Rischa's Rants, Raves, and Ramblings

30 Days of Tumblr - Day 20 — A hobby of yours.

Day 20 — A hobby of yours.

Duh! Painting! And if I had a second answer it'd be photography.

You can see more of my paintings here:

www.Artist-Haven.Blogspot.com

And purchase them here:

www.Rischa.Etsy.com

I really don't have anything else to add. I usually like to blabber on and on to make the posts more interesting, but I've already shown my paintings on my art blog and talked about them. Some of them, anyway. And I kind of like to keep the two blogs separate. So there's another half-assed blog post for ya!

xo,

Rischa

30 Days of Tumblr Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)

Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)

RACHEL THE MATRIARCH

 

Warning! Shameless plug coming at ya in 5.....4.....3.....2....

This piece can be YOURS by clicking HERE!

xo

Rischa

30 Days of Tumblr Day 14 — A non-fictional book.

Day 14 — A non-fictional book.

Goodness, the person who wrote this really is interested in books, right? This is only day 14 and its the third post about books. Maybe it seems like more to me because I had to rewrite one of the book posts.

 

Most of the time I just read art books. When I read a good art book I either mention it on Twitter or write about it on my art blog. So I'll give you another one that I have on my "To-Read" list.

 

 

That's all for now. I'd ramble a bit more as I usually do, but I took a sleeping pill an hour ago and I'm afraid of what I might say. Also, it's 4AM!

 

xo

Rischa 

30 Days of Tumblr Day 4 Take 2 - Book Discussion Continued

It drove me a little crazy not being able to post photos to go with my post from yesterday. I'm sure it can be done from the iPhone, but I didn't have time to figure it out as my battery was dying. I had already turned off my other computers for the night when I realized I hadn't answered my "Day 4" question.

So here are the images and links I WOULD have inserted into the previous post if I had the time and knowledge of how to do so.

Dynamic Acrylics by Soraya French

 

An Illustrated Life by Danny Gregory

 

A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith

And you'll have to go over to my art blog to see the other great book mentioned. I have read that one from cover to cover twice and love it! I'm in the middle of reading the Dynamic Acrylics one and already know it's awesome. The other two are up next. If anyone's interested in knowing how those two turn out stay tuned to my blog and ask me in a month or two.

XXOO

Rischa

Free Photoshop Actions - Rounded White Frames

I was thinking today that it's too time consuming to "pretty up" photos for blogging. So I came up with a couple of Photoshop Actions to make the process quicker and easier. I made these in PSCS2, so if they don't work in other versions I'm sorry. They may, but I just don't know until someone tries it and lets me know.

I've included some instructions for both actions. Please read the instructions before running the actions as there are some rules to follow for using them.

Here's what the Portrait image will look like after the action has been run with a drop shadow and flattened:

And here is what the Landscape image will look like after the action has been run with a drop shadow and flattened:
 

Click HERE to download!

 

Keep in mind that the above images are AFTER I added a drop shadow and flattened the images.

Here is a screenshot preview of both actions just how they will look to you once you've completed the action without a drop shadow:

 
(Click to see larger)

As I mention in the included "Instructions" files, there is no need to give me credit when using these actions, however it is always appreciated. The same goes for leaving me a comment on my blog if you download. ;-)

PS. The bunny is my little friend that sits on my art desk. I found him at a yard sale. I keep meaning to fix his mouth. I embroidered the chick last year.

 

Day 3 & An Incredimail Stat

This is day 3 of my "alone time". I don't remember it being this miserable when I was single. I guess I had a more exciting life back then. I worked 2 jobs at a night club and enjoyed the night life quite a bit. I had places to go and people to see. So when I got home and it was just me I was perfectly fine with that. Plus, I was never alone for too long at the time because Kolby was with me. When he went to visit my parents it was only a few miles away. Not a few hundred. Joel is saying the rain and lack of work may send him home sooner than he thought, though, so that's good. It will mess up the plans we had for him to pick up Kolby on the way back, but we can always go get him Friday.

So anyway, I have to admit that it isn't totally horrible being alone. I haven't had to do nearly as much cleaning, I get the whole King bed to myself, I can cook (or not cook) anything I'd like, and Joel's alarm doesn't wake me up at 5:30 AM.

