December Issue

Monthly
Issue #03 | December 2013

Design A Christmas Card

A Photography

Sensation
Kylli Sparre

Original
Artwork by PicsArtists

Based in Mountain View , CA , PicsArt is a fun and full-featured mobile photo-editing
and drawing app for Android, iOS and Windows Phone.
2 | PicsArt Monthly

Editor-in-Chief | Arusiak Kanetsyan
Art Editor | Cristina Gevorg

Cover photo: Kylli Sparre

Meet our team...

Designer | Ina Sarko
Editorial Contributors | Mark Gargarian, Heather Parry, Miki Ross Karakla
Special Contributor | Lou Jones
In-House Photographer | ma_lina
Address: SocialIn Inc.,
800 West El Camino Real,
Mountain View, CA 94040

Follow us...

Publisher: PicsArt Photo Studio

Copyright of Socialln Inc. ( PicsArt Photo Studio ) 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be re-used without the written
permission of the publisher. The content of this magazine is for informational purposes only and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time
of publication. PicsArt Photo Studio does not claim any ownership right for the photos in the Magazine. All photos,if not mentioned otherwise, are
the property of respective PicsArt users. The PicsArt username or photo owner is cited on each photo. PicsArt Photo Studio has a non-exclusive,
royalty-free, worldwide, limited licence to use, modify, add to, publicly perform, publicly display, and reproduce PicsArt users’ photos, including
without limitation distributing part or all of the Magazine in any media formats through any media channels.

4 | PicsArt Monthly

Welcome!
New Year's Eve is fast approaching, and for those who
are resolving to become greater artists in the coming
year, PicsArt Monthly is here to bring you inspiration,
guidance, and entertainment.
In this issue, we’re featuring our interview with ballet
dancer turned photographer Kylli Sparre, an artist
whose surrealistic work is astounding.
This month, we’ll also help you explore your own
inner artist and show you how to capture artistic
motion blur like the pros. Follow our easy guide and
discover a whole new world of possibilities for your
photography.
Of course, we’re also going to show you a dazzling
array of mobile art opportunities with PicsArt Photo
Studio. You’ll find an exciting mix of editing and
drawing tutorials, get to know some of PicsArt’s
coolest effects, and have a look at some of the best art
and artists to emerge from the PicsArt community.
You’ll also want to be sure you prepare yourself for
Christmas with our Holiday Card Design tutorial as
well as our tips & tricks, which will teach you how to
turn a household lightbulb into a sparkling snowman
tree ornament.
Plunge into our December issue to get all of these and
more. Keep on creating and sharing so that, maybe
next month, we’ll feature your work!
Enjoy reading and feel free to send us your feedback
at info@picsart.com!
@nagovitsyn93
PicsArt Monthly | 5

Lou Jones is a Boston-based
photographer with more than 43 years
of professional experience.
Photos by Lou Jones

His award-winning work has been
exhibited in museums and collections
around the world, and he has
published multiple books of and about
photography. In addition, Jones
lectures and teaches workshops all
over the world.
8 | PicsArt Monthly

Pro Insight

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
By Lou Jones
Have you heard the twisted adage, “What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine?”
From the time we are little kids our parents and teachers tell us to share. Do not
covet what is not yours. Thou shalt not steal. But it is human nature: we want what
we want.
Through kindergarten and early stages of grade school all is forgiven. But
eventually we are taught to play well in the sandbox with others. The moral of the
story: we have to respect each other’s boundaries.
Under intellectual property law, creators are granted certain exclusive rights to a
variety of intangible assets, such as music, books and artistic works; discoveries
and inventions; words, phrases and designs. This includes trademark, copyrights,
patents, etc.
In practical terms, if you made it,
you own it. For better or worse, for
profit or loss, our labors are ours to
control and do with as we see fit.
If you invent a new machine that
helps society to improve or makes
things easier, we fully expect to buy
or sell its benefits. If you concoct
a medicine that cures some
pestilence, you should receive
awards. If you write a novel and it
becomes popular, you will make
money. And if you write a hit song,
you can become famous.
Tradition, courtesy, common sense
and laws are all aligned to make
sure your efforts are rewarded and
to encourage creative people to
continue to contribute to human
advancement in a fluid way.

