Michelle Ward/GreenPepperPress Blog

playing with the playwright

November 9, 2011

I love to play digitally. I find it keeps my acquired skills sharp. I can honestly say I learn something every time I open a document and start messing with layers. It's not unlike the lessons learned on my journal pages. You hold an element over the surface, squint a little, then move it around with indecision until it feels like the right spot. Commit and move on. Each choice you make informs the next step to take because you see what's missing or what needs to be taken away. Working out composition – whether on the screen or on the page, is the kind of problem solving I love.

Yesterday I cut a stencil of Shakespeare. Haven't used it yet but loved playing with design in photoshop.

Then I shifted the color balance, and got this…looks like money doesn't it?

And here's a lesson:

More Shakespeare tomorrow.
playing with the playwright

November 9, 2011

I love to play digitally. I find it keeps my acquired skills sharp. I can honestly say I learn something every time I open a document and start messing with layers. It's not unlike the lessons learned on my journal pages. You hold an element over the surface, squint a little, then move it around with indecision until it feels like the right spot. Commit and move on. Each choice you make informs the next step to take because you see what's missing or what needs to be taken away. Working out composition – whether on the screen or on the page, is the kind of problem solving I love.

Yesterday I cut a stencil of Shakespeare. Haven't used it yet but loved playing with design in photoshop.

Then I shifted the color balance, and got this…looks like money doesn't it?

And here's a lesson:

More Shakespeare tomorrow.
the latest

November 7, 2011

Obviously I'm a little slow to the scene for this one as it's been hit over 4 million times. In case you haven't seen it either, I'll share here. I was just thinking I may own too many scarves….between Fallon and I we must have, well,….not telling….because I don't want to be put on the *don't send her anymore scarves* list. On the contrary, I love scarves and will never stop collecting. Would you ever admit how many you have? *wink* This video is informative, but also very very clever and mesmerizing. I'm not just impressed with the 25 ways to tie a scarf, I can't imagine what it took to put this clip together. Wow.

I updated the Home Improvement page with sample pages of my Alice book. Click HERE to see, or start the tour by clicking on the right sidebar button. More kits will be listed on ETSY this week.

Last week I posted Crusade No. 57. FIVE years of hosting the Street Team blog! Sheesh, times flies.

Come on over and play with us. We make new friends every month, and love to build connections through creativity.
the latest

November 7, 2011

Obviously I'm a little slow to the scene for this one as it's been hit over 4 million times. In case you haven't seen it either, I'll share here. I was just thinking I may own too many scarves….between Fallon and I we must have, well,….not telling….because I don't want to be put on the *don't send her anymore scarves* list. On the contrary, I love scarves and will never stop collecting. Would you ever admit how many you have? *wink* This video is informative, but also very very clever and mesmerizing. I'm not just impressed with the 25 ways to tie a scarf, I can't imagine what it took to put this clip together. Wow.

I updated the Home Improvement page with sample pages of my Alice book. Click HERE to see, or start the tour by clicking on the right sidebar button. More kits will be listed on ETSY this week.

Last week I posted Crusade No. 57. FIVE years of hosting the Street Team blog! Sheesh, times flies.

Come on over and play with us. We make new friends every month, and love to build connections through creativity.
home improvement – Alice’s House

November 7, 2011

Return to Home Improvement page HERE. Visit ETSY HERE. Visit GreenPepperPress HERE.
home improvement – Alice’s House

November 7, 2011

Return to Home Improvement page HERE. Visit ETSY HERE. Visit GreenPepperPress HERE.
not so Anonymous anymore

November 3, 2011

Have you seen it? We loved it. I'm always in line for a period piece. Particularly if it is set in England. Beautiful visuals. I know there are critics who dis this one based on historical inaccuracy and blah blah blah. I enjoyed the story – it's a clever and artful interpretation. But I'm not here to debate the plot. I'm here to wave the flag for Rhys Ifans. I admit, I did not even recognize that it was him….how could you if you had only known him as Spike? And OMG, look at his writing desk. Did you swoon over the shelves of leather-wrapped-quill-penned-on-parchment manuscripts? Gah! The sets, the scenery, the costumes! That's it, I'm going to see it again.

In this interview at IMDb, you'll hear him say he created the image of his Earl of Oxford character after both Karl Lagerfeld and David Bowie. Good call. It worked. When I googled the movie I was stunned to learn who played this lead role. I never saw it coming that that guy was this guy. Forget about *was Shakespeare a fraud*, this actor was real….good. You've seen him before….

I WISH we could see the new Neverland film in the states. I haven't investigated whether it will be available here. Did anyone see it?

I also love the mother/daughter team covering the role of Queen Elizabeth in Anonymous. I prefer Dame Judy Dench's monarch like in Shakespeare in Love, but who doesn't love Vanessa Redgrave? Did you see her in Letters to Juliet? I wanna be her when I grow up.
not so Anonymous anymore

November 3, 2011

Have you seen it? We loved it. I'm always in line for a period piece. Particularly if it is set in England. Beautiful visuals. I know there are critics who dis this one based on historical inaccuracy and blah blah blah. I enjoyed the story – it's a clever and artful interpretation. But I'm not here to debate the plot. I'm here to wave the flag for Rhys Ifans. I admit, I did not even recognize that it was him….how could you if you had only known him as Spike? And OMG, look at his writing desk. Did you swoon over the shelves of leather-wrapped-quill-penned-on-parchment manuscripts? Gah! The sets, the scenery, the costumes! That's it, I'm going to see it again.

In this interview at IMDb, you'll hear him say he created the image of his Earl of Oxford character after both Karl Lagerfeld and David Bowie. Good call. It worked. When I googled the movie I was stunned to learn who played this lead role. I never saw it coming that that guy was this guy. Forget about *was Shakespeare a fraud*, this actor was real….good. You've seen him before….

I WISH we could see the new Neverland film in the states. I haven't investigated whether it will be available here. Did anyone see it?

I also love the mother/daughter team covering the role of Queen Elizabeth in Anonymous. I prefer Dame Judy Dench's monarch like in Shakespeare in Love, but who doesn't love Vanessa Redgrave? Did you see her in Letters to Juliet? I wanna be her when I grow up.
tattooed albino

November 1, 2011

OK, so it's not a real tattoo, and it's not a real albino pumpkin either. I opted for the fakes this year. Spent most of yesterday's free time working on this one. There is something so relaxing and rewarding about drawing, especially when there is no agenda, just random markmaking.

We had an increased number if trick-or-treaters this year! Love when the neighborhood is filled with children, wagons, parents, teens…all happily navigating the streets and sidewalks around piles of fallen branches and trees from the recent snow storm. Not much white stuff left. Just memories of another fabulous holiday, enjoyed by our family. It was the year of big hats…..
tattooed albino

November 1, 2011

OK, so it's not a real tattoo, and it's not a real albino pumpkin either. I opted for the fakes this year. Spent most of yesterday's free time working on this one. There is something so relaxing and rewarding about drawing, especially when there is no agenda, just random markmaking.

We had an increased number if trick-or-treaters this year! Love when the neighborhood is filled with children, wagons, parents, teens…all happily navigating the streets and sidewalks around piles of fallen branches and trees from the recent snow storm. Not much white stuff left. Just memories of another fabulous holiday, enjoyed by our family. It was the year of big hats…..