About Julio PDN Pics
I started using Paint.NET back in October of 2009, and the blog started in April of 2010. My friend Heat Stroke introduced me to Paint.NET before the beginning of Senior year and I've been making images ever since. The first few images weren't that great, but Heat Stroke kept helping me and encouraging me to keep going and working at it. I eventually made a breakthrough when I got the Zoom Blur Deluxe plug in which made everything sort of pop out of the screen. Later on when I put some of my latest works on the computers as backgrounds, people enjoyed them and wanted to see more. I also did a lot of tutorials on the Paint.NET forums to enhance my skills as an artist.
When I started my blog I wanted to show off all of the creations that I've made from the beginning and show everyone how I've developed and how I have grown as an artist! I also hope that I have inspired the people that have seen all of the posts on my blog, that with time and effort, anyone can do anything. I've entered into a few competitions on the Paint.NET forum and the first one, I won 3rd place. Who knows what this next image might bring! My friend has also been impressed with other work that I have done since my style is overused by me. I've tried to break that habit as seen on my images here and on my blog. My bad habit is that I kept the image focus on the center, or "flat." The spacescapes and jewels that I've made is an attempt at breaking that habit.
As I continued making images, my style has changed a bit. From centered, to explosions, to making off center flat images, to experimenting now with a smoother style, it's been fun to try new things and see what the outcomes are. Recently with my art, I've been experimenting with smooth styles, but mostly with Layer Blend Modes, to see what that will do to an image. I've been fascinated to see what outcomes come from different layer blend modes and colors that I choose. Sometimes, the colors aren't even what they were at the beginning, but it's still fun to see.
I have also expanded to making mouse cursors, album art, and icons. The cursors are some that I made 100% in Paint.NET, and enjoy making them too. Even though they are small, and may not seem like much, they can be pretty intricate. It takes a long time to make a single cursor pack, since most of mine are animated cursors. I've also taken into consideration making them much smoother and higher quality as time has gone on, so as to make them look smoother, both in animation and general looks.
The album art has mostly been a smaller version of abstract, but I also try to keep general aesthetic and feel that comes from the album title, song titles and general mood of the music in mind. With that, I can channel my feelings, and make something that the musician likes, and it just feels good to get something they want and like as something they can use for their own.
In regards to icons, I’ve made icons for automation apps that have been used by a couple of companies. For the most part though, I’ve made company themed folder icons so that I can customize my folders to match the company’s logo and colors that I work for in the moment. I’ve even made abstract desktop backgrounds that showcase the company logo and colors in a professional way. I haven’t showcased those artworks here yet, but may do so in the future.
I hope that whoever sees, or has seen this portfolio or my blog, gets inspired. Most people think that they can't do what others can, and to that I say, most things can be learned. Art is one thing that is an expression of one's self, not something that is right and wrong. I hope people will continue to look on here and see what I've been up to and the progress I've made throughout the years. Many thanks to all and the support from friends and family!
When I started my blog I wanted to show off all of the creations that I've made from the beginning and show everyone how I've developed and how I have grown as an artist! I also hope that I have inspired the people that have seen all of the posts on my blog, that with time and effort, anyone can do anything. I've entered into a few competitions on the Paint.NET forum and the first one, I won 3rd place. Who knows what this next image might bring! My friend has also been impressed with other work that I have done since my style is overused by me. I've tried to break that habit as seen on my images here and on my blog. My bad habit is that I kept the image focus on the center, or "flat." The spacescapes and jewels that I've made is an attempt at breaking that habit.
As I continued making images, my style has changed a bit. From centered, to explosions, to making off center flat images, to experimenting now with a smoother style, it's been fun to try new things and see what the outcomes are. Recently with my art, I've been experimenting with smooth styles, but mostly with Layer Blend Modes, to see what that will do to an image. I've been fascinated to see what outcomes come from different layer blend modes and colors that I choose. Sometimes, the colors aren't even what they were at the beginning, but it's still fun to see.
I have also expanded to making mouse cursors, album art, and icons. The cursors are some that I made 100% in Paint.NET, and enjoy making them too. Even though they are small, and may not seem like much, they can be pretty intricate. It takes a long time to make a single cursor pack, since most of mine are animated cursors. I've also taken into consideration making them much smoother and higher quality as time has gone on, so as to make them look smoother, both in animation and general looks.
The album art has mostly been a smaller version of abstract, but I also try to keep general aesthetic and feel that comes from the album title, song titles and general mood of the music in mind. With that, I can channel my feelings, and make something that the musician likes, and it just feels good to get something they want and like as something they can use for their own.
In regards to icons, I’ve made icons for automation apps that have been used by a couple of companies. For the most part though, I’ve made company themed folder icons so that I can customize my folders to match the company’s logo and colors that I work for in the moment. I’ve even made abstract desktop backgrounds that showcase the company logo and colors in a professional way. I haven’t showcased those artworks here yet, but may do so in the future.
I hope that whoever sees, or has seen this portfolio or my blog, gets inspired. Most people think that they can't do what others can, and to that I say, most things can be learned. Art is one thing that is an expression of one's self, not something that is right and wrong. I hope people will continue to look on here and see what I've been up to and the progress I've made throughout the years. Many thanks to all and the support from friends and family!