Artists Down Under - Australia and New Zealand - October 2023

DOWN UNDERartists

Australia and New Zealand

Hi everyone and welcome to the October edition of Artists Down Under. Cool nights, warm days and then throw in the occasional 38 degrees, summer is on the way! You have to love Mother Nature, she never let’s you feel comfortable for long.

A few congratulations this month with our artists achievements for exhibitions, gold medals and sales, well done to those involved. The monthly challenge was set with a theme “Cows”. Each month I try to set the challenge to trick our artists, but each month they keep rising to the challenge and above. Great job done by all.

Our special Featured Artist for the month is Christina Brunton. A very talented lady and a very accomplished photographer in taking still shots at a photo shoot and adding her artistic flair to make the images go to that next level and beyond. I know you will love what she has for you.

Andrew Haysom has put together another of your favourite Photoshop tutorials for you. This month he explains all about Auto-Collapse Iconic Panels, very interesting.

Maureen Maxwell has another interesting interview with one of our artists, Sandra Dann. I hope you enjoy the interview and the images she has put together for you.

The girls from the Redlands Digital Arists Group have been hard at it again with their fun loving images in their ‘Chinese Whispers’ series. I hope you enjoy.

Well that’s it from me for now. A busy month from our artists, warm weather, what more could you ask for. I hope you enjoy this month’s edition of Artists Down Under. Stay safe, and take care of each other.

Backgrounds: Foxy Squirrel Laitha’s Designs - Jai Johnson - White Lane Studio Copyright 2017 ©

Christina Brunton - At The Beach

Pam Henderson

LYNETTE PAUL ( NEW ZEALAND )

JANE TOVEY ( AUSTRALIA )

THE BUTTERFLY QUEEN EMERGES

artists Achievements monthly down under

artists down under facebook page

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!

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 50% off discount 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 OCTOBER.

Two artists will receive a Diane kit each. Diane Stafford can be found at https://whitelanestudio.co.uk/biolinks

The OCTOBER lucky winners are

Teddi Rutschman (Foxey Squirrel) 50% off Gift Voucher

- Ilona Abou-Zolof

Diane Stafford (WhiteLaneStudio) Texture & Overlay Kit

- Judi Lapsley Miller

- Louise Smith

Andrea Carter - New World

Penny

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE

https://issuu.com/thephotoartisticlife/docs/issue103-final?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

Congratulations to the following artists for having their images chosen to appear in the International magazine

“Living The Photo Artistic Life”.

Sonia Pusey

- Balance

Helen McLeod

- At The Root Of The Matter

- A Bit Of Fantasy Fun

Maureen Maxwell

- Ephemera 1 & 2

Kim Ricci

- Going On A Magical Adventure

Rosa Perry

- Grace

Ilona Abou-Zolof

- Icy Queen

Christina Brunton

- Golden Samurai

Maureen Maxwell - Ephemera 1

Maureen Maxwell - Ephemera 2

Helen McLeod - At The Root Of The Matter

Kim Ricci - Going On A Magical Adventure

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE

Christina Brunton - Golden Samurai

Sonia Pusey - Balance

Helen McLeod - A Bit Of Fantasy

Rosa Perry - Grace

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Icy Queen

Judi Lapsley Miller - The Guardian (ruru)

whats on

Matariki Exhibition

https://nzafa.com/Past%20Events/Matariki%20Exhibition%202023

Congratulations goes to Judi Lapsley Miller for being awarded “The President’s Award” at the Matariki Exhibition, which was recently held at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts for her image “A Hidden World (kakapo). And to make it extra special for Judi, her piece sold on the night. This extra large photo-artistic composition was printed on fine-art metal and framed.

The exhibition ran from 23rd June unitl 23rd July 2023.

whats on Sutherland National Exhibition of Photography

Congratulations goes to Hemant Kogekar who received a Gold Medal for his image “Creative”. Hemant also was awarded three “Highly Commended” ribbons for his images “Ducks”, “Lake House” and “Village Church”,

Hemant Kogekar - Ducks

Hemant Kogekar - Lake House

Hemant Kogekar - Village Church

https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/mick-rooney/

ALISON MEIER ( AUSTRALIA )

DOWN UNDER

Australia and New Zealand

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION

AUTO-COLLAPSE

ICONIC PANELS

By Andrew Haysom

All Photoshop users would recognise the fact that Photoshop has a large number of built-in panels (35 in fact), and that this is added to if you have any third-party add-in panels.

