Hiding In Cyber Space

I have had several requests for information on how I created my latest self portrait.  So, here goes.

I had this painting.  

It had been crying for embellishment of some kind.

While I am a sympathy crier, I'm also someone who hates to cry.   Go figure.

So, I just had to make it stop.

Autodesk SketchBook to the rescue.

The following are the steps I took to get the finished selfie.

1.  Upload photo of painting.

This was by far the easiest step in the process.  This became layer one.

2.  Upload selfie photo.

This was the hardest step.  First, because taking selfies is something I hate doing.  Second, lining up the two layers so that my eye was just where I wanted it was tricky and took several tries.  Once I was satisfied with placement, I set the selfie layer at about half opacity; just enough to be able to see both layers.  I erased  the parts of the selfie I wanted hidden behind the... curtain?...  waterfall?  I'm leaving that up to the viewer.

Here is layer 2 alone

3.  Draw in details.

I will admit, this step felt like cheating.  I was just tracing, after all.  But after thinking about it   for a second   for a while  too long, I decided this project wasn't about my ability to draw; it was about composition and combining media.

All three layers together.

I have to say, I find "cyber arting" to be quite satisfying. It lets you have your cake and eat it too. I have a finished piece, but my original painting is untouched, ready for another go.

I've titled this Hiding In Cyber Space, but maybe it should be Thinking Of An Encore.