PBS Studios Blog

Blue Mountain Sunrise with Birds

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Our car, while it sits in the driveway, collects a ton of pollen. Each spring, a yellow coating comes down from the trees as they go from stark branches to full bloom trees in a matter of days. Once again, it happened. The result is taking the car to a local carwash for a complete inside and outside cleaning.

While waiting at my local carwash for the work to be accomplished, I notice a rack of my favorite greeting cards – Blue Mountain Co, greeting cards. They inspire me to emulate the beautiful pastel style color paintings. I took some reference photos of a few cards.

Going on-line and learning about Blue Mountain, it appears the card company and artists are all located in the Rocky Mountain region of the country. If that is the case, I want to visit the area. I love the colors and styles.

Last Sunday, while watching the golf on television, I found those pictures on my phone. Using one of them as a reference, I created my latest digital painting, “Blue Mountain Sunrise with Birds,” I’m creating digital paintings using the freehand (means no photo base layer) method in Adobe Photoshop. Creating digital paintings using the freehand process is something I’ve been working on while at home during the pandemic – creating a digital painting using the freehand method.

PWC Fire and Rescue Thank You

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PWC Fire and Rescue Thank You

This digital photo painting was the cover for a PWC Fire and Rescue Thank You card I sent to the Prince William County (PWC) Fire and Rescue Station 26 squad, thanking them for their outstanding response to an emergency.

Early on May 1, 2020, they responded to a 911 call that I placed after finding my wife on the floor outside our master bathroom. She had cut her forehead and blood was gushing out. My wife, Linda, fell while trying to go from her bed to the bathroom. From what I could determine, she got her feet tangled in the comforter that was too big for the twin bed.

With minutes of placing the call, personnel from Station 26 were at our door. Two women paramedics – sorry, I did not get their names, came up, and assisted Linda. Thankfully, Linda, with assistance, was able to ride our electric chair for the trip downstairs.

Sentara Hospital Emergency Room

They took Linda to Sentara Hospital, where the emergency staff discovered she had a broken nose. The gash on her forehead required four stitches. The maddening part for me is that because of the Coronavirus restrictions, I could not be with my wife at the hospital. Only getting as far as the reception area. I did not know what was happening. I had to go home and wait. To obtain information, I had to call the hospital.

Thankfully, the injuries were superficial and did not require additional medical attention. Although Linda’s nose was broken, she could breathe normally. The right side of her face looked like she had lost a boxing match – in a sense, she did. Although she has fallen multiple times before, she had been lucky that no significant damage had occurred. This time he fought the floor, and the floor won.

It’s been almost a month since the accident, and the swelling has gone down. The color from the bruising has nearly returned to normal. Linda saw Ann Miller NP,C-FNP, who took out her stitches. Life is getting back to “normal” whatever that is in these times.

If you want to see this and other digital paintings, check out the Gallery Section of the P.B.S. Studios website

 

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart – 22 Years and Counting

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On Saturday night my lovely wife of 22 years and I celebrated our anniversary with a candle light eat-at-home take-out dinner. I had planned on taking her to one of the area’s many fine restaurants – last year we celebrated at Mount Vernon – but die to the Coronavirus, we had to improvise. With Hummus and grape leaves appetizer and wonderful rice pudding from Katrina’s (for Linda) and Chicken Parmesan from Primo’s (for me) we celebrated together.

It was 22 years ago, on May 9, 1998, Linda and I stood in front of our fireplace and exchanged vows for all the world to see. It was a wonderful day in our house on Possum Trot. Even our cat, Sophie got into the act. During the service she hopped up on the riser in front of the fireplace and started playing with Rev. Cleaver’s tassels. Both our families were well represented at the small, private service in our house.

Since then we’ve had our ups and downs including our biggest challenge, Linda discovering she has a long-term illness. Stull, we’re together taking it day by day.

Cat Silhouette

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Last week, during our Sunday BRUU service Joy and Concerns section, a child of one of the members they told the congregation their cat had died this past week. I could hear the sadness in the little girl’s voice as she spoke about the cat.

As one who has sent several cats to kitty heaven over the years, I understood what she was feeling. I was looking for a new painting project, and this one hit me where I lived. The image I had in my mind reminded me of a beautiful painting that my artist friend Jose Tullo created a silhouetted cat in front of a pumpkin color background. She said it was created for Halloween. I wanted to show a cat in the moonlight like on its way to the end of their life. I wanted a graphic quality.

The result is a mixed media painting. The cat outline was painted (traced) based on a graphic I found on the Internet to increase the cat’s presence. I added some Adobe Photoshop enhancement to bring the cat out. Everything else was drawn freehand. I added the bird, which was based on one of my earlier bird paintings, at the last minute to balance out the scene.

As a result, I sent the card with the inscription “In Sympathy” to the family. I hope the card brought them comfort in these challenging times.

 

 

Blue Mountain Mountain Digitla Painting

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One of my favorite greeting card company is Blue Mountain Greeting Cards. They’re out of Colorado. Their cards all have this soft pastel look and feel to their greeting cards. Over the years I’ve purchased many of their cards for my wife.

I found an old Blue Mountain calendar in my files the other day and decided to create a digital painting in Blue Mountain style. Something bright and sunny. With this digital painting, I think I’ve achieved my goal. All I need now is a quote that talks about spring. Hopefully someone from Blue Mountain will see my FB posting and contact me.

Technical stuff – This is one of the few digital paintings I’ve created where no reference photo was used.

Banner History 2015 – 2020

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This posting is in response to a request from my sister, Beth Smolens.

