Weekly Photo Challenge -Work of Art
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Pablo Picasso
This week my husband and I are hosting a bit of a family reunion, so there’s not much time for blogging. I hated to miss Michelle’s Photo Challenge, “Work of Art”, so I’m posting an abbreviated entry. The shot above captures a simple home on laundry day from China’s beautiful Longsheng area. I post-processed it with PS Elements filters to create a bit of an impressionist view of the scene. Below, I applied a similar treatment to a lovely floral scene in China’s Hangzhou.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
Edgar Degas
Impressionism has always been my favorite form of painting. I studied the French masters as part of my undergraduate degree, and have visited the incredible collections of the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. My entry this week is a nod to their courage for creating a new and boldly different (in its day) style in the face of much criticism, and an acknowledgement of their incredible talent.
Impressionism and painting in general are an obvious entry for art, as is photography. But art can be so many things to so many people. To see what some other bloggers chose for their focus, click here.
Both are fantastic! I can see these printed BIG on canvas…love the painterly look!
Thanks so much Susan! Appreciate your lovely compliment. I actually have a painting with a similar feel of a chef at work in the kitchen. It’s one of my favorite things 🙂
Nicely done Tina. Just enough post processing to make them impressionistic but still believable.
Thanks Ron! I’m a fan of Impressionism but not so much on abstract so try to stay on the believable side 🙂
Both are fantastic but I’m really lovin’ the 1st one. I would frame and hang that one! Take care
Thanks so much Mark! I just may do that 😉 haven’t framed one of my own in a while 🙂
Just gorgeous! A fitting tribute to the masters 🙂
Many thanks Madhu!
great pictures, a simple life is my favorit.
Many thanks Robert!
I love the impressionistic quality in these photos. Like you I have always been attracted by the artwork of the impressionist, whether it’s Monet, Renoir, Degas or any other. Great quotes, too.
Thanks Otto! I thought the “art” challenge called for something a bit different 🙂
Great job on the painterly effects. The first one doesn’t even look like a photograph! It’s quite nice to have wonderful family time take you away from the computer.
Thanks Jane! And you’re absolutely right about the family time 🙂
Beautiful art that inspires!
Thanks very much IT!
Love the processing, Tina. Work of art indeed!
Thanks Uday – enjoyed this one, just couldn’t pass it up!
Love the painterly effect Tina !
I too have often thought how brave some artists have had to be in the past . Facing criticism from the public and *elite establishments in following their desire to be explore creative ways of being innovative with their chosen medium must have taken terrific courage .Thankfully although some may not have reaped the reward we certainly have in all the fabulous collections around the world .
A family reunion … lots to organise …but how lovely ! Enjoy x
Thanks PT, had fun with the textures on these and thought the “art” challenge called for some creativity! The reunion was TONS of work but well worth the effort as we all enjoyed it very much. My husband and I are both in serious recovery mode today 🙂
I can well imagine 😀
That first one with the laundry is wonderful and the processing really did make it look like a painting
Thanks LB – glad you enjoyed!
Lovely pictures, with or without the filter. I love that quote by Picasso, it says so much about art and more of us should follow his hint.
Thanks Milka – I’ll have to post the originals one of these days 🙂 Yes, I thought Picasso and Degas both spoke from a much deeper understanding of art than most!
I bet your originals look just lovely with that composition.
Lovely photos! And you fooled me, too — I first thought that they WERE paintings 🙂
Enjoy your reunion!
🙂 If Only!!! Thanks Svetlana – appreciate your lovely comment. Reunion was terrific!
What a fantastic effect! I had no idea such a tool existed, but I love what you have done with it. Enjoy your time away. We’ll all be here waiting for more when you “return.” 🙂
Thanks Stacey – they’re very basic but I’m just getting into them myself. Having some fun playing around with them, like a kid with a new toy!!
Love the impressionist look, especially ‘Pretty in Purple’. Did you visit Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris too Tina? Where Monet’s water-lilies are? Superb. Your post has reminded me that I must visit Giverny and Auvers-Sur-Oise!
Thanks Jude. yes we did go to l’Orangerie which was spectacular. I have no idea what happened to those photos as I wasn’t into digital in those days 😦 May just have to go back for a second look LOL
There is never enough time to go back and revisit places, though I will make an exception for Paris 🙂
I like the compositions very much.
