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Name: Maura Dutra
Occupation/Profession: Digital Imaging Artist, Visual EFX Designer and Educator
Employer: iDC Photography - Co-Owner with husband and partner Bruce Hamilton Dorn
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Hobbies: Cooking, yoga and floral design
How long have you been in this profession?
I'm a life-long visual artist. I started out by using traditional media, but I was an early adapter of digital tools.
Why did you choose this profession?
The visual arts choose me. Ever since I can remember, I have been drawn to the 2-D expression of form and emotion through color and line. I think my first interest in the arts grew specifically from a fascination with how one painterly brush stroke could express so much!
How did you get started?
My early foundation in the arts began at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. I was honored with acceptance into the Saturday-morning figure drawing classes for high-school students. My formal education in the arts continued with a Fine Art major at University of Santa Barbara and culminated in a BFA degree in illustration from Cal State Long Beach. Seeking work in the creative industry, I landed my first job in Hollywood as a cel painter on Ralph Bakshi's animated saga, "Lord of the Rings". The die was cast with that first hire, and I continued in the animation and visual-effects industry for the next 20 years.
What are your most important accomplishments?
My early filmmaking and visual-effects career coincided with a unique time in the industry. The advent of digital processes in filmmaking and visual-effects happily coincided with my employment at one of the epicenters of computer graphics. I was privileged to work at one of the few commercial production companies in the world where software programmers and artists were collaborating to develop the earliest tools of the digital age!
Describe a special moment in your career.
While working with these innovative artists, I was personally recognized with multiple graphic design awards from CAA and a Clio Award for the animation and visual effects. I can also say I enjoyed a moment with Steven Spielberg while directing a commercial spot for his movie E.T., and had great fun designing the look and animation for the "transporter" effect in the first big-screen Star Trek movie. Meanwhile, I raised two daughters, kept pace with the advancement of digital imaging software, and continued personal painting projects using traditional media and pixels!
How long have you used Painter?
The initial Painter version I bought was enticingly packaged in a real paint can. I imagine I began with Painter 2, because I recall upgrading to the version offering the new Image Hose tool and the drawer-based tool interface in Painter 3.
I immediately recognized the benefit of using Wacom's cordless stylist and tablet. Even with Painter's early software versions, the painterly interaction of the stylist and digital canvas was absolutely amazing! Of course, the multiple "Undo" option was among the many features which helped get the ball rolling and relieved the simple fear of "making a mistake". Upon developing more experience, we now enjoy the challenge of depriving ourselves of the "Undo" option. Just like working with natural media.
Why did you choose Painter?
Choosing Painter was easy; it's the only software of its kind.
Painter features that allow me to distinguish my art: Photo Impressionism® is a style my partner Bruce Hamilton Dorn and I have developed and branded for our signature imaging style. As it suggests, our Photo-Impressionistic approach incorporates our original photography with painterly elements. It all started with our exploration of the early cloning brush characteristics to create wonderful transformations of the sampled source-imagery and color! Painter's cloning tools opened the door to a form of digital painting which allowed us to develop and evolve our unique Photo Impressionism® style.
Noteworthy story: Our first introduction of Photo Impressionism® to the world, was our two entries into Kodak's Professional Innovator Award Competition in 2001. My partner/husband, Bruce Hamilton Dorn and I each entered a different photo-impressionistic work. We were not sure how our work would be received amongst these "high priests" of photography, but we thought it might be a good opportunity to find out. As it turned out, the judging was in search of innovative imaging styles and our Photo Impressionism® imagery caught their eye! I received a phone call one afternoon soon after our entries. I couldn't have been more thrilled to have been honored with their recognition of my work for First Place in this national competition! I immediately called Bruce to share the news. Bursting with pride I think I sounded a bit pretentious on the phone with my partner! Well, no sooner had I hung-up with Bruce when Kodak called again. They asked for a Mr. Bruce Hamilton Dorn. After explaining that Bruce was unavailable, I mentioned who I was and how Bruce and I were related, to learn that Bruce's entry, had also been awarded with a First Place recognition! So there we were, two new photo-impressionists each recognized with the highest honors from Kodak's Innovator Awards.
My favorite Painter features:
As a photographer, I have to say the various oils cloning brushes have always been amongst my favorite tools. I feel that the real power of the transformational benefits of these cloning brushes lies in the options to utilize a wide variant of settings for each brush.
Also, I love the amazing capacity of these brushes to interact with the digital "paint" already existing on the canvas.
What are the Painter features that allow you to distinguish your art?
Working in "wet" paint fascinates me and I am currently excitedly exploring the new Oils Brush Category and Variants offered in Painter IX under the Artist's Oil Painting System.
How do you feel about Painter?
I love Painter!
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