Artists Down Under - Australia and New Zealand - August 2022 by Artists Down Under

DOWN UNDER Australia and New Zealand

Issue 65 | august 2022 | digital ar tistr y

33 G I TA M A DAY

04 E D I T O R ’ S R E P O R T

- Oblivious

By Pam Henderson

05 P H O T O S H O P A R T I S T RY By Sebastian Michaels

- Sambar Deer

06 LO U I S E S M I T H - Something Out There

35 B A R B A R A D U D Z I N S K A - A Midsummer N i g h t ’s D r e a m

- Smoke A nd Mir rors

39 H E L E N M C L E O D

08- S O N I A P U S E Y 09 - G o Yo u r O w n W a y

- The Lifecycle O f Water

40- S A N D R A DA N N 41 - S a i l A w a y W i t h M e To

10 PA M H E N D E R S O N - Magical Moments

- Architectural Design, Berlin

- Dubai Airpor t

- Just Watching

- Surprise

43 R O S A P E R RY

12 D E A N H O H N - Crested Honeyeater Male

13 T R AC E Y P E R R I N - Alone I Hunt

14 A N N W E H N E R - Snow Falling In Spr ing

15- A R T I S T S M O N T H LY 24 AC H I E V E M E N T S 25 G E O R G E KO N C Z - The Phantom At Home

- All Is Not As It Seems

- Dir t Road

44 LY N E T T E PAU L - Thames Door

45 K E V I N S I M S - Lost Sout

- Ta k e n

46 C O L I N CA M P B E L L - Botany Bay Blues

- T h e Tr e e S t r i p p e d Bare By A r bor ists, Even

47 A N D R E W H AYS O M - Rainbow Lor ikeet

- Circles II

26- K A R E N WA A LW Y K 27 - E m e r g e n c e

48- C O L I N K I L L I C K 49 - H u t O n A R o c k

28 B E V T E R R AW S K YJ

50 C H I N E S E W H I S P E R S # 5 7

- Maxi

- By Maureen Maxwell

29 M I C K R O O N E Y - Angel Whisper

- Angel III

30 C H R I S T I N A B R U N T O N - Fu t u r i s t i c T i m e Tr a v e l l i n g

31 K Y E T H O M P S O N - Ef f ie And Max

32 S H A R O N R A N K M O R E - Another Space

51- F E AT U R E D A R T I S T SUE MASTERSON 60 - Awaiting His Return - W a t e r ’s E d g e - Night Watch - Slight Pleasure - Evening Star - A Star Is Born - L i f e ’s S m a l l P l e a s u r e s - Creepy Circus - Wiz - M e e t Yo u r A r t i s t - In The Garden

A nother Wor ld

42 I N G R I D JA KO B S E N

11 M A R G A R E T K A L M S

- A lone I Wait

- Vintage Poster

36- S O M E P H O T O S H O P I N S P I R AT I O N 38 B y A n d r e w H a y s o m

