Illustration Friday: LEAP

    Prepared pages for my daily journaling.
    Watercolor, ink, hand carved stamps
    and collage on paper.
    I usually decorate a couple of weeks in advance
    of my journal & then just write what I do every day.
    You can see more of my journaling here
    Click on the image above to see it BIGGER
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Grumpy's Pipe Organ

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    Another brief respite from Poppins...

    I was doing some research tonight. I always find myself drawn back to SNOW WHITE. Today I had a revelation... and finally figured out a way to digitally clear this incredible background of Grumpy's pipe organ.

    What a marvelous piece this is... you can almost hear "The Silly Song!"Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Hang your hat!

Arrival: Tea Time

New daily journal format

    I started a new journal this week.
    My sister in law from San Diego brought me
    a really nice 5 1/2 inch square
    olive green cloth covered journal
    filled with watercolor paper from Dick Blick.
    I love the new square format
    and size of the journal.
    Very practical.
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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fashion illustration

fashion illustration

fashion illustration

fashion illustration

Across The Bridge

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Current Exhibitions

    If you like portrait photography you could do a lot worse than get yourself down to the National Portrait Gallery in London where there is a current exhibition of photography from one of the giants of the magazine industry in Vanity Fair.

    "This remarkable exhibition showcases 150 portraits including classic images from Vanity Fair's early period, displayed for the first time alongside photographs featured in the magazine since its re-launch in 1983".

    The exhibition runs from 14 February - 26 May 2008.

    Go to the website for more information NPGSource URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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MARY POPPINS: Trees Background

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    In yesterday's post, these trees were in the background... of the background! Here's a completely different rendition from the next edit of the film. These are behind Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke as they sing, right after crossing the pond. We barely notice this artwork, it lasts for only a sentence or two of the song.

    Amazing!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Illustration Friday: MULTIPLE


    Multiple seed pods.
    Watercolor on paper
    made fresh for today Illustration Friday.

    We're going on a little trip
    to beautiful San Miguel de Allende
    for a wedding this weekend.
    I'll be back on Monday with
    some photos to share :)

    Have a lovely weekend friends,
    thanks for stopping by.
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
    Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

MARY POPPINS: The Other Side of the Pond

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Spring bunny

    I thought I'd let my feathered friends rest a while
    and made this for all of you dreaming of
    spring...

    ...or fall
    if you're in the southern
    hemisphere.

    A couple of new prints are available at the shop
    If you want to go and take a peek
    click here.
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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SNOW WHITE: Dwarfs' Cottage

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    OK, a brief break from POPPINS. Ever been to a fragrance counter, and the salesperson had you sniff coffee beans to clear your head?

    Same idea here.

    With the incredible intensity of color in the POPPINS backgrounds, seeing this SNOW WHITE view of the dwarfs cottage is refreshing.

    The muted earth tones of this background were mirrored by a rainbow of subtleties in the animation color palettes.

    Both great films, both wondrous artistic achievements, but realized through very different stylistic approaches.

    Heigh ho!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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MARY POPPINS: Across The Pond

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    Originally, hospitable animated turtles ferry a wobbly Bert and the always composed Mary Poppins across the pond.

    It's another amazing treat for the eyes. The rich greens of the trees are beautifully played against the aquamarine water. Note the texture of the stones, and wildflowers in the grass and along the water's edge.

    Just wonderful!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
    Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

New journal


    I finally found my dream journal.
    It's a cotton and black foil book
    8.5 x 10 inches
    from the Poketo online shop.
    It's called Still of the Night Dreambook.
    I ordered it yesterday and can't wait for it to arrive :)
    The journal I have now will end in march
    and I was on the lookout for a new one...
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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JOLLY HOLIDAY Part Five

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    This scene takes us through the forest to the river's edge.

    As the deer remain in the entire first shot, they remain here, as well as a couple smaller woodland animals. It took some patience to digitally extract all those animated butterflies too! But most of the artwork is seen here, revealed for the first time. Note the extravagant use of color and richness of detail. Gorgeous!

    The "river's edge" is the B/G where the turtles meet Mary Poppins and Bert to transport them acoss the river. They are in the whole scene, so they've stayed. But ths rest of this glorious B/G is revealed. The marsh-ey flora is a nice touch, and the chalk drawing texture continues with aplomb!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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JOLLY HOLIDAY: Part Four

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JOLLY HOLIDAY: Umbrellas In Flight

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    This first B/G is the farm gate where the "umbrella flight" begins.

    The second B/G is a partially reconstructed pan B/G. It took most of Saturday afternoon to assemble. As the umbrellas fly through the sky, the hue/tint of the sky changes, which made it very difficult to piece together. But, so far so good. This is about one/third of the entire pan B/G which includes a bit with an animated squirrel. One day I'll come back and work on completing this.
    Enjoy!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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JOLLY HOLIDAY: Down On The Farm

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    Another highlight of the JOLLY HOLIDAY sequence is the visit to the farm with animated singing animals!

    In the first re-created background, I was able to digitally remove all the animals except the cute little pig on the right.

    The second B/G is a real knockout. The gate with umbrellas is real, as is the footpath. The rest is a beautifully rendered matte painting.

    Down on the farm!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Illustration Friday: THEORY

    Ok...this is what happened, 
    let me explain:
    When I saw today's Illustration Friday word "Theory"
    the first thing I thought of was the color theory
    and the famous color wheel
    ...the color wheel reminded me of
    peacocks of all things,
    and that how I ended up with this illustration!
    Thanks for stopping by,
    It's always a pleasure havin' you here :)
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
    Visit Lifestyle Arts for daily updated images of art collection

JOLLY HOLIDAY Part 2

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    Happy Valentine's Day!

