Happy Mothers Day May 9, 2010

Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful mothers out there ! Today is your day ! Whether you have a day of relaxation , where your kids wait on you hand and foot , or you take your kids for an outdoor adventure , take the time to really appreciate your children. Take the time today to enjoy the magic in your creation , for they are the world that our universe revolves around.

To those mothers to be : Welcome to the blissful celebration of life.May you never forget this magical time while you have this tiny treasure growing inside your belly.

…… and to you , mothers to be , I dedicate this piece of art. I call it ” A Treasure of My Own”

" A Treasure of My Own"

Avatar Released Today ! April 22, 2010

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Millions of people will be out to buy their copy of the new dvd release of the epic film Avatar . What a magical film that was ! Stunning scenery , fabulous plot , and a fantastical love story.And , of course it’s no coincidence that it’s being released on Earth day. The film screams “save the planet” . 

What many people don’t know , is that the dvd they are selling in stores , is devoid of the 3D version of the film. Thats right , no 3D ! The best part of watching this creation in the theaters was the spectacular flying creatures and sparkling tree branches right there in your face like you were there in Pandora. 

The good news: they are coming out with the 3D dvd and 3D Blue Ray pretty soon. 

 So I will wait , since I’ve already experienced the phenomenon , to get my copy in 3D . I’ve already put my name on a waiting list at Amazon that will not only let me know when it’s available , but will offer me a great deal too ! If you click the photo above , you can sign up at Amazon to be notified when YOUR 3D dvd is available.

New Pixie Preview : Silvermist’s Symphony April 19, 2010

Thanks where thanks is due ! April 18, 2010

 

Artistic ability is something I’ve always had. Starting in grade school when I was awarded often for my drawings.In high school I was artistic in many ways but pushed it all aside to make way for all my social activities. My mother always said I should find a career in the arts, but instead I ended up in the Auto repair industry….Go figure… 

So I worked instead of painting  ,and I had kids instead of drawing. But it was because of those kids , those three beautiful children of mine , that I started to pick up photography. 

Photography of course was not enough for me ! That deep childhood need to create constantly building up inside me.Thats when I discovered the magic of digital manipulation.That’s right , Photoshop.So I went out and bought a pro photoshop program at Best Buy , installed it on my computer , and was ready to make something magical! Only , I hadn’t the first clue what to do with it. 

 

 

                    Experimenting with this and that , I came up with my first manipulation:

One of my first magical photo manipulations

As you can see these are pretty basic.So how did I learn to make Real Magic?  

The truth is, I owe everything to a photographer friend of mine Gary Calicott. He has given me not only the proper tools ,but knowledge I could have only otherwise gotten from a college courses.His skill with a camera is uncanny !His post processing is genius , and with his advise ,I created THIS webpage.visit his webpage(click on his name) and you can see for yourself the artistry of his work from glorious nature scenes of the great Northwest , down to great photos of plants and animals 

So, I’d like to send a special THANK YOU to Gary , for all your help and support , and especially your friendship. I couldn’t have done it without you ! Here is a sample of some of the photo’s Gary has taken for me! 

 

photo by Gary Calicott

Photo by Gary Calicott

photo by Gary Calicott

My introduction to fairies ! April 16, 2010

Obsessions must spark from something right ? Aside from movies like Peter Pan or Sleeping Beauty , what interpretation did I have as a child of such fantastical creatures.Somewhere in my youth I became intrigued with butterflies but how did my fairy love emerge from such a sparce exposure?

I belive it came from my little sister in law Alicia. She introduced me to one of my favorite all time fairy artists  Amy Brown . Though many artists , like Mary Baxter St.Clair ,  Jessica Galbreath , and Robert Froud , have since won my favor , she has remained my favorite.Her works in watercolor are magical and inspiring in every way.Her painting called “The Brat” was Alicia’s Favorite .Alicia  , my dear friend and sister in -law was killed in a drunk driver accident.

My Late sister in-law's Favorite Fairy by Amy Brown

Like Alicia , this little fairy has spunk ! She has an air of spoiled attitude  mixed with hotness. She can charm most everyone around her to get her way , and remains beautiful even when she sulks for not getting what she wants.

This new blog site , I dedicate to Alicia . She is the inspiration for my art.

 In Loving memory of Alicia Marie Martin

7/18/83-7/22/06

Photo contest magic April 13, 2010

 

 Usually , when creating a piece , I am experimenting , stumbling (if you will) to find how it should fit , or how to make the background work. But every once in a while , I’ll see a photo that simply strikes me , and know EXACTLY how I want it to look.

