My human had something else completely different planned for this week’s Caturday Art, but a couple of things got in the way: the fact that she was sick with a stomach bug all week and fell behind on everything; and Friday night’s 5.1 earthquake not terribly far from us. We kitties weren’t fazed much by the rolling feel of the quake, but she was pretty rattled, maybe because she isn’t quite back up to speed yet, health-wise. So instead of the complicated, multi-step idea she had for today, she decided to do something a lot simpler — revisit last week’s Caturday Art project, only this time use a good photo. She picked the photo used for the cover of my 2010 wall calendar:
That year, my calendar won a Cat Writers Association Muse Medallion for Best Color Photograph (series), and my human has always liked the cover photo, even though there’s a bit of a hot spot on my chin. So she took the original photograph and cropped it to more of a square format.
Then she quickly ran it through the oil painting filter of the AKVIS ArtWork software that she used last week.
Except she wasn’t quite satisfied. While it wasn’t all that bothersome in the photo, she really didn’t like the light colored rug pattern behind my head. She thought it was distracting. So, just for a fast experiment, she decided to take it out to see how it looked. She didn’t even use the original sized photograph — she just used Photoshop’s Quick Selection Tool on the smaller, blog-sized version. You can see the tool on the left hand side. It’s the fourth tool down. You can also see the “marching ants” around the pattern.
This time she knew that the Content-Aware Fill from last week was not going to work, so she used the Clone Stamp to cover the light pattern with black rug. Then she tidied it up with the Spot Healing Brush tool. It looks pretty decent. Not quite perfect, but good enough for a digital oil painting, where small details would be lost.
Then she ran it through the AKVIS ArtWork software again. She had to change the settings a lot because the image was so much smaller, but I think it still looks better with the pattern gone, don’t you? It just shows that no matter what you are doing, if you pay attention to details, you can make it even better!
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We are glad y’all are safe!
We had a smaller quake a few years ago an it confoosed us fer days cuz we never had one before here. TBT had ta talk ta us fer more days before we accepted he dint cause it.
We thought of all of you as soon as we heard the news this morning. We are sure glad all is well at your place and we hope your human feels better soon. Those photos are so good!
Glad you are safe after the earthquake/ The photo is lovely.
Glad you are all right after the earth quake. That is so scary. And we do send many many purrs that the Mom gets better really soon. Sure isn’t any fun to be that sick. Take care.
Sparkle oh nos..your poor mom. That bug suddenly jumped on my Dad in the wee hours of last Monday too. Today is the first day his tummy feels normal. Bravo on your post in spite of the quake and sickies
Hugs
MAdi your BFFF
We heard about your earthquake this morning and very happy to hear you are all okay! Glad your mom is doing better after her yucky tummy bug.
Beautiful, Sparkle!!!
We love how your eye sparkles in that photo! …heh, heh…get it? Sparkles!
(Waffles made me say that.)
We all hope your human is feeling better!
xo
Katie
I didn’t even notice that light bit on the rung till you mentioned it but when you removed it I could agree that the photo is better now. I like the oil painting effect but as always the original is wonderful to being with. (A couple of years ago I experienced an earthquake – it originated in Virginia and my house in Philadelphia moved! It was scary!)
Sparkle glad your hooman is feeling a bit better and that the earthquake didn’t cause any damage! Great tutorial, Mom is always learning from you!
Sparkle: I read about that this morning. . .I’m glad you are safe. . .tell Mommy I understand — I am fighting a stomach bug right now too. . . sending our love, prayers and healing purrs (from my kitties) to all of you!! <3
Stunningly beautiful. Mommy is jealous as usual. She always thinks what she did looks pretty nice until she sees what those with talent can do. BRAVO! XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Love it, Sparkle! And we are glad you are OK after the earthquake.
Hope your human gets well soon 🙂
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
Yikes that earthquake stuff is scary! Purrs to your Human for feeling better very soon. And we love what she did with the photo…someday we will try to use your Human’s great tutorials and see what we can do, we appreciate her sharing her knowledge with us.
