Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art - Digital Art on Zazzle

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Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art

Art imitates life - life imitates art are two opposing schools of thought about art. What do you believe? Do you think that art imitates life, or do you think life imitates art? Perhaps you are on the fence with me—believing both viewpoints are true: art imitates life - life imitates art. Two important words arise during these discussions—mimesis and anti-mimesis.

The first means that art is copied from, or mimics, what is seen with the naked eye. That is the art imitates life position.

The second proposes that we do not really "see" most things until an artist or writer has interpreted them for us, actually giving them "life". That is the life imitates art position.

Oscar Wilde is credited with the statement, "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." He used the fogs of London to make his point, saying they had been there forever, but it took dramatizing them in paintings and the written word for most people to really see "the loveliness of the effects."

I straddle that fence because I believe that most of the time artists and writers make art out of real things. On the other hand, I never thought much about rubber boots as art—until I created the image you see here, which ended up looking like a beautiful, mutated snail. I do love altered art—where boots become snails and flowers become pink ladybugs. So, without committing to either side of the art imitates life - life imitates art debate, I just make my beloved images, and sell them on Zazzle. Let's take a look!

Original Images Courtesy of morgueFile

Angel Blessings

TArt Imitates Life Life Imitates Arthank you to the wonderful SquidAngels who have visited and blessed my Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art article. I know how busy all of you are, and I am deeply honored!

WhiteOak50  —  Evelyn_Saenz  —  ajgodinho

Clipart Courtesy of OCAL on Clkr.com

Opening My World to Digital Altered Art

Learning About Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art

I learned several years ago how to make art imitate life and sometimes life imitate art when the man for whom I worked at that time bought for me Adobe Photoshop® and a set of video tutorials. I fell in love with Photoshop, and it is still one of my favorite graphic design and photo enhancement applications. In more recent years, I discovered wonderful, free online image editing programs, such as Picnik, FotoFlexer, LunaPic, and Phixr. I also discovered a lot of free image editing programs that were very good alternatives to Photoshop®

These photo editing programs opened up a world of possibilities for creating stunning, digitally altered images in a fraction of the time it took me in years gone by. The image in the introduction started out as two photos—a stunning image of a pair of bright yellow rubber boots, topped with black-and-white polka dots and an image of a satin drape. Through the magic of photo editing, I altered the images and then combined them into this image—which I just happen to love!

However, since retirement from the public workplace, I found I needed to earn extra income. Spending countless hours "playing" with images to create artwork that warmed my heart was not going to accomplish that unless I found a way to monetize the art. Then a Squidoo friend introduced me to Zazzle, and I knew I had found another place to call home.

What Do YOU Think?

About Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art Debate

Here's your chance to tell me how you feel about the art imitates life life imitates art schools of thought!

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Did I Mention a Ladybug Somewhere?

Sometimes art imitates life; sometimes art gives life another meaning!

Pink Ladybug - Art Imitates Life

The original photo used to create this digital image was a lush pink iris (courtesy of morgueFile). To me the altered abstract art image looks just like a bunch of pink ladybugs dancing in a merry circle around pink queen bees! This is an exciting geometric design that creates a wonderful sense of joy and celebration. I think this is a good example of the art imitates life life imitates art discussion. I would love it if nature created this lovely pink ladybug.

Pink Ladybug Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art    Pink Ladybug Dance Kaleidoscope Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art    Pink Ladybug Dance Kaleidoscope Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art

Most items in Zazzle can be changed by you. You can change colors, text styles, and more. Zazzle offers a very wide selection of products and is adding more all the time. I offer my artwork on many different products; but, if you would like to have them on a another Zazzle product that I haven't included, please let me know and I will add it for you!

Are the Ladybugs an Example of Art Imitating Life?

Or are they LIFE imitating life?

Can you see the pretty pink ladybugs? How about the little "queen bees"? Do other things come to mind when you look at this image?

Does This Fish Really Exist?

A Good Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art Debate?

Fish Bowl - Life Imitating Art

Several different art techniques were used to produce this fantasy fish bowl with sweet little gold fish swimming around in it. This is truly a case, I think, of art imitating life as this image was abstracted from a lovely photograph of tropical flowers, sea shells, and coral on a blue surface. Can you see the precious little gold fish? Will you look harder and "see" goldfish better after viewing this image?

Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art Fantasy Fish Bowl Goldfish Water Abstract Art mousepad    Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art Fantasy Fish Bowl Goldfish Water Abstract Art mug    Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art Fantasy Fish Bowl Goldfish Water Abstract Art card

Want this image on a different product? Drop in at my Altered Art page to find this and other great designs!

How Many Fish Did You Find?

If life imitates art, maybe one day we will see this little guy!

Did the pretty little gold fish catch your eye immediately? Did the image make you want a fish bowl that looks just like this one? (It made me want one.) Would this image be great on a Christmas ornament for a fish lover?

Rubber Boots - Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art?

Will you really "see" those rubber boots now?

Boots and Satin - Art Imitates Life

A great photograph of a pair of shiny, bright yellow boots with white polka dots on a black top cuff was the basis for this delightful altered art image suggestive of a fantastic snail unlike anything Mother Nature has provided. It also can be seen as a rather whimsical dragon or a splendid seashell! Digital art rendering techniques created this beautiful still life; and the dramatic, sparkling background (which started out as a photo of a satin curtain) gives it great depth and makes it pop right off the glossy, gray background.

Yellow Black Boots Snail Seashell Dragon Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art Abstract card    Yellow Black Boots Snail Seashell Dragon Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art Abstract mug    Yellow Black Boots Snail Seashell Dragon Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art mousepad

This image is available on a wide range of products—everything from greeting cards to glasses and coffee cups, aprons, tote bags, to t-shirts and pet shirts! You can even add your own text to the cards and postcards!