PicsArt Monthly | 9

However, keeping the rules straight as to who owns what has made lawyers,
judges and accountants busy and wealthy for generations. Corporate espionage,
plagiarism, bad memory and outright theft have made all this extremely
complicated. Copying a term paper at the last minute to get a decent grade, ripping
your partner off for a good idea, presenting someone else’s story as yours, are
crimes and just plain bad manners.
We have all taped a song off the radio for a mix tape that is played at a public event,
xeroxed a chapter of a textbook to pass out in a lecture we are teaching, quoted
Shakespeare as our own in speeches or recreated a wonderful photograph we saw
in an obscure magazine. HARMLESS? Victimless crimes? But it is a slippery slope.
Ideas should be free. Society cannot progress without the easy flow of information
and imagination. A new concept is always built on old ones. Where does the old
invention leave off and innovation begin? There is often little consideration about
borrowing ideas until someone “borrows” yours.
My brilliant cousin, a computer
expert in the early days, used to
argue with me that anything on
the computer was by necessity
free for use by anyone. Until
he wrote a complicated piece
of software for his employer.
He felt he did not get ample
compensation or recognition.
After experiencing this rip off, he
went back to school and became
a copyright lawyer.
The digital age has made
exchanging music and
photographs so simple that
there is almost no reflection in
downloading a song or picture
and using it unattributed or
FOR FREE. Our culture will
soon solve the problem of
how to trace and document all
these commercial and personal
usages but until then, be careful.
The intellectual property you
dishonor could be your own.
10 | PicsArt Monthly

@qusai123

@yoannanobel

@thuraya1

@novaliza

Inspiration: Photo

Painters, Paintings,
and Paint

@subashbabupandiri

This gallery features photos of painters,
paintings, and paint, shot by talented
photographers in the PicsArt community.
Sometimes the tools to make art are just as
beautiful as the art itself, see for yourself.

PicsArt Monthly | 13

@blynelis


PicsArt In Action
Four
Transformations
With PicsArt Effects, every
photo is just a starting point.
PicsArt's Artistic Effects
give photos instant dramatic
transformations, and
every effect is completely
customizable, allowing you to
perfect your image.

@jeny-valter

These four Artistic Effects
alter the same photo to
make it appear as though
it was created by brushes
and pencils rather than
by a camera. With a touch
of the finger, the image
is transformed from a
photograph to an oil on
canvas painting, pencil
sketch, or cartoon. The
results are stunning, and the
gratification is instantaneous.


cartoonizer

oil

shear

sketcher


Tutorial: Shooting

How to Capture
Artistic Motion Blur
with DSLR or Camera
Phone
One of the most difficult things to capture as
a photographer is a true sense of movement.
Thankfully, there are one or two techniques that
can allow you to show how exciting a scene really
is.

Show Motion With Blur
Whether you’re shooting with a high-end DSLR
or a year-old camera phone, the key to creating
dynamic exposure is to show motion blur.
There are two main ways to do this; the first is
to blur your subject, and the second is to blur
everything around your subject. The type of
subject you’re shooting and the capabilities of
your device will determine which you decide to
use, but don’t worry; both can capture motion
for great photos!


Capture Motion With a Camera Phone
Camera phones these days pack as much power as point-and-shoots used to, and
even if you can’t really control shutter speed, there’s one trick in particular that
will allow you to shoot beautiful exposures that capture motion. This trick is called
Panning.
Panning will allow you to create photos in which the subject is clear and the
background is blurred, regardless of what equipment you have – and the effect is
super simple to achieve. To do so, simply move your camera with your subject. This
means that you should be moving the camera itself; if your subject is moving from
left to right, your camera will either turn (as if on an axis) or move from left to right
(as if on a miniature skateboard) to match the movement of the subject. The slower
shutter speeds of camera phones means that while your subject will stay in focus,
the background will be blurred, giving the impression that your subject is moving.

Capturing Motion With a DSLR
If you’re shooting with a DSLR camera, you will have a few more options regarding
how to capture motion blur. You will be able to use the Panning method discussed
above, but you’ll also be able to use the more traditional Slow Shutter method. This
is particularly used to capture fast-moving subjects in a static environment, like a
train moving through the countryside or cars driving on highways at night.


