— The featured artist of the 91st issue of Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine is US-based AWAKE artist Deborah Morrison. It’s a delight to be able to interview Deb here on Quill and Camera . . .
Q: What got you started in photo artistry?
I have always loved photography. My goal was to become a professional photographer after I retired from my job.
I took photography classes at the local college while I was working so I could later pursue my dream. I fell in love with Photoshop on my very first day of class. Unfortunately, the college didn’t provide advanced Photoshop classes, but I learned the basics.
After I retired I started my photography business as I had planned. I started with family photo shoots, senior pictures, and a few weddings. But I quickly discovered I didn’t particularly like photography as a job. What I really wanted to do was shoot at my leisure and sell my images. So I started traveling and photographing, which to this day I still love, but I wasn’t getting enough out of my images. I wanted my photos to capture not just what I saw, but also what I envisioned and what I felt. My Photoshop skills were good, but I needed more to accomplish my goals.
Then I found the Photo Artistic Life. Sebastian’s classes gave me the Photoshop skills I needed to create my visions. I am now using my travel images to create art and I love the results. I don’t see myself ever getting tired of it. It was exactly what I needed. I am now creating art and sharing my travel experiences with everyone.
Q: What’s your next step as an artist?
Right now I sell my work in three different shops in nearby towns. I’ve also been selling my art at local art shows, festivals, and libraries, as well as online. I’m hoping to branch out to art galleries in other areas. Most of all I plan to keep learning and growing as an artist. I want to step out of my comfort zone of neat, clean, pretty art and start making pieces that are a little messier and more interesting. That will be a challenge for me, but a fun one. With photo artistry the possibilities are endless.
Q: What would you say inspires your work?
There are many things that inspire my work, but most of all I would say my photography. I have a huge library of images I’ve shot from all over the U.S., Canada, the UK (London and Scotland), and Germany. I like to incorporate my own images into my work. It’s makes my art more personal and really makes it feel like it’s mine. I’m also inspired by other artists’ work, especially in the AWAKE group. Their creativity and skill amaze me. I follow a bunch of artist and love studying their work. I learn so much by doing that.
My surroundings are another inspiration. Sometimes while driving I will pass a barn or a building and immediately envision it in a work of art. Or when I hike through the woods I’ll often find interesting trees and bugs that would look great in a piece of art as well.
I think photography has taught me to walk around looking at the world as if through a photo frame. It has definitely taught me to notice my surroundings. And when you look at the world that way, you begin to find inspiration everywhere.
Q: How do you approach your process?
I usually start by choosing one of my images, though sometimes I’ll start out with an artistic background. From there I find other materials, textures, and various elements that will blend in nicely on the canvas. After putting it all together I usually run it through Topaz to give it the finished look I want.
There are also times when I have a vision of what I want to create and I shoot images specifically for my idea. I find this method the most challenging, but also the most fun and rewarding. Creating something in your mind first then actually turning that vision into a piece of art is very exciting.
So I guess I don’t have a specific approach I use all the time. I use different methods of getting started, and work in various ways as I bring each piece together. Though while working I do always keep my layers neat and tidy. I group layers that need to be grouped and I name all the layers so they are easy to find. And I save my project often.
Q: How long do you work on an image? (And do you work on more than one at a time?)
Sometimes an image comes together quickly, but most of the time it takes me a couple of days to complete a piece.
I think the longest I’ve ever worked on an image was across the span of two weeks. It had layers and layers and layers, and I used all of my own photos to create it.
At times I do work on more than one creation at a time. That usually happens when I get stuck on one and decide to move on to something else and come back to it later.
Q: Do you ever solicit any opinions on a piece before presenting it to a wider audience?
I usually show my work to my husband. I watch his reaction to see if he really thinks it’s good or if he’s just being nice. The other person I show my work to first, believe it or not, is my 12-year-old granddaughter. Not only does she have an eye for art, but she is completely honest with her opinion. In the end, I make up my own mind, but I do like to ask them for their opinion.
Q: Any advice or tips for aspiring artists?
First of all, try not to get discouraged. If you are struggling with a piece you are working on, step away for a few hours. Sometimes things click when you come back.
Look at art every single day. The computer or your cell phone can supply you with an unlimited amount of art of course, but also try to go to art shows and festivals, visit museums. Try to see real canvases on display and meet the artists if you can.
Keep creating. That’s how you learn.
And make use of textures and elements, even if you have to buy them. I started by only using my own images and Photoshop. It was really hard and the results were not that great. As soon as I started layering in textures and other quality elements my art came together. I am getting the results I want now and my work is getting noticed.