If You Own a Camera, You Can Make Artwork

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

25 Oct 2006 08:40 AM

This idea is simple to pull off, but the effects are highly artistic and create a designer feel. Basically, if you can take a decent picture, you can create incredible artwork for your home. You can make attractive graphic prints for everyday or for special occasions, using either color film or black and white, depending on the look you want to create.

A digital camera is the best choice, since you can snap as many photos as you like and only print the best ones. You'll have to spend some time looking around to find just the right subjects for your photos. One of the coolest ways to use this method, is to spell out words with graphic elements then mat each image separately. They can be placed all in one large frame or in separate frames side by side.

Here's how it works:

Decide which word you would like to spell out. Maybe you want to spell home or love or family. If you're interested in creating holiday artwork, you might want to spell thanks or joy or hope. Now look around inside and out for architectural and other graphic elements that mimic the shapes of letters. For example, you might find a round window on an interestingly detailed building that looks like an "O." Take a picture of it.

Look for other items that resemble the shapes of letters. An iron scroll might look like and "S" or a wreath hanger might look like a "J." Use your imagination and take lots of pictures, even if they don't fit the word you have in mind. You might come up with something else later and wish you had taken the shot.

Personally, I prefer the stark contrast of black and white, but you can certainly use color if you like. On the other hand, you could use colored matting to inject a splash of color and to make your artwork really stand out.

Since this type of artwork has a good deal of detail, it makes sense to choose frames that have nice clean lines, or to look for frames that share common elements with your photos.

*This is also a cute way to make artwork for your children's rooms. You can spell out their names with pictures of toys, sports gear, etc. that mimic letters.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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