2026-05-19 Fine Art Photography SIG meeting notes

We met online using ZOOM 6:00pm-8:30pm

The goal of our Fine Art Photography SIG is to help each other to create fine art from our photography.
The Fine Art SIG is a place where artists support each other and nurture creativity in others.
Unrequested criticism can feed an artist's fear of failure and stifle their creative growth.

ATTENDEES
Robert Barley
Mike Barry
Chris Christopherson
Heather Coe
Rich Ernst
Jim Fellion
Michael Hohol
Mike Jackson
Pam Jordan
Jim Limburg
Jack Lipscomb
Paul Marcoux
Ed Ogle
Rich Roberts
Albert Wang

DISCUSSION TOPICS

1. Show us your "Images with textures"
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We showed the images that we had enhanced by adding textures and discussed the techniques and how the textures affected the overall image.

2. What is valued in the Fine Art world and why?
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We discussed the video
"How this ‘Terrible Artist’ Made MILLIONS (The Frida Kahlo Way) - 25:45 - by Dries Ketels"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPB6mY2ZOxQ

3. Constructive Critiques and Personal Projects
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We gave constructive critiques when requested

4. RESOURCES (Where you can find sources of inspiration)
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Download Free texture images from Pexels, filter for "textures"
https://pexels.com

Purchase textures from "2 Lil' Owls"
https://2lilowls.com/?s=textures

How to Turn Photos into Textures in Photoshop - 13:27 - by PHLEARN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYLoZwY3P68
This video is actually more about how to use textures than create them

Make your own textures for "Texture Blending Art" - 14:58 - by Stephen Photo Artist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3VLGtHvLNw
How to create interesting colorful textures by painting in Photoshop

Texture Blending Art in Adobe Photoshop - 22:19 - by Stephen Photo Artist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oGGFYaHHAg
How to apply textures to images to make them more interesting

Create Your Own Textures in Photoshop - 7:47 - by Sleeklens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x76LNCkUWb8
How to create B/W textures

4. PICK A TOPIC FOR THE NEXT MEETING
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I would like everyone to create some abstract images for the next Fine Art SIG meeting in June as inspired by Lisa Langell at our May general club meeting. I consider "abstract" to be a very inclusive art category, ranging from closeup images that are not immediately obvious to simplified or modified images to Pollock style images that don't represent anything resembling reality. Lisa recommended searching thrift stores and junk drawers for interesting objects to photograph. She also liked abstract triptychs, high contrast abstract images, and patterns.

Tell me if there is a photographic technique or topic that you would like to have the group discuss at the next meeting, or else I will pick one that I am interested in.

AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY SIG MEETING - Tue 6/16/2026 @6:00pm
1. The main topic will be "Abstracts" that members have created from their photographs, or just in an image editor.
2. If you want to discuss something else, send me an email and I will add it to the agenda.
3. Constructive Critiques and Other Personal Projects
4. We will pick a topic for the next meeting.

If you don't have time to research the topic or experiment with textures, or you don't have any images that you want to have critiqued, that is OK, you can just attend the meeting and participate when you want.

Please email Mike, info@fcdcc.com, when you find mistakes, missing information or if you have suggestions for the Fine Art Photography SIG and I will try to address the issues.

Thanks,
Mike Barry

================ Notes from ZOOM ==================

Quick recap

This meeting focused on a photography club session where members shared their experiences adding textures to photographs using Photoshop. Mike Barry led the discussion on texture applications, showing examples of different types of textures including cracked concrete, painted colors, and abstract patterns. Club members including Jim, Rich Roberts, Chris, Rich Ernst, Pam, and Robert shared their texture photography experiments, with Jim demonstrating various masking techniques and showing before-and-after comparisons of landscape and portrait images. Members discussed different sources for textures including Pexels, Two Little Owls, TextureLabs.com, and Flypaper, as well as the recent club presentation by Lisa on interior design with photography. The group also explored how texture applications can transform ordinary photos into more artistic or vintage-looking images, with particular interest in portraiture and dreamlike effects.

Next steps

Mike Barry

• Search for and send out links/videos about abstract photography to inspire the group before the next meeting.

Collaboration

• All members: Create abstract images (or photographs with abstract elements) for the next meeting, using techniques such as photographing interesting objects in junk drawers, thrift stores, or found textures, as inspired by Lisa Langell's presentation.
• All members: Experiment with creating triptychs and/or placing images in virtual room settings for the next meeting, as suggested by Lisa Langell's presentation and discussed in the meeting.

