Not counting today, I only have 18 work days left until I retire. Yay!
Click on any picture to see a larger size. Works and posts on this blog are © William J. Charlebois unless otherwise noted.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
For Martin's Poem
Martin (starwatcher521) from Germany writes many beautiful poems. I created this digital collage after reading the one he posted yesterday. http://starwatcher215.blogspot.com/2011/05/flower.html
Sunday, May 29, 2011
My Wife, Children and I
I have many digital collages I have done over the years that were posted on my previous blog in Artellaland. Below are some of those collages I came across today. Since I'm busy preparing for my upcoming Mad Tea/Retirement Party, I thought I'd post a couple of older ones here. The first is a collage with my wife, Lisa, and I in it. I hope you enjoy seeing these.
This last one has our two daughters and Lisa in it.
This next one is of our two sons and I.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Coming Soon - Mad Tea Party!
We had such a great time last year that we're doing it again. We're joining A Fanciful Twist and having a Mad Tea Party right here on this blog! People all over blogland will be be hosting parties on June 25. It will be a glorious time you won't want to miss. And guess what. My Mad Tea Party will be extra special because it will also be a retirement party for guess who - ME! I'm taking an early retirement after working 26 years at Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan. (I just can't take any more of those darling, little brats!) I hope you will stop by to wish me extra strength, health and wealth so I don't drop dead immediately after retiring. That does happen, you know. Please visit A Fanciful Twist and add your blog name to the list if you would like to have a party of your own on that fun day.
By the way, if you would like to be an actual participant at my party, create a digital picture of yourself dressed in a "zetti" outfit. Don't include a background, and make about it 3" x 5". Save it as a png file, and then email it to me at: wcharlebois at gmail dot com. (Remember to replace the "at" and "dot" with the correct symbols.) There's just no telling what you'll find yourself doing at my party! I only have a month to get ready, so please email me "your zetti self" as soon as possible.
By the way, if you would like to be an actual participant at my party, create a digital picture of yourself dressed in a "zetti" outfit. Don't include a background, and make about it 3" x 5". Save it as a png file, and then email it to me at: wcharlebois at gmail dot com. (Remember to replace the "at" and "dot" with the correct symbols.) There's just no telling what you'll find yourself doing at my party! I only have a month to get ready, so please email me "your zetti self" as soon as possible.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Take A Word Challenge - Zetti
You didn't think I could pass up this one, did ya?
Some elements from Holliewood's "Art Dollie" digital scrapbooking pack.
Some elements from Holliewood's "Art Dollie" digital scrapbooking pack.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Creative Souls Story Time #5 - Quote
Our challenge was to illustrate the following quote:
"I pick my tree carefully. A willow, not terribly tall but set in a clump of other willows, offering concealment in those long, flowing tresses. I climb up, sticking to the stronger branches close to the trunk and find a sturdy fork for my bed."
From the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.
"I pick my tree carefully. A willow, not terribly tall but set in a clump of other willows, offering concealment in those long, flowing tresses. I climb up, sticking to the stronger branches close to the trunk and find a sturdy fork for my bed."
From the book "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins.
Soartful Challenge - Steampunk
This is the picture we were given to alter in steampunk style:
This is my finished digital collage:
Here is the link to the Soartful Challenge page if you would like to visit: http://jeanette-soartfulchallenges.blogspot.com/
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Seth Apter's Next Edition of the Pulse
I've been working on two digital collages for Seth Apter's next edition of The Pulse. He runs a yearly edition on his blog where he asks questions for artists to answer, and also asks that they send work to illustrate their answers. Here are the two pictures I have been working on. I think they represent the kind of art I like to create: kind of fun, definitely crazy, but also a means to help me deal with the depression I'm constantly battling and hopefully help me discover the reasons for having it in the first place. What do you think? Do these adequately represent my work?
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
SoArtful's Marie Antoinette Challenge
I visited our favorite Grannie today and found another digital art challenge that I couldn't resist. Here is the famous painting of Marie the participants were given to alter:
This is my altered digital collage:
This is my altered digital collage:
It's Not Easy Being Poo
My good friend Marguerite, known at times as the Queen of Tarts (lemon tarts, silly), sent me a wonderful gift. (She also appeared as Lady M in the Royal Reception held on my blog on April 29 th.) All of you may not appreciate it, but to me, it's a very special gift. I took a picture of it with my iMac's built-in camera to show you.