So...Does this answer the art imitates life life imitates art question?

Do you see the same images that I do? Did you see the whimsical dragon? Can you see any other examples of art imitating life in this image?

Art Definitely Imitates Life in This One!

Art gave new meaning to a golden vase.

Golden Flower - Art Imitates Life

Winner of Zazzle's Design of the Day Award

This beautiful design began life as a photograph of a gorgeous golden-yellow glass vase with flowers etched into it. Application of several different techniques produced this stunning geometric pattern in sparkling gold, repeating floral patterns, and highly contrasting background colors of white and black.    Original image courtesy of mensatic at morgueFile

Golden Yellow Vase Flower Etching Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art mug    Golden Yellow Vase Flower Etching Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art shirt    Golden Yellow Vase Flower Etching Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art bag

Visit my Altered Art page to find this and other great designs! Remember, if you want this image on any other of Zazzle's fine products, just let me know! You can contact me through my lensmaster bio page or through my Zazzle gallery.

Art Imitates Life with Great Impact

A beautiful, but common object, becomes great design!

Do you think the graphic design for this Zazzle offering is a good example of art imitating life? Without the original gorgeous vase, this particular piece of art would never have existed—at least, it would never have existed in my brain. Can any case be made for this to be life imitating art?

One More Look

Art is way-out-there in imitating life in this one!

Butterfly-Art-Imitates-Life

Mother Nature never created a more brilliant butterfly then this altered art rendering which has produced a stunning fantasy-world version with bold yellow, black and white wings and a stunning body with an abdomen of brilliant gold and diamonds.

Jeweled Fantasy Butterfly Yellow Black Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art shirt    Jeweled Fantasy Butterfly Yellow Black Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art hat    Jeweled Fantasy Butterfly Yellow Black Abstract Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art mug

T-shirts and hats are available in a wide range of colors and styles. So order yours in the perfect color and size today. Then grab a travel mug and be on your way! For all of my Altered Art and Kaleidoscope designs visit my Zazzle gallery!

The Secret Behind "One More Look"

Did you guess it?

Did you figure out the source of this "art imitates life life imitates art" design? If you don't have a clue, check the other images for the same colors! Bet you would never have guessed that by using art to imitate life you could produce two such extremely different images, did ya'?

  • blackspanielgallery Mar 31, 2011 @ 7:53 pm | delete
    Nice collection.

Photo and Image Editing Applications

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Art Imitates Life Life Imitates ArtIf you enjoyed reading the art imitates life life imitates art debate, please share it with your friends and family using the icons below. Writers and artists depend on their fans for support. I would be deeply honored if you would share this article with others. Thank you.    Image Courtesy of OCAL on Clkr.com

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Does Your Art Imitate Life?

Or Does Your Life Imitate Art?

Guest Book for Art Imitates Life Life Imitates ArtThank you so much for stopping by my lens featuring my Zazzle gallery and the debate over art imitates life life imitates art. I welcome your comments, questions and other feedback. Community participation creates better lenses!    Image Courtesy of OCAL on Clkr.com

  • ajgodinho Nov 29, 2011 @ 1:53 am | delete
    Very unique lens on some of your altered art and great that you've incorporated it into Zazzle. Blessed! :)
  • efcruzarts Oct 25, 2011 @ 9:33 pm | delete
    beautiful abstract patterns
  • WhiteOak50 May 5, 2011 @ 12:58 pm | delete
    Just wanted to let you know that I have listed this page on my Graphic Designs Top-10 List: Stop by and take a look around Graphic Designs Top 10 List
  • guardianstar77 Aug 16, 2011 @ 7:06 pm | delete
    Thank you so much!
  • Evelyn_Saenz Mar 30, 2011 @ 4:18 am | delete
    I don't generally care for abstract art but I found your artwork to be amazing, eye catching and fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing and opening my eyes to the possibilities.

    Blessed by a SquidAngel.
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Meet the Author of Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art

Digital Art on Zazzle

guardiantar77 - author of art imitates life life imitates artguardianstar77 is a writer, graphics design artist, nature enthusiast and lover of everything that resembles a horse. She lives in Central Arkansas and shares her life with a husband of almost 40 years, 2 sons, and 4 fabulous grandchildren. guardianstar77 is not domesticated, finding that spending time doing almost anything else beats doing housework. Her passions include recycling, frugal living, feeding the hungry, old-fashioned vintage everything, nature, reading, writing, flea markets and yard sales, Christmas, mystical creatures, carousels, and artwork filled with glorious earthy colors or nature's warm, soothing colors of green and blue.

guardianstar77 is a devout Christian, a staunch conservative, a passionate American, and a defender of capitalism. Although she is, by her own definition, somewhat of a "professional hermit crab" , guardianstar77 is deeply loyal to her family and those she chooses to have as friends. When not pursuing writing and artistic goals, she spends her time deepening those relationships.

Being born in the state of Missouri and having recently discovered a passion for the Missouri state animal— the mule—guardianstar77 developed yet another persona—that of a mule, specifically a Missouri Mule .

guardianstar77 is a long-standing member of Squidoo, and she shares her royalties with many Squidoo charities. View all my lenses!

Table of Contents - Art Imitates Life Life Imitates ArtThere are lots of places in this article for you to make comments regarding our subject of debate: Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art. Be sure you see them all!

Someone Is Always Talking about Zazzle

Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art and Zazzle is filled with examples of both!

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guardianstar77

The debate about Art Imitates Life Life Imitates Art is complex, but Zazzle is a great place to find examples of both!

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