Artists Down Under - Australia and New Zealand - November 2025

UNDER

Maureen Maxwell

DOWN UNDERartists

Australia and New Zealand

Welcome to our November edition of Artists Down Under.

This month we have all of our regular articles to browse through.

Andrew Haysom has delighted us with a very informative article on NIK Filters which is awesome. We have another image from the Chinese Whispers series in which the girls have kindly shared, the Coffee and Pixels group have been exremely busy working on their theme for the month “Indulgence”, one we are all secretly guilty of, and the Art Buddies have also been busy with their monthly challenge. This month Ilona set the theme as “Postcards From Parallel Worlds”, a tricky one in which all the artists excelled at. Also Andrew Haysom shares some of his amazing “Abstract” images with us, he is extremely talented that’s for sure.

Well I hope you enjoy this months edition. Only one more month till Santa comes so until then, stay safe & look after each other.

Pam Henderson

THE MAIDEN

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/bev-terawskyj/

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/sue-masterson/

ELFIN SERENITY

https://photos.kogekar.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/hemant-kogekar/

WINDOWS II

https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/mick-rooney/

artists Achievements monthly down under

artists down under facebook page

The Artists Down Under Public Facebook page has been set up to allow the artists in the group to showcase their work and to enable them to share promotional information about themselves, e.g. exhibitions, awards etc...

You can find the Artists Down Under Public Facebook page at this address; https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistsDownUnder/

So, if you are an artist in the group, don’t forget to regularly share your work and information here, and to let your friends and family know about the page if they are interested in viewing the latest art and news from the group.

If you are a reader of the magazine who does not have access to the page, please click the link above and request to join. When you request to join you will be asked to answer three simple questions that will allow us to determine if you are an eligible artist who may wish to join the group and therefore be able to post on the page, or a member of the public who can view, comment and like the work on the page. It’s a great place to see some great art from this vibrant group every day!

Three ADU members receive a special gift

Our very good Awake friends Teddi Rutschman of Foxey Squirrel and Diane Stafford from WhiteLaneStudio continue to give gifts as a reward for members of the Artists Down Under group who contribute to the ADU Facebook page by regularly posting their artworks and supporting other members with their comments.

Teddi, from Virginia, USA, is well known for her fantastic sets of digital designer backgrounds, masks and all kinds of wonderful elements ready for designers to add to or build a wondrous creation.

Teddi Rutshman can be found at http://www.oscraps.com/shop/Foxeysquirrel

One artist will receive a Foxey Squirrel Kit

Diane Stafford from Chester, UK, designs Photoshop textures and overlays for photo artists and photographers to use in their digital artworks. Diane has created another special kit just for Artists Down Under for the month of NOVEMBER.

Two artists will receive a Diane kit each.

Diane Stafford can be found at https://whitelanestudio.co.uk/biolinks

The NOVEMBER lucky winners are

Foxey Squirrel Kit

- Meaghan Pryor

Diane Stafford (WhiteLaneStudio) Texture & Overlay Kit

- Sharyn Walker

- Sarah Swain

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE

https://issuu.com/thephotoartisticlife/docs/living_the_photo_artistic_life_-_issue_no._128?fr=sZTllNDg0NDE1MDQ

Congratulations to the following artists for having their images chosen to appear in the International magazine “Living The Photo Artistic Life”.

Penny de Jong

- The Moth Collector

Louise Smith

- Abandoned Dreams

Christina Brunton

- Red Moon Rising

- Moonshade

Rosa Perry

- Night Watcher

Sandra Dann

- Hidden Mask

- Awaken

Maureen Maxwell

- ‘Til Death Do Us Part

- The Night Wanderers

Helen McLeod

- Stairway To Heaven

- The Conclave

Denise Hunter Logan

- Desperate To Stay Newsworthy

Ilona Abou-Zolof

- Magic

Meaghan Pryor

- Warrior

LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE

https://shiftart.com/shift-art-photoshop-challenge-results-october-2025/

Congratulations goes to

Penny de Jong Bev Terawskyj

Penny deJong - A Conspiracy Of Ravens Under A Blood Red Moon

Bev Terawskyj - 3 For Dinner

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/george-koncz/ http://georgekonczphotography.com/

https://www.juliepowellphoto.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/julie-powell/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rosa_perry https://rosa-perry.myportfolio.com/artwork

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/dennis-rickard/

artists

DOWN UNDER

Australia and New Zealand

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION

CREATING A RADIAL OR LINEAR

GRADIENT

MASK IN NIK FILTERS

By Andrew Haysom

When you create a mask using a Control Point in any of the NIK Collection filters the mask is not only determined by the outer edge of the circle defined by the Control Point, but also by the colour (chrominance) and brightness (luminance) of the part of your image directly under the centre point of the Control Point circle. Essentially areas of the image inside the outer circle that are close to the colour and brightness of the area under the centre point are selected. Refer to Figure 1 for an example.