The Photoshop workspace also offers a Panel Dock which is normally placed on the right-hand side of the screen where you can keep your most-used or favourite panels, stored as icons (see Figure 1).

The default behaviour is that you click a panel icon to open that panel, then it will remain open until you click its icon again (which collapses the panel back to an icon) or click another panel icon to open a different panel. Often the opened panel will impinge upon your image and workspace (see Figure 1).

[Figure 1 – The Panel Dock]

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION (CONT.......)

The Auto-Collapse Iconic Panels preference setting, which has been around since Photoshop CS6, offers an alternative behaviour. If this option is checked/ticked then the open panel will collapse back to its icon automatically when you click on your image or any other part of the workspace. This is now my preferred method of operation as it saves moving the mouse back to the Panel Dock to close any open panel.

You can find this setting in the Photoshop Preferences Workspace dialog (see Figure 2). You can invoke the Preferences dialog using Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows), or through the menu.

You can also turn Auto-Collapse Iconic Panels on and off through the right-click menu on the Panel Dock. To invoke this menu right-click the mouse on the top of the Panel Dock above the upmost icon (see Figure 3).

If this option is not something that you already have turned on, I recommend you try it, it certainly saves me a few clicks.

Andrew Haysom

[Figure 2 – Photoshop Workspace Preferences]

[Figure 3 – Panel Dock Right-click Menu]

ELENOR GILL ( NEW ZEALAND )

EXTINCTION II

PRUE WRIGHT ( AUSTRALIA )

DOWN artistsUNDER

Australia and New Zealand

DIGITAL ARTISTS GROUP

A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF PHOTO ARTISTS

CHINESE WHISPERS #71

“A FANTASY WOODLAND”

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

Pam gave me the usual challenge again this month. After considerable thought, I turned it into a fantasy Woodland scene with a stream running through it.

We hope you ENJOY!

Maureen Maxwell

Pam Henderson

Maureen Maxwell

CHRISTINA BRUNTON

WRAPPED IN RED FEATHERS

WAITING FOR HER MAN I

WAITING FOR HER MAN II

STEAMPUNK SCIENTIST

Sydney New South Wales

Tell us a little about yourself and where you live?

My name is Christina and I live in Sydney, Australia. I came to Australia from New Zealand fifty years ago, so class myself as a ‘true blue Aussie’.

How did you become interested/get started in Photo Artistry?

Twenty years ago I learnt how to paint and later I started photography as a way to capture images as a reference for my oil paintings, but work commitments made it hard to find the time to paint. For work I was travelling around Australia and training staff in Correctional Centres, Probation and Parole Centres, Courts and also Fire Services. Straight after having my first painting lesson, I was off to deliver 3 months training around the country side. At the end of each day, I would go back to my motel and paint a picture out of the newspaper as a way to practice. The first problem I came across was when I finished painting I washed out my brushes with turpentine. That smell stayed in the room and stunk the place out and I ended up with the worst migraine headaches, so I quickly learnt to clean up outside and leave my brushes outside. When I took up photography it was to take photos of beautiful scenes I saw whilst travelling and later paint them once I had time. Photography soon took over from painting.

When I retired, I told myself that I was going to be more creative. After that I discovered Sebastian Michaels’ courses and was thrilled to find that photographs could be made into fine art and that I could do digital art. It was an awesome realisation that I was able to merge my passions of painting and photography. I didn’t have to clean my paint brushes with turps as I used digital brushes instead. My world had changed.

What inspires you or gives you inspiration to create your art?

I get inspiration from the tutorials in the Kaizen group, from visiting art exhibitions and listening to songs. Much of my inspiration comes from the members of the Awake, Kaizen and Artist Down Under groups. They are my inspiration. They are my friends ... my art buddies ... my tribe.

Do you have a certain approach to creating your art?

I see myself as an image maker and digital artist, where I plan my photo-shoots and what I want to create before I start (mostly but not always). I use a two step process for my artistry. Firstly, taking photos and then enhancing through digital artistry. My process for any photo-shoot is firstly to choose the theme and then everything else follows from this choice, such as which model for the shoot, what wardrobe and props, whether it is an indoor or outdoor setting and what needs to be included. I have a pen and paper next to my bed for when I get ideas for another theme in the middle of the night. The second process is the digital artistry.

