Interview with Lys

For our fourth interview I'd like to introduce Lys, a famous Paris based artist and designer, who works with La Marelle, a superbly hip publishing company! These are to be found in the best card shops world wide, or can be ordered online HERE .

First of all can you tell us a little about yourself?
I'm a French graphic designer and Illustrator from Paris, working mainly in the cultural editing field. But I'm also involved on several other projects as a pure collage artist : this part of my work remains voluntary more personal, orchestrated by my desires, experiences and interrogations…

We notice you specialise in surreal photo-montages, can you tell us how they come about?

I consider my art as the mirror of my inner self, and so I use a lot of personal drawings and photographs material in my collages. I also often put myself as a character of my stories. It's a way to pull out my interrogations and feelings. 

Inspirations?

From Sarah moon to Kerry Ropper. I also always keep an eye on fresh art from internet, magazines, galleries…

You’re a frequent user of Flypapers and textures, can you share any processing tips?
As my illustrations are full of small and complicated details, I try to have a soft use of Flypapers textures. One rule : I always put a paper texture, lighted by a small halo, on the first layer of my Photoshop file. This give an old fashioned look to my collage and make me feel I'm recreating a kind of old fairy tale on every work.

What processing equipment do you use?

A Mac, a scanner, my drawings, old family photographs and Photoshop. For my exhibitions I usually order prints on real canvas.

Tell us a bit about your upcoming shows?

My next show "ll be at the Cell 63 art gallery, Berlin - Germany, during this summer. I'll be part of the of the "Mail Art Exhibition", next august, at the Galleri KG52 , Stockholm - Sweden. I"ll be also featured at the next Kholn Art festival next autumn.

Website and blog info
Website
Blog
Flickr
You can also find and buy my products there
http://fr.dawanda.com/shop/lysdesign
http://www.lamarelleenpapier.net under the artist name "Lys"

Many thanks!:-)

Don't forget our earlier packs...click on the sidebar links, the combo offer for packs One and Two is still running too :-)

Combo Pack Offer

Only $65 for Tex Box One and Two!

Fly Edges Pack

Only $40

Please note that this is big, almost 400 mb file so the download may take a while. Average reported download time for this pack varies from 15 to 20 mins.

Interview with Corinne Geertsen (ZebraMule)

Let me introduce Corinne Geersten, better known to those on Flickr as ZebraMule. Corinne comes from Arizonia in the US and produces these rich surreal works of art. Fittingly the image you see above is entitled "Interview".

First of all can you tell us a little about yourself?

 My great delights are riding the Arizona back-country on my mule Archy, managing to take a  good photograph, and the moment when it all “comes together” during the making of a photo   collage.

We notice you specialise in surreal photo-montages, can you tell us how they come about?

I assemble my work digitally from my incessantly growing library of over 20,000 images: my own photographs, old family photos and scans of everything from marshmallows to butterflies Often I draw or paint something, photograph it and then add it digitally.
If everything works according to plan, the images are quirky visual narratives about psychological predicaments. They pull a lot of subconscious strings. I’m always happy when they’re funny but true.

Inspirations?

I have some wonderful flickr contacts who are constantly turning out new pieces. The high quality ; of their work is definitely a lift. Also, I take Tom Klare’s Advanced Photoshop class at Mesa Community College (best Photoshop class ever). Both flickr and the class keep my mind fresh.

You’re a frequent user of Flypapers and textures, can you share any processing tips?

I keep things simple because I usually have a lot of content in my pictures.
I’m nearly done with a series of ten that I began in January. I’m using Nora Batty in Multiply ; blending mode in all ten to unify the series (and others in the individual pictures).
Sometimes I add texture by making a texture into a black and white channel, loading the channel ; as a selection and using that selection to make a layer mask for an adjustment layer. Or I might use this layer mask on an image itself. Sometimes I might use Calculations to combine an image and texture.
I’m often surprised by what works.

What equipment do you use?

I have a Nikon D300. For lighting I use three Nikon speedlights, a shoot-thru umbrella and a Lastolite Hot Shoe Ezybox Softbox.
I have a Canon G11 for my saddlebag/purse camera. An Epson 3800 printer should come next week. I’m in the process of deciding on a paper to use long term.

What processing software/computer do you use?

I work on an iMac computer with a Wacom digital tablet and pen.

Tell us a bit about your upcoming shows?

Solo shows 2010:
Currently at Mesa Community College until May 3
Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, mid-August through November
The Mesa Arts Center, November 7 through February 27

Website and blog info

Website
Blog

Thanks Corinne :-)

___________

Combo Pack Offer

Only $65 for Both texture Packs!

