<p>I've been on MakersPlace for quite some time. Haven't posted a lot of my artwork. Frankly, it is quite a challenge to decide what style to put on there. I'm currently uploading one of the first series that I made in 2015.</p>

<p>Usually when I create, I just go with the flow. It makes me end up with some different 'styles'. My gallery is a mess. I've been trying to manipulate my photographs and turn them into works where you can't recognize the base photographs anymore. It isn't hard to make them unrecognizable though :p, however.</p>

<p>As some of you know, I <i>must</i> create everything myself. I always thought it should be without saying, but I noticed that some NFT artists download and use their photographs (photo manipulation), use presets, or one-click 3D models. Personally, I think it's a shame, even if the work looks amazing/top-notch. What's your take on that? Luckily for me, I don't have to download images from Google since my database is big enough to create a lot of different stuff.</p>

<p>After 6-8 hours of playing around, I finally finished an artwork that instantly moved to my top favorite works. You can see it down below. I got inspired by Path Of Exile's Celestial skins/cosmetics (Discharge skill mostly). It's that dreamy, vibrant look and feel. I'm planning to do a series of four. Not sure yet if I do 4 different color varieties or four different faces.</p>

<br><br><br><br><br><br><center><img src="https://i.imgur.com/53k9s4h.jpg"/><p><sub>© 2021 | Ruben Cress</sub></p></center><br><br><br><br><br><br>

<p>Before I finished this one, I've been trying to push myself for the last couple of days, weeks, and months to improve my works. I think I went into a rabbit hole where I was trying to explore more of the neon-, and vibrant colors. I used different techniques, but most of the artworks contained circle-shapes, I like circles!</p>

<p>
So, right before the above artwork, I created a few chromatic gradient splashes that were floating around in space.</p>

<center><br><br><br><br><img src="https://i.imgur.com/WR1eGzn.jpg"/><br><br><br><br></center>

<p>Before that, I played around with some offset round shapes and photo manipulation, coming along with some proper color grading :).</p>

<center><br><br><br><br><img src="https://i.imgur.com/acpUyR7.jpg"/><br><br><br><br></center>

<p>Before I made that one, I was mostly playing around with shapes and gradients. I created a gradient, that I later used as a brush.</p>

<center><br><br><br><br><img src="https://i.imgur.com/w60Ec6N.jpg"/><br><br><br><br></center>

<p>Anddd... before that. Yeah, you'll get the idea. I'm moving backward. Anyway, I had the idea to manipulate my photographs so hard, I wouldn't even recognize them myself anymore. Check this before and after shot. Yup... It's -only- one photo and some Photoshop techniques.</p>

<center><br><br><br><br><img src="https://i.imgur.com/j6hjj9d.jpg"/><p><sub>Before</sub></p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/JnbMrp3.jpg"/><p>
<sub>After</sub></p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/4hKZhz2.gif"/><p>
<sub>After After</sub></p><br><br><br><br></center>





<p>It's kinda interesting to see what you can do with Photoshop. You literally can do almost anything you want. The last (first image) artwork that I made is something I'm looking forward to creating more. Maybe more interesting is "how" I got to that point. Just go with the flow!</p><p>
Do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments.</p>

<p>Cheers,<br>Ruben</p>