— The featured artist of Issue 49 of Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine, Canadian AWAKE artist Marla Julien began her creative adventure with her camera but then moved on to Photoshop and the realm of digital artistry. I’m pleased to be able to interview her here on Quill and Camera!

Q. Where did your artistic journey begin?

My journey began with a new camera I got before a trip to Australia. There I took many, many pics … though when I got home and moved them to the computer I was rather disappointed in how they turned out.  

So I began the search for a class on how to better use my camera, and found one that I was happy with. During one of the weekly challenges I was introduced to trick photography and special effects … and, well, that’s was all it took. I was off and running. 

I went through many tutorials by Phlearn and by other talented teachers while also learning my way around Photoshop, which was a challenge in itself. That’s when I came across Photoshop Artistry.  At first I didn’t know if that was what I wanted to dive into, but a few weeks later I decided to take the plunge. I’m so glad I did.  Because it opened up a whole new world.

Q. What inspires your work?                                                                                

Mostly I’m inspired by looking at all the marvelous pieces of art produced by the amazing artists of AWAKE and the KAIZEN Group.

I really have no knowledge about “art” outside of this community. In school I loved science and math. I’m familiar with the work of Ansel Adams because I adore black and white photography. But Monet and all those other famous painters, not so much.

It was only in AWAKE that I began to learn about things such as composition, color tone, color theory, and so on.  

Now that I’m able to create art in Photoshop, and share in the camaraderie of the artists in our group, I find myself getting inspired by the smallest things — like a part in a movie, or a paragraph in a book, or just everyday things.  

Q. What does living an artistic life mean to you? 

Living this kind of life opens a doorway to another place and time, where you immerse yourself and get completely lost in the creation of art.  There’s a real sense of accomplishment and pride when the piece that I have worked on makes me smile deep down inside. And being able to tap into my imagination gives me the freedom to express myself, and share with others what I want them to see in my art (sadness, happiness, darkness or hope, etc.) Every day that I sit at my computer and start playing around, my mind opens up, and the magic begins (well, on most days anyhow, haha!)

Q. Do you have a particular approach you follow when you begin to work?

I don’t really have a specific approach to my workflow (though I’ve heard it said having one makes everything easier). All of my images are different, and I often employ a variety of techniques in any given image.  It just depends on the piece, and how I decide to approach it that day. 

I’m usually working on two different pieces at a time, so when one seems it’s not going anywhere or I run into some kind of block, I can take a break from that one and move over to the other piece.  

My biggest challenge comes when applying the finishing touches to a composition. I see myself creating five or more variations, each with a different resulting look … and that can make it very confusing.  So now I try to limit myself to two versions.  Less stress that way.  And if I just can’t get it then, I’ll walk away for a few days and go back to it later with fresh eyes.

Q: What do you see as your next step as an artist?

I’m not really sure what my next step will be, though I know I’d like to further explore black and white artistry. I still have many thing to learn and so many avenues to explore before I throw myself fully into one of them.  With time and a bit more courage I may approach our local art museum or a gallery.  Right know I’m very content in simply creating images for myself.

Q. Any advice for other aspiring digital artists? 

Honestly, I still feel new to the whole digital art world, so the first thing I will say is simply “Never ever give up.” Post your images online and ask for feedback.  And just keep learning, going through tutorials, expanding your range of techniques.  

And really play around with your images. Experiment with different blend modes, add various filters and adjustment layers, and see where each takes you. The possibilities are endless.  But to learn you must play a lot, post your favorites, and invite others to tell you what they think. And just keep creating.