Amy Baxter - painting - Standing Against the Tide

Artist: Amy Baxter

Title: Standing Against the Tide

24" x 20"

Note: Images may appear darker on-screen as colour corrections have not been done. 

About Amy Baxter

...and my cats.  I'm a typical photographer in that I don't like my photograph to be taken.  It has happened, much to my chagrin, but I'm not going to post one yet on my website.  So instead, meet Bruce and Dougal.  They mean well but really are the reason we can't have nice stuff...

Now.  About me.  

I have been actively pursuing photography for over 35 years. I worked as a darkroom technician for a local newspaper for several years and discovered a passion for tweaking whatever was on the negative and ignoring those who said: “You can’t do that!”.

I have embraced the digital age and the digital darkroom. Using a technique called “texture-layering”, I now tweak to my heart’s content. Texture-layering is stacking (layering) other images with the subject image digitally (aka on the computer using Photoshop or whatever software you like). The images used can be anything that gives a textured look. Some of the texture images I use are of actual painted canvas, an image of a tanned bison hide, an image of a stucco wall (one of my faves), images of clouds, etc.  A piece can have anywhere from a couple of texture layers to however many it takes to create the image I'm going for. This process is similar to painting in that you start at the bottom working with colours, darkness to light, and blocking in what will be the focus of the image. Each texture layer is similar to a tube of paint...and how you mix the paint.  I do not, as a rule, add any other elements to the original image. It’s a matter of trying to stay true to what is originally captured.

This is a fairly simplified description of the process but I hope it gives a basic idea of the process.  I also leave well enough alone and not tweak other than to process the image if I didn't get the exposure etc. as perfect as I'd have liked.

I also paint abstract paintings.  I use acrylic paint mostly on canvas...sometimes watercolour paper.  I love playing with colours and shapes...not necessarily trying to portray anything recognizable.  

Please note that the “cute but stupid by amy baxter” name is in no way indicative of my work, as my work has been described as “quiet elegance” and “still but alive”. Simply, it’s a phrase I’ve used for many years as a way to back out of trouble when my mouth has been in gear way before my brain. I am a self-proclaimed smartass for a reason.