LMAC #221: Change

There is nothing static about life. Even when we think we're frozen into inaction, we are changing. Every cell in our body, everything around us, is dynamic.

And so, LMAC is changing. @shaka began this community six years ago. I learned of it during the third round, and I was enchanted. As I have revealed in prior posts, I actually failed art when I was in the eighth grade. That broke my heart, because I loved art. Love art.

When @shaka invited the community of Hive to join in making collages he explained that everyone was an artist (where was he when I was in the eighth grade😄?). I jumped in. I made a simple collage. He was kind and encouraging.

I noticed other participants were able to put movement into their pieces. So I studied that, and tried. My first GIF was a bit odd, because the critters I created kept moving back and forth. Still, what fun I had. And, at a very eager 71 years of age, I was pleased with myself.

As long as I breathe, as long as I can, I will try to learn.

Here is my first LMAC GIF, which took many, many hours to create.

When I saw this month's template photo, I was reminded of the photo that prompted my first GIF.

This month's template:

The earlier template:

I couldn't resist trying to emulate my earliest GIF, this time, perhaps with the critters making forward movement.

The GIF I made for today is still crude. It lacks the finesse an artist might give it, but it does show progress. I can see where the collage might be refined, where the flames could be more convincing. I could add more movement to the tank and the space ships. The beams from the flying saucers could be better. But then, I'd still be working and I did want to put up a blog today :)).

It takes me a very long time to make a collage, but there is value in the time it takes. There are few things more relaxing for me than sitting down and trying to sort out the details of a collage.

Sometimes, when I seem distracted or stressed, my husband will say, "I think it's time for a collage". That's how this collage came to be: I needed to relax.

This collage came into existence after a long day of dog sitting. I was feeling a bit frustrated because my time was so short. Then I listened to that voice in my head, echoing my husband's, "It's time for a collage".

After I'd finished with today's GIF (late last night) I didn't like the overall appearance, so I went to Lunapic to add a filter. This is something I learned from @shasta. He generously shared that he sometimes uses Lunapic to add an interesting filter to his blogs.

When I went to Lunapic I tried the smoke filter. I superimposed that over the last frame of my GIF. The effect was quite nice. The picture needed to be lightened a bit, but I think smoke worked rather well--given the fact that there is so much flame in the image. Plus, you know what they say about the 'fog of war'.

Here is a GIF that shows my process in creating the collage:

I borrowed from the LMAC Library of Images (LIL) and from Pixabay to add elements to the Collage. One of the elements was a picture I had contributed to LIL.

Thank you to those who contributed to my collage:

Martian
@agmoore
LIL

Spaceship
@quantumg
LIL

Tank
Momentmal
Pixabay

Fire
Brainbuffet
Pixabay

Green Beam
SD-Pictures
Pixabay

Fractal
Tormenta
LIL

Plane
@alex2alex
LIL

LMAC

In the first paragraph of this blog I referred to change. It is inevitable. We accede to it with grace, or at least try to. LMAC is changing, a little. We now have monthly contests, instead of weekly contests. This schedule allows for collagists to make several images instead of one in response to template photo.

Our monthly contests are the classic LMAC Collage Contest, and a new Themed Collage Contest. The idea is to allow artists (even 'artists' like me) to farm their creative impulse and respond to photos in several ways.

Isn't this how we respond to our environment? With mixed impressions and emotions?

I do not compete in the contest and am not eligible for the prize, because I'm on the jury that picks the finalists. I do all this for fun!

Often, when I made a collage for the contest, I would come up with several ideas and had to pick the one I liked best. I was often uncertain about that choice. I don't have to leave one idea behind anymore.

In the upcoming contests, our dear and infinitely talented @quantumg will be playing a larger role. He already has made an indelible contribution to the community with the creation and maintenance of LIL, our proprietary image library, and with the many lessons he has offered in our Discord workshop, and in blogs that he posts. Now he will be adding more guidance to the community.

This is a new phase of LMAC's existence. I look back at the early years, my first collages, my contributions to LIL. All of these experiences are part of my history now. I associate the memories with different times in my life. There is nostalgia associated with the memories, and gratitude.

Thank you @shaka for giving a very senior non-artist the chance to play with images and to put on the mantle of artist.

Join Us

LMAC is a welcoming community. We offer handsome monthly prizes, and curation for every collage submitted (must follow the rules spelled out in our announcement blog). Become a part of this community, especially if you are not an artist. You may be surprised at finding the artist in you.

Also, please note that our image library welcomes contributions from everyone on Hive, and anyone on Hive may borrow from the library. Procedures for borrowing and contribution are described in @shaka's blog, here.

Peace and health to everyone. Hive on!