Today’s Picture of the Day (POD) at RichardArmitageNet.Com is dedicated to Lizzie’s birthday:
Picture of the Day, 19 May 2011
Here is your Graphic of the Day:
Perhaps you came here expecting a serious siggie, but the silliness is still not out of my system! For those outside the UK, you may or may not be aware that there is a 100-year-old chocolate company there called Thorntons. And I’m not sure how universal Scratch and Sniff stickers are, but I loved them as a kid growing up in America. I decided to merge the cultures in one graphic. 😉
In this siggie, I started out by removing the snow from John Thornton’s face which only took a couple of minutes at most using the clone tool and the content-aware fill. Then I had the joyous task of browsing the North & South Gallery at RichardArmitageNet.Com where I snaffled two more screencaps.
I brightened the darker picture with a curves adjustment layer. In the train station scene, I cropped out Margaret and then smudged the background so it didn’t look like a pole was going through John Thornton’s head.
For the sticker effect, I could’ve done it from scratch, but in the interest of time I used an action from PanoxFX.com. The cool thing about actions is that they do most of the work for you! It’s like watching a player piano. 😀 I simply removed the curl from two of the stickers.
Then I found this quite scrummy looking photo of some Thorntons chocolate and incorporated it.
Finally I added the text using the Copperplate Gothic Bold font for “Scratch ‘n Sniff Stickers” and Citadel Script for the text “Thorntons” and “Lick back at me.”
Yes, it’s true: I actually like puns! 😀 There are many things I like better though. 😉
By the way, if you would like to see a real artist at work, check out Franziska San Pedro’s blog. In this post, she explains her process in creating a painting.
Hahaha, that’s too funny! Love your sense of humor, makes me wanna lick my computer.. Well done, looks really cool. And thanks for mentioning me in your post, that’s even sweeter 🙂
Franziska San Pedro
The Abstract Impressionist Artress
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! I wonder if you’re familiar with Richard Armitage’s body of work. He’s very inspirational, LOL!
Ha ha! I like it! That was my birthday pic/pick – thank you!
Happy birthday, Lizzie! Hope it’s a sweet one. 😀
Problem is, I am now thinking about Richard and chocolate, together . . . . . . . . . !!!!!!!!!!
Me too!!!
You are too funny. Ah, Mr. Thornton! Eileen’s going to love this, B. Great job!
Thanks so much, Jeannie! 😛
Yummy – I want some:)
Yes, he looks very yummy as Thornton, Alfie!
Loving the ‘Graphic A Day’, B. And love your explanations to each one too.
BTW Did you know one of the grandsons of the founder of Thornton’s is called John Thornton? He was MD at one point , now retired (found this info on Wikipedia on a quiet afternoon).
That’s very interesting, smitkit. I took a picture of a Thorntons chocolate shop when I was in London a few months ago. It’s too perfect a name! 🙂
looks so delicious yummy 🙂
p.s.
I love your sense of humor 😉
Thank you very much, Ania! 😛
You are very talented. I wish I have half of the creative energy that you have. Brilliant as always!
It’s the Armitage Effect, Heather! 🙂
Haha! Very funny!
I loved the sequence of pics. The POD is just my very favourite screencap from North & South (ok, I also love the caps from the final scene; from the entire show, actually), and that second pic, with Richard’s tongue… *deep breath in* …it really makes me wanna lick my computer too *laughs* There’s even no need of the chocolate bar.
(silliness is not out of my system as well) 😀
I didn’t know the chocolate companies. Thanks for the explanation.
P.S.: since I’m still learning English (I’m Brazilian, as you probably know), I inevitably make some grammar errors. So, please, forgive me if I don’t express myself properly. Anyhow, I like so much to talk to the ‘RA (lovely) ladies’. And it’s a very nice opportunity to practice my English 😉
I understand what you mean about trying to pick favorite screencaps…it’s like trying to choose the best chocolate from a wide selection. 😉 Richard Armitage transcends languages and tastes, PoliCBA! I did not know you were Brazilian actually. I live in New York, the most international city in the world, so everyone seems like a close neighbor!
