I was born in Belfast in 66,a busy "troubled" industrial city at that time.These troubles brought us to Canada,my father decided it would be best for all of his children as we where five.
A beautiful country Canada.We lived in different citys and towns such as Toronto and Montreal but the long winters brought us back to Ireland.It was in Dublin I started practicing fine art. I started night courses in Rathmines College of Commerce where I aquired my diploma in Art in Industerie and Commerce.
There we used 'old school' techniques where computers where hardly even heard of,my professor was a 'Mr Karl Ullham',designer of stamps for 'An Post'. Everything was done by hand in his days,even letterheads (roman-times) a few 'mm' high,and extremly precise.
I started winning competitions and became an active full time painter, even side jobs where art related such as sign-writing and presentation for exhibition stands. I got a job working at the 'Kodak House',Portobello bridge,Dublin where I learned a lot about technicolor and how to re-touch photographs by hand.We used a matt varnish ans colored pencils and would heat seal them with plastic in a special machine hiding any trace of handy work, 'a long way from Photoshop eh!I moved to France in the early 90's to Toulouse, a beautiful town down south, there I exhibited and continued painting. I began working as a interior decorator,I created a few cafés and theme bars whitch are still open today,you can see them by clicking 'here'.
I have been training here as a webmaster after finishing a course in infographie- professional training of Adobe products,I was get'n frustrated playing with them so I thought it was time to get serious. Below is a list of future projects and some ideas I have.
Projects
- 'Life Illustrated"- is a magazine I will publish for fine artists who have endulged in computer arts.I will be a down-loadable 'pdf' format monthly mag with tutorials, links and good comunication plans.The first will be ready for the summer of 2008.
- 'Flasher'-will have gagets for web desigeners, menus,xml presentations and more for people who want to jazz up their websites.
- 'E-learning'-Tutorials in all kinds of mediums,Photoshop,illustrator flash and dreamweaver. Also a more artistic perspective to web design and graphics in general.
- 'Traditional art lessons'-A series of art classes in a book (pdf) techniques in watercolor,life drawing,acylic and
other mediums and ways of applying them with applications such as photoshop & Illustrator!
- 'Short stories'-a page dedicated to any budding writers willing to go on a joint adventure. Reailising thier ideas and creating a illustrated short storie ('pdf-format').
- 'Erotic Illustrated'- An interesting magazine covering erotic arts in europe and the rest of the world with beautiful "and tasteful" illustration and photography from various artists.First issue the in the summer of 2008!
- "Newsletter"-A monthly newsletter keeping us up to date with all events and current projects.Just send me an email . subscribe.
Going Digital
I was fairly traditional in mind and body and worked a lot with an old aerograph, the "De Vilbis super 63", a great instrument used in the past and still today for spraying anaesthetic on patients while operating.
Then I descovered Photoshop,Illustrator and Flash, motion became an important facture, I always plan work these days, 'how could I put life into this image'. Photoshop is a great tool for both design and artistic work, in France they call it "the gas factory", everybody has thier way of useing it but I must admit, after professional training there are no limits!!
Vector Art
Vector is one of my favorate newmedias.
After seeing'A scanner darkly' (the film with Keanu Reeve's) all of the stills where created with illustrator, hundreds of designers on the job with a customised computer specially built for fast vector work, "must be seen!!
Mixed media.
Mixing two or three different applications at the same time can create amazing results.On this site there are works created by hand,scanned and then manipulated in photoshop or illustratorand then polished in flash.There are no rules when it is creative, plenty of room for the imagination.Have a look in the 'fantasy' gallery.
Fine art.
I was trained as a fine artist in Dublin. I was always facinated with the skills of painters like Dali, D'Vinci,Rembrant and todays artists like Rodney Matthews,Jim Fitspatrick and I could go on,& on!! I specialise in watercolor now but I enjoy getting my hands dirty with large canvas and plenty of oil and acrylic . There are examples of this in the 'traditional' gallery.
Enough talking anyhow, I hope you enjoy this site and please contact me with any enquiries at
stephenmc.grogan@gmail.com
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