My Creative Images Promoting Digital Photo Artistry and Digital Photography
www.mycre
Issue 40 (July 2021)
Welcome to the Mycreativeimages Magazine I haven’t taken a portrait photograph in over 16 months, I had forgotten how much I enjoy it, how much joy and excitement a simple thing of setting up the background and lights generates, but that is nothing to the buzz experienced when looking at a subject through the view finder, turning them to the light to create just enough shadow, balancing the depth of field to the composition and the fine art edit I have in mind. This memory was sparked whilst tidying my small studio space and looking through some photographs…….. This led me to think about the photography equipment I had and I had the stark realisation that rather than it all being an asset it was all now heading towards being a liability. Why, simply because something that doesn’t make you money is a liability. This made me think some more, what about me, prior to dropping everything and hiding at home I was actively out taking photographs and collecting images that I could composite into photo-art, I was also taking portraits and doing commissions converting ok’ish photographs into bright fun composites. So I myself was my biggest asset, but now Im at home now Im actively offering commission have I turned into my biggest liability? What have I done in the last 16 months to better myself, to build my skills and knowledge where is the investment in myself and my photography and art workflows? Yes I have created more artwork than I ever have in the last 6 months, but where is it, why isn’t it on my website, where is the hand embellished art…..its not finished, its sat on my work space waiting for me to get my ass in gear! Why? Its simple, a failed myself, I let my mindset revert to being one of an employee, one where I lost my self-confidence, my conviction that I am a creative entrepreneur and I slipped back into the 8 to 4:30 routine, back into working for someone else and lost sight of who and what I am. How do this happen? Its simple, I got overwhelmed and listened to my subconscious programming, I forgot that emotions are meant to be observed ant not reacted on, I lost my footing and didn’t know which path to take. Its fine, I have learned from this, I simply needed a reminder of who I am and what my goal is.
Featured artists Claude Trew 4 David Walker 10 Diane Eastham 16 James Hurley 20 Joyce Simpson 38 Keeley McCleave 40 Sue Waterhouse 50 Terry Jane 54 Vivien Capper 58
Cover image “Love and Joy” by James Hurley https://www.mycreativeimages.com
Do you need that same reminder? If you do why not reach out and lets help each other make each other accountable for the goals and help each other focus our minds on whats important and what we should just divert around on our creative journey. James Hurley Photo Artist / Magazine Editor Links: Facebook Page: http://bit.ly/MYCIFBpage Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/FBArtGroup 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.
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This publication is created and owned by James Hurley, ©mycreativeimages.com 2020. Please feel free to share the magazine but do not make changes to any of the content.
self development - why? Continuing the theme from the Editors intro, as an artist it is essential that everything that you invest money into can be used to generate an income. After all an artist is a business the same as a corner shop is. What is the point of spending hard earned money on something that will never be used? To that end my focus is now to build my skills, build my knowledge turning myself into my biggest asset. After all I started this journey nearly 4 years ago, by joining the Awake photo-artistry course, so why stop here, what’s changed do I know how to use all the tools I own, do I know how to use every option on photoshop......well no of course I dont! So its time to return to focusing on learning at the same time as producing art, its time to return to portrait photography, learning how to create my own lighting setup, learning more about website design, learning Search Engine Optimisation, learning how to write effective ad copy. In short as a creative entrepreneur I am my best most valuable asset, its time I remember it and started acting like I want to dump the day job and do this full time. Step 1 - Remind myself who I am and why I create art. Step 2 - Re-write by artist Bio Step 3 - Write and maintain my artist CV Step 4 - Re-learn portrait photography and lighting. Step 5 - Continue learning what each of the options on Photoshop do Step 6 - invest in key courses to increase my knowledge and help me stand head and shoulders above the competition. Identifying yourself and defining the reason you create art is a key step, documenting your goals and then following through with them is the hardest part. BUT the only person that you let down by not following your dream, is YOU. Its true, no one else will bat an eyelid, turn up tomorrow and sit at your desk at work and no one notices. BUT when you aren’t there because you are working for yourself, taking photographs, creating art, living your dream, then people notice. Live your dream, write down your plan, follow it. PLEASE do it now, not tomorrow, NOW. James Hurley
Courses / software / stock Over the coming months I will be dedicating space in the magazine for courses, software, stock images and equipment, each of which may help you as a photographer or photo-artist. These wont be random things found and dumped here, they will be selected and checked, mostly they will be for things I have tried and found beneficial myself. If you run a course or have experienced one that you think will benefit others, drop me a message and I can add the details in the next issue: submissions@mycreativeimages.com
portrait masterclass The first portrait photography course set the scene for my hunger to learn more about off camera flash and the potential lighting combinations that you can use. My interest was to be able to have a mobile studio and be able to set up at events, in clients homes or outside and be able to consistently take photographs using a single light source combined with reflectors and flags to fill in or create shadows. The wealth of information that is out there is mind boggling, and after a while you can go cross-eyed and simply get overwhelmed by the different advice and suggestions. So what did I do, I looked for and existing photographer, one whose work resonated with my goals and searched for info on any course that he offered. After taking the course, watching the videos and putting some of the ideas into practice I am again “feeling” the urge to start offering commissioned sessions again. I would whole heartedly recommend this Masterclass, either click here for more info or click on the image above, enter your email and check out the course content.