To do this, you should ensure
that your ISO and aperture are
appropriate for your shooting
conditions; as the slower shutter
speed will let in a lot of light, you
might need to set the ISO lower
than normal and ensure that you
are on a smaller aperture to avoid
over exposure if you are shooting
in the daytime. If shooting at
night, a wide aperture and higher
ISO will be necessary.
Ideally, you should set your DSLR
camera on a tripod for this – but
if you don’t have one, resting
it on a static surface will work.
Get your subject in focus, (subjects that move on tracks like trains are useful for
learning this method) and when you’re ready, shoot the exposure. Play around with
the shutter speed; when it’s slow enough your subject will be blurred and the static
environment around it will be still.

Adding Motion Blur With
PicsArt
If you didn’t manage to capture
motion the way you wanted to
during your shoot, you can always
add motion blur during the editing
process. This can also be effective
and it gives you more freedom
to apply the blur precisely where
you want it. You can do this by
using PicsArt’s Motion Blur
effect, found in Artistic section of
the Effects menu or by applying
Focal Zoom effect, located in the
Distort section of the Effects.

All of these methods can create beautiful, artistic shots – so whatever device you
shoot with, play around with different ways to capture motion and see how they
work.

Tutorial: Editing
Using PicsArt to Create
Surrealistic Images
Holga is a PicsArt effect that transforms images into surrealistic artwork. The
effect splits an image into two overlapping and translucent copies of itself,
with each half having different pop art accents, which intersect and overlap in
interesting ways. Holga Effect, found in the Pop Art Effects section of PicsArt,
comes in two versions: Holga 1 and Holga 2.

@jademae

Holga 1 features a Vignette filter which can be lessened and intensified. Holga
2, meanwhile, is very similar in concept but has an alternative color scheme, and
rather than a vignette filter, it offers a fade option.

This tutorial demonstrates how to transform the plainest photo into a
compelling Pop Art using PicsArt's Holga 1 Effect.

Step 1: Select Effects from the main menu of PicsArt and upload a photo.


Step 2

Step 3
Select Pop Art
from the pop-up
menu, and click
on Holga 1.

Set both sliders
to 0 to put both
images together
in the middle.

Step 4

Step 5
Use the left slider
to shift the left
image to the left,
and the right
slider to shift the
right image to the
right.

Use the Vignette
slider to intensify
the filter in the
image.

Confirm changes
with .


Tutorial: Drawing
How to Draw a Track Sprinter
with the PicsArt App
PicsArt Photo Studio’s fully equipped Drawing Tools gives users everything they
need to create beautiful drawings with complex details and realistic textures.
The tool lets you organize your workspace in layers. Therefore, you can build
your drawing piece by piece while having the freedom to revisit earlier steps and
experiment. The customizable brush ensures that you always have the right brush
for the job, whether it’s precise detailing or free-form shading.

This drawing tutorial shows you how to draw a sprinter on a track. This is a
wonderful demonstration of what PicsArt is capable of, as a race demands a lot
from an artist. A race has motion, emotion, close-up subjects, and large crowds in
the background. This tutorial is a step by step demonstration of how to create a
truly stunning final drawing of a sports event.

Open the PicsArt Drawing Tool
Select “Draw” from the main
screen and then select “Draw
blank” to start a new drawing
from scratch. You have the option
of choosing the precise width,
height, and orientation of your
drawing before entering your
workspace.

Draw the Basic Shape

Draw a very rough
outline of your
runners on the
track, making sure
to get down the
basics: head, torso,
arms, and legs.

Refine Your Outline
Reduce the opacity and
create a new layer, this
time tracing a more
complete skeleton. Flesh
out the shape of your
runners anatomy, and
define the shapes of your
runners muscels.

Draw the Final Outline
Reduce the opacity
and add a new
layer. This time
trace your final
outline in clean,
deliberate lines,
outlining facial
features and folds
of clothing.

Color the Drawing
Delete your outline
layers and fill in
the colors of your
drawing in a new
set of layers, so
that you can color
different elements
individually.

