Post by eternity on Aug 5, 2008 20:57:25 GMT
Interview with `Chasing-ButterfliesdeviantART - Digital
Administered by Eternity.
Name? Michelle Batton
Age? 34
Location? Illinois
Website/Gallery? mellowbutterfly.com and chasing-butterflies.deviantart/com
What you enjoy doing for fun?
lol, I guess I am a pretty boring stay-at-home mom - I enjoy creating digital scrapbooking supplies, digital artwork, reading fantasy/sci-fi books, tending the flowers and herbs in my yard and hanging out with my 2 and 4 year old kids and husband too of course!
Your favourite website to visit (you don't have to own it)?
I guess that it would have to be deviantArt, although the last couple months I have barely had time to stop by. I used to check in there everyday!
What do you look for in the stock and references that you use?
It really depends on the piece that I am working on - but generally speaking, the image has to be print quality (high-res, crisp) and if it is a model - then I don't like any bits missing (you know, a toe cut off the edge of the image, backdrop covering a portion of the leg, etc). Other resources like brushes also need to be high resolution, well made and not made from copyrighted material.
You repaint a lot of the model stock that you use. what are the reasons behind this?
For me, it is the easiest way to get the light source to match in all the various images I use. I also like to retouch models, paint the hair in the way I want it to fall, paint over cast shadows that don't belong, add different elements to the texture or design of the cloth, things like that.
You use 3D stocks as well as photographs in your work. Do you ever find it difficult to make these different pieces fit together?
Not at all - it's all about choosing good stock to start with - from there, skill with photoshop and of course repainting blends it all together
Where do you get your inspiration?
From all different places really - sometimes I will see a stock image and instantly visualize a scene, other times I am inspired by another artists' work or style, but mostly ideas just come from nowhere - the image sort of develops as I go along.
From your gallery you are primarily a fantasy artist. What is it about this theme that is so interesting?
I've always been drawn to fantasy and make-believe places - so I guess it was a natural progression. I also enjoy doing pieces with surreal elements to them.
Have you ever posted, or thought of posting, tutorials on your painting or photo manipulation techniques?
I do have one tut posted on deviantArt, but I definitely have to credit the many fabulous tuts provided by other artists for most of the skills that I have learned. Without places like deviantArt, I would never have learned the first thing about photomanipulations or digital painting.
You offer many of the personal resources you use in your art for sale on your website mellowbutterfly.com. Do these items sell well? What made you want to offer your personal resources for sale?
Many of my friends started selling their resources sites aimed at 3D artists and suggested that I sell my resources there too - but my resources were geared more towards digital painting and photomanips, so I just didn't feel like that was the best avenue for me. So, I designed my own website and set up shop on my own. I probably don't make as much money as my friends "at the big stores" but I do well enough for me. I also have shifted my focus to creating digital scrapbooking supplies and have been working to find my place in that market as well - I feel alot of the resources for digital scrapbooking and altered art cross over well with photomanips!
You have done several collaborations with other artists over the years. What is the benefit, if any of collaborating and do you enjoy it?
Collaborations are wonderful opportunities to learn new techniques, see another artists' work and thought process first hand and you also to get to know Photoshop better! I highly recommend them - I've learned something new from every collab I've done.
Finally, do you have any advice for budding artists?
Keep at it! Read as many tutorials as you can get your hands on and try them, take constructive critique and then act on that advice. Seek out an artist who you admire and politely ask them about their artistic processes. And above all - just have fun!
