Art Challenge- Hot/Crack

Last week was the week of Independence Day so the 2 Things challenge was postponed until this weekend. The challenge this week was for 

hot/crack

Here is my creation:

For this creation, I used a photograph of a sunset and covered it with black then used cracked brushes to let the sunlight and heat look back in. This makes it appear as if the sunlight is breaking through a black surface.

crack brushes 

here and here

Art challenge- Spade/ Morning

I've really been missing out lately and I hate that I have. I enjoy being a part of the 2 Things community and entering their weekly art challenges. It helps me think up new ideas and get my creative juices flowing. I am going to try my very best- no matter how busy life gets- to stay involved. 

Anyways, enough rambling. Here are this weeks challenge entries for spade/morning:

This interpretation is in black and white with exception to the main focus of the image which is the gardening tool often called the 'spade'. This image also features sun rays from the top left corner to represent the morning.

This interpretation features the spade symbol with a large sun bursting within to represent the morning.

This interpretation is my favorite. The spade symbol with a vibrant yellow squiggly sun representing the morning inside of it.

Did you enjoy this week's art challenge? Do you have an art interpretation for Spade/Morning? If so, share a link to your interpretation in the comments and I'll check it out! Thanks for stopping by.

Art Challenge- Beat/Walk

It has been some time since I've been able to join in on the weekly 2 Things Challenge, but I've managed to take a moment this week and give it a go. 

This week's challenge was Beat/Walk:

I've been on a health/ exercise kick for the last few months -lost 15lbs so far- so I thought I'd put together a health promo style design that would do for both word challenges. 

Details of the design: heartbeat, icon of man walking, and text which reads "walk for your health".

Sometimes it may be difficult to do 20 to 30 mins of cardio or dance exercises in a day but for those of us who can walk, taking even 10 minutes a day to walk can greatly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious illnesses such as poor circulation.

Do you exercise? What's your favorite thing to do? Share in the comments!

Art Challenge- Chain/Free

This weeks' art challenge by 2 Things Blog was one that was especially fun for me because I finally got to play around with some scrap fractal images that I had virtually lying around. The challenge for this week is Chain/Free. 

Here is my entry:

The above image is meant to symbolize a love chain that has been broken (I.E. the lack of connection in the center). I made this kind of as a tribute to those who have been in longstanding relationships that were abusive or painful and have finally been freed from that bondage. The chain has finally been broken- freedom is yours and a chance to love again awaits.

Art Challenge- Loose/Green

Somehow I've missed the last two weekly challenges hosted by 2 Things Blog. This week I will be joining them. The challenge for this week was 'loose/green'. There are so many things that could go under this challenge but I thought it was fun to play with food. (I may also be just a tiny bit on the hungry side)

Anyways, here is my entry for this weeks challenge:

A granny smith apple that has been freshly picked from a tree.

Juicy green grapes that have been picked from the vine.

Hungry yet? :) 

You are welcomed to utilize these two food photographs in your personal or commercial artistic endeavors. If you do (it isn't mandatory) I would love it if you'd leave me a comment with a link so I could see your work. 

Art Challenge- Verb/Hoof

I rather enjoy entering into the 2 Things Challenge each week. 

If you are just tuning in to my blog, the 2 Things Challenge is a weekly challenge that anyone (including you) may participate in and show off your artistic, creative and imaginative talents. Anything goes really... poetry, photography, digital arts, paintings... you name it. It is all in good fun too. There is no pressure and it gives you the chance to challenge yourself or to push your self to the limits. 

Give it a shot! We could always use more creative minds joining us.

Simply go to 2 Things Blog and introduce yourself. Oh, and don't forget to follow the blog to keep updated on the weekly challenges.

This weeks' challenge is Verb/Hoof

and here is my entry:

 Obviously a verb is 'something you do' so the image above is a text image made up of verbs related to things that horses do or that can be done with a horse (ex:riding, racing). I chose a horse because it is one of the animals which has 4 hooves (plural of hoof). 

_____________________________________________________

Did you enjoy this post? If so, please leave me a comment to let me know you've stopped by. 

