Tell us a little about yourself and where you live. I was born in the UK, but lived in Adelaide since I was 8 years old. My husband and I have been married for 43 years this February and we have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. We have a small family concreting business, for which I do the bookkeeping. How did you become interested/get started in Photo Artistry? I have been using Lightroom to organise and edit my photos for quite a while but had no idea how to use Photoshop. I came across Sebastian’s Photoshop Artistry course online and the idea of being able to learn the program and the possibility of being able to create images like the ones his students were creating was very appealing. I haven’t looked back since. What inspires you or gives you inspiration to create your art? Often it can be the little things like the day my granddaughter arrived with a large leaf she had saved for me for my art, or it might be a stray thought or a remembered photo that sparks an idea. I also enjoy the challenge of the Shift Art competition. Do you have a certain approach to creating your art? For me it changes. Sometimes i will look for a model image first, and at other times I will start with a background scene. I use a combination of my own images and those available to us from the various courses. If I still can’t find what I’m looking for, I will use pixabay. There are days when I have no real direction and I will just pick a photo and start playing. What does your art mean to you? It has become a part of my everyday. I look forward to the time I get to spend crafting an image. I love that I am continually learning and evolving as an artist. Do you think since starting in Photo Artistry it has changed you and if so, how? When I first started taking photography seriously, it changed the way I see things and I feel that photo artistry has taken it one step further. I take even more notice of the details and see their potential in a future piece of art. Is there anyone that you draw inspiration from? I admire and am inspired by so many different styles of art that it is hard to single out any one artist. Where do you see (or hope to see) your art taking you in the future? What are your next steps? I have noticed that I can often look at a piece of art and know who the artist is. I would love to develop my own style and reach that stage one day. If it doesn’t happen, I will just enjoy the journey.
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