Weeky Theme: The Ch'i of the Brush

[Cindy Mead]

I created this one mostly from ps brushes that I've gathered over the past and have created myself in photoshop. Since there is really no 'base photo' that I started out with, feel free to remove this one if it's not appropriate for the forum Denise. I used different blending modes and layer masks to get the feel and mood that I was after.

suggestions and comments are always appreciated :)

[Barbara Kile]

Your placement of the elements brings my eye into the frame and it travels throughout the frame nicely. I don't know much about 'oriental' art, but I do like your balance here! Nicely done.

[Patti Edens]

This is so beautiful and creative! I also like the balanced composition. I don't much care if it started as a photograph or not. I'm just glad I got to see it!

[denise ippolito]

Cindy, It looks like you've done this before! Fantastic composition and design. I wish you had started w/ a base image of maybe a bird or sun and added the other elements-so that it would be allowed. I think since you are new to the forum and it really does give us all some great ideas we can leave it.:)
A way around that rule would be to add an image of a bird that you positioned in the corner and treat your posted image as an overlay. Just a thought.;) But this is very artistic and beautiful! I just love it.

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautiful art work, Cindy. I think you have really achieved a balance here with all the elements so fundamental to nature painting in eastern culture. Excellent ps work.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Cindy, an absolutely beautiful creation:) Your artwork is so well done and the different blending modes really
add to the feel. I love everything about it.

[Cindy Mead]

Cindy, It looks like you've done this before! Fantastic composition and design. I wish you had started w/ a base image of maybe a bird or sun and added the other elements-so that it would be allowed. I think since you are new to the forum and it really does give us all some great ideas we can leave it.:)
A way around that rule would be to add an image of a bird that you positioned in the corner and treat your posted image as an overlay. Just a thought.;) But this is very artistic and beautiful! I just love it.

thanks all, appreciate the feedback. :) I've removed the brushed bird replacing it with an image of a feeding Wattled Crane that I photographed a few years ago at the International Crane Foundation in WI. I removed the bg with topaz remask, then applied the angled strokes filter to a layer in ps, and played with the saturation a bit. I couldn't get the exact look with the crane that I'd like, but didn't want to convert it to b/w and loose the rich red colors in the face. I also added a texture layer this time around in muliply mode, to add a bit of a coffee stained paper look.

[Dan Brown]

Very, very nice work Cindy! My only suggestion for improvement would be to increase the opacity and intensity of the red in the chop. As posted the chop is too similar to the sun. Doing this will pull the balance toward the chop but I think it will work. Great job!

I am unclear whether or not this will be allowed for the theme week competition but it is wonderful!

[Dan Brown]

thanks all, appreciate the feedback. :) I've removed the brushed bird replacing it with an image of a feeding Wattled Crane that I photographed a few years ago at the International Crane Foundation in WI. I removed the bg with topaz remask, then applied the angled strokes filter to a layer in ps, and played with the saturation a bit. I couldn't get the exact look with the crane that I'd like, but didn't want to convert it to b/w and loose the rich red colors in the face. I also added a texture layer this time around in muliply mode, to add a bit of a coffee stained paper look.

Ah, Cindy we were posting at the same time! The repost would seem to qualify for the theme. The changes are much improvements but please see my previous post regarding the chop. This will be the final stroke! IMHO

[Cindy Mead]

glad you caught that Dan, thanks! here's a repost with the chop a bit more saturated. The texture is a bit lighter, but I never can remember my workflow well and it's always difficult for me to duplicate certain steps because I tend to loose myself in the creating- which for me, is the whole idea ;) (btw, I spoke to the oriental supply folks today, and you're right, they were VERY helpful and steered me in the right direction since I'm basically just starting over again from scratch. Hopefully I'll have a workspace/materials to try some serious brushpainting very soon. I'm excited about it) :)

[Fabs Forns]

Sweet!!!!!! Love the work, sometimes I also do stuff from scratch :)
We can all learn from this, Cindy, TFS!

[Paul Lagasi]

Cindy I like the repost with Wattled Crane...but I think the top painting rocks....I like the composition, colors...looked back on your last post...that would be two authentic looking images

[denise ippolito]

Cindy, They are both fantastic! I really like how you added the coffee stained paper and think that element adds alot to the image. Very well done!:)

[Dan Brown]

glad you caught that Dan, thanks! here's a repost with the chop a bit more saturated. The texture is a bit lighter, but I never can remember my workflow well and it's always difficult for me to duplicate certain steps because I tend to loose myself in the creating- which for me, is the whole idea ;) (btw, I spoke to the oriental supply folks today, and you're right, they were VERY helpful and steered me in the right direction since I'm basically just starting over again from scratch. Hopefully I'll have a workspace/materials to try some serious brushpainting very soon. I'm excited about it) :)

Cindy, the repost is very nice with the chop saturated! A very skillful creation overall! I am glad that OAS was helpful to you! I have a few of the videos from them and really like watching them! Good luck!

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Cindy very creative in the first with creating your own brush strokes. Like them both and the tweaking makes it look great although I must say I am very impressed with the first.

[Lance Peters]

Love it Cindy - very creative and extremely well done.