SuOakes Graphic Design

Please note: I am NOT a K-12 teacher. I teach adults.

I am a freelance digital artist/instructor with a diverse background in psychology, business, art and technology.

Through my work and teaching, I demonstrate that art and technology are not antagonistic, but can coexist and should be used to enhance each other in new and exciting ways. I blur the borders between photography, painting, and digital illustration to achieve my artistic vision.

My work is “Photo Imaging” in which I use enhanced techniques such as layering, masking, and digital “hand painting”.

Although it originates with computer hardware and software, it is not the result of anything “automatic”, developed from my original photography and illustration. There is no “formula” or automatic process; no two pieces are done in exactly the same way.

I have been using and teaching Photoshop for about 20 years and I know how overwhelming it can be for a new person. I pride myself on a low pressure welcoming teaching style which I tailor to meet the needs of individual students. I come with handouts, videos, and many sample files for students to work on. After the basics, I also encourage students to work on their own files to solve design and photo correction problems.

My experience also includes other Creative Cloud applications such as Illustrator and InDesign, essential for design and publishing projects.