why I love Photoshop and Rain

I really love Photoshop. Now that I am working exclusively digital having migrated my work from Caran D'Ache I am falling more in love with Photoshop. I have used Photoshop for years, since version 2.0. Which was quite awhile ago mind you. And as with any good relationship we have grown together, learned each others quirks, loved each other in spite of our shortcomings and in the years have brought more to the relationship. A true give and take. It shouldn't come as any surprise that PS is delivering the goods. But let me tell you tonight I just fell a little more in love than I was already, and I really didn't think I could fall any harder. Let me explain my devotion a little better. Long posting short, I was working on cupcake 4 because I wasn't quite pleased with the color balance. So I called my art advisor in for a quick review (my 10 year old son with a smoking great eye, and a mean palette too). He made some very astute observations and within 15 minutes the cupcake went from 'nice' to 'perfect'. Rain (my son) gets credit for seeing what I was struggling with, and PS gets credit for making the adjustment so stinking simple. It was a beautiful moment. Now without further ado, look and see the difference to the left.

one more

Phew. I have one more cupcake done. I am not certain that I am all done, but I think I am mostly done. Often after I 'finish' a piece, I have to step away and come back in a day or so and see if it is really done. Use the fresh eyes to adjust colors to get maximum happiness. 

Feel free to take a peek-a-loo to the left at my lemon-y goodness cupcake.

new inspiration

Ok I have got to get my cupcakes done because I have new inspiration. On my list are funky marine animals. My family went camping last weekend on the Oregon coast and for a day trip went to the Oregon Aquarium in Newport, Oregon (http://www.aquarium.org). They have a very fun exhibit called 'Oddwater'. The exhibit has on display a selection of sea creatures that are just so fun, seahorses, lion fish, puffer fish, clown fish, cool jelly fish.... Long story short, they colors and shapes were so stinking cool that I am ready to get to work on tropical fish and odd sea creatures!

More to follow.

politics

I know this is my art blog but I can't help but comment on politics due to the current state of affairs. 

I am an artist. I am a liberal, go figure. I went to art school where we learned the rules so we could break them. I had gay friends, I saw drug use, I protested. I live in Portland, mecca of environmentalism. I have been recycling since 1984. I buy organics, I pick my own fruit and have a garden. I think you get the picture. 

What the heck is going on here? Where has everyone been the last 8 years? My income is down, jobs have been shipped overseas, (including animation/art-not just manufacturing jobs). Our environment is not doing well. The war in Iraq, do I even need to go there? Really and truly we need a revolution. Not a violent one, but a revolution of the spirit. 

Is it really so crazy to want to protect our environment, plan for future generations, innovate new fuel alternatives, waste less, take care of those who cannot care for themselves, educate the masses and be empathetic? I won't name names, but when I listen to certain parties talk they seem to paint the above ideals as somehow simple minded, and crazy. I beg to differ. I believe that our gluttonous ways and ignorant and self-righteous attitude are very contrary to the very book that these people hold so dear. Why is it that many of the very religious are less Christian than their non-religious counterparts?

As an artist, I believe in protection of rights, the right to express oneself, the right to marry whomever I want, the right to speak my mind. It is a slippery slope when rights are slowly chipped away. If McCain and Palin are elected, we can be assured that our rights to be individuals will not be defended unless we want to carry a gun and believe in very conservative Christian ideals. 

yippee and darn

Yippee school starts tomorrow. And darn, school starts tomorrow. Somewhat bittersweet. I am happy for the quiet focus I will now return to, but I am sad that summer is over and that our sweet sunshine will turn to liquid love. Drats. On the bright side I will bake more, and make more art. Locked in my studio at night. I started working on my lovely cupcakes again and am oh so excited to be back at it. Had to get through the wistful freewheeling summery days of the last few weeks. But alas, I am jonesing for some serious art time and need to get back to it.