About.Com Graphics Challenge

For the past several weeks I have participated in the About.com graphics challenges.  Each week, a new challenge is made to all levels of individuals, to...

Use your imagination to create an image based on this theme, using any graphics software you like. Then post your completed images as a reply in this thread and tell us a little bit about what software and techniques you used. Remember, some of us are just learning, and would like to know how you did that.

I have found the challenges to be great fun, "challenging", and I am learning quite a bit from my fellow forum members.

The first challenge I participated in was #220.   A forum member, Renato (Wyxk), suggested we create a POSTER FOR HAITI, due to the recent devastation in that country. His thoughts of a friendship poster to perhaps lift the spirits and hope of people came from a recent challenge. We were asked to use our imagination to come up with a visual message and perhaps give a glimmer of hope in a time of need. No starting images were provided and this is my submission:

Challenge #221 celebrated aritst JACKSON POLLOCK and encouraged us to discover our inner Jackson Pollock and try out his style of expression.  No starting images were provided and this is my tribute to the painter dubbed, "Jack the dripper"...

The next challenge I participated in was #223, a challenge to create a Birthday card to celebrate Photoshops 20th Birthday.  No starting images were provided and this is my submission...

(Photoshop is a program that allows you to create your graphics on layers)

Graphics Challenge #224 was a bit of a stretch for me.  I grew up near Los Angeles, so I have seen a lot of graffiti in my day, but I have never actually done any "tagging" of my own.  This challenge was TAGGING, stating, "Graffiti or tagging has long been a form of expression - it can also get you into trouble. We've set you up with some trouble free starting images for you to tag and cover with graffiti however you wish. Get out those paint cans and have some with it!"  And so I downloaded a couple of "graffiti fonts from 1001 Free Fonts and created a couple of images...

 and applied them to one of the starting images...

and applied them to one of the starting images to get....

Graphics Challenge #225 was to create VISUAL PUNS. We were encouraged to come up with an image using a literal translation of a product, plant, object, etc.  No starting images were provided and these were my submissions....

Sunflower...

and Sand dollar...

The next challenge, #227, was called "Wearing o' the green", in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  No starting images were provided, and I introduced a quick Celtic knot painting that was painted entirely out of a special digital paintbrush that I created from Zoe's paw print. 

This weeks challenge is to THINK SPRING.  No starting images are provided and I am still in the "thinking" stage. As soon as I create an image and make my submission I will post it for all to see.

And so, if you are looking for a challenge, I encourage you to join the forum and participate.  It is a great group of people and the challenges keep the mind sharp!

Today's Quote:  “I have always grown from my problems and challenges, from the things that don't work out, that's when I've really learned.” ~Carol Burnett