Joel called between the last paragraph and now and says he'll be home tomorrow morning. Yay! Thank you RAIN!

I haven't been creating much art; Digital or Real LIfe. I did make a little something in PSP a few days ago just so I wouldn't forget how. I used a tutorial. It took me a while to find a tutorial with all free materials, but I did it. It's a Christmas one, which isn't my favorite, but it let me stretch my PSP skills so I'm happy enough. I made several tags and an Incredimail stationery with it.

Here's my tag:

And you can download the matching Incredimail Stationery HERE.  

I also did some updating on my Photoshop Group's blog. I gave it a Christmas background and added a couple of gadgets to the sidebar. Check it out!

www.PhotoshopPhemales.Blogspot.com

Okay, that's it for now. I've got chores to work on.

Amazon, Videos, & Classes

First up: Videos! I've been thinking of doing Vlogs instead of typing out my thoughts here at the ole blog. I like watching vlogs and I'm guessing I'm not alone in that. It's more interesting to actually SEE the person and put a face with the rambles rather than having to read their writing and visualize what they're wearing. Hehe...teasing a little there. Well we are a bunch of lazy Americans, right? That's what everyone keeps saying about Americans is that we're lazy, right? Ha! I don't believe that shit and neither should you, but it does come to mind when talking about watching vids over actually using your noggin to read something. Even so, I'm doing the videos. Oh, and you don't have to be American to watch them. That was just me being silly. It might not be soon as I really need to learn to make more interesting videos. I have only made 1 so far and it's far from professional. It's pretty low budget looking, actually. I enjoyed it very much, though. I think what I'll do is use my YouTube channel and embed it here soit will generate some of the traffic from YT to here, as well. I'll do the same for the art blog IF I ever am able to get back into my creating. I miss it SO badly. It feels like I'm losin' my skills...however few they may have been.

Which brings me to my next topic. A new Portraits class. Ahh...Aren't I good at tying these meaningless paragraphs together? I'm patting myself on the back as we speak. Anywho, I had told myself I wasn't taking any more classes for a while. And really I haven't, but this one particular class will be lots of help to me I believe. It's a portraits class. I really enjoy doing portraits. I specifically like doing folk art, prim style portraits. I think it's my favorite thing to do. If you're unfamiliar with what I mean, have a look at Rachel, who I completed months ago.

 

She embodies my taste more than anything else I've done. She's simple, folksy, primitive looking, and it was fun to do. I have lots to learn, though. I'm not going to pick apart my above work because I do love her as she is, but I see things that could be improved or changed if I knew other techniques. I don't think I will ever be to the point where I don't want to learn how to do something more effectively. I would be bored if I got to that point. So I will more than likely continue to take classes and buy books.

Hehehe...I did it again. I added that last sentence in the previous paragraph JUST so I could go on to this paragraph and show you my new books from Amazon.

The Creative License

 

& the one I'm looking MOST forward to...

Altered Surfaces

 

I looked through Altered Surfaces while at Michaels and wanted to get it so badly that day. I knew it would be cheaper on Amazon, though, so I waited. It's a short book, but it's packed with info from what I've seen of it at the store. I got a couple of other books, too, but they're not that exciting. Just a couple of diet books and a cookbook. Oh, and 2 Moleskines which I'm looking forward to filling with portraits and which will be "Altered Surfaces" very soon.

I almost forgot to do my little bit of bragging. I've been making sales at my CafePress shop. It's a bit surprising to me that I've made sales there since I've yet to even advertise, but hey...I'll take it! Hehe

'til next time peeps!

Rainy & Sickly Day

Today couldn't suck harder if it tried. Well, I suppose that's a fabrication. It could be a hurricane outside and I could have a stomach problem to go with my cold. Anyway, today still sux! I've been fighting off this cold for weeks, but it finally won our little war. I'm "in the bed" kinda sick now. The DayQuil isn't touching this junk and I'm suckin' up the nose spray like it's crack and I'm a crack whore. It's also thunder-boomin' outside. I guess it's a good day for it since I'm in bed. I'm not missing out on anything since everyone's stuck inside. Also, rain can be quite relaxing to the bed-bound person. The thunder has gotten loud lately, though. The dogs are pretty miserable, too, as they haven't gotten to rid themselves of the morning energy burst they normally get. It's 3PM and they've only gone out briefly once all day long. That reminds me of 2005 when one of the hurricanes hit and they were inside for over 24 hours until it was safe to go out. They held it like champs! They didn't get far outside our door, though, before they all squatted. LOL If they could have they'd have said, "Ahhhhhh".