Thanks Rabirius, that’s means a great deal coming from you!
Inspiring as always Tina. We share a love of the Impressionists; why am I not surprised 🙂
🙂 Thanks Andrew – I’m with you on the lack of surprise!
A nice filter effect. Have a great time hosting and visiting with family 🙂
Thanks PJB, we had a great visit!
FANTASTIC!! Especially love ‘laundry day’ as I always had a thing for laundry scenes when we traveled….just feels like there is an entire story in that one little scene. Those moments always left much for me to think about the rest of the day….the treatment that u did made it far more interesting…sort of a mystery over it!!!
Thanks April! I’m with you on the laundry appeal – maybe because it’s nice to see someone else doing it instead of me LOL
I like taking images with clothes line. It’s a universal symbol of our humanity. Enjoy your company.
Thanks Sally – I enjoyed the company immensly and am now enjoying the post-company peace and quiet 🙂
I respond to the Impressionistic paintings — but not Impressionistic music; as a musician, it took me many years to reconcile that difference in myself! 🙂
Your treatment of your images is perfect.
Enjoy your family time!!
I’m with you 100% on impressionist paintings vs music Cindi! Thanks for the compliment and the good wishes. we had a ball!!
I loved the impressionistic effect and was equally impressed that with the first one being something besides flowers (which seems to be what a number of the posts are). The second one – yes, it has flowers – it unique as well, although I love pictures with paths and lanterns.
Nancy
Thanks Nancy. I agree w you it’s nice to see non-floral entries in the challenges! BTW, I couldn’t find a current post on your blog. Am I missing something?
No, I haven’t been posting for a while now. My time has been used elsewhere – I’ve lost 40 pounds for one things, so lots of cooking! – and it’s hard being motivated to work on the computer after doing it at work all day.
Thanks for noticing. Not many have, although there’s so many good blogs it is hard to see when someone disappears. I’ve been sketching out some changes in my daily routines, but am not yet sure how to implement what I want vs. what I can realistically do in a day / week.
I might be coming to Charleston this fall to visit MWV’s Specialty Chemical plant there (I work for MWV). If so, I’ll let you know and see if we can meet up.
Well I’m usually here in the fall, tend to travel more in the summer. Please let me know if a trip comes together!
Tina, I liked the way you processed the photos. Interesting!
Thanks Jane – your work always reminds me of the impressionists so I appreciate your compliment that much more.
Loved the effects — the first one particularly lent itself perfectly to the Impressionist filter.
Thanks so much Kat, I thought so too 🙂 Happy you enjoyed!
Your photos are great as always. Enjoy the family visits 🙂
Thanks CTB! Family time was terrific as always, but happy to be back to my regular routine after all of the frenetic fun!!
Yes true… I am gearing up and looking forward to my home visit. But it is nice to get back to your own things and not living out of a suitcase too.
These are simply lovely Tina. Enjoy your family reunion!! 🙂
Tina, what a wonderful use of editing to fit the challenge. I’m glad you didn’t decide not to enter. Enjoy your time. I’ve been away and mostly offline since Wednesday and after the initial feeling of missing out and getting behind, it’s marvelously freeing.
janet
Thanks Janet! The “art” challenge seemed a good opportunity and I hated to miss it as I’d been wanting to play with some textures on that first photo. It was a nice evening break from our family festivities, which turned out wonderfully.
Love this effect Tina, both wonderful images but the first one is a real attention grabber 😉
Thanks David – it kind of called to me for the impressionist treatment-glad you enjoyed it.
I’m an Impressionists fan too. Happy families, Tina 🙂
Not surprising Jo, thanks! We had a great reunion.
Loved A simple Life. Made we want to climb those steps.