Fly Edges Pack

Only $40

Please note that this is big, almost 400 mb file so the download may take a while. Average reported download time for this pack varies from 15 to 20 mins.

Jamie Heiden interview

Introducing Jamie Heiden a favorite illustrative texturiser!
"Jamie lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband and two children.
They have two horses, two goats, two dogs, three cats,
ten chickens and a corresponding amount of chores to be done".
To coincide with her fabulous new book, we thought we'd do a short interview!

You use flypaper textures expertly (we notice:-), can you share any tips for their use with our readers?

Out of my texture collection, the Flypaper Textures are the most refined so there are occasions where I simply layer one on top of an image, adjust the mode and that's it. The new 'edges' pack offers another dimension to the whole collection and combines really well with the first two packs. So, many of my images end up having more than one texture applied. But I also do a lot of playing with opacity, hue and saturation too, making subtle changes until I achieve the desired result. Often times when I am just about to scrap an image and start over, in one final effort I try a more drastic adjustment and it turns out to be exactly what was needed. So, don't be afraid to play around and experiment.

What kind of Camera set-up do you use?

I shoot most often in natural light, preferring diffused and cloudy days of course. I'm a loyal Nikon user...my first camera being a Nikon FG but right now I mainly use my D300 with a wide angle lens. Although I do love my 50 mm too.

What inspires you?

Simplicity. That's the best way I know how to answer that.

Which post processing program/s do you use?

I've just upgraded to Photoshop CS3 from basic CS. My darkroom is filled with cobwebs now because I can do everything and more here on my computer.

Your new softcover book Horizon Lines "pictures that have words on the horizon"
Can you offer a short intro?
This book is a small soft cover collection of 23 of my "horizon line" images. I wrapped them together with a little piece of a story asking the question, "Who am I?"

Horizon Lines

A Book of Photograp...

By Jamie Heiden

Book Preview

"Can you offer our readers any venues where they can see your photographic prints for sale?"
Upcoming shows etc? Links etc?

If you're ever in Wisconsin and would like to check out some of my images in person, please visit my website for specifics....there you can find some great coffee shops, art fairs and even a gallery show coming in 2011! Any questions about purchasing prints can be answered there too.

Thank you Jamie! :)

Combo Pack Offer

Only $65 for Both texture Packs!

Fly Edges Pack

Only $40

Please note that this is big, almost 400 mb file so the download may take a while. Average reported download time for this pack varies from 15 to 20 mins.

Martine Roch

French surrealist artist Martine Roch is well and truly stuck on Flypaper textures! So, to coincide with her new exhibition this weekend,
we thought we'd do a little Q & A feature on her.
Martine is  a professional artist/illustrator and Getty photographer.
Her muse is her famous female Labrador 'Boudi'. They are based in Dijon, north east France.
Recently Martine has wowed Paris with her large selection of greetings cards and small stationary items. These are to be found in the best card shops world wide, or can now be ordered online HERE in time for Xmas!

"desperate housewife"

You use our textures mostly as backdrops we notice...?
Yes I do ! your textures are too good and I like using them to give depth to my images.

We see 'image above' you are venturing into real printed Canvas, do you have any processing tips to share for our readers also wishing to print on this medium, did you come across any printing problems that caused you to have to re-jig your images to get them ready?
Yes many problems! But really it's not problems it's only about to get rid of the difference between screens and printed result. The main thing is to find a very professional person who with you can fix the colours problem, light and so on, before printing. I mean you need to see your image on his screen, that screen connected to the printer, and the printer must be really well adjusted. Then you'll have a very good result. You need professional quality canvas too...

Would you like to share with us your printing company contact details for our French readers?
His name is Thomas HAZEBROUCK, and his telephone number : 0677845465, city of Dijon. Plus, he is the nicest guy on earth !

Do you have any tips etc for our readers?
You mean to use textures ? Texture can be used in so many ways... it's difficult to give some tips. Really it depends on what people wants to give to their image. There is no recipe, only working on the image to get the result they want. Photoshop is a tool box : use it !

You have a live show opening on Friday, I'm sure you'd like to offer our readers the details?
With pleasure. It'll be Galerie Inspirations, 16 rue de la Paix à NANTES 44000, NW France - tél. 02 40 35 37 09 I'll be there on Thursday afternoon and all day this Friday, 6th Nov.

Please visit Martine on Flickr or on her  Website 
Her cards, notebooks and other products are available HERE
Or visit Martine and say 'hi' to obtain personalised, signed art and stationary at the all day Vernissage on Friday 6th Nov. at the gallery!