As a self-taught-inspired artist in the late 1990s, I discovered Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I found myself drawn to these applications for creating digital art, focusing on expression rather than traditional photo editing or vector typography.
Soon after, I took on a role as a teaching assistant at UCSC Extension, working alongside Barry Haynes, a renowned Photoshop Guru of the time. Barry was also a talented landscape and wildlife photographer and the author of the "Photoshop Artistry: A Master Class for Photographers and Artists" book series. Over the years, I was fortunate enough to learn from him and other expert instructors, gaining invaluable insights while helping beginners and experienced users navigate these powerful tools.
One day, I had the chance to showcase some of my digital artwork to Barry. He was so impressed that he shared it with his wife, Wendy Crumpler, a Graphic Artist and Writer. To my pleasure, she expressed interest in including my work in her upcoming book, "Photoshop, Painter, & Illustrator: Side-By-Side", which perfectly complemented my approach to blending elements from both Photoshop and Illustrator.
Seeing my digital art featured in Wendy's book was a thrilling moment! By the early 2000s, a creative revolution was taking shape, with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Corel Painter becoming commercial and fine artists' go-to graphic design tools. The real magic lies in combining these powerful applications, allowing designers to create breathtaking, impossible effects with any single program. It was an exhilarating time to immerse myself in the digital art scene!
