  There embedded in the crystaline powder is the evidence of a lonely traveler.  I am grateful for the warm shelter that is home.

 

Do you have a snowstorm story to share?  I'd love for you to share it here. 

 

Until next time,