[Figure 1 – NIK Control Point]

What if you want just a plain old radial gradient?

This is where the Luminance and Chrominance sliders are useful. These sliders determine how sensitive to the brightness and colour under the centre point the masks are.

If you move the Luminance and Chrominance sliders all the way to the left (0%) the mask becomes a pure radial gradient (that is, the brightness and colour under the centre point are ignored). See Figure 2a for an example.

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION (CONT

Change the size of the radial gradient by dragging any of the four solid circles inwards or outwards.

You can then use the Diffusion slider to control the transition from white to black at the outer edge of the radial gradient (see Figure 2b).

You can reshape the radial gradient to an ellipse rather than a circle by dragging one of the four solid circles on the outer edge of the Control Point. You also rotate the elliptical radial gradient by positioning the mouse just outside one of the solid circles (the mouse pointer will change to a curved arrow) and dragging the mouse.

SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION (CONT

Similarly, when creating a Control Line, the mask created is sensitive to the colour and brightness of your image under the colour picker circle. As for the radial gradient above, you can change this to a plain linear gradient by moving the Luminance and Chrominance sliders all the way to the left (0%) – see Figure 4.

[Figure 4 – Creating a linear gradient]

You have another couple of ways of doing this too. The first is to make your adjustment in the NIK Collection and then apply a gradient mask to the layer after returning to Photoshop. The second is to create a gradient mask in Photoshop and then pass that mask to the NIK filter, however I think the method outlined in this article is superior because you can adjust the position and transition of the gradient whilst modifying the adjustments you’re making in the NIK filter giving you more control and flexibility.

Andrew Haysom

https://www.instagram.com/lksmithphotography/ https://www.facebook.com/lksmithphotography/

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/pam-henderson/

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/margaret-kalms/ http://artofwoman.com.au

https://colincampbell.myportfolio.com

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/colin-campbell/

ORCHID INTERIORS

https://trish-hoskin.myportfolio.com/

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/trish-hoskin/

JENNY DAVIDSON ( AUSTRALIA )

DOWN artistsUNDER

Australia and New Zealand

DIGITAL ARTISTS GROUP

A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF PHOTO ARTISTS

CHINESE WHISPERS #95

“WHERE’S THE BABY”

STAGE 1 STAGE 2

Pam Henderson

Maureen Maxwell

Pam started our collaborative efforts this month and gave me four elements which could have gone in any direction. So, I put them into the Australian landscape, amongst the gum trees, and hid the baby from the parents.

Another fun one to create for our 95th month running of doing these collaborations together.

Maureen Maxwell

https://andrewhaysom.myportfolio.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/andrew-haysom/

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

ETHEREAL FUSION

RADIANCE IN GOLD

TIME IS TICKING OUT

CHAOS I

SCARAB

https://www.flickr.com/photos/88165766@N05/

https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/karen-waalwyk/

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/kim-ricci/

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/maureen-maxwell/

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-4/sharon-rankmore/

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/kevin-sims/ www.kevinsims.co.nz

https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-3/lynsey-stirland-mitchell/

‘COFFEE and PIXELS’

by Maureen Maxwell

THIS MONTHS CHALLENGE THEME IS Indulgence

http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/penny-de-jong/

DENISE

CAUCHI ( AUSTRALIA )

ILONA ABOU-ZOLOF ( AUSTRALIA )

GLOSSED RESOLVE POISED GLOW SILENT FALL

SKETCH OF GRACE

STEADY GAZE

CRIMSON LIPS

TIMELESS YOUTH WIDE-EYED PAUSE

TO THE CONCLAVE

MARINA HOBBS ( AUSTRALIA )

DANCING WITH DOLPHINS IN A STORYBOOK SEA

IN THE FOREST

DOWN artistsUNDER

Australia and New Zealand

A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF PHOTO ARTISTS

QUOTE CHALLENGE by the Art Buddies

A bit of background first:

In our Art Buddies group, we’re a vibrant mix of ADU members from across Australia, each contributing individual talents and viewpoints. Our ‘Art Buddies’ team includes Christina Brunton, Denise Cauchi, Ilona Abou-Zolof, Marie Helyar, Marina Hobbs, Robyn McLauchlan and Ngaire Danvers. We gather regularly on Zoom, taking turns to set our creative challenges.

