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. 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. Anyhow, one day I decided to take my Nikon on the trail…. I just started to snap some pics… 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. Oh dear, my 2 favourite lenses? Let’s see… that’s so hard. But I’m in love with my Nikon 24-70 f/2.8. I keep it on my camera most of the time. It’s fabulous….creates beautiful blur…. it’s also fairly versatile. 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. 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. I wanted to come up with a way to combine my photography and my art. Making textures really allows me to do both. 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. ‘sigh’. I would say my mood just comes through as I’m creating the textures. 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. 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. I often make just a few textures at a time and offer them in sets. That can be done in a day or so. The Studio Collection began as a month long challenge. I decided to make 30 textures in 30 days. And I did it. It took me about 5 weeks to create the entire collection. I would create several, then scan them in and get to work in Photoshop, which allows me to tweak and perfect the texture. 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. 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
I like Kim’s Facebook page
oops, forgot to tell you what program I am using. I use PSE9
I just followed you on twitter because i don’t have facebook, and I already follow Kim on twitter 🙂
I am new to your site, just loving it already 🙂
How cool!
I’m a big kim Klassen fan, and I’m using PSE9.
I use PSE 8 and this sounds like a great giveaway. Thanks!
I use PSE9…and I love it!
Popped over here from Kim’s blog, and the editing programs I use are PSE6 and Picnik when I’m traveling.
I’m going to go like your FB page right now since your blog seems to be right up my alley!
Nice to meet you!
I use PSE9
I use CS5! And I love Kim’s textures!
I use PSE9 and Kim’s textures are awesome, as is she! I’m a texture lovin’ sister, subscribe to her blog and istudio. Her ecourses are great, too.
What a fun give-away. I currently use GIMP but also have CS4 once I get a better computer (with more memory) to load it onto.
Thank you for this great interview. I love Kim’s textures and I’m a big fan of her work.
I use PSE 8, PhotoImpact X3 and sometimes PS CS4.
CS5 is the program I have.
I use CS3 for editing.
I also just signed up for your Newsletter. Thank you.
Thank you for this great interview. I love Kim’s textures and I’m a big fan of her work. I use PSE 8.
I’m also on Facebook and I like Kim’s Facebook-Page and everydayelements, but I’m not on twitter.
Kim is so generous!! I adore her, and really enjoyed the class I took with her.
As for what program I use, I’m using Photoshop Elements 8. I’m already on her mailing list, and I follow her on Twitter, too. Thanks for the chance to participate!
I am a Kim Klassen fan. I love her style of teaching and her products are wonderful. I am a member of her Test Kitchen. I use PSE9. I would love to be the winner of one of her collections.
I use PS Elements 8.
I follow Kim on Twitter!
I like Everyday Elements on Facebook!
I like Kim on Facebook!
I subscribe to Kim’s newsletter!
What a great interview! Thanks! I love her textures and use them in PSE9!
I also subscribe to Kim’s newsletter!!
I use PSE 9 and love it. I have taken several classes with Kim. She is an incredible instructor as well as artist!
Thank you. I use Elements 7.
I liked Kim’s FB page:)
I use PSE9-
I already like EE on FB:)
I followed Kim on Twitter
I signed up for Kim’s Newsletter:)
I like Kim’s Facebook page. 🙂
I love Kim Klassen’s photography, textures and her blog. I check it everyday for inspiration. Photography is a true passion of mine. I use Elements 9, ever since I took her SkinnyMini Feb course….loved it.
I’ve been following Kim’s FB page for awhile now.
Thanks for this fabulous opportunity to possibly be a winner.
Bright blessings,
Kathy
OOh – I love anything to do with texture! I use elements 9
I’m now “Liking” Everyday Elements on Facebook…:D
Kathy
PSE 9, and I like both facebook pages, and just subscribed for the newsletter – yippee!!
Currently following Kim on Twitter under our company’s name “Ametista” and have been receiving her newsletter as well.
Happy Wednesday!
Kathy
I use PS7 anf PSE9. I liked both fb pages, but I don’t twitter 🙂
thanks to you both for these great giveaways!
Kim’s textures are stunning. I recently took her skinny-mini ecourse and wow…she’s a great teacher, too! I use PS Elements 9. Amanda, You did a great job interviewing Kim. It’s always fun to find out a bit more about blogosphere residents.
Have a wonderful day!
I use PSE 9! Love these textures. 🙂
What a great giveaway!
I use Lightroom 3 and Photoshop Elements 6 (yeah, way old, but it does the trick for me!)
I use PSE 9 (gorgeous textures, by the way!)
I liked Everyday Elements on FB (actually, already a fan!)
I signed up for Kim’s newsletter. 🙂
I am using lowly elements 6 but having a ball with Kim’s amazing tuition! 🙂 I am already on Kim’s email list. I have only just found my way here so I will stay and have a look round once I’ve followed Kim on Facebook.
Ok I’ve ‘Liked’ Kim on Facebook
And I’ve ‘Liked’ Everyday Elements too. Sadly I don’t Twitter 🙁
What an awesome giveaway. The program I use is PSE8.
Love these! I just signed up for her newsletter and I edit with CS5…I would love to be entered into the giveway. Thanks!