GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
Thank you to all who entered and for the wonderful love and support you showed to Kim! Love you all!
Winner 1, comment #177 was Marcee.
Winner 2, comment #61 was Kim.
Winner 3, comment #528 was Kathy G.
Winner 4, comment #363 was Jacqueline.
Today I have a real treat for you! Kim Klassen, texture creator extraordinaire and workshop leader, has allowed me to ask her a few questions regarding her photography and texture creations. Plus, she is giving away a slew of things, so make sure to read through to the bottom!
If you are not familiar with Kim, pop over to her site, Kim Klassen Cafe and see all she has to offer. While you are there, make sure to sign up for her newsletter because she gives away a beautiful, FREE texture each Friday. Really!
I have many of her free textures plus have purchased some and they are all top quality! You know I am a textures addict, right? Kim’s textures are really beautiful and I have thoroughly enjoyed using them.
Alright, on to the interview….below are a few questions I sent Kim, ones that I have been wondering myself. I hope they help you “get to know” Kim as I have.
How long has photography been a passion for you?
I started taking photos in September of 2009. Â So it hasn’t been that long. I always had a good camera on hand, so I could take pictures of my artwork. For many years I worked as a licensed artist. My art was and still is offered as prints, as well as licensed for calendars, stationary, and giftware. Â Anyhow, one day I decided to take my Nikon on the trail…. I just started to snap some pics… Â I came home, uploaded them and let’s just say… the rest is history. 
What camera do you use and your two favorite lenses?
I just recently bought the Nikon D700. I also have the D300s. I honestly love them both. Â Oh dear, my 2 favourite lenses? Â Let’s see… that’s so hard. But I’m in love with my Nikon 24-70 f/2.8. Â I keep it on my camera most of the time. It’s fabulous….creates beautiful blur…. it’s also fairly versatile. Â Before the 24-70 I used my Nikon 50mm f/1.4 the most.
When did you start creating textures and how did that come about?
I started making textures last winter. Â Because I am an artist, I have a studio full of incredible art supplies…many of which the companies send to me for free. So I thought, hmmmmm why not give it a try. Â I wanted to come up with a way to combine my photography and my art. Making textures really allows me to do both. Â It’s a great combination of getting messy and digital…which I LOVE.
Your work is beautiful and evokes feelings and emotions. Is that how the textures are begin to take shape, you have an emotion you are trying to convey through the texture?
Oh, my… thank you for that beautiful compliment. Â ’sigh’. Â I would say my mood just comes through as I’m creating the textures. Â I often start out with one step and it just flows from there…building on the layers… creating depth as I add paint, paper, medium…. is a fabulous process. Â I have always loved anything old and worn…peeling paint, rust… good stuff like that. So making textures is a wonderful outlet for my art style.
Typically, how long does it take for you to create a complete set of textures, where you are very pleased with them and ready to share with the world? A week, a month, three months?
Hmmm, that’s a tough one. Â I often make just a few textures at a time and offer them in sets. Â That can be done in a day or so. Â The Studio Collection began as a month long challenge. Â I decided to make 30 textures in 30 days. And I did it. Â It took me about 5 weeks to create the entire collection. Â I would create several, then scan them in and get to work in Photoshop, which allows me to tweak and perfect the texture. Â I sometimes layer several together to create a totally different piece.
I also had several fabulous photographers/artists test the textures as I created them. That was incredibly helpful and very exciting…. seeing the textures on other’s photos motivated me to keep going, keep creating. Â It was fabulous.
Interested in seeing her make a texture? She made a video showing her process and it is amazing!!!
You need to know something else….she is just as sweet and sincere as she seems at her site! I have had several phone or Skype conversations with her, plus many email messages over the past few months and I think she is just an extraordinary woman! I want to be her when I grow up, but seeing how she’s only a few years older than me, I don’t think I’m going to make it.
Now, remember I said something about a giveaway, did I not? I have to tell you that Kim has pulled out all the stops here. She knows how I like to have multiple winners for giveaways and she has really made me a happy blogger because we are going to have FOUR winners, each receiving different prizes. How fantastic is that!! She has a new set out, The Studio Collection, and the textures being given away come from that collection.
The prizes being given away are:
- One Studio Collection – the full set, $60 value
- One Studio Collection – squares and overlays only, a $45 value
- One Studio Collection – rectangular only, a $20 value
- One 4 month membership to the Test Kitchen, a $25 value
To enter the giveaway simply leave a comment telling me what editing program you use (PSE 9, CS5, PSE 7, CS3, LR 2, etc.).