Really? I thought you knew I’m Brazilian.
Indeed. I just can’t pick only one favourite screencap from N&S. I do love the miniseries and every single shot.
I knew you live in NY. Glad you see things that way. But it’s true, Richard Armitage transcends languages and tastes. And if you’re able to understand me, I become less concerned. 😉
Wow! I want to buy some lickety-split!
LOL, tyme4t!
Well, I think you know I adore this POD also!! Takes my breath away!
Love your take on the “lick” thingy. Too funny!! Wanna bet that Thornton’s Chocolate Co. has a run on orders today?!!
@Lizzie, Birthday greetings to you!!! You have really good taste in PODs! 😉
I would certainly order a box of chocolates if I lived in the UK, NovemberBride!
Richard and chocolate! Life doesn’t get any better! I love the graphic!
I agree about RA and chocolate, Carolyn!
I know which Thornton I’d rather have B~ the chocolate is good too though!
You’re in the company of many others who share your preference, Meryl!
Deliciously great !!! Thank you also for your explanations. I would not have recognized the hint with the stickers.
What a funny and beautiful picture combination. I just love your sense of humor.
But now I think you have a new career coming. Thornton chocolates now absolutely must engage you to do their future packaging designs ;o)
Haha, that would be a sweet job, CDoart!
How about scratch n’ sniff Richard Armitage stickers!!!!!
Just think….
John Thornton – “Fresh Cotton” or “Wild Yellow Rose”
Ricky Deemings – “Beaches”
Lucas North – “Morning Coffee”
John Porter – “Desert Sands”
Harry Kennedy – “Red Wine Musings”
Guy of Gisbourne – “Black Leather”
John Stranding – “Fresh Country Air”
You should make those stickers, tyme4t! Brilliant flavors! 😛
I think you could start a whole new company there tyme4t! I can think of a whole bunch of us who would be eager and willing to by them!! 🙂
tyme4t – that is a fabulous idea. Like the man-cans scented candles for men (http://bit.ly/jz8FzH).
Btw, I agree with Meryl. I’m sure RA is better than chocolate, if anything could be.
Well done, BccMee.
Those MANdles are clever, RavenRoseBeetle!
Love the “tongue” shot. Maybe I”ll ask my granddaughters who are in the UK at the moment to look for some Thornton’s chocolates for me!! 🙂
Definitely you should, Teuchter!
I did ask them!! I also asked them to be on the lookout for RA posters! Do you think they are available? I’d love to know! Now I wonder if they will indulge their crazy old Grams! ;D
Thanks! I’ve always wanted to lick John Thornton – LOL
I can’t read your comment because of the lick prints on the monitor, Musa. 😉
LOLs! You have a delicious sense of humour. 😛
You are so sweet to say, phylly3!
Just wanted to drop a comment that I’ve been following your siggies all month and have been avidly studying them. It’s true. It’s fascinating reading how a talented artist like yourself utilizes graphics. BTW, I love the way you use humor in your work.
Wow, I’m very honored, judiang. Thanks for your kind compliment.
I only came across the Thornton’s brand when I went to London last month for the first time (the first of many, *evilgrin*). Fortunately for me the store was closed, otherwise my visit to that lovely city would have stopped there. I’m obsessively addicted to chocolate and mixing it with RA works perfectly to me 😉 …. In fact, I soooooooo want to have ……. *sigh* chocolate right now *thud*
It seems my siggie has generated some cravings, AnaKris! I’m hungry for chocolate now too!
Hey everybody – guess what I got for one of my birthday presents???
Thornton’s chocolates!!!!!!!!!!
Yey!!!!
Seriously?! That’s totally brill!!!
😛 🙂 😀 😛 🙂 😀
Oh yes! There are at least two Thornton’s shops where I live – and they are seriously gorgeous chocolates – so they are regularly given as gifts.
Lukcy me!!!
I’m glad there are no Thorntons Chocolates where I live! 😛
But lucky for you, LOL!
I LOVE IT!! I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!
Thanks for your enthusiastic comment, Jonia!