 

 

Last month I challenged my Facebook friends to submit photos of their children for rendering. Many of course were unusable , some are workable , but some are outstanding ,to an artistic eye ,though many folks might not have thought to enter them into such a competition.Out of these photos I ran across this photo of a little boy , holding his dad’s hand in his Batman cutie pj’s . He was given a blowpop , it appeared , to keep appeased during what seemed to be a wedding reception. Soooo cute !

 

 

When I looked at this picture I saw something very different ! A little Angel , in a tux , off to deliver some flowers to his sweetheart. I was so excited to do this project , mostly because I have such a hard time creating magic with little boys ! This is , to date , one of my favorites and most magical pieces that I have ever created. I called it :

” Enchanted Autumn Fairytale”

 

Angelic

 

Unicorn Friends March 5, 2010

these are some the photos I fused together to create “Fairy’s Friend”

The Legend of Unicorns

It all started when a young unicorn lost his way.

Playing in the woods he took a wrong turn

and then was completely lost.

He stood trembling , sad lost , and alone.

Then out of nowhere a pixie appeared

and took hold of his horn

“Follow me my friend , for I know of one who can help”

announced the sparkling littly pixie

Frightened and uncertain as he was

he followed her along.

He followed the cute little pixie

in all of her pixie dust trails

through the enchanted green woods.

Past the largest of moss covered trees

there sat a beautuful rose fairy .

“Oh rose fairy , can you help me please?”

asked the young creature in his little voice

” I am so tired , and I have lost my way”

“Of course little one”she said

in her magical voice

Then she flew high in the air

and searched all around for his unicorn mother.

And when she found her , she blew her magic light

toward where she stood waiting

“There you are my young friend,

she is right down there waiting”said the rose Fae.

He found his mother there as the fairy said she would be

The unicorns were so grateful

to the fairies.

They promised to carry the fairies

whenever they needed a ride through the meadows.

And Legend has it, that to make sure

that the little unicorn would never loose his way again

The fairies gave their horns the gift of magic

that would always light their way.

The unicorns kept their promise

They run with the fairies on top of their

magical backs.

And that lost little unicorn grew

into a beautiful steed.

who gives the surest , fastest ride of all.

~story by Camomile/P.Anderson

(worded slightly different by me )

” Fairy’s Friend”

Enchanted Forest February 27, 2010

Usually I’ll take a photo I like ,and work with it for awhile untill I figure out how I want it to look. Sometimes , however ,I’ll see one and just know instantly .I guess some photo’ s just have a spark of magic that way !

This photo came from a series of shots I took of my girls with the intention of attempting some more mystical mermaid creations(which I still haven’t done) . Kaylee , the oldest said ” it looks like child porn mom !”. When my husband saw it , he just about freaked . C’mon seriously ? She IS wearing a bathing suit after all. So the very FIRST thing I had to do is Paint on a dress !

I painted some make-up , and some hair extensions (most fairies have long hair).The wings came from a photo of a butterfly , which I colorized a bit. and of course ALL fairies have magic Fairy dust all around them ! I love painting the sparly stuff ! Then I painted the foilage and extra vines onto this forest photo and gave it some softness for blending too.Also , all forest scenes should have mushrooms , so I placed an shaded a few.Then finally added the butterfly with simmilar wings to finish the scene.

I entitled this one “Cousins”

Faerie Dance December 18, 2009

FAIRY OF LOVE.
The Fairy of LoveDrop her dust everywhere,Giving dreams, giving hopesReaching out to those who care.
She brings joy to the world,Spreading love throughout,Giving happiness to everyone,Giving to those without.
She works in mysterious ways,Ways that no one can seeOpening your heart,Setting your soul free.
And when you least expect it,A piece of dust falls to your shoulder.And it feels more and more intenseAs we get older.
So the next time you look for love,Let the thought pass by.Because the fairy of love will do her deedAll in perfect time.
~~Author Unknown.~~

Cherry Blossom Faerie August 28, 2009

“If we opened our minds to enjoyment, we might find tranquil pleasures
spread about us on every side. We might live with the angels that visit us on every sunbeam, and sit with the fairies who wait on every flower. “

~Samuel Smiles

This is another fairy I did for a friend . I could not quite get the background put together right for the forest background I was trying to create .Frusterated , I took a break .I walked the length of our neighborhood with my daughter to take in some of the fresh spring air( It was May when I did this one)

The trees were still in bloom . Flowers were abundant after the long stretch of rainy weather .Each neighbor we passed had a different array of blooming flowers and budding bushes in their front yards. It was my daughter that spotted a butterfly resting on a pink blossom and said it looked like fairy wings.

Then,filled with a childs gift of inspiration , I found myself taking this creation in a new direction . I found some photo’s of cherry blossom trees , some branches , and a suitable flower perch , photoshoped them together to create an enchanting “cherry blossom faerie”