Thursday, July 22, 2010

Imagining Bloom Scans

A week or so ago I was intrigued by a Gardens Gone Wild post. I clicked on the link in my sidebar and discovered a whole new world of artistic beauty that I’d never heard of…scan art. GGW is challenging one and all to practice scanning flowers, leaves, and all sorts of botanicals before the October Picture This theme.  Craig Cramer will be the judge for the digital collages entered in the monthly contest.  Of course, I checked out his site and was captivated by his bloom scans.  He's generously provided directions for creating gorgeous scans. 

Like a wild woman, I clicked my way across the information highway searching for more information to feed my artistic soul. Anxious to give it a whirl…I put some weeds on the scanner, covered it with a black sweater and well…

it looked horrible like a pile of weeds on a soiled, gray rag. I did a little tweaking in Picasa, but there's not much I can do to make a bad composition look better, except try again. 

I gave it a few days and began thinking about the principles of floral design. Sure I could lay flowers and leaves on the scanner, but to artfully arrange each component with line, pattern, texture, and color in mind creates something far more beautiful. Instill movement within the static and the scan becomes more interesting. Even a sense of depth can be worked out. So I tried again, this time putting into practice basic art principles.

I started with a simple combination of three marigolds and the squiggly curls from a pumpkin vine 


Next I gave Queen Anne's Lace a go, but switched from the black sweater to a piece of deep red felt to lay over the arrangment.

I moved on to pumpkin blossoms, rudbeckia, and again the curls using the same red felt.

Finally I arranged marigolds, rudbeckia, with spirals and curls to add interest and a sense of movement to the design. 

I'm excited about this new-found art. I can't wait to try mounds of flowers and plants arranged on a wide variety of backgrounds.  The possibilities are endless.

"The world is but a canvas to imagination."
~Henry David Thoreau

22 comments:

  1. Teresa these are beautiful! i really like the technique and you have used it beautifully.

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  2. Oh Wow!! What a creative idea and so beautiful. The last photo looks like a painted portrait :-)

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  3. Bev...Thank you for the comment love. My head is spinning with ideas that I'm anxious to try.

    Noelle...Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad I discovered scan art. It's a whole lotta fun!

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  4. Beautiful!
    Can't wait to see what ou come up with next!

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  5. Awww.. thanks, MJ. I'll be over to pick an armful of hydrangeas! Thanks for stopping by The Cottage.

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  6. wow, these are gorgeous! i didn't know you could do that with a scanner, just cover it up and take the picture or scan it - now i want to try it....thank you, sweets, for your kind comment on my post as well, it was much appreciated... i will have to track down this thing you're doing...those pumpkins blossoms are divine!
    xoxox♥

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  7. This is fascinating and the first time I have seen scan art. Beautiful. I guess it's time I got my broken scanner repaired. Pam

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  8. i love this!! absolutely beautiful!

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  9. Linda...Do try scanning some of your lovely flowers and plants. I was inspired by what I discovered online. There's some amazing scan art out there.

    Pam...I'm new to scan art, too! I just discovered a couple weeks via Gardens Gone Wild. Yes, yes...get that scanner fixed and give it a try.

    Carrie!!!! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! Scanning flowers is way cool! I think I'll stop by your mom's and pick some posies.

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  10. I can't decide which one I like the best. Each one was even more beautiful. The last one looks like an oil on canvas. I can see that you won't be doing much gardening from now on but plenty of picking. Can't wait to see the one you choose. Wonder if my scanner will produce such beauties or does one have to have a special arranging talent.

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  11. Dear Teresa, I have never heard of 'scan art' before now so this posting of yours has been a wonderful introduction. Your creations remind me of the still lives of the Grand Masters as they have such a painterly quality about them. I really cannot believe that you are a novice!!

    Thank you so much for your comments on my recent postings to which I have made reply.

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  12. Rose...Thank you for the kind comments. I spent the day searching for flowers of all kinds and tomorrow I'm going to give it another go. I'm sure you and your scanner could indeed create some beautiful compositions.

    Edith Hope...thank you for stopping by for a visit. I am indeed a novice when it comes to scan art or bloom scanning, but I do have a background in floral design which helps. Thank you for your kind comments.

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  13. That last scanner shot is fabulous, did you print it out? Don't the storms make such wonderful sunsets? We had another one tonight. I know it's been hot this summer, but it gives us a good strong rain once a week, so it's all good! Normally the storms pass us by in summer. No zoom lens for butterflies, I use my macro. The secret is to wait still until they insert their probiscus into the flower, then they don't care if you take their picture. Patience!

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  14. Hi Robin...yes I printed, but I'm not totally happy with it. A professional printer would be a better choice, I think. Thanks for the tips on capturing butterflies with a camera. I'll try to be more patient and not just rush in with camera blazing.

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  15. Beautiful! What a stunning canvas of imagination you created Theresa O!!

    You go girl~
    xox
    Constance

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  16. the orange one is breathtaking...splendid, indeed.

    thanks for adding to the birthday wishes. smiling.

    one love.

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  17. Oh, wow, this is so gorgeous! I'm in love with the final shot. You are clearly improving with practice, by leaps and bounds I'd say. Very cool to have stumbled upon a new technique for your garden art. :)

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  18. Constance...thank you for your kind comments. I've become so enamored of this process that I just keep coming up with more and more ideas. Thanks for stopping by!

    Se'Lah...It was my pleasure to wish you a happy day! Thank you for your kind thoughts on my new-found passion.

    Meredith...I do feel fortunate to have discovered scan art. It goes hand in hand with photography, lending a different perspective. I'm so glad you enjoyed my first journey into bloom scanning.

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  19. Happy weekend to you Theresa O!
    xox
    Constance

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  20. I think these are very arresting and glorious --the last one a little like aDutch 17th century still life.
    I LOVED it

    such colors!

    We did our Christmas card about 5 years ago by scanning leaves and berries

    it really gives some super and often unforeseen effects

    what a great post.

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  21. the three merigolds~ sheer love!
    xoxo

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  22. I would like to exchange links with your site thecottageonthecorner.blogspot.com
    Is this possible?

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