Art Challenge: Public/ Smooth

I missed last week's challenge due to holiday shopping and attempting to visit with family and friends who live out of town. This week's 2 Things challenge is Public and Smooth. This one was a bit challenging on the 'smooth' part. I think I may have worked it out though. :) 

Thank you so much 2 Things Blog and fellow artists who participate for allowing me to enter whenever I can. It's always a pleasure. 

My entry for Public/Smooth. Don't forget that you can enter too!

Children's Playground at the park. 

Parks are pretty well public areas. Also, slides are smooth lol, but that isn't going to be my entry for smooth. I thought instead that I would write a poem describing the intricate beauty of a perfect flawless diamond.

Poem titled: Perfection

by Kristina Conatser, All rights reserved

Soft to the touch.

My fingers gliding with ease over you.

There are no blemishes; not even one. 

You are so smooth.

You are one of a kind.

You are perfection.

You shine so brightly.

You cast your prism of color on my face.

Within you there are no flaws; not even one.

You are so beautiful.

You are one of a kind.

You are perfection.

____________________________________________________

I truly hope you've enjoyed this post. I would love to hear from you. Please leave me a comment and let me know you've stopped by.

Art challenge- Eyes/Many

This week's challenge by 2 Things Blog was especially fun for me. I tend to get my spooky Halloween creative juices flowing a few months early once I know it is just around the bend and so with that said, just know that this week's entry has a touch of Halloween theme. I just couldn't resist. :) Hope you enjoy. 

My entry for this weeks Eyes/ Many:

Peering Eyes- copyright CapturedbyKC

Art Challenge- Local/Hot

It has been some time since I was able to do a 2 Things Challenge, for that I must apologize. I have been wanting to get back in on the action for awhile now. It was always such a pleasure to join and such a challenge to see what I can come up with each week. I have felt kind of reminiscent without it. 

Hopefully I will be able to keep entering from now on... if life will allow it that is. I am also thankful that the host of the 2 Things Blog as well as the other contestants are so kind as to have me back. 

My entry for this week:

Fiery Autumn Sunset- Copyright Kristina Conatser (CapturedbyKC)

This photograph was taken in the front yard of the home where I grew up. To me, this will always be the greatest sunset photograph I have ever taken because it was my first. 

I love the warm colors. I cannot fathom how hot it would be on that brilliant glowing ball of light we call the Sun.

_______________________________________________

Did you enjoy this post? If so, please leave me a comment to let me know you've stopped by. 

Art Challenge- Wooden/Words

This challenge post is just a bit late due to the fact that I was out most of the weekend with my Husband celebrating our 6 year anniversary. We had so much fun. We took a trip to the Mountains and went on various walking/hiking trails. I took my camera along. 

We love the scenery of the Mountains. The serene and peaceful waters, the elevation and even the air we breathe somehow seems uplifting. We definitely prefer Mountains over Beaches. 

On a related but more interesting note, I didn't realize that while we were out walking the trails of the NC & TN Mountains at Blue Ridge Parkway- that I would stumble onto a few great captures for this very art challenge. I want to thank 2 Things Blog for allowing my late entry. 

Here are my entries for Wooden/Words

This photo was taken on the walking/ Disc Golf trail in NC

Wooden Sign with overlook info at Blue Ridge Parkway
Moses Cone Overlook elevation 3888ft

While traveling along a walking trail, my Husband spotted this broken tree branch
 with  an arrow pointing down and text which reads:
"This End Up"

Hope you have enjoyed this week's photo challenge. I will try my best to get the next one in on time. Many thanks for viewing. Have a great week and please feel free to leave comments. :)

Art Challenge- Road/Shadow

It has been awhile since I have been able to enter into the 2 Things Challenge via 2 Things Blog, but I had a bit of free time this week so I decided to enter. I miss the challenges and really had fun doing this one because the 'shadow' portion gave me a chance to share one of my favorite poems penned by Poet, ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON. 

Shadow Man Photo courtesy of Jiri Hodan via Public Domain Pictures

The poem is titled: My Shadow

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,

And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;

And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—

Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;

For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,

And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,

And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.

He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;

I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,

I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;

But my lazy little shadow, like an errant sleepy-head,

Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

My contribution for 'Road' is simply a photograph I took while walking about. The trees have cast their shadows on the road below.