    I am posting the POPPINS B/Gs in consecutive order as they appeared in the film. Since today is all about love, including movies we love, I am sharing three new POPPINS B/Gs. While they are all impressive, the last is one of my very favorites.

    Looking at these re-created B/Gs, it dawns on me that there is a radiant, Technicolor "Wizard Of Oz" vibe about them. Did you know Walt Disney acquired the film rights to the Oz stories? Maybe there was some direct inspiration from the 1939 MGM "Wizard" in this artwork.

    Dazzling!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Happy Valentine's Day!

    Happy Valentine's Day!
    ©2008 Ardent Photography LLC

    Happy Valentine's Day!!! 



    Hearts and flowers

    Hearts and flowers on Valentine’s day.
    heart shaped candy, help me say:
    I Love you in a special way,
    because love is the reason for Valentine’s day.
    Valentine’s day is a special time
    for songs to sing
    and poems that rhyme,
    a happy time for everyone.
    I’m so glad you're a friend of mine
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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New stamps

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Valentines

    On a day to show your love I thought it only appropriate to post one of my favourite poems from the weddings I cover. Happy Valentine's day.

    I Will Be Here
    Steven Curtis Chapman

    If in the morning when you wake,
    If the sun does not appear,
    I will be here.
    If in the dark we lose sight of love,
    Hold my hand and have no fear,
    I will be here.

    I will be here,
    When you feel like being quiet,
    When you need to speak your mind I will listen.
    Through the winning, losing, and trying we'll be together,
    And I will be here.
    If in the morning when you wake,
    If the future is unclear,
    I will be here.
    As sure as seasons were made for change,
    Our lifetimes were made for years,
    I will be here.

    I will be here,
    And you can cry on my shoulder,
    When the mirror tells us we're older.
    I will hold you, to watch you grow in beauty,
    And tell you all the things you are to me.
    We'll be together and I will be here.
    I will be true to the promises I've made,
    To you and to the one who gave you to me.
    I will be here.Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Crafty bird prints

We're off on our Jolly Holiday: Landscape #1

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    Right after Jane and Michael jump into the chalk drawings, they go in search of the carousel. This is my first of an entire new set of digitally re-created MARY POPPINS backgrounds. This is one of my all-time favorite Disney films, and sequences. Seeing the artwork revealed for the first time is a revelation. These backgrounds took the songs and animation to a whole new level of "personality."

    What fun!

    BTW... it appears the paths in these are real, with the backgrounds dropped in via Ub Iwerks brilliant special effects. Any experts out there have more information on this process?

    Also, the JOLLY HOLIDAY backgrounds are a very different stylistically from the Ellenshaw matte paintings. Anyone know the artist(s) responsible?

    Trivia: Frank Thomas' wife told me recently that Ward Kimball animated the Pearlies for the "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" sequence.Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Are You Ready for a JOLLY HOLIDAY?

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    Even when a day goes by that I don't post, you can bet I am at work digitally replicating background art!

    I have some real treats coming up for you. I had reason to take a look at MARY POPPINS again this week. What an amazing movie. Practically perfect in every way!

    I started in at the very beginning of the animated JOLLY HOLIDAY segment. Way at the beginning... in the park!

    Technically, these do qualify as animation backgrounds. Remember the spectacularly colored dust when the POPPINS entourage jumps into the chalk drawings?

    Here are two views of the park sets. Magnificent aren't they? We've never seen these without the cast... until now. I digitally removed the actors so we could see the impeccable designs. Take special note of the painted backdrops.

    And if you think these are fun.... just wait 'til you see what's coming next.

    Let's just say it will be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Biographies of Supermodels

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Beauty

SWORD IN THE STONE

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Matryoshkas

    I bought a set of blank wood matryoshkas
    on our vacation to San Diego last year
    at an Urban Outfitters store
    & I've been itching to paint them since...
    but I was a wee anxious about starting.
    I gave them a white base first
    to make the colors nice and bright.
    I'm painting them with acrylic paints
    and lots of patience :)
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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IN A NUTSHELL (1949)

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,

the ball is rolling...

    My website is even closer to being completed. Yay! Hopefully it will be live soon. I have spent many hours the last few weeks working on the images, content and layout. I am thrilled to have a beautiful site that I can update periodically with new images.

    My old site I designed and programmed myself in 2005. My background is in graphic design. In 2005 I knew enough about html to be dangerous. So I went to the library and got a book on Adobe Go Live... a program I never worked in before. It took me a whole week to design and program the site. Unfortunately, I was not smart enough to program it to be easily updated. So, to say the least the old site has not been touched since it's original launch. What's worse is that many of my "galleries" were programmed in Quicktime. Which I later found out does not work on the typical PC.

    My new site is flash. It has tons of photos, a calendar, about, and contact page. In the works are a password protected "client" section. This section will be a place to see highlights from your wedding day, in addition to your online ordering site.

    Another future section will be called "spotlight". This section will showcase one of my couples and their wedding day. The section will also include the vendors that helped make the day so amazingly beautiful. I hope to change this section four times per year. Let me know if you would like to be one of my "spotlight brides"!

    Keep watching for the site to go live. Hopefully all of the bugs will get worked out quickly... if you have trouble with the form you can always email me at info@ardentphoto.comSource URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Nice Idea - Jenga Guest Book


    I thought it was about time I updated my nice ideas part of this blog so I'll be trawling through last years weddings to find some ideas and inspiration for you.

    As wedding guest books go this one has to be one of the most unusual. Caroline & Tim handed out the Jenga game to their guests who each took a block on which to write their message to the happy couple. Not only a fun and different way to engage the guests but also something that will bring back all the memories for years to come every time you play the game.
    Source URL: http://lifestyleartsblogs.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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DONALD'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY

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