Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Photoshop Discovery

 This is one of the prints I made during my Gelli Arts Printing Plate bonanza a few weeks ago.  I liked it and decided to scan it, so I could print it on watercolor paper.

When I printed it on my Epson R2000, however, the colors were drab.  This is one of my frustrations with printers - the incessant fussing with printer settings. Media type. Print Mode. Color Mode. Color Profile. Paper selection. (Where's the "Make it look exactly like it is on the screen" button?) It reminds me of learning calligraphy and all the options between nibs, papers, holders, inks, and variations of alphabets.

I did some tweaking, and the second print (on far right) was much better.  I decided to go into Photoshop itself and change the hue. (Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation)

While doing this, I discovered moving the "Hue" slider bar from left to right yielded all sorts of wonderful variations to my original print.  The colors changed, and even areas unseen on the original print became evident.

When I think of applying this technique to all the backgrounds I have saved over the years...

...well, this could be a full-time job! :)

The stencil I used in making the original print on my Gelli Arts Printing Plate was given to me by Bill Lilly.  You can see it on the right.  He cut it by hand (of course!).  In addition to his tremendous pen skills, he also sports amazing skills with a pair of scissors.

I traced on the print using a pencil and an envelope template.

Trimmed with an Exacto knife.

Used a stylus to score the inside edge of the template window.
(Sorry for the blurry image.)

Folded using a bone folder. Then I opened the envelope flat to do the addressing.

I wanted to try this new ink I received from Kuretake UK.

I love the bold colors.

Here is another print I made, after playing with the hue on Photoshop.  The colors on my original Gelli Arts print are quite different.  Using Photoshop, I added some of my lettering. Fun!

Want to learn Photoshop for calligraphers?  You're in luck!
Harvest Crittenden is now accepting registrations for her online course: Photoshop for Calligraphers
She is also offering a separate, online course: Copperplate Calligraphy for Beginners

To learn more or to register, visit the Online Classes page of Harvest's website by CLICKING HERE.
Harvest is an excellent teacher, and her online courses are well worth the time and financial investment.

It's hard to believe this is the last day of November.
Wishing you a great weekend.
Go forth and flourish!
xo

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Santa Croce Design

Happy Flourish Friday everyone!

After viewing Jan Hurst's lovely photos of her vacation to France here,  I remembered that I had taken some photos in the Santa Croce church in Florence.  While all the other tourists were taking photos of the incredible paintings in the church, I was patiently waiting for people to move their feet in order to take photos of the floor. :)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

 I made a tracing of one of my photos, put it under my layout paper, and used my light table. I used a Zebra G nib and Moon Palace sumi. (Only because that is what I already had out on my table.)

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Just as I passed the halfway point, it dawned on me that Harvest Crittenden had taught us how to copy and flip designs in her Photoshop for Calligraphers online course.

So I did that.  I wish I had thought of doing that before I crossed the halfway point. As you can see, I needed to go in and erase the areas that overlapped and were misaligned.

I cleaned up the overlapping areas in Photoshop. I didn't draw the oval. I added it in Photoshop which was a process Harvest also taught in her course.  I then filled in my flourishing with the same black color as the oval.  However, I think I like the look of the original penwork better, so I think I will go back and change the color of the oval to match the penwork.

I think one of the most important things one can do to foster creativity is to observe your surroundings.

Look around.

Take notice.

Find a way to incorporate your observations into your artwork.

Enjoy your weekend!

xo

Jane

Calligraphy Flourish Friday - Awesome Photoshop

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Wishing everyone in North America an awesome holiday weekend!

I just finished Harvest Crittenden's Photoshop for Calligraphers online course. I loved it. It is a good thing I rarely throw anything away - and I am talking about my digital housekeeping. (There are over 41,000 emails in my inbox!)  Using my new Photoshop skills, I put this word together from my old lettering which I had scanned and saved.

I am having too much fun!

Go 4ourth and flourish!!

Photoshop for Calligraphers - Flourish Friday

Image and permission for use provided by Harvest Crittenden

Next month Harvest Crittenden is launching an online class entitled Photoshop for Calligraphers. I have never taken an online class before, and I am really excited about it. You're tired of hearing me yap about my Photoshop frustrations aren't you?  Although I did learn a great deal in the Photoshop Elements class I took in 2010 at the Indianapolis Art Center, the class was full of people interested in working with....photos! (Imagine that!)  Now, there's a Photoshop class created especially for calligraphers. Yippee! 

The class will consist of 12 parts using video lessons. A great thing is that you can view the videos at a time that works best for you.  Harvest has priced the workshop very reasonably.  If you sign up by May 15th the price is $65.  On May 16th, the price goes up to $75.

What are you waiting for?!  Go check out the course description and sign up by clicking this link to Harvest's Acorn Arts Website:  CLICK HERE

Thank you Harvest for understanding the need and developing a class specifically for calligraphers!

©Jane Farr Calligraphy & Design LLC

Here is a little Mother's Day flourish for you. Matt finishes his freshman year at Purdue tomorrow. I cannot wait to have kids in the house again! Rachel has been studying abroad this semester. I miss her so much. Although she won't be here for Mother's Day, she is coming home on the 14th (for a few weeks anyway).  I'm thinking I can stretch Mother's Day into a week long celebration! :)

Happy Flourish Friday!
Enjoy your weekend!!