Some of you know her as =
SweediesArt, but others of us are fortunate enough to call her Karin or "friend." In her five-years on dA, she has grown a lot as a photomanipulator and is always working hard to improve her skills. An extremely versatile and prolific artist, her work is always creative and unique and always has a great concept. You can find her work in many groups and features across dA. Recently, she has even done some book covers and other commissions. She is a shooting star on the rise, and I wanted to share her with you.
She was kind enough to grant me an interview. I hope you will enjoy it.
Karin, in your time on dA, you’ve seen a lot of different styles and trends come and go. Through it all, you have developed a style that is pretty clearly your own. How do you think your own art has evolved over the years?I didn’t know there were such art like Dark art when I first came to dA; I created only fantasy art back then. I looked around dA and I liked dark art more and more. After a while I got Dark artists friends and I tried it out myself. I really love to create it now. Recently, I have also tried with Surreal Art and it is really fun to 'go crazy' in an work. It is not easy to create because even an surreal work must appeal to people. But I'm trying! I also have been trying to achieve some kind of an meaning behind my works, a story to tell. I didn’t have that in the beginning.
What do you think are some current trends that we are seeing in the photomanipulation community? (In other words, what kinds of styles do people tend to create most frequently these days?)I'm not 'all over dA' and it is only my opinion. What I have noticed in 'my corner' are that artists are trying to do Paintings and Airbrushing a lot. They are also creating more scenes in works and also having the work ‘tell an story' in manipulations. I have also seen more works where the artist works with lightings/shadowing as the most important part in the artwork. I have also seen some more surreal/abstract works.
Our community has its tough times, but I think that overall we are very strong. For example, we have a lot of talented members, and we really try to reach out to support our new manipulators. What do YOU think are the biggest strengths in our photomanipulation community?Oh, I'm not the right person to answer that question! Once in the beginning when I was new, I tried to be involved and active in the photomanipulations community, but it is very hard to be seen because it is such an large community. I had 50 watchers each year my first four years here! After 4 years I still had 200 watchers! It can be an long way to go for an struggling artist, who are in need of friends/watchers, but I'll recommend newcomers not to give up.
I think the photomanipulation community must continue to support and encourage new artists by giving them feedback and also notice them! Maybe also continue to have community contests all over dA, also for beginners and newcomers and also features all over the community with new artists. I know there are an contest going on now who also are for different levels of skills and that is really good!
Since being on dA, what is the most important thing you have learned as an artist?The most important thing I've learned are lighting/shadowing. It's absolutely the most important to do in an artwork, my opinion. It can change a whole work.
We are all learning all the time, right? I’m hoping to become better with composition, for example! What are some things you still want to learn?New things are absolutely Paintings and Airbrushing. In my manipulations I do today I want to improve in my technique but also all over in general. To become from a good artist to a better digital artist and to end as a great one.
When you have something you want to learn, how do you go about learning it?I read tutorials and look at videos, but I also experiment a lot in photoshop. I also ask my friends.
You’ve accomplished a lot and really come a long way in 5 years. What accomplishment are you the most proud of?I'm most proud of that I have recieved such many loving, supportive and wonderful friends here and that they want to be friends with me. I reach 1000 watchers any day now, and I have been extremely active in the forum and hopefully a supportive friend back. I have always tried to give back by feedback in polls and journals.
I don’t take my friends for granted and I'm sure I would have been nothing here without them pushing me forward all time and feature my works.
So I'm proud to have my friends as friends.
And of course I'm also very proud for recieving my second 'AWARD OF EXCELLENCE ' by =
DragonsChest some days ago. I'm so grateful. And I'm also very proud to be interviewed here by you!
I hope I have improved in my art overall and that I can finally paint great hair and that I have commissions now and then and then.
Take a moment to sell yourself!Thank you! I'm an devoted photomanipulator in all genres such as Fantasy, Surreal and Dark Art. I'm available for everything, just ask! Yes, I'm still new in commissions and have just started 'for real' this year but I'm learning more every time with every commission. I'm honest enough to say I'm not good at formats and the 'paperwork' yet who comes with an commission, BUT if we work together we can solve also that 'problem'.
Thank you, Karin!
Please enjoy some of her work:
#communityrelations
#digitalBRILLIANCE
#DevNews
#Photomanipulated
#CRPhotomanipulation
`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
Sta.sh
Whatever way you intend to welcome in 2013, I hope you're surrounded by love and that you do it safely!
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Basically, as CVs, when we are giving a DD, we are doing so because we think the image is interesting and well-done and deserves your attention. It may be technically exquisite. It may be technically quite good but exceptionally thought-provoking. It may be exceedingly creative. It may be all of these things! Above all else, it should stand out in some way from others in that medium or gallery.
Your work is beautiful!
Congratulation on the feature, =SweediesArt. I love your art and you're a good dA friend.