Let's Talk Shadows

Hello Everyone!  Today I thought we'd have a look at shadows, in particular to to create cast shadows!  What are "cast  shadows?"  They are the crisp, non-blended shadows that occur when an object blocks the light source.  These shadows are like shape it comes from - for example, walk outside on a bright sunny day and look for your shadow.....this is your cast shadow!  These shadows are darkest near the object and lighten as it moves further away.

Let's have a look at how to create them! Stamp any image that you like.  I have used Power Poppy's Lavender stamp set and stamped the bucket of lavender several times to make a sample sheet.

First step before you start to colour is to decide on where your light source is coming from!  An easy way to do this is to draw some lines on a piece of acetate and lay it over your image.  Remember the angle doesn't have to be sharp or high.

Once I've decided on where my light source is coming from I've coloured the first bucket.  For this image I've made the light source come from the front side and used Copic E93, E95, E97, E99, E19 to colour the bucket.

Change the light source for each image and colour them all!

Now imagine that if the light is coming from one side and the bucket is blocking the light to create a cast shadow, then the shadow will fall on the opposite side.  A lot of people like to colour images with a front/centre light source (see the first bucket), however you really won't see the shadow from that angle as it will fall directly behind and out of view of the reader.  Also note that if the shadow is high over head then the shadow will be shorter, if the light source is lower, you'll get a longer shadow.  Once again, think of walking outside, in the middle of the day your shadow is very close to your feet, later in the day it will stretch out in front or behind you.

Colour all your shadows paying attention to your light source.

I hope you've enjoyed today's tutorial and have some fun creating cast shadows on your own creative projects.  Why not leave a comment on this post with a link?  We'd love to see what you create!!

Happy Colouring!Kathy  :)

Swoon over our release day Power Poppy Hop!

Hello and Happy June,

Thank you so much to all of you for joining us during this week’s tantalizing teases from Power Poppy’s Swing into Summer stamp release. All sets in this collection are clear photopolymer — although you can still get your hands on our digital flower stamps, if that’s your cuppa tea. :)

But folks, today you have GOT to see what the Bloom Brigade has created for today’s Power Poppy Hop, using all of the sets from this release: Lavender, Play Ball!, Sassy Succulents, and Dynamic Duos: Peonies & Tulips.

 

Every time I think they couldn’t possibly make anything MORE creative or clever or downright, jaw-droppingly AMAZING than what they’ve already done, they go and do it again. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE??? It is not for me to ask, I simply am grateful, and in awe that we all get to share in their creative gifts. GO SEE!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Today all of our new sets are available for purchase at powerpoppy.com. Thank you so very much for your continued support of Power Poppy - and do take a moment to follow all of our boards on Pinterest to feel the full force of the Bloom Brigade — then take that spark and create your OWN magic! Have a great day!

June sneak peeks start today: Lavender

Herbs! That’s what’s happenin’!

Close your eyes just for a second (but then open ‘em back up real quick because we have so much to show you today!) — can you imagine the fragrance of Lavender? It’s one of the most enduring scents of any herb, yet also one of the most soothing and delightful. If you’re having trouble conjuring up the thought, maybe take a peek at what we have in store for you this month. The sets go on sale June 1, but for today, we’ll share this lilting, lovely look...

We plant several varieties of Lavender in our potted herb garden (that’s a fancy way of saying “the area where I cram all the pots”), and usually a few in the ground (they do not overwinter here in St. Louis especially well). But boy oh BOY are they a treat to have around — just walking by it’s hard not to wave your hand across them and release the fragrance. An instant pick-me-up for sure! When Lulu was not even two, I was even able to coax her into joining me in preparing the plants for potting...

Planting herbs is such a passion ’round here, I find myself doodling them and dreaming up ways to cook with them all spring, summer and fall. As a matter of fact, you’ll start seeing lots of posts celebrating herbs in this space, because I really can’t get enough of them. For Power Poppy’s June stamp release, which was drawn months before any herb plants were gracing our garden, I was up in the predawn hours sketching the images you’ll see today. Oftentimes, there was a cat on my arm. Not sure if Crema was helping or hindering my artistic flow, but somehow I was able to manage a dimly lit selfie...

There is a LOT to love about Lavender, and I’ve drawn several images that I think you’ll enjoy, and want to share with someone who needs a pick-me-up and a perky punch of purpley-blue color. A market basket overflowing with freshly cut stems would be perfect for a thank you card! Or maybe a friend could use the soft, soothing side of lavender, and the heart-speckled sachet image would help get those healing thoughts flowing.

I love to listen to music while I’m working, and the song “Soothe Me” by Sam and Dave (written by Sam Cooke) was on rotation as I designed this Lavender set. (I shouldn’t speak for Crema, but sitting on my arm as I drew, surely that cool cat has come to love soul music.)

I’m so excited to kick off the June release with this set, and EVEN MORE excited that the Bloom Brigade has arrived in force to share super-inspiring ways to create with it! Come take a tour, won’t you?

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Thank you so much, everybody, and I would love to see you back here tomorrow for more sneak peeks of a set that was inspired by my little boy, Finn, and one of HIS passions! <3