Summary

Photography Textures and Workshop

The group discussed photography topics including textures in images and an upcoming photography workshop. They reviewed a recent presentation by a photographer who specializes in interior design-inspired images, with Rich noting it was comprehensive but expensive at around $4,000. The conversation also covered the Lancaster Rendezvous event happening that weekend, where participants dress in 1880s period clothing, and Jim mentioned signing up for a 25-mile bike ride in Boulder. The conversation ended with Mike Barry introducing the main topic about adding textures to photographs, mentioning various sources including Pexels and Two Little Owls for free and purchased textures.

Photography Texture Tools Discussion

The group discussed using texture tools in photography, with members sharing sources for textures including TextureLabs.com and Flypaper. Jim presented examples of his work applying textures to various photos, including landscapes, wildlife, and still life images, demonstrating how textures can significantly change the character of photographs. The participants provided feedback on Jim's examples, with Rich suggesting that smaller texture squares might work better and noting that one image reminded him of a painted mural.

Photoshop Texture and Masking Projects

The group reviewed several Photoshop texture and masking projects. Jim demonstrated a mandala design with texture overlay and discussed his masking techniques for food images, while Rich Roberts praised the Indian-inspired aesthetic. Chris shared his learning experience with portrait editing, showing two versions of a family photo with different texture applications, and Rich Ernst presented a composite image combining flowers with a bee using multiple textures and masking techniques.

Photography Texture Overlay Techniques

Rich Roberts presented his photography experiments with texture overlays, demonstrating several techniques including cement, antique paper, and tintype textures applied to portraits and landscapes. He explained his process of applying these textures to create vintage and weathered effects, with the tintype texture being his favorite for portraiture work. Rich shared his progress on a truck photograph, showing how he refined it by removing distracting elements and applying texture overlays to achieve his desired effect.

Photography Techniques and Sharing Session

The group discussed various photography techniques and shared images during what appears to be a photography club meeting. Rich Roberts presented a barn image and received feedback from Rich Ernst about potentially cropping it further to focus on specific elements. Pam shared several photos using Joel Grimes textures, demonstrating different techniques including isolating subjects and applying textures to create a grungy background effect. Robert presented two dreamlike images, including one titled "Rebecca Sings" featuring a grunge overlay with musical notes created using a vector graphic, which the group discussed in detail including its artistic intent and potential reception in photography competitions. The conversation ended with Mike Jackson attempting to share his photos via screen sharing, though technical difficulties with screen sharing permissions on his Mac device delayed this portion of the meeting.

Photography Texture Application Techniques

The group discussed various techniques for applying textures to photographs, with Mike Jackson sharing his extensive collection of texture work and explaining his process of using layer masks and overlays. Mike Barry inquired about the marketability of textured images, to which Mike Jackson explained his challenges with galleries taking large percentages, leaving limited profit margins. Albert and Jack also presented their texture applications, with Albert demonstrating his attempts to age photos using textures and Jack showing his progression from initial to more successful texture applications, particularly with a bird photo.

Photography Texture Techniques Discussion

The group discussed various photography techniques, focusing on texture applications in images. Jack shared examples of using textures from Pexels and Joel Grimes, including a photo from Denver Botanic Gardens where he masked out flower centers. Rich suggested exploring distortion techniques like motion blur or liquify effects to enhance the texture effects, particularly comparing the current style to Van Gogh's work. Mike Barry presented multiple versions of the same flower photo with different textures, demonstrating how varying textures could dramatically change the overall feel of the image, from ethereal to vintage or faded paper effects.

Photography Texturing and Frida Kahlo

The group discussed Mike Barry's presentation on texturing techniques in photography, where he demonstrated various effects using purchased textures from "Two Little Owls" through Design Cuts, and showed examples including a photo of Ethan with peeling paint texture. The conversation then shifted to Frida Kahlo, with participants sharing their mixed opinions about her art and life, including discussions about her difficult circumstances, personal relationships, and how she channeled her internal pain into her artwork. The conversation ended with participants expressing different views on a video about Frida Kahlo and a movie titled "Frida."

Artistic Success and Recognition

The group discussed the nature of art and artistic success, drawing parallels between various artists like Warhol, Frida Kahlo, and Georgia O'Keeffe. They explored how promotional networks and influential connections often play crucial roles in an artist's success, rather than just artistic skill alone. The conversation concluded with reflections on personal motivations for creating art, where Mike Barry expressed a preference for recognition and personal satisfaction over financial gain, while others shared similar sentiments about valuing appreciation over monetary compensation.

Abstract Photography Planning Discussion

The group discussed plans for their next meeting, where Mike Barry proposed focusing on abstract photography, inspired by a recent presentation from Lisa Langell. The discussion included ideas for creating abstract images using found objects, thrift store items, and household items, with participants sharing experiences about photographing in various locations and respecting businesses' no photography policies. The conversation ended with Mike Barry inviting attendees to a Lancaster Rendezvous event where they could photograph people in historical costumes, though Rich Roberts noted the long exposure times required for vintage cameras would make this challenging.