It is like having two studios. The first is the photography studio. The other studio is my computer, where I try to create regularly. It is so easy to lose track of time when you are creating art. When the alarm comes on again it is for me to get back to my art.

What does your art mean to you?

Doing art to me is like a meditation, I get so focussed on it that time passes by without noticing. I get such a lot of pleasure from art. I love working with a theme in mind, a series that I am passionate about. I call them Projects of Passion.

Where do you see (or hope to see) your art taking you in the future? What are your next steps?

Continue to create what I love, keep learning new things and create something arty regularly.

MARINA HOBBS ( AUSTRALIA )

TITIAN BEAUTY

BALLERINA BALLERINA

artists

DOWN UNDER

Australia and New Zealand

INTERVIEW WITH SANDRA DANN

By Maureen Maxwell

Sandra, you’ve been a member of Artists Down Under for a couple of years. During that time we’ve enjoyed seeing your art on both our Facebook page, and in our monthly magazine.

One of the reasons for doing a series of interviews for our magazine is to enable our members to get to know each other a little better. I also think our general readers will be interested to hear more about your creative journey. So, thank you for doing this interview.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A ‘CREATIVE’, AND HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN PHOTO ARTISTRY?

If I look back, my creative soul was there, just in different ways at different phases of my life. From loving colouring and drawing as a child, to doing art at school, interior styling and playing with colours as an adult, to where I am now.

One of my favourite quotes is “Creativity is the way you share your soul to the world”. I wrote a blog on Creating Images for Self-Expression, here is the link

https://www.sandradimagery.com/blogs/creating-images-for-self-expression

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AND HOW YOU COME UP WITH YOUR IDEAS FOR YOUR WHIMISICAL ART?

This question makes me think of that saying, “How long is a piece of string?” Where do I find inspiration or my ideas to create. It can be from a movie ( I recently created a series of images around Sherlock Holmes, I was binge watching the movies and TV series) or it could be I start with a digital background or a photo I like, then build from there or it could be I have an element I want to use, my “stash” has lots of goodies and I often look through it and find something that gives me an idea and that fires up the creative soul, it could be from a song, or just for the pure joy of creating an image. Here are a few strategies I use.

• I will either start with a background or an element or a digital texture

• If using an element (let’s say a quirky character), I will then think what background would go with that element(s)

• You don’t always have to have an idea or vision; it can develop along the way

• Don’t be frightened to explore and try new things.

Most importantly it’s about having fun, creating to no rules (I think creating images to rules all the time stifles one’s creativity and you lose the ability to play and experiment). I find when I am creating an image I get lost in the moment, I escape to another world and only focus on my imagination.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VISUAL ART GENRE?

I love looking at all forms of art or visual medium, I am constantly looking on social media and other platforms for inspiration. Though some art/images may be not my style or colours I am drawn to, I appreciate the skill and thought that goes into an image/photo/art.

The more you expose yourself to different visual forms it broadens the capacity to see and think differently, which in turn can help your vision and creative thinking.

Maurice

Gemma Giraffe

Rocky The Ring Master

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARGUE THAT OUR PHOTO ARTISTIC WORK IS NEITHER A PHOTO NOR AN ART PIECE. IF YOU ENCOUNTER SUCH PEOPLE, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THEIR CRITICISMS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE ‘PURISTS’?

Interesting question! I started as a landscape photographer, then moved onto different genres, though my passion was landscapes. I entered photography competitions and so it had to be my own work, I created images to rules.

Once I started to learn Photoshop, the gloves were off. I would replace a sky, “whack” in a tree or building into my landscapes. Over time I was drawn to composite imagery, using my own photos, now I blend my photos with digital or AI work.

Moving forward I present at various forums, and I get challenged from “the purists” who tell me what I do is not photography, I explain photography is not the only genre to express oneself, there is painting, drawing, digital art or photo artistry and so on, is there a right one? I don’t call myself a photographer anymore or say my work is comprised only of my own photos, I’m a digital artist that uses different mediums and use different resources to create art.

Creating Photo Artistic Work is no different to pressing a button on a camera, it takes skill, conceptual thinking, compositional skills, having a vision and so on. To me it is respecting each other and how we express ourselves and the medium we choose, not judge, or criticise.