Add Shading to Define Form
Add shading by using
colors of darker and
lighter tones to further
sculpt the shapes in
your drawing, darkening
the eye-sockets and
brightening protruding
elements.

Draw the Stands and Create Motion Blur
To draw things like crowds
in the stands use translucent
brushes of various colors,
paint rows, and sections in
crisscrossing patterns. Use
the same brush type to add
streaks of motion blur trailing
behind your runners.

Add Final Details

Add final
details to
finish your
drawing like,
the whites of
your runner’s
eyes.

Add Lens Flare
Select Lens Flares
from the menu
bar and insert a
glistening lens flare
to give your runner
the photo finish
he deserves at the
crossing of the
finish line!

Tutorial: Design

Design Your Own Christmas Card
with PicsArt ClipArt and Frames
There’s nothing more special than a personally designed Christmas Card. With
PicsArt Photo Studio, you can easily design a greeting card for anyone. The
Christmas spirit is about family, but it is also about a magical time filled with warmth
and wonder.
PicsArt has everything you need to turn your family photos into Christmas Cards
that embody all of the best qualities of the holiday season, while creating something
that is truly personal to you and the people you love.


Upload
a Photo
Open the PicsArt app.
Click on Photo from the
main menu and upload a
photo.

Insert a
Frame
Select the frames icon
from the menu bar, choose
“Christmas Frames” from the
succeeding menu, and choose
a frame.
If you do not have Christmas
Frames package, you can
download it from the PicsArt
Shop.


Insert
Clipart
Select the Clipart icon from
the editing menu and select
the Christmas clipart package
from the menu. Select clipart
images one at a time, then
drag them into position,
altering the size and rotating
them into place.

Insert
Snow Mask
Select the Mask icon from the
menu bar. You can find the snow
masks in the Artistic section of
the pop-up menu, and customize
the opacity using the slider in the
effects settings.


@aomarimchen

Inspiration: Shooting

Musical
Paintings
Original Mobile Artwork
By PicsArt Users
PicsArt Drawing Tools can be
used to create paintings that are
not only gorgeous, but extremely
expressive. This gallery of
original artwork by PicsArt users
celebrates music. Painting, like
music, is not just a skill but an art.
It should not only impress but be
alive and communicate feeling.
With PicsArt’s customizable
brushes and complete drawing
toolbox artists are free to express
themselves in their unique
styles. Similar to real paintings, in
PicsArt every brush stroke can be
personalized to serve the vision
and imagination of the artist. No
two paintings in this gallery are
alike, and each approach and style
is as special as the person behind it.


@aomarimchen


@jackmack830


Interview

Interview with Kylli Sparre
The Ballet Dancer who Became a Photography Sensation
Kylli Sparre is a talented artist who creates intensely powerful and surreal
photography at times aided with what she refers to as photo manipulation. Her
early training, however, was not in photography but in ballet as a dancer. When she
realized that ballet was not the path for her, she lost her creative outlet, and she
would not find another until she discovered photography a few years ago.
Her photos have been exhibited at prestigious photography festivals in France
and Europe, winning various prizes including the Grand Prix de la Decouverte
which it won at both Le Salon de la Photo (2013) and the International Fine Art
Photography Competition (2012). She has also been published in PH Magazine and
BELOW Magazine.
We interviewed Kylli to ask her about her concepts, ideas, and creative process.

How did you first get into photography?
When photography first showed up in my life, it was like a stranger to me. An
interesting but distant one... and I did not know what to think of it. Then slowly we
became friends. I felt photography was something I could trust and certainly it was
a lot of fun, and then suddenly, I fell in love with it.
When I finally realized the magnitude it has for me (especially when combining
photography with image manipulation), I could not sleep and could not stop
thinking about it – the concepts I could create and the visions I could bring forward.
The realization came pretty much overnight and I have never looked back. It is my
secret language, my way to truly express myself (something I have never managed
to communicate in any other way). I do hope to have a long lasting relationship with
photography.
I have to add that it is not only photography, I often use Photoshop to create my
visions, but photography is the foundation of it.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from relationships, books, nature, music, dreams and my life in
general.
Is every photo a planned vision? Can you talk about the process behind
formulating a vision for a photo?
It is a mysterious process, I might carry an idea around for a while, doubting it
and considering its faults and then, when I go out and create it, it seems somehow
more than I envisioned. Other times, I have an idea and believe it to be special and
beautiful and when I get my things together and try to capture it into an image,
it falls apart, looks dull or just makes no sense when it is out and visible. So I can
hardly ever predict if an idea is actually something that I will like or not, I just
carefully have to start unfolding it, hoping it will work.
You seem to exclusively use women as your subjects. Why?
I actually photograph men and children as well, but I have to admit that the majority
are female figures. Perhaps because this makes it easier for me to relate to the
story.


