About me

What is digital painting?

Like any painter, I start by priming a canvas, setting up my colour palette, choosing a brush, and dipping it in colour.

Then, I lay down a ground, a base wash of colour that anchors the piece. On top, I block in a messy, tonal underpainting. Then, layer by layer, brush stroke by brush stroke, I smear colours and pull out the details. My final touches are coats of glaze-like colour, light, and texture to bring it all together.

How is this different to traditional painting? My canvas and paint are pixels. I move my virtual brush with a pen and tablet. And because my original painting is just data sitting on a hard drive, it means I need to print my art to bring it into the real world.

What about the images that look like a photograph?

Some of my art is photography. Just like a digital painting I start by priming a digital canvas, then my first step is compositing. I combine layers and layers of photographs – the background scene, sky, the subjects, then detailed elements like flowing fabric, hair, mist, or fire – to bring my surreal world to life. My next steps are to paint in light and shadows and add layers of colour and texture, creating the atmosphere and giving my images an old-world, painterly feel.

Why do I choose digital?

Well, the creative process isn’t always that linear. When I start without a clear final picture in my head, the image has room to evolve and surprise. Sometimes I have to smear colours around to see what they reveal. There are times when a part of a painting needs to move, which is easier with digital paint that never dries. And I can continually experiment – shifting colours, deepening the mood, or lightening the atmosphere – until the artwork brings its magic to life.