Saturday, January 19, 2013

Grow Your Blog!




Hi.  I'm Lou Anne, a Misplaced Mermaid and member of Inspiration Avenue.   IA is a small group of artists who have formed an Etsy team.  We also have a blog that posts artistic challenges each week.  This week, I was the host of the challenge.  Since we're also going to have a tag swap and it's happening around Valentine's Day, I challenged everyone to share an image that defined love and/or romance for them. (Click the red button on the right to sign up.) I decided to combine some things I'm working on to make my image. 

I'm attracted to many different genres of art.  There are countless photographers, painters, sculptors, and mixed media artists who make images that inspire me.  The digital aspect of collage is currently my main passion in life.  I've spent a great deal of time during the past two years learning to work with Photoshop Elements so I can share my vision with others.

This digital collage is a small tribute to some of the things I love about making digital art.   When I began this journey, I was stunned by the generosity of other image makers.  By sharing their image collections, as well as their expertise, they allowed me to create a library of components for my art.  Every day, I visit other sites and drink in the visual delights each blogger has shared.  My goal is to increase my connections with others who share my passion for making images, whether it is in the form of a scrapbook page detailing their lives or a piece to hang in a gallery.  I have much to learn about the technical aspects of this type of art but I welcome the process of collaborating with others while I take this path.

It's also important for me to learn some ways to transform my vision into 3D images, creating assemblages, shadow boxes, and other mixed media pieces.  I think that's the appeal of mixed media for me-it's wide open!

I joined the Grow Your Blog hop hoping to increase my followers. I think it was an awesome idea and I'm really grateful that Vicki at Two Bags Full was willing to host this blog hop.   I'll be visiting as many blogs as I can and signing on to follow them too.   Thank you very much for visiting me!  I welcome comments and I'd love to have you sign up to follow Misplaced Mermaid.

Credits for Image Components:
Off With the Fairies, Raspberry Road Designs, Granny Art,  Aneczkaw, Farrah's Designer Scraps, Raymonde Savoie, EVint.com, and The Graphics Fairy
Click to return to Grow Your Blog
Photobucket

32 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, Lou Anne! I'm already a follower of course, and was not able to join the Grow Your Blog party, but will try to visit as many blogs as I can.

    Love love love your digital collage above! The blue and green ocean colors just shimmer. If I were a mermaid, this is where I'd want to live!

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    1. Thank you Maggie! If you were a mermaid, you'd be welcome to live there.

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  2. What a unique blog, I never would have found this if it hadn't been for the link up!! Check out my blog at www.highheeledmama.com if you get a chance!

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  3. I really like your blog name! Thanks for sharing your collage :) I look forward to reading more!

    -Jade @ www.muffinteahouse.com

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  4. I love your mermaid collage - I would love to learn how to make digital collages. I'm the blog party too, and I am also your new follower! Love the idea of art challenges. I'm actually giving away a mermaid doll that I made on my blog for the party - be sure to enter she's right up your alley! http://naturemummy.blogspot.ca/2013/01/the-grow-your-blog-and-win-mermaid-party.html

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    1. I did enter and I signed up to follow you. Your little girl is beautiful and I love the mermaid doll.

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  5. Oh I love Mermaids, they are one of my favorite art topics. I don't do much digital, I am all about assembly so my mermaid pieces are very 3D. But wow, I need to look into digital because I love your image!

    Nice meeting you.
    Have a great hop
    Caroline
    www.cmoh.blogspot.com

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  6. You challenges sound like such a fun thing. I'll definitely be having a longer look around your blog.

    Velody
    www.treegoldandbeegold.com

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  7. That is a great digital image - amazing!

    Visiting from Grow Your Blog hop.

    Give me a visit some time ~
    thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you. I enjoyed your blog and signed up to follow. We share a passion for thrift shop bargain hunting.

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  8. Hi Lou Anne, hopping over from the GYB hop. I love the digital art you're showing. I haven't been too involved in digital art yet but it's on my list. Love that I've come across another artist. I'll follow and we can get to know each other. :)

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  9. Hi Lou Anne thanks for visiting my corner of blogland. I have really enjoyed reading your blog and seeing some of your art. The digital image in this post is just fabulous. I look forward to following your adventures in 2013 :)

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  10. Happy Sunday, Lou Anne - beautiful artwork here...I too, am amazed at the generosity of the digital artists, and what those of you who dabble in that medium produce with the freebies, etc. Love the mermaid tail...Tanya

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    1. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment Tanya!

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  11. hi louanne! i loove your blog! i have been looking for someone like you! i struggle so much with the whole photo thing but have learned it is true"you are only as good as the photo you take!" so i was hoping to find someone i could follow that photgraphy is their strength and you being so good with the digital photography, i am excited! so i will be back! aloha, angi in hana

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  12. What a very pretty blog! I am enjoying the Blog Party. Though nothing is getting done around the homestead! Great work, and I am now a follower. Hope you will visit me and follow me back.

    Aloha

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    1. Thank you! I am now following you too! The blog party was fun.

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  13. Love your artwork! Of course I'm a water sign- am joining and can't wait to see more!
    Christina
    PennyWise

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    1. Thank you! I'd love to add you as a follower to my blog. I'm following yours too!

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  14. Lou Ann I was intrigued by your blog and your art...I am not an artist per se but I am a gardener and a amateur photographer...I love mermaids and signed up to follow your blog!!

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    1. Thank you! I'd think that you are an artist if you garden and make photographs. It's all connected.

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  15. Hi Lou Anne
    I love the colour palette of your blog. It's like the calm blue ocean mantra I chant when the rage is taking over, but real.

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  16. Beautiful serene collage! I like the repetition of the mermaid tails.

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  17. Hey My Very Dear Friend! I didn't know you were participating in this party either, lol!
    Well just goes to prove we are true friends because we still found one another! :D I miss you too but we won't loose one another!
    Well, I'm off to visit a few more blogs but I'll be back for a visit real soon...
    Hugs,
    Beth

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  18. I love your magical digital art and mermaid themes :-) They inspire me to create and tell stories.

    I've just got Photoshop Elements for my computer and look forward to learning to use it in a way that can add further joy to creating.

    Thanks for running this week's challenge :-)
    Kat x

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  19. First, thank you for your visit to my blog (GYB) - and I realised that I already know you through IA where I sometimes participate in the challenges. I love Photoshop, but I haven't tried digital art so far, I use it mainly for editing my photos and work with textures etc. I love your art, it looks very intriguig. And I really like your blog's name!

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  20. Hi Lou Anne! Thanks for visiting my blog, so glad to have found yours too! What lovely work you do. I am your newest Follower!

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  21. Hello Lou Anne, you have such a cool blog! What a lively and creative place to visit!
    The mermaid art is fab, especially this piece here. I love every thing about it. I have done a little digi art, but have not got the knack yet. You certainly do!
    I love mixed media art as well, and like to get my fingers sticky with glue and paint. It is a lot of fun.
    Hugs,
    Terri
    artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com

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  22. Hello and nice to meet you! I am your newest follower and I think your blog is gorgeous. I am looking forward to seeing your future work!

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