About the Digital Painting
I have worked on this image over the course of several months. I started it sometime back in 2002 and it reached the stage where you see it now, around 2003.
It started out as a very crude but lovely computer generated texture/pattern created by a program called "Reptile". I saw something within the generated image that looked like an illuminated face to me. This inspired me to refine and define the image. I used Photoshop Elements to bring out what I saw. At first I could visualize a basket over her arm. In time, I realized she was gathering herbs by moonlight.
Software and Techniques Used
I used Photoshop Elements as my tool of choice. I used the brush tool and the blur effect quite a bit. And I found that using layers was very helpful when I wanted to blur a particular area without affecting the rest of the image. I always saved a copy of the layer that I wanted to work on. Then I would blur the layer underneath, while retaining an unblurred copy as the top layer. I would then erase only those parts of the top layer that I wanted to appear smoother. This gave a nice smoothly shaded effect to areas of the face and the folds in the skirt and so on.
I also used layers to add textures, and details I borrowed from my digital photographs. The hand holding the scissors was created by digitally painting the glove over a picture I took of my hand holding scissors. The herbs were also added by taking photos of herbs in my neighborhood and adding filters and effects and then overlaying them onto the digital painting.
Advice
- First learn what your tools and filters can do, by playing around with them.
- Always make an exact copy of your evolving work by creating a "duplicate" layer of it. Only then should you attempt to edit it.
- Digital photography can help you add details that you might normally have difficulty drawing without a model. Thus, without a model, you can still draw anything you can imagine in your mind.
- Always save a high quality (300dpi or more) tiff or vector file right at the start and use this to work with. Later you can save a scaled down version as a jpg for web use.
- Digital art is always able to evolve.
What software and hardware do you use for digital art?
I use Photoshop Elements, Reptile texture generator, Harry's Filters and my digital camera on my eMachines PC. I have a Wacom tablet, but seldom use it. I started out using my mouse as my drawing tool and I have pretty much stuck to it.
When and how did you get started in digital art?
I got started when I was seriously ill and had to stay home from work for a long period of time. Some women web designers online got me interested in using the texture making software and I discovered I liked creating art even more than developing and designing websites.
Where do your get your inspiration?
All of my images come to me from interesting textures and color swirls that I play with. Sometimes I place two interesting textures onto two separate layers and then move them around until I "see" something that speaks to me. So, really my inspiration literally "appears" before my eyes as I play.
Tell us about yourself (experience, web site, etc.)
I'm a self-taught, retired database programmer. I've worked as a bookkeeper for many years and then as a programmer for the State of California Health Dept. I recently moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I enjoy spending time in nature, doing organic gardening, creating websites and digital art.
