"Art Deco Arched Panel with Woman and Man" - Corel

Art Deco Arched Panel with Woman and Man

I selected another Art Deco Panel this one with Arches and added a few pieces to create this Digital Collage. I scanned in the panel from Art Deco Interior and Panel Designs by Stephen Calloway.

I then researched my Dover Publications Samplers images for a Woman and Man, to which I added Florals. I did all this in Corel PhotoPaint, dropping in the images and erasing the surrounding backgrounds. I applied to the scan and the images the Tone Curve for depth to the colors. I placed a black design in the upper center of the piece for additional interest.

With the Florals I used the Tone Curve and then the property Multiply for transparency. For each piece used I had to resize to fit the large 7" x 11" scan appropriately. I saved the large iteration and resampled it to display size. I then used Filter Forge's Photo Effects for Vibrancy Saturation, to add punch to the colors. Then I added a thin Film Frame using Filter Forge's Frames. I added my signature and saved the display size image.

I really like the images in the Arches of the Woman being served wine, and the Woman dancing to the Guitar Player. This is what attracted me to this Panel for the Digital Collage, along with the coloring.

"Art Deco Panel with Women and Vase" Corel

Art Deco Panel with Women and Vase

I scanned in an Art Deco Panel from Art Deco Interiors And Panel Designs collection by Stephen Calloway. I used 300dpi and 8.5" x 11" size for the original Panel scan with my Canon MP495. I had also used some recent Samplers Clip Art from Dover Publications for this Digital Collage, thus the Women and Vase. I did get the upper most women and vase from the Free Vintage Digital Stamps site.

I assembled the Collage in Corel PhotoPaint. I used the Tone Curve on each piece and also the large iteration before saving. I used Filter Forge's Photo Effect to increase the color Saturation Vibrancy then added a Filter Forge Frame Film Frame to darken the edges of the piece.

I had to use Filter Forge's effects on the display size as I only have the Free versions of Photo Effects and Frames from them, the original iteration was just too large.

I truly enjoy Digital Visual Collage work and like working with Dover Publications and the Free Vintage Digital Stamps pieces when creating these pieces. I like to use the Vibrancy tool for the punch it gives to the colors, especially scanned in colors. These Art Deco Panels and designs, along with the Art Nouveau designs I use are among my favorite periods of Design.

"Art Deco Plus Art Nouveau Woman - Arch - Chair - Eyes" Corel

Woman - Arch - Chair - Eyes

I scanned in another Plate from Art Deco Designs / Edouard Benedictus' Book as background for this image. I used my Canon MP495 to scan it into Corel PhotoPaint. I browsed in my Dover Publications Sampler folder in Picasa 3.9 and used an Art Nouveau Mucha type Woman for this interior view with a window.

Also I used Dover Clip Art for the Eyes. I erased around this one Eye and applied the property Multiply to it. I then used the Tone Curve on it, duplicated it and flipped it, so I might have two eyes looking in the Window.

I next opened a photograph of a large style Armchair. I used the Scatter Effects tool on it. Then I decreased its color using the Tone Curve tool. I enlarged both the Eyes and Armchair and Woman to fit the interior background. This made them more prominent in the piece.

I merged them all, and added my signature and copyright, saving the large iteration. I resampled the image for display here.

So I ended up with an image which has many differing styles melded into one. A Digital Collage for this days post.

"Steampunk Art Deco Collage" Dover - Corel

Steampunk Art Deco 1

Something different for my post today. I decided to scan in an Art Deco plate from Art Deco Designs / Edouard Benedictus. I used my Canon MP495 to scan in the Art Deco plate. I selected from my Dover Publications Samplers two persons in Steampunk Underwear. I opened the scan in Corel PhotoPaint.

There I assembled the Collage. I copied and pasted the gal and guy and erased the background before merging them. I added Birds to the upper right corner also from Dover. I also searched for other unexpected pieces and found an old Building and Trees Landscape Pencil sketch in my Picasa 3.9 folders.

