First Free Desktop Background - Fist

What is a mix of photography, awesome editing, and procrastination? The free image in this this post! This week I was inspired by something I heard at a seminar to create this image. I believe it was my pastor who said, "Never quit on a bad day". To view the full size and download the background you can use this link. This is my first free desktop background to ever create and I want to share it with all my readers. It is 1200 x 1600 and will probably fit most screens. If you just play around with the settings, you should be able to get it centered just right.

It took me about 80 tries to get the right photo of my fist. Yes, that is my own hand, which made it quite difficult to take the picture. What is more, I used my right hand for the picture. After struggling to get my left hand to take the picture correctly, I recommend finding a hand model for anyone interested in doing their own photography with hands.

Pictured left is the base for the background. Editing the photo took quite a lot of trial and error. I used Photoshop for the majority of the editing and Picasa for the final touch ups. The background seen in the picture is my sister's black blanket, which meant that background inherently had wrinkles and a cloth texture. Using the magic wand in Photoshop, I removed the background completely and refilled it with black. Next, I added a new layer and filled it with red. On the same layer, I changed the layer setting to difference. Then, I added a paper texture to the image. Lastly, I fixed the lighting and added in some grungy effects. The font was an easy choice but getting the size right was tricky, due to the number of words on each line. Overall, I'd say the whole thing took maybe around three to four hours.

Hope you guys like the background! Share it with your friends!

P.S. - Just wanted to let you all know that my blog has been viewed on 3 of the 7 continents! Thank you all so much for taking time from your day to read my blog!

Literature from Plato - PowerPoint Backgrounds

Recently, I had to create a PowerPoint for my literature class. Our topic was literature from Plato. You can scroll down to the end of the post to see the backgrounds for the PowerPoints. These two images were composed of several different images edited to fit my purpose. Working with greens is always refreshing to me.

We had to analyze the Symposium by Plato. The Symposium is an interesting story. According to the story, Plato did not actually attend the party the story references. The story matches it's name's Greek meaning because it was a famous drinking party between distinguished Athenian men. The men decided in the Symposium, to give speeches praising Eros, love, instead of drinking more that night. Each character had their own pagan opinion on love. Overall, it is quite an interesting story and encourage mature readers to take a peak at it if they have not. 

In class, my professor contrasted their opinion's on Eros type of love to the more modern, "Ladder of Love".  He stated that the ladder begins with Eros, physical desire. Eros is the most shallow form of love because it is not based on anything but fleshly desire. Next is the love of friendship. Some might call this love the love of companionship as well. Less shallow than Eros because the two have begun to care for each other but it is not completely selfless. Family love is the next level in the love ladder. The love shared within a family is deeper than either Eros or the love of friendship. Blood is thicker than water, after all. The last love on the love ladder is Agape love. Of course, this is another Greek word and not a wrong use of the word agape. Naturally, God is completely unselfish. He gives everything to those he loves. Even to the point of giving His own/His Son's life for mankind. As we grow throughout our life, we work up the love ladder and strive to be more and more loving like God. 

Hearing so many different opinions on love was interesting. Each member of the class was able to give their input and share their opinions. Some people's views matched the Greek versions of love, others agreed with the Ladder of Love, and a few had different opinions. Each person was able to express their view on society's look on love as well, which was interesting because the consensus was that our society has become much like Athens. Overall, this was one of my favorite class sessions this semester.

And, yes, Platonic love was mentioned. Ironic. 

Free Phone Background (Wide) - Elephants

Today, I had a request to make a phone background from a very special friend! She wanted an elephant phone background. Here it is! It is made for Android phones, which allow you to scroll through the backgrounds side to side. Usually, I make iPhone backgrounds because I know many of my friends have iPhones. I can make backgrounds for anyone who sends in a request so comment away with at least your phone type so I can make a version for your phone too!

The look I was originally going for was a bright and colorful background with multicolored elephants. They had colors splattered all their faces. But, then Victoria, my friend, tried out the background but I mixed up the dimensions! To fix this blunder, I mixed up the colors and the image to create a new look that would fit her phone. In the end, I like the collage look better than the other image. The logo even fit in perfectly! 

Like the photo? Share it with your friends!

First Phone Background - Jesus Loves You

Today, I have felt really inspired to do art and graphic design. So, I decided to work on some projects I promised my readers.

Without further adieu, here is my first ever iPhone background! Feel free to download it and share it! All I ask is that you do not claim my artwork as your own.

Remember Jesus loves you!

P.S. - If your friends like the art, please send them here for more!