Gimp is an open-source, freely available alternative to Photoshop. It offers a lot of the same functionality but, if you are an avid Photoshop user, you may get frustrated with some of the nuanced differences.
Spotlight Series: Digital Technology and Art – Image Manipulation
Today we’re going to look at editing images on your laptop. The intent is to get you familiar with these tools and how they can improve your overall workflow as a creative working in different media, including non-digital.
Spotlight Series: Digital Technology and Art – Procreate
Today’s focus for our spotlight series is Procreate, a graphics editor for digital painting created by Australia-based software company Savage Interactive. It’s actually a collection of programs: Procreate for iPads, Procreate Pocket for iPhones, and Procreate Dreams which is geared toward animation. I chose Procreate for today’s spotlight because I have been teaching it to …
Spotlight Series: Digital Technology and Art
As artists of physical mediums, be it painting, woodburning, caligraphy, fibercrafts, or any of the hundreds of others, we pride ourselves in the hand-crafted nature of what we do. The mediums we use and the canvases we apply them to can all be traced back to where they originated from. We used tried and true techniques passed down for generations. It may even be that we scoff at the idea of using computers to enhance what we do. Personally, I think that limits us as we can still create in a way that embraces tradition but takes advantage of the modern tools we have at our disposal.
What’s in Store for 2024
Well, the holidays came and went; as fast as ever. We’re starting off a new year and it’s time to start planning what’s in store for BZ FurFur. Some of the things we have lined up:
Wishing you all a Happy New Year
Here’s to everyone having a very prosperous New Year. We’re looking forward to seeing you all in 2024 with exciting events, new products, and plenty of surprises. As always, stay unique.
Reorganizing your space
It’s the end of the year and that means it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions, self-improvement, and organizing your life.
Hand-made vs Mass Produced
If you ever find yourself at a market and you are looking at the different wood-burned pieces you may notice that some pieces look more uniform and consistent; like they came out of a factory. Other pieces look more rustic and rough like someone burned them by hand. If you have seen this, your eyes are not deceiving you, the former was probably done with a laser engraver whereas the latter would be done with a hand tool.
Creative Growth
As an artist, we often look at the works of others with a great sense of awe. By comparing ourselves and our work to that of other artists we often feel less satisfied with our own creations. Maybe another artist uses a technique that we have never been able to master, has access to tools or creative spaces that we don’t, or has an innate talent that we don’t. Sometimes it is okay to look to others’ work to help inspire us, but often it is more important to follow our own journey.
Small Business Saturday
This past weekend we had one of our biggest events of the year: Small Business Saturday in Charlotte’s South End. The weather was great, the turnout was amazing, and we met so many wonderful new customers and vendors over the course of the day. This was the first big Small Business Saturday event we have participated in so we weren’t sure what to expect but it was an absolute blast. So what is Small Business Saturday, why is it so important, and how can you be a part of it.