07 J U L I E P O W E L L

- Sacred Kingfisher

34 M I C H E L L E B A K E R

61 P E N N Y D E J O N G

76- J U L I A R A E 77 - L a b o u r O f L o v e

- Beautiful Parrot

62- CA R O LY N J E N S O N 63 - A n g e l

78 M E AG H A N P RYO R

64 I LO N A A B O U - Z O LO F

79 M A R G I E O ’ H A R A

- Beyond The Threshold

- Bumblebee

- Golden Moon

65 E L E N O R G I L L

80 M A R K PA S S F I E L D

- Rohanna

- To p O f T h e H i l l

66 J U D I L A P S L E Y M I L L E R - I S p y (r u r u)

- Shail Beach

67 M AU R E E N M A X W E L L - Hello

81 G E R A R D W H E L A N

- Blossom Time

82 M A RY K N AG G S - Hakea Laur ina

68 A L B A M A S S

83 CAT B E AG L E C R E AT I O N S

- Alice In Collage

- Va s t A n d E n d l e s s S e a

84- D E N N I S R I C K A R D 85 - A b a n d o n e d H o u s e

69 H E M A N T KO G E K A R - Flowers And Leaves

70- P R U E W R I G H T 71 - B u r n t Ya r d

86 K I M R I C C I

72- I N T E R V I E W PENNY DE JONG 75

87- M O N T H LY A R T I S T I C P H O T O 96 C H A L L E N G E

- Reclamation

By Maureen Maxwell

F R O N T C OV E R

97- A R T I S T S B U S I N E S S 101 A DV E R T I S E M E N T S

by S U E M A S T E R S O N - Dragon Girl

Gitama Day - Secrets

Ann Wehner - Angel’s Despair

a r t i s t s DOWN UNDER Australia and New Zealand

Welcome to the Artists Down Under August edition of our fabulous magazine. What is an Artist? When an artist sits infront of their computer, nothing else exists for that short time except their imagination. It is their time to be who they want to be, to step into their childlike fantasy, to not be judged, bullied, stressed, worried about what is going on in the world, just to be who they are. To be allowed to express themselves how they want to in their own way and to feel good about it. I invite you while you browse this magazine to allow yourself the same pleasure that our artists feel everytime they create their art for you. Enjoy! This month we have our amazing Photoshop Guru, Andrew Haysom sharing another tutorial with you this month on the Nix Collection. Our Featured Artist this month is Sue Masterson, a very talented lady in all aspects of photoshoots and digital artistry. I am sure you will all enjoy her work as much as I do. The girls have been busy challenging themselves with this month’s Chinese Whispers image. Take a journey through time with them and enjoy the newest edition in their Chinese Whispers series. Maureen has had the pleasure of interviewing our own very successful artist, Penny De Jong. Her work is outstanding and her interview very interesting and uplifting. This month’s artists challenge was set with a tricky “Wedding Theme” in mind, but our artists rose to the challenge and delivered awesome images for you all to enjoy. Well that’s it from me, until next month, stay safe & care for each other.

Pam Henderson

Christina Brunton - Emu

Artists in this publication are responsible for any rights appertaining to their work.

HTTPS://PROPHOTOSHOPARTISTRY.COM

Image by: Sue Masterson, Photoshop Artistry Student

( AUSTRALIA )

LOUISE SMITH

SOMETHING OUT THERE

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

https://www.facebook.com/lksmithphotography/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/louise-smith/

( AUSTRALIA )

JULIE POWELL SMOKE AND MIRRORS

https://www.juliepowellphoto.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/julie-powell/

( AUSTRALIA )

SONIA PUSEY https://www.instagram.com/soniapusey/?hl=en

G O YO U R O W N WAY

( AUSTRALIA )

PAM HENDERSON

M AG I CA L M O M E N T S

https://www.facebook.com/snapnshootdesigns/ http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/pam-henderson/

( AUSTRALIA )

MARGARET KALMS

A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E TA I L , B E R L I N

DUBAI AIRPORT

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/margaret-kalms/

( australia )

DEAN HOHN

S AC R E D K I N G F I S H E R

C R E S T E D H O N E Y E AT E R M A L E https://www.facebook.com/Dean-Hohn-Photo-Artistry-247723325687722/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/dean-hohn/

( NEW ZEALAND )

TRACEY PERRIN

A LO N E I WA I T

A LO N E I H U N T

( AUSTRALIA )

ANN WEHNER

S N O W FA L L I N G I N S P R I N G

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/ann-wehner/

artists down under monthly Achievements 15

artists down under facebook

Kaylene Helliwell - That Rainy Day

page

Maureen Maxwell - A Peaceful Garden

The Artists Down Under Public Facebook page has been set up to allow the artists in the group to showcase their work and to enable them to share promotional information about themselves, e.g. exhbitions, awards etc... You can find the Artists Down Under Public Facebook page at this address; https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistsDownUnder/ So, if you are an artist in the group, don’t forget to regularly share your work and information here, and to let your friends and family know about the page if they are interested in viewing the latest art and news from the group. If you are a reader of the magazine who does not have access to the page, please click the link above and request to join. When you request to join you will be asked to answer three simple questions that will allow us to determine if you are an eligible artist who may wish to join the group and therefore be able to post on the page, or a member of the public who can view, comment and like the work on the page. It’s a great place to see some great art from this vibrant group every day!

