The Story

Art is inspired by multiple influences, a fact punctuated by the last several months.    This year has left me feeling vulnerable, tangled in a mess of circumstances that has marked 2020.  People seem more angry and impatient as they deal with loss:   Loss of freedom, loss of health, loss of loved ones, loss of jobs....the list goes on. Despite these dark times, I still feel a sense of optimism over our future.   I'm hoping that we will return to decency, health, and freedom.  It may take time, but I feel we will get there.  I created this image with those thoughts in mind.  The blue bird represents that glimmer of hope in returning back to some sense of normalcy. 

The Technique

After selecting the main image (in this case I decided to use a stock image I downloaded from "Unsplash.com") I decided to flip the direction of the subject. In building the background I decided to select a section of floor that I photographed at the location where former president JFK was shot, in Dallas, TX.  (Photographing floors will always garner you strange looks from those around you!)   I find photographing tiles and textures to really help me as I build a background.  I found it equally compelling and ironic  to use this source image since it touches on the subject of loss, and the fact that were are in an election year.  I then placed an overlay of painted clouds (another thing I'm fascinated by because, well, California seldom has clouds, lol.)  After combining the two, I played around with color balance and incorporated more elements to complete the image.   The branches were inspired from a photo of trees I had taken years ago.  The bird was a stock image that I completely repainted.   The branches and bird were actually an after thought.  The image was gorgeous without them, but safe.   I chose to incorporate those images as the image evolved.  

I hope you enjoy the image and are inspired to create your own.