PHOTO ART: Mini-Challenge #06

Here’s another “mini-challenge” to play with in the Photo-based Art category.

Unlike “official challenges” for this forum posted here (http://www.retouchpro.com/challenge/art/index.html), this one will be self-contained within this thread. It is intended as an opportunity to engage in this artform until the next official challenge is posted.

The rules are more-or-less the same:
* It’s a challenge, not a contest -- intended to provide opportunities to experiment, share methods and/or techniques.
* Everyone who participates is a winner.
* There’s no expiration date.

- - - - - - - - - - -

#6 – Rowboat at the Dock

Here's another image with gobs of Photo-based Art potential.

Guidelines:
1. Use any method, application(s), style(s) you like:
. * Convert to sketch, grayscale, abstract, watercolor, oil, pen-and-ink, Conte crayon, impasto, van Gogh :) or any style of your choosing
. * Add elements from other images (collage)
. * Wanna add animation? Go for it. (jumping fish? drain the lake?)
. * Hand painting? Tracing? Freehand? You bet. Always appreciate entries of this nature.
. * Apply filters from your favorite application(s)
. * Tweek it with 3rd party plug-ins

Bottom line: How you create your next masterpiece makes no difference. Whatever floats your boat as long as you follow guideline #4 in the process.

2. When done, reply to this thread and attach your work (don’t forget the 100kb size limit).

Note: Multiple entries OK if you’re so inspired.

3. By all means include some verbiage on how you achieved your masterpiece so others will benefit from your skills and experience. Make it as descriptive as you like. Grammar and spelling will not be graded. Priority given to content, not how it is written.

4. Have fun.

So what are you waiting for? It's time to have FUN! :)

~DannyR~

nothing fancy ...
tom

Hey Tom, you're getting pretty good at that animation stuff. Love it. :D
DJ

Somehow the bridge was more fun...but here's a moderate rendition.
:wavey:

Here's my attempt.
First I duplicated the layer just for safety.
then I used Palette knife filter set at 3, 3, 0
then cross hatch set at 9, 8, 1
followed by canvas texturizer set at 100%, 4 and light at the top.
Then adjusted the image size and here it is.

sorry I was having trouble uploading But it looks like it worked after all.

Sanda
looks like a painting on canvas ....very nice
tom

Hi Sanda:

How's things down under? Glad you had time to play with this one.

I agree with Tom... the canvas effect is very arty. I like it a lot. Looks like you had fun, which is the point, right?

~~~~~~~
Phil:

The work you did on the color REALLY brings this image to life. I compared your results to the original -- and what a difference. Didn't realize (until I saw your rendition) how DULL the colors were to begin with.

~~~~~~~
Tom:

I've begun looking forward to your animation creativity. If yer boat's gonna catch fire, why not while it's IN the water! How convenient! LOL.

~~~~~~~
Here's a different twist. Sometimes I like to convert an image to grayscale and then add a little color to one or two items in the foreground.

To convert the image to grayscale w/o damaging the original Background layer I used a Channel Mixer adjustment layer set to monochrome and messed with the R, G & B sliders a bit.

The Background layer was duplicated and desaturated before applying the vanilla Find Edges filter. I used a Levels adjustment layer (grouped with the Find Edges layer) to give the lines some distinction and remove much of the midtone noise. The blend mode was set to Multiply to neutralize the white, letting the Background layer show.

Added a final layer on the top of the layer stack where some color was airbrushed on via History Brush.

Keep having FUN!

~Danny~

Danny,
Things are pretty good here in OZ, a bit cold but that's to be expected for winter. It got down to -4c here the other night, I know that wouldn't be cold for most of you guys but for us sun-loving Aussies it's pretty cold. I've been wanting to do some of the challenges for a while but I've been pretty busy with work and family but I had a bit of time on my hands and played with this mini challenge. It was a lot of fun.

Danny
that turned out great...the patch of color is a nice effect.
I think there was some artist that used this method effectively...name escapes me...(in one of the largest escape in history
:D )
tom

:oldman:

Here is the first of two entries from me. :) I did both in PhotoImpact 7, however both came out of a rather long process of trying different artistic and other effects as well as layer/object copies of the image overlayed using different merge methods that I can't note exactly what I did for either.

For some reason that I can't pinpoint, I happen to like this version better than the first one I posted.

Tom:

Appreciated your kind words. Thanks... :hat:

~~~~

Jim...

Of the two I prefer #2 also. It's because of the more random-like brush strokes.