Colin Killick - Delish Fish

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Fox

Rosa Perry - Little Bo Peep

Colin Campbell - Box

Three ADU members receive a special gift Our very good Awake friends Teddi Rutschman of Foxey Squirrel and Diane Stafford from WhiteLaneStudio continue to give gifts as a reward for members of the Artists Down Under group who contribute to the ADU Facebook page by regularly posting their artworks and supporting other members with their comments. Teddi, from Virginia, USA, is well known for her fantastic sets of digital designer backgrounds, masks and all kinds of wonderful elements ready for designers to add to or build a wondrous creation. Teddi Rutshman can be found at

http://www.foxeysquirrel.com/ http://www.oscraps.com/shop/Foxeysquirrel Teddi has given a $10.00 voucher for one very lucky member to spend in her on-line shop. Diane Stafford from Chester, UK, designs Photoshop textures and overlays for photo artists and photographers to use in their digital artworks. Diane has created another special kit just for Artists Down Under for the month of AUGUST.

The AUGUST lucky winners are Teddi Rutschman (Foxy Squirrel) Gift Voucher of $10.00 - Ann Wehner Diane Stafford (WhiteLaneStudio) Texture & Overlay Kit - Elenor Gill - Michelle Baker

Two artists will receive a Diane kit each. Diane Stafford can be found at

https://whitelanestudio.co.uk/biolinks

Elenor Gill - Lysnar House

Maureen Maxwell - The Dancing Man

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE https://issuu.com/thephotoartisticlife/docs/issue89-final?fr=sMDRhNDI1ODEw Congratulations to the following artists for having their images chosen to appear in the International magazine “Living The Photo Artistic Life”. Gitama Day - Full Moon In Cancer - Beloved Of The Hares Helen McLeod - Night Watch - The Seed Collector Ilona Abou-Zolof - Hatter’s Teaparty - Official Meeting Kim Ricci - Francine Julia Rae - Entering Wonderland Sue Masterson - Deep Sea Dreaming Christina Brunton - Time Travel - Violinist Rosa Perry - The Collector - The Nest CatBeagle Creations - Vast And Endless Sea Julie Powell - The Puppet Master Louise Smith - Sinropa

Louise Smith - Sinropa

Julia Rae - Entering Wonderland

Christina Brunton - Violinist

Julie Powell - The Puppet Master

Sue Masterson - Deep Sea Dreaming

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE

Kim Ricci - Francine

Rosa Perry - The Collector

CatBeagle Creations - Vast And Endless Sea

New Moon In Cancer - Beloved Of The Hares

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Official Meeting

Helen McLeod - Night Watch

Rosa Perry - The Nest

Christina Brunton - Time Travel

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Hatter’s Teaparty

light space and time “Open Art Exhibition”

“Open” Art Exhibition – July 2022 | Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery (lightspacetime.art)

Congratulations to the following artists for their special achievements in the July 2022 Light Space & Time competition. Special Merit

Ilona Abou-Zolof - “In Shadow”

Special Recognition

Ilona Abou-Zolof - “Red Ear Clips”

Ilona Abou-Zolof - In Shadow

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Red Ear Clips

shift art

July 2022 Theme

“Steampunk” https://shiftart.com/shift-art-photoshop-challenge-results-july-2022/

Congratulations goes to Honorable Mention

Penny De Jong

Noticed Julie Powell

Penny De Jong - Steampunk Emporium

Julie Powell - Steampunk Train Stop

grey cube gallery Botanicals online artshow https://greycubegallery.com/shows/2022/june22.html

Congratulations goes to

Margaret Kalms For being a Finalist with her two images “Pollarded Tree In Winter” and “Weeds Are Beautiful Too”, in the Botanicals Online Art Show, through the Grey Cube Gallery Online, which was held in June 2022.

Margaret Kalms - Pollarded Tree In Winter

Margaret Kalms - Weeds Are Beautiful Too

art room gallery greys exhibition https://www.artroomgalleryonline.com/current_exhibition.html

Congratulations goes to

Margaret Kalms For receiving an Honourable Mention with her image “Old And New City”, in the Artroom Galleries Grey Exhibition, which was held in June/July 2022.

Margaret Kalms - Old And New City

fusion art 7th Annual Cityscapes Art Exhibition 7th Annual Cityscapes Art Exhibition – June 2022 - Fusion Art (fusionartps.com)

Congratulations goes to

Colin Killick For placing 2nd in the 7th Annual Cityscapes Art Exhibition with his image “Oriental Pearl Tower”, and for being a finalist with his image “The Shanghai Tower”.

