Your best / Favorite Photo-art creation

[DannyRaphael]

I just had another go at a Photo-art challenge I tried a couple years ago. Now that I'm getting the hang of Painter, I think this one looks "more painted" and "less filtered."

http://www.retouchpro.com/challenges...sort/1/cat/576

[Karyn]

I am quite new at photo-art, but here are two attempts I have made.

[Jeff L]

Here is one that I was pretty happy with. The only real item in this image is the fly.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Karyn

I am quite new at photo-art, but here are two attempts I have made.

Karyn:

Not to worry. All of us started the same place you did: At the beginning.

For a newbie, these are quite impressive and I can see why they are among your fav's. You've got many creative and fun days ahead.

- - - - - -

Jeff:

In a word: Exceptional.

These types of skills give us something to shoot for.

[Mal Firth]

This was done from a picture I took last summer of a young chap who occasionally comes walking with me.

[DannyRaphael]

No tablet yet, but one of these days...

Inspired of late by methods described by Jeremy Sutton and Marilyn Sholin, I've been experimenting -- trying to get more expressive (colorwise) in portrait paintings.

Original (courtesy of David Cole):
http://www.davidcolepictures.co.uk/L...ess%20jpeg.jpg

[Neve]

You achieved a marvellous result Danny. A grand mix of colourful bold brushstrokes. A brave effort and you can only improve, how exciting!

[zip022]

I got greedy, here's my favorites:

http://www.pbase.com/eehorse/image/40710008
http://www.pbase.com/eehorse/image/41459093
http://www.pbase.com/eehorse/image/40850820

[vidanse]

I love the portrait that you did Danny ala Jeremy Sutton style. I just recently purchased his latest dvd tutorials "Painter IX Simplified for Photographers"

This one I used the distorto brush in different sizes, modern art in a can brush and big wet lucious brush which he includes on his dvd. Then I took it into PhotoShop and increased the saturation.

I will try to include the before picture if possible. I have a hard time getting the photos the right size. In PhotoShop they say they are under 100k but when I try uploading them they are a different size. ???

Vicki

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by vidanse

I love the portrait that you did Danny ala Jeremy Sutton style. I just recently purchased his latest dvd tutorials "Painter IX Simplified for Photographers"

This one I used the distorto brush in different sizes, modern art in a can brush and big wet lucious brush which he includes on his dvd. Then I took it into PhotoShop and increased the saturation.

I will try to include the before picture if possible. I have a hard time getting the photos the right size. In PhotoShop they say they are under 100k but when I try uploading them they are a different size. ???

Vicki

WOW... that turned out great. I can see why this is one of your favs.

I really like Jeremy's books (I have 8 and 9) and his DVD set (I have the 7/8 edition). He's exceptionally talented and his books and DVDs are top notch.

re: File size struggles
You're probably using File > Save as... (.jpg). If so, Photoshop seems to add some size to the file.

Try using File > Save for Web, instead. The file size shown in that dialog is "what you get."

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by zip022

I got greedy, here's my favorites:

http://www.pbase.com/eehorse/image/40710008
http://www.pbase.com/eehorse/image/41459093
http://www.pbase.com/eehorse/image/40850820

No problem to have multiple favs. I do, too.

"Gus" (#3 above) is not only a very pretty kitty, this is an exceptional photo-art piece. I especially like this one.

[GillyH]

Hi, My name is Gilly

I only just found you today, and I'm having a fantastic time exploring and seeing what people are doing/have done. This is a fantastic resource for people with two left hands like me, so thanks!

I couldn't draw a stick if I tried, so I belong to the 'cheat' school of photo to art images. My current obsession is Janeway/Chakotay 'shippyness and I love
cheating at J/C art and fiddles or manips.

This is one of my latest, and a particular favourite of the pieces I've done.

http://www.jetclover.com/chakotayhs8x6f2.jpg (800 x 600 version)

http://www.jetclover.com/chakotayhs1024x768f2.jpg (1024x768 version)

I can't remember exactly how I did it (which is a bummer, cos I'd like to do the Janeway equivalent), but I'm trying to - and writing each step down this time. What I think I did was... first off in Photoshop 7,

http://www.jetclover.com/chakhs_scan.jpg (small version just for start image comparison)

1. Used the magic eraser to remove the background, then generally cleaned it up, fiddled with the brightness/contrast and noise etc.

2. Mike Finn's "Effie Basic" action. I tried the 'Delux' version, but I just couldn't get on with it. The free 'Effie basic' is much easier to use.

(http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~mikefinn/)

3. On the ansiotropic(sp?) layer I used the smudge and blur tools at size 5, opacity 100 to smooth out the wavy/swirly effect but try and keep the details of the face.

4. When I was happy with the blending I carefully erased any outside black edge/outline, then I saved as a *.psd file in case I wanted to go back at any point, then merged visible.

5. Next, I took the file into PSPro 7 to use the retouch tool set to 'soften' at 1 or 2 pixels and 100% opacity (cos I much prefer it for softening/blurring) and did some more delicate blending around his eyes.

6. Back in Photoshop, I put the pic on a new layer, then filled the background layer with solid white. Then I used Vasu Portrait Background Brush (free on Adobe exchange in the brushes section (http://share.studio.adobe.com/Default.asp - just register, then find/search over on the left for 'Vasu' once your in and you'll find it) to make a painterly looking background.

This is what I had

http://www.jetclover.com/chakhs8x6orig.jpg

Which was quite nice, but I wanted something more natural-looking and softer. I was lucky to find and buy LilFlame's action's pack from http://www.renderosity.com (http://market.renderosity.com/softgo...Softgood=22883) and there's an action in there called 'DeColor' - this got me half way to what I wanted

http://www.jetclover.com/chakhs8x6orig2.jpg

so I started fiddling about with the blend modes and the opacity on the action layer, merging if I liked it, then applying other actions like Glamour Photo or SoftnLight and then doing the same again - and that's where I got lost ::Sigh:: I can't remember how I got to the final version.

Finally, I used the blue tool on his eyebrows, and then the smudge tool set to 1 x pixel to gentle fluff out his eyebrows and his hair on the right side to try and make them look more believable.

Anywho, I'm so glad I found you! This is going to be fun for me

Gilly

[Janet Petty]

Welcome Gilly. I'm sure you have found a niche here and that you will enjoy it. We will enjoy your work as well, especially if what you have already posted it any indication. Great job.


And Vidanse, I love the belly dancer. WOW.

Janet

[DannyRaphael]

Gilly:

I'm glad you found us, too. By the way you write, your enthusiasm shows.

Thanks for sharing all the resource info, links, how-to steps, etc. That's especially helpful to those just getting into this hobby/addiction.

Welcome aboard. Nice to meet you and look forward to seeing more of your creativity.

~Danny~

[GillyH]

Thanks, and Thanks for the warm welcome, Janet and Danny

Gilly