It really is astonishing what can be achieved with digital art software — in this case, Photoshop. I was playing around with a map and a fish (from The Graphics Fairy), and a photograph of a setting Cretan sun — no, please don’t ask why this combination! I discarded the map and selected the sun area of the photograph to make it the background. I then went through all the available blending modes for the salmon layer without success until I came to one near the bottom called ‘difference’. Immediately I was struck by the effect and it is what you see here. It reminds me of etching on copper scraperboards (scratchboards in the US), which I once tried my hand at. Unsuccessfully.
Take care and keep laughing!
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![Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]](https://i1.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/e221blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Bring up the Curtain")
![Bird on the Beam © Sarah Vernon [Crated]](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/e254blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Bird on the Beam © Sarah Vernon [Crated]")
![Butterflies from China, Japan, and Corea: “Biodiversity Library”:http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45490916
Texture: “Kerstin Frank”:https://www.flickr.com/photos/kerstinfrank-design/9181048645/in/photostream/
Flowers: “Rijksmuseum”:https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/my/collections/150967--sarah-vernon/mijn-eerste-verzameling/objecten#/SK-A-3899,0
Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]](https://i1.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/e309blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "‘Happiness is a Butterfly’")
![Gabrielle d'Estrees and one of her sisters [unknown]](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/ma015frame.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "ma015frame")
![Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]
Photograph by “Nicolai Bernsten”:DJ;KGH; at “Unsplash”:http://unsplash.com
Textures “2LO Confetti 17 and 2LO Distressed 12 from”:http://2lilowls.com](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/e289blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "The Boat House")
![Photo Unsplash
Texture - 2LO Haunting 14 & 2LO Haunting 23 - “2 Lil’ Owls”:http://2lilowls.com.
Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]](https://i2.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/e285blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Night Landings © Sarah Vernon")
![Artful Pumpkins © Sarah Vernon [Redbubble]](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/hl008blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Artful Pumpkins © Sarah Vernon [Redbubble]")
![Yacht: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zakhark/572331622/in/faves-83665426@N05/
Texture: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kerstinfrank-design/19581317079/in/faves-83665426@N05/
Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]](https://i2.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/e303blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Sailing to the Moon")
![Romance in Stone [framed] © Sarah Vernon](https://i2.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/romanceinstoneframed.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "romanceinstoneframed")
![Venetian Rose Water © Sarah Vernon [Crated]](https://i2.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/e257blog1.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Venetian Rose Water © Sarah Vernon [Crated]")
![Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]
Advert from The Graphics Fairy](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/e286blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Vintage Pettit’s Eye Salve")
![Butterfly Cascade © Sarah Vernon [Crated]](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/e250blog1.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Butterfly Cascade © Sarah Vernon [Crated]")
![Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]](https://i2.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/ma077blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "The Meeting of Antony and Cleopatra - Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (")
![Photograph from the ex-Mrs FND
Photograph from Unsplash
Texture 2LO Ancient times 2
Clock created for Behind Time
Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/e353blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Beating the Blues")
![Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]](https://i2.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/photorehabcovermakeoveraugust.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "#photorehabcovermakeoverAugust")
![Original & vintage art © First Night Design [www.firstnightdesign.wordpress.com]
Vintage Henry Irving and Ellen Terry as Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing from The Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97514042/
The background is a blend of the interior of The Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851 from an old encyclopaedia — the venue was originally built in Hyde Park and the exhibition was organised by Prince Albert and Henry Cole — and textures from “2 Lil’ Owls”:http://2lilowls.com.
http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/g/great-exhibition/](https://i0.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/e284blog.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "Beatrice and Benedick")
![The Boat House Tote Bag © Sarah Vernon [Fine Art England]](https://i1.wp.com/firstnightdesign.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/totebagfae.jpg?w=84&h=84&crop=1&ssl=1 "totebagfae")
30 comments
Comments feed for this article
18/09/2014 at 16:52
Sarah
You’re right, it looks just like scraperboard; one of the amazing samples that they put on the packets that ordinary mortals couldn’t achieve. I loved those. I think I’ve still got the tools. 🙂
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18/09/2014 at 19:39
First Night Design
Quite! I could never achieve anything except a few indeterminate scratches, even when my fingers were still ok!