If you took #1 for the colors (which I preferred color-wise over #2) and apply the brushiness of #2, I think that combo would really be something.

Ya done good. Keep havin' FUN!

~Danny~

Originally posted by DannyRaphael

Of the two I prefer #2 also. It's because of the more random-like brush strokes.

If you took #1 for the colors (which I preferred color-wise over #2) and apply the brushiness of #2, I think that combo would really be something.


Danny, I tried as best I could to do just that. However, I didn't save the settings I used with the brushed effect in the second image and what I have here is the best I could come up with... :classic: It is close in style but not exact.

There you go. My hands down preference of the three, Jim.

Art by collaboration: What a concept! :)

We're havin' FUN now!

:bow:


Wow...I'm humbled (don't tell my wife I used the "H" word, she wouldn't let me hear the end of it)...you guys do some great work !!!

Well, since I'm on my humbled knees already, here's my entry.

Corel Photo Paint 9

1) Opened and copied image...worked on copy
2) Applied filter Texture - Stone
3) Saved image
4) Desaturate image
5) Applied filter Texture - Elephant Skin
6) Applied filter Creative - Frame
7) Restored color to certain areas of image using Clone From Saved, that is equivelent to History Brush in Photoshop
8) Applied Drop Shadow all the way around

It was a lot of fun working on the "Rowboat"...Thanks, Danny.

AH

Oh WOW, AH! I like what you did with that picture! Restoring some of the color and the texture, it all works well together! :)

Jim, I know what you mean about #2 I really like that for some reason as well. I think I like the colours (Aussie spelling) and I like the "feel" of the picture. Well done.

Jim...

I'm with Sanda...the "colours" (love that spelling, can just hear that Aussie accent now !!!) in # 2 are fabulous.

The whole image has an "etheral" look to it.

AH

Jim
I like both ...but the difference in #2 is striking...

tom

Awesome challenge with some really impressive results. There are some really creative approaches to the image.

Earl

Ahh... I couldn't resist trying my hand. I'm really into multiple smart blur/edge only layers lately. I added some texture, which I don't normally do. Seems to fit this image.

Mike

Very nice Mike
It has a quaint old fashioned post card look to it.
tom

Hey, Mike:
Welcome to RetouchPRO!

Glad you found the site and especially this forum. We're always looking for creative and talented folks like you to jump into the pool with the rest of us.

I like what you did with this one. Texture looks most appropriate. Smart Blur / Edge Only is among my favorite effects. It can be used in many ways.

I'll probably be posting another in the mini series in the next day or so, but in the mean time by all means take a swipe at any of the other mini-challenges if you're so inclined.

Also, if you have a couple photo-art images you'd like to share, feel free to post 'em in the public gallery. (Main menu[top left], select Gallery and you're there.)

Again, welcome aboard. If you have any questions by all means send me personal mail (PM button below).

~DannyR~

After seeing all of the awesome images this morning, I had to clear time and take a shot at the rowboat challenge. Was a great way to spend a few hours while it rained most of the afternoon.

This version uses two different brush strokes to try and more closely simulate how an artist might do this image.

Great Fun
Earl

This is a second version trying to simulate the way the dock etc might appear to a sailing vessel returning to port.

Danny.... is this image the classic lobster house from Rockport, Massachusetts? Looks just like it if not. Have a picture of it somewhere from before it was destroyed/rebuilt the last time.

Thanks for the great challenges and a place to have some fun with others of like interest.

Earl

Earl:

I knew it was going to be good. I just didn't know it was going to be this good. Greatly appreciate your particiation. The strokes are wunderbar.

Hope you'll be able to play along it the future. Your entries will always be a highlight.

~Danny~

Thanks Danny, I enjoyed doing it. I need to try and spend a little time each week doing something like this to just have fun. I enjoy the photoshoots and other work, but this is real fun. The other people and their great ideas really make it a great learning experience.

Looking forward to more.

Earl

All these pictures are awesome. All have their own strong points. Serious or funny, looking old and not looking anything like a photo.
I am disturbed by the composition of the picture, however. The red shack is prominently in the center.
I decided that the boat should get the attention.
First I cropped the image to give prominence to the boat. Raised the resolution to 300.
I copied the background into a new layer. Using the art history brush (size 5) I brushed the whole picture giving me a blob of colors.
Then going over again, (brush size 2 or 3) this time as if I was painting (following the lines and contour of the objects).
I think I achieved somewhat a watercolor impression of the photo.
Lastly, I reduced the red color to around .70 (Level adjustment).
Reduced the file size then unsharp mask.

