case studies: stephen issell

bio

For many more beautiful images from Stephen Issell, visit his blog. Below are his words.

"My professional working life is as a carpenter with an interest in trying to create images that people can dream by, or just simply take a wander for a few minutes, away from whatever bothers them at the time. Mind you, while I am doing this, whether in the field with the camera or sitting at the computer, I too can be away with the fairies. I suppose that is what I enjoy about the creative process so much, being able to let the mind float on the air, and dream.

My interest in art started way back in the mid sixties when for the first time I put myself into the creative mode for an art class exam. I remember the teachers comments very vividly to this day. “Issell, this is great work that you have done, but seeing that your work through the year has been sub standard, I have marked you down.” To say that I was shattered would be an understatement. I never went near the creative art process again. Well, not until my late thirties when I remembered that early experience.

Moving along twenty plus years or so, I remembered my early experience at school and thought about that teacher. I wondered if I could show her a thing or two. With that in mind I went out and purchased the necessary tools, oils, brushes and canvas. I decided to make my own easel because of my training as a carpenter, besides, if I made it myself then it would be at a good height for my 6′ 2″ frame. For the next three years I was totally mesmerized by the creative process. I was at one with the mixing of the colors, the brush strokes, the canvas. For the first time in my life I thought that this is what I was born to do, it just had that click, the mind, the body, the soul, all working as one.

Getting closer to now, around the late nineties, digital cameras started to make an impact on the photographic scene. I went out and bought my first digital camera and once more found myself being captivated by the creative process. Rolling forward to May 09 and I came across an image that had been created (by Ted Byrne) using Alien Skin’s Snap Art 2 plug-in. I downloaded the plug-in for a trial, and instantly became addicted to the possibilities of combining my hobby of photography and that early experience of creating art with the brush. The creator within has been unleashed again."

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