Colin Killick - The Shanghai Tower

Colin Killick - Oriental Pearl Tower

( AUSTRALIA )

GEORGE KONCZ T H E P H A N T O M AT H O M E

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/george-koncz/

( AUSTRALIA )

KAREN WAALWYK https://www.flickr.com/photos/88165766@N05 https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/karen-waalwyk/

EMERGENCE

( AUSTRALIA )

BEV TERAWSKYJ

MAXI

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/bev-terawskyj/

( AUSTRALIA )

MICK ROONEY

ANGEL WHISPER

ANGEL III http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/mick-rooney/

( AUSTRALIA )

CHRISTINA BRUNTON

F U T U R I S T I C T I M E T R AV E L L I N G

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/christina-brunton/

( AUSTRALIA )

kye thompson EFFIE AND MA X

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/kye-thompson/

( AUSTRALIA )

SHARON RANKMORE

A N O T H E R S PAC E

https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/sharon-rankmore/

( AUSTRALIA )

GITAMA DAY OBLIVIOUS

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/gitama-day/

( AUSTRALIA )

MICHELLE BAKER

SAMBAR DEER

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/michelle-baker/

( AUSTRALIA )

BARBARA DUDZINSKA V I N TAG E P O S T E R

https:// www.SmartArtPlace.com

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/barbara-dudzinska/

a Dr t Oi sWt sN U N D E R Australia and New Zealand

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION NIK COLLECTION VERSION 5 By Andrew Haysom

DxO Labs have just released version 5 of the NIK Collection, my favourite set of filters for Lightroom and Photoshop (and other image manipulation programs). In this version update, Color Efex Pro and Analog Efex Pro receive the same user interface upgrade that was introduced to Silver Efex Pro and Viveza in Version 4 (see Figure 1).

[Fig 1 – Nik Color Efex Pro updated user interface]

DxO have added their ClearView technology to both Silver Efex Pro and Color Efex Pro. ClearView is similar to the Dehaze slider in Lightroom and Photoshop, in that it is used to remove atmospheric haze, fog and mist from images by improving local contrast, but I think it does a better job than Dehaze when used judiciously. They have also added the Film Grain technology from their FilmPack product (an add-in available for their PhotoLab product) to Color Efex Pro and Silver Efex Pro. This allows the addition of many authentic film grains to your images. The control point technology in all products has also received some significant updates.

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION (CONT....) Control points in all products essentially allow you to add masks so that you can selectively apply the filter effects to your images rather than applying them globally. When you drag a control point onto your image, it looks at the luminance (brightness) and chrominance (colour hue) directly under the centre of the control point and creates a mask matching these within a circular area around the control point. You can increase or decrease the size of the circle using the slider attached to the central point of the control point. The enclosing circle acts like a radial gradient, the further from the centre the mask strength reduces (see Figure 2).

[Fig 2 – Control point in Color Efex Pro]

A control point can be a positive control point (only applies the filter effect in the masked area) or a negative control point (applies the filter effect everywhere else except the area defined by the control point). Each filter has an opacity slider as does each control point, when you add your first positive control point the overall filter opacity slider is set to zero, and the opacity slider for the control point is set to 100%. Similarly, when you add your first negative control point the overall filter opacity slider is set to 100% and the opacity slider for the control point is set to zero. These opacity sliders on the filter and the control points can be adjusted to control the impact of the filter effects. By clicking the mask icon next to any control point you can enter mask view to see the mask created by your control point (see Figure 3).

[Fig 3 – Control point mask view]

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION (CONT....) One of the biggest updates in this version (and in NIK Collection version 4 for Silver Efex Pro and Viveza) is the addition of the Luminance and Chrominance sliders for each control point. By moving these sliders to the right you can increase the mask sensitivity so that only areas that more closely match the brightness and colour directly under the control point (see Figure 4) are selected. Moving the sliders to the left will expand the mask loosening the sensitivity to the brightness and colour under the control point.

