I love creating digital art.  Actually what I do, I call mixed digital media :)  I combine images and add digital elements and brushes and filters, etc.  I sometimes create art from scratch but usually have more fun manipuating things.

 I hope we can get a group here and share ideas,etc. If we want, we can create a gallery just to share our digital work.
 

 oh my gosh!  I just realized that we can upload pictures into the forum messages. How cool is that?  So I'm going to try it out.  This is a digital collage I did a while back.

 

I've recently rediscovered the fun and freedom of creating digitally after years away from photoshop and such. I still love getting my hands dirty with glues and paper and paints and you will never, ever get me to give up collecting fabrics, ribbons, trims, sequins, beads, yarns and all of that but realizing again the fun ways you can use them if you scan them and use them in your digital art is amazing too!

Hi Zura,

This is my new obsession.  I took a computer graphics class last semester as well as one called Electronic Publication and Design.  I spent a lot of time learning Photoshop and other graphics software.  Now I'm having a ball playing all the time.  I've been collecting digital images for collage for a long time so now I can use them.  Here's a sample of what I've been doing.

 Namaste, Kim

 I love this! It is amazing. I have never tried anything digital but it seems to be the way of the future. I just bought a magazine about hybrid scrapbooking... a combination of digi and traditional. Looks like fun!

Zura already knows I love digital collage.  I'm a fan of her great work.  I'm excited, because I get to take a class in July that teaches how to use your digital work printed on photo paper, and transferring it from the paper to a canvas or whatever else you want.  I know a lot artists already do it, but this will be my first step into what Zura called multi-media digital art.  It's the best of both worlds!

Hmm.  I wonder what the difference is between Reply and Quick Reply? 

Bill - with Quick Reply, you don't get all the options you do with reply -- take a look at regular Reply and the Options tab and you'll see what I mean.

 Love your Avatar, by the way!

Aloha,
 

 Bill,  when you take your class, just come here everyday and post what you learned :)  I would love to learn more about transfers, etc.  I have been trying to create a digital collage that looks like a paper transfer was done.  I've come close but it always turns out milky looking.  I am not very experienced with blending modes and I think that may be the key.

It's actually going to be a 1 day class for about 6 hours.  Ann Arbor is having a 2 day Art Fest in July just before the big Ann Arbor Street Art Fair.  We live in Ypsilanti which adjoins Ann Arbor, but I had never heard about the Art Fest until this year.  I've never been to any art fests before for that matter, not even Marney's.  Lani (oh shoot, I can't think of her last name), the puppet lady and Artella friend, is teaching two classes.  Hers aren't until the evening, and I'd love to take them, but I really want to learn how to do the transfers.  Lani is teaching making a "fairy" altered book, because Ann Arbor has many real fairy inhabitants.  Honest!  There are tiny doors in many of the shops, and if you look inside, you can see fairy furniture and all kinds of fun things.  I didn't dare take two classes, though, because my wife would hit me over the head for spending the money.  Oh well.    I will try to share what I learn, though.

I love yours, too, Marney.  It looks just like you!

Bill, don't forget in addition to transfers, there are many places online to buy ink-jet treated fabric and canvas for your printer. You are limited then to the size of your printer, but you can do some interesting things even with letter-sized pieces, sew them together, etc. Digital media is so exciting - so many possibilites! Marne

I know Lani!  And I know about the Ann Arbor fairy "doors" sprinkled around town.  Shoot.  Wish I could go.  I have a cousin who lives there. 

I just got done replying to another thread here talking about how my graphic tablet and Photoshop have changed my life!  Oh...and the widescreen monitor.  And the digital camera. 

Yeah, I was clinging tightly to "analog" art for a long time but what was I thinking???  I've seen the digital scrapbooking as well...never been interested in scrapbooking, but I can sure do it digitally!  

On of my favorite things about photoshop is that I can make a brush that looks like wet salt sprinkles on watercolor or dyed fabric, draw something, go back with the eraser with that salt sprinkle brush and voila!  It looks better than the real thing! 

I need to figure out how to get my lines smoother though...not sure if it's the size I'm working in that makes them look pixellated or what, for sure.  That's always been the issue with digital art for me.  Hate those jagged lines.

I made the collage below for my gallery in the 3-D virtual reality/online world of Second Life.  I've sold some pieces but I get next to nothing for them.  But it has been a great catalyst for me to learn Photoshop, plus I get the pleasure of seeing them on the "wall" afterwards.

                                         
 

You can also make your own treated fabric. I just discovered that recently. Then you can make ink-jet fabric of whatever size you like.
I don't have the info with me at the moment, but I can look it up later if anyone is interested.

I  made Christmas presents for the family last year using the ink-jet treated fabric and they turned out great. I can't wait to try making some treated fabric of my own. Think of the possibilities!

--- Debbie

 Hey, it would be sharp to make throw pillows with your digital art printed on them.  I've heard about printing on fabric, but haven't tried it.  That opens a whole new world of possibilities.