Okay, it's not really a toy.
It's a work tool.
But you know what?
I love it!
It's the little projector thing I've been wanting and needing for a long time and finally at long last HAVE!
I'm having a ball using it on the big painting I've got in the works - to get the figures placed right and sized right (sort of; I still have to work on MY skills) and the features just so.
This thing is amazing!
It's small and portable but packs a lot of power. I can move it as close as I want for detail work and back it up to get a 'big picture'.
I've got photo figures of a WIDE variety of sizes so it's nice to be able to scootch in to shrink the ones that are too big, and back up to enlarge the ones that are too small. I have to say I do NOT have the hang of it all quite yet but this rough draft painting gives me hope for the future!
I can connect it directly to my laptop (which is kind of funny, actually, because I'll forget it's connected and be doing something or other on my little screen - totally oblivious to the fact that it's all showing up on the BIG screen of the painting 'canvas' - and happen to catch it out of the corner of my eye and freak out) which is right handy because I can work on selecting, sizing, cropping, etc. and (assuming I'm paying attention) see the life-sized results as I go.
OR I can make my photo picks, put them onto a flash drive, and just use that - don't have to have anything else unless I want to!
It's helpful to have a genius for a nephew, I have to say. Kevin informed me that if I want to use this same grouping of figures with more background I can just take a photo of them, put up a new canvas, do the background, and project them onto the background at whatever size I want.
Good thing I just invested in a bunch of big 'canvases' because I can see where this could get to be one heck of a good time, playing with it all!
I know, I KNOW! I'm supposed to be creating book covers so Mamm of Perth and Mamm of Tarnos can get into print ... and I will, I promise!
Really.
I will.
But see the thing about THAT is that it sounds like work - THIS, on the other hand, definitely feels like playing.
Now I ask you: Can something that feels so very much like playing be WORK?
Heh.
Yeah. Yeah it can!
And that, my friend, is just plain flat out LOVELY!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
FACES, I tell ya!
I love the dickens out of my people ... but every time I have to try to draw or paint their faces I suffer anxiety attacks.
This big painting I'm working on has a whole bunch of them and I'm pacing like crazy.
And so I tell myself, 'Self, all you can do is the best you can do. SO...
This big painting I'm working on has a whole bunch of them and I'm pacing like crazy.
And so I tell myself, 'Self, all you can do is the best you can do. SO...
JUST DO IT!'
While I'm At It ... Links for buying the books
In Print:
THEY ARE MY SONG (P4 Version=rough draft)
https://www.createspace.com/4522374
VICTOR VIGNETTES
https://www.createspace.com/4534174
SMALL TOWN USA
https://www.createspace.com/4676738
MAMM OF PERTH
Coming out in print mid-March 2014
MAMM OF TARNOS
Coming out in print mid-June 2014
On Kindle:
Go to Amazon.com: shiela branson
THEY ARE MY SONG
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
MAMM OF PERTH
MAMM OF TARNOS
SMALL TOWN USA
VICTOR VIGNETTES
The below is what I just copied and pasted from the Amazon site the above entry took me to. It's all of the Kindle versions of the books and prices listed as of right now (2/18/2014)
What the heck - scroll down - good grief - I'm sorry about that but don't know how to fix it.
sigh
"shiela branson"
Showing 6 Results |
They Are My Song: With Love From (Volume 1) by Shiela Branson (Nov 12, 2013)
- Order in the next 21 hours and get it by Thursday, Feb 20.
- $7.99 Kindle Purchase
- More Buying Choices - Paperback
- $7.41 new (7 offers)
- $10.93 used (1 offer)
- FREE Shipping on orders over $35
- Books: See all 6 items
Mamm of Perth: They Are My Song Book 2 by Shiela Branson (Jan 30, 2014)
- $7.99 Kindle Purchase
- Auto-delivered wirelessly
- Prime members read for free Join Amazon Prime
- Books: See all 6 items
Mamm of Tarnos: They Are My Song Book 3 by Shiela Branson (Jan 30, 2014)
- $7.99 Kindle Purchase
- Auto-delivered wirelessly
- Prime members read for free Join Amazon Prime
- Books: See all 6 items
The Story Behind the Story: A Journey of Mystic Proportions by Shiela Branson (Jan 29, 2014)
- $4.99 Kindle Purchase
- Auto-delivered wirelessly
- Prime members read for free Join Amazon Prime
- Books: See all 6 items
Small Town USA: It's All a Matter of Perspective by Shiela Branson (Feb 1, 2014)
- $2.99 Kindle Purchase
- Auto-delivered wirelessly
- Prime members read for free Join Amazon Prime
- Books: See all 6 items
Victor Vignettes: The times they are a-changin'. by Shiela Branson (Nov 19, 2013)
- Order in the next 21 hours and get it by Thursday, Feb 20.
- $4.99 Kindle Purchase
- More Buying Choices - Paperback
- $4.95 new (11 offers)
- $8.27 used (6 offers)
- FREE Shipping on orders over $35
- Books: See all 6 items
SMALL TOWN USA and THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
These two books are finally either available NOW on Amazon or soon will be - as soon as the process gets done.
SMALL TOWN USA
Go to the above link to order a print copy of SMALL TOWN USA.
