Inhale Exhale

I finally felt like venturing out with my camera to inhale the sweet smell of my beautiful peonies and cut some to bring inside. I feel like I’m breathing again, inhaling and exhaling: gardening, swimming and walking without as much arthritis pain in my spine. It’s especially nice to have a little more energy to get back to creating again.

It’s fitting I think that my first layout after an extended hiatus showcases my beloved Sarah Bernhardt peonies. They are the first to bloom in my garden. This layout uses my favorite creations by Anna, Artsy Transfers, to color a background sketch, create a visual triangle of color and build depth on a layout.

Build Background

1. Place solid paper 2 from ArtPlay Palette Aubade.
2. Create a black and white sketch using the Photocopy Filter. Duplicate. Change the blend mode of both sketch layers to Linear Burn.
3. Extract one bloom using the Magic Wand Tool, blend mode Normal at 100%. Extract again using a soft round brush to include the shadow from the photograph. Change the blend mode to Multiply at 85% opacity.

Place Transfers from ArtPlay Palette Aubade.

1. Below the extraction place Transfer 2 from the ArtPlay Palette Audade. Change the blend mode to Multiply at 50% opacity. Add a Hue and Saturation Layer to adjust the color to blend with the photo extraction.
2. Place Splatters 1 and Gold Paint.
3. Place Transfer 2.

Create a Visual Triangle of Color with Artsy Transfers

1. Place all the layers of file 1 from Artsy Transfers Romance below the sketch layers.
2. To create the visual triangle of color place a another set of layers from file 1 below the first set. Using the Transform Tool, select and flip the layers horizontally. Then adjust their position and delete layers as necessary. Use a layer mask to hide parts so that the two sides look different.

Continue Building Background Depth with Artsy Transfers

1. Place the layers of Artsy Transfer Romance 3 just above the paper. Delete the cream paint layers, an art stroke and floral transfer. Adjust position of layers and blend modes as desired.
2. Place a copy of the Pink Paint from ArtPlay Palette Romance just above the sketch layers. Change the blend mode to Multiply at 50% opacity.
3. Place a second copy of the Pink Paint just above the solid paper. Change the blend mode to Linear Burn at 100%.

Embellish

1. Place the net and shadow from ArtPlay Palette Aubade below the extraction.
2. Place the string and shadow from the same palette above the extraction.

For additional ideas for using Artsy Transfers see a recent post by team member Michelle James, 7 Ways to Use Artsy Transfers. Anna’s combinations of shape, texture, transfers and color in Artsy Transfers are my favorite of Anna’s designs because they are so versatile.