Those of you in the know may recognize this as an example of kawaii art. If you aren't in the know, you better start Googling. I love kawaii art! I may be old now, but I'm a child at heart. Marguerite very aptly titled this " Poo Poo Pee Poo." (Copyright April, 2011 by Marguerite Bryant) Thank you, M! This is now one of my very favorite paintings. In fact, if you don't mind, dear friend, I am going to write a children's story with that title. I've written several stories for young people, but haven't had one published yet. Maybe this will become my instant best seller!!! My soon-to-be retired self (egads!) will have the time I need to develop it in the serious manner to which it deserves.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Creative Souls Storytime Poem #4
Creative Souls is providing poems and quotes for us to stretch our artistic minds and illustrate. This weeks poem is:
The Song of the Robin
-by: Beatrice Bergquist (1900-1962)
The cows low in the pasture on the hill,
The bluebird sings building a nest,
The water is singing down by the mill-
But the robin's song is the best!
The squirrels are chattering in the trees,
The wind is blowing toward the west,
Around the flowers are humming bees-
But the robin's song is the best.
The dogwood trees are blossoming white,
The plough horse is neighing for rest,
The song sparrow is singing with all his might-
But the robin's song is the best.
Here is my strange illustration:
The Song of the Robin
-by: Beatrice Bergquist (1900-1962)
The cows low in the pasture on the hill,
The bluebird sings building a nest,
The water is singing down by the mill-
But the robin's song is the best!
The squirrels are chattering in the trees,
The wind is blowing toward the west,
Around the flowers are humming bees-
But the robin's song is the best.
The dogwood trees are blossoming white,
The plough horse is neighing for rest,
The song sparrow is singing with all his might-
But the robin's song is the best.
Here is my strange illustration:
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Creative Souls Story Time Quote 3
There is a wonderful group of digital artists who are posting bits of poems and then creating digital art as inspired by that poem. The poem for Quote 3 was: "I can't place a name or time to the girl's face. But I'm certain of it. The dark red hair, the striking features, the porcelain white skin." Below is the digital creation I ended up with. I tried doing a little bit of drawing with Photoshop, which I actually find quite difficult to do. It was fun to do, though.
Techno Music
I hate to admit it, but this old guy likes techno music. I imagine it's because I've spent the past 30 years working with computers. I can't take a steady diet of it, mind you, but it does make me want to get up and show a few of my dance moves. I saw this today on a blog I visit regularly that features some interesting photography. I'm not going to give you a link, because the blog belongs to a young whippersnapper, and like most young whippersappers these days, he loves to throw in some choice words in his descriptions. They make me blush, so I sure wouldn't send you innocent young ladies over there! Anyway, I think it's the "gears" that grabbed my immediate attention. The picture looks very steampunk. Now that the royal wedding is over, I need to get my steampunk look back on my blog!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Three Muses Challenge - Stripes
Marie Markham's wonderful collage of Frida Kahlo inspired me to think about Frida.
14 Secrets Yahoo Group - Deb Gilchrist
A member of the 14 Secrets Yahoo Group, Deb Gilchrist, died recently. It was a great shock to many of us who have known Deb for quite some time. We've only known her through her art and online communications, though. We are using the month of May as a time to help each other heal from her unexpected death. We are taking turns each day to write some thought, saying, or whatever that each us can use to create a healing garland with.
My first turn to write something was yesterday May 2. Deb loved to write haiku, so I wrote a haiku in her honor. I've had an unexpected life changing event take place in my life very recently (finding out my position at work was being cut which is leading me to take an early retirement), and even the thought of making garland strips is going to be too much for me right now. I created a digital collage with my haiku for Deb instead.
My first turn to write something was yesterday May 2. Deb loved to write haiku, so I wrote a haiku in her honor. I've had an unexpected life changing event take place in my life very recently (finding out my position at work was being cut which is leading me to take an early retirement), and even the thought of making garland strips is going to be too much for me right now. I created a digital collage with my haiku for Deb instead.
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