Yes, I frequently use Coherence that way on assembled/collaged images, too. A light touch of Coherence/1 can smooth some rough/pixelated edges and pull things together overall. I also find that WaterB 1 or 2 with the texture turned all the way down and the opacity somewhat reduced will help flatten an image that looks too 3D for what I want. It's so easy to get lost in all the nooks and crannies of iC that I sometimes forget I can use it along with other apps.
The other day I saw an abstract painting at the library. It was a headshot of a soldier. It really looked as though the artist set out to paint an abstract of a soldier. I have no idea how well formed the artist’s mental image was before starting out. It may have been vague or perhaps a sketch was made in advance. But it was definitely abstract and most certainly not accidental.
Perhaps the surrealist part of this is that the artist looks more prosperous than the plumber.
You've said more eloquently what I've thought for a while about 'abstract' art on a mobile device. I get abstract photography, I like to think a few of mine come into that category and I get abstract painting / drawing.
Hmmmmm.... that’s pretty much how I’ve created most of my abstracts. This one is an oldie (2013), but it started out as a random image I took (now I wish I’d saved all the original images along with the abstract final pieces for comparison).
Wow!!! This is awesome.... makes me want to read the book. I think it’s perfectly abstract.4.50 From Paddington
I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you what I was planning before I posted Brian, but I wasn’t sure that I had all the elements to make the image. I wanted to illustrate the book 4.50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie. It’s about a woman who is strangled on a train and her body hidden in a sarcophagus in a barn on an old country estate. Several people are also poisoned. Typed letters form the basis of the red herring, hence the typewriter. There’s also a skeleton in there somewhere.
View attachment 120764
Not sure about it being properly abstract, but I did use several apps to make it.
Snapseed, iColorama, SuperimposeX, Phonto
I love it too but I'm saying no more4.50 From Paddington
I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you what I was planning before I posted Brian, but I wasn’t sure that I had all the elements to make the image. I wanted to illustrate the book 4.50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie. It’s about a woman who is strangled on a train and her body hidden in a sarcophagus in a barn on an old country estate. Several people are also poisoned. Typed letters form the basis of the red herring, hence the typewriter. There’s also a skeleton in there somewhere.
View attachment 120764
Not sure about it being properly abstract, but I did use several apps to make it.
Snapseed, iColorama, SuperimposeX, Phonto
I love it!4.50 From Paddington
I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you what I was planning before I posted Brian, but I wasn’t sure that I had all the elements to make the image. I wanted to illustrate the book 4.50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie. It’s about a woman who is strangled on a train and her body hidden in a sarcophagus in a barn on an old country estate. Several people are also poisoned. Typed letters form the basis of the red herring, hence the typewriter. There’s also a skeleton in there somewhere.
View attachment 120764
Not sure about it being properly abstract, but I did use several apps to make it.
Snapseed, iColorama, SuperimposeX, Phonto
It’s a typical Agatha Christie. I’ve read it loads of times and the version I’m reading at the mo is in Spanish. I read it every night to try to get something to stick in the old brain.
This is beautiful. We rarely see the Abstract Cat nowadays and when I look at this, I miss her.
Hopefully, this challenge will see her renaissance.
It’s possible that some people have the misimpression I expect them to previsualize every detail of their abstract piece before beginning. I’m not saying I think that’s impossible but the nature of APPstraction lends itself to some exploration, experimentation, and happy accidents. But it should be possible to have an general mental image of what you’re trying to do before you begin.
It is perfectly clear by your description that you had a good idea what you were wanting to create. Illustrating the story set definite limits on what you could include but the story also suggested themes and elements that could contribute to your piece. To me this completely fits the criterion of creating with intention. Even when you didn’t know if you would be able to gather the necessary elements to complete the piece to your satisfaction you were already well on your way to imagining what it could look like. Perhaps we could elaborate on this and say you could imagine several possible outcomes and only when it came time to juggle the elements could you see which parts would become the dominant ones. It is only one tiny step more confident to post in advance what you were planning to make.4.50 From Paddington
I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you what I was planning before I posted Brian, but I wasn’t sure that I had all the elements to make the image. I wanted to illustrate the book 4.50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie. It’s about a woman who is strangled on a train and her body hidden in a sarcophagus in a barn on an old country estate. Several people are also poisoned. Typed letters form the basis of the red herring, hence the typewriter. There’s also a skeleton in there somewhere.
View attachment 120764
Not sure about it being properly abstract, but I did use several apps to make it.
Snapseed, iColorama, SuperimposeX, Phonto
and the version I’m reading at the mo is in Spanish. I read it every night to try to get something to stick in the old brain.
This is beautiful. We rarely see the Abstract Cat nowadays and when I look at this, I miss her.
Thank you so much.... I truly appreciate the support.
Even your brief description earlier of what you had in mind can easily be seen in your final result. There’s definitely intention there. The person shape that appeared is one of those happy accidents you may discover along the way and decide if it contributes on not.
Yes, you’re right. The main part was the train in the station. I knew that was going to be the base, but what went on top and where came about by experimentation. That’s my fingerprint by the way. Not from any criminal record, but I did get covered in green ink when I was making it.
