Phil Clark Interview

Tell us a little about yourself:

I grew up in Huntington Beach, CA. I’ve loved art since I was a child. I was always fascinated by artists who were talented at drawing or painting. I’m an avid amateur photographer.

When did you first begin to make art?

About eight years ago I just picked up a pencil and began to draw. That lead to painting, mostly with acrylics.

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

About six years ago I discovered Photoshop. I would say I was self-taught, but more accurately I was YouTube taught. My real education began in July when I joined Awake with Sebastian Michaels as my teacher.

What inspires you?

Being in Awake, I’m surrounded by great artists and great art, and that is a constant source of inspiration. Things in nature, such as, dramatic sunlight and beautiful landscapes also spark my imagination.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

Renoir, Monet, Rembrandt and Vermeer are at the top of my list. My favorite Photo Artist is Rusty McDonald.

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

I usually start with a model or some kind of architecture. Then I begin to build a background around the subject, and hopefully find a way to introduce some interesting light into the piece. It is definitely an evolving process. Sometimes I’m able to create a piece from a mental image, but not very often.

Where do you get your source materials from?

Most of the models and textures come from content in the Awake course. I use some of my own photographs and textures. My favorite free source is Pixabay.

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

Probably masking in different textures at different blend modes with interesting brushes to create effects that you don’t expect.

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

Topaz Adjust 5. There is such a wide variety of effects to choose from.

What work of your own are you most proud of?

That’s hard to answer. A piece I did called Sun Rays Of Dawn is one of those I envisioned beforehand and was able to create it almost exactly as I imagined it.

What are you currently working on?

Being in Awake I’m constantly learning new methods and finding ways to apply them to my art.

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

Photoshop can be intimidating when you first open it. But you only need to know a few of the basics to start creating art. So, be patient and most of all have fun with it.