Art Challenge- Hidden/Control

Sorry this week's art challenge post was a bit late. I have had a busy weekend. I have been making up for it with a lack of energy and lots of rest from so much running around. Anyways, back to business... the challenge for this past Sunday from 2 Things blog was Hidden/Control. I have two interpretations to share. 

Please forgive me that these photographs have been taken by the camera on my phone. 

Remote Control for TV lodged between cushions of sofa

In the photo above, my TV remote control is partially hidden and lodged between the cushions of my sofa. Thus it is literally a Hidden/Control :)

Sandbox  Apple shaped toy partially hidden in the sand 

In the above photo, there is what appears to be a green outline of an apple breaching from the sand. This apple is shaping and controlling the sand within it while the sand is hiding the rest of the toy. Thanks to my wonderful 2 year old niece for helping with this one. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope you enjoyed my interpretations. Do you have any Hidden/Control interpretations of your own? If so, share them in the comments. Thanks for reading and visiting.

Art Challenge- Shadow/Orange

This week's challenge from 2 Things Blog is Shadow/ Orange. 

This challenge was particularly fun for me because I spent most of my week out and about taking photos with my new camera. I have been playing around with new settings and trying to find something in the photo realm that fits this challenge theme. I almost gave up. Then suddenly, while I was watching my two year old niece play on her swing set... I found it! So without further due, here is my entry for this week's art challenge.

photo taken by Kristina Conatser

Orange baby swing casting a shadow on the ground below. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What did you think of this week's interpretation? Do you have one of your own? Share your thoughts in the comments and remember we would love it if you joined us and played along at 2 Things Blog for the weekly Art Challenge.

Art Challenge- Town/Stars

I like to enter into the "2 Things" art challenge hosted by 2 Things Blog. Each week, the Author of 2 Things blog lets us know which two words were randomly selected and we are to interpret them artistically however we see fit. You can join too! We would love new creative minds to play along. 

This week's challenge was Town/Stars

Here is my interpretation:

Starry Night in Venice by Kristina Conatser

The image above is a digital mixed media style design. I utilized a few different types of images along with some very cool Photoshop filters to create the final product. I have always wanted to travel to Venice. I believe that on a starry night while travelling by boat across the water with someone I love, it would be quiet romantic. Venice is definitely on my bucket list of places to travel. 

Where is a place you would most like to visit? 

Have you been to Venice, Italy? If so, what was the best part of your visit? 

Art Challenge- Book/Words

I have been very busy with work these past few weeks and so as a result, I have been unable to participate in my favorite weekly art challenge hosted by the 2 Things Blog. This weeks' challenge Book/Words seemed fairly simple and yet there are still endless possibilities that could be done to create a wonderful interpretation. I can't wait to see what the others have done for this week. 

Do you have an interpretation for this weeks' challenge? If so, share a link to your image, art, photograph, poetry etc in the comments. I would love to see it!

Here is my interpretation for this week: 

Bible-Names of Christ © 2012 Kristina Conatser, All rights reserved

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What did you think of this weeks interpretation? Did you like it? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

Be on the look out for next weeks art challenge Psst, I'll give you a hint: Town/Stars

Art Challenge- Numbers/Peak

This week's art challenge from 2 Things Blog was a bit more complicated for me as I contemplated what to post about for awhile and came up short... until just a little while ago. I had been looking for days for something interesting to photograph that would match this 2 word interpretation and the only thing I kept spotting was gas prices on billboards as I traveled to run errands all weekend. That wasn't really good enough for me considering I hate looking at them and would care less to photograph the sponge which soaks up much of my money and probably yours... so I had to think of something else. 

Alas, I thought of something more calming. something more cool, relaxing and seemingly perfect for this challenge. I unfortunately could not obtain a photograph myself, so I have utilized one from the Public Domain. 

Mount Everest image found Here

The above image is one of Mount Everest. I chose to share Mount Everest as my submission for the art challenge because I love the mountains. I find them intriguing, breath-taking and almost like nature's towers towards the heavens. This particular Mountain has an elevation of 29,035 feet(8,850 meters), making it the highest mountain in the world. That is one great peak if you ask me. 

a few other fun facts about Mt. Everest:

• It is has been recorded that the mountain is rising a bit every year as well as moving in a northeastward direction a few inches every year.
• It has an extreme climate with the summit temperature never rising above a temperature of freezing. 
• It is located Latitude 27° 59' N  Longitude 86° 56' E
• The summit ridge separates Nepal and Tibet
• There have been an estimate of over 4,000 people to attempt to climb Mt. Everest but only about 700 have achieved it.