Quote: “Postcards from Parallel Worlds”

This challenge was set by Ilona Abou-Zolof

Create a vintage-style postcard depicting a scene where two vastly different times or worlds col lide, such as a knight having tea with an astronaut or a jazz band performing for mermaids. Add a cheerful handwritten message as if the scene is totally normal.

Our Art Creations:

We hope our creations motivate you to share your own interpretation on the Artists Down Under Facebook page. Your artistic expression matters to us, and we are excited to see what you create!

AL BAMASS ( AUSTRALIA )

PASTED PLAY

PASTED SCRAP

christina brunton ( AUSTRALIA )

ADDRESSING YOUR DEMONS

DENISE HUNTER LOGAN ( AUSTRALIA )

JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY

https://www.sandradimagery.com/

artists photographic challenge theme: monthly artistic down under horse racing

artists

DOWN UNDER

Australia and New Zealand

adu artists business advertisements

E L F - P A C E D & O N L I N E

L e a r n t o u s e t h e

M i x e r B r u s h

I n t h i s c l a s s , y o u w i l l l e a r n h o w t o

e f f e c t i v e l y u s e t h e M i x e r B r u s h t o o l i n

A d o b e P h o t o s h o p t o c r e a t e b e a u t i f u l a n d

u n i q u e s t i l l - l i f e & f l o r a l s

L e a r n t e c h n i q u e s

T h e c l a s s i s s u i t a b l e f o r b o t h b e g i n n e r s a n d

a d v a n c e d a r t i s t s , a n d I w i l l c o v e r e v e r y t h i n g

f r o m t h e b a s i c s o f M i x e r B r u s h t o a d v a n c e d

t e c h n i q u e s l i k e c r e a t i n g c u s t o m b r u s h e s a n d

t e x t u r e s

M a s t e r & C r e a t e

W h e t h e r y o u a r e l o o k i n g t o e x p l o r e a n e w

m e d i u m , e x p a n d y o u r d i g i t a l a r t s k i l l s , o r

s i m p l y e n j o y t h e p r o c e s s o f c r e a t i n g a r t , m y

S t i l l - l i f e & F l o w e r s M i x e r B r u s h A r t C l a s s i s

t h e p e r f e c t p l a c e t o s t a r t

S i x b a n d n e w p r o j e c t s

S i x b r a n d n e w p r o j e c t s i n c l u d i n g t h r e e s t i l l -

l i f e s c e n e s a n d t h r e e f l o w e r s A l l b a s e

i m a g e s , b o n u s p r a c t i c e i m a g e s , t e x t u r e s ,

E - B o o k a n d c u s t o m b r u s h e s p r o v i d e d

julie powell@outlook com www.juliepowellphotography.com

I d e l i c a t e l y u n r a v e l t h e

e f f e c t s o f t i m e ,

m e t i c u l o u s l y r e p a i r i n g

c r a c k s , h e a l i n g

d i s c o l o u r a t i o n , a n d

e r a s i n g y e a r s o f w e a r

a n d t e a r T h r o u g h t h e

m a g i c o f d i g i t a l a r t i s t r y ,

I r e s t o r e n o t o n l y t h e

i m a g e b u t a l s o t h e

e m o t i o n s a n d m e m o r i e s

e n c a p s u l a t e d w i t h i n i t

D o n ' t l e t t i m e

e r a s e t h e b e a u t y

o f y o u r

m e m o r i e s !

C o n t a c t m e t o d a y

t o g i v e y o u r

c h e r i s h e d p h o t o s

t h e g i f t o f

r e s t o r a t i o n

WEBSITE: http://artistsdownunder.com.au/

http://tinyurl.com/artisitsdownunderpublic