Pat Christman
Addie Elliott uses digital techniques to alter her paintings and drawings in a style she calls “tradigital.” the tradigital process begins. “That’s when I use Photoshop and some other computer programs and the fun really starts,” Elliot said. Using her computer, Elliott tweaks her artwork until she arrives at a finished product that is a creative mix of her original artwork combined with some computer magic. To help her discover how to make the most of her computer, Elliott took a few graphic arts classes to help her with her digital quest. “I’m learning all the time,” Elliott said. “I’ll work on a painting and come up with things that I never expected to find. Reflective lights, texture, color — it’s amazing.” Elliott downloads her finished artwork onto her desktop, a space that she says is getting increasingly crowded. “My desktop makes people go Oh, my gosh — is that what your brain looks like?” Elliott said with a laugh. “I guess in a way it is.” Elliott is currently working on illustrating a children’s book that she has written. For her illustrations, she is using her “tradigital” technique. “I didn’t realize how much work went into illustrating a book,” Elliott said. “I thought it would be as easy as falling off a log but
I was wrong about that. It takes a lot of time and patience.” As she continues to work on her tradigital photographs, Elliott would like to figure out a way to add even more to her pictures. “I think it would be great to be able to add movement and sound to my photographs,” Elliott said. “It would be like adding another element to them that would make the pictures even more alive.” In addition to her artwork, Elliott has another newfound passion: South Korea. “Last August, I accidentally watched a South Korean television series and I became fascinated. I kept on asking myself, “What are these people like?” Elliott’s interest in South Korea has grown to the point that she hopes to be able to visit the country in the new future and stay for a year or two. “I’m going to try to figure out way that I can get over there,” Elliott said. “I want to absorb something spiritual while I’m there.” Absorbing life seems to be something at which the tradigital artist excels. M MANKATO MAGAZINE • January 2013 • 13