Importance of creativity
A major survival strategy for me is to be creative. It takes a variety of forms and is in a fairly constant state of flux. And, as oxymorons go, that’s one of the best.
I have used Serif Affinity Photos for a while now although I find it has a steeper learning curve than Adobe Photoshop, but that may be because I learned PS first. On Friday I had an email from Affinity that included ideas for their Designer program. I have loved the old minimalist railway posters from the 1920s and 30s and saw the potential for having a go myself. I decided to treat myself and then discovered I could sign up for a 10-day free trial. Rude not to.
I had a play around with a couple of photographs I’d taken, and here are the results:
Like its sister program ‘Designer’ has a fairly steep learning curve but I have found it absorbing. If little else, it concentrates the mind wonderfully. And it’s about interpretation rather than faithful reproduction. That I find wonderfully appealing.
marilyn unmasked 
Wow, brilliant! Must look up this programme 👏👏
Did you do that with a particular filter in the app or have to build it up or by painting to your own design?
Good morning Dr B,
Thank you for your applause. Building it up was a combo of the last two.
1. brought in my own photograph as a bottom ‘layer’ and point of reference; after that I was on my own.
2. used pen tool to draw shapes, then filled with colour using colour swatch palette.
3. by drawing the shape in short sections of line you get more ability to tweak the final shape as you get a ‘node’ at each ‘join’ that you can move, a bit like joints in long limbs (or perhaps more akin to metatarsals).
There’s quite a few tutorials online if you wanted a sample of possibilities.
I’ve decided to try my hand with one of my art therapy painting today. M
You deserve double applause then. I don’t think it’s for me then, I don’t really have the ability, or patience, to tackle it like you have. So, triple applause. 👏👏👏🕉