I copied and pasted that from Picasa and resized it to fit the entire image. I applied the property Multiply and altered the Opacity and added it to the collage. I added my signature to the piece and saved the large iteration. I resampled to a size for display here.

Art Deco - Steampunk - Dover - and a Freehand Pencil Sketch in Sepia tone, all combined in an unusual Digital Collage.

"1994 - 1997 Salvaged Digital Archives" Amiga - Corel

Floral Vase with Fruit

Art Deco - Boatback

The Homestead Brightened Up

Freehand "Hank" scanned  into an Amiga

Continuing with my Retrospective I have more Salvaged Images from my archives. Done in 1994 through 1997, these images are colorful and varied.

"Floral Vase with Fruit," to my recollection was done with Corel Products on a PC. "Art Deco - Boatback," was also done with the same products. It began as a film photograph scanned in. I spent considerable time in Corel PSP Pro X3 adjusting the images for color and sharpness.

"The Homestead Brightened Up," is a freehand sketch of the house where I grew up. But the image was brightened considerably with Colors which the house never had.

Finally "Freehand 'Hank' scanned into an Amiga," was done in 1994 or earlier, finishing touches done by 1994. I also used PSP Pro X3 on this image to sharpen it's freehand drawing style.

As you can see I used freehand sketches and also photographs and scanned in designs for these images. I have remained quite productive over the years. Some of the archived images were quite small and needed upsizing in PSP Pro X3, along with adjustments to make them more presentable.

"The Celebratory Dance" Art Deco Digital Collage - Corel Plus

The Celebratory Dance

Browsing my Dover Publications Sampler folder in Picasa 3.9 I found a decorative floral with line. I also searched for a background for this and came up with an Art Deco Floral background.

In Picasa I lightened the Color Art Deco Floral a bit and brought them all into Corel PhotoPaint. I used the Wand tool to select the white and filled it with a sky image. I applied the decorative floral with lines, deepening the line coloration with the Tone Curve and using the Color Burn for transparency.

I searched a bit further and found an image of women in various stances. I selected the Dancer with Flowing Hair to add. I cut, erased and placed the Dancer onto the two backgrounds.

I added another image from the Dover Clip Art of a Couple Celebrating with Champagne, as if they were drinking to the Dancer. I increased their depth with the Tone Curve as well. This made for a Celebratory feel to the image.

I added my signature inverted to white and merged all together to one layer. I saved this iteration. I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3 and used the High-pass Sharpen tool on the image. And softened the background using the Digital Camera Noise Removal tool.

I liked the Ornate Frame so I applied that from Image, Picture Frame. It gives it a Museum quality I really like.

So goes the making of the "The Celebratory Dance."

"Two Fish More Fish" Art Deco - Vintage Stamps - Corel PhotoPaint

Two Fish More Fish

I discovered this great Art Deco pattern in Edouard Benedictus' Art Deco Designs of Two Fish and Water. I scanned it in with my Canon MP495 as the basis for this piece. I opened Corel PhotoPaint and Acquired the scan and then applied the Effects, Tune Blur, Directional Smooth a few times.

I opened Picasa 3.9 and browsed my Dover Clip Art folder for some fish and nautical themes. I copied to the clipboard and pasted the fish and rowboat onto the background. I used the Property, Color Burn to make them transparent, placing them for a pleasant composition.

I also Acquired by scanning four Vintage Egyptian Postage Stamps to place in the four corners of this piece. These of course, come from my Cigar Box Collection of Vintage Postage Stamps. I copied and pasted these and used the Feathering tool on them, reducing the amount of white space around them each.

I added my signature in white and saved the large file, resampled for display and saved that iteration.

Listening --- Widespread Panic --- Fishing

"The End of Romance" Digital Collage - Art Deco - Corel PhotoPaint

The End of Romance

"After the Proposal was denied, The End of Romance," is the title of today's Art Deco Image. I selected patterns from Edouard Benedictus' Art Deco Designs, and scanned the page in with my Canon MP495. I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and used the Tune Blur Directional Smooth on the background.

