Review: Advanced Compositing in Adobe Photoshop CC

Posted on 3rd October 2020 by perfectly4med

With things being so quiet in the Studio at the moment due to COVID restrictions, I thought I would find something to hone my skills or add to my repertoire. Browsing Amazon recommendations (as you do) I came across a book ‘Adobe Master Class: Advanced Compositing in Adobe Photoshop CC’ by Bret Malley. The blurb sounded good, the reviews were excellent and it made it to my wishlist. And there it languished for a few days before I decided it was training and therefore a business expense. Purchased and arrived the next day (oh the joys of Prime). Here’s one of my completed pieces based on a tutorial from the book, alongside the source images:

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A Perfectly Formed Ambigram

Posted on 28th February 2016 by perfectly4med

Ever since Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons introduced me to ambigrams, I’ve been fascinated by the typography involved. An ambigram for the uninitiated is a typographical design or art form that may be read as words as presented, or from another orientation (in this case, upside down). Combining that fascination with a desire to make a more personal and distinctive logo, I started sketching last night. This afternoon, I have honed my first ever ambigram in Illustrator, and I think it’s turned out alright. I’ll not be rushing to do another in a hurry as it made my brain ache, but that might just be the full sinuses and leaning forward. And though personal, I’m not sure that the word is so distinctive unless you knew what was there to see… what do you think?

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Sermon Sketchnotes go digital

Posted on 22nd November 2015 by perfectly4med

I’ve been lucky enough to get hold of an Apple iPad Pro, and used it this morning in church – not only to do my sermon sketchnotes direct to digital, but also used it for paperless music whilst playing the worship songs 🙂

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Getting to know… the Paper 53 Pencil

Posted on 10th October 2014 by perfectly4med

I treated myself to the Paper 53 Pencil (in walnut) to use with the Paper 53 app on my iPad mini. It takes a bit of getting used to, but I think it has helped my digital art on the move no end. Here’s the result: three drawings inspired by the sermons I was listening to at the time… and I’m going to be having a go at live on-screen illustration in mid-November! Each drawing was completed within two sermon lengths (approx. 40 mins) as the church I go to has two morning services (9am and 10:45am) and when I’m playing in the worship group, we’re rostered for both.

A Driving Dragon?!

Posted on 28th October 2013 by perfectly4med

It’s still ‘anything goes’ month over at The Crafting Cafe sponsored by the fabulous Stamping Dragon Designs – I’ve chosen the Rupert’s Car digistamp for my card.

Since my ProMarkers are currently on loan to my young tutee, I’ve used my Fashion Design set of Tria Markers to colour in the digistamp. This has the benefit of a preselected palette of colours that work well together. I’ve added extra colour-on-colour to add the tartan stripes to the hat and the shading. I felt Rupert really needed scarf and goggles, but only the scarf made it 🙂

For more making details, pop across to my design team blogpost.

More Art in Worship

Posted on 26th September 2013 by perfectly4med

As previously mentioned, I am clearing out my study – I’ve also cleared out an old PC. Whilst doing this, I came across my original sketches for some artwork I did back in 2008 whilst at Robert Hall Memorial Baptist Church in Leicester. Again, I sketched out the idea whilst the service was taking place, and this time took the sketches back home and created some digital art (Photoshop/Illustrator) which was then printed as A0 poster size. As far as I know, they’re still on display in the church. I also know that one of them ended up being given to Rothley Baptist Church as well. Here are the ‘before and after’ pics: