‘Oh dear … ‘ I thought, when I read the prompt word. ‘Storm? What am I supposed to do for ‘storm’ – unless, of course I want to paint landscape?’
But of course, that’s the UN-creative, knee-jerk reaction of someone who expects to fail.
So I thought again.
See, me being me (as I’m sure you all know, I am), I didn’t want to paint, draw, or otherwise create a run-of-the-mill scene of a boat being tossed on the waves, or people scurrying along with umbrellas being blown inside out, and I don’t do whimsy*. Besides which, one of the reasons I’m doing Illustration Friday is to stretch my imagination.
As it is, I’m not sure I’m really done anything terribly original. I mean, who hasn’t heard the phrase ‘storm in a tea-cup’? But I had a lot of fun doing it, and I’m fairly pleased with the result.
This is a digital collage made in Photoshop Elements. I began with a photograph of a cup and saucer with a nice storm-grey backdrop, which I picked up from my old standby MorgueFile. I ironed out a few wrinkles in the background, sharpened and brightened the image a tad, and sat and looked at it, wondering what I had in my photo files which might fit.
I found what I was looking for among our holiday photos from Niagara, circa 2006. We were unlucky in the weather because despite only being early October, it snowed and blew a gale while we were there, but that did provide some beautifully stormy water. So I cut out a piece of turbulent river and included a bit of the falls, then cut another from a different part and reversed it. Joining them together made the stormy-looking ‘whirlpool’ in the cup.
Then I needed some interest for the rest of the picture, which I found in a folder of a road trip from a couple of years ago when it absolutely bucketed down so hard that everyone’s speed dropped to about 30 mph, because visibility was so bad. I took a ton of pictures, and the ones from the side window were ideal for this. I’ve used a series of overlays of rain, which allow the shape and detail of the cup to show through nice and crisply, while the surface drops are still visible.
After that it was just neatening, balancing colour and contrast etc, and cloning a few bits and pieces to make everything fit together seamlessly.
What do you think? I rather like it, but you know what they say; I might have been working on it so long that I can’t see the wood for the trees!
* Well. Hardly ever, anyway!
It’s brilliant! OMG!
I love it! You are so clever Jay.
A tempest in a teacup–I love it! The images contrast so jarringly. You have this raging monsoon being contained within this dainty cup and saucer.
The raindrops on the image make me feel like I’m right on top of this storm. We’re digging out of a blizzard here in the Northeastern U.S., so the turbulent weather theme is particularly appropriate.
Sorry about your Niagara experience, btw. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, but I’ve never been there.
Once again, Jay, great job!
Rob Lenihan´s last [type] ..Storm Warning
“and I’m fairly pleased with the result.”
And you should be Jay, because it’s BEYOND faaaabulous!!!!
Truly, my friend…you are so dang CREATIVE!!!
I love it, love it, love it!!!!
And thank you so much for sharing HOW you did it because that always interests me about how something was created.
“I cut out a piece of turbulent river and included a bit of the falls, then cut another from a different part and reversed it. Joining them together made the stormy-looking ‘whirlpool’ in the cup.”
BRILLIANT! And the rain drops are such a great touch!
You GO, girl!
X
Ron´s last [type] ..Vent Gets A New Interior Design
I really like it! and I recognized immediately that you were doing “tempest in a teacup.”
Lori – What Remains Now´s last [type] ..Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library
I, too, appreciate hearing from you about the creative process. The image itself is intriguing. Knowing how you arrived at it makes it even more meaningful.
Great work!
Those Brindle Kids´s last [type] ..My Favorite Part of Superbowl XLVII
Wonderful picture. A very clever idea.
nick´s last [type] ..Britishness
Elaine – Aw, thank you! And it’s so nice to see you comment here!
Jeni – Thanks, Jeni!
Rob – I am hearing about your storms and all the snow, and it sounds horrendous! Stay safe and warm over there!
Thank you for your kind comments. You are saying all the right things, because that’s exactly the effect I hoped for!
Ron – You are always so kind and generous in your praise – thank you so much!
Lori – ‘Tempest in a teacup’ must the the American version of our ‘Storm in a teacup’!
Those Brindle Kids – Thank you! I like to explain the process for those who are interested, partly because I like to read about how others do things.
Nick – Thanks! I’m glad you like it!
Nice work. Enjoyed knowing the process you went through.
Momo´s last [type] ..IF – Storm
Momo – Thanks! I like to read about the process, too!
Absolutely brilliant. Immediately recognisable as a storm in a teacup even though it looks like a waterfall.
Doris – Thanks Doris! Yes, it is, in fact, a waterfall. Best I could do though!
Well done! I like your version of the ‘Tempest in a Teacup’-the waterfall you created resembles a vortex brought on by a mega-storm.
Theo Padavano – Thank you!
I hoped it might, though there’s not a lot of swirling going on!