[Fig 4 – Refining the mask with the Luminance and Chrominance sliders]

These sliders make the use of the control points much more accurate and powerful. One interesting use of these Luminance and Chrominance sliders is to drag them all the way to the left, effectively removing any relationship between the mask and the brightness or colour under the control point. This effectively turns the mask into a pure radial gradient (dependent on the size of the control point circle). Another useful update is the ability to rename control points and control point groups. There have also been a number of changes to presets, making it possible to optionally save control points you have created along with the preset, as well as offering the possibility to import and export presets. Also please note that in Color Efex Pro you can save/use presets that use multiple filters. I think this upgrade is a worthwhile one as it adds significant power to the control point technology, as well as standardising the new user interface across the four filters that I use the most. There’s not much out there that touches the Nik Collection for power and flexibility in my opinion, so if you’re not a Nik user already, it’s definitely worth downloading and taking advantage of their 30-day free trial.

Andrew Haysom

( NEW ZEALAND )

HELEN MCLEOD T H E L I F E CYC L E O F WAT E R

https://www.2-galleries.com/

( AUSTRALIA )

SANDRA DANN

https://www.sandradimagery.com/

S A I L AWAY W I T H M E T O A N O T H E R W O R L D

( AUSTRALIA )

INGRID JACOBSEN

J U S T WATC H I N G

SURPRISE

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/ingrid-jakobsen/

( AUSTRALIA )

ROSA PERRY

ALL IS NOT AS IT SEEMS

D I R T R OA D https://rosa-perry.myportfolio.com/artwork https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/rosa-perry/

THAMES DOOR

LYNETTE PAUL ( NEW ZEALAND )

( NEW ZEALAND )

KEVIN SIMS

LO S T S O U L

TA K E N

www.kevinsims.co.nz www.lightaviator.myportfolio.com

( AUSTRALIA )

B O TA N Y B AY

COLIN CAMPBELL

BLUES

THE TREE STRIPPED BARE BY A R B O R I S T S , EVEN https://colincampbell.myportfolio.com https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/colin-campbell/

( AUSTRALIA )

ANDREW HAYSOM

R A I N B O W LO R I K E E T

CIRCLES II https://andrewhaysom.myportfolio.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/andrew-haysom/

( AUSTRALIA )

COLIN KILLICK

www.behance.net/colinkillick https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/colin-killick/

HUT ON A ROCK

artists DOWN UNDER Australia and New Zealand

DIGITAL ARTISTS GROUP A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF PHOTO ARTISTS

CHINESE WHISPERS #57 “A JOURNEY ACROSS THE CENTURIES” STAGE 1

STAGE 2

Maureen Maxwell

Pam Henderson

Pam has taken on us on a journey across the centuries, and the world, when she completed this month’s collaboration. We are taken from Stonehenge to Easter Island, back to Europe and then with a final taste reminiscent of the Indiana Jones movies . ENJOY! Maureen

S U E M A S T E R S ON

AWA I T I N G H I S R E T U R N

WAT E R ’ S E D G E

N I G H T WATC H

SLIGHT PLE ASURE

E V E N I N G S TA R

A S TA R I S B O R N

LIFE’S SMALL PLE ASURES

C R E E PY C I R C U S

WIZ

Meet your artist Sue Masterson Ballarat Victoria

Website:

