Frequently Asked Questions

About Mixed Media Originals:

  •  Are these originals handcrafted?

• Yes, indeed! Each mixed media original is a labor of love, handcrafted with a blend of digital and traditional techniques, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind. Each original takes 2-3 weeks to create, and has an average of 20 hours of physical work put into them.

  • What materials go into a mixed media original?

• They start as giclée prints from my digital paintings (hand painted in Procreate on iPad), then I add my magic with impasto paste (texture paste), mica powder (metallic dust), and diamond dust (smoothed glass). This actually mutes the bright colors from the original print, so I go back in with alcohol inks, acrylic markers, and oil pens to return the brilliant burst of colors, now showing under glowing background colors.

  • How durable are your originals?

Because of the many materials I use, each painting is sealed with high gloss varnish around a total of 7 layers, making them highly resistant to sunlight, water, and even the oils on our skin. These paintings are created with the intention to last a very long time, with the hope that your family will enjoy them for generations to come!

  • Are your paintings mass produced or limited?

• Each painting I publish will have six originals in different sizes. The starting size is XS at 5x7, and goes up to XXL at 30x40. No paintings will ever be made in the same size to maintain uniqueness and exclusivity! 

 

On AI:

  • Do you use AI/How do you feel about AI Art? 

• The paintings you see are hand painted on my iPad, however I do use AI for references! The AI acts as an aid in my creative process, which I use to help me generate ideas for color and composition. The final result that you see on my website is the result of my painting and vision while using the AI generated image(s) as a reference. I find this process much more unique rather than using stock images and other artists' work for references. This is of course when I am unsure how I want to go about starting a painting, many pieces were painted from a photo I have seen and/or taken with my phone as well! (the backgrounds, not the Pokémon :-D)

  • Does using AI save you a lot of time, making the process easier?

• It does assist with the initial stages, especially because I struggle with placing initial colors on a blank canvas. Being on the Autism spectrum, starting something like that can be overwhelming. Having a base idea on where to start and block the scene is an immeasurable aid to me. But rest assured, the final work is in fact my brush strokes - there’s plenty of personal touch, heart, and soul in every piece I create.

  • Do you feel a personal connection to the artworks created with AI assistance?

• Sometimes! Each piece is a journey from a spark of imagination to a unique artwork. The colors can inspire me, but sometimes subjects generated are goofy and odd looking, which always makes me laugh! The AI helps, but the final vision, hours working on the piece, and artistic choices are all me!