Today I started working on videos for my online classes. I have very little experience with video making and editing. But you have to start somewhere right?
Here’s the video camera set up in my studio ready to record.
I borrowed some panels from my friend Sally (Thanks, Sally!) and set them up on the other side of my table. And then I did a few practice videos. Luckily, you won’t be subjected to them here. They were a bit laughable. And of course I seem to make all these funny gestures and facial expressions and watching yourself hem and haw is pretty excruciating. I have a program that you can cut off the beginning and end of the video and paste them together but not a fancy editing program. Hopefully, IÂ will get the hang of it soon.
I worked a little bit more on my mixed media iris piece. If you look at last week’s photo, I had added some walnut ink which really changed the overall colors. I decided I didn’t like it so I wet it down and wiped it off. So now it is more of the true colors that I started with. I painted some fusible web a lighter shade of green and added it on top. I wanted to tone down the red-orange a bit more by adding in more “greenery”. Not sure where I’m going from here but it seems to need a bit more. What do you think? Would you stop here or add something else? If you would add something, what would it be? I’d love to hear your opinion.
Ruth Lane Art 
I can’t help with the video, I’ve never done one, but good luck!
As far as the Iris pic, I think the orange is overwhelming. Irises are my favorite so I’d like to see that be the focus, perhaps overprinting a complementary color on the orange will tone it down a bit??? Just disperse the brightness? Adding a muted orange color? I hope it works out.
I agree that the orange is a bit much. I think it would have been better with about half that much orange. The green toned it down somewhat but it needs a bit more. So I guess another layer or two is in order.
The orange is what we call a “Bulls Eye” in floral design – it draws your eye to that part of the design and nothing else when what you want to achieve is for the person viewing to taken in the entire work. (Just my unprofessional opinion)
Thanks Frances – yes, the orange is overpowering. Not sure what I’ll do yet though.
The iris is intriguing, and some of the other effects are pleasing, but I keep thinking of a darker color being added for some definition–or, perhaps as others have commented, a toning down of the orange? Just my 2 cents.
Thanks Cathy – I will think about adding more dark green, that might help.
I was giggling as I read about your practice video with your umming and awwing and facial expressions – my daughter did a quick 30 seconds of herself doing machine embroidery and she asked my opinion. I said she should stop sniffing as that’s all I could hear! No, it’s not going to be easy Ruth. I start moving woodenly and my voice goes peculiar as soon as a video camera is pointing at me.
I like the background panels very much – they will concentrate the viewer’s attention onto what you are doing instead of noseying around your studio.
What a good expression Frances, ‘Bull’s Eye’. Yes, that’s what the orange is. But I like the orange in the piece so just a bit of toning down perhaps?
Ruth, I would work a little more on the iris – perhaps a tiny accent of lemon or white?
Thanks Lyn – I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels really silly in front of a camera. Hopefully, no one else will think I’m too strange 🙂
I like the orange too but there is just too much of it. I am planning on covering it up a bit more. Your idea to add highlights to the iris is a good one. Thanks!
I’m looking forward to seeing your videos, I’m sure you’ll get it right with a bit of practice. I tend to run away as soon as a camera is produced and I’m sure I’d be chewing my tongue or something equally silly looking throughout.
As Lyn says, the background panels will prevent people (like me) nosying round your studio! I’m green with envy at your thread rack. 🙂
I agree with Marilyn and Lyn – bring out the iris with some yellow and white. The orange is very dominant and possibly made moreso by the adjacent turquoise shades. Not that I’m any expert!
Thanks Judith! I hope you don’t fall down laughing when you see them 🙂
I actually don’t use the thread rack except for old threads. The problem is that the thread is exposed to too much light and they get all dusty. I keep my good threads in plastic containers. Not as visually pleasing but better for the thread. And if I’m going to spend that much money on thread…
I will be working on the iris some more and we’ll see how it turns out. I appreciate everyone’s suggestions.
I agree about the thread racks – they’re ok for commercial, high volume use workshops. I invested in some drawer units (large drawers but not very deep) to keep my threads easy to access and free from light and dust.
I was going to say the same as Lyn, I can’t believe how much I sniff! I wouldn’t do a video of myself, I sound awful, like a 12 year old yob from Shameless or something. I used to make ‘animated’ music videos, but even the new version of Windows Movie maker has me baffled now!
I’m sure you aren’t as bad as you think. But it is hard to watch yourself. I have to find a good way to edit these so I guess I will have to conquer Windows Moviemaker 🙂