M e t v IImages ae My CCreative
Promoting Digital Photo Artistry
www.mycreativeimages.com July - 2019
Welcome to the Mycreativeimages Magazine Wow its July already, where have the months gone, laughing it will soon be Christmas! The love of creating things is built into all of us, its just closer to the surface with some people than others. Take my grandchildren as an example, they see me taking photographs everywhere we go, they see me creating art on the PC, mounting the prints and then covering them in encaustic wax.......so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they too have started making art, painting, drawing, writing and most recently learning how to take photographs. No matter your age, no matter you abilities, its time to throw away the self doubt and to make something. Make anything, grow a plant, write a story, create a mood board, take a photograph and then share it with me in my Facebook group and be proud of your creation!
Contents Michelle Whitmore 4 Claude Trew 6 Vivien Capper 8 Carol Graham 10 David Walker 12 The Alison Bailey Interview 14 Norma Slack 16 Julie Cowdy 18 Dawn Spears 20 Bernie Tuffs 22 Susan Jones 24 James Hurley 26 Support the magazine 28 Artwork by Vivien Buckley http://www.vivbuckley.com
MyCreativeImages.com - Promoting Digital Artists
All images in this publication are sourced / created by the artists, unless otherwise stated on their websites or social media pages and as such must not be copied or sold without the express consent of the artist. This publication is created and owned by James Hurley, Šwww. mycreativeimages.com 2019. Please feel free to share the magazine but do not make changes to any of the content.
Michelle Whitmore
www.michellewhitmore.co.uk/artgallery
I have been a professional photographer for over 10 years, specialising in floral art and insect photography. I’ve never really been a hands-on arty person but over the past few years I have fallen head over heels in love with the digital darkroom – big time! I can spend many hours brainstorming an idea, shooting models, insects, flowers et al. Then create unique and unusual pieces of art. There’s something very special about taking a subject out of its natural environment, infusing some additional images, adding textures and applying some digital wizardry to create something unique; and all whilst trying to maintain a natural look. Some of my pieces are embellished with Gold leaf and acrylic paint to add to the magic. I’ve heard my work described as “Fine Art meets Contemporary Surrealism meets illogical contemplation with a touch of fairy dust.” I like that description - a lot!! www.michellewhitmore.co.uk/artgallery
Cleopatra wasp 4
Contemplating
Claude Trew I am a retired lady who is a keen photographer and I belong to a local camera club. However, while I enjoy entering the competitions organised by the club, I feel that the style of photographs that are most successful in club competitions is inhibiting my creative output. I am following some online courses to try to improve the artist in me. So far I have enjoyed every course I have done and hope to share my work with a bigger audience. This is an ongoing process.
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Abstract portrait
Al Fresco Concerto
Lady of the Lake
Vivien Capper
https://artboja.com/art/6bn7zq/
Hello my name’s Vivien and I’m from the beautiful county of Kent, England though currently living and working near Rome in delightful Italy with its exciting, lively way of life and vibrant colours and designs. I started out as an artist in 1982 developing Indian ink artwork of a variety of subjects especially figurative artwork and abstract floral designs, then progressed into creative photography and digital artistry thanks to Sebastian Michael’s amazing courses at ‘Photoshop Artistry’ and the advanced course ‘Awake’. My inspiration is drawn from my love of nature, figurative artwork and Italian design using many textures, patterns and colours. I’m thrilled to have some of my artwork in various publications including: Living the Photo Artistic Life, My Creative Images and have had various artworks mentioned in the Shift Art Challenge. If you would like to see more of my art: https://artboja.com/art/6bn7zq/
Is It Time Yet?
