Bex Hall

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Easily transform photos with these 3 apps

The variety of modifications seem endless

Today I’ll share three iOS apps I sometimes use to modify photos. The three examples are taken from three days of Squareathon prompts and photos of the art I created.

Variations with Inkwork iOS app

On this first one, I used Inkwork* to modify the Cat Stevens black and white ink drawing I made in the 2018 Squareathon art challenge. The prompts are magenta and portrait. The original is bottom right.

Oh, baby, baby, it’s a wild world. 😊

*Inkwork instantly transforms your photos into unique and expressive ink drawings. Works on iPhone and iPad. 

Variations with iOS app Brushstroke

Over the summer I experimented with rolling ink onto natural objects (like leaves, ferns, etc.) and pressing/printing them. This feather is one of those items. For these prompts, olive green and feather, I used the app Brushstroke* to enhance the photo of my handmade black and white print.

*Brushstroke transforms your photos and snaps into beautiful paintings with one touch. Edit, sign, and share your work on social media. iPhone and iPad.

Variations with iOS app ToonCamera

This is a photo I took in Ironton, Ohio while on a full moon walk last month. It spoke to me of modern and sky, two of this day’s prompts. I used the app, ToonCamera* to modify it.

*ToonCamera is a video and photography app that turns your world into a live cartoon. iPhone and iPad.

Three favorit iOS apps

Hope you get a chance to check these out and have fun experimenting!

Next batch of Squareathon art

Made while on vacation in Bryson City, NC

Blush or bashful?

Is it blush or bashful? I’ve had this photo for years (found online) and always wanted to create it in real life. The closest I’ve gotten is this watercolor for the prompts blush pink and vase. This is kind of like a vase. A container, anyway. 

Angels are near us.

The urge to draw Dorothy’s shoes was strong with this one, but I went with ruby red cardinals instead and placed them in a loosely doodled tree, meeting all three prompts for this day.

Orange/rustic/houseplant were the prompts for Saturday and I found this photo in my archives of a summer flower face from a long ago backyard garden. The designs on the petals remind me of many patterns in various forms of nature: butterfly and dragonfly wings, ventral and dorsal bird feathers, leaf veins, stalagmites and stalactites, crystals, and loose mandalas.

A flower for you.

The past three days I’ve been on vacation and away from my studio. Out of my comfort zone. The dining room table at our rental is covered in art supplies. But I have a wonderful view.

Our house sits on Arkyle Creek which feeds into Lake Fontana and the Corps of Engineers is slowly draining the water for winter pool. Each day the muddy banks grow wider as the blue green water recedes.

Arkyle Creek, Lake Fontana, North Carolina

Boulders once concealed in murky depths are revealed and a demarcation line of mostly natural debris litters both sides of the banks.

Early morning mists dance over the creek while a Belted Kingfisher chatters and rattles, eyeing the now easy to see fish in the shallow water.

This has been a nice vacation. We’re off to Asheville now to visit the River Arts District where I’ll soak in what other artists are creating.

Next post will be examples of some apps I use to alter and enhance art and photos. Until then, take care!

My love affair with words and art

Today’s Squareathon prompt brings back a childhood memory

3x3 watercolor moonscape

Vacation starts today and in that spirit, I embrace time off by chasing rabbits down holes. One of the Squareathon prompts is cerulean, and as I’m wont to do, I googled the word.

It’s a pure blue pigment discovered in 1789 by Swiss chemist Albrecht Höpfner.

It’s particularly valuable for artistic painting because of its hue, permanence, and opaqueness. Artist Berthe Morisot painted the blue coat of the woman in her Summer’s Day, 1879 in cerulean blue.

Berthe Morisot’s Summer’s Day, 1879

In its inaugural year, Pantone kicked the COTY (Color Of The Year) selection off with Cerulean, which they actually called the “color of the millennium.” They felt consumers would be seeking inner peace and fulfillment in a time of uncertainty, while also reflecting on the past and looking toward the future. Thus, they chose this calming blue shade that’s reminiscent of the sky.

Pantone’s Color of the Year, 2000

All interesting facts, but then I read one and it ushered in a significant childhood memory. A defining moment in my love affair with words and art.

Ceruleun Blue on the wrapper of one of my blue Crayola crayons. It was one of the first words I ever noticed. How was it pronounced? What did it mean, exactly?

cerulean Crayola

I remember swatching colors, even though I didn’t know what it was called, with all 64 crayons from the box with the fold top lid and built-in sharpener on the back.

From CrayonCollecting.com

There’s a site called Crayon Collecting, and that was my rabbit hole. I felt like Alice in Wonderland, swirling and twirling and grabbing memories from a mist of dreamy colors.

And with that, I give you two of today’s prompts, cerulean and moon, in a 3”x3” watercolor.

3x3 watercolor moonscape

It’s okay to miss a day of making

But the day can seem less happy

Squareathon Day 5

Squareathon is considered one of Instagram’s most chill art challenges—if you miss a day or break the “rules”—it’s okay, in fact it’s encouraged. So why did I feel some angst when I skipped making a square on Monday?

I *know* it’s “okay” to miss a day. No one is judging me. There are no squareathon police issuing citations. No referees sending me into a penalty box devoid of art supplies. 

Squareathon Day 6

One thing I’ve learned since I committed to this creative life, is when I don’t spend time making something, anything, I feel some pain. Even if the thing I make doesn’t turn out how I want, I still spent time in the process and I’m better for it.

So maybe that’s why I felt angsty. Or even a little crabby. A day spent not creating is less happy.

Squareathon Day 4

Keep painting/writing/drawing/sketching—whatever it is—keep going. Enjoy the process.

It is not the act of making art that is painful. It is the desire to make something and not acting on it that causes pain.”

—Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way

Squareathon, my favorite chill art challenge!

Anything goes as long as it’s in a square

Mel’s Squareathon Chill Art Challenge

This is such a fun art challenge. Mel Doty, an artist in Charleston, WV, (near my hometown!), loves to paint geometric squares and other colorful things in a square format. Once a year, she hosts Squareathon on Instagram for the art community. 

Every day for three weeks, follow along with the prompts. You can use any medium and any substrate. The only requirement is the work must be in a square format. Any size.

Squareathon Day 1
My Day 1, warm colors, painterly, rainbow, sort of…

The chill part is you make it fit in your life. If you miss a day, that’s okay. Want to start in the middle or just pick a few faves to do? That’s great, too. She’s just happy you’re taking part. Create your work in a square format and post it on Instagram with the #squareathon hashtag.

Squareathon Day 2
My Day 2, mustard yellow, polka dot, bird. No dots and I almost made Big Bird, but went with a chick instead. That’s Mia, my studio cat.

It’s September 1-21, 2021. I’m going to post here as well in small batches. If you’re on Instagram, find me @thecreativ1 and find Mel @melissadoty.art

Squareathon Day 3
My Day 3, lilac, stormy, mountains. Patience is key to drying between mountains/layers.

I’ve wanted to improve my watercolor skills, so I’m using this challenge to practice new techniques. These aren’t what I consider outstanding works of art because I’m learning. This is practice. But I’m posting, anyway.

I’m taking the chill approach. 😊 Hope you’ll join the fun.