Here's what it would look like if you bought it in a box.
Did any one of you use this?
I got my feet wet so to speak using these kind of kits.
Come on, fess up.

Boy howdy! I've been working on this one for a week, a little each day as I couldn't stand the stress very long at a time :) So here is my oil of this one.
I used the simple smudge tool on an empty layer in overlay mode.
Enjoy!

What an effort! That must have taken a LOT of patience and use of magnifier tool!

The only thing that could have taken you longer was doing it in pointillism. Try THAT sometime if you want to pull your hair out. I actually know someone who sits and makes little dots on paper and when she is finished it is a work of art, but MAN - I couldn't do that, or even what you did here with the smudge tool.
:wavey:

Thanks pal, for the kind comments. Actually it isn't difficult at all. It just takes patiences and time. After a while you catch on to how the Smudge Tool behaves and then you can get the effect you need. It was fun!

Angue:

OK. I confess. I used to do these kinds of picture puzzles when I was a kid.

Nice job on your rendition.
============
Woody:

The time was well spent.

Awesome effort.

On the other hand, this took about 5 mins. I used smart blur with 48/80
settings, then added texturizing with
2 pixel setting, and wah lah!

Woody, your oil painting is one of the best things I've seen on Retouchpro. The results were worth all the time you put into it! Wish I could give you a 5-star rating here! Oh what the heck...here are six:

* * * * * *

Phyllis :)

Hippie, that rendition is really wonderful. I love the texture and the softness...reminds me of an expensive notecard. I am going to run out of stars! Here are six for you too!

* * * * * *

There are so many good entries on this scene...must be one of those scenes just meant to be painted! I think I already posted applause for Angue's "paint by numbers and some of the others," but if not, they deserve it, because every single one of these is a unique and lovely interpretation. Best results yet on any scene, in my opinion.

Phyllis :)

Shucks Phillis.... :D You're too kind. But I do like doing them. I have done more since this one. Mabe I should post some more?

Woody

Not much to say.. Watercolor, all work is in Photoshop

So many wonderful renditions - all suitable for framing :bow: :bow:

Margaret

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Woody
[B]Shucks Phillis.... :D You're too kind. But I do like doing them. I have done more since this one. Maybe I should post some more?

Maybe? Don't tease me, Woody. Don't make me beg. :)

Phyllis

Gosh Phylis, I didn't measn it that way...

Heres my attempt. Dont know what art style this is, wasnt really going for one in particular, just fooled around with blending modes and such and found a cool effect.

Wow, whenever a get a few decent ideas and a nice source image, i just cant stop! Heres another try at it. Once again, not really sure what it is or how i made, but it sure was fun (isnt that the important part?).

"Isn't fun the important part?" - Darkstar
Without a doubt.

If you fold in a little learning / expertise building with the fun, you have a perfect recipe.

Keep 'em coming.

Ooooh Woody you have done it again...I love that pic of the barn by the mountains! Intense colors, soft but penetrating at the same time. Why don't you send that original to Danny so he can post it as a mini for us all to do...looks like one with endless possibilities. Pleeeeeez?
And let us see more! (Can't get enough of Woody :)

Darkstar, I love your first one...the dark one. The black edge detail really sets off every detail of the town, not just the stuff in the front. Great effect!

Phyllis

Phyllis, I'm afraid that the original pic is not mine. I borrowed it off a web site to practice on, so I don't think it would be a good idea to post it for all to work on as I do not own the image.

Woody

Okay, Woody, that makes sense.

Darn it. :(

Phyllis

I waited a long time before trying this challenge since there were SO MANY excellent interpretations that I had trouble of thinking of something new and different. Finally I changed the season!

First I inverted a dupe to make darks light and lights dark. then altered the color on hue/saturation.

I made the snow by eliminating the final (blurring step) of the blizzard action that came with PS7 and just blurred the sharp flakes with gaussian blur instead of the motion blur the action used, then reduced that layer to a fourth its size and spread those smaller versions over the layer.

Last I used an outline method on a b/w layer and blended it at low opacity to bring out edges which had been hidden too much by the snow.

Phyllis
www.innographx.com

Very nice Phyllis! The season change did the trick! I like the accumulation of snow near the water's edge.

Woody

P.S. I took delivery of a WACOM tablet yesterday. I highly recomend it! I've got a lot to learn about it but so far it is spectecular on selection work. See attachment.

