35+ Stunning & Free Bokeh Textures

A heaping spoonfull of sparkle, a dash of shine, and a pinch of magic adds an astounding etheral feel to your images. Used as a texture layer in your digital work, these free textures are all generously offered under a creative commons license. Let your inner muse rejoice and dance in the light!

Not familar with Bokeh? Take a gander here to learn more.

Please be sure to read & respect the terms of use on each image before using.

(1) by JenDarling1010

(2) by laura galley

(3) by pareeerica

(4) by ishmagination

(5) by Blue Turban Photography

(6) by Pink Sherbet Photography

(7) by lepiaf.geo

(8) by Asja.

(9) by Martha★

(10) by pareeerica

(11) by Visualogist

(12) by JenDarling1010

(13) by ~Darni

(14) by *nacnud*

(15) by Visualogist

(16) by Abby Lanes

(17) by gittsy☮

(18) by hey amy

(19) by ArtByChrysti

(20) by ~♥ Pretty Petal ♥~

(21) by k mart

(22) by jared

(23) by Just SallyRye

(24) by pinkorchid_too (Sandra)

(25) by JenDarling1010

(26) by Nancee_art

(27) by *nacnud*

(28) by ~♥ Pretty Petal ♥~

(29) by Flair4hair

(30) by kimmus122 (Create, Love, Laugh)

(31) by redsun81

(32) by Anam Cara Photography ॐ

(33) by kimmus122 (Create, Love, Laugh)

(34) by Sydney Marie

(35) by inspire*dream*create*

As if those aren’t enough; here are a few other resources for your downloading pleasure:

• 155+ Free Grungy And Beautiful Bokeh Textures
• 30 free bokeh textures

Know of a great resource? Enjoy this collection? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

Chrysti

{Echo} Week 7- Whisper

“The woods are never solitary–they are full of whispering, beckoning, friendly life. But the sea is a mighty soul, forever moaning of some great, unshareable sorrow, which shuts it up into itself for all eternity.” -Lucy Maud Montgomery

For as far back as I can remember, trees have been among the greatest of my friends. They entertained me as a child as they whispered these amazing and imaginative,  positively delightful stories….  the rustling of their glorious leaves revealed the wisdom of all who came before me. The branches delighted in whispering  the juicy secrets of those who climbed them..  trying to reach for a piece of the heavens. The light danced, the shadows played, the air filled with laughter… it was so very magical. I both sought and found my refuge within the woodlands. To this very day every forest I encounter summons me with its oh-so-damn-powerful whisper.

There is no place my soul feels more at home.

“All of nature begins to whisper its secrets to us through its sounds. Sounds that were previously incomprehensible to our soul now become the meaningful language of nature.” -Rudolf Steiner

Tall grasses often leave me breathless; especially as the evening sun ushers in. The blades sway ever-so-perfectly, as if there is a song being sung….  just for them. The setting sun casts its golden glint upon the blades… and instantly an entire field is aglow.  Everything seems to hush around me….

s i l e n c e d.

The evening breeze often produces a mumbled whisper.. a whisper that has always spoken to me as secrets. I used to revel in what secrets they were sharing… s i g h…  how i miss the power of my childhood imagination.

Now, as I age… I like to believe they are the whispers of a day gone by and the promises of a tomorrow.

Time’s Whisper

The voices of the ocean
course silently with the wind,
rising to rain
before the flood
that sweeps away mountains,
moistening leveled ground
with the kiss of life.
The voices of the ocean of humanity
course through the stream of time,
rising to rain
before the flood
that grinds down mountains,
and sweeps clean the sands of time
with the tides of history.
Listen deeply into the wind,
do you hear?
There is prophesy of a new pulse,
a new heartbeat, yet unborn,
timeless,
within you.
Listen.