For extra entries you can do one or more of the following things, making sure to come back here and leave a separate comment for each and every one. Please.
- Like Kim’s Facebook page
- Like Everyday Element’s Facebook page
- Follow Kim on Twitter (@kimklassen)
- Subscribe to Kim’s newsletter
The giveaway will end on Friday, March 18th at 11:00 PM EST. Winners will be chosen with Random.org and announced Saturday at the top of this post.
Winners have seven days to claim their prize, after which a new winner will be identified.
About Amanda
Oh this is such an exciting giveaway!! Oh, Some lucky winner is going to have some great tools to use!I use CS5.
I “liked” Kim’s FB page.
I “liked” The Everyday Elements FB page!
Thanks for your generosity!!
Always excited to find more resources to learn Photoshop! I currently use CS4 and I’m a real rookie. I have been following Kim for a couple weeks and love her textures! Have gotten a few of the freebies & played, so one day soon I think I will buy a collection. Have looked at her new studio collection several times!
Thank you for the giveaway!. Can’t wait to peruse your blog/website too.
I “liked’ your FB page as well – thank you! I’m already a ‘fan” of Kim’s.
Oh what a great giveaway! I use CS5 (just learning)- and recently joined The Test Kitchen. Would love to win- Kim’s textures are awesome!
I just “liked” your FB page.
I am now following Kim on Twitter.
I just “liked” Kim’s FB page. I already subscribe to her newsletter.
These look fantastic I would like to have a play
Thanks I’m using PSE6
I have just liked Kim’s FB page
Cheers
Awesome giveaway!! I use CS4, but very much a beginner. I love, love Kimi’s textures and already subscribe to her news letter!
Hello! I’m a Photoshop CS5 user and a texture addict! Kim’s textures are indeed lovely!
I recently started using Kim’s textures and I absolutely love them. I use PhotoShop CS5.
I took Kim Klassen’s Skinny Mini class and loved it.
Her textures are superb, thanks for this great give away.
I use Elements 9 for Mac.
I liked Kim’s Face Book page.
I liked Everyday Elements Facebook page.
Hi … I use CS 5 and Kim’s textures are the first thing I go to. I love them all so much, they are amazing!
I am a newbie to Kim’s amazing work and have fallen,madly deeply in love…to all her textures that is! I’m presently using PSE8.
love love the textures – PSE8 user
PSE9 user and have been following Kim’s work forever on flickr! Love, Love, Love her textures.
Following Kim on facebook.
Already an Everyday Elements fan on facebook.
I Love Kim and Kim’s Ben…blogs!
I take her newsletter and liked her FB…
I use PSE 6 & 7
Happy weekend!
I use CS3 and love Kim’s work!
Using PS6 and just starting out – having a blast!!! I hope to win.
I just liked Kim’s FB page. … also meant to say I use PSE6
I just liked Eveyday Elements FB Page
Thanks for introducing me to Kim, she does seems genuine in her interview! Love her site and signed up for the newsletter. I use PSE 9. I am going to check out her face book page right now!
Sue
Thanks for introducing me to Kim, she does seems genuine in her interview! Love her site and signed up for the newsletter. I am going to check out her face book page right now!
I use Photoshop Elements 9.
Sue
Thank you for introducing me to Kim, her works is beautiful! I love that she combine her two loves, art and digital. Love her site and signed up for the newsletter. I am going to check out her face book page right now!
I use Photoshop Elements 9.
Sue
Whew! Just made the deadline! I use PSE9 !
I love Kim’s textures. Here’s to good luck!
I use PSE6
Tina
Liked Kim’s facebook page
I like Everyday Elements FB. I am a PSE9 user! Keeping my fingers crossed!
Oh no, I think I just missed the deadline..:-( Oh well, I use PSE9, and love it and Kim’s textures! Thanks, great interview.
Wonderful textures!!! So glad I found you. I “liked” Kim’s facebook page.
I currently use CS4.
Thank you!
Kim
I use PSE 8…and still learning! Beautiful textures!
Thank you for all your help! Great work, you have inspired me!
I just got Photoshop Elements 9 and with Kim’s help I am falling in love with it.
Doing a happy, happy dance over here! Thank you so much for the give-away!
(never knew I could be this lucky!)
Jacqueline