Entering this Photoshop competition changed everything.
Back in 2021, I submitted my first competition entry for Benny’s Spooky Edit War. From start to finish, the final artwork took over 20 hours to create... and that was after spending another 10 hours on a completely different concept featuring an evil plant that sadly went nowhere 😅
The challenge was to use a specific set of images, with every image needing to be incorporated into the artwork in some form. I had never attempted anything like this before, and throughout most of the messy process, I didn’t even have a crystal clear vision of what I was making. The original idea started as a fun ghost and pumpkin party... and somehow ended with giant evil tentacles destroying the house.
Spending 30+ hours on these competition entries taught me so much about Photoshop, photo manipulation, and how to use different tools and techniques to achieve specific outcomes. The process was hard, full of coffee breaks, frustration, and YouTube tutorials... but somehow it all came together in the end.
Looking back at this artwork now, I still can’t quite believe I pulled it off... never mind placing 14th out of 1000+ entries.
This was the beginning of the end of me doubting myself, doubting my creativity, and doubting my technical ability.
So if any of that sounds familiar, keep going. You might only be one project away from creating a little masterpiece of your own 🔥
Don’t ask me why there’s an octopus intimately entangled with a golden teapot, hanging from a rope 😅
This bizarre artwork was created during a livestream last year, where I asked the chat to shout out random objects, and then attempted to composite the images together in Photoshop.
Created this double exposure artwork with Photoshop, and really enjoyed blending nature, texture and portraiture together to create something that feels calm and reflective.
Wow… actually managed to finish this artwork in Photoshop live yesterday evening, taking close to 7 hours from start to finish.
A few years ago, I wouldn’t have believed I’d be able to create something like this, starting with just a handful of images, some rough ideas, and no clear vision. Every time I go through this process, I learn something new, whether it’s a new technique or a better way to achieve a specific effect, not to mention slowly getting quicker and more confident in my artistic ability.
If you want to level up your photo manipulation work in Photoshop, I use the following 4 step system. Every. Single. Time.
1. Compose the scene and arrange the raw, unretouched images. 2. Balance the exposure between all of your images. 3. Balance the colours between all of your images. 4. Brush in shadows to composite the images together.
This may look hard, and honestly, it is. But with regular practice, time, and patience, it becomes far more achievable than you’d think.
Original Pokémon card design for Jolteon. I digitally painted the Pokemon with Illustrator and Photoshop, followed by designing the card itself together with a delicious mockup.
A few years ago I honestly wouldn’t have believed I could make something like this, and super happy with how it turned out 😁
Artwork like this can feel insanely complicated, but once you learn the right tools, techniques, and workflows, it becomes way more achievable than you think. Most of it is just breaking things down step-by-step and slowly building up your skills over time.
If you’re learning art or design right now and feel like you’re not “there” yet, honestly just keep going, and don’t underestimate what you’ll be capable of in a year or two if you stay consistent.
My friend Shauna is doing her first 10k run in 5 days, and she's secretly raising money for her mum, who's suffered with multiple bouts of cancer and strokes.
If you'd like to support Shauna and her mum's recovery, I know it would mean the absolute world to them ❤️
Dansky
Entering this Photoshop competition changed everything.
Back in 2021, I submitted my first competition entry for Benny’s Spooky Edit War. From start to finish, the final artwork took over 20 hours to create... and that was after spending another 10 hours on a completely different concept featuring an evil plant that sadly went nowhere 😅
The challenge was to use a specific set of images, with every image needing to be incorporated into the artwork in some form. I had never attempted anything like this before, and throughout most of the messy process, I didn’t even have a crystal clear vision of what I was making. The original idea started as a fun ghost and pumpkin party... and somehow ended with giant evil tentacles destroying the house.
Spending 30+ hours on these competition entries taught me so much about Photoshop, photo manipulation, and how to use different tools and techniques to achieve specific outcomes. The process was hard, full of coffee breaks, frustration, and YouTube tutorials... but somehow it all came together in the end.
Looking back at this artwork now, I still can’t quite believe I pulled it off... never mind placing 14th out of 1000+ entries.
This was the beginning of the end of me doubting myself, doubting my creativity, and doubting my technical ability.
So if any of that sounds familiar, keep going. You might only be one project away from creating a little masterpiece of your own 🔥
Onwards!
4 days ago | [YT] | 469
View 9 replies
Dansky
Don’t ask me why there’s an octopus intimately entangled with a golden teapot, hanging from a rope 😅
This bizarre artwork was created during a livestream last year, where I asked the chat to shout out random objects, and then attempted to composite the images together in Photoshop.
This was the result.
So yea… meet Octeapus 🐙
1 week ago | [YT] | 145
View 3 replies
Dansky
Created this double exposure artwork with Photoshop, and really enjoyed blending nature, texture and portraiture together to create something that feels calm and reflective.
1 week ago | [YT] | 255
View 5 replies
Dansky
What features or changes would you love to see in a future Illustrator update? 🧐
1 week ago | [YT] | 24
View 11 replies
Dansky
Wow… actually managed to finish this artwork in Photoshop live yesterday evening, taking close to 7 hours from start to finish.
A few years ago, I wouldn’t have believed I’d be able to create something like this, starting with just a handful of images, some rough ideas, and no clear vision. Every time I go through this process, I learn something new, whether it’s a new technique or a better way to achieve a specific effect, not to mention slowly getting quicker and more confident in my artistic ability.
If you want to level up your photo manipulation work in Photoshop, I use the following 4 step system. Every. Single. Time.
1. Compose the scene and arrange the raw, unretouched images.
2. Balance the exposure between all of your images.
3. Balance the colours between all of your images.
4. Brush in shadows to composite the images together.
This may look hard, and honestly, it is. But with regular practice, time, and patience, it becomes far more achievable than you’d think.
Onwards!
1 week ago | [YT] | 543
View 45 replies
Dansky
Original Pokémon card design for Jolteon. I digitally painted the Pokemon with Illustrator and Photoshop, followed by designing the card itself together with a delicious mockup.
A few years ago I honestly wouldn’t have believed I could make something like this, and super happy with how it turned out 😁
Artwork like this can feel insanely complicated, but once you learn the right tools, techniques, and workflows, it becomes way more achievable than you think. Most of it is just breaking things down step-by-step and slowly building up your skills over time.
If you’re learning art or design right now and feel like you’re not “there” yet, honestly just keep going, and don’t underestimate what you’ll be capable of in a year or two if you stay consistent.
Onwards!
1 week ago | [YT] | 247
View 12 replies
Dansky
Logo design and brand identity concept for ModuHaus ✌️
A modular architecture studio focused on warm, refined living spaces. Created using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 250
View 9 replies
Dansky
Do you use AI in your workflow? If you want to share specific examples or use cases below, go for it 👇
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 25
View 8 replies
Dansky
How useful would this be in Illustrator? 👀
Right click any raster image/photo --> “Edit in Photoshop” --> save --> updates instantly back in Illustrator.
Would you use this?
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 20
View 9 replies
Dansky
My friend Shauna is doing her first 10k run in 5 days, and she's secretly raising money for her mum, who's suffered with multiple bouts of cancer and strokes.
If you'd like to support Shauna and her mum's recovery, I know it would mean the absolute world to them ❤️
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/10kforabreakaway
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 85
View 2 replies
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