2" x 2" Challenge

I created these two digital pieces using several elements. An image of a Victorian house & a crumbling castle, both with a reduced opacity. A wonderful stormy sky photo that is in the public domain and some truely awesome brushes created by: Annika Von Holdt.

Travel Journal Challenge

I finally finished this challenge piece after working on it for a couple of weeks, every spare moment I had. I wish to thank the following designers for the use of some digital elements I used from their kits: FFD, Irene Alexeeva, MZimm, CVD, lizarddaudesigns & CAZ.

Illustration

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After
This cat illustration started with a photo from Fiamma Franchi's stock photo (www.sxc.com) of the cat (top) and first converting it to a black and white line drawing. I began filling in certain areas with a small watercolor brush and opacity of about 25%. Then I layered it with the original photo again and started erasing areas that I wanted highlighted and to bring some of the color into the foreground. After playing with the opacity on some of these layers, I merged the layers and did some final tweaking with the pencil. I have to say, this is one of my first "illustrations" based on a photo and thanks to Fiamma for allowing me to play with this photo. I hope this sample of what you can do with your software, will encourage you to give it a try. It's fun and addicting! The other samples I have posted have all used different tools available in the software and some are still works in progress. Have fun!

Asian Influence

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After
I didn't really do much with this photo, but sometimes simple is best.

Pear Advertisement

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After
I used several brushes and filters while altering this photo, two of which were the dry brush & craquelure filters besides lots of layers. the background I used was created from Carolyn's monthly designer paper technique, bleeding tissue papers. (On "TheLatestTrendsinMixedMediaArts" yahoo group.)I played around with lightening the colors, then adding color using some water color brushes, tweaking the whole in color adjustments. I'm satisfied with how this turned out, but, maybe, I could tear the edges a little and distress it to look more like a vintage ad? Yes? No?
Well I just had to try my suggestion and work on this a little more. Here's the finished advertisement.