Digital Art

I have been following the most excellent posts by Gail Kavanagh, in our group, about working with PSP. I work in different programs, most of the time, but I love exploring the possibilities for art in this machine! :)

For me, creating graphics in the computer is like playing the most awesome video game...except when you are done...you have, not only, a sense of accomplishment...but product, as well!

I have always intuited my way through graphics programs. It's too much fun! Once you know the basics about saving your work (and doing it often) you can play fearlessly!

The image above is the result of my latest exploration. My boyfriend, Lance, took the photo at my last gallery opening, as I was standing next to my work, looking all professional and "artisty".

It had been a while since I had created any new graphics and I was feeling creative the other day, so I started pulling pictures out of my files to noodle with.

I began by masking the area of my face and neck. After inverting the mask, I was able to make it an object. This sort of lifts the image off the page, so you can work on the background, separately. After using various affects filters to alter the background...and the "me" object, I collapsed the images (stuck them back together) and from there, used an "oil paint" brush to draw out the hair, then used a star-shaped brush to add the stars. After all that, I added an "image edge" or frame.

I like it, for now, but I'm thinking about changes. That's the cool thing about computers. You can always make changes without losing the original. The less-than-cool thing is that you can never really have an original...without destroying your files after you print the first one and since I could never do that, I am limited to numbered additions. There are however, lots of collaging possibilities that I am also exploring.

Well...I guess this blog is long enough. If you would like to see more of my digital work, I have an ever-evolving Web page HERE.

Love and Light,

Bettina