🙂 Thanks Sharon – they were a very few of the thousands we had to climb to reach our goal LOL
so cool to get a quote I know and one I did not know – like I seem to see the first quote everywhere (well not always, but that Picasso one is so classic and just so good) and then I have never heard that Degas quote (at least I do not remember hearing it – and it is one that can be taken different ways – well to me at least).
anyhow, I like the filter look on both photos – but the fav was the first photo – first – just the way it went with Picasso’s quote – “washes away” – and then we see laundry and the the feel of everyday! nice. second, also – the feel of the stairs moving up towards the colorful clothes – well there is this moving forward energy – a positive vibe – and then third, that positive (or upbeat) vibe is also felt in those colorful clothes hanging –
and clothes can be so artsy – whether plain and ordinary – or with colors and patterns – and here we have some colorful clothing items – and maybe even a patterned towel (?) – likely skirt – but to me the clothes whisper beauty – amidst all that green – and well totally do not want to comment too much – but that leads to the last thing I enjoyed in your “work of art” post –
the “impressionistic view” you chose to give us with your filters – (oh – and cool to hear what you studied in part of your undergrad) anyhow, the coloristic effects give us that take on light and I almost was wondering what the same scene would like at dusk – ha!
hope you enjoy your visitors….
Hi Yvette, thanks for the very thoughtful comment, and for noticing my tie-in between the quote and the wash!!! (you’re the only one who got that BTW!) Thought the “art” challenge was the perfect opportunity for some playing around with filters so had a bit of fun with it. Our reunion was terrific, thanks!!
Reblogged this on Mackneen_The Algerian Goldfinch and commented:
Don’t worry, It’s fine…Art, This post is just enough, it’s great Art Work by itself
Thank you for sharing
A lovely compliment Kalimelo; thanks for the reblog!
I’ve seen some of the impressionist art work and they are impressive. I must admit I prefer the simplicity of art such as the ordinary “photos” of your travels. Enjoy your family reunion.
Thanks Perpetua – I too enjoy the straight-on photos vs the filtered versions, but thought for this week some manipulation might be in order 🙂 !
Great images Tina, hurry or no hurry! 🙂
LOL, thanks Sue! Had been saving that one for a while and the challenge was the perfect opportunity to use it!
Great quotes for this lovely post 🙂
Many thanks Maya!
Nice effects, Tina. I was a bit strapped for time, too, as I was on vacation. But how can we miss out on this Challenge? I did a blog re-do, which WordPress does encourage once in awhile. Hope the reunion was nice and you are getting some rest!
Thanks Alexandria – wish I’d thought of that!! The reunion was perfect and I’m enjoying my post-reunion peace and quiet 🙂
A Simple Life is simply beautiful. As always, gorgeous shots with exquisite quotes.
Thanks so much Lois! Amazing how the simplest things can really catch the eye, isn’t it?!
These are lovely.. Never went to Longshen but had lots of happy weekends down in and around Hangzhou…
Thanks Susi! Longsheng is really off the beaten track. About 2 hours drive from the closest city but well worth the effort!
Yes was on my list when I lived there… Just didn’t make it. China is so fascinating eh?
Totally and completely!!
Beautiful pictures which give a glimpse of a natural setting in China. Love that quote by Pablo Picasso as it makes one contemplate. Thanks Tina.
Thanks Dilip – if anyone is entitled to comment on art it’s Picasso, right?!
Love both of these pics. When we visited China, I tried to take several photos of everyday life — one of my favorite subjects. I love your technique of creating impressionistic pictures — beautiful. I’m having fun with an app on my iPhone: Waterlogue. Perhaps not as sophisticated, but still an interesting effect.
Hi Rusha; thanks for the lovely comment. I’m as far as you can get from sophisticated but I do enjoy playing with some of the post-processing capabilities. it’s a whole new world for me.
Love the use of Elements to create the impressionist/painted affect…perfect for this photo challenge. The opening quote is beautiful, what is defined as art is up to the individual ~ but an absolute necessity to make it through the day 🙂
Thanks so much Randall. I’m enjoying playing with some of the photos but really need to improve my knowledge on the post-processing stuff. Kind of a whole new world for me!
Post-processing is this double edged sword, as it can be really enlightening (actually helps the creative process when you’re out in the field), but can also be time consuming. It is fun though, as your shots prove.
Thanks as always Randall. I agree whole-heartedly and don’t do it often but sometimes ya gotta go where the spirit moves you 🙂 On another subject, just found one of your previous comments in the spam folder. Only happened once so not sure why but wanted to let you know. Happy shooting and congrats on being included in Otto’s list 🙂
Great photo’s and this is absolutly a work of art!
Many thanks Jaap!!