"Enthralled"
Last week I pulled the words 'puzzle piece, stairs, and curious' from my Creative Sparks cards and I had a bit of a time trying to think of an image to create. My original plan was something totally different but I couldn't quite get it work.
But I put a poll on my Facebook page and it helped saved the day! I asked what people would like to see revealed from the puzzle piece shape and Dragon was the clear winner. I'm really pleased with how this image turned out and I think it tells a pretty vivid story of someone being totally engrossed by the book they're reading (something that happens to me quite often!)
Would you like to see a video on how I put it together?
Created with @photoshop@lumecube@sonyalpha@surface@vanguardphoto_usa@adobecreativecloud
#humansofjoy #photoshop #documentyourdays #photoshopmanipulation #worldofartist #thesincerestoryteller #let_there_be_delightb#letthemexplore #talesofthemoment #hellostoryteller #awesome_surreal #enter_imagination #launchdsigns #imaginativeuniverse #creativegrammer #creative_portraits #creartmood #livemoremagic #asecondofwhimsey #whimsicalwonderfulwild #magicmoments #theuniversalart #launchdsigns #imaginativeuniverse #creativegrammer #creative_portraits #myeverydaymagic #thecreativers
"Fluidi-tea"
Today is International Tea Day which is rather perfect as the weather is decidely miserable and it's been very gloomy and the sort of day that calls for a hot cup of tea and a blanket and book.
I admit I had an entirely different idea planned for today's tea inspired image but the rain clouds definitely persuaded me to stay indoors and create something on a whim and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, a bit of warmth and light and whimsy on an otherwise grey day.
What's your favourite kind of tea?
Made with @adobe@photoshop@lumecube@surface@vanguardphotouk@sonyalpha
#theuniversalart #manipulationteam #discoveredit#photoshop #creativemobs #nothingisordinary #talesofthemoment #inbeautyandchaos #livethelittlethings #lifeofadventure #creativecloud_surreal #launchdsigns #enter_imagination #photoshop_cc #creativegrammer #creative_ace #creartmood
#theuniversalart #the_sugar_jar #shared_joy #ourclickdays #humansofjoy #thehappynow #beyondsurreal
"Place To Rest"
Apparently yesterday was National Lazy Day! What a day to celebrate, though I must admit my to-do list is so long that I can't really afford to be lazy. But if I could, I would likely scoot myself under a mushroom cap and dive into a book or have a nap or just daydream for a bit.
What's your favourite way to be lazy?
Created with @sonyalpha a7rii @surface and @vanguardphotouk with @photoshop
#edit_grams#theuniversalart #manipulationteam #discoveredit#photoshop #creativemobs #nothingisordinary #talesofthemoment #inbeautyandchaos #livethelittlethings
#lifeofadventure #creativecloud_surreal #enter_imagination #launchdsigns #creartmood #imaginativeuniverse #bookish #bookishlove #creative_ace #photoshop #manipulationclan #theuniversalart #createexplore #all2epic #awesome_surreal #creativegrammer #creative_portraits #photographyart #visualambassadors
Saturdays shout out comes from @joelrobison .
His story started when he was just 15 years old and started running to help him through a period of grief.
After moving to the UK he joined @wellesleyrunners and quickly found a community of incredible runners that helped him fall back in love with running.
#sadmilesclub #communitystory #running #runclub #community
It's mental health awareness week and it's important that everyone has access to stigma free, medically reviewed resources and information. @headsupguys provides information and support for men and their loved ones, making sure everyone knows what to do to support someone struggling with their mental health.
If you're struggling, going through a difficult time, or if you're concerned about someone you care about please visit HeadsUpGuys.org or message me for more info.
It does get better 💚
"The Wish Collector"
A few days ago I shared a photo of a dandelion on my Instagram stories and asked people to share a wish. I was surprised to see how many wishes were shared, and how many of them were the same. So many of you wished for peace in the world, for people to find kindness or love, so many of the wishes weren't for personal gain they were for the betterment of the world as a whole.
