More Photocrom[e]s

A few more Photocroms, fresh from my camera to your screen...

found a windmill close enough to the road to grab this shot...


taken on top of the Amistad Dam: Rio Grand separating Texas [left] and Mexico [right]...

Happy Monday y'all, have a great week!

Happy Independence Day!

My red, white & blue (with a splash of yellow sunshine) for y'all this 4th of July weekend! :>

I love the results of the technique I tried out today playing around in PS Elements! I was going for a vintage postcard look inspired by "Photochroms".

According to the American Photochrom Archive Gallery a "Photochrom (also 'Photochrome' - it was originally developed in Switzerland and to aid pronunciation when it was introduced to America, an 'e' was added) is a color photo lithograph, produced from a black-and-white negative. The final prints were created using different color impressions from multiple lithographic stones. A minimum of four stones and as many as fourteen stones might be used for a given image."

This technique became very popular in the 1890's, especially when the Post Office introduced the penny postcard.

Shown below is the original photo: good angle and shadow play but the vintage look takes it up a few notches. I'm hooked on this technique and can't wait to play around with it some more.....



Wishing you a safe and happy holiday!!!

Pastel Portrait: update

'Rosalie', 9x12 pastel on Canson pastel paper

Finished.....at least I think it is :> I'm going to let her (my daughter picked out her name) 'rest' for a few days before I decide if it is indeed completed - I feel like I want to add some more detail to the hands. Anyhow, I'm glad I jumped right back into it today. It's hard for me sometimes to do that but with this medium - it seemed to work....ya gotta love serendipity *wink*

Which brings me to a question: what works best for you - leaving a piece for a bit or getting it all done in 1 or 2 sessions??

(P.S.) if you want to see the process leading up to this check the previous post here

Inspire Me Thursday - 'chalk'

I've had a couple of boxes of chalk pastels laying around for awhile so glad I stopped in over at IMT to see what the prompt word was this week. I like stretching my creative muscles and have been in a major rut getting inspired to starting work on some new canvases - hopefully this little pastel painting will have me slinging paint in no time :>


established values and skin tones...


chalk pastel on Canson pastel tint paper

As you can see, I almost finished it however the nice light I had started to wane, so I called it a day. I left everything out so I can jump right back in tomorrow a.m. and then call it DONE!

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to pop back in to see it completed...

SP Wednesday, simple indulgences, PS fun...

morning sunshine sifting through the blinds, early morning finds me quiet and shy so just a patterned silhouette at first...


starting to wake up so I tiptoed into my studio to do some sketching...


then it was time to go brew a pot of coffee...and whip up a batch of those delicious muffins I've been promising for the last few days...


sweet, simple indulgences: fresh, bold coffee & warm, homemade muffins, fine china (Lavender Rose) and a vintage silver spoon. I started using both my fine china and silver cutlery regularly some time ago - why have something if you don't use it? I also love collecting vintage linens, especially ones with embroidery, I'm in awe of the tiny details on some of them, such patience...

Photoshop note: I tried to add steam over the teacup for more drama, more practice needed with brushes and layers but I love playing around in that program. I learn something new every time...


Here's the recipe for one of the yummiest banana breads you've ever tasted, promise!! You can also make muffins instead of loaves but watch out, the muffins disappear a lot quicker - at least around here :>

Have a great week y'all!