My Creative Images Promoting Digital Photo Artistry and Digital Photography
Issue 47 (February 2022)
Welcome to the Mycreativeimages Magazine February 2022 Many artists are effected by the long dark month of January, when rain falls, clouds block out the sun, trees are bare and water turns to ice. This either helps them focus on their art and inspires them to create or sends their create muse into hibernation and they loose all focus and the ability to create meaningful art. For me raindrops running down the window, curtains drawn, darkness at 4:30pm and the wind battering the house is a sign that I should be exploring my mind rather than looking for inspiration outside. This falls right into my wheelhouse. My art relies on my emotions, my feelings and my frustrations. The style of art I create depends on the emotion or feeling that I’m experiencing. For example if I’m frustrated about something my art will have an underlying message, will most likely be bold and colourful. If I’m confused the artwork will be a mixed bag, lots of textures, lots of dark areas and it will have and underlying confused element to it. As I normally create artwork as a release I don’t tend to think much about what it will look like printed and hung on the wall. However, this is now a key part of creating art as it is important to me that the finished work will look equally as good on the PC screen, a phone and framed or printed on a large canvass. As a result I now sell my photo-art as framed posters, home decor items (cushions and throws) and my photographs as framed prints.
Featured artists
Bernie Tuffs 4 Carol Abel 8 Claude Trew 10 David Walker 14 James Hurley 20 Joyce Simpson 24 Keeley McCleave 28 Sue Waterhouse 34 Vivien Capper 38
Many other artists that are featured in this magazine do the same and offer you a way of adding a focal point to a room or office. Support an artist and buy their work, enhance your home or work space with something special. Cover image “Drowning” by James Hurley
James Hurley Photo Artist / Magazine Editor
Links: Kindle Magazine: https://amzn.to/3GhTZYF Facebook Page: http://bit.ly/MYCIFBpage Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/FBArtGroup
2
Please note, that some articles contain affiliate links which direct you to 3rd party sales pages, for example Amazon. In the even you purchase something via one of these links a commission is paid to the editor of this magazine or the author of the article. All images in this publication are sourced / created by the artists, unless otherwise stated on their websites or social media pages and as such must not be copied or sold without the express consent of the artist. This publication is created and owned by James Hurley, ©mycreativeimages.com 2021. Please feel free to share the magazine but do not make changes to any of the content.
mysterium tremendum Musicians and artists often work with each other, the results of this collaboration include CD / LP cover art, t-shirts, posters and more. Often this collaboration benefits both the musician and the artist. Sometimes it is just a helping hand and a show of respect between fellow creators. This month I had the honour to have two pieces of my photo-art included in the booklet that accompanies the new CD release by the amazing performer Shaun T Hunter, better known as known as the Captain of the Lost Waves. This new CD is titled “Mysterium Tremendum”. You can buy a copy of the CD here: https://ko-fi. com/captainofthelostwaves/shop Song - A Million Light Bulbs
Song - Animals on an Island Some of the stand out lyrics from this track: “....Or submit to the masters that you serve” “We are all animals on an island, all those broken bridges submerged for miles. Suffocating in these wide and open prisons”
The artwork in the booklet is based on my original work called “Open Your Mind” and was edited to focus on the additional elements that Shaun outlined. At the point of creating the art I had know idea of what the lyrics would be, but seeing them in the booklet and hearing them sung make me so grateful to be associate with the Captain of the Lost Waves. Some of the stand out lyrics from this track: “As we open to the heavens the clouds inside ourselves remind us that we navigate some roads with little help.” “The shackles of illusion the phantoms in your head” “You who wear a million light bulbs across your face”
Artwork give-away If you would like to win a hand embellished copy of the artwork used for the song “A Million Light Bulbs” here is your chance. Visit my website to find out more details: https:/www.mycreativeimages.com/fine-artprints/art-give-aways/
Bernie Tuffs Hello! I’m Bernie and I live in the little seaside town of Margate and having lived here all my life, I couldn’t live anywhere else now! I’m continually inspired by the scenery here, with skies and light that so excited famous artist J. W. Turner, who said of this area, “…the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe”. Apparently, a love of the sea stayed with him all his life and I can well understand that! Painting with light holds a real attraction for me - the gentle light that is still strong enough to dispel darkness. I’ve always been arty, progressing from childhood sketching, through gouache and then oil painting, then paper crafting and scrapbooking which led me to digital scrapbooking and finally to Sebastian Michaels and Photo Artistry. My latest venture is designing and selling digital overlays and textures. Now I feel I’m home and am having so much fun with my art!