IIn my last posting, I describe my 2020 banner that is hanging on Center Street in from City Hall in downtown Manassas. Beth commented that she wanted to see the past banners. I love my sister – she was my hero for coming out last year and staying two weeks after my knee replacement surgery.

I also figured – why not! Attached are photos of the past banners on the streets of Manassas. Below a list of the banners – years, banner name, street location.

2019 – Memorial Day – on Center Street in front of Curves Hair Salon

2018 – Tiger Lily – On the corner of Prince William and Grant Avenue

2017 – Bob Ross Dock – Church Street

2017 – Manassas Train – West Street – across from the Train Station (where else)

2016 – Love Birds – Center Street across from City Hall

2016 – Manassas Battlefield Stonehouse – Battle Street

 

2015 – Manassas Battlefield Cannon – corner of West Street and Prince William

I want to take one moment for a plug to the City of Manassas. I appreciate the city has a banner contest. I think they improve the look of the streets in downtown Manassas. I look forward to each April to see the banners because it shows a wide range of artistic styles that can decorate the city streets. I will admit, it’s a great honor to be lucky enough to have at least one banner in each year of the contest.

If you’re in Northern Virginia, come and visit the streets of the City of Manassas, VA, While there look up at the banners. You’ll be glad you did!

 

“Iris in Bloom” Banner Fly’s High

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April 15, 2020 – P.B.S. Studios announces my 2019 Manassas Banner called “Iris in Bloom” is flying high over the city of Manassas. Located in the middle of downtown Manassas, my banner is on the right side of Center Street in front of the Old Manassas City Hall.

“Iris in Bloom” is a digital photo-painting based on an original photograph that I took of the flowers outside my front door. During April, my front yard becomes a plethora of flowers. Included in the front around the driveway and house are miniature red roses, buttercups bluebells, irises, white, and pink Azaleas. For more than twenty years we have lived in the house, I have taken thousands of photographs. Even though the flowers look the same each year, I create new pictures – if nothing else to record the beauty of the moment each spring.

Being selected continues my perfect record of at least one banner flying over the City of Manassas.

Past banners include

2019 –Memorial Day
2018 – Azalea Flower
2017 – Manassas Train and Bob Ross Dock
2016 – Love Birds and Manassas, Stonehouse
2015 – Manassas Cannon

P.B.S. Studios is a writer/photography/digital painter company who written and published over a hundred articles for newspapers, magazines, and online publications. Many photographs have been published as illustrations in commercial and textbooks publications. I have published feature articles, photos, and digital paintings in newspapers and magazines:

  • Photoshop Creative
  • Writer’s Digest,
  • Golf Illustrated,
  • Golf Tips,
  • Highways,
  • Sky-Writings, Air Jamaica’s
  • Family Motor Coach,
  • Philadelphia Inquirer,
  • Providence Journal
  • And many more

Check out the publication section on my website www.pbsstudios.com to see those digital photo-paintings and other examples of my work.

Peter Smolens
P.B.S. Studios
Manassas, VA 20112
(703) 346‑5026
email: psmolens@pbsstudios.com

 

2020 Where am I game!

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The City of Manassas put the 2020 banners on light poles around town. I have one entry that was selected. So it’s time to play the 2020 Where am I game.

I’m a digital photo-painting banner located somewhere on a main street in downtown Manassas. I’m near a famous building. Be the first to find me, provide with the street and the building name will win a matted print.

I found the banner this afternoon. I think it looks great! If you’re in the City of Manassas, take a look at all the banners. There are a number of really good pieces of art hanging on the light poles this year. I’m honored to be one of banners,

Back on the Golf Course

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My hip replacement has hit the next stage. Thanks to all the wonderful PT people at Inova Physical Therapy and their help in my recovery, a few weeks ago I finished my physical therapy. Since then I have gone to the range a couple of times to hit golf balls. The right hip felt fine. Still, hitting golf balls on the range is different than playing golf on a golf course.
 
Today the weather was beautiful early spring day so I finally took my golf game to the golf course. I played 9 holes with my golf friend Mike Freeland who took the picture on the 7th tee at Broad Run golf course. Overall, I was very pleased with my game. Still, I felt I was holding back, not wanting to test the right hip by swinging too hard. Once I play more, my confidence in the right hip will allow me to swing freely, Then watch out.
 
I look forward to the next round of golf. See you at the golf course.

Story Behind my Latest Digital Painting

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Fly Fisherman in Mountain Stream

Although I’ve been working on a few digital painting projects, it’s been a while since I have posted something. Well, this past weekend, I completed my latest, and there is a story behind the painting.

John and Madison Poos are our next-door neighbors who moved in a few years ago. They’re a young couple with now two children. He’s an avid fisherman who has won a couple of fishing tournaments. We talked a few times, and he had said if we ever needed assistance feel free to call anytime.

A couple of weeks ago, it was lightly raining as Linda and I were returned home from my physical therapy session. Although she was using her walker, the walkway was slick with water. Linda slipped on the front walkway step, crashing her body into the front door. She bruised herself real bad (thankfully, that was the extent of her injuries, and she is healing well). After a couple of attempts, I realized I could not lift her in her condition. I called John and asked if he could assist. He came directly over. With his youth and strength, he could lift Linda and help her to the couch.

Although I thanked him at the time and sent an email thanking him again for his assistance, I wanted to do something special to show him that I appreciated his help. Knowing he was a fisherman and we had talked about doing some fishing articles this spring/summer, I decided to create a digital painting of a man fishing in a mountain stream. The completed painting became the cover to a thank you card, which I presented to him over the weekend.