Art Challenge- Apple/Art

For this week ( I completely miss last week's challenge btw) challenge on 2 Things Blog, the theme is Apple/Art. With this theme, I thought I would pull out an older art piece I made years ago for a ministry program I worked on and I figured I would play with it a little bit for this challenge. 

The program I worked on years ago was a ministry DVD program discussing temptation. For this, we used the image of an apple because although not proven... it is the most popularly thought of fruit that Adam and Eve took a bite of from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. It is always good to go with something people are familiar with. I myself, believe that the forbidden fruit is not a fruit we have yet re-discovered as there is only one particular tree growing flourishing that type of fruit; just as there was only one special tree in the Garden. On the other hand, if we have acquired the fruit our fallen ancestors-Adam and Eve- here outside of Eden... I believe it would be a more exotic fruit; something not as easy to come by. 

What type of fruit do you believe Adam and Eve ate from? Was it an Apple, a Pomegranate or something more exotic? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Here is my entry for this week's theme: Apple/Art

Pixelated Ruby Red Apple with green leaf

Art Challenge- Card/Blue

This week's art challenge on the 2 Things Blog was for the themes Card and blue. This challenge was originally set for last week but because of the Thanksgiving holiday, it was postponed. 

When I saw that this was the theme to be interpreted, my mind flooded with ideas and I became overwhelmed. I finally settled on something that I really enjoyed making and feel really good about. It is a digital art design and it's (you guessed it) BLUE! I feel it would make a fantastic business card, so you may see me posting about that in the future =) 

Check it out: 

© 2011 Kristina Conatser

Can you think of a cool name for this design? Nothing likes to be nameless. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

What did you think of this article? Did you enjoy it? Leave me a comment and let me know you've stopped by.

Art Challenge- Wet/Hot

As you may have read previously in my last Art Challenge article, I have tuned in to the fun weekly events by 2 Things Blog and have begun participating as well. These fun events are free art challenges where 2 random subjects are chosen, and those who would like to join in artistically express their own unique interpretations of those 2 subjects thru photography, painting, crafting, digital art or whichever art form feels comfortable to them. Anyone's welcomed to join these art challenges and enter their art interpretations each week, so long as it's family friendly. 

This week's theme was Wet/Hot and here is my entry:

The Path Less Travelled © 2011 Kristina Conatser (BWC Designs).

The image above is my interpretation of this week's theme- wet/hot. When I think of this week's theme, I recall playing at the creek on a hot summer evening as a child. The Sun's reflect's on the wavy surface of the water as it flows ever so gently, heating the water up to a lukewarm and playful temperature; perfect for fun! This is where I am taken as I interpret this week's theme... where does it take you?

What did you think of my digital art interpretation? I would love to hear from you! Thank you for viewing and following Thru My Lens art blog.  I also would like to say thanks again  2 Things Blog members for giving me the opportunity. I had so much fun!

Art Challenge- Bar/Yellow

I was invited by a very talented friend of mine, to join another blog in their weekly "2 Things" art challenges. I thought this was a great idea. Right now, you're probably wondering what the "2 Things" art challenge is, so I will tell you. Every week, the author of 2 Things Blog chooses 2 random subject that we artists must interpret into our artwork anyway we wish. It's all about using creativity, imagination and having fun. Anyone can join (including you!) and any form of art is welcomed, so long as it's family friendly.

This week's Challenge is- Bar/Yellow.

Here is my entry:

 Beauty Revealed © 2011 Kristina Conatser (BWC Designs)

The image above is my interpretation of this weeks art challenge. For the yellow, I chose a photograph of a blooming Sunflower and then photo-shopped the image causing bar-like separations within the graphic. To me, it almost looks as if vertical blinds have opened revealing a beautiful springy flower. 


What do you think of my floral image? I would love to hear from you! Thanks for viewing and thanks to 2 Things Blog for the art challenge opportunity.