Woody,
Do you mean that all your photo art challenges were done using only a mouse?

I am impressed more than ever. :bow:

Tony

Yes, up 'til now. I have not submitted anything yet using my Wacom tablet, except the tiger knockout.

Woody:oldman:

Glad to see you guys-n-gals are still having fun with this mini. Keep 'em coming!

Phyllis: It's TOO EARLY to start thinking snow! (nice pic, anyway)

~Danny~

Rowboat

Duplicate image

Selected Water and put it into it’s own layer as Layer > New > layer Vie Copy. Selected Filter > Distort > Ocean Ripple, ripple size = 9, ripple magnitude = 9.

Selected Boat and put it into it’s own layer as Layer > New > layer Vie Copy. Selected Filter > Find Edges > Opacity 36, Levels = 116,2.42,241.

Selected House and put it into it’s own layer as Layer > New > layer Vie Copy. Selected Filter > Find Edges > Opacity 39, Levels = 106,0.61,247.

Selected Traps and put it into it’s own layer as Layer > New > layer Vie Copy. Selected Filter > Find Edges > Opacity 26, Levels = 51,207,223.

Selected Wall and put it into it’s own layer as Layer > New > layer Vie Copy. Selected Filter >Artistic > dry brush , Brush size = 2, Brush Detail = 8 and Texture = 1, Opacity 64.

Selected Background and put it into it’s own layer as Layer > New > layer Vie Copy. Selected Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur, Radius = 2.2. Filter Noise > Add Noise … just a little.

Selected Filter > Render > Lighting Effects > 2 O’clock Spotlight, on end of house.

Selected Air Brush Tool and the color Black and burnt in the corners.

Flattened.

Don


:cool:

Hi Don:

WELCOME! to Retouch Pro and, in particular, the Photo-art forum.

Really like what I could see of your pic (see below); subtle colors and texturing. Greatly appreciate the great detail in your description, too.

Do me a favor: Try opening the attachment on your machine. On mine I only get about the top 1/3. Is it me? If so, I'll have to kick my computer (again)! :) If not try a re-upload. Click EDIT for your post and in the 'attachment' box, select 'upload new attachment' and go from there.

Again, welcome. Hope to see more of your work, along with the stellar detail.

~DannyR~

Looks like all my image didn't get there ... will try again.

Don

Ah... Now that I can see the whole picture, I like it even more!

Your careful background blurring and isolation of the building/boat + very realistic water treatment is very, very effective.

Hope you have time in the near future to plow through a few more of these. Great stuff.

By blurring the background like that you gave it a 3D look that is really cool. Reminds me of a scene in a veiw master.
DJ

Thanks Danny and DJ ... I appreciate your comments.

Don

Very cool effect. I second DJ's comment. Looks like a diorama.

Tony

Here's my 2nd attempt.

Here's my last attempt.

While I like the color version, the grayscale one is simply outstanding, Steve.

Thx for not giving up on this site. djr.

Trimoon,
I like them both . Did you colorize the bw image or did you grayscale the colored image?

Nice touch on adding the American flag.

Tony

Think you Danny & Tony for your comments.
I used the channel mixer and high pass filter

You are a genious Steve!

I really love the color version.

Lisa

This is a quick an easy way to create a painted look...

Duplicated Layer
Applied gaussian blur - radius 3
Changed layer to Darken and lowered opacity to 80%
Applied a Curves Adjustment
You can stop here but....

To add a bit more depth...
Added a new layer
Stamp Visible
Change Blending mode to Overlay
Desaturate
Fade Desaturate
Emboss

Now to lower the details...
Applied smart blur

Now for some texture...
Splat's resurface filter set to canvas

And to brighten it up...Equalize.

~T

Very impressive, T...

Glad you brought this one back to life. It's one of my favorite images among the mini's. Appreciate all the "how to" detail, too.

~Danny~

Matters not "how" Andrew... what counts is what it looks like when you're done! I'd forgotten that with the right pic to start with VP-Gouache has the ability to render very pleasing results, like this.

I'm gonna have to dust off VP again. The loss of sleep tonight will be your fault. Thanks for the inspiration! :)

~Danny~

So much for dusting off VP... I got distracted and went another direction. Though this may look like it was generated via Find Edges or Glowing Edges (inverted), it wasn't.

Layer Stack
Fixed blotches with Patch Tool
Merged visible (all below)
Adjustment Layer: Posterize (6)
Copy of original layer to which Find Edges applied (Multiply, 50%)
Adjustment Layer: Levels
Adjustment Layer: Hue/Saturation (-100)
Adjustment Layer: Invert
Copy of original layer, blend = Difference
Copy of original layerwhich Dust & Scratches applied.