Using Picasa 3.9 I found images to use that demonstrated the denial of a proposal and two head shots of a male and female. I used the font Bedini for the words. I really wanted the Art Deco designs to stand out. The Style of Art Deco is one of my favorites along with Art Nouveau.

I used, in PhotoPaint, the Image, Adjust, Replace Colors for some of the Dover Clip Art I used in the piece. I added my signature and saved the large scanned, collaged file. Then I resampled for display.

Listening --- Chris Botti --- My Romance

"Applause" Digital Collage - Corel PhotoPaint - Art Deco

Applause

I decided to do a Digital Collage for my image today. I got out my "Art Deco Designs," by Edouard Benedictus and selected a page of designs, floral and colorful. I scanned that page in with my Canon MP495 at it's full size, Over 8" x 11".

I used Corel PhotoPaint for the collaging. I applied the Tone Curve to the Art Deco background for some color depth. I digitally cut and pasted the bits of words that I found in discarded magazines. I got the phrase, "Applause Serious Minds Fleeting Resistance."

I added a couple of bits of a warehouse image at the bottom. I added my signature, smaller that most often, and saved the very large file.  I resampled for display in PhotoPaint, adding a blue frame with Filter Forge's Frames, and saved that iteration.

"I Choose You!" Corel PhotoPaint - Mayang's Textures

I Choose You!

A simple Digital Collage for today's image. I selected a bright texture from my Mayang's Textures folder and added a piece of clip art from Free Vintage Digital Stamps. I opened Corel PhotoPaint and loaded the clip art and texture as two layers. A man with intense eyes is pointing at the viewer. I thought of the phrase "Few are Chosen." and added the thought: "I Choose You!" Then for some humor I added the "Why?" and "I Dunno!"

I used Filter Forge's Frames and selected a film frame. Then I used the Tone Curve to add depth to the image. The Font I used is called Bauhaus 93, one of my favorites. I added a paint splatter to add to the grunge effect.

I finished by saving the large file and resampling in PhotoPaint for display, adding my signature as usual.

Listening --- Various Songs --- Piano Music

"It's A Mannequin" HDR Cinema - Picasa 3.9 - Corel PSP Pro X3 - Corel PhotoPaint

HDR Cinema Mannequin

Browsing in Picasa 3.9 I saw this photograph of a mannequin's face that I once had painted in Painter 8. I was the original image before I painted it. I decided to play with the image. In Picasa 3.9 I applied the HDR effect and made some adjustments to it in strength and radius. I then applied the Cinema effect which gave me this narrowly focused view of the face and it's angular features. I ended up with an Art Deco appearance to the piece.

I opened with Corel PSP Pro X3 and resized it to a larger size then used a film frame and then the ornate frame features on it. I saved the large file and opened with Corel PhotoPaint. Here I added my signature and used the Tone Curve just a bit for depth. I resampled the image to display here on the blog.

I really like Picasa 3.9's newer features and it makes it simpler to get a good HDR effect, as well as other effects. I did find out that as long as my external drive is connected I can add the My Pictures folder to be searched by Picasa and it would add all my saved photographs and images. I don't leave the external drive connected at all time so I have not done this as of yet. But it is a possibility to do so.

Listening --- Guess Who --- She's Come Undone

"She is Only a Child" Grunge Bauhaus Art Deco - CorelDRAW - PhotoPaint

Grunge Bauhaus Art Deco

With text from Fillerati and Art Deco Designs by Edouard Benedictus, also a Bau Haus font, I created today's image. I scanned in the Art Deco designs into Corel PhotoPaint and copied them to CorelDRAW where I added the text. After that I grouped all vector and bitmapped pieces and copied to the clipboard.

In PhotoPaint I Tune Blurred the scans and added depth with the Tone Curve. Using Filter Forge's Photo Effects I added a touch of Grunge and Vibrance. Thus I created a cross version of Art Deco Grunge. I used the text phrase "She is Only a Child!" for the title placing it at the bottom of the image in all lower case. The other phrasing from "Alice in Wonderland," I used force full justification on the paragraph.

