What's your goal?

[happyrobyn]

When creating digital art - do you try to create something that looks "real" or do you go for the digital look?

For me - I started out as a scrapbooker and always tried to make my digital layouts imitate paper. Gradually, they have become more digital and many times are not even scrapbook pages anymore ... just digital art. I still do both looks and on some layouts I use a combination of paper-looking and very digital.

[mishou]

Excellent question Robyn!

I too started out scrapbooking so I was attracted to the stuff that looks real. I still really like that look. But I do like to play around with effects that are exclusive to digital, especially since I've gone quirky. I agree, once you start getting to a point where you're creating art for the sake of art as opposed to making scrapbook layouts you start caring a lot less if it looks real or not. Quite liberating actually. And tons of fun.

[happyrobyn]

Yes - when I start creating I just start grabbing from here and there and it doesn't really make sense until I am done! And then I have to re-trace my steps so I can credit the designers. Sometimes that takes longer than creating the layout ... especially in the case of ATC's!

[mishou]

Yep, credits can be a nightmare for sure with this style! I keep my layouts organized in an Excel spreadsheet where I list credits, etc. for each one so that definitely helps to an extent. But if I'm constantly going back to my spreadsheet to add things as I add them to the layout, it kind of disrupts the creative flow. I find myself just waiting until the end and then trying to remember them all, but like you said Robyn that can take forever!

[CathyRose]

At this point I am still in the make it look real phase of my scrapbooking, but I want to explore other techniques. I can see where the credit thing can be a real problem. I am very careful about it when I am scrapbooking, but what a pain! I recently started adding the info to the file itself so when I post to a gallery, all I have to do is right click and copy and paste.

[SteinwaysMom]

I love stuff like Somerset - you know that really groovy altered/collage stuff and I am fascinated with achieving torn and layered paper, sewing, buttons and fabric, even paint digitally. But I also love blending and stuff that is exclusive to digital - I want the best of both worlds.

What I do 4 credits is name each layer according to the designer/kit/element used. So if I use an Iron Orchid's Yadayada paper I name that layer 'IOD Yadayada'.

If its a stock photo I put my filename as the layer name - the filename has the name of the artist and the image id it in case I want to look it up again. It works out really well. Once I post in in one gallery I just cut and paste if I am posting it somewhere else.

[happyrobyn]

Great idea for credits Debra!

[Fiddlette]

I agree with Debra, that is my IDEAL look...real ART, multimedia, collage, like what you would see in Somerset Studio...

But I also agree with Robyn...I can't stay exclusive to any single style or look, when my gut is telling me to go another direction....and it does frequently...

Hardly anything I ever create ends up looking like what I first imagine it should...it takes on a life of its own...at my best!

:)

[webchyck]

I am a clean and simple scrapbooker from the get-go, but I was really feeling like I just wanted to PLAY. I will probably never consider myself an artist, but I see all these fun things in kits that really don't work for my style of scrapping, and so when I discovered ATCs, I thought this is where I could use those QUIRKY little bits that are so cute and fun or even BIZARRE! Now, I am finding myself thinking in terms of pairing common sayings or phrases with visual imagery, and I think it's going to be fun exploring how I can make these things come to pixel-life. For me, it definitely starts with a thought/words before the images, though. I'm so word-oriented, definitely think of myself as a writer (though not professionally), so I think that will always be the focus of my art (hard for me to even use that term for what I do!)--the message, even if it's only to myself.

[happyrobyn]

Becky ... you are a wonderful writer! I love, love, love reading your journaling every time! And the ATC's you create ... just absolutely fantastic!

[nicole hinrichs]

I started digi scrapping nearly a year ago, I still paperscrap (traditional scrapping) for my job in a magazine. We just started digital too, and I am making the articles. In the beginning I downloaded everything I could find, but for some reason I wanted to make my own stuff, so I did. I do use stockphoto's now and then but mostly I try to use my own creations to make something weird. For some people my work might look wacky and of the hook, but I call it my own art, I put my heart and feelings in it to create a keepsake mostly for my kids. I try to put messages in there too. I just hope they will appreciate the keepsakes I made for them. if not I had fun making them anyway lol

[happyrobyn]

Are you kidding Nicole?! You are creating the coolest Legacy your kids could ever hope for. I love your art!

[SteinwaysMom]

Yeah, I really see Nicole as a source of inspiration for moms who want to move beyond the 'mommy layout' look and try something fun.

[PacificBlue]

Although I moved into digital from trad scrapbooking, my collage kitchen-sink approach fits probably better on digi than trad, to be honest.