https://www.facebook.com/Sue-Masterton-Digital-Artist-1662189864018110/

1. Tell us a little about yourself and where you live? I have just finally retired (for the third time), from a 40 year career with Australia Post. I live in Ballarat, Victoria, which is a rural city about an hour out of Melbourne. It is a very pretty place to live . 2. How did you become interested/get started in Photo Artistry? I began my journey in Photo Artistry when, along with several other photographers, we started a camera club that we wanted to be more like a friendly group sharing our love of photography. None of us knew anything much about Photoshop, so I decided I would see what I could learn. It didn’t take long to find out I would need lots of help and learning and this is when I came across the Photoshop Artistry course online. I became totally addicted and being in Australia I would wait up at all hours of the night for the next lesson to come online in the US, and as new courses were added it all became more and more exciting. 3. What inspires you or gives you inspiration to create your art? Many things give me inspiration for my art. I can spend ages just photographing clouds, concrete, doors, windows etc. just because I could see a use in an image ... but mainly I love working with models and many times it is the individual model herself that will give me my greatest inspiration. Just a facial expression can trigger an idea. I recently had an amazing lady in the studio who had broken her toe, the whole shoot to me became about how many ways we could incorporate the shoe she could not wear into image and tell a story, that was such a fun day. 4. Do you have a certain approach to creating your art? I usually have a model in the studiio and we will shoot several different costumes during the day using various props, it is usually when I am looking through the images while editing that my inspiration really comes. I have never had the good fortune to know where my art will be going prior to a photoshoot, except for maybe wanting to use a particular outfit or prop. 5. What does your art mean to you? Art to me is a form of relaxation and satisfaction. While creating at the computer takes me to some other world where nothing exsists but what is happening in front of me. The satisfaction often comes in seeing how relaxed and confident many of the models become during the photography process and how excited they are to see their finished images especially if they end up in print. I do think that Photo Artisty has definitely changed me. Before I started I would never have had the nerve to walk up to a total stranger and ask them to do a photoshoot. Since I started I have been fortunate enough to work with many models that I would never had the good fortune to meet let alone spend time with and watch them grow. I have also made some awesome friends through the Awake Group and Artists Down Under and was given the honour of being a CT for Foxey Squirrel. To top it off I have sold lots of my artworks and have been able to help others find enjoyment in Photo Artisty.

6. Is there anyone that you draw inspiration from? There are many amazing Photo Artists that inspire me and I enjoy seeing the vast amount of art that graces our screens, it is truly an honour to be amongst so many talented people. 7. Where do you see (or hope to see) your art taking you in the future? What are your next steps? Now that I hope to have more time on my hands I am looking forward to creating in abundance. As for next steps maybe some workshops. I also have an etsy shop that I would like to work on and most of all just enjoy what may come my way .

IN THE GARDEN

( AUSTRALIA )

penny de jong B E AU T I F U L PA R R O T

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/penny-de-jong/

( NEW ZEALAND )

CAROLYN JENSON

https://www.cjensonimages.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/carolyn-jenson/

ANGEL

( AUSTRALIA )

ILONA ABOU-ZOLOF

BUMBLEBEE

https://www.zolof.net/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/ilona-abou-zolof/

ROHANNA

ELENOR GILL

( NEW ZEALAND )

JUDI LAPSLEY MILLER

I S PY (r u r u)

https://www.artbyjlm.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/judi-lapsley-miller/

( AUSTRALIA )

MAUREEN MAXWELL

H E L LO

B LO S S O M T I M E

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/maureen-maxwell/

( AUSTRALIA )

AL BAMASS

A L I C E I N C O L L AG E

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/al-bamass/

( AUSTRALIA )

HEMANT KOGEKAR FLO W E R S A N D L E AV E S

https://photos.kogekar.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/hemant-kogekar/

PRUE WRIGHT ( AUSTRALIA )

B U R N T YA R D

a Dr t Oi sWt sN U N D E R Australia and New Zealand

INTERVIEW WITH

PENNY DE JONG By Maureen Maxwell

Penny, you’ve been a member of Artists Down Under since January 2019. During that time, we’ve seen you create many interesting, and varied, art works. As well as being a regular contributor to our monthly magazine, you’ve also been very active on our Facebook page as well as participating in our monthly Zoom meetings. Many of our ADU members are involved in the Shift Art platform, which is aligned with our international AWAKE and Kaizen Groups. You have regularly experienced success in their monthly challenges. Many of your images have been awarded 1st Place. I thought it would be interesting for our readers to know a little more about your approach to photo artistry, and your involvement in Shift Art.

Weathered

Goddess

INTERVIEW - PENNY DE JONG (CONT....) WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN PHOTO ARTISTRY? In 2015 I had just started doing a 52-week Photoshop course with Ricky Tims whom I knew of from the patchwork and quilting world when I came across an advertisement for the Photoshop Artistry Fine Art Grunge Course as it was called then. This instantly really appealed to me, so I joined straight away. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN SHIFT ART AND THEIR MONTHLY CHALLENGES? •

HOW THEIR CHALLENGES/COMPETITIONS WORK?

