Marie Beschorner was a traditional artist who experimented with all kinds of media, until she found Photoshop and discovered her niche
Winter Solstice
Marie Beschorner’s work has the look of traditional paintings and the detail of a photograph, but it’s actually Photoshop that helps her to create her captivating art. “For a long time I mainly used Photoshop for photo editing,” she says. “But the magic started when I got my first tablet and explored the painterly options.” We caught up with her to discover how she’s evolved as an artist, and how she creates such amazing work.
Yes, I used to work mainly with oil and acrylic. During my studies I experimented with a variety of different types of media. To be honest, none of it really felt right. As an artist I only started to unleash my true potential when I discovered the digital medium for myself. The digital painting process is completely different from the traditional one, and although each medium has its advantages, I love the flexibility and complete freedom of working digitally. I love the intuitive design of it and the many features it provides to bring out the best in your work. As a freelance artist I value Photoshop for being reliable software, which guarantees a fast and fluent workflow.
I draw inspiration from many different sources. Visually, Studio Ghibli, CoMix Wave Films or the movies of Mamoru Hosoda had a great impact on me in the same or even stronger way than Disney/ Pixar or DreamWorks’ Animation did. I also draw inspiration from traditional artists like Caravaggio, JW Waterhouse or Edward Burne-Jones.
Since I started working digitally I strongly focus on realism. Most of the time this realism is paired with a fairytale atmosphere. I love to paint animals, especially wolves, and draw inspiration from the seasons or different weather conditions that I am capturing in my art. Lately, I’ve started focusing on darker moods, trying to make a break from that cheerful pleasantness.
Stardust
Atmosphere created through lighting is an important aspect of my art. In this regard, I love working with blending modes like Color Dodge, Screen or Overlay, which really help you to bring stunning light effects into your work. As a digital painter, Photoshop’s brush presets are the most important thing in my work. It is amazing how many possibilities you have to adjust a single brush completely to your needs, and how a simple change of the presets can make one and the same brush look completely different and lead to very different results.
Yes. I still feel very strongly about the first pieces I created when I got my tablet, because I learned so much painting them. But when it comes to my most favourite pieces, I have to say that my latest works speak very strongly to myself. Stardust is one of these pieces, because it clearly marks a shift in my style and the overall mood. I am also preparing the launch of a big personal project – an illustrated novel, which will feature a lot of atmospheric new artworks.
Yes, it can be quite an overwhelming experience! My followers are really dedicated, and I cannot describe how much I appreciate their participation in my art. Art shouldn’t exist in a vacuum and in solitude – it is there to be shared, to inspire others and to grow, change and develop. My advice to aspiring artists would be to start building a strong community you can share your art with as soon as possible. It is not only an important source of motivation and positive reinforcement, but also a commercial means to get your art seen by potential clients.
Spring is coming
I would advise to start with the basics: when it comes to using Photoshop it is very helpful to figure out how to make the most of different brushes. Get accustomed to the presets. I remember that I only worked with one or two brushes in the beginning and never adjusted them to my needs. This often resulted in quite sharp strokes, which didn’t always suit the subject, and made it look unnaturally hard. I also easily dismissed certain brushes, deeming them unfit for my needs because I didn’t understand how I had to use them in order to get the results I desired. So be patient and experiment a lot.