I never went for the traditional look - probably only have used one digital tag in the life of digi-scrapping. I don't often use digi-brads or even elements like gels etc. Papers, I like, although I tend to blend them.

I guess digital means more freestyle for me - no rules, do whatever feels right for the layout. That goes for themes also. My scrapbooking has changed into something a bit rawer lately - I still do cutesy photos layouts because I have a cutesy child, and I want to make use of the many digital kits I do own, but there are a lot of times when I create things which strictly speaking, aren't layouts at all.

[happyrobyn]

LOL on the cutesy layouts! I do that too but much prefer the stuff that really isn't a layout at all!

[Chinook]

Wonderful ideas here ... for that time consuming job of crediting. I am going to use Debra's tip of naming the layers. Good one!!

I am a swinger, ha ha - constantly swinging back and forth between "clean and simple", "realistic digital", and "anything goes". I think I tend to save my "anything goes" for my ATCs though, as when my scrapbook pages get too crazy my family doesn't get it. And I AM still trying to scrapbook our families memories so don't want them looking at the pages and shaking their heads instead of enjoying the memories.

Nice to have the forums here though - I can play and express myself and my family need never know. Hey - I'm a CLOSET QUIRK!!

[happyrobyn]

That's ok. We can't all be flaming quirks or Quirk Queens! LOL! And a swinger to boot. I won't tell if you don't!

[webchyck]

Robyn, you never cease to crack me up!

[happyrobyn]

Let me just tell you that it ain't all fun and games being "Hard At Quirk" ... you'll find out in a few more posts. This job is killer!

[webchyck]

Well, we're glad you take the job so seriously! Carry on!

[Vania16]

LOL You guys are crackin' me up here :) It sounds like I'm like the rest of you - I like a little of both. For some layouts, I really want a realistic look while others seem to call for a more graphic/digital look - just depending on what I'm going for. That's what I'm loving about where this art form, and this site especially, are going - a more free approach, to use whatever approach is most suited to the story you're trying to tell.

[happyrobyn]

Well said Lisa!

[jessica b]

When creating digital art - do you try to create something that looks "real" or do you go for the digital look?

When I first started digital scrapbooking, I was doing it only as a supplement to my traditional paper layouts, and most of my layouts were going to be printed as gifts (at the time I had a wide format printer - which no longer works, but that's another sob story for another day).

Anyway, at first I was strictly going for the graphic look with my digital layouts. I thought to myself "geez, if I wanted the paper look I would just do the layout with paper" It seemed nonsensical to see layouts popping up that looked like the real thing, but were digital. But as time wore on, I found myself totally enjoying the process of creating elements mimicking the real stuff and creating paper designs. And eventually every digital layout I created became more and more like "the real deal". And now..... now, my digital layouts are far better than my hands-on layouts.

With that said, I still love the graphic or computer generated look whether it is a layout, an atc, or a MAD creation. I love it when I'm seeing something that I can just sit and stare at for a while. I love it when I have to think about what I am seeing & I even love when I come away thinking "what the .....?????"

So, I guess my goal is basically to have some fun and preserve some memories along the way, too. I want to be able to express myself more freely with my digital art, whether it looks real or computer generated, and not to worry about it. I wanna show off the quirkiness that is brewing inside. :o Just being a scrapbooker and a "designer" has not met that need for me yet, so I guess that is why I am here....

boy, that got long, eh?

[happyrobyn]

Good answer! Loved reading about the evolution of your scrapping!

[kygirl]

After years (decades) in corporate communications, I'm just wanting to have some fun with design. I just started digi-scrapping a few months ago, so I'm still finding my style.
I like the realistic look (however I have a real problem with kits that include elements that are "supposed" to look real but don't), but I love playing with all the special effects you can only get digitally.
Debra, that's a great tip on labeling the layers -- I'll be doing that from now on.

[happyrobyn]

YAY! kygirl made it! Welcome Donna! So glad you could join us.

[Kazadoodle]

I was never a real paper scrapper - I tried one LO, and HATED it - LOL. I'm a paper artist from way back and really got into it when rubber stamping was the big deal - I remember doing these weird, funky cards and stuff while everyone else was doing cute - I was so ahead of my time - hee hee - pretty soon, everyone was into the Somerset style (which I loved for a while, but it never changed - one mag was the same as the other - sigh - but that's another story). However, I do like my altered art, and always have - so much fun!

Anyhow, with my digital art - I like both the digital/graphic look and the 'real' look. I love it when people ask of some of my digital LO's - wow, is that real and how did you scan it - to which I reply - err, it's all digital.

