So, I am on one of those jags where I feel the need to master photoshop. This happens every once in a while, I scour deviantart for tutorials, work my way through them, then completely forget about it for months and forget how to do everything I taught myself.

The two things I've consistantly wanted to master are cleaning up linework easily and efficiently, and color/paint. I found two tutorials that showed me how to do exactly that in ways I felt I could master. So I took a drawing I had scanned with what I felt was the cleanest linework, and went to town.

<- became ->

I used gradient mapping, which essentially means everything you see in color was actually shaded black and white, and the values were replaced with a color selection. I was able to get a decent variation in color, something I've always struggled with, and do so without like, jumping around the color pallete and getting myself confused. Way easier and prettier than how I used to do it.

What I learned: my lineart needs to be far more consistant and THIN LINES are best for this technique.

I also played around with textures, and I'm not sure it works here. I like the general idea of them but I need to work on using them a bit more.

Jake went to the national zoo today. This guy was not in an enclosure, I might add.



This photo = ballsy. Also, beautiful.

So, one of Jake's pieces was juried into a pretty giant arts show (500 submissions). Artists could submit two pieces, and one would be chosen for the contest. Jake's ducky photo was chosen for the contest, but his other submission was chosen to hang if a piece was sold before the end of the show. So, basically, both of his pieces made the cut, but only one is eligible for prizes.



"First Bath", the ducky photo, was chosen for the contest, and the other, "Dawn on the Neuse", was chosen as the backup. I'm so proud of him.

Jake's been housesitting this week, and there's ducks and geese everywhere. And you know what that means? DUCKLINGS, OMG.

So this isn't a drawing or whatever, but I did say that I do everything. Our friends Nathan and Karen are having a baby girl in a few months and I wanted to make something for little Madison.



This is my first time crocheting granny squares and it totally shows. Mostly in that the edge is too big for whats on the inside and that makes it ripple. Which, honestly? I don't hate, but it's not how I intended it to be so it'll always drive me nuts.



I really love the colors though. And the green yarn is softer than soft.

Welcome to the journal! Most of you are on my friendslist but some are from Caitlyn's. If you're from there, nice to meet you.

I just wanted to post this for anyone who may happen by. Sometimes I will post pics of animals, bizarre things, etc. While using the photo elsewhere would be flattering I would appreciate it if you ask me for permission first.

I do make money selling these (no, really) and, while I'll probably give permission, there may be some that are tied up elsewhere in a situation where I just can't give permission. Thanks for understanding.

They are all copyrighted with the feds. Don't make me sic a g-man on your ass. ;)

Out of everyone I have shown this photo to, only one has gotten what it is right. I'm curious to see how many of you get it.

Click for a bigger image.



-Jake

Jake goes to New Bern every once in a while and takes pictures of the ridiculous multitude of birds chillin' there. The water always has this amazing, glassy, flat quality, it's beautiful. There's a festival coming up in two weeks where he'll be selling pictures and makin' baaaank.



I tease Jake about me always posting his shit. He is making the next post or else.

I'm Caitlyn, he's Jake. He's a photographer, and a damn good one at that. I might be a bit biased, but whatever. I do a little of everything because I have no focus or attention span. We'll both be posting here, strutting our stuff and looking for feedback.

I'm going to kick this off with one of my favorite photos Jake has done recently.