Ordinary to Elegant

Award-winning photographer and digital artist Helen Yancy (Plymouth, MI) is renowned for her ability to transform portraits and landscape images into works of fine art. In this book, she provides an in-depth look at the techniques photographers can use to make initial image enhancements in Photoshop, then unleash the power of Corel Painter to add watercolor, oil, or pastel painterly effects that will take your images to a new level. You'll learn how to navigate the painting software, choose brushes and brush strokes that suit the mood of the image, and transform and personalize each photograph to take it from ordinary to extraordinary. Yancy is a seasoned photo and software educator whose talents span traditional painting and photography, and she has a passion for sharing her talents. In these pages, she'll teach you the fundamentals of painting and show you how to transform any reference image into a delicate, uniquely personal work of art.

Helen Yancy combines her traditional skills as a painter with her photographic abilities and a digital palette to create innovative and delicate art pieces with oil, watercolor, and pastel effects. Her work hangs in numerous private collections and galleries throughout the world, and she is honored to hold membership in Cameracraftsmen of America, The Portrait Society of America, and the Society of XXV. She is PPA Certified and holds the Master of Photography, Master Artist, Master of Electronic Imaging, Honorary Master of Photography, and Photographic Craftsman API credentials. She is a Fellow and Honorary Fellow-ASP EA and Hon. EA-ASP, and is a past President of Professional Photographers of America. Helen teaches numerous workshops and has produced many tutorials and webinars for Corel and for the Professional Photographers of America.