It’s a Two-for-Thursday! Because… you know… I couldn’t make up my mind. I just hope you weren’t expecting pens.
James Bond: “… not exactly Christmas, is it?”
Q: “Were you expecting an exploding pen? We don’t really go in for that anymore.”
– Daniel Craig & Ben Whishaw – Skyfall
About this image: digital photographs (Canon 600D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop
Refrigerator Magnate 
I like them both, Richard, but I prefer the second one. I like the FT. 🙂
Oh dear! You’re Robert, not Richard! Sorry! 😦
No problem, S.E! That happens to me all the time (to tell you the truth I’m a bit relieved I’m not the only one)!
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Thanks, S.E! Yes… that’s all that’s left from ‘soft’. And ‘General’s Charcoal’. And a few other words I ground off that I’m probably forgetting, too!
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I like them both!
I’m very happy to hear that! Thank you so much!
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Your monochrome version is the best I think,
but then the colour one isn’t lacking style either
so you have conquered the dilemma by adding
a joint favourite me thinks 🙂 Have fun today 🙂
Andro
Many thanks, Andro! I started out with the color version, because I kind of liked how the oranges looked against the blues of the pencil box (in the background)… but the more I looked at it, the more I noticed the grungy textures, etc. (which seemed like the might get lost in the color a bit). And then, well… this kinda happened!
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I think that art is a living medium, we think that we have found the most perfect example and then something else takes shape, and in this instance your imagination and skill created another masterpiece 🙂 I like it a lot…
Andro
Many thanks, Andro! I think you have a very good point. It seems on nearly every project I’m working on (particularly the ones that take me a bit longer, like a painting, for example), I start off thinking it will be nice to finally cross an idea off the old ‘to-make’ list… but by the time I’ve actually completed the project, I’ve come-up with at least 4 more to take its spot on the list! I know very little about writing, but it’s so terribly creative… I suspect you might often encounter the very same thing!
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Yes it is definitely the same feeling, as with every step forwards there is that sense of achievement, and through friendships, whether online or not we can feel rather pleased that it is not just our ego pushing us along, especially when we can see the feedback and know that we are moving in the right direction.
Keep up the great work Robert, your artistic talents just keep on amazing me and everyone that visits your Space 🙂
Have fun today 🙂
Andro
Many thanks for your kindness and wonderful words of encouragement, my friend! I appreciate it very, very much, sir! And I hope that you are having a good one as well!
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Here Here Andro!
Robert, I like the second one, but that is of course a personal opinion. I get there so many times where i almost end up tossing a coin on which to post. Sometimes going to the audience is a good idea – I often find a lot of people disagree with my own preferred choice. Ah well. MM 🍀
Thanks so much for the kind feedback, M.M.! The colors were what made me decide to set the shot(s) up, but I do tend to be drawn to b/w myself. And the more I looked at things, the more I noticed how there were some kinda cool textures that would stand out a bit more in b/w. Then I wasn’t sure which (if either) piece was stronger… and I thought, why not?! I’ll see what posting them both might be like!
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If HAD to choose, I’d go grayscale…
I started out with color… but then… well… it seemed like the textures might get shown-off a bit more in b/w.
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I’m not sure how you could be expected to choose, and I’m glad you didn’t. Happy weekend!
Aw, thanks, H.C! I was thinking they might be a bit stronger posted together… maybe… but then… I’m still kind of thinking about that.
And I thank you again! I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!
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Well done!. Art is never pointless. 🙂
I was going to compare it to Richard’s work, but the only similarity is that you both have beards. 😀
Never a ‘dull’ post with you around, sir! I think you!
*rubbing chin* Verrrrry interesting… hmm…
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Robert, you and your creativity never cease to amaze me! Well done! Indeed a tough decision as to which I like best. The black and white works well but I really like the complimentary colors – the blue and orange are striking. Have a great day!
Thank you so very much, Robyn! The colors are what really started the whole thing. The ‘background’ is an old pencil box, and every time I’d look at the two together it would start to get me thinking. Thank you again, Robyn! I hope you have a good one, too!
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@ completely different photos. I prefer the texture of the b&w though.
The colors are what got me thinking about the shot, but they do tend to overpower things like texture, etc. (which I thought was maybe kinda cool here, too). 🙂
Number 1 Number 1
Showcase number one?!
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Those bitty pencils look like the ones you get at the mini-golf course, all stubby with no lead. 🙂
Ha! And worn down almost as much as one I’d be using to record my score! 🙂
Well didn’t they scrub up well after all that hard work!
That’s a good point, Patti… these poor things have been through a lot!
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They are perfect together – one is more for the color and one more for the texture. I like them both!!
I’m so happy to hear that, L.B, thank you! That’s kind of what I was thinking, too… er, well, hoping, anyway!
