"Refuge in the Storm" a digitally painted image created by photographer Dean Smith that earned first place award for mixed media at the Martin County Fair Art Show sponsored by the Art Associates of Martin County. Taken at sunset during a passing storm, this original photographic image of the House of Refuge was digitally painted, printed on canvas, and then embellished with acrylics.

Digital painting is an emerging art form in which traditional painting techniques such as watercolor, oils, impasto, etc. are applied using digital tools by means of a computer, a digitizing tablet and stylus, and software. Digital painting differs from other forms of digital art, particularly computer-generated art, in that it does not involve the computer rendering the "art' from an image. The artist uses painting techniques to create the digital painting directly on the computer.

Digital painting has come down to the desktop computer primarily from the motion picture industry and is written for artists and artistic hand creation of images. The motion picture industry has been using a higher-level variation of this program for years for special effects in movies.

Once the digital painting is fully rendered, it is printed to canvas and is ready for either sealing with varnish or additional traditional artwork embellishments if the artist so desires. Dean finishes each print with the addition of acrylic accents to make each landscape or portrait unique. Dean Smith is a fine art family portrait photographer in Stuart and has expanded his work with digital print and fine art reproduction. If you have questions regarding his unique techniques, he is available at his studio at 772-209-0790.