Now , I will give a detailed explanation of my process .
Step 1 : First I start by taking lots of photographs . My work is based on still lives so I start by doing set ups in the studio . I shoot with a Nikon D200 camera and have it set for the highest resolution possible . The camera produces raw format digital photos that I then work with in Photoshop .
Step 2 Step 2 : Once I have loaded the photos into my computer I quickly scan all of them looking for images that I think are dynamic . Those that are selected are then edited in Photoshop to adjust the exposure and contrast until I get them to look the way that I want . Once I ’ m satisfied , I print them out on archival paper or if they are too large for my printer I send them out to a professional digital printer . In either case the prints are archival quality . I like to print on photo quality rag paper that is acid free . That sort of paper is like a watercolor paper and holds the ink well . My favorite paper to print on is Moab Entrada Rag Bright 190 . It is 100 % cotton paper .
Step 3 Step 3 : I do quite a bit of prep work to the photograph before I start to work on it . I need to protect the paper and ink from the oil paint to preserve the photo . First I spray the photo with Krylon UV-Resistant Acrylic Coating , gloss to protect the image from UV light .