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BernieTuffs
4
I am a Powerful Manifestor
6
I am Worthy
I am a Resilient Soul
Carol Abel My name is Carol Abel. I’m British but have lived in Luxembourg (the green heart of Europe) for more than 30 years. I also spend time in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; both countries provide me with very varied photographic opportunities. I enjoy travelling but this is now very limited as a result of the Covid pandemic. I was given my first digital camera in 2001 and have never looked back although now I prefer using my battered iPhone 6. I’m a magpie photographer, photographing anything that takes my fancy, as I prefer to use my own images where possible. I work in Photoshop Elements and Photoshop but also increasingly turn to apps on my iPad. When I first started creating digital images I was largely self-taught but have now been one of Sebastian Michaels’ students from the very start of his launching the Photoshop Artistry course, through Awake and now Kaizen.
https://www.instagram.com/cabelcat/
Dream City
Venice
Claude Trew I retired a few years ago, and since I had more free time, I decided it was time to expand my photo art skills. I have been a member of my local camera club for many years, but I wanted to branch out in areas of photography that would be more artistic and outside the style of photographs that are most successful in club competitions. With this in mind, four years ago I joined the international online Photoshop course “My Photo Artistic Life” created by Sebastian Michaels. I have never regretted my decision and I am still a member of this vibrant and artistic FaceBook community. A few months ago I joined another online course “Elevate your Art”, this time learning to paint with Photoshop’s mixer brush. My vision is, one day, to be able to paint images which will look like oil paintings. You are welcome to visit my website to see some samples of my Photo Art.
www.claudetrew.com
10
Ghostly Lady
12
Vietnamese Ladies
Painted Lady
Sunset Meditation
David Walker According to our Government the pandemic is all but over and all restrictions will be removed from 27th January. I am not entirely sure whether this is politically motivated and scientifically sound…but, at least, it does mean we can venture forth with our cameras and create new opportunities for PhotoArt. I think I will continue to wear my mask in enclosed public areas though! This month is a bit of a mixed bag, motivation was not at its highest, but I completed quite a bit of on-line training to make up for the “artists block” syndrome which hit over the holidays and early January. Seems to be back to normal now! Presently updating my web site, so it may well be worth a visit. Let’s all hope for a better year in 2022!
https://www.vista-foto.com/
14
Union US Cavalry Officer
Chanonry Point Lighthouse
16
Footprints in the Sand
Johnson and the Billionaires
Jumping for Joy
Once a Fish Factory
18
Riverside House
Big Burn- Golspie
James Hurley James is BOLD and direct, this is reflected in his art. He doesn’t let other peoples actions or approaches to life corrupt his mind or attitude. He is his TRUE SELF and has learned to follow his own path brushing himself off and carrying on when he stumbles or has taken a wrong turn, he learns from mistakes or failures. James has turned his negative thoughts about his dreams and ambitions, “its impossible”, into his reality “I’m Possible” this was achieved when he realised he is his most underused and undervalued asset. When asked to describe his work James responded as follows: “I am an Artist. I am a creator. I am a creative entrepreneur. I turn Love, Joy, Passion, challenging emotions into art that makes connections between fantasy and reality to make photo-art that feeds the creative mind and generates happiness at a subconscious level. I LOVE who I am and I POUR this love, my compassion and raw emotions into my photography and Photo-art as a way of sharing my LOVE with you. My sole aim is to leave a lasting impression on people that I meet, that interact with me online or choose to invest in my work, either my artwork or the magazine. In short, if you want artwork that resonates with an emotion you have experienced or that fuels your thoughts then look no further, but remember, emotions should be observed and recognised for what they are they should be learnt from and not drive your choice and decision making.”
“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” Ansel Adams
https://www.mycreativeimages.com/
20
“Drowning” I create art to help me clear emotions and negative thoughts. Thhis helps me wipe the slate clean and move on. In this piece Im tackling the frustration of watching people get pulled in a direction they dont want to go and ripping themselves from their true path and letting their dreams disapear
“Escapebeforeyoulooseyour selfidentity”
Its all too easy to fall into the trap, to become what they say you should be. To be a mindless robot that cant think for themselves, to be pushed on apaththatbenefitsothers blinded to the truth. Open your mind. Escape before you loose your self identity.