I was worried about you and glad the worst is over! I’ve always loved this shot of Sparkle.
I love your pretty green eye. I am glad you are all safe. I have never felt an earthquake.
Quite beautiful! But we expect no less from your beauty and your human’s talent!!
Oh Sparkle we LOVE LOVE LOVE the “finished version” but when you’re as gorgeous as you are, you can’t miss! So glad you all are alright after the earthquake……scary!
Hugs, Sammy
😮 Mom felt the earthquake, we are about an hour or so north of it. Us kitties were all napping and kinda raised our heads and opened eyes and went back to sleep. So glad it was just a little one for us. You look bootiful in your digital painting. You are canvas worthy. Purrrr
Sparkle, we’re so sorry your human has been sick. Those bugs are icky and take a long time to get over. Enjoyed your art work today. You sure do know how to use lots of different programs.
Beautiful photograph to start with. I agree that the arrow shape in the rug pointing at Sparkle’s head is much better gone.
Hope your human is feeling better and the earth stays where it’s supposed to be.
That’s a great picture, Sparkle!
And we’re glad you’re all safe and sound from that earthquake.
Very striking! Glad you guys are safe cos we thought about you last night.
Oh wow! A bit too much excitement there. We hope your hoomin gets all healed up very quickly.
Pretty good for a Human, MOL!! Mommy was worried about you all and the earthquake, especially after she read your Human’s comment about the retaining wall…OUCH.
I hope she is feeling better. That’s a pretty photo of your Sparkle.
Hope your Mom is feeling better 🙂
We like the effect.
It is great when you have a beautiful subject too 😉
We like the lighting. (and the adjustments)
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure, JJ
and Angels Tiger and Tillie
Them earthquakes is scary..glad yous are all OK..I hopes your Miss Janiss is feeling better now..that picture is beautifuls!! 😉
we love how your Mommy tells us exactly what she did to get to the end! And THAT is such a totally cool picture!
Kisses
Nellie
Glad that you made it through the earthquake.
Love this week’s Caturday Art.
I sometimes wonder what I would do in an earthquake. We had one once when I lived in Detroit, but I was playing basketball at the time, and I never felt it.
You are some cool, calm kitties over there! I would have thought an earthquake would drive a cat a little nuts. Maybe your mom is like me – I always take on the nuts part, enough for everyone. I sure hope she feels better, too.
We where glad when we heard on the news that it was a small one and not a BIG one 🙂
Your photo looks purrfect in any way´s !
XOXO
Hope you all are safe and sound Sparkle and hope your mom is feeling better. Your artwork is beautiful as always!
Marty and Mom
Your human sure is skilled with that camera and software stuff. My peep? Software? That’s stuff you wear that’s soft like… ummm… cotton jersey.
Purrs,
Nissy
You and your human were the FIRST people we thought of when we heard about the quake!! Mom and I weren’t online since Friday so we didn’t get to see if you were ok, glad you all are!!! Ugh, my Mom had that stomach bug a few weeks ago, hope your human is feeling better soon!
Luby effectz butt we LUBZ Sparkle Au naturelle…dere iz no purrfctin “Purrfecshun!”
;
Lub Nylablue n Sherrellen Mum too xoxo
Looks GREAT! I wish I had more time to fuss with Photoshop….by the time I figure out how to do something…I’ve got no time to play with it. 🙁 Slow learner, I guess.
Glad you are safe after the earthquakes! I was hoping all my California friends are okay. SCARY,though, eh?
Beautiful photo edit of you, Sparkle…and glad you all are ok! We managed to visit L.A. between quakes and are looking forward to moving back…despite the shake, rattle, and roll.
Firstly, mum says Get Well Soon SparkleMum.
Secondly – i can’t wait to get Mum home to try some of this stiff, altho’ the model won’t be half as lovely as Miss Sparkle 😀
Harvey
Great job-the details make ALL the difference!