neebie watercolorsketch

[mead]

This a watercolor I did using a technique of Mal Firths.

It is my grandparents house. Could I have done anything differently?
Thanks,kat

[DannyRaphael]

Hi Kat:

RE: Could I have done anything differently?

When you use Mal's technique (as well as most others), the result is applied throughout the image, which is fine for some images. In this case I think having all that sharp texture in the foreground draws attention away from the house.

Since the house is the object of interest, I'd try to give it more importance than the equally textured foreground.

Here's a possiblity. If nothing else it should tickle your imagination:
* Duplicate your existing Mal sketch imange, then close it (for safety purposes)
* If not flat already Layer > Flatten the duplicate
* Duplicate the Background twice; turn top layer off.
* Middle layer: Apply Gaussian Blur until most of the roughness in the front yard is gone.
* Middle layer: Lower opacity to 50%
* Middle layer: LAYERS > Add layer mask > Hide All (black thumbnail appears)
* Middle layer: Foreground color set to white. Choose a 100-150 pixel soft brush, opacity = 50%-80%, flow = 25-40% or so, airbrush option on. Airbrush on the image in the in areas where you want to soften the distracting texture. Overdo it? Switch to black to restore some detail.
* Middle layer: Adjust opacity as desired to control overall softening effect
* Top layer: Turn on & set blend mode to Multiply
* Top layer: Apply Gaussian Blur (radius=your call) to give the image a little more color + add a bit of a glow.

For what it's worth, here's one possibility.

Hope this helps.
~DannyR~

[Mal Firth]

I went for an autumnal scene

* Duplicate your existing Mal sketch image, then close it (for safety purposes)
* If not flat already Layer > Flatten the duplicate
* In Levels set left hand slider to about 70
* In Hue and Satch set Saturation to about 50
* Duplicate the Background twice; turn top layer off.
* Middle layer: Apply Gaussian Blur to about 2
* Middle layer: set Blending Mode to Lighten
* Top Layer: set Blending Mode to Lighten
* For the dark border I sampled the dark part of the tree to the left of the house.

You now have what appears to be a path starting from the bottom right, leading upwards to the left between the autumn leave(?) and then swinging right to the house

[mead]

Danny and Mal, I see the difference. I thought it bland, but didn't know what to do with it.
Danny, anxcious to try the airbrush, never used it on a pic before.

Mal, I have played with this technique more times than I can count. I love it.I saw your biking pictures and was hooked.

Hope I can come close to what you both have achieved. They both look great.

Thanks for your time. kat