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Mary
mary5958
26 May 2008 @ 11:02 pm
Catching Up & A New Manip  
I just got back from Montana a few days ago and have been dedicating my free time to my gardens since then. They're almost done - yeah!! I can't wait to spend some time catching up on LJ over the next few days - I owe a lot of comments and need to reply to many. It will get done. :-) I hope everyone is well.

I saw this gorgeous base last night and couldn't resist manipping it today during breaks taken from gardening to rest my back. The very talented artist is Jia Ruan, who was new to me. Hope you like!



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Watchful Eyes

 
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my monkied brain: buffy - red sexy [ntm][info]katekat1010 on May 27th, 2008 04:25 am (UTC)
oh that is simply stunning lady!! Seriously, beautiful and flawless. I particularly love the texture of her lips and the way they totally play off of the softness of the swirls of her cape and hair!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:34 am (UTC)
What a lovely compliment - thank you so much!

It's always interesting to me how different items in a piece of fan art, or different aspects to it, strike each viewer differently. I enjoy hearing what appeals to people - what catches their eye. So thanks for letting me know! :-)
Alterian: Alterian - Spuffy - sweet[info]alterian on May 27th, 2008 06:07 am (UTC)
It os trylu a beautiful piece. I admire how you always vlend the faces perfectly with the painted bases...

Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:35 am (UTC)
Thank you so much! It can be a real bugger getting a photo to look like it belongs in a painting - I'm thrilled that you think I succeed at it! :-)
Barb[info]rahirah on May 27th, 2008 06:10 am (UTC)
Pretty!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:10 am (UTC)
Thanks, Barb!

Karen: japanese vase[info]kazzy_cee on May 27th, 2008 07:03 am (UTC)
I love the manip. Very pretty effect of a painting. *applauds*
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:36 am (UTC)
I loved the base - so romantic and magical. Glad you like the manip - thank you!
Tam: Blue smokin spike[info]tamakin on May 27th, 2008 07:40 am (UTC)
Oh holy crap hun thats awesome! That base does indeed ROCK, as you said, n you manipped buffy in so well, its just amazing!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:19 am (UTC)
I am totally keeping my eyes open for more work from this artist. I just love what s/he did with the colors and textures. The romantic feel helped make it really fun to work with.

Glad you think I did it justice - thank you! *hugs*
danaid_luv[info]danaid_luv on May 27th, 2008 08:01 am (UTC)
*shakes head* You never cease to astound me. Honestly. And the fact that you discovered the base last night, figured out which SMG to use, and got it done in one afternoon (as the breaks to your full day)... I am boggled. ;)

It's gorgeous, btw. :)
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 29th, 2008 02:54 am (UTC)
LOL. Well, the breaks were pretty long, and you can see I didn't actually post it 'til late... Honestly, I'm not fast. :-)

Glad you like this one - I am in love with the style of the base and am hoping this artist creates mny more pieces in a similar style. Yum!
louise39: Buffy in circle[info]louise39 on May 27th, 2008 06:16 pm (UTC)
Lovely. The face seems to glow.
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:11 am (UTC)
So glad you like, and thank you so much for taking a moment to tell me so! :-)
coquinespike[info]coquinespike on May 27th, 2008 06:28 pm (UTC)
Oooh! Purtiful! How in the world do you manage to find pics at just the right angles and fit them in so seamlessly?? And this is me focusing on minor details, but I just love the old-fashioned ring...makes me think of just the kind of thing a certain Victorian vamp might give her!

On another note, for some reason ff.net gets through the internet filter at my work, and I've been re-reading what you have posted there of "Journeys" in my spare time. It's hard to believe, but it seems I had almost forgotten what an amazing story it is, and find myself falling in love with it all over again!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 29th, 2008 03:06 am (UTC)
I'm so glad you like it - thank you!

I have just over 1,000 photos of SMG on file, which makes finding a photo with the right angle somewhat easier. And, of course, working with a pic that's already at the right angle makes believable blending more likely.

I love the ring, too, and all those little beads hanging just off her shoulder. :-)

Thank you, too, for always saying such nice things about Journeys. It means a lot to me that you find it worthy of re-reading and that you continue to enjoy it.

*hugs*
framedinlove: portrait icon[info]framedinlove on May 27th, 2008 06:43 pm (UTC)
Wow squared! *stares in silent awe* This is one of the most amazing manips ever! It's so very beautiful it feels as if it'd fallen from heaven to lighten our hearts with it's unearthly beauty. I adore the way you've used colors and textures in it, and the seamlessness of the blending makes my head spin. All in all, it's above and beyond perfect.

And you say you did this in a day during the breaks you took from gardening? Oh wow, that is just - wow. *is totally dumbfounded* You're a genius and that's a fact! :)
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 29th, 2008 03:10 am (UTC)
The base was really lovely - so soft and romantic. Honestly, I didn't do much to this one - one texture and a couple of filters. The original artist gets all credit. I'm glad though, that you feel the manipping works. :-)

You always pay me the most wonderful compliments - thank you so, so much!
Блейз Эмберский: Reflections[info]havel_havalim on May 27th, 2008 07:39 pm (UTC)
That is a really beautiful piece of art! Thank you for sharing )).
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:15 am (UTC)
The artist did a magical job. It was so fun to work with this piece. I'm so glad you like it - thank you!
Ezagaaikwe: Tara closeup by katekat1010[info]ezagaaikwe on May 28th, 2008 12:37 am (UTC)
Wow! That's a real mood piece. She makes me think of early Julie Christie. Lovely work, as usual.

Say, have you heard that the WriterCon planners are leaning toward Minneapolis? We can finally meet!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:17 am (UTC)
So glad you like - thank you!

And - SQUEE!!!!!! WriterCon! I'm totally pulling for Minneapolis - and I can't wait to meet you!
Karyn: Spike sexy pose[info]kargrif on May 28th, 2008 01:01 am (UTC)
that is beautiful! i love the colors!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 28th, 2008 03:13 am (UTC)
Thank you so much! It was one of those pieces that looked really good in a lot of different colors - it was hard to choose.
Mel[info]edgehead73 on May 28th, 2008 03:54 am (UTC)
Wow....I mean.....WOW.
Now I feel unworthy....:)
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 29th, 2008 02:56 am (UTC)
I'm so glad you like it! I really admire your work, so your opinion means a lot to me. Thank you!
Amy: Buffy - Still Frames[info]angelic_amy on May 28th, 2008 10:26 am (UTC)
This is absolutely gorgeous!!!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 29th, 2008 02:56 am (UTC)
Thank you so much - I'm glad you like it!
Sotia[info]ssddgr on May 28th, 2008 06:05 pm (UTC)
Ummm, I don't like, I LOVE! Awesome, hun!!!
*huggles*
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 29th, 2008 02:55 am (UTC)
Hee! Thanks - I'm so glad you LOVE it! :-)
Mrs. Muir[info]whenbuffysmiles on May 29th, 2008 06:55 pm (UTC)
Wow, that is amazing!!!
Mary[info]mary5958 on May 29th, 2008 10:45 pm (UTC)
Thank you - I'm glad you like it! :-)
stawberynvanila: Spike - 90 degrees[info]stawberynvanila on July 26th, 2008 10:47 am (UTC)
Wow, this is one of the most beautiful manips i've had the pleasure of looking. Very well done. Love Spike at the side too.

May i ask how you go about making her look like a painting?

Fantastic manip. Kudos. ;)

*Hugs*