Ever wonder how I create my digital art? I’ve been asked a number of times how I do what I do with photographs and a computer, so I thought I’d share a little about my creative process with you. I began my journey into digital art 5 years ago, when I turned a photograph I took of a tree in my parents’ backyard into a dramatic, surreal piece of art in Photoshop. I’ve actually been experimenting with my photography in Photoshop since I got my hands on Photoshop 2.0 (around 1997), but in 2005, after being a member of the DeviantART community (a wonderful source of inspiration) for about 2 years at the time, my photo-manipulating/digital art creations went to another level.

My process is 1 part planning (utilizing my photographic composition & design knowledge) and 9 parts experimentation. When I say “experimentation”, I don’t mean I go crazy trying anything and everything until I get a result I like. Okay, maybe a little! I apply a lot of techniques that I’ve taught myself over the years to see if they’ll work for a particular piece. I also often come up with completely new techniques or ideas. Each project goes through an evolutionary transformation and manifests on my screen by fusing many elements together to create a unified work of art.

Here I will outline a very basic, very abbreviated version of my digital art creation process, using the “Avalon Revisited” cover art as an example…

Step 1: Found photos, removed subject from background, arranged photos on canvas.

Here you see a public domain photograph of the Houses of Parliament found on the WikiCommons website. Normally, I try use my own stock of photographs for most of my art, but since I’ve never been to London to take a photo myself, and because the project required it, I had to settle for this very nice license-free stock photo. You also see a carefully cut-out photograph of our mysterious steampunk model.

Step 2: Added some “steampunk” elements and experimented with layer blending options.

I found the clockwork, gear and cog photographs on the WikiCommons site and cut them out from their respective backgrounds. You can see some layer blending has been applied by the almost negative effect of the clockwork and the variegated color on the cog. At this stage I also smoothed out the pixelization and digital noise from the photo of the model.

Step 3: Texture!

Added clouds and an overlay texture image, adjusting opacity and probably playing around with the layer blending options again.

Step 4: Added coil, clock and more texture

Added more texture using clouds and a grungy photo of a rusted metal surface. Erased the center of the rust image to allow most of the art to show through, leaving a little to frame the edges. I also added the coil and clock face for some more steampunk flair.

Step 5: Flatten and Filter

When I get to a point where I am happy with the layout and placement of all the elements, have the color adjusted to my liking and just the right amount light density and contrast, I flatten the entire image. With the flattened image, I do some more color, levels and contrast adjustments before playing around with special filters.

Step 6: Filters and Backtrack Adjustments

I use Photoshop filters or additional plug-in filters to achieve a more polished look. For this piece, I added a vignette filter that also brightened the center a bit. Because digital art can often be moody and unpredictable, I often went back to the un-flattened file to make adjustments. Here you can see that the cog on the left, inside the clockwork, is more pronounced/constrasted. I also resized the subject and nudged her a bit to the left. These were just a few of many many adjustments. I’m quite the perfectionist, and while sometimes that can become an obstacle, thankfully in this case that trait helped make the final image a success!

Step 7: Final image

It’s finished! After many more adjustments to the final flattened image, I decided it was ready for print. I sent the final version off to the publishing company and the author, who were both very pleased with the final result.

Step 8: Final Cover Design

InDesign was used to lay out the final design. I created all the design elements except for the publishing company’s logo and bar code. The industrial-looking metal placard and screws were created from scratch in Photoshop. This shows the full image stretching on to the back of the book.

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It seems so simple when I write it out like this. In reality, this particular project lasted many countless hours scattered over the course of a month and a half. But it was definitely worth it, and I’d do it again if the opportunity presented itself!

I am very excited to unveil the book cover art I created for author O.M. Grey’s debut novel “Avalon Revisited”! Miss Grey commissioned me after viewing my digital art work on my website. It is truly an honor to be asked not only to create the artwork, but to design the entire book cover as well as the chapter headings. This is my first book cover/design project and I must say, I loved it!

“Avalon Revisited” is a Paranormal Steampunk Romance, so it was a good healthy challenge for me to create something for a genre I haven’t worked in yet. Steampunk is awesome. And very popular, from what I’ve learned! I hope I’ve done the book, and the genre, justice.

Now available for digital download from Amazon!

Come back later for the “Making of the Avalon Revisited cover”…

This summer I was asked to create more art for Rachel Van Asch of Van Asch Clothing. When she sent the reference photos over I knew this would be another exciting project to work on! Lovely models wearing beautiful and edgy clothing from the Van Asch “Unique Boutique” inspired a more fashion-focused approach to the images I created for them. These 5 images were featured in a fashion spread for Alt Fashion Magazine issue 14. I introduce to you my new art series, Fierce Faeries….

Models are wearing: (image 1) Titania Top – €68.00, (image 2) Devotion Top – €62.00, (image 3) Silver Siren Evening Dress- €95.00,  (image 4) Victorian Lolita Bell Skirt – €95.00

My creation, “Birth of Dawn” made the cover of the October, 2009 issue of Spirit Seeker Magazine! This was created back in March as a warm-up for the FAE Magazine art, and it features my good friend Kristy Rose. Inside there is even a little bio about me.

