— The featured artist of Issue 36 of Living the Photo Artistic Life magazine, AWAKE artist Pam Henderson (of Australia) has surged forward in her artistic output this past year, turning out a brilliant series of pieces that have brought her a great deal of attention. It’s exciting to be able to showcase her here . . .
Q. What got you started in photo artistry?
Growing up, I always had a very vivid imagination and a passion for photography. I was too shy in high school to ask to join the photography group, however, and living in small country towns brought few opportunities to follow my dreams … Then of course life just kind of took over — marriage, children, and a career.
It was really only in the last five years that I decided it was my time to follow my passion at last. I completed an online diploma in photography, though I felt very empty upon completion. I then joined an online photographic group which helped to get a better understanding of photography with more training, challenges, and coaches critiques, but that too still left me feeling empty.
To me, the photos I was taking were still only photographs showing me what I could see with my own eyes, not what I could see in my mind.
I then found Sebastian Michaels, his Photoshop Artistry course, and then “AWAKE: Living the Photo Artistic Life.” And I thought all my dreams had come true. My passion for photography and my very vivid imagination … awakened … and life could not be any better.
Now I’m not limited by what the camera can capture. The images I dream up now come to life on canvas.
Q. Any particular process you take with your work?
I would be lying if I said yes … haha. I start with an idea in mind and by the end may have changed my direction four or five times, only to finish with a completely different image to what I had first imagined. It’s the process of discovery that matters most I think.
Sometimes I will start with a background and build on that, or sometimes I will start with a model and build from there. I guess for me I like to sit with a blank canvas and scroll through my stock to see what jumps out at me and slowly build my image from the ground up, trying different things to see what looks best, and watching where it takes me.
Q. What does “living the photo artistic life” mean to you?
For me “Living the Photo Artistic Life” is like the most satisfying addiction a person could ever have: the more you create, the more the imagination sparks to life and the more you want to create. It makes you look at the world with a totally different perspective. While everyone else looks at a tree as a tree, I look at the tree thinking “Hmmm … what can I create out of that?!”
I find that an inner peace comes over me when I sit to create an image and the outside world’s problems ceases to exist for a while.
Q. What’s your next step as an artist?
My journey so far has been mind-blowing, what with having my art published in the “Artist Down Under” magazine, as well as “Fine Art Photography from Around the World” magazine, then (most exciting) being featured in the February 2018 edition of “Living The Photo Artistic Life” magazine.
I never thought you could feel so many emotions from having your art admired, but I guess my ultimate dream would be to have my own art exhibition … How exciting would that be? And of course I’d love to sell some of my art. I would also in the future like to attempt writing and illustrating a series of children’s books. But one step at a time.
Q. Any advice or tips for other aspiring artists?
Never give up, embrace the highs and lows and let them be the foundation of your growth as an artist.
Don’t feel bad if you sit in front of the computer and nothing happens. Stick around. It will eventually.
And never compare yourself with other artists. We are all different and that’s what makes it so exciting. Just be yourself and love who you are. The rest will follow.