I created the zigzag pieces on the right hand side in CorelDRAW with the pen tool. I saved the large file first. Then I resampled for display online and added my signature.

Listening --- Jefferson Airplane --- Somebody to Love

"Theory in Practical Format" Corel PhotoPaint - Corel PSP Pro X3

Theory in Practical Format

I began this digital collage, "Theory in Practical Format," with old magazine cuttings and some art work that I had done. I also included an Art Deco floral piece that I got from Edouard Benedictus' Art Deco Designs plate book.

I scanned in the cuttings and used the largest piece for the background. I used Corel's PhotoPaint to assemble the collage. I used feathering on some of the objects, and some opacity settings, for fitting the  dark color scheme.

I did the Warhol like cubist self-portrait partially in CorelDRAW, quite a long time ago when I worked at a finance company. The girl is from a portrait of my Daughter and the man is a freehand sketch painting both from some time ago.

I found it a refreshing way to use these pieces in a new and unusual setting. I added the matting in Corel's PSP Pro X3 and saved the large file. I then resized to display here.

Listening --- Peter Frampton --- I'm In You

"Duress" - Art Deco - Chivalry - Digital Collage - Corel PhotoPaint

Duress

I created a digital collage from some Dover Clip Art samplers for "Duress." I browsed my Dover Publications folder in Picasa 3 and found an Art Deco background I liked. I increased the size of the Art Deco piece by 96dpi. Then I selected the armor placing it and borders top and bottom with Victorian like scrolling. I liked the simple design.

The armor reminded me of the threat of force and and Chivalry, along with "Duress," coming to my mind. I used a font style named Berlin Sans FB Demi for the text and placed it right in the middle of the collage. I made sure I had the right definition and selected the text and copied and pasted it upon the larger word, using the same font.

I used the Tone Curve to add depth and also upped the saturation before adding the text and definition. I did all this in PhotoPaint, adding for a finish my signature and a twenty pixel border of black.

Listening --- Pat Benatar --- Invincible

Rose Leaf Rag - Vintage Typography and Art Deco Design - PhotoPaint

Click for Larger Image

A simple Art Deco background with some Vintage Typography and a couple of scanned in drop caps is in today's image.

I took the background from my Dover Clip Art collection and added to it a front piece of Scott Joplin's Rose Leaf Rag sheet music. I added a couple in vintage clothing that appear to be dancing together.

I adjusted the color with the Tone Curve and upped the saturation. Then I added a border as a small mat and a frame using the wand to select the secondary border. I applied the 3D Bevel to the second border for the framing.

I saved the file for presentation here with my signature.

Listening --- The Alan Parson's Project --- Old And Wise

Art Deco with Bauhaus 93 Typography - CorelDRAW - PhotoPaint

Click for Larger Image

I received in my inbox today some Dover Publications Samples. Among them were these great Art Deco designs. I opened my Dover sampler folder after saving them and selected four designs. I opened PhotoPaint and from Picasa 3 I copied and pasted them. From PhotoPaint I adjusted the individual pieces and then opened CorelDRAW.

I placed each image in the new graphic document. I then selected the typeface Bauhaus 93 for my typography. I merely spelled out Art Deco and selected bright colors for the letters. I outlined each with a complimentary color to make them stand out a bit more.

I selected the rectangle tool and placed one behind all the Art Deco pieces and Bauhaus 93 text. I added the phrase "typography Bauhaus 93," in a small size to name the typeface used.

I selected all the pieces and grouped them together and copied to the clipboard. Back in PhotoPaint I opened with File> New from Clipboard>. This gave me a 6" x 9" 300dpi graphic of the grouped pieces. I added my signature, saved the large file as a jpg, then resampled to display here.

Listening --- Jethro Tull --- Part of the Machine

Design for Life - Live for Design - Art Deco - CorelDRAW - PhotoPaint

I opened CorelDRAW and scanned in two pieces of Art Deco from E. Benedictus' Art Deco Designs book to begin this image. I continued with my Design for Life and Live for Design motif for today's image. It's beginning size was approximately 7" x 8".