Framed with 6pxl white and 3 pxl black strokes.

~DannyR~

I think I got the thread out of sequence now. Immediately after posting I deleted my message so I could repost a different version with a larger frame area. Now I'm posting it. The method rendering is still the same -- Virtual Painter's Gouache. And my comment was the using a single filter feels almost like cheating.

Danny,

Your layer stack came out very well. Looks like an etching.

Danny

That sketch was just outstanding..... very very nice. Can't wait to see if I can even come close. Thanks for the great steps.

Steve, I love the colored version...wow!

TPaul, that's a great quick oil painting look...just enough canvas texture to look realistic.

Danny, lots of detail in that outline version... I can think of many uses for it.

Andrew, I especially like the greens in this...on the trees and in the water...looks "just right" to me. And all that from a single filter? Wow! Well, if you didn't get to be creative on the pic itself, at least you came up with a creative title for it! :)

Phyllis

Another candidate for my virtual painter spree. :)

Bottom to top

A) VP watercolor
B) VP Pointillism—Soft Light
C) VP Pastel—Lighten
D) VP Oil Painting—Color
E) VP Gouache—Lighten
F) VP Impasto—Pin Light
G) VP Collage—Soft Light
H) Filter—Stylize—Find Edges—Soft Light
I) Soft Sketch layer—Multiply
a. Desaturate
b. Duplicate
c. Invert top copy
d. Color Dodge and Gaussian Blur (high 4-8)
e. Merge down and duplicate again
f. Multiply and Gaussian Blur (high 4-8)
g. Merge down
J) Add Texture

Cloned out the couple.
Duplicated layer (BG copy #1) and set Brightness = 15, contrast = 20.
Duplicated layer (BG copy #2).
On BG copied #1 apply cutout (8,3,3)
Selected BG copy #2, set blend to soft light and opacity to 80%.
Merge down.
Applied smart blur (2,20,low,normal)
Set Hue =5, Saturation =20
Applied Art Paper texture

Catia

Another Impressionist made rendering. Used Unplugged Colors Saturation filter (unfortunately the Unplugged filters are no longer free; I will one day purchase the Unplugged X filters; fortunate that I still have a copy of the free filters) to enhance the color saturation. Also used Unplugged Tools Renaissance filter to both primitize further the rendering as well as despeckle the white areas (remnants from Impressionist filter process). Also did some smudging for additional cleanup. :)

What a stunning pic. Glass Ripple with Hard Light Blending

I agree with you Cassidy Great picture will have to have another go later ! !

Palms

Ditto...great picture, and nice art going on too.

I used BuZZ and Photoshop.

Cathy :happy:

Impressionist: Finger Paint/Image/25/100/100.

Cheers

Dave

Another attempt this time just a sketchy effect

Palms

I agree, a great pic to work with and marvellous results!

Did some preparation on this in PSPRO and used the new Redfield Sketchmaster (WOW...great plugin!). Liked the result just fine but took it a step further in Painter. Watercolours.

Neve, you're a busy girl today. This is really nice. I'm glad to hear you like Sketchmaster. I bought it a while back and so far haven't found it very useful. I need to spend some more time playing with it.

Looks a bit like Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.

Steve

Another rendition for your purusal. Or you can just look it over. 8-)

Steve

Thank you Catherine! I've done some sketches of the grandkids with top results :wink:

Steve, this is great, how did you approach simplifying your image please?

OOPS - you just posted another, I'm referring to your first one :wink:

Glad you liked it Neve, thanks.

Used good ole Buzz to begin with then fooled with blends, saturation, & opacity till I got close to what I liked. I have a tendency, as many do I guess, to keep playing with an image. Have found, however that this will sometimes really increase size if you are not careful, and I end up squashing everything to make it fit.

Steve


Steve, this is great, how did you approach simplifying your image please?

OOPS - you just posted another, I'm referring to your first one :wink:

Thank you Steve, I really couldn't detect it was Buzzed. I have Buzz Simplifier and use it to a fair degree but don't get a result like this.

Many great rendering here !

This looked liike an interesting picture to do in Photoshop and use the Impressionist filter. I did many combinations and now not sure if I can replicate it. Anyway here it is.

mostly Mehdi EdgesFX at various settings each applied to copy of original and layered and blended in too many modes :D
final texture added and a simple brushed border