You can check out the latest issue of the magazine, here:
http://www.spiritseeker.com

Kristy and I recently worked on some more portraits in which she portrays some popular characters from current fantasy stories. More news to come, along with some new models which I am very excited to debut!

UPDATE: One of my photographs also made the November issue!

Way back in February of last year, I told you to go out and buy a new fantasy novel called Rowan of the Wood. Over a year and a half later, Rowan is an award-winning story being sold at book stores all over the country! Its authors, Christine & Ethan Rose, are following up with a tour of Celtic faires and book store signings to promote this up-and-coming literary phenomenon. Maybe you’ve seen them on a road near you in the Geekalicious Gypsy Caravan?

Check out the websites I designed for the Rowan Empire!
http://www.rowanofthewood.com
http://www.witchonthewater.com
http://www.christineandethanrose.com

October, 2008, saw the official release of Rowan of the Wood. This October, Rowan celebrates his first birthday with the long awaited sequel being released!  Book #2 in the series is called Witch on the Water, and you can buy it on October 15th from Amazon.com.  Don’t forget!  Help send Witch to the Top!

…And catch up with the series by reading Rowan of the Wood! Available here

Next in my new fantasy art series is a piece we call Green Fairy.  Over the next few weeks, I will be unveiling new fantasy art I created for Van Asch Clothing that is published in a fashion spread for the Summer ‘09 issue of Faeries & Enchantment (FAE) Magazine. You can pick up your copy online or at participating Borders stores.

This scene features a fairy dressed in the gorgeous Forest Maiden dress from the Van Asch line,  summoning the spirits of the forest in an arc of ethereal light.

Be sure to come back on in a few days for the next unveiling!  Subscribe to my blog so you don’t forget!

This is one of my favorite songs to hear live. I found this video of one of the Mediaeval Baebes many performances at the Arizona Renaissance Festival last week (so disappointed I couldn’t go).  Rabbit gives the wonderful introduction explaining the lyrics, including the meaning of the word undrentide in Middle English. This song describes my life, at times.  I can sympathize, too!

That haunting recorder melody which opens the song and runs throughout…It truly takes me to another realm, every single time I hear it.  I also love the way they pronounce and enunciate the word “undrentide” in the second verse.  This video is not the best representation of their talent..you need to see them live or buy their albums to get the full effect!

This is just one of the many enchanting bands I listen to while creating, and definitely the most inspiring after having seen two of their concerts and meeting the artists after their performances.  Some of my live concert photography is still displayed on their website…still very thrilled and flattered about that

Future companion for my 20D?

I need a new lens for my camera. I’ve been toting around this heavy Tamron 17-35mm for two years since my small lightweight (cheap) 50mm lens broke. While the wide angle is lovely to have for all the landscape photography I’ve been doing since moving to the Pacific Northwest, it’s a chore to lug such a heavy camera up mountains and on long hikes. I don’t have a camera bag large enough to carry the camera when the lens is on it, either. So it’s time to find a new 50mm.

I’ve been looking at this one for quite some time…it’s inexpensive and I’ll probably get what I pay for…cheap junk. A starter lens. It’s probably the same lens I had that came with my camera! I have a Canon 20D, by the way. Instead of upgrading to the 40D or 50D or wherever they’re at now, I’d like to invest in a good lens that’s under $500. An f/1.4 or f/1.8 would be nice. Really, I just want great image-quality. I’m finding my digital photographs aren’t as crisp as my photos from film (R.I.P 35mm…sniff). So, I’m looking at this one, now.

Then there’s also my other nagging desire…to get a macro lens. Oh, the choices!

Any photographers out there who can offer some insight on these lenses? I think I’m past the amateur/beginner’s stage…it’s been well over 10 years since I first picked up an SLR!

Time draws near for the beginning of my solo exhibit at the Lynnwood Library Gallery in Lynnwood, Washington (just north of Seattle). The mats and prints thankfully arrived safely after being delayed due to Seattle’s “Snowpocalpse”, so all 18 pieces will be framed and ready to go for the show on Friday. The postcards have been sent to friends & family and more will be scattered about at the gallery. Very excited to ring in the new year with my first ever solo exhibit!

All of my friends and family (with the exception of my husband and a good friend who will be up for from San Francisco for a visit and to attend the Bad Faeries Ball) will not be able to attend, so I’ll be sure to post some pictures of the show. I’m looking forward to meeting some new people when I visit the gallery!

Hello Friends,

My first ever solo gallery exhibit is coming up in January, and I cannot afford the cost to print, mat and frame 20 pieces . To raise the funds, I am having a special promotion of buy 2 art prints, get a free 8×10 from me!  Framed art is a great gift idea for the holidays!

How to get your free fine art print:

1. Between now and December 31st, Purchase two prints in any size 8×10 or larger at my Print Shoppe: http://photopixie.deviantart.com/store

2. Contact me at catarionna@yahoo.com with the subject “Free 8×10″. In the message, list the titles of the two prints you purchased along with your mailing address. Please indicate the title of the third FREE print you would like.

3. I will send you the free 8×10 of your choice!

It’s that easy! I appreciate your help with making my dream come true

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! May you all have a blessed holiday season.