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Seeing Things Artistically ~ (Almost) Speechless Sunday

By Mona Gersky

Real Estate Broker/Owner with MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC NC# 218097

January 29, 2012 12:41 AM

Seeing things artistically is probably something everyone has a talent for, transferring the artistic thought from your brain to a medium that everyone can enjoy is the hard part. I've always wished for the talent to sketch and paint.

Often when I see artists and artisans in action, there is a brief fleeting moment of wistful envy for the apparent ease in their skill but then it occurs to me that they probably have the same need to work hard for perfection just like anyone who cares about their profession.

While I’m waiting for the eventual outcome of when Picnik finally finishes morphing into its next life form, I’ve discovered BeFunky. While it didn’t turn me into an artist, I had fun turning my photograph of the two black labs, Hogan and Riddick into a watercolor painting!

Hogan at Attention copyright Mona Gersky

The sketching and painting talent is not mine to claim, but this website let me have fun pretending.

Hogan and Riddick Watercolor with BeFunky copyright Mona Gersky

Enjoy your Sunday.

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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Nowadays knowing what you like, what looks good and some computer skills means everyone is a "graphic" artist. It is neat that you can photo shop an image to make it have the angle of the sun in fall in Washington state or change the variables to create the "look", feel, texture and experience you want. Like politicians and advertisers do it with spin but you and I can add the polish so it's better than the real thing! Artificially enhanced. New and improved.

Jan 29, 2012 12:48 AM

Gay E. Rosen

Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty - Larchmont, NY

As Real as Real Estate Gets!

Hi Mona - Looks great.. am going to visit the web site to check it out. I always wanted to be an artist.. and thought that when my children were older, I could paint 3 days a week and be in real estate the remaining 4... I guess in my next life! Real estate 24/7!

Jan 29, 2012 12:56 AM

Cindy Edwards

RE/MAX Checkmate - Johnson City, TN

CRS, GRI, PMN - Northeast Tennessee 423-677-6677

Hi Mona,

i love that transformation. I am also waiting for the new ...Piknic, or whatever it will become. I will have to go check out this other site!! Thanks for the tip.

Jan 29, 2012 01:08 AM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Cyndi, the boys are still with us and very happy. Someone donates food to us and they have a couple of "uncles" in Dillsboro who will pitch in if they ever need medical help. Check out BeFunky. It's still not as easy to use but it may just be because I'm not used to it yet.

Mike, some of us were just born to do the appreciating!

Andrew, I'm sure it's very frustrating to people who have made their living up til now developing film or creating graphics for marketing purposes since some people can muddle through the process really well with available software. Have a great day.

Gay! What were you thinking, lol. Maybe you are an artist in real estate?

Jan 29, 2012 01:09 AM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Cindy, you are welcome. It took me longer to read their Condition Agreement than to develop this little watercolor picture. Let me know how you like it.

Jan 29, 2012 01:10 AM

Sheila Anderson

Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ

The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Mona. Well I guess the lab brothers are thriving and oh so very lucky. I actually like the photo better than the watercolor, but hey it's may just be my love for natural. I wish I could sing, play in a symphony, do stand-up for a living but we all stretch in those areas we can. Wonderful post and so nice to see the boys again.

Jan 29, 2012 01:19 AM

Connie Goodrich

Keller Williams Realty - McKinney, TX

CRS ABR (McKinney Realtor)Texas

Lovely - the things you can do to enhance photographs. I love the picture - very natural setting for those darling labs!

Jan 29, 2012 01:20 AM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Sheila, I can see you in stand up! I like the original better too, but without it I couldn't have played with the watercolors.

Hi Connie, they really do look at home in that nest of leaves.

Jan 29, 2012 01:26 AM

Anne M. Costello

Weidel Realtors - Yardley, PA

Mona: I can just imagine the reaction I will get when I announce to my twentysomethings+ at dinner tonight that my latest new tool is Befunky.com. Thanks for sharing your latest find.

Jan 29, 2012 02:36 AM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Mona,

Wow.

What a great way to be "funky" but they are not at all funky.

I think it's a great way to keep your pets for ever. Nice way to do pictures. Your so much better at it than I am.

Have a grat day in Sylva.

Best, Clint McKie

Jan 29, 2012 03:09 AM

Belinda Spillman

Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO

Colorado Living!

Mona, That is amazing. What beautiful pups by the way. I love the watercolor effect. This one is worth framing!!!

Jan 29, 2012 05:33 AM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Anne, you just let those twenty somethings know there's plenty of funk still there!

Hey Clint, I thought it would be a nice cover for a notecard too. Thanks.

Belinda, these are beautiful pups. You should try the watercolor on your dog too.

Jan 29, 2012 06:26 AM

DeeDee Riley

Lyon Real Estate - El Dorado Hills CA - El Dorado Hills, CA

Realtor - El Dorado Hills & the Surrounding Areas

I love it, Mona! Your post and your watercolor! You at least have the artistic ability to see what is pleasing to the eye and visiually interesting. I have that same envy of those who can actually draw/or paint!

Have a great day!

Jan 29, 2012 08:56 AM

Paul Peck

Peck Drywall and Painting serving Brevard County, Florida - Melbourne, FL

Licensed Drywall and Painting Contractor

Very cool Mona! That digital painting turned out Awesome. I'm heading over to BeFunky right now to have a little fun. Thanks for Sharing. :)

-Paul

Jan 29, 2012 11:11 AM

Mimi Foster

Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO

Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

While it took me hours to get here (LOL), this is a great suggestion. Lots of good posts recently about alternatives to Picnik. It's gonna be all right ;) Good post . . .

Jan 29, 2012 01:40 PM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

DeeDee, so glad you enjoyed it.

Paul, that's me...I aim for cool. You'll enjoy BeFunky too.

Mimi...what took you so long, lol. I can't wait to see what you create in Funkytown.

Jan 29, 2012 01:59 PM

Karen Hawkins, MBA - Langley & Surrey, BC

Royal Pro Real Estate Network - Langley, BC

Hey, that's a very cool feature, Mona - I've used tools that can take a photo and make them look like an Andy Warhol pic - but nothing like this. Woo hoo, going to Funkytown (yeah, that's a song, baby!) :-)

Jan 29, 2012 04:22 PM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Yeah baby, how are you Karen? The Andy Warhol stuff is very cool too. Nice pop reference by the way with the Yeah baby.

Jan 30, 2012 12:21 AM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Mona - I've been using the artistic filters in Photoshop for years to create that effect - the range of styles, like dry brush, cut-out, chalk, etc., is very broad, and the results are great fun. We have even done this with photos of a clients new home, and printed them as cards - great little closing gift.

Jan 30, 2012 05:21 AM

Mona Gersky

MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC

GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Hi Dick, I need to try Photoshop...it's alway intimidated me. It does sound like a great closing gift.

Jan 30, 2012 01:41 PM