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
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Birds Killer Trial
The World is burning
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Evil in the sky
Neptune riding the waves
Painted Amarylis
David Walker I have had yet another good month experimenting and producing (what I consider, at least!) good PhotoArt. A mixed collection this month, differing techniques with different programs mainly using my own digital photographs. The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition has Run without interruption since 1769 – yes, even in 2020 – the Summer Exhibition is the world’s largest open submission art show. It brings together art in all mediums, from prints, paintings, film and photography to sculpture, architectural works and more by leading artists, Royal Academicians and household names as well as new and emerging talent. I first entered in 2019 and my PhotoArt work “Perhaps the most beautiful resting place in the world?” Was shortlisted for the exhibition, but did not make the final cut. The brief for 2021 is “celebrating the joy of creating art through the theme of ‘Reclaiming Magic’ and will transcend a singular Western art history’s point of reference to focus on magic and a return to the visceral aspects of art-making. The exhibition will be a celebration of the transformative powers of the magical in art, a return to the ritualistic and the sheer joy of making. Western Renaissance art education, Modernist and Conceptual Art practices led to the devaluing of art practices from other cultures in their unmediated forms. This exhibition seeks to restore value to marginalised practices, to reclaim the magic of those works in the context of the Royal Academy. I seek to propose a new pride in the concept of ‘Primitivism’ as an equally valid form of enlightenment alongside other Art practices”. My entry is entitled “African Tribesmen” and tries, using PhotoArt techniques, to incorporate the concepts of ‘Primitivism’ as I interpret them. The first cut is to a shortlist of 4,000 on the 1st July 2021 and I hope my work will make that! A tall order as there are usually over 20,000 entries from every conceivable form of art, now including PhotoArt!
https://www.vista-foto.com/
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Guitar Man
Left to the Mercy of the High Seas
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Ravaged by the Waves
Night Ttraffic
The London Eye
African Tribesme
The Thames at Night
Monarch Butterfly
Zebra Longwing
Diane Eastham I was born in London, England, but now live in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. I taught English and adult art classes for many years, and eventually wrote a book about my creative experiences: Blaze of Colour: Embracing Creativity. When it comes to art, I have eclectic tastes and love all sorts of photography including macro and urban. My Photoartistry journey began about 5 years ago when I took Sebastian Michaels Photo Artistry course. I’ve since added AWAKE and KAIZEN to my creative arsenal and enjoy being part of these vibrant facebook communities. I am also on a couple of Digital Scrapbooking Creative Teams which puts my Photo Artistry skills to good use. I actually began my artistic journey with Calligraphy which has given me a good understanding of fonts and the use of text in Photoshop. I love illuminated manuscripts and historical fashion and have recently begun trying to create these in photoshop…whatever the image, I like to tell some kind of story. The journey continues. Enjoy!
www.dianeeastham.com
The Lutenist
He Turned My World Upside Down
For the Birds
The World Within
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.” This month James has submitted one piece of work which sums up his approach to artwork as described above. “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” Ansel Adams
https://www.mycreativeimages.com/
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“Love and Joy” its all around us, just need to let is wash over you.
Joyce Simpson As lockdown restrictions are lifted I am finding myself with less time to spend on being creative. This month’s submission is entitled ‘A Little Less Ordinary’ and was inspired by ‘The Path’ by Anja De Dobberlaere, Awake session 12. The main elements are made up of images of Lime Street Station, Liverpool and Whitby Pier. I was honoured again this month to see my image ‘Sunflower’, previously featured in My Creative Images, included in the 76th issue of Living The Photo Artistic Life.
https://joycesimpson.myportfolio.com
A Little Less Ordinary
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.
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Sir Francis Cake
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Sir Francis Drake 2
Sir Francis Fake
Sir Francis Flake
Sir Francis Hake
Sir Francis Mandrake 2
Sir Francis Snake
Sir Francis Stake
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. I am very new to the world of Digital Art and 12 months ago I had only occasionally ventured into Photoshop to remove unwanted items from my photographs. When the first lockdown was introduced in March, 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. As I am still at the start of my creative journey I have not yet found one particular style that I prefer….maybe I never will!
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Balance
Drowning in the city
Undersea photoshoot
Terry Jane I served for 26 years in the Royal Navy over 20 years of which was as a Fleet Air Arm pilot. I have always had two main passions outside of flying, photography and computers. When I left the RN I set up a computer support and web design business. This excited my interest in graphics and digital art. I pursued my photography through online courses in fine art and became adept at Lightroom and Photoshop for post processing and editing photographs. It wasn’t until late 2019 that I discovered the “Photoshop Artistry” course by Sebastian Michaels. I went on to complete the “Creative Black and White Photo Artistry” course and the “Wield Photoshop Like an Artist” course. The whole process captivated me and for the first time in my life gave me a medium to create art that I now realise I had always craved. I signed up for the “AWAKE: Photoshop Mastery Edition” at the beginning of 2020 and I am loving every moment. Now fully retired I am able to devote much of my time to my art though I have a range of hobbies covering cycling, angling, walking and, when Covid-19 allows, travel.
https://terryjaneart.myportfolio.com
African Tawny Eagle
Barn Owl ready for the hunt
Milky Eagle Owl
Vivien Capper Hello. My name’s Vivien and I’m from the beautiful county of Kent, England though currently living and working near Rome in delightful Italy with its exciting, lively way of life and vibrant colours and designs . I started out as an artist developing Indian ink artwork of a variety of subjects especially figurative artwork and abstract floral designs, then progressed into creative photography and digital artistry thanks to Sebastian Michael’s courses at ‘Photoshop Artistry’ and the advanced courses ‘Awake’ & ‘Kaizen’. My inspiration is drawn from my love of nature, figurative artwork and Italian design and I love using many textures, patterns and colours. I’m thrilled to have some of my artwork in various international publications including: Living the Photo Artistic Life, My Creative Images and I have also gained ‘honourable mentions’ in the Shift Art Monthly Challenge. I was also pleased to be the winner of the Shift Art Challenge with a piece ‘The Mysterious Cobbled Street’.
https://saatchiart.com/vivienjane
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Floral Silk Delight
Summer blue
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Majestic
Sad Little Lady
I’m looking at you
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
