Photoshop Creative Issue

Maciej Matuszak

I

nspiration can strike from anywhere, and

that’s something that Maciej Matuszak, a

graphic designer who works for an

advertising agency by day, embraces. Though all

his work looks diferent, he takes inluence from all

over, including his surroundings. “I come from a

very beautiful country,” he says of Poland. “I

encourage everyone to visit.”

We caught up with Maciej to ind out how he

creates his amazing work.

Can you tell us where your

inspiration comes from?

Oten everything goes straight from my head to the

computer. At the beginning I search for diferent

photographs. Oten when I browse for images, I ind

something special, and then when I have the idea, I

start building from there.

Do you have a message you try and

convey in your work?

I try to say something, not with everything that I

create, but I think that subject matter and title can

The making of Rebirth of

Paradise

How Maciej turned a series of stock photos into

one utopian composition

Polish artist Maciej on inspiration, messages in his work and

how to create amazing, unique artwork

What Once Was

help send a message. But I like it the best when

someone tells me what they see in my work, and

then we can discuss the subject together.

What subject matters do you

explore most in your work?

All of my pictures are diferent, but I’d like to think

they all have an air of mystery. I like exploring

space with my artwork, but equally, I don’t mind

what I create as long as it’s interesting.

Are there any tips that you would

give to beginners?

Be as creative as you can and just try to develop

your own style. Don’t focus too much about what

other people are doing. Ask experienced artists

for feedback and then see what it is they have to

say about it.

If you are inspired by Maciej’s art on these pages,

you can see more of his work at http://www.

photoshopcreative.co.uk/user/

inspireyourmind

Creating the

background

I started to composite

the background

together by masking

two pictures: the

sky and the roots. I

wanted the image to

look bright and warm.

Plant some

trees

Next I added some

trees, using Channels

to cut them out, as I

find it to be a simple

way to isolate colour

in a layer. I added

shade all over and

matched light relative

to where the sun was

in the photo.

Building the

composition

In this step, I added

the rest of the trees,

using a brush and the

appropriate settings.

I created flying pollen

to show that the

paradise is beginning

to r e c ove r.

Adjustments

The last step

was to adjust the

composition as

a whole with the

appropriate colour,

which I did using

Curves and Color

Balance. I also added

a light vignette.

Reader interview

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 20 JULY 2017!

Rebirth of Paradise

The

Wanderer

The

Macaque

Island

Flower of Life

No Life

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