I love the looks you can achieve almost instantly with digital, which may take ages with the real thing, like photo transferring - so easy in digital and no mess or smell or nasty chemicals - LOL

[webchyck]

You're so right Kazadoodle! So much easier and less fuss and muss with digital.. .btw...love your avatar!

[Ursula]

Well, I think all of my work starts with passion. I AM the color red. I love to throw my feelings and emotions into my work. If there's no emotion that I'm feeling, then the LO will be flat. As far as the look, that varies wildly. I love both paper and art. As far as paper, I love lots of layers and texture. Blocked LO's get boring quick and I can only do so many of them. On the other hand, a page with one photo kind of offset and a few words and an element can really be effective. So, I guess ultimately I'm a swinger too. Lately, I've been exploring collage. I'm loving finding so many cool images and am excited to get downloading, though cataloging stuff is quite a challenge. I do like the graphic look as well, though I often find myself combining. I am a bit rebellious and don't like following rules. So, if there's a rule, I'm likely to challenge it. My goal, ultimately, is to create something that moves me, and the viewer. Journaling is something I've been really employing lately, which I had thought previously was my weakest point, but which is getting better. i love to capture an artistic photo. hmmm, I think I'm sounding a bit random, and actually, that may be the perfect word to describe my work. I don't plan, I just plunk stuff down on my page and see if it works.

[SteinwaysMom]

I live that statment: I AM the color red.

That could be a LO in itself.

[webchyck]

Rules? We don't need no stinkin' rules! LOL!

[happyrobyn]

Quirks do not follow any rules!!!

[Kazadoodle]

Yep, I love that statement too - I am the colour Red.

Do I feel a challenge coming on? What colour are you? LOL

Thanks Becky - I love playing around with good old Mona Lisa - I even did a digital water colour of her

[Ursula]

Yeah, I like that idea for a challenge. But does anyone else feel like the art journaling thing has them a little self absorbed. I feel like lately, all my inspiration has to do with ME! Now, I'm not opposed to time for self, or self expression, but there ARE other's in the world.
So, anyway would you all like to do a red LO about ME? Oh, is that still self absorbed? Well, it'd be YOU doing it. Hee hee!
Seriously though, have ya'll seen some of the circle journals where folks pass it along and do something based on the theme picked by the person who will eventually own the journal. That could be a fun project here.

[AmyK]

I totally know what you mean about feeling self-absorbed! Especially since I've always felt I was doing my scrapbooking "for the kids." But how many pages a month do they really need? And would they be happier with the same old pages all the time, or something really cool after I get to experiment and play just for myself? I've been thinking about that lately... I think I am just so burnt out on cute kids pages...

I've done a couple circle journals, and I agree that could be really fun here!

[AmyK]

And to answer the original question... I started as a paper crafter, so I tend towards a fairly clean "realistic" look. However, lately I have really wanted to just play in digital and do whatever the heck feels like fun! I think this site is going to be like Artist's Therapy for me for a little while until I figure out my style again.

My husband used to do all these funky photo montages of us when we were dating. I think he was the original digital scrapper. When I showed him this site, he asked if men could join too, because this is the stuff he loves to do. He seriously used to send me the funniest pictures - like of him standing on his front porch next to Jimi Hendrix, or of him wearing a t-shirt with me flipping people off on it. I even have one where I have a 3rd eye. I need to go dig that stuff up!!

[webchyck]

We are SO SO SO wanting this to involve ALL kinds of digital art and all kinds of artists...your husband is definitely welcome Amy! It would be great to get some inspiration from some MEN for a change!

[happyrobyn]

Yes ... too many Quirk Queens here! We need some Quirk Kings!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I really don't think I have a style...I too, tend to go with whatever I'm in the mood for. I'm also a rebel at heart...although I'll deny that till kingdom comes, but if someone tells me I should get blue I go for the yellow...you know that sort of thing. So I notice also that if everyone else is 'doing it' or if there's some kind of trend going on I tend to turn away so I'm really bad at following directions anyways and I always tend to create things that I don't even get sometimes! lol! Here I go...rambling again! I guess you could say I've got a rambling technique...that's definately quirky, no?

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Ultimately though my goal is always to express whatever is in my heart for each project...

[mishou]

Oh My Gosh Amy! Your husband MUST join this website. LOL! That's so funny you bring that up today because I was seriously contemplating starting a new thread just to raise the point that we need to start some kind of recruitment campaign LOL. Honestly I was gonna do it this morning but something else came up!

