Sep
6
2010
CowBoy + Photoshop = New Art Series
Author: Deb TrotterCow + Boy
Thank you, God. For Cowboys.
Maybe turning 60 has its advantages. For one thing, I feel this compulsion to hurry and try everything I’ve wanted to but never seem to have the time.
One of those everythings is more cowboy art. Not just cowgirl art. I said, COWBOY ART.
Another of those everythings is “clean art.” I tend to be very detailed in my work – so it takes a lot of time. I get bogged down in the possibilities of Photoshop. Perhaps all those images, colors, backgrounds, and fancy borders are getting old.
Sometimes I wonder if my painted story complicates the art – the final product.
So I’ve begun a study – a series of work involving quintessential western characters and the way they make me feel. I’ll use Old West and/or favorite photos I’ve collected over the last 30 years. And I’ll throw in some famous or infamous legends along the way.
I’ll start out with simple imagery. A monochromatic color scheme. Distinctive type. And minimalist (at least for ME) design.
The piece featured in this post – “Cow + Boy” – is the first of three that I just finished.
I was inspired by this cowboy photo and the upcoming Buffalo Bill Art Show – only two weeks away. Cody, Wyoming will be riproaring full of cowboys, cowgirls, western artists, and fabulous programs all week long!
This is how it started out.
First a Black & White photo of a cowboy with a nice, square jaw. The original (seen at the top of this post) needed a lot of cleaning up and enhancing in Photoshop. Thank goodness for the healing brush, clone, and dodge & burn tools.
After restoring a pretty bad photo (now one of my favorites) – I wanted that really graphic feel – so I used the magic wand tool to eliminate all the white from the photo. Then I used posterize … turning the cowboy picture into a more dramatic icon. I like to play with the adjustments of the image – experimenting with levels and curves. Then contrast.
Next – I chose a background that I ran through Filter Forge for the added effect of the subtle diamond pattern. I opened the cowboy icon and added it to a layer above the background. You can see the figure + the background on the picture, above right.
Do you play around with composition as I do?
When I created all my collage by hand it took me a long time to decide where I wanted everything to be … but in the end it was really about the placement of the main image.
I really enjoy the spontaneous, intuitive process of following my instinct – an artistic characteristic of mine that may frustrate other artists. Sometimes I know exactly what I want to happen in my art. Other times I have no clue whatsoever – just a concept.
I’m going to be honest and say that a combination of intuition and planning works best for me. That’s one of the reasons I love photomontage. Digital collage. Photoshop art.
Whatever you choose to call it, it’s so easy – and FUN – to play around with composition. There is no glue. And I don’t have to pull out sanding paper, more paint … or God forbid – a knife … to start over (or destroy).
It’s all one big, undemanding – unlimited – exercise in creativity. (more…)
