'Back To Square One Again' 4"x 4" Eva Macie©
The weather is great today! I am so grateful for all the good in my life and having a son here to help me, but as the song goes, “every form of refuge has its price”. I should be outside pulling the weeds and pruning back the shrubs and ivy that has vigorously grown in this glorious weather. However, a word that I use much too often, I am glued to the computer that my son just tuned up and upgraded to Windows7. I am back to square one trying to adjust to this new platform. To top it off the Serif desktop publishing program I have been using has gone wacky and will not save all the work I have done this past month! A nice person from Germany, which I met on the Serif forum, has helped me a lot and suggests I upgrade to the newest program. (The devil in me wonders if in the updates includes a bug comes so you have to upgrade??). My son insists that I should switch and buy an upgrade of InDesign. I have a very old 2002 one that I have never used and I do not want to deal with outdated programs again. I downloaded a trial copy and the learning curve is something else! Needless to say, I am tired, confused and full of anxiety! I believe the digital collage I created from some of my mix media images reflects my state of mine. I think I will turn off this computer, go pull weeds and meditate on it.
On a 4 by 4, such a lot of details and though it may reflect how you felt, as a painting, it is marvelous!
ReplyDeleteBut, dont get stressed up, it is just a matter of time before you get used to it.. it is really not rocket science! Eva..I do meditate while pulling weeds and it feels great!
I love the college! And I hate computers...event though I`m a trained admin assistant with full training in most computer programs...I had enough training to realize how much I hate them*L*
ReplyDeleteComputers, computers, computers! Not much fun sometimes. I agree with you about the steep learning curve.
ReplyDeleteThanks Padmaja. Lately I've been intrigued with layers of textures and patterns. I did feel better after some time pulling weeds :O)
ReplyDeleteI really love the depth in this painting--different images appear and re-appear (didn't even see the figure on the left until I looked at your painting 2-3 times).
ReplyDeleteEva, I've noticed your paintings at the ATL Artists Center; admire your work! Thank you for the honesty and inspiration in your blog.
Sarah, I feel a little better knowing that a computer pro can relate to my frustrtaion. Thank for your comment about my collage.
ReplyDeleteYes, Carole, the learning curve is a pain and the older I get the steeper the curve :o)
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, welcome to my blog. Thank you for your kind words they are very encouraging.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your desktop publishing woes, I am a former PageMaker user, tried to go to InDesign (aaarrgghh!!) and am now using an older version (2003) of Microsoft Office Publisher, which I then convert into PDF files. The current version (2010) of Publisher may be even better than what I'm using. Anyway, it's relatively intuitive and gets the job done quickly. I understand your frustration regarding things changing all the time, having to re-learn what HAD been working great, etc. And (insult to injury) having to PAY for it all over again. Wishing you calm, peace, and smooth creative sailing. --Carol Leigh
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip. I am so concerned that when I finish this labor intensive image loaded project that it won't look right when published. There was a guy on the Serif forum that lost a $500 on a bad printing project because the images exported in his PDF (unknown to him) were in a lower resolution than he used.
ReplyDeleteThis emerald green is so beautiful! I have no idea on solving software frustrations but wish you the best...meanwhile the results of this piece speak success!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I enjoy creating these little mixed media pieces. It's a great escape from all of my other drama :O)
ReplyDeleteHi, I popped by from Strathmore. I am really liking the tone on tone effect your have created.
ReplyDeleteLove dawn xx
Thanks Dawn. I think the workshops have had a big influence on my work :O)
ReplyDeleteI am late to catch up on blog posts from the past week but I wanted to say I am totally impressed with your motivation to use software and end up with such wonderful compositions. Do you still paint without digital enhancements?
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin,
ReplyDeleteI don't paint off the computer as much as I usual because I'm all wrapped up in my writing project. While I'm sitting here it is easier to do something in Photoshop than it is to go down to my studio and pull out a bunch of materials. I'm taking another another journal workshop and also a altered book workshop later this month so I will be back to the studio for them.
I love what you did in "Back to Square One Again". It's certainly a theme I'm familiar with. LOL The design is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle. I guess we've all been there a time or two.Looks like I'll be here a while as the new software training course is rough!
ReplyDeleteThe color and imagery in this piece is so mysterious Eva. You have a wonderful way of putting things together. I love my computer but find I have enough to do without using it to create art however I'm so impressed with what you do that I may one day be tempted to try.
ReplyDeleteI hear it's been hot in Atlanta. I wish it would heat up here in Toronto!
Careful for what you wish for about computer art and the weather. Although I prefer the heat to cold, we seem to be having extremes of both lately. Not fun. As for creating art on the computer, it's not as satisfying to me as actual painting, but because of circumstances it is easier for me now.Thanks for commenting :o)
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