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY is still 'in process' so will take a little longer.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Before I Get Lost In The Artwork I Need To Get A Couple Of Books Into Print
'Small Town USA: It's All a Matter of Perspective' is ready for the final formatting touches so it can get printed, and so is 'The Story Behind the Story' re: 'They Are My Song' - and THAT one needs another bit added here and there as well, come to think of it.
The thing about SONG is that even STILL I run across things in my continuing research about things that just sort of popped themselves into that book - so the mystic stuff is on-going and will probably never stop. I can't put out new print versions of 'The Story Behind the Story' every time I want to add another bit, although the Kindle version might get periodic adjustments as new things turn up.
SONG has been 'different' from the outset; it's not designed to be 'an easy read'. The Characters make people laugh; they make them cry - but the most telling comments I've gotten are that they make people THINK.
But enough of SONG for the moment - it's constantly drawing me back into it (it'll do that: BEWARE) and I have other things to do for the time being.
It's kind of like having a dozen kids all clamoring for attention at the same time.
Onward.
The print formatting for these books, once I get the hang of it, isn't really all that HARD or even too very time-consuming - I just have to sit down and DO IT.
I have to say that doing the actual WRITING in files that are pre-set for sizing, fonts, page numbers, headers, and cover/blank pages helps tremendously. AND using spell-check ahead of time.
One of these days I'm going to get it perfect the first time out of the chute, but I'm not holding my breath on that.
But if I'm going to have print books for this spring and summer, I'd probably better get them PRINTED.
The thing about SONG is that even STILL I run across things in my continuing research about things that just sort of popped themselves into that book - so the mystic stuff is on-going and will probably never stop. I can't put out new print versions of 'The Story Behind the Story' every time I want to add another bit, although the Kindle version might get periodic adjustments as new things turn up.
SONG has been 'different' from the outset; it's not designed to be 'an easy read'. The Characters make people laugh; they make them cry - but the most telling comments I've gotten are that they make people THINK.
But enough of SONG for the moment - it's constantly drawing me back into it (it'll do that: BEWARE) and I have other things to do for the time being.
It's kind of like having a dozen kids all clamoring for attention at the same time.
Onward.
The print formatting for these books, once I get the hang of it, isn't really all that HARD or even too very time-consuming - I just have to sit down and DO IT.
I have to say that doing the actual WRITING in files that are pre-set for sizing, fonts, page numbers, headers, and cover/blank pages helps tremendously. AND using spell-check ahead of time.
One of these days I'm going to get it perfect the first time out of the chute, but I'm not holding my breath on that.
But if I'm going to have print books for this spring and summer, I'd probably better get them PRINTED.
That Piece of Equipment I've Been Waiting For Is HERE!
I am so excited I can't sit still!
I've been fairly aching to get back into the artwork - for SONG's re-do - but first for the print book covers for Mamm of Perth and Mamm of Tarnos so they can come out in print finally.
These paintings will be a variation on the original concept of this series - very large pieces of work - so I'm going to use a projector to get the backgrounds right and the figures placed before I put pencil or brush to canvas.
I saved and saved and then waited and waited (seems like it anyhow) FOREVER - and now it's HERE - sitting right over there - still in its box because I have to put in shifts at my part-time job today and tomorrow so can't DO anything with it until after that ... the suspense might just kill me.
No.
It isn't going to kill me.
But I tell ya - having to wait AGAIN is not a joyous thing.
The Mamms of Perth, Tarnos, and Iona, together with Alianora of Perth and the Warrior Twins Sass and Saille are going to be front and center, backed by Danann and Forr of Perth, Ethan of Tarnos, and TallUllin of Iona.
If I get ambitious and feel confident, Ordha and Rogue might join the people, you just never know! You KNOW they never want to be too far from Mamm and Ethan of Tarnos, so I might not have a choice in the matter. Those horses can get more than a little mule-headed.
While I've been seeing the Characters in my mind for a long time, it's going to be incredible to see them standing in my studio!
I've been fairly aching to get back into the artwork - for SONG's re-do - but first for the print book covers for Mamm of Perth and Mamm of Tarnos so they can come out in print finally.
These paintings will be a variation on the original concept of this series - very large pieces of work - so I'm going to use a projector to get the backgrounds right and the figures placed before I put pencil or brush to canvas.
I saved and saved and then waited and waited (seems like it anyhow) FOREVER - and now it's HERE - sitting right over there - still in its box because I have to put in shifts at my part-time job today and tomorrow so can't DO anything with it until after that ... the suspense might just kill me.
No.
It isn't going to kill me.
But I tell ya - having to wait AGAIN is not a joyous thing.
The Mamms of Perth, Tarnos, and Iona, together with Alianora of Perth and the Warrior Twins Sass and Saille are going to be front and center, backed by Danann and Forr of Perth, Ethan of Tarnos, and TallUllin of Iona.
If I get ambitious and feel confident, Ordha and Rogue might join the people, you just never know! You KNOW they never want to be too far from Mamm and Ethan of Tarnos, so I might not have a choice in the matter. Those horses can get more than a little mule-headed.
While I've been seeing the Characters in my mind for a long time, it's going to be incredible to see them standing in my studio!
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