Background is begun by using liquify warp tool to create interesting shapes with colors from around the flower in source photo.
step 2 of 9
Liquified panel is created by shaping warped image into a long skinny panel, then it is duplicated, flipped and merged into final background.
step 3 of 9
Opacity of background has been reduced here which leaves a kind of glow to it.
step 4 of 9
Warped design has been trimmed with eraser tool to make design more interesting and to refine the edges.
step 5 of 9
I decided to make a longer canvas, so enlarged canvas, then will duplicate background and flowers to fill it.
step 6 of 9
Here is the elongated canvas with duplicated designs. (Use alt key to do duplicates)
step 7 of 9
A gradient in pastel colors has been added behind the background layer, and more finishing has been done on the flowers and swirls.
step 8 of 9
Steps in creating the hummingbird from a small section of the source photo.
step 9 of 9
Hummingbirds have been added. Motion blur is added to duplicate copies of the birds to give the wings their movement. Just wings of duplicates are left, rest of birds being erased. Centers have also been added to flowers during this time.