This week, I would like to introduce an artist who inspires me a lot. Her name is Denise P. Garbis, she creates exquisite, stylish and pretty feminine artworks. I'm sure you will find what she has to say, very interesting.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you started your adventure with doing art?
From a little girl I always loved to draw & color. I admit I didn't care for art in school, but loved doing my own
type of art on my personal time. I started out by simple drawing which eventually turned to airbrushing. People
actually paid me to create images on Jackets, cars, wall murals & even nails. I've been working with computers since
a young teen (thanks to my dad's business) and have been on the Net since 1989. It wasn't until 1996 I discovered the
magic of digital creations. I started out by doing web templates which eventually lead me to digital art & from there
I have been none stop. I have done work ranging from the head of the Boxing referee commissions to Jane Doe who
livess down the road. I have been published from book covers to billboards. I continue to sell my art prints on line
& at local small shops while I continue working on commercial & private commissions.
Where do you get your ideas and inspiration for your work?
Gosh, that's a tough one. I guess Life is my inspiration. All the beautiful things life has to offer that are free &
we take advantage of. I feel sometimes the real world can be cold, so in my digital world, everything is sunny,
happy & magical. It's the best way to share a smile :)
You have a unique style, which some people may call ‘whimsical’. How did you get there? How did you develop your style?
This is easy... I tell everyone I am child trapped in an adult body *giggle* In other words being a kid at heart
makes it easy for me to create such whimsical images.
Can you please share the process of creating pretty faces as a digital artist? Which software do you use?
First let me say I am in no way a shallow person. I myself have many flaws, but I love and admire all that is
beautiful. I also love glamour, even though I can be such a tom boy at times. My main software program is Adobe
Photoshop CS, a mouse & my tablet. There is a certain look I like and some have said my trademark. Each character
(as I call them) is repainted from head to toe. Some actually altering their original features, as well as painting
the hair from scratch & many times the clothing. I do this in order to achieve the exact look I want. I consider my
art to be a type of mix-media, being I use many different sources.
What kind of emotions do you usually give to your characters?
Happy, upbeat & positive
Your characters’ hairs are always pretty. Do you paint them? Please tell us how you create such lovely hair.
Ahhh the hair... my signature trademark some would say. Yes, the hair is painted from scratch & honestly it takes me
the longest. Even after all these years. The hair is done in Photoshop using my tablet which is a Bamboo Create by
Wacom.
Your backgrounds and accessories look superb. How do you enhance your paintings?
My backgrounds are an assortment of items. they consist of actual photos, renders that are done in Poser 7 (by me),
brushes & hand painted items. All are combined in Photoshop & arranged centering the main character. Each background
is created for that specific image.
As an artist what message do you carry?
If you believe in your talent & most of all yourself, with patience & perseverance there is nothing you can't do. In
time you will achieve the success & recognition you have been working so hard for.
What part of the creative process do you find the most difficult? Is there anything, in your opinion that you would like to improve?
I find the hardest part is the idea & then bringing that idea to life on canvas. As far as improvement, I am always
striving for improvement with each image I create. There is no such thing as perfect, but each image is a learning
experience for me to take to the next level.
How can we find you? Please share your links to your cyber presence.
You can find me at the following sites...
- http://www.facebook.com/l/aAQF_6F0tAQHTUv_AWKOkyO8Up0tPFYTJnaToQ_Ba4cCWYg/swtmelode.com
- http://facebook.com/denisegarbis
- http://www.facebook.com/l/eAQEwrng6AQG9m6mjdHYCt3LQRvoHnIqtXCa4JfJt3nZm4w/swtmeloe.deviantart.com