Every month the Shift Art team headed up by Andrei Tallent set a theme for the challenge and provide a set of images from which to create your piece. There are a few rules which vary from challenge to challenge. They always include that you are required to use at least 3 images from those provided. They often include having to use one provided image as the main subject, using one of the model images and one of the textures. You are free to add your own images if you want. The model and texture images are usually by Caroline Julia Moore and the provided images come from Pixabay. There are around 30 images in total. You have about 3 weeks to create your entry. The judges are Andrei Tallent, Caroline Julia Moore and Bethany Perron. The award categories are Winner/s, Runner/s Up, Honourable Mentions and Also Noticed. •

AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGES?

I love attempting the challenges as it really stretches my imagination and creativity. I also like to try to include a method, filter or some other effect that I haven’t used often or at all before which I feel increases my knowledge both technically and artistically.

Dreaming Dreams Ancient Urn

INTERVIEW - PENNY DE JONG (CONT....) DO YOU FIND IT MORE DIFFICULT TO USE IMAGES THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED IN A CHALLENGE (eg, Shift Art), RATHER THAN USING YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHS? Yes. I also have a sub-challenge of my own in that I only ever use the images Shift Art provides and none of my own. I do often enjoy using different brushes for the piece as well. YOUR ART SHOWS YOU CREATE AN INTERESTING STORY WITH EACH IMAGE. YOU ALSO ACHIEVE MANY STYLES, RANGING FROM SURREAL, TO PAINTERLY, AND ILLUSTRATIVE – TO MENTION A FEW. WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM TO ACHIEVE SUCH DIVERSITY? As I enjoy many styles of art, each piece I create evolves as I go so it depends on the content and composition etc. as to what style it will end up being. I’m inspired by my fellow artists in Awake and will often save a piece I like to my Inspiration folder. I also have a folder for Art I Love into which I put works from anything I see from painters both traditional and contemporary, illustrators and other digital artists. I have quite a few books on artists and art so I browse through them from time to time.

Searching For Water The Fire Worshipper

MOST OF YOUR IMAGES ARE COMPLEX AND MADE UP OF MANY LAYERS. HOW DO YOU APPROACH YOUR WORK, AND DO YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON EACH CREATION? My starting point always varies. It may be an object, image, or model I like, or it might be an Awake, Kaizen or Shift Art tutorial I’ve seen that triggers an idea. I then start playing and see where things take me. I do spend a long time on each piece. Never less than several hours and often a few days. I’m very particular about details and will go back and forth between layers to fine tune even the smallest thing. If there’s some effect I want but am not sure how to achieve it, I will find a tutorial in Awake, Kaizen, Shift Art or on You Tube to watch. I have a few favourite YouTube presenters.

INTERVIEW - PENNY DE JONG (CONT....) DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR PROCESS TO FOLLOW? A great question as my workflow is mostly rather haphazard! I usually start with a main image and/or idea adding other images and textures as I go. I change the size and placement of things and blending modes often. I usually do my backgrounds later in the process after I see how the piece is evolving and then decide on what will fit artistically. After I’m reasonably satisfied with the composition and feel of the piece, I spend a lot of time on the final colour toning. I do spend time on the colour toning during the process as well. I often try plugins such as Topaz, ON1, Exposure 7, Luminar AI and Nik Filters to see if an improvement can be made along the way. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY TAKING YOU IN THE FUTURE? I still have so much to learn in creating artworks so I feel the future could end up anywhere! I want to explore use of text in my art. I would like to be involved in a small local exhibition.

Fire

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR OTHER INTERESTS? I live with my husband in the beautiful city of Albany in Western Australia. We have been here for nearly twenty years after moving from Kununurra in the north of WA where we lived for eight years after living in Perth. I recently retired as a Registered Nurse; a career I loved. Our three wonderful children live in Perth and Sydney. My interests include various forms of photography including Intentional Camera Movement, multiple exposures, landscape and fun portraits. I belong to two local photography groups. In the past I’ve explored many arts and crafts including calligraphy, card making, fabric painting, patchwork and quilting. I also enjoy reading, walking, travel and visiting art galleries and museums.

