— The featured artist of the 72nd issue of Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine is AWAKE artist Nancie Rowan. It’s great to be able to interview Nancie here on Quill and Camera . . .

What got you started in Digital Photo Artistry?

I have always loved photography, and I’ve been dabbling in it since I was young. My father was a newspaper photographer for a short period of time and was a photographer during World War II. He was part of the Strategic Bombing Survey team. He got me started by showing me how to develop photos. I used to develop in the bathroom, although that eventually became a problem with five children in the family.

It was later in life, when digital cameras first came out, that I really got into photography, but by then I was really looking for something that would allow me to be more artistic.

Even with digital, however, I had ideas but I wasn’t able to bring them to life. Then I saw an ad for the “Photoshop Artistry Fine Art Grunge” course and I was blown away by the beautiful work. I instantly knew that this was what I needed to do and I signed up. I have never looked back.

What kind of process do you follow as you work on images?

I wish I could say that I followed a particular plan but pretty much all of my work starts with a kernel of an idea and takes off on its own path as it goes from there.

Having a plan ahead of time doesn’t work for me.

I find it is easier to just play around with backgrounds, textures, and elements, and see what happens.

And really no telling how long it might take. Sometimes I will work on a piece for several days and other times they come together fairly quickly.

What inspires your work?

I get inspiration from lots of places. I’m definitely inspired by the work I see in the AWAKE group. (The artists there are amazing.) I also get inspired by looking at websites that feature digital art.

But it’s not all digital artistry — I’m also inspired by vintage photography . . .

I’m continually looking at the people in photos and imagining scenarios that they could be found in.

I also love surreal art and spend time admiring the work of artists in that genre, drawing ideas from them to carry into my own art.

What does living a Photo Artistic Life mean to you?

For me, living a Photo Artistic Life means being open to new visual ideas, observing the world around me and letting my creativity carry me off. I have loved being on this journey and look forward to the future to see where it will take me next.

What’s your next step as an artist?

I would love to be able to exhibit my work but unfortunately I live in a small community with not much in the way of galleries. The pandemic closed down a local gallery where I had shown in the past. Hopefully they will reopen soon.

Lately I’ve been working at colorizing old photos for friends and I’m looking into doing more of that while continuing to create my own art as well.

But basically I am open to seeing what the future holds.

Any advice for other aspiring digital artists?

Practice, practice, practice. And be open to new ideas. That’s really what it comes down to.

Work at your art every day if you can. Even if only for a few minutes.

Also, don’t be too hard on yourself. Your art is your own personal view of things and no one else’s. If you like what you see on your canvas, that’s all that matters.

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