Everyone expresses themselves in a different format, if photography is your thing that is fine, if you create art using a digital format that is fine too. Do what speaks to your soul.

YOU ARE AN ADOBE COMMUNITY EXPERT, PARTICULARLY FOR THEIR ‘FIREFLY’ AI ENVIRONMENT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU CHOOSE TO EMBRACE NEW TOOLS SUCH AS GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI), AND OTHER TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US, AND HOW YOU USE THE RESULTS?

For me it is about moving forward trying new things, new technology. Where would we be with out technology, we certainly would not have internet, photo editing software and so much more.

If we look back at art history, there were cries of that is not a traditional way of painting when new styles emerged, art didn’t end with the changes, it just took another direction. What about when the digital camera was invented, there was the same reaction and criticisms. But look where we are today with camera technology.

Using different tools allows one to explore ideas, concepts, kick start the brain cells into thinking differently and letting the “creative soul fly”.

For example, with my Sherlock Holmes series, I needed backgrounds such as foggy old London streets 1800’s/1900’s era, I certainly couldn’t photograph that anywhere, so using AI allowed me to create a background to use as the base for my vision. Creating backgrounds with AI made me think conceptually, and more importantly it was fun to be creative in a different way.

Are The Soul

How I use AI is to create backgrounds to create a composite or photomontage or to create an element to use in a composite. I still do my finishing touches in Photoshop, which is my tool of choice. Creating backgrounds and elements is a skill and more than typing in a few words, you should see some of my creations. Using AI is another learning curve in exploring my “creative soul” and is another tool to add to my creative arsenal.

Though it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it gives me freedom to explore the “what if” of one’s imagination and create. AI is a new frontier at the moment, time will tell where it takes us.

WHAT DOES BELONGING TO ADU MEAN TO YOU?

Being part of ADU is like being part of a creative community with like minded souls. While we all create differently using different mediums – photography or AI we are allowed to express our selves without judging or criticism. I love being part of the community and seeing what other “creatives” create, it gives me inspiration and ideas and a feeling of belonging.

Breaking Free

Foggy Wanderings

Eyes

Harriet Teapot

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY TAKING YOU IN THE FUTURE? AND ARE THERE SPECIFIC PROJECTS INCLUDED IN YOUR PLANS?

My personal creative journey is about continually learning, trying different techniques exploring other creatives work for inspiration. Who knows where my journey will take me, for me it’s about moving forward and not being frightened to play and experiment with new ideas. No one sees the “what was I thinking images”, we all have them.

At the moment I am focusing on my business SandraD Imagery, teaching Photoshop online, holding online classes for creatives, expanding my digital products shop and engaging with other creatives from around the world.

The most important thing to me is to have fun being creative, explore and experiment. Another quote I love is “The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling”.

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR BACKGROUND AND OTHER INTERESTS.

Who is Sandra Dann? I’m made up of many things and experiences. A child who loved my colouring books and reading. Sports Coach at Elite Level, Adult Educator in a Corporate Environment, a Tour Guide showing internationals around Australia and New Zealand, now a Digital Artist. What a journey it has been!

I still love to read, love a good coffee (I’m know for my coffee quotes on Facebook) and have a quirky sense of humour and passionate about teaching.

monthly artistic down under

photographic challenge theme: 75

Kaylene Helliwell - Dottie

Ilona Abou-Zolof - Happy Cow

Andrea Carter - Holy Cow

Jenny Davidson - Cow Rescue

Marie Helyar - Highland Cows

Andrew Haysom - Highland Cow

Prue Wright - Cow And Calf

Christina Brunton - Watercolour Cow

Karen Waalwyk - Cow In Flowers

Penny De Jong - C Is For Cow

Colin Campbell - Cows

Maureen Maxwell - Heading Home

Julie Powell - The Wizard’s Lair

Rosa Perry - Florabelle

Pam Henderson - Playful Afternoon

artists

DOWN UNDER

adu artists business advertisements

Helping Women with Endometriosis

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.

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!

Art by Margaret Kalms

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

Margaret Kalms

Bunch Of Butterflies On Grevillea Sweatshirt

Butterflies False Colour Grey Stripes

Bunch Of Butterflies On Grevillea Pencil Case

WEBSITE: http://artistsdownunder.com.au/ http://tinyurl.com/artisitsdownunderpublic