With his exciting painterly style, Dennis Carson was a tremendous hit as the featured artist of Issue No. 11 of Living the Photo Artistic Life. Dennis was one of the first AWAKE artists to fully embrace an impressionistic approach to his photo artistry, and it’s clearly been a fine choice for him — his work has been winning competitions, he has seen his artwork chosen to be featured prominently by the city of Tyler, Texas, one of his recent pieces was selected for use on a series of posters promoting wine tasting events, and more.
Q: Your work is so painterly. Clearly this must derive in some way from how it is you see the world?
Dennis: Ever since I was little I wanted to draw. And I did. Unfortunately I have no talent for that. Which is why I turned to photography. Prior to the Photoshop Artistry and AWAKE courses, I would look around wherever I was and think: “Hmmmm. That would make an interesting photograph.” But about three years ago I got bored with just plain photography. I had a desire to create something more artistic.
What inspires me these days is how I can look at the world (or at one of my photographs) and vividly imagine what I could do to imprint my own vision upon the scene. Whether I am in nature or in an urban environment, everything around me carries with it some sort of unknown story, and I am inspired to bring it to life in my art. And knowing that each photograph of mine has within it endless possibilities for artistic expression, I am driven to continue to learn and experiment as an artist and see what I can bring out of them.
Q: I know I’m always talking about it, but what does “Living the Photo Artistic Life” mean to you, specifically?
Dennis: Honestly, I am still amazed that I am being referred to as an artist. This is something I always wanted but never thought would happen. I have always had a creative drive, but until the past few years never quite found the right venue to express the desire. Now, with Photoshop, I can finally express that creativity, and it’s given me a new lease on life. (The photo artistic life.) When I create a piece now, I work to make it something that I am proud to have created. And when others like my work, it obviously pleases me that my photo artistic life is bringing smiles to others.
Q: How do you approach your compositional process?
Dennis: I rarely sit down with a plan for a final piece. I may have some ideas I want to try but nothing is carved in stone. Typically I look through my photos and find something that catches my attention at that time. Next, I crank up some classic rock songs … and start experimenting.
Early on I would start by building a background and then try to find a photo that would work with it. But nowadays, I start with the photograph and simply begin experimenting to see what I can make happen. I am a PhD level scientist, and thus experimentation is a way of life with me. Sometimes I will start by running a filter and then begin layering and blending textures and other photos … but other times I will start with some modifications on the original photo first before I move on to any filters or blended textures.
At times I have tried more unusual approaches involving layering completely unrelated photographs, perhaps along with a highly unusual texture thrown in … and to my surprise, the blending would bring about some amazing things I couldn’t have anticipated.
I have favorite blend modes and filters I like to use, but I usually run through many before I select one. I am not afraid to experiment with anything since I know with the click of a mouse I can remove it if it doesn’t work. The important thing is to try things out and see.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve picked up in your journey as an artist?
Dennis: When the AWAKE Facebook group began, there were many posts where someone displayed more than one version of their artwork, and they were asking the other artists which one they preferred. This feedback can be great and even useful, but what I quickly learned is that in almost all cases BOTH versions would attract admirers. And often as not, I found myself in the minority when selecting which version I liked best. The takeaway, I suppose, was that for me, as an artist, I am always going to create artwork that I like, and not worry about what others think. Maybe someone else will like it or maybe they won’t. But that doesn’t matter. I have my creative drive, and I need to satisfy that drive, but not with what I think someone else might like (or even buy), but rather with what will satisfy my own desire to create an image that means something to me.
Three years ago when I started this photo artistic adventure I was not showing anybody my work, not even my wife. Then a friend one day saw a picture on my computer screen and told me I needed to share my work. So I did. And in the time since, I have been both amazed and honored that others are appreciating my artwork.
In South Carolina there is an artist named Ernest Lee, who everyone knows as the “Chicken Man.” He has a saying that goes something like this: “Be who you are, don’t be who you ain’t. Cause if you are who you ain’t, then you ain’t who you are.” So for me, the most important thing I have learned through living the photo artistic life is to be who I am — not who I ain’t.