When this site was conceived it was in no way meant to be female only. Scrap sites are like that because mostly women scrap. But that's the point. This is not a SCRAP site. It's an ART site. The few means of promotion for this site that we have are basically on blogs, etc. that only women scrappers ever visit. Hence the problem. We seriously need to figure out ways of getting the word out to the artist community, not just the scrapping community.
Anyway, sorry to change the subject. I know this isn't the topic of this post LOL

[kygirl]

Before we get back on topic, my husband is interested in this site, too. He's always admired my scrapbooking pages, but he's getting really excited about the stuff he sees here. He brought home Photoshop for his computer last night. I think he's a Quirk king in the making.

[webchyck]

Would love to see what men bring to the table. I know they're out there doing great stuff digitally.

[AmyK]

I will definitely be encouraging hubby to join then. He is ultra quirky (in that so cool way) and has always been more interested in "ART" than in crafts.

I've been posting on my blog a lot and am seeing people pick up the idea (one person posted one of my layouts on her blog today to talk about it), but I think some people just feel intimidated to join. Who knew it was so scary to be quirky? I dove in like this place was a bathtub full of chocolate.

[Vania16]

It would be great to have some men around here! It would add an even greater variety of viewpoints and quirkiness! And, if there's gonna be Jimi Hendrix pics invovled I am totally on board!

[Ursula]

I love it, a bathtub full of chocolate. And can I say a big ME TOO. I've only been here two days and already I feel I've come home!!!

[happyrobyn]

Does anybody out there belong to Deviant Art? I know there are some awesome MEN digi artists there (and women ones, too!).

[mishou]

Yeah, anyone who is involved with any kind of artist website, or even artsy things offline, please feel free to spread the word around!

I hereby declare the Men At Quirk Recruitment Campaign has officially begun!

[Ursula]

I barely know any artists at all, just ya'll. I'm a new deviant I guess. But I'll see if I can scrounge some up, may only end up inviting girls though.......deviant art, is that safe?

[kygirl]

Deviant digital art? It's only safe when you use virus protection. ;)

(sorry, couldn't resist)

[Kazadoodle]

Yep, I'm a member of a DeviantARt and am seriously thinking of pulling all my stuff down - it's not a very supportive community, it's matter of who you know, what clique you're in - not how good you are (not that I'm saying I'm terrific but some of my stuff there is pretty cool and I thought would get lots more comments - oh well)

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

it's not a very supportive community, it's matter of who you know, what clique you're in - not how good you are (not that I'm saying I'm terrific but some of my stuff there is pretty cool and I thought would get lots more comments - oh well)

That sucks...never been there but I tend to just stay where I feel a connection. I enjoy ScrapArtist but this mb is definately where I feel most home.

[CathyRose]

I haven't heard of that site, until you mentioned it. Lots of cool stuff there. Sometimes when sites are too big, they become impersonal. Then the cliques form. It is too bad when that happens!

[alteredstates]

I want it all! An elegant photo of my great grandmother has gotten the traditional scrapbook look, but that is getting old fast-and now Ifind I want to say more about her and a woman's role in her era... the formal life she lived ..and put her in a cage or something...chains on the ankles?

[happyrobyn]

I want it all! An elegant photo of my great grandmother has gotten the traditional scrapbook look, but that is getting old fast-and now Ifind I want to say more about her and a woman's role in her era... the formal life she lived ..and put her in a cage or something...chains on the ankles?
Now THAT would be a great page! Some members of my family don't understand what I do and even get upset because I am "making fun of" my ancestors by altering them. But that is so opposite of what I am doing. They just don't get it!!!

[Pixeldigger]

My ancestors were quirky, let's face it. A far back ancestor was a public executioner and one branch of the family stems for one child, the sole survivor of a sheep rustling raid by bandits. Even in my grandmother's day, she accompanied her husband to India, where my father was born and her sister was a Lady Banker in the days when clever women were just not appreciated.

I started off scrapbooking last year, I must finish some more pages, I really want to finish Dad's page, but his death is too recent. I haven't felt like doing much of anything which needs 'work', but it is time I got back to it. Does anyone know how to get an image from a glass photographic plate? Simpe scanning doesn't give a very good picture and I have some plates from my Dad's childhood which I would love to preserve.

As for scrappers vs artists, I think we are all artists. I used to be a scientist, but art is the way to go for me now that my deep concentration is not good. I prefer digital to 'real' because my hands are not good and I can reposition stuff as much as I like with a digital image.