( NEW ZEALAND )

JULIA RAE

https://juliaraephotography.com/

L A B O U R O F LOV E

( AUSTRALIA )

MEAGHAN PRYOR

B E YO N D T H E T H R E S H O L D

https://www.theartinspires.com/ http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/meaghan-pryor/

( AUSTRALIA )

MARGIE O’HARA GOLDEN MOON

https://www.maggieoharas.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/margie-ohara/

( AUSTRALIA )

MARK PASSFIELD

TOP OF THE HILL

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/mark-passfield/

S H A I L B E AC H

GERARD WHELAN

( AUSTRALIA )

MARY KNAGGS

H A K E A L AU R I N A

https://www.facebook.com/MaryK-Photographic-Art-145293185640662/ http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/mary-knaggs/

( AUSTRALIA )

catbeagle creations

VA S T A N D E N D L E S S S E A

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/lynsey-stirland-mitchell/

( AUSTRALIA )

DENNIS RICkARD https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/dennis-rickard/

ABANDONED HOUSE

( AUSTRALIA )

KIM RICCI

R E C L A M AT I O N

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/kim-ricci/

artists down under monthly artistic photographic challenge theme:

WEDDINGS 87

Colin Campbell - The Wedding

Julie Powell - The Wedding

Andrew Haysom - Hosier Lane Wedding

Penny De Jong - Left It Too Late

Maureen Maxwell - A Bush Wedding

Bev Terawskyj - Wedding Vows

Elenor Gill - Sacrificial Altar

Prue Wright - The Wedding

Pam Henderson - Caught In The Breeze

Karen Waalwyk - Wedding Day

artists DOWN UNDER Australia and New Zealand

adu artists s s e n i s u b s t n e m e s i t r e v d a 97

Australia and New Zealand

FOREST & BIRD Online Store Bird Art by Judi Lapsley Miller

From Whence Cometh Evil

At What Cost Forever

100 100

Helping Women with Endometriosis

Art

by Margaret Kalms

50% of profit donated to endometriosis research When I first heard about endometriosis I felt a deep compassion and need to do what I could to help. Women with endometriosis suffer debilitating pain, disruptive symptoms and often endure multiple operations simply to function normally. Few people are patient when listening to descriptions of pain, symptoms or illness. This can have the effect of silencing people who are ill. My compassion inspires my photoart which I show in presentations to raise awareness. I joined Awake to teach me advanced Photoshop skills, specifically to expand my photoartistic skills to create imaginative and dramatic images. My photoart opens dialogue enabling freer expression of hidden feelings, experiences too private to mention in ordinary conversation. I create photoart inspired by the concerns of women with endometriosis. Several women have said that the process of imaging their suffering has helped them to face their pain and illness. There is immense strength in being heard. I want my photoart to become visual screams!!

26 women with endometriosis have told me about their experiences. They spoke to me about their concerns and collaborated during the photo session. We explored meanings of body, ideas of self and impacts of illness together, agreeing which ideas we would explore photographically. My photos are often carefully arranged, but that doesn’t mean they are fake. They represent the personal truth and experiences of 26 women with endometriosis. These women are remembering and acting out their OWN experiences. They choose their own stance and facial expression. Women with endometriosis are the only people who truly know what endometriosis FEELS like. Unfortunately endometriosis is relatively common; an estimated 1 in 10 women living with endometriosis, being over 175,000,000 women worldwide! And an estimated 500,000 women in Australia! Their experiences are heart-breaking. Regular illness and debilitating pain result in missed education and poor career opportunities leaving them women vulnerable to poverty.

Share ‘EndoWomanArt’ with your friends on social media to raise awareness and money for women’s health! We all need clothes & household goods. Buy yourself a treat or buy a special gift for your friends. Make your shopping count! Remember 50% of profit goes to endometriosis research!

https://www.redbubble.com/ people/EndoWomanArt/shop Follow ‘Life with Endometriosis’:

https://www.facebook.com/ LifeWithEndometriosis See Margaret Kalms photoart, ‘Life with Endometriosis’:

http://www.endowomanart.com

Kalms

Margaret

Women with endometriosis need real medical progress to reduce their suffering. I passionately desire to raise money for endometriosis research so that faster diagnoses are made and more effective treatments are found. To raise money for endometriosis research, I host events and sell products on Redbubble. Recently I gave $3,000 to Canberra Endometriosis Centre!

Bunch Of Butterflies On Grevillea Sweatshirt

Butterflies False Colour Grey Stripes

Bunch Of Butterflies On Grevillea Pencil Case

101

WEBSITE:

http://artistsdownunder.com.au/

http://tinyurl.com/artisitsdownunderpublic