Meet Renderosity Artist Shirley D. Cross [treasureprints]

Renderosity artist, Shirley D. Cross (known here as treasureprints), showcases a wonderful collection of her amazing photography projects in her Renderosity gallery. After taking notice of her vivid "Iris Beautiful" image, I took a deeper look into her gallery and just had to find out more about her photography and wonderful postwork.

From Shirley's Renderosity Homepage:

"Born and raised in Oregon's beautiful Willamette Valley, I've been artistic, drawing and painting from an early age.

I became serious about photography in the mid 80's, and have won awards internationally. I am an incurable romantic and also love fantasy and sci-fi, as you can see from my photos."

What can you tell us about yourself? What do you enjoy outside of photography/digital art?

I'm a 64 year old widow, who is actively seeking the next love of my life.;) I have one daughter, Fawn, who has five children, the oldest of which is married and expecting my first great-grandchild. Besides photography and digital manipulation of my photos, I enjoy reading a wide variety of books, all kinds of music, movies, and the outdoors.

Stream Detail

How did you become interested in Photography, and when did you officially cross into the digital realm?

I've always loved drawing and painting from the time I was a small child, and later I tried taking 'arty' photos with my little brownie camera. In 1984 my late husband bought me a 'good' camera and taught me how to use it. As opposed to painting, photography became 'instant gratification'. I took off from there. About four years ago, for my birthday, my Mom bought me a Nikon D80, which has saved me thousands of dollars in film and processing. I still have thousands of slides which I scan and work with, too. I don't have any dedicated lenses...still using those from my old Nikon N90, but they work just fine.

Sun Dance

What might we find in your digital toolset, and what do you rely on most?

Besides the camera, I have a good quality film/slide scanner...a Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400. My software is still two inexpensive programs my husband bought when he first got our computer in 2000, Microsoft Picture IT 2000, and MGI Photosuite III. These are simple programs, but I've learned the Picture IT so thoroughly that I've even created some of my own special effects in it. A girlfriend whom I taught photography is learning all about Photoshop, and is going to teach me, bless her.

Blue Lotus

I noticed on your homepage, you mention you have won awards internationally on your work. What can you tell us about these awards?

Yes, I've won two gold Medals in Austria, in what used to be the Austrian Super Circuit, one of which is the "Blue Lotus," which is here in my portfolio; a medal in South Africa, and other awards too numerous to mention all around this country and of course in our little camera club. I've had my photoart published in a Chinese Digital Magazine, a very prestigious German B&W photography magazine...Swarzweizz, as well as American Photo, Popular Photography, and many times in the Best of Photography Annual. They have also been published in several calendars, and one of my photos is currently being sold by the Leanin' Tree Greeting Card Company..."Violet Fairy," which you can see in my portfolio too.

Where else might we find your work?

Well, Nick, I'm all over the Internet, so the easiest way to find my work is if you Google or Yahoo my full name: Shirley D. Cross, Photographer, and all the sites where I share pop up.

Violet Fairy

Is there a particular setting/genre that you especially enjoy exploring? And further, out of all your work, is there a particular piece that stands out as your personal favorite?

I'm particularly fond of romantic fantasy and sci-fi, but like exploring all kinds of photography. I like variety. It's hard to choose one favorite, but I do like my gold medal winner, "Blue Lotus." Other favorites would be "Temptation,""Morning Light," and/or "Distant Planet 2."

Temptation

Are there any tips or words of wisdom you would offer up to someone looking to learn the art of photography, or even make a living in the field?

I certainly don't make a living at this, although there are some people who do. But I do this for the love of it...couldn't stop if I wanted to...lol. If you are determined enough and a good business person, you would probably do better than I at making some money. Just keep learning all you can about your art and keep trying to improve.

Owl & the Pussycat

On printing your works, do you have any tips you've found on best practices/materials?

I have an older Epson printer, but it is very fine quality with chromogenic inks, which are waterproof and will last many years. There are so many wonderful fine art printers on the market now. Just do your research, if you are in the market. Through the years, I've used a variety of papers, and sometimes it depends on the particular work of art and the effect you wish to achieve. For my small prints and greeting cards, Costco's Kirkland photo paper is high quality...as good or better than some I've spent much more for.

Iris Beautiful

I especially love how you blend imagery in your work. My favorites are your water pieces, such as "Aethereal Waterfall" and "Creeksong." How did you approach these?

I love blending my models into natural settings...especially water. I may experiment with this more in the future. "Lady of the Waterfall" (which I'm not sure is in my gallery here) just 'called' for a woman with flowing hair to be blended into the stream, and that was my first blending of someone into water. I LOVE water, and enjoy photographing the ocean, rivers and streams, and then 'playing' with those photos. Sometimes, as in "Aethereal Waterfall," Shammi's profile just 'fit'. Also, with "Rushing Waves," the horses just 'fit' into the surf.

Aethereal Waterfall

Where do you find your inspiration?

Inspiration can come from other artwork, music, poetry, dreams. Some of my work is strongly influenced by the young German painter (now deceased) Sulamith Wulfing.

Creeksong

How about "Lighted Doorway," with the hand reaching out of the prism? It's such an interesting piece, I'd really love to know how this idea came about.

I already had the model's hand (which I'd photographed covered with sheer fabric) that I had used in an older piece, and just thought it would make this more interesting.

Lighted Doorway

Do many of your works result from ideas that hit you before you set to work on them, or is it most often the result of play?

It can work either way, but most come to me before I start working on them. Listening to a beautiful work of music can make me 'see' something that I want to try.

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