11 April 2003
Manuel García, Jr.

I look forward to seeing what you in have store for Week 7 of Echo– Whisper. Susan & I invite each of you to participate in the project and show us your unique vision, your voice, your echo. Remember, to share your link in the comments here so I can add it to the roundup next Wednesday.

• Go visit Susan’s Week 7 post for our other diptych. (which for the record, is my favorite one yet…)
• Our Flickr Group for the collab. ~ Join Us! Find a partner there, read the guidelines and more!
• Add the new Echo button (susan’s awesome design) to your blog if you’d like! Get the code here.

Chrysti

{Echo} Week 6- ‘Face’ Roundup

Can you believe someone intentionally ran over that sweet kitten? Look at that face!

His name is Benjamin Franklin, I rescued him and will tell you all about it soon.

Have I mentioned I canceled cable? Yup. Cold turkey.

That’s right, no more cable (or the bill) – just what i can pull in by the air & DVD’s for my media amusement. Although I miss my DVR tremendously… the free time I have gained has more than made up for it! Better yet? Whatever I watch is intentional … that might not sound like much, but wow.. what a difference it makes in how I feel. Controlling all that noise around me, has really helped reign in that mental chatter I battle daily.

“How can you sing Mr. Fish with a mouth full of water?” - seen in the movie below

Much like this week’s {Echo}; the movie I chose to watch- (Henry Poole Is Here) last night also worked within with the theme of ‘face’. Serendipity! I found the story to be incredibly moving and profound – in that understated but potent sorta way. It left me contemplating life, really living it (not just watching it pass by) … and absolutely reminded me of the importance H O P E plays within all of our lives.

I asked on twitter where people find hope, if they believe in it … and I loved, loved, loved @christeno ’s reply ..

Christen hit that proverbial nail right on the head, didn’t she? It’s a lovely message, and an ever lovelier way to live.

Your Mission: As you meet, talk and interact with people this week ask yourself this – what kind of hope do they inspire within you? Seriously, try it – and yes, especially to those who are grouchy, or unkind –as they too can inspire. Tell me if this exercise doesn’t make your week that much sweeter, that much happier… and just-all-around-that-much-better.

Each of the participants in {Echo} Week 6 – Face have personally given me glimpses of hope. Don’t just take my word for it – grab a cuppa tea and peruse them for yourself.

• Moi
• My partner, Susan Tuttle
• Meri
• Shona & Shannon & another
• Donna Cook
• Diane & Lani
• More entries on the Flickr Group Thread
• Gena
• Alyice Edrich
• Colette
• Becky New
• Even more entries in the group pool

If  I have inadvertently forgotten you, or you choose to join in (yay!) … please let me know in the comments section and I will update the list .. it is wonderful discovering  the unique visions y’all have in this beautiful life, I can’t get enough of it.

• New Flickr Group for the collab. ~ Join Us! Find a partner there, read the guidelines and more!
• Add the new Echo button (susan’s awesome design) to your blog if you’d like! Get the code here.
• Catch up with the previous {Echo’s}

My sweet Callie cat

In other, more random news:

• Go ahead, ask me anything! (anonymously if you’d like)  You can also see what others have asked, and been answered.
• I’m going to begin doing more live videos in my studio, no scheduled routine time yet.. but keep up with it at ustream, and follow me on twitter for the announcements.
• More items added to my going out of business sale – 90% off on lots of items. More to come.
• Hoping my moving date can be set soon, tired of being in limbo!
• Look for me in Susan Tuttle’s new digital art book this spring, New artist papers/tutorials in March/April Issue of Somerset Studio, A feature in Artful Blogging Summer 2010,  and more to be announced soon!

Warmly, Chrysti

(Under) 2 Minute Background Technique

I’ve been experimenting with my iPhone recently, and discovered the free Ustream app which allows to me record videos and live shows with my phone. How cool is that? I’d really like to re-do this one, I was distracted (and stuffy) and it shows.

