Many people may not be aware, but =Manip-Equips was founded by the excessively talented =Rachzee. Rachael has gone on to be an artistic force to be reckoned with and provides not only beautiful art but extremely popular resources for photomanipulation and other artistic work. It's our pleasure to welcome Rachael back to Manip Equips, even if just for a brief time, for this interview, the first for 2008...



How did you get into digital art, specifically the digital painting you seem to have mastered and continue wowing us mere hopefuls with?

I've been drawing since I was five and have always desired an outlet for my creativity. I learned to oil paint in my late teens.

Ten years ago in 1998 I got my first computer, which came with Photoshop Elements. After discovering some old family photos that needed 'repair', my first attempt to photo-manipulate and restore them was so much fun, been hooked ever since.

Bought my Wacom tablet about 3 years ago and have been painting with it. I'm addicted!

As far as "mastering" I have not. There are many masters out there I envy. As artists we are continually growing and learning with our craft. Personally, I feel I will never "master" painting, and I feel very good about that, because learning is fun and it stimulates the brain's creative process.



What's your favourite part of the digital art process?

No messes, no smelly mineral spirits to clean brushes. And easily saved to go back to later.

Salt and vinegar or cheese and chives potato crisps?

Hahaha... what a question. Salt and vinegar.



What was your initial goal in creating a club like Manip Equips? Did it reflect your own personal interests at the time or were you working for the greater good of all deviants?

I started Manip-Equips for the greater good of all deviants, to have many resources available at one place. In an effort to not take away individual contributors, I started uploading only the thumbs to these resources with a link to the actual deviation where they could be downloaded. Sort of like a master gallery that leads to the individuals.

Here's a loaded question: Can the technique called "over painting" be considered legitimate art?

Having been working with photographer, Jurgen Lorenzen these past two years, "over painting" is definitely an art form.

I learned how to oil paint in Corel Painter, by painting over photos.
It takes time, stamina and creativity.

Example original: [link]
The paint over: [link]

When I completed this, Jurgen then ordered a canvas print of it.
Then I painted over with real oils in certain areas and finished off with a glaze all over, the results were just what the client wanted.
It all started with a "paint over" from this original photo: [link]
However, it's not something I'd like to do very often, because I feel more confined within the artwork, if that makes sense.



Hard boiled, soft boiled, poached or scrambled?

Mixed in chocolate chip cookie dough only , please. lol

On your resource account, you provide oodles of how-tos for drawing different elements. Do you prefer these sorts of tutorials to basic walk-throughs of a complete picture?

I have both tutorials and walk-thrus. So no preference on that, as long as the walk thrus are easy to follow.

What are some of your favourite resources on DA?

Tutorials for any kind of art. I would say brushes, but most of them now are for Photoshop CS, which I don't have. I still use that old Photoshop Elements and many brushes, textures, etc. are not compatible with it anymore.

What would be your top three tips for anyone starting out or wanting to improve their digital art?
The 3 big Ps!

Patience
Practice
Perseverance


When I say "green", you say...

"Go Herd!" hehe.. Marshall University Alumni here.

What are some of your favourite pieces from your own galleries - which mean the most to you and why?

Some of my favorite pieces are the ones that are not typical. I love concept art and surrealism. My most favorite piece is "He Loves Me Not" which I made ..... I think it was 2 or 3 years ago, based upon the plucking of daisy petals to find out the answer, and in the process of finding out, often people hurt themselves.



Do you ever start an artwork with a specific theme in mind or do you just go with the flow until you think you're finished with the image?

A specific theme is usually in mind. And at times, that 's the hardest, because when the end results do not reflect what I envisioned in the beginning, I feel the art is not very good at all.



What are your own personal inspirations for your art?

My personal inspiration for my art was to turn that hobby into a real business, which I've done. I was able to quit nursing after 20 years.

Inspirations I find to create art are mainly from my imagination that stems way back to my childhood of always having been enthralled in the realms of the mystical and fantasy, especially angels, fairies and unicorns.

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The rest of Rachael's beautiful art and fantastic resources can be found:

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Thanks for reading! And don't forget to stop by =Manip-Equips and check out some of the fabulous resources we have listed in our gallery and join our ever-growing community!

Interview taken by: *Renilicious