Life-n-Reflections: Your one stop source for High Quality Textures

When it comes to photo editing, one must be careful on the decisions taken.  Each little tweak brings its own flavor to the mix, adding a different dimension to the image.   Adding texture to a photograph is just one of the many options one has, and when employed correctly, it will transform a simple shot into a great photograph.

I fell in love with textures after discovering Wazari's work.  I understood right away the endless possibilities one has with this technique, and went on to discover one very important thing: quality is the key.  Textures come as key players in your composition, and quality is highly important.

I met Kristy while networking around Etsy.  We are both bloggers, and roam the virtual halls of Etsy along the same circles.  I found her work as a Texture designer, and was immediately interested in her art.  We've been talking a little bit about her work, and I want to share it with you all.

Q: Kristy, I am curious.... when did you start making textures?

A: I started creating textures in the fall of 2010.  When it comes to arts and crafts, I dabble in it about everything.  Photography has always been my best subject, and  when I saw the idea of photo textures popping up all over the internet, I thought , " I can make that!".  So, I combined many things I already learned - like oil painting, hand-making paper, tea staining fabrics, and metallic stamping.  Then I scanned in my "works of art" and applied my Photoshop skills to design high quality textures.

Q: How do you describe your work?

Modern meets ephemera or Vintage Urban Country

Q: In your experience, which images are better suited for texture application?

A: It really depends on the light and subject.  Landscape photographs can turn into a fine art painting with texture or the textures can be lost in a busy background.  The same goes for still life and portraiture.  I think allowing for a neutral space around the subject is best.  This gives you place to really play with light, hues, and textures!

Q: What inspires your work?

A: I am an artist inspired by aging structures, thunderstorms, letters from the past, fields of rolled hay, rusting tractors, patterns of perfection imprinted on leaves, everyday items of yesterday, and the wild tangling branches of old oak trees.

Q: Where can we find your High Quality Textures:

A:  You can find my work by visiting any of these places:

Life-n-Reflections Etsy store -   http://lifenreflection.etsy.com

Life-n-Reflection Graphic Design Boutique - http://lifenreflection.bigcartel.com/

Kristy has given us an easy to follow recipe, as well as a coupon to use at her store and a FREE high resolution texture.  Here it goes...

To apply the same texture finish as the picture above, follow the following steps:

1. Bleach your images with the antique cool texture blended on linear burn with a 60% opacity.

2. Add song to the wind with the windsong texture, blended on soft light.

3. warm your edges with the worn paper texture, blended on soft light at 50% opacity.

If you wish to buy any of these textures, you can use coupon code "rustika" to receive a 20% discount.

And here you can find the FREE high resolution texture.  This is the Windsong Texture.