Using both Blender and Photoshop can create the most surreal photos

Domenico Sellaro is a rising talent! A young Digital Artist who specializes in Creative Retouching, and Matte Painting. He began to teach himself Photoshop in 2008, but has since taught himself how to use 3D programs like Sculptris and Blender too. During these years he has been selected for international exhibitions, become featured in the Wacom gallery online, and received features in international Photoshop magazines. He is now Founder and CEO at The Creative Dot and he’s working as Freelance Digital Artist for some clients from Europe and other countries.

DIYP: Tell us a little of how you got into Photoshop and Design, and who your influences are.
DS: Since I was child I have been conditioned from the digital world around me.Growing in myself was an incredible desire to change my creative life, and all the fantastic dreams in my mind. So during 2008 I decided to start using Adobe Photoshop CS2, I self-taught myself and spent all my free time editing. I decided that this was the life for me. Now I use Adobe Photoshop as a professional from about 3 years.

DIYP: You were nominated for the Adobe 25 under 25. Tell us how this came about..
DS: My Tentacle for Adobe 25 Under 25 Contest is a little photomanipulation to show to all people what is behind all my creative ideas. With this project I wanted to capture a little strange moment of my life. I lost my creativity up until I got a little kick-ass from a natural documentary about octopus and other animals of the sea. This gave me a little refresh to restart to using Adobe Photoshop again.

DIYP: How important is Photoshop in your workflow. Does your work rely on it or could you still create your images without it.
DS: Photoshop is a very important for my creative way. I have other program knowledge but my favourite program is Photoshop.

DIYP: Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years time.
DS: I haven’t an idea. I still see myself as a beginner at this time. In fact I hope to improve myself and my skills to become one of the most important Digital Artist in the whole of the world. I believe in myself and I know that I can grow up in this creative field.

DIYP: What or who, are your influences.
DS: The nature and all things around me are influences for my creative mind. I capture every day, moments of my life, and I blend it with my imagination.

DIYP: Some of your images have multiple composited elements, on average how long does an image take to complete.
DS: Each image has a different history behind itself. I spent different time for each image, from 1 week to 1 month and more. This process taught me to use a different approach with each project I create.

DIYP: With the rise of Photoshop, and most people these days having access to it, do you think it is harder to stand out from the crowd?
DS: In this moment many people have decided to use Adobe Photoshop to create different images, but I think that just a little part of them will be considered as a professional. New versions of Photoshop seem very hard to use than past editions, so all people have to spend more time to improve themselves.

DIYP: What would be your best piece of advice to people just starting to use Photoshop for the first time.
DS: Dear people, believe in yourself and work very hard to improve your skills. I suggest that you create your own personal approach on each image so you stand out from the crowd.