Geez, how did that last paragraph come about? I ended it talking aobut Pee? Really? Must be the cold meds. That's my story.

So on to something different. I skipped the gym yesterday and it isn't looking like I'll be going today, either. I was on such a roll that I really hate that I couldn't go. I haven't skipped 2 days in a row since we signed up. I was about ready to start running on the treadmill, too. I think I've built up enough endurance that I could take a few minutes of running at a time. I didn't want to start running right away and just totally blow my bad knee. Have I mentioned how bad having RA sucks lately?! I've had it over 11 years and it still ain't fun.

I haven't been a very good blogger lately. I know this isn't news, but what I mean is that I haven't been using images. I know people like to see images in blog posts. I do, too! So I better start using my camera again. I'd rather use my own images than someone else's. That's not to say I won't ever use images from Flickr or wherever else, but I enjoyed using my own. The entries lately are looking pretty dull, though, don't you think?

Joel may be traveling back down to the Naples area soon. I'd love to be able to go with him. It's so hard to do that for us, though, with all of our critters. I have no one around that would make a good sitter. I really loved Naples, though. It's beautiful and the place we stayed was awesome! I think it's the best place I've EVER stayed. As a bonus, it was around the time of our anniversary, too. Joel's Mom even sent us a basket to help us celebrate. Very cool of her, eh? Anyway, it sure would be nice to be able to hop in the car with Joel to go on these biz trips with him. I could take my easel and some paints or at least my sketchbook and enjoy some relaxation in a new place.

That's about all for now. The nose spray has kicked in so I'm going to try and get some rest for a while. If you've got chicken soup, you know where to send it! ;-) Later!

PS. For my next post I'll talk about Videos and my Amazon purchase.....

Just a Tuesday

Today was just another day. Not a particularly good one. I felt crappy all day and Joel got news that he'll be going out of town for a week (again) this Sunday. I felt so tired and achy all day that I just slept. I missed some of my RA meds, so it's not entirely surprising that I feel this way. I took it today all at once since I'm late, so I'm guessing tomorrow will be even worse. The med, Methotrexate, makes me feel sick when I take it all on one day like that. I usually break it up over two days and feel less sick.

The news of Joel going on another biz trip couldn't come at a worse time. His grandmother isn't doing very well, so he really needs to be home in case something happens. Also, I just don't want him to be gone for so long....or at all. It's bad enough that he works almost 24/7. I'm starting to feel pretty lonely. My art keeps me pretty busy, but that's an at-home thing, so I don't really get out much. I wish I could meet a friend that's into the same things as me LOCALLY. I have lots of friends like that, but they're not local. Most of the artists that I've met around here are on the older side of life. For once, I'd like to hit it off with someone my own age. I tend to get chatty with older folks for some reason. Maybe I'm one of those "old souls" that you hear about? Who knows....but it's lonely being an old soul apparently.

Joel is talking about us taking a short vacation for our 10 year anniversary. It sounds like fun, but for us it's always a hassle to go anywhere together. We have to find someone to take care of our fur children. The only person that I trust to come and do that is Mom and she's in GA 7 hours away. To be honest, I'd rather Joel just take the time off and us hang out together with NO phone or interruptions. Just a nice few days alone to go out to dinner, go to the movies,  or something like that.

Eek...I had more to talk about, but my computer just did an update and now wants to restart. I guess I'll take that as a hint that I should go back to sleep. I've already slept 2 hours, but I had to get back up to take my nightly meds and put the cloths in the dryer. Oh, the fun of having RA and a heart problem.....Woe is me. Sorry, it's just how I'm feeling right now. Maybe my next post won't be such a downer.

Turtle-Cam

Have you checked out my Art-Cam lately? Well, I haven't been doing art until today, so there was no art channel to be seen. Soooo, I set up a Turtle-Cam on that station. Check out Stanley and his sidekick, Al, the sucker fish.

 

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