MY PROCESS / PHOTO REIMAGINING
On my first trip to Greece, in my freshman year of college, I remember being struck by the way light and shadow played with color and texture on the ruins. Since then a day has not gone by that I haven’t found something I’ve wanted to capture on film. (Or now, more accurately, as a digital file!)
I can’t really say why I find certain scenes and images captivating, but it’s usually a combination of color, mood, lighting, something one would never find in their daily lives, etc. Regardless of what I photograph, though, I almost immediately start deconstructing the images in my head and reimagine them as something new...which is why I call my particular form of artwork PHOTO REIMAGINING.
After moving to southern Utah over a decade ago I began playing with a variety of digital photographic techniques. After having traveled to all seven continents and over 65 countries, I now had a catalog of photographs from some of the most far-flung reaches of the earth. From Antarctica to India, South Africa to Peru, and everything in between, my growing digital album contained countless disparate images that I felt, when edited, layered and combined, could truly morph to another level of imagery.
And so it began. I started digitally editing and clipping bits and pieces of photos to create an altered, heightened reality. I felt the new images were interesting, but something was still missing. Which is when I started acquiring an array of digital tools (paint brushes, filters, etc.) and began the long process of “over-painting” one of my collages. Bit by bit, I recolored, painted and added texture to my first piece and finally saw a hint of what I imagined back when I was 17.
Over the years my techniques have continued to change, though I have never abandoned earlier techniques. The fact is that no one technique works for every subject matter. Just as any artist might specialize in a particular media (photography, oil, watercolor, chalk, pen and ink, clay, etc.), unless the artist also specializes in a particular subject matter, they modify brushes, brush strokes, paints, tools, even the surface on which they work, to best capture and convey a subject, a time of day, a mood.
And so it is with me. I come across something that might work for a series of pieces, then move on to find something new. For me, part of the fun of creativity is in the journey of discovery, which never ends. It’s like a treasure hunt, and I’m always searching for the gold.
One thing that is consistent throughout all of my pieces is the layering process. I usually start with a primary theme, or subject (a horse, a barn, an old car, a building, etc.), then I start pouring through my litany of photographs to select trees, flowers, skies, streams, clouds, people, etc., that I feel would combine well with and enhance the title subject. And my subjects are extremely varied, from still life to abstract. But the foundation for every one of my pieces starts with a bit of one photograph that captured my imagination.
Though I continue to create and sell original and numbered pieces that spring from my own photo library, over the past few years I have been commissioned to create unique pieces from the photos of my collectors. One piece I created was for an adventurous couple who love to mountain climb. After studying several of their spectacular shots, I found one that really spoke to me. From there I took all of the photos and layered several of the mountains they had climbed into one, multi-dimensional mountain-scape. And in the background I used a magnificent photo of a sky with clouds that I took while in Antarctica. The overall effect was almost otherworldly. And, thankfully, my clients loved it. (Please see Endorsements)
So, whether you’re looking for something unique from my collection, or would like to have a piece of personal art created specifically from your own adventures, I would love to work with you!
After moving to southern Utah over a decade ago I began playing with a variety of digital photographic techniques. After having traveled to all seven continents and over 65 countries, I now had a catalog of photographs from some of the most far-flung reaches of the earth. From Antarctica to India, South Africa to Peru, and everything in between, my growing digital album contained countless disparate images that I felt, when edited, layered and combined, could truly morph to another level of imagery.
And so it began. I started digitally editing and clipping bits and pieces of photos to create an altered, heightened reality. I felt the new images were interesting, but something was still missing. Which is when I started acquiring an array of digital tools (paint brushes, filters, etc.) and began the long process of “over-painting” one of my collages. Bit by bit, I recolored, painted and added texture to my first piece and finally saw a hint of what I imagined back when I was 17.
Over the years my techniques have continued to change, though I have never abandoned earlier techniques. The fact is that no one technique works for every subject matter. Just as any artist might specialize in a particular media (photography, oil, watercolor, chalk, pen and ink, clay, etc.), unless the artist also specializes in a particular subject matter, they modify brushes, brush strokes, paints, tools, even the surface on which they work, to best capture and convey a subject, a time of day, a mood.
And so it is with me. I come across something that might work for a series of pieces, then move on to find something new. For me, part of the fun of creativity is in the journey of discovery, which never ends. It’s like a treasure hunt, and I’m always searching for the gold.
One thing that is consistent throughout all of my pieces is the layering process. I usually start with a primary theme, or subject (a horse, a barn, an old car, a building, etc.), then I start pouring through my litany of photographs to select trees, flowers, skies, streams, clouds, people, etc., that I feel would combine well with and enhance the title subject. And my subjects are extremely varied, from still life to abstract. But the foundation for every one of my pieces starts with a bit of one photograph that captured my imagination.
Though I continue to create and sell original and numbered pieces that spring from my own photo library, over the past few years I have been commissioned to create unique pieces from the photos of my collectors. One piece I created was for an adventurous couple who love to mountain climb. After studying several of their spectacular shots, I found one that really spoke to me. From there I took all of the photos and layered several of the mountains they had climbed into one, multi-dimensional mountain-scape. And in the background I used a magnificent photo of a sky with clouds that I took while in Antarctica. The overall effect was almost otherworldly. And, thankfully, my clients loved it. (Please see Endorsements)
So, whether you’re looking for something unique from my collection, or would like to have a piece of personal art created specifically from your own adventures, I would love to work with you!