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 you on FB
I like Kim on FB too
I use CS2.
Nice site! Great prize!
I have recently started using a few textures and Kim’s are serene. I use PS5 and would love to do the Test Kitchen.
I’m a newbie to Kim’s site, and I’m hooked already! This is just what I have been looking for! Before discovering Kim, I had just gone out and bought PSE 9 – knowing nothing – just terminology I had picked up here and there. I emailed Kim and ask her a few questions, and she kindly answered my kindergarten inquisitiveness with patience, which impressed me so, that I signed up for the Essentials class; after intrepidly watching the Skinny Mini course. I wanted to take the textures class so badly, but Kim thought it best that I take the Essentials class first. Thanks Kim!
I LOVE Kim’s textures… and you’re right –she is incredible!
I use CS4 to edit my photos. 🙂
I just “liked” kimklassencafe on FB.
Just “liked” Everyday Elements on Facebook! =)
I’m following Kim on Twitter (@Buckeroomama)
I already subscribe to Kim’s newsletter.
I liked Kim on FB.
I like you on FB.
I subscribe to Kim’s newsletter.
I use PSE7, but looking to upgrade to PSE9 in the near future. Thanks to both of you for this fantastic contest!
I currently use, PSE8.
Entered on FB! :O)
oh my, what an awesome giveaway! I came her via Kim’s blog and I can tell already that I’m going to have to follow you, too. I use PSE 9 and I actually learned it using one of Kim’s e-courses.
Everyday Elements too!
I use CS5, with pleasure! They have a puppetwarp thing that is awesome for a puppetmaker, lol!
I like Kim’s Facebook page.
Happily already subscribed to newsletter!
I liked Everyday Element’s Facebook page.
I liked your FB page…
I follow Kim on Twitter.
(@balancedcrafts)
I liked Kim’s FB page!
and I already subscribe to Kim’s newsletter. 🙂
I am now following Kim on twitter!
I use PSE6 for editing. I absolutely love Kim’s textures and her talent is amazing! I would love to win one of these fabulous prizes. Thanks for the chance!
And I already subscribe to Kim’s newsletter.
I subscribe to Kim’s newsletter. Love those free textures!
I use CS5 to edit. Thanks for the chance!
I like Kim’s Facebook page!
Using PSE9
I like Everyday Element’s Facebook page!
I follow Kim on Twitter!
“Like” Kim’s FB page.
I found you through Kim’s site and will follow you also. I use CS3 to process my photos. I’m crazy about textures. 🙂
I got a canon rebel for christmas and just bought PSE 9. I just found Kim and am happy to have found you too now! I have so much to learn! I’d love any one of the prizes.
thanks for the opportunity!
K
Oh how I would love to win a collection of Kims Textures. I’ve taken a couple of workshops, she is fabulous. I currently have Elements 8 but hope to upgrade when they come out with “10?” I like kim on fb
I like Kim on Facebook!
K
I have Elements version 6. I began with Elements version 1 many years ago when it was bonus software on a new computer. I thought I knew what I was doing with it until I saw Kim’s work and took her Skinny Mini course. She rocks this software and I have learned a lot from her.
I like you on Facebook too 🙂
K
i’ve only just found kim and her amazing textures – but i’ll certainly be hanging around! i love her photography and textures.
i currently use The Gimp to edit my photos, but i’m waiting on a new computer and i may just upgrade to photoshop (of some sort…).
I use both PSE 6 (I really need to upgrade!!) and LR 3.
I use PSE 9 to edit.
I already am a fan of Everyday Elements on facebook.
I like you on FB.
I also like Kim on FB.
I use cs4 to edit
canadianmadeskyyathotmaildotca
I like kim on fb
canadianmadeskyyathotmaildotca