[DannyRaphael]

FIRST MINI-CHALLENGE -or- NEW TO PHOTO-ART?
See below for "Information and Guidelines."

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PHOTO ART: Mini-challenge #35 – Christmas Collage

Here’s another “mini-challenge” to play with in the Photo-based Art category until the next major challenge is posted here.

The base images can be downloaded by clicking the link near the bottom of this lengthy introduction!

NOTE: There are multiple base images for this mini-challenge. Use as many as you wish.


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I know what you’re thinking: #35? Where did this come from? To make a long story short, I messed up. I was taking inventory and realized #35 was missing. Now I feel complete.

This group of photos is complments of Ian Britton, site owner / administrator of www.FreeFoto.com.

Tis the season to mix, match, slice and dice. Integrate your own images as well.

Happy holi-daze!

~DannyR~

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LEGAL VERBIAGE
Ian Britton retains the U.S. and international copyright © not only for the original image, but also for any photo-art versions of it. Unauthorized distribution or use of this image without permission are prohibited.

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INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

Unlike “official challenges” for this forum, which can be found here, this one will be self-contained within this thread. It is intended as an opportunity to engage in this art form until the next major 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 and, most importantly, have FUN.
* Everyone who participates is a winner.
* There’s no expiration date.

GUIDELINES:
1. Use any method, application(s), style(s) you like:
. * Convert to sketch, grayscale, abstract, watercolor, oil painting, pen-and-ink, Conte crayon, impasto, van Gogh or any style of your choosing
. * Add elements from other images (collage) or replace the background
. * Hand painting? Tracing? Freehand? You bet. Always appreciate entries of this nature.
. * Apply filters from your favorite application(s) or tweak it with 3rd party plug-ins
. * Feeling animated? Animated entries are definitely welcome. There have been some really funny ones submitted in the past. Fish jumping, leaves falling, wheels turning. You get the idea.
. * Any or all of the above

Bottom line:
How you create this 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.


A special message to those who are new to Photo-art
… Who may be feeling a little uncomfortable about posting an entry.

If you’ve read this far, it means you’re at least curious. That’s a good sign.

But what if you’re feeling a little squeamish about posting your first image?

From time to time I hear from those who want to participate, but have considerable anxieties about posting their creations in these mini-challenge. “I’m just a beginner. My pictures don’t belong,” “I see the works of others and I know I’ll never get that good,” “How am I supposed to compete with those wonderful creations?” are typical expressions of concern.

To which I say: Put your fears to rest. This isn’t a competition. You will not be judged in the traditional “art critique” sense. Your honor isn’t on the line. This isn’t about who’s best.

Don’t hold back from participating and posting your creation because your initial attempts don’t measure up (in your own mind) to images generated by folks with more experience than you.

This is a no-fault, all-fun way to jump in the pool. Everyone started the same place: The beginning. Everyone who is more skilled and experienced than you got to that point by practicing, experimenting, asking questions, learning from others, and participating.

Can one learn without interacting with others? Sure. Can one learn as fast? Absolutely not.

When you participate, others get to know you. That makes it easier to ask them questions. Asking questions leads to learning from those with more experience than you. It just keeps getting better and better!

By all means give it a go. You’ll be glad you did.

The pep talk cheerfully brought to you by:

Danny Raphael
Photo-based Art Forum Moderator

[DannyRaphael]

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[omeyas]

Is there anybody out there? This has been here a while now but everyone seems reluctant to give it a go! Probably for the same reason that I have left it alone, there's nothing coming through!
So here's a quick bash, see if I can set the ball rolling. I'm not a very christmasy person, so it's even harder to get motiivated.
Frank

[DannyRaphael]

That's the spirit, Frank! (Lot's of holiday shopping going on, no doubt = a little lower activity this week than usual.)

Happy Ho-ho-ho!

[Snoleoprd]

Frank,

Nicely done, the frame works well with this. I can sympathize with your feelings of the holidays...bah humbug! doh!

Alan

(who has decided to skip middle age and go straight to grumpy curmudgeon. doh! )

[phili1]

I thought this might make a card. I do not have a lot of xmas things in my computer, so this thought came to mind.

[pstewart]

Frank and Phil, both nice Xmas card designs! Frank, love your arrangement and lettering and the way you personalized it as a card from retouchpro. Phil, like your stylized version of ornaments, complete with glitter.

Phyllis --too busy to participate just now

[phili1]

Hi Frank, great Card, I like your candle, it took me awhile to figure out it was the same one. This was a hard one to figure out what to do.

[GOLDCOIN]

Frank (omeyas) & Phili1.......You both added to the Christmas Spirit of this time of year....

What happened, been waiting for this thread to fill with the
Season's Cheer, Spirit and breathtaking creations....

"says ole man, but looked like a Santa to me,

[Blacknight]

Greetings of the Season!

[phili1]

Goldcoin and Balck night, great posts, lots of thought in them and like always well done.