Super easy. Fabulously fast. Great for journals, or a layer on a mixed-media piece.  I think you’ll enjoy this faux batik, resist type background technique of mine; anyone can do it. Really.

What you’ll need:

• 2 minutes of free time
• Your art journal, or watercolor paper
• A baby wipe
• Acrylic Paint
• Rubber stamp (or other object that leaves impressions)
• Paint Brush/Water (optional)
• Brayer (optional)

Products I used:

• Moleskine watercolor notebook (Large)
• GPP Unmounted Rubber Stamp- Painted ladies
• Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabber (Color: Bottle)

Easy peasy eh?

Artfully Yours,
Chrysti

{Echo} Week 6- Face

“To a true artist only that face is beautiful which, quite apart from its exterior, shines with the truth within the soul”- Mahatma Gandhi

Evidence of the word ‘face’ seems to be swirling all around me these days…

• In the face of extreme devastation there is still hope.
• In the face of unimaginable loss, there is life.
• Awestruck how one face, can tell so many stories.
• How powerful it is, to choose to meet & document 100 new faces.
• These faces touch the deepest depths of my soul.
• $2 Portraits show the many faces of life.
• I believe facing one of my toughest decisions led to another life saved.
• I enjoyed a trip through some of my favorite flickr faces.
• This book has been helping strengthen my sketching face skills.

“The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully have been kindness, beauty, and truth”-Albert Einstein

Every, single, darn day …we bear witness to those who have chosen to show unmeasurable courage while faced with difficult decisions and it is through our faces we reveal our deepest selves, share emotions and strengthen the connections that we form.

“If the essence of my being has caused a smile to have appeared upon your face or a touch of joy within your heart.Then in living – I have made my mark.”-Thomas L. Odem, Jr

Sometimes, we are faced with a smile that melts the core of who we are on an otherwise bad day. One moment can magically heal many tough ones – such as this one, of my sweet Morgan.

Pair it with a dear friend’s photo… and…

(click photo to see it larger)

..  that simple word face… becomes a bit more powerful than I initially thought.

“I do believe that when we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it’s an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I’ve learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome of them.”- Sasha Azevedo

I look forward to seeing what you in have store for Week 6 of Echo– Face. Susan & I invite each of you to participate in the project and show us your unique vision, your voice, your echo. Remember, to share your link in the comments here so I can add it to the roundup next Wednesday.

• Go visit Susan’s Week 6 post for our other diptych.
• Our Flickr Group for the collab. ~ Join Us! Find a partner there, read the guidelines and more!
• Add the new Echo button (susan’s awesome design) to your blog if you’d like! Get the code here.

Here’s to putting our best faces forward, and choosing to face the adversities in our life with courage & passion.

Chrysti

{Echo} Week 5- Melody Roundup

“Music is the melody whose text is the world.” -Arthur Schopenhauer
(Photos of the talented Jon Troast)

As the old adage goes, better late than never!  aside: How is it exactly that a day can turn into a week with the simple blink of an eye?

I loved the beautiful array of melodies this week:

• Moi
• My fabulous partner, Susan Tuttle
• Shannon & Shona
• Alyice Edrich
• Gena of Vintage Rose Studio
• Donna Cook
• Colette
• Constanza & Carmelita
• Mixed Media Martyr
• Brenda Seaholm-Wampler & Elaine A. Russell
• Moongipsies
• Becky New

“Melody is a form of remembrance.   It must have a quality of inevitability in our ears.” -Gian Carlo Menotti

If  I have inadvertently forgotten you, or you choose to join in (yay!) … please let me know in the comments section and I will update the list .. it is wonderful discovering  the unique visions y’all have in this beautiful life, I can’t get enough of it.

• New Flickr Group for the collab. ~ Join Us! Find a partner there, read the guidelines and more!
• Add the new Echo button (susan’s awesome design) to your blog if you’d like! Get the code here.
• Catch up with the previous {Echo’s}

See? I can do short & sweet!

Chrysti