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The Lady & The Lyre
Carol Graham
https://www.facebook.com/CarolGrahamPhotography/
Although my day job is science, my passion is photography and I am rarely without my Sony camera. My photography is mostly inspired by my love of music and the Scottish countryside where I live, but always enhanced with a dash of digital creativity. Most recently I have been developing skills in fine art photography, where my images are combined with my imagination. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolGrahamPhotography/ Instagram: CarolGrahamPhotography
Tree roots fog dark
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Angels
Model at window
David Walker
https://artboja.com/art/9zpbui/
Oxford is known as the “City of Dreaming Spires� and is a wonderful (but crowded!) city to visit. Away from the beaten track there are interesting places such as the picturesque village of Iffley and away from the immediate city centre there are lovely views of the River Thames and the Meadows. My images this month are based photographs taken on a visit to the city in May 2018. See more artwork on my website: https://artboja.com/art/9zpbui/
Academia across the meadow
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Merton College
Messing about on the River
Colourful punts
Iffley Lock
The Alison Bailey Interview
My Cr e a t i v e I ma g e s – B e h i n d t h e scenes by VivienJane
This month it is a great pleasure to interview Alison Bailey from Preston Alison’s artwork is best described in her own words: ‘My work is a mix of everything that I have learnt in both photography and Photoshop artistry. Now with an added bit of multi media art thrown in for good measure.” In this month’s issue we’ve asked Ali to share some of her creative processes:
Do you consider yourself to be more a photographer or a photo artist? I can’t imagine life without a camera but I feel that “photo artist” is a more accurate description for me. When did you first start out in photography and photo art? I have had a camera for as long as I can remember. But getting my first DLSR camera and joining a “365 project” showed me that there was a whole new world of art out there. I found myself very drawn to composites and creative editing which led to me doing the Photoshop artistry and AWAKE courses. Have you been influenced by other photographers or digital artists? I find I am drawn to images rather than specific photographers or artists. I doubt I could name you a famous photographer or digital artist let alone be influenced by them. Being a member of not just a worldwide photo group but also a worldwide photo artistry group inspires and influences me. Do you already have a basic idea or story in mind when you start creating a new piece? I very rarely have an idea to start with and if I do, invariably I end up going off at a tangent somewhere. I had done a couple of pieces that have been as I imagined though. Can you tell us a bit about your creative process and routine? I normally start with a blank canvas and a photo/element that I like the look of. After that I add little bits here and there and then mostly play. As I still have so much to learn, often my artwork is based around practicing a technique. Could you tell us about the equipment and software you use and which item is indispensable in your studio? I use an IMAC with Lightroom and Photoshop. I have also branched out into multi media now and am starting to make more of my own resources with inks, paint and craft products which I scan. However, my most indispensable item is my Samsung Galaxy S8. What’s the next step in your artistic life? I want to enjoy putting into practice all the things that I have learnt in both my photography and photo art. What advice would you share with an aspiring photographer/digital photo artist? Don’t take it too seriously and have fun. Try as many different things as you can but don’t be afraid to say that something doesn’t work for you and move on from it. 14
Finally, be yourself and don’t get sucked into thinking that photography and art is going to make you money. If you do, you will have the passion for it sucked out of you. Alison puts a lot of passion into her projects and produces stunning photo art. You can contact Alison here https://estamoondesigns.wordpress.com (This site is a work in progress!)
Norma Slack
https://www.normasue.com/
I am a digital artist, writer and poet from beautiful Northern Ireland. I currently live in County Down, within sight of the majestic Mourne Mountains. I have been an enthusiastic photographer for many years but it was only when I discovered digital art that I finally felt able to create images that reflected both my emotions and vision. Every day I work towards improving my skills within the fascinating world of the digital workspace. For me it’s a place of magic, a place where I can give free reign to my imagination and create the type of art I feel connected to. About eighteen months ago I began to combine my new digital skills with my poetry and have recently published my first illustrated poetry book, Thunder In My Soul: a collection of illustrated poems. The book is now available at Amazon. It is a project I feel a strong emotional connection to and has been a labour of love. A free sample, along with a selection of my art, can be viewed on my website. You will also find me on Instagram @artbynormasue or my website: https://www.normasue.com/
Custodian of Dreams 16
Envelop Me
Morning Stroll
Julie Cowdy
https://www.facebook.com/Julie-CowdyPhotography-640242869458291/
I am a photo artist. I live in NW England and SW France. My work covers many different genres, including narrative and still life, with floral subjects my favourite. Through the post-processing techniques that I have learnt from Sebastian Michaels, I often blend my original images with my painted and photographed textures. I am aiming for a different approach that combines my love of fine art and the lens. I hope the resulting photo artistry offers something multi-layered, both in terms of what people see and how they respond. You can see more on my “Julie Cowdy Photography� page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Julie-Cowdy-Photography-640242869458291/
Spring Child 18
Winter Child
Dawn Spears
https://selfpubbookcovers.com/ DawnyDawny I have been producing art in various forms for over 30 years. I have worked in many different media, from watercolour to ink, graphite, and coloured pencil. More recently I have turned to photography and digital art and used these skills to branch out into book covers as well. I absolutely love coming up with ideas to do authors’ words justice. Every one of my book covers are original art pieces. I create them using a mixture of my own photographs and artwork which I blend with my own 3D renders. I try to avoid the use of stock images, meaning my buyers can be 100% assured that their book cover is completely and utterly unique.