“1MillionLightBulbs” This month I have been lucky enough to have two pieces of my photo-art included in the booklet that accompanies a music CD called “Mysterium Tremendum” The details of which I shared earlier in this magazine. If you havnt read the article please head back to page 2asyouwillalsofindalinktoa artwork give-away Im doing.
Joyce Simpson It’s been a busy few months with little time to spend on being creative. On 13th November 14 pieces of my artwork went on display at the Trapezium Gallery in Bradford in the F8 exhibition. The exhibition is made up of work from 8 local photographers and runs until 18th December. A project I have been working on is getting a photography club up and running for Primary School aged children. We have been working on the basics but I have been blown away at their imagination and creativity. The children are working towards showcasing their work in an end of year exhibition in July 2022. Things are beginning to calm down so here is the piece that I have been working on for the past week entitled ‘Elegance’.
https://joycesimpson.myportfolio.com
We Ride At Dawn
Moon Glow
Red Red Wine
Keeley McCleave I studied illustration at art college, so there is a story-telling feel to most of my work. During the summer I re-discovered my love of illuminated manuscripts and was inspired to incorporate some richly detailed page borders in some of my compositions. I love the way borders can draw the viewer into an image and help tell the story. More recently my attention has turned to the festive season and I have had fun playing with different aspects of a British Christmas, drawing on folklore, historical costumes and traditions. I love Christmas, so always find it a springboard to creativity! I hope you enjoy my work, as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Cinderella
Nouveau Inspired
Violas
Cellophane Flowers in Yellow & Green
Virgo
Sue Waterhouse I was given my first DSLR camera for Christmas in 2013 and very quickly became addicted! fortunately, I was lucky enough to take early retirement at the same time. From 2013 to 2019 my husband and I split our time between Spain and Portugal in the winter, travelling in our motorhome, and the UK and France in the summer. This provided lots of opportunities for many styles of photography. When the first lockdown was introduced in March 2020, I decided I would use some of the extra time that we were spending at home, working to improve my Photoshop skills. Discovering the Photo Artistry course and more recently the AWAKE training has made me appreciate and enjoy creating digital art as much as I enjoy digital photography. I enjoy using photographs I have taken over the last few years and creating digital art from them. I also use models and digital assets provided within the course materials. I have not yet found one particular style that I prefer….maybe I never will! I have recently been working on a series of images illustrating “Collective nouns” Here are 4 of the images from that series.
34
A glaring of cats
A cartload of monkeys
36
Ambush of tigers for mag
Tower of giraffes
Vivien Capper For this month’s magazine I’ve decided to go back in time and show three pieces that I created in January 2019, 2020, 2021. What surprised me most is the fact that I used similar blue/purple tones with a modernistic approach. I love looking back at past artwork, but also enjoy trying out new things. In the final piece I’ve designed an art-deco-style lady artwork. I’ve been moving in this direction for a while now, and really enjoy creating these pieces.
https://saatchiart.com/vivienjane
38
The Psychedelic Dancer
Vivien’s Creativity Lab
Moremusingsonsellingyourart
It’snoteasytobreakintotheworldofsellingyourart,butit’snotimpossible.Therearem di(œerentwaysyoucanapproachthis.
IhaveafewfriendsthathavesetupEtsyshopswiththeircreativeproducts.Somesellove otherstextures,andevenjournalsandplanners.AfewhavesetuponPatreon–ifyouhaven’ heardofit,Patreonisamembershipplatformthatmakesiteasyforartistsandcreatorst IbelongtoaPatreonmembership,andreceivecreativeitemseachmonthfromEsta Artistry. Moon
OthersselltheirartonlineatPOD(printondemandsitessuch ArtAmerica) asFine ,andothers contactlocalgalleries/cafés/medicalo(ßcesetc.too(œertheirartworktodecoratethew withsurprisingresultswhenaviewerorclientnotices,likesandbuysoneoftheirworks
Ittakesawhiletobecomeknown,andifyouareanintrovert,itcanbeevenmoredi(ßcult.Socia mediaplaysabigpartinpromotingyourself.Youreallyneedtoshowup,andbehelpful,in the‘right’groupstobenoticed,withoutappearingspammy.Thereissuchafinelinebetween appearingspammyandaddingvaluetoagroup.
