Photoshop, not just an art program.

It's a passion. If you ask anyone who does a lot with Photoshop, they'll all tell you a very similar thing. A cousin of mine made me think of this a while back when he posted on a picture on Facebook saying: "Photoshop = LIFE". Really, if you think about it, Art is a huge form of expression. If you can't say or sing what you're thinking, Art is yet another avenue to fulfill that for you.


There are very few things better than sitting down and creating a design while listening to many of my favorite songs. It's what I do many nights, even if I don't come up with a finished product that I like. The possibilities of Photoshopping are endless. You can use one of the many tools given to you, or include outside images and brushes to jazz up your image. And since I can't draw pencil and paper whatsoever, Photoshop has allowed me to use alternative means to express through art.

Not too long ago I had a 5 minute presentation for a Business Communications course I am in, and for 5 minutes I talked about Photoshop; what it is to me, what you can do with it, and how you can create something from just a white canvas. I like to focus on Abstract manipulations, and photo manipulations. For some reason, they are my favorite style of art to work on. Although the presentation was only 5 minutes long, I felt like I could go on for hours. It's simply something I love to do.


For those who aren't really familiar with Photoshop (although I assume by now almost everybody has at least heard of it), It is a program developed by Adobe for professonal level photo editing, creation, and manipulating. The current version, CS5 Extended, would run a non student $1,000 for a non upgrade copy. It's a no joke program with more tools and functionality than I have room available to talk about it on this blog. There are also a ton of peripherals(hardware add-ons)like drawing pads from [Wacom] which range anwhere from $100, to more than $2,000. there's an entire profession around using and mastering Photoshop. Graphic design is literally everywhere you look. Advertising to website logos, there's someone who most likely is using Photoshop or similar programs to create them.

All you need is a little creativity or find some motivation, and the possibilities are endless. Friend requests for a design or simply music are more than enough for me.

Music. The rush of emotion from a good beat, and an even better message.

If you're feeling some way, even if you don't publicize it, there is a song written by someone that will make this feeling stronger tenfold. Music has the power to move you, calm you, stimulate you, and do things like set moods for a whole room or party. It's because of music that bars and parties are so much fun. It creates the environment.

You listen to a lot of music, as I do, and often time we like the songs beat, or lip sync to them; and it has become an integral part of our lives. It is my escape; my place where I push forward when I'm down, or the thing I go to when I need inspiration. Music makes me create; and without it I don't know what I'd do. Everyone has a "song" or two that they feel best describes themselves, or a very strong emotion they feel on a regular basis. When that song plays, I feel like I'm released from a self imposed cage, if only for the few minutes it plays.

It's hard to describe the sensation music brings me. I'm literally never without it. Where ever I go, you'll probably find me with headphones and an mp3 player to listen to my play lists i sit around all day and make. I almost feel naked without the ability to listen to my music whenever I want. If I'm thinking creatively, a single song can inspire a whole idea, whether it be a Photoshop manipulation, blog, or fantasy character. When my music is on, the ideas start flowing, and I can't explain to you why. Maybe you'll try it one day and figure it out, or maybe you understand what I mean already.

Life to music is far more powerful.

Today's playlist headers:
[The Sound - Switchfoot]
[Naive - The Kooks]
[All Over Me - Default]

What the web has done for art

The hardest thing for an aspiring artist, be it paintings or images, music, or other mediums, getting into the field is excruciatingly difficult. You don't know who to talk to, and you don't know how to break into the field. Even if i were to create a 'work of art', I wouldn't know the first thing of getting my name out there in the professional world; it's just not that kind of a system. The internet and places like [Deviant Art] have created an outlet for people who dabble in various art forms to show their work to others. people like Freddie W, who deals with video editing, would never be known if it wasn't for the internet.

There is amazing talent out there that is only realized through the internet. People in the boondocks who can create ballads from thin air are never discovered because they're not mainstream; they're not in the beaten path. In point of fact, the web has done wonders for anyone looking to show off what they can do. It's free (which for many of us is crucial) to post content on Deviant Art or Youtube, and because it's unlimited, all we have to do is what we love to do: create.



A hobby such as posting images to photobucket or deviant art can, if that person is skilled enough, turn into a job of their dreams, where they're paid to do something they would do for free. Now who would turn down an opportunity like that? Aspiring artists of any field should be doing this. Whether you think you're a fantastic dancer, singer, whatever; get out there and show the world via these websites what you can do. What do you have to lose? So maybe a bunch of [Trolls] will post flammatory garbage on the comment section, but what people fail to realize is this: you aren't aiming to please the whole world with what you can do. It only takes one person who finds value in what you're capable of to start you off.