Then as fate would have it as I was thinking about all these wishes on a run, I ran past a small patch of tall dandelions, their heavy heads bobbing in the wind. Like little wish stations waiting to be harvested. And then the idea of this image came to be, a tiny wish gardener, taking the wishes people have and setting them out into the world to become something real, something that can really take hold.
So, if you could make a wish, what would it be?
Made with @vanguardphotouk@borisfx_optics@photoshop@adobe_uk@surface
"A Fleeting Treasure"
I created this image a year ago this week while visiting the Sahara in Morocco. When I first started thinking of images I wanted to try and create while in the sand, this visual kept sticking into my head and I couldn't really figure out why. I just knew it was going to be the one I tried to make happen.
Shooting it, I was in a bit of a frenzy, the sun was setting and the sand was blowing into my face and eyes. I didn't even have a chance to check to see if anything was in focus, I just trusted that I could make it work.
When I started editing the image is when it started to unravel for me. I started thinking about how hard it can be to find hope in difficult times, like the world is in right now. How fleeting those moments of light and wonder and hope can be. I started thinking about times when I felt hopeful and hopeless. I started thinking about an image similar to this one that I once wanted to create but someone told me it was too weird. I thought of a lot of things while editing this image and to me, that's the beauty of creating in this way, that it gives me the time to think. To unravel. To connect the dots of imagination and emotion. To find hope, as fleeting as it can be sometimes.
Created with @borisfx_optics@vanguardphotouk@offbeatphoto.ca@surface@photoshop@adobeuk
Yesterday was a book lover's dream come true! I was invited by @canongatebooks to celebrate the launch of @mattzhaig new book, The Midnight Train, on board the luxurious Belmond British Pullman vintage train. We enjoyed a leisurely trip out into the Kent countryside with a champagne afternoon tea and enjoyed great conversation about books, creativity,and life in general.
The Midnight Train is an amazing book with characters you will love and cherish and I highly suggest picking it up when it hits shelves
Happy Earth Day fellow earthlings!
What an excellent opportunity to celebrate this planet we live on and pledge to make it much kinder place for each other and for those we share it with. Here's a favourite image that I created for my Tales From The Trees project in 2024.
I'm going to go and enjoy a nice run in the sunshine to celebrate this beautiful planet, what is your favourite way to celebrate Earth Day?
While visiting the @nationalgallery a few weeks ago I came across this painting, The Virgin and child with Saints Francis and Sebastian by Carlo Crevelli, and noticed a tiny little whimsical snail at the bottom of the painting. Snails always feel like whimsical creatures and so I took that inspiration and created an image that felt a little bit hopeful, light, fun, and whimsical. When was the last time you visited a gallery and got inspired?
"On A Slower Path"
This image was inspired by two things. The first, was a painting I saw at the @nationalgallery a while ago that contained a tiny little snail in it. I couldn't get it out of my head so I wanted to dedicate a future image to this 500 year old snail. I'm working on a reel to show you just how I got inspired by it! The second inspiration was a need for a bit more whimsy and a return to my 'creative spirit' I guess.
My year has been filled with planning and training for my recent trip to Antarctica and when I arrived home, I kind of felt a big open room of "now what?" waiting for me. I realized that I haven't been creating as much as I have in the past. And I started to think about why. I felt silly for wanting to create whimsy in a time of great difficulty around the world, I felt like maybe it was the wrong thing to focus on or not important. But then I remembered that in times of stress, I've turned to art and creativity and whimsy and hope and colour and all the things that I try to put into my work to help me through and maybe that is what the world needs.
So I created an image inspired by a 500 year old snail and my very current desire to protect my whimsy and to carry it forward with me. I hope you'll come along too.
Made with @adobeuk@photoshop@borisfx_optics@surface@vanguardphotouk@sonyalpha
It's bluebell season which is one of my favourite times of the year. Each April I return to this enchanting forest near Guildford where the forest floor is decorated in blues and purples and I'm always amazed at how nature can provide such incredible displays.
Have you visited a bluebell forest before?