Lastly,oneofthemostimportantthingsI’vefoundwithSocialmediaisthatyouhavetoshow againandagain.There’snopointpostingonceamonth…youhavetopostdailyifyourfansare goingtorememberyou.Therearevarioustoolsfordoingthise.g.Hootsuite
AsforthenewNFTworldonthehorizon,IthinkI’llleavethatworldaloneforthetimebeing– editorJamesistheexpertthere!InoneofthelastissuesofMyCreativeImages,Jamesdidan editorialonNFTswhichisveryworththeread.
Ifyouaren’tsureofyourcreativepathyet,myownjourneymaygiveyouafewideas.Istartedout tryingtosellonFineArtAmerica,butrealizedthere’ssuchalotofcompetitionthatIgave earlyon.Yes,Iknowconsistencyisthekey…butitdidn’tfeelrightforme.Iclosedmypageand movedtoSaatchiArt ,well-knownintheartsector,whichhasawonderfulreputationforquali work.I’vebeenthereeversince,andhavehadtheoddsale.OnceIhadtoshipapiecetoSeattl andspentmoretimeintheItalianfineartcustomso(ßcethanIwouldhaveliked.Theamounto paperworkwasstaggering.Iwassopleasedwhenthecouriercametopickupthepiece.
Ithenmovedintocreatingcoursesforartistsandcrafterswhoarecluelessonhowtoset owncreativebusiness.Ihaveenjoyedon-goingsuccesshere(probablybecauseIjustlovethe businesssideofthings–Iranalanguageschoolformanyyears).I’vemetsomeextraordinary peopleonmyjourneythatnowI’veopenedacreativemembership,called ivien’s ‘V CreativityLab’, forbuddingcreativebizownerstohelpthem‘tosetupActually online’. it’sabitofapot-pourri… onlinetechsetupandcreativetutorialswithsomemonthly Youcan coaching! findoutmorehere aboutthemembership!Delightedifyoutakeapeek!
Here’sthepiecethatshippedtoAmerica.It’soneofthefirstpiecesIdidwhenIstartedwit Sebastian’sPhotoArtistryandAwakecourses–andremainsafavouriteofmine!
40
Thismonthhasbeenwintery,coldish,butnot muchrain.I’mluckytoliveontheMediterranea SeanearAnzio,Lazio.
Infact,I’vebeenspendingalotoftimeat thebeachandcapturedsomenicephotosto enhance.Here’saselection.Anzioisfamousfor thevillaofEmperorNero…andisalsoathrivi smallfishingport.
Forthemoreadventurous,thereisasorto hydrofoilthatgoesfrequentlytotheislan Ponzainthesummermonths.
NFT’s how to buy them NFTs are fun, they oœer an exciting new way of owning and HowtoGetStarted selling art. The artwork varies from pixel art to highly details To buy or sell an NFT you need a “Wallet” and some “Crypto realism artwork. Prices range from £1 to well sky high. Currency”. You then need to choose which platform you join to buy / sell your NFT, there are a lot of them! Some artwork comes with access to an online or actual event, some is purely artwork. There are some very famous people Here are a few places you can learn more: that are jumping into the world of NFTs, such as Johnny Depp (look for “Never Fear Truth” ). What is Metamask: view on Youtube How to set up a Wallet: view on Youtube There have also been many instances of what are termed Add funds to your wallet: view on Youtube “Rug pulls” where the promises made to people who buy an How to avoid scams: view on Youtube NFT are not met and the “team” to ran the promotion simply take the money and run. Please note, these are not my videos they have been sourced from Youtube and are provided as a point of reference only. Sadly, as with most things in life, the negative stories take the focus away from the potential of using the Blockchain as a method of identifying the original creator of artwork and Community providing a method of the artist receiving an income from the One of the most exciting things about my dive into NFTs is resale of their artwork. the friends that you make, there are thousands of artists out there, all of them just as excited about NFTs and what they Yes there are some pitfalls if you just dive in and don’t do canoœer. your homework. Don’t look back on this in 10 years time and think, perhaps I could have........think back on where Bitcoin So if nothing else comes of it, at least I now have a lot more started, what people said about it and where it is today. people I can exchange ideas with and a place to go to (online) where I can hang out with like minded people. I personally own 12 or more NFTs, some I purchased from artists I know to support them in their journey, some just because I like them. Then there are those that people me as gifts. NFTs are what ever you want them to be.
James Hurley - Photo Artist / Magazine Editor
Back Issues If you enjoyed this issue, follow the link below and check out the previous months magazines. Each one is packed full of photo-art made especially for you.
https://issuu.com/mycreativeimages
M e t v IImages ae My CCreative Promoting Digital Photo Artistry