Where did you go to?
You can view all my book covers at: https://selfpubbookcovers.com/ DawnyDawny For bespoke work I can be contacted through my website: https://www.dawnydawny.com/ A small selection of my fine art pieces are available at: www. artboja.com/art/nav633/
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Road Trip
Fractals
Medusa
Jack the Ripper
Winterblack
Bernie Tuffs
https://artboja.com/art/utucc4/
Hello! I’m Bernie and I live in the little seaside town of Margate and having lived here all my life, I couldn’t live anywhere else now! I’m continually inspired by the scenery here, with skies and light that so excited famous artist J.W.Turner, who said of this area, “…the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe”. Apparently, a love of the sea stayed with him all his life and I can well understand that! Painting with light holds a real attraction for me - the gentle light that is still strong enough to dispel darkness. I’ve always been arty, progressing from childhood sketching, through gouache and then oil painting, then paper crafting and scrapbooking which led me to digital scrapbooking and finally to Sebastian Michaels and Photo Artistry. Now I feel I’m home and am having so much fun with my art! If you would like to see some more of my art visit: https://artboja.com/art/utucc4/
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Times Gone By
Charmeine
Susan Jones
https://artboja.com/art/3e60mz/
My name is Susan Jones. I live a short train ride from London and love to spend time up there with my sister and our cameras. I love studio photography with models dressed up, and having fun playing with the images in Photoshop. My new ambition is take the models on to the street and start doing shoots on location. You can see more of my work here: https://artboja.com/art/3e60mz/
Light of my life
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Magic tonight
James Hurley
https://jameshurley.art/
Describe the type of art you create I Create Photo Digital Art, which is digital art created from and inspired by a photograph or series of photos. Is it art or a photograph? For me its both, a photograph is something I take on my phone or using a point and shoot camera in auto mode. A photograph becomes a piece of art when I take time composing the image in the view finder, then tweaking the settings in manual mode until I achieve the desired look in camera. Alternatively, a photo becomes art when I manipulate it in Photoshop, adding blurs, textures, colours or combining it with other photographs. The artwork shown below is a photograph of one of my granddaughters, which has been converted to Black and White. The one to the right has its beginnings in a photograph I took in Kew Gardens during a visit there in May this year. Both images have been manipulated and turned into photo art using Photoshop. You decide, is it a photograph or is it art? There is no right or wrong answer, each of us has a view and I’m just grateful that you have taken the time to stop on these two pages and look at my artwork. More about James As a photo digital artist my customers come from two distinct groups, those that want a portrait photograph taken and then blended into a scene and those that want some unique artwork to decorate their home or office. Both have one thing in common, they are looking for something different, something created specially for them, something that they can be proud to hang on their wall and show off on their social media pages, such as the example shown on the inside cover of this magazine. If that sounds like you then get in contact with me, let’s chat about what you are looking for and see if we can create something special just for you. Email: James@mycreativeimages.com
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Website: mycreativeimages.com
Mischief
Broken
“Broken� is available as a float mounted print or a very special limited edition encaustic print. For the encaustic print, the artwork has been printed as 12in x 12in (30cm x 30cm) image on archival canvas then mounted on a birch art-board and coated with several layers home made encaustic medium. The frame of the art-board has been hand embellished with molding paste and hand painted. This results in a unique piece of art with a hand embellished frame / border. For more details contact me by email: james@mycreativeimages.com
Support the growth of the magazine The sole purpose of this magazine is to raise awareness of individual photo digital artists by sharing their work on as many social media platforms as possible. The ultimate goal is to create an online network of photo digital artists with a physical location where I can display their work and help them promote sales. However, I will need some help to do this. If you love art, you love giving people a helping hand now and then and want to see more photo digital art then connect with me via my website https://www. mycreativeimages.com and lets see if we can make a difference together. Help me continue to grow and share the amazing photo digital art featured in the “My Creative Images” magazine with as many people as possible.
How can you help? Here are a few ways you can help promote the artists in this magazine: • • • • •
Visit the artists websites Purchase the artists artwork Share the magazine link with your friends and relatives on social media Make a donation towards the upkeep of the magazine Buy printed copies and leave them in the office canteen or staff area for others to read
To make a donation: https://www.mycreativeimages.com/product/support-the-growth-of-the-magazine/ To buy a copy of the magazine: https/www.mycreativeimages.com/product/buy_a_copy_of_the_magazine/
To read previous issues of this magazine visit:
https://issuu.com/mycreativeimages
M e t v IImages ae My CCreative Promoting Digital Photo Artistry