Jenny Le Interview

Tell us a little about yourself:

I was born in Hanoi and I live there. I didn’t have a strong background of art except some childhood drawings. I grew up without awareness that someday art will have a very important place in my life. When I don’t create art, I spend time for my non-design work offline and take care of my personal life.

When did you first begin to make art?

I began to make art when I started my blog in January 2010 and discovered Photoshop.

When did you first start using Photoshop and how did you learn?

I started using Photoshop in the begin of 2010. I started to learn it by watching tutorials on internet as lots of people do. I wrote my first tutorial about color blending a month later because I wanted to remember what I just learned.

Since that time, I learned by writing tutorials for everything new I just discovered. But to me at that time it was only a hobby and I just spent time for what I liked. I even don’t touch the Pen Tool and didn’t know how to extract anything from background after 9 months of learning!

I started writing tutorials for other websites in October 2010 when I realized Photoshop could be something more than a hobby for fun.Since that time I tried to learn all the tools and skills I missed before. I had some great friends who always supported me in the first steps I learned everything to be involved in design community.

I began to learn photo manipulation since the middle of 2011. I continued to write tutorials for some popular photoshop websites while trying to update my blog . This has been the best way to me to sharpen my skill and get benefit from design community. I love the way it has been affected to my mind and changed the eye I see life.

What inspires you?

Anything beautiful and creative!

I prefer to start with a glimpse of idea and let it guide me to the end. Many times I start with a specific idea in mind but finally it ends up different.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

I don’t really have any specific favorite artists but in general I admire the ones who have diversity in their work.

What is your typical process when creating a piece of art?

It’s very important to know how your mind works. I prefer to start with a glimpse of idea and let it guide me to the end. Many times I start with a specific idea in mind but finally it ends up different. It’s due to stock limit, errors or another idea appears suddenly while making it. Most of my works have been created that way.

What is your favorite Photoshop trick/method at the moment?

I love creating lighting and changing atmosphere. I also love playing with color.

What is your favorite Photoshop tool or plugin at the moment?

Adjustment layers and Brush Tool. They can do magic!

What work of your own are you most proud of?

My most favorite work to date is “Road of Life”.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve planned to improve my skill with new styles. I’m also learning digital painting and hopefully to be good in it.

What would you tell someone who is starting out making Photoshop art?

Do practice as much as you can and love what you do! Don’t be afraid to try and learn something new. You can’t know how far you can go if you don’t try. Be patient and take time to pay attentions to minor details. Take inspiration from tutorials and other artists by learning the way they use color, create lighting, make shadow, combine elements. Learn but not copy, practice and find your own way. Dream big and be ambitious in art!