Apple blossom, dahlia, rose, budding larkspur and poppies… I could have gone on forever here! And I’m grateful for this particular challenge, because I see a set (or several) of beautiful picture cards coming out of it – for correspondence, invitations, thanks, congratulations…
I’ve used layers in various blending modes to lighten and enhance contrast, and different textures and filters to create the sketch-effect on each of these. I did work intuitively, each flower shot had its own characteristics to accommodate, but soft light, hard light, multiply and screen blending modes were used, as were the find edges, watercolour and graphic pen filters.
All are based on a pdpa texture: Backlight, Vellum, Serve life, Blank page and Old ornate linen respectively. Wonderful stuff, Bonnie!
Find more flowers at
A photo blog 
These are stunning, but the poppy is my favourite. Jen
Thank you, Jen! I love those corn poppies… they’re tiny and fragile, and yet so vibrantly alive among the green-to-yellowing corn stalks!
These are lovely works of art, Anna.
Thanks Pat – you know, I really kind of like doing bird shots better, but at this time of year most flowers are irresistible… and usually a lot easier to get close to! 😉
Beautiful images, Anna! You certainly know how to “make the pictures” I especially like the second one.
Thank you! Sometimes, it feels like nature just offers, and what you really have to do is restrain yourself so as not to get too carried away with the editing…! 🙂
Look like lovely watercolours. They would make lovey cards. Valerie
Thanks Valerie – I’m hoping so!
So very pretty. My favorite is the dahlia and poppies!
Thank you Cherie!
I love the image of the dahlia, it looks just like a watercolour. Thank you for providing information about the various blending modes and textures you used – I’m always interested to see how different textures and blending modes behave.
Thank you! I do try to provide a little something about what I’ve done, as for me PAF is as much about learning as showing off… 😉 Detailed descriptions would in the long run be a) too distracting to remember to keep up while working, b) boring to read and c) pointless, really… but perhaps mentioning some of the ways in which I work with an image might provide useful avenues for experimentation for others. I know I appreciate it when finding it in the posts of others!
What breathtakingly gorgeosity, Anna!! Oh my!! I love how you’ve played and each one literally takes my breath away. Makes me curious and ready to PLAY!!
I love that so many contributions on this floral theme have a lot of that quality: playfulness! Is it the season? Is it because of an inherent playfulness in the flowers themselves? Or are we all just so happy to be communing with the PAF crowd again? 😉
Thanks for your wonderful words, Currie!
I say, Anna!!! … Your “paintings” are all so beautiful and amazing – I don’t know which to choose if I should – That will be hard 😉 – I am happy to be contributing to Bonnie’s stite as well – I usual make more like you but today there is only one 🙂 – Thank you so much for sharing !!!
Have a great weekend
Well, thank *you* Mariane! As far as flower shots go, I just seem to have an endless supply this summer… and as you can see I couldn’t choose, either… 😉
Oh my these are beautiful. I love how you processed them. I’m not sure which one is my favorite as they are all wonderful. I thought they would look fabulous on stone coasters.
Thanks Ida! I’m not sure you have to choose one… 😉 And thanks for the tip! Now, if I only knew someone who prints stone coasters…
love the petals in the second image. That is my favourite from your corgeous collection.
Thank you, they are kind of irresistible… I keep taking shot after shot of them! 🙂
Gorgeous! My favourites are the first one and the last one.
Thanks Jill! I do like the apple blossom, too, but it is rather sensitive to the screen, I’m afraid… for me, it looks best on my phone! 🙂
Beautiful. Great work.
Thank you, Pupo!
“Wonderful stuff” Anna!!! These truly look like hand-crafted watercolors and would make a fabulous set of note cards. It is such a gift to have the tools and techniques to create digital art … but a great eye and true creative skill, such as yours, really take the work to another level!!!
Thank you Bonnie! I’m kind of blushing now… and I’m so grateful for the inspiration, motivation and interaction you provide by hosting PAF! I learn so much!
I was thinking a beautiful calendar as I scrolled through, but cards would be good too. Definately professional and beautiful and hopfully you will publish them in some form because they are deserving.
itAndrea @ From The Sol
Thanks Andrea! A calendar might be another option… right now I’m working on a set of nine sunflower cards for a friend. This is so much fun! 🙂
True artistic
Thank you, Anki!
How beautiful art !!
Thank you, Sirpa! 🙂