Interview with Elizabeth Gast

» Interview with Elizabeth Gast

May 12th, 2008 | Filed in: Misc, Photoshop |

Here comes another weeks interview with a really cool person. Today I have the privilege to interview the amazing Photoshop artist, Elizabeth Gast. She’s a really talented artist who’s background lies in digital art and also a member of NAPP, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, where she herself says that she’s learned more than ever. Read the full interview after the jump!

Elizabeth Gast - Earth Day, Every Day

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hello. My name is Elizabeth but my on-line persona is Firggy. I collect frogs and my dad has been known to call me Lizzy on location so I just combined the two to get Firggy. And I’m way cooler than that Black Eyed Peas chick! ;)

I live in Chicago and love every minute of it. The is just something about this city that moves me and inspires me. I just don’t feel at home anywhere else. :)

Do you have any formal training/what’s your background in art?

I do have formal training. I have an Associates degree in Fine Art and a BA in Digital Art. A lot of what I know is however self-taught and taught to me by the wonderful friends I have made through NAPP. I love art. I’ve wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember. But when I discovered computers in the 6th grade (we’re talking DOS here) I found a second passion that opened up a whole new world. As far as I’m concerned, art + computers is the best combination ever!

RGB vs CMYK - The Ultimate Battle

What equipment do you use?

Photoshop Photoshop Photoshop! Occasionally I’ll drift away to other programs in the Adobe suite, but Photoshop will always be my main love and my main source of artistic outlet. I started using it in version 4.0 and have stuck with it ever sense. As long as I live though, I doubt I will ever learn all there is to learn with this one program.

Someday though I hope to be able to test the waters with Photography and get myself a Nikon. Right after I win the lotto……..

Tell us about what you do for a living?

Currently I am teaching computer classes (including Photoshop!) at a school called Compy School here in Chicago. On the side I am also working with a photography studio called Light Bay Studio doing photo retouching, company branding, and specialty projects for weddings and the like. Also, I am working with two other partners on a business adventure that I hope to be quite successful. No comment on the details yet, but when we’re ready, I’ll let you know. :)

Trapped In Flight Glass Detail

Do you have any advice to aspiring artists?

Whenever you think you’re done with your image, walk away for a while and then come back to it asking "Ok, how can I take this one step further?" - 9 times out of 10, just when you think you’re done, you’re really only just beginning.

Also, ALWAYS take time to play! That’s when you learn the most and if you find something good - turn around and teach it to someone else! :D

Anything else you want to say?

Take the time to be nice to people and they will take the time to be nice to you. Oh, and ERIK ROCKS! \m/ >.< \m/