I adjusted the Tone curve and saturation of the colors. I used the typefaces A Bite, Basketcase, and 321Impact for the text. I looked for some interesting words for the text to include and opened a Text file named simply 98.txt.

To my surprise it was a Project Gutenberg text of a A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. The opening words so aptly described the creative process, as it is an up and down roller-coaster at times, that I selected them for this piece. I saved the large file. Converted it to bitmap and reopened in PhotoPaint.

I added the ladies faces from some Dover Clip Art samples I found browsing my Dover folder in Picasa 3. They add some balance and a classy touch to the whole image.

I added a thirty pixel border of blue and my signature. Re-saved the large file and resampled for display here.

Listening --- Gordon Lightfoot --- The No Hotel [Live]

Design for Life - Live to Design - Art Deco - CorelDRAW - PhotoPaint

A simple fairly clean designed image for today's Design for Life theme. It may have taken more time than it appears to have to create this piece.

I started out in CorelDRAW by acquiring and scanning in a cropped Art Deco floral motif from E. Benedictus' Art Deco Designs book. I added the text phrases after some thought. I wanted to encourage creative thought as I worked at each phrase.

I used the following fonts, not in any order of appearance: Twentieth Century Poster 1, Colonna MT, Banjoman Open Bold. I worked to fit them for a lively design.

After I chose and placed the type I selected all and grouped the objects and Converted to Bitmap. Then I copied to the clipboard and opened with PhotoPaint.

Here I browsed my Dover Clip Art and found the Megaphone Man whom I copied and pasted into the image. I used Replace Color on him and Multiply for transparency. I stood him balanced with one foot on the "L" in "Live," placing the large end of the megaphone at the center of the pink flower.

I had saved the large file and then resized the image for display. I did add a twenty pixel border to frame it.

Listening --- Creed --- What's This Life For?

Art Deco - Design for Life Series - Digital Collage - CorelDRAW - PhotoPaint

For an Art Deco Design for Life image I chose two differing designs from E. Benedictus' Designs book. I opened CorelDRAW and acquired the first one cropping it in the Canon scanning software.

I rotated it 180 degrees to place it as I chose. Then I did the second design the same way. Placing them in close proximity. Then using Abadi MT Condensed typeface I added the Design for Life phrase, grouping them I duplicated and placed the duplicate upside down on the opposite side.

Next I grouped all the pieces and converted to bitmap, copied to the clipboard and pasted into PhotoPaint as a large file.

I then added the scanned images of the People at Work from North Light's book of the same name. I used the property Multiply for transparency and Color Replace for compatible colors. I placed the clip art and merged with the background. I placed a light blue twenty pixel wide border around the work.

I saved the large file and resampled for display here.

Listening --- The Beatles --- A Day in the Life

Design for Life - Art Deco - Digital Collage - PhotoPaint - CorelDRAW

Another image in my Design for Life series. I used an Art Deco Design from Edouard Benedictus' book of designs. I scanned the image in and cropped it to the size I wanted. I acquired the image in PhotoPaint and cropped there.

I used the Tune Blur to smooth the Art Deco design, with the Directional Smooth. I browsed my Dover Clip Art folder for the Trees, and all three young people colored images.

With the trees I used Multiply to make the white backgrounds transparent. On the young people I used the wand to mask the white and inverted the mask and copied and pasted the images from the clipboard.

I scanned in the Dad and Daughter on the bike from North Light's clip art series People at Work book. I copied and pasted using the property of Multiply for transparency.

I then merged all the objects to one layer and copied that to the clipboard and opened CorelDRAW and pasted the image. I created a rectangle and filled it with tiled colored symbols. Then placed to back to create a frame around the Art Deco image.

I used the font Curlz MT for the Design for Life text and changed it's color to a bright yellow and placed it in the image.

I grouped all object together and converted to a bitmap and copied it to the clipboard. In PhotoPaint I pasted the large piece as New from clipboard. Using the Tone Curve once more I added some depth to the piece. To finalize it I added my signature, saved the large file and then resampled for the web and saved that file.

Listening --- Everclear --- I Will Buy You A New Life