ProtoZone

• I am a big fan of the software design group, ProtoZone. Today I found that one can make a kaleidoscope, a snowflake, a magic carpet, and a 3D moveable sculpture! I originally became aware of these visually exciting interactive tools while visiting The National Gallery of Art's Kid Zone.

Borders

• Piccyfix is a little less efficient than many of the online editing sites but I think you can still have a little fun there.
• The photo that I chose above was taken at Craters of the Moon National Park in Idado. I did use Photoshop to get the Watercolor Effect but ran it through Piccy Fix to see what effects the site had to offer and added a border.

Photo Filters Online

• You have a few photo effects choices on Pixer. This site also has a resizer and a very interesting image enhancer called 1850.
• I was in Firenze  just last Spring but I enjoy the aged and dated look that the filter helps to evoke.

Oil Painting Made Easy

• I love Pixenate!! This is an online free editing tool that also offers a few fun effects.
• You will see above that my "Back Yard" is a wonderland in winter. Try the snowflake overlay.
• My beloved "Fenway" is now easily rendered in oil.

Barrel Cactus

• I have a colorful cactus series that I created with the help of Photoshop. Yesterday I found this site called, Pictureful, where I had fun creating a jumbly presentation. Not to be mistaken with Hockney, but I liked it.

Make Your Mark

• I like this logo creator.

Diagram of a Hug me Tight

• This is my collage entitled, "A Diagram of a Hug Me Tight". I created this collage based upon a diagram borrowed from a women's fabric pattern found in " Godey's Lady's Book" 1860. 

One Two Three

• One Two Three! Does anybody know what kind of tree produces this sequence of leaves?

Vintage

• Just want you to know about a site called Wanokoto. It allows you to upload an image and it will generate for you what appears to be a time long ago.  I then uploaded the image to Dumpr.

Mandala Maker

• Make a Mandala online when you need to calm down or relieve stress. Music plays while you make color choices. Of course the healing power of a Mandala is best experienced while drawing by hand, or sifting sand, or fitting tesselations, but nothing wrong with this simple quick fix. Just hit the reset button and your template and color graph will appear. The colors are kind of muted so I saturated mine with adjustments in iPhoto.

Math and Art

• The relationship between Math and Art can only be covered by compiling reams of exciting examples. I am offering up a couple, three easy ways to integrate Art with a Math experience.
• Create number rubbings with textured cutouts.
• While introducing Physics why not play around with a tripod, a pendulum, and a saucer of sand!
• Study Buckminster Fuller and create Geodesic Domes with rolled up newspaper. A high school class may be more challenged if they were required to piece together straws to create a full orb.

We Are Connected Webbing

• Recently I had the pleasure of working with some Extended Day teachers at my favorite Charter School in DC. The goal was to try to integrate art projects that would reinforce the Core Value Education offered by the school. A budget for art supplies is always a concern so with that in mind I tried to come up with art experiences that would be inexpensive. I will try to post a few of these ideas for you. The first of which I am calling "We Are Connected Webbing".                                                                                                         I repurposed the wooden slats and sticks from a broken shade and found some unused nylon string. I fashioned a simple loom using the lid of a discarded gift box and wove the sticks. The finished piece turned out to be sculptural and fun to photograph.
  
• The exercise was appealing to most and it was my suggestion, if time permitted that the children could work collectively by piecing their individual efforts together to form one long table runner. A perfect place to display such a collaborative piece might be at the Principal's Lunch which is a time when students are recognized for their efforts as good citizens within the school environment.
• I used Pages from iWorks to illustrate some of the projects. This is a great program that gives you a 30 day trial program if you are a Mac user. But do visit an online tool called Letterpop to find other templates for publishing.

Fantasy Bird Series

• I created these blended images using Photoshop CS2 layers and filters. The Audubon Society at Moosehill Farm in Sharon, Mass accepted "Atumn " and "Fantasy Bird" into one of their shows and since then I have been offering the collection in greeting cards.
• The font that I added to this contact sheet was easy to apply using Picfont. Have fun with it!

Watermarks

• A quick and easy site that will help you watermark your images for free is Picmarkr. You have three styles to choose from. And the option to upload your logo if you wish.
• This photo is titled  "In a Pinch".  I spent some time in Tucson a few years ago where I found myself visiting the Tucson Botanical Gardens routinely. As a frequent visitor I was amazed at the discoveries to be had on an almost daily basis!

Computer Post Its

• Choose from a variety of templates at the IMGText site to create a personal and fun message. 

Tree Treat

Apply Lake Effect to your Picture WaveMyPic.com

Photo Montage

• This is a place for light hearted display of your images. Visit Magic Photo and play around. If you put together something kind of clever you are given the option to apply your masterpiece to product. 

Product Design

•  I worked with the president and founder of Sport Graphics International years ago to design the company logo. This company offers the best personalized video golf swing analysis available by far.  Recently, in order to further enhance the product, we modified the logo a bit and created what we feel is an effective packaging statement. While the company uses the design primarily for DVD labels and jackets, I have been exploring other ways to use the illustration on a few select and functional promotional items. Recently I created these accessories for Sport Graphics International. A ball marker and set of ball mark repair tools are useful and a great gift. I found this great site called Artamatik where there are many products that one can choose from in order to create a custom design.

Sell your art at Redbubble

Photofiddling

A "must try" is Photofiddle. You can experiment with translating your digital photos into various art styles.                                                         

                                                                 

Pollock Painting

• This is a Jackson Pollock site simulator with a blank canvas waiting for you to add the color. It is all mouse play:) 

Graffiti

• Try this online art generator. And have fun! Please touch.

Polaroid Frame

Instantizer is another great site that will frame your image like a Polaroid and it allows you to add text!

Frame Finder

• Go to Upframr to play around with frame styles.

Frames and Filters

• I needed a frame for my logo on this blog and thought I'd experiment with this style. I found an online option. This site offers more free fun online photo editing.

Monochrome

• Here is a monochrome style picture of my Malamute, Kody, that I created with free photo effects.
  
• The image above him is enhanced using the free generator called Magnigraph.  I was able to save the picture by sending it as aPDF file to my iphoto library. Every other method that I tried to Save the image was unsuccessful in that it reverted to all black.

Swirl

• Before
  

• After
  

• Discover another free online site with great photo effects. These are before and after photos that show how Dumpr can translate a complex graphic.
  

Collage with Picasa

• I did love Picasa when it was a part of my PC world.  Having been gifted with a Mac  I take more time exploring the Mac photo editing possibilities. But I do love Picasa and here is an example of some fun collaging that you can do with it.
  

Fabulous Flowers

• Make your own flowers on this site.
  

Picasso

• Everyone will have fun with Mr. Picassohead.
  

Blended Image

• I have yet to update to Photoshop CS4 since my PC crashed and I am now a huge fan of Mac. In the meantime I've found a rudimentary and free online tool to help me satisfy my need to blend images. Try Lunapic.
  

Coat of Arms

• Make your own Coat of Arms using the Victoria and Albert online generator.
  

It is colorful, crisp, and a fun.

Recycle Art

• I made this coaster out of magazine pages, a plastic lid, and a little bit of cork in order to keep my hands busy and to show that recycling can be art inspired and visa versa. I found this idea on A Little Hut. If you enjoy paper artistry this is a very cool site to visit.
  

Wordsmithing

• Sign up for this wonderful visual thesaurus!!!!! Go to
  

http://www.visuwords.com/

Coloriffic

• Create your name in color and chinese painting with this wonderful generator. Visit
  

http://www.chinesetools.eu/tools/drawing-name/

NGAKidszone

• Fun for all ages can be had at The National Gallery of Art.