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It is JUST like Christmas. Except you didn’t arrange the stubbies and stumpies in the shape of a tree. Or a candy cane. Or a reindeer’s antlers. And the colors aren’t right.
Other than those 2 things, these spectacular images are just like Christmas. Ho Ho Ho.
Hahaha… excellent! A great excuse to have a few
morecookies!While I await the arrival of my coal.
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You know I like the one on my right. There is just something about black and white that stands out. It give it drama!
Great work, Sig! 🙂
Thank you so much, Deb! I agree with you… there’s a certain ‘power’ to b/w. To tell you the truth, I often have to ‘push’ myself into exploring color more. Which is possibly what I was doing here. But, in the end I wound up with a b/w image, too, of course!
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Hey, Robert! I think you may need some new pencils. Ha ha!
Hahaha… oh, no! I was hoping to get a few more miles out of these! 🙂
My computer is bonkers. I wasn’t finished…I love the colors. They are quite stunning. I remember that line from Skyfall. I finally saw it! Loved it. A darker Bond, for sure.
I know the feeling, Amy! About the bonkers computer, anyway. Although I probably shouldn’t say too much… I feel like I’m just asking for something strange to happen with it if I do!
Excellent! I really liked it, too. Probably one of my favorites. I mean, I like pretty much all of the Bond films (particularly the Sean Connery ones)… but for a while there… things started to feel a bit… well… almost like a caricature of a the character (if that makes any sense). I just really like the ‘feel’ of the Daniel Craig ones.
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Frodo pencils, how cute
YOU SHALL NOT…
sorry, wait… wrong character…
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It’s like a pencil school class picture!
Ha! It was a challenge making sure none of them blinked.
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Love ’em! I’ve been away awhile. I’m sure I’ve missed a lot of great and fun!
Many thanks, S.F!
I’m so happy to hear you are back! I think I’ll have a bit more time tomorrow… I’m really looking forward to stopping by to say hello and see what you’ve been up to!
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The first one has a bit of a patriotic flair, the second reminds me of the grunge look. When I saw your title, I figured you’d been chopping down cherry (or Christmas) trees. It’s always fun to see what you’ve created.
Oh, yes! I see the patriotic-ness bit now, too! Of course, I’m always seeing ‘grunge’ (I almost have to remind myself it’s okay to try something else every now and then). Hahaha… well, you know… I have to keep everyone on their toes, right?!
TIMBER!!! 🙂
I laughed my but off at that line in the movie. I prefer pencils. I only use pens if I have to. There is just something about how the lead goes on the paper. I have pencils and sharpeners all over the place. The only pens you find around me are ones they give out at trade shows and such.
I think I tend to use whatever will make the biggest mess. Just between you and me, it takes almost as much time to pick-up after some of my projects than it does to construct them! The last time I used one of these charcoal pencils, for example… I had charcoal dust EVERYWHERE! On the table… on the floor… on my socks… (I’d have been a bit shocked if I wasn’t used to that sort of thing by now)!
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But I WAS expecting pens. Damn.
Hahaha… oh, no! Peg’s reaching for the eraser!
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I like these image. That’s why they are so nostalgic.
Thank you very much, sir!
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I like both of them, Robert. 🙂
How nice of you to say, Malin! Thank you!
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Oh so that’s what made that mark. Who knew that anaconda could hold those penciles.
Hahaha… Let’s just hope they were number 2’s!
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The B&W works for me Bob. I think the textures make that image. I’m impressed though – no teeth marks? 😉
Hahaha… I had to ‘sharpen’ those off, Martin (that’s how these really got so short, you know)!
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No, I didn’t expect pens! 😀
Love the B&W version too. But the first one is as good! Just different.
And a exploding pen… I need that!! Just in case.
*whew* What a relief!
AND thank you very much, too!
Hahaha… well, you never know! It never hurts to have a bit of secret agent stuff ready to go, right?!
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I’m torn, too! The color is so vibrant that I immediately chose it, but then I became really attracted to the grain and the not-perfectly-lined-up-ness of the black and white. So yes, both.
Yeah, see, that was my deal, too… kind of. The blue is a pencil case I keep some of my drawing stuff in, so every time I’d look at the orange and the blue I’d think, ‘Yeah… I should try something with that’… but then I kind of liked the grittiness of the textures and stuff, so… hmm. Yeah, honestly I think they look better together because I’m not so sure either one is a stand-alone kind of thing, really. 🙂
the black and white looks excellent with that textures 🙂
Incredibly kind of you to say! Thank you! It’s funny, for as long as I’ve spent trying to create texture with these pencils it only just now occurred to me to use a camera to do so!
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The black and white attracts my attention! I like that rough texture and moody atmosphere! Great piece of art!
Thank you very much, Cristina! You are incredibly kind to say so!
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Count me in as another one who prefers the B&W version. But I do like the contrast of the orange-yellow of the pencils against the blue.