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18/09/2014 at 19:49
Sarah
🙂
What’s up with your fingers?
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18/09/2014 at 20:03
First Night Design
They’re affected by the thickening of the collagen and the excess calcium caused by Scleroderma.
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18/09/2014 at 20:23
Sarah
Sorry to hear that. I was very interested to read your post on Paul Klee and scleroderma. I have not heard of it but I have heard of Raynaud’s because I’ve had that circulatory problem in my fingers a few times. Thankfully, it hasn’t been a major issue. I’m always impressed when I hear about artists that work around their physical limitations. My mother’s mother had a painting given to her by a patient that painted with the brush in their mouth. Even as a young child I was hugely impressed by how good the painting was. My dad’s mother used to get Christmas cards painted by “mouth and foot” painters which were equally impressive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Mouth_and_Foot_Painting_Artists_of_the_World
It’s great that you’ve found a way to work around your finger problems, and so on, to produce such wonderful pieces.
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18/09/2014 at 20:31
First Night Design
The mouth and foot painters are extraordinary. I remember the booklets and leaflets coming through the door at Christmas when I was a child. My mouth is affected as well so if the fingers become impossible, I won’t be working with a brush in my mouth any time soon! I’m very glad Raynaud’s has not been a problem for you. It so often goes undiagnosed.
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18/09/2014 at 21:06
Sarah
Oh wow, your mouth too? I’m sorry to hear that. Whatever happens I’m sure you will find a way to continue to express your creativity. I’m glad I’ve been able to get to know a little more about your journey, and I look forward to seeing more of your creations along the way. ❤
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18/09/2014 at 15:20
Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.
A king of fishes…. great design Sarah.
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18/09/2014 at 19:37
First Night Design
Ooh, thanks, Sally!
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18/09/2014 at 13:17
Sherry Key, Artist
Funny how this is seen in a variety ways by others. I love the colors and it looks like stained and etched wood to me.
I noticed the color matches your blouse in your photo too…(-:
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18/09/2014 at 14:01
First Night Design
Stained and etched wood! Hurrah. I wonder if anyone else will see something not yet picked up. That blouse is a treasured suede jacket that Mr FND picked up in a charity shop. He’s rather good at things like that.
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18/09/2014 at 14:31
Sherry Key, Artist
I love your art but I have my favorites. This would be one of them. This would make a great restaurant sign or on the back of a cutting board or something outdoorsy.
This is one of those that my first assumption would not be that it was digital.
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18/09/2014 at 19:36
First Night Design
That’s a fabulous compliment, Sherry – thank you so much!
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18/09/2014 at 12:14
olganm
Very striking effect. Although not the colour, there’s something about it that also reminded me of marquetry.
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18/09/2014 at 13:58
First Night Design
Ah, marquetry, yes. I love it that all these possibilities are coming out!
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18/09/2014 at 10:46
davidprosser
You’re quite right, it reminds me of the copper scraperboards too, though I’m not sure I’ve seen many with the fish floating above the water admiring the scenery before now.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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18/09/2014 at 10:48
First Night Design
Ha! My salmon is magical! Hugs xx
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18/09/2014 at 10:07
Globalresidence
Great job! 🙂
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18/09/2014 at 10:09
First Night Design
Thank you, Globalresidence!
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18/09/2014 at 10:10
Globalresidence
Y W! 🙂 Wishing you a great day ahead!
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18/09/2014 at 10:11
First Night Design
You too, my friend. 🙂
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18/09/2014 at 10:12
Globalresidence
😀
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18/09/2014 at 08:44
janemorley2014
Very interesting effect, quite oriental too I think because of the colours!
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18/09/2014 at 09:24
First Night Design
Yes, you’re right, Jane. I hadn’t thought of that.
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18/09/2014 at 06:09
janetweightreed10
Beautiful image. Janet:)
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18/09/2014 at 09:23
First Night Design
Thank you, Janet!
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18/09/2014 at 04:24
ĽAdelaide
i too thought it was some sort of metal etching. it is beautiful. xo
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18/09/2014 at 09:23
First Night Design
Thank you, Linda!
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17/09/2014 at 23:07
vannillarock
before i read your description, sarah, i was thinking copper or brass etchings. i love it!
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18/09/2014 at 09:20
First Night Design
Thank you, Anne!
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