How do you find models for your pictures?
Mostly I have used either myself or people that I know very well. I am looking into
finding new models too.
Can you explain the reasoning behind your title choice of “Silent Dialogues”, for
one of your photography series?
I often sense that when I talk to people, there is this communication between
words, the kind of communication that is impossible to put into words – for me at
least. As soon as I try, it disappears.
So I try to capture it in a different way, I dream of capturing it honestly – capturing
it into image so it is there for me and others to see, so that it can´t escape.
The name "Silent Dialogues" seemed to cover my thoughts on this.
Is anxiety an important theme in your photos?
It is certainly a big theme for me, not so much in daily life, but in the stories I think
of, anxiety is often times present.


You say you use image manipulation, can you explain a little bit about how you
create these surreal images?
It is very different with each image. I have done images where everything is
done before taking the actual picture, where I have done as little as possible in
Photoshop - only things that would have been dangerous to do. (Editing out hands
that are holding a child or things like that.)
But also I have done images where most is done in post production. Where I
have composited things from one place to another or have completely created
the setting in Photoshop. So, I don't have a rule or a certain way to do this, I just
do whatever I can and feel like at the moment. Mostly I do try to do as much on
location as I possibly can, but the amount of pre or post production varies quite a
bit.
What are your plans for the future?
I have not made specific plans for my future, but I do dream!
I hope to get better at what I do. Not only technically but better in every aspect of
image making and also to be happy and fulfilled in the process.


A Lonely Field
Hush Puppie (@hur1052) is a South Korea
based photographer, who persistently turns
his lens on the marvelous backdrop of his
home country. Hush Puppie’s cinematic flair
for scenery has allowed his work to become
a favorite among many in the PicsArt
community. Everything he does from his
framing to the way he catches light gets
distilled into shots that can make you wilt or
a sense of awe within you.
This photo of a lone tree rising from
a meadow of tall grass is like a zen
masterpiece. The two trees in the distance
on either side anchor the shot with
symmetry. The color palette is a blend of
black & white and sepia, which is just simple
enough to remove the distraction of having
a multitude of colors, thereby holding your
focus on the rich texture of the tall grass,
while having enough variation to give the
photo a sense of depth.


Feature: Photo


Feature: Destination

Travel to Malaysia
The most unique shots in Malaysia and where to get them
If you’re thinking about where to take your next photography vacation and you
want somewhere with stunning natural beauty, a fascinating mix of cultures
and gorgeous islands too, look no further than Malaysia. Bordered by Thailand,
Indonesia and Brunei, not only is Malaysia a hotbed of cultural diversity, it also has
a strong personality of its own. Although you will find something extraordinary on
every trip to this scintillating country, here are some photographers’ tips for where
to go to capture the most unforgettable shots.

Penang Island
Though Penang is a state, it’s the island of the same name that should be the focus
of your Malaysia photo tour when you’re in the north-west of the country. The
easy-going nature of the people of Penang Island and their truly phenomenal food,
including the eponymous curry, might distract you from the fantastic architecture
and the many other opportunities
to build a fascinating travel photo
gallery, but a short photo walk
around the capital of George Town
will yield some amazing results.

@hp1986

If you’re lucky enough to visit
Penang during the Festival of the
Hungry Ghosts, you’ll see many
Chinese Malaysians burning huge
piles of fake “hell money” and
leaving offerings of food and drinks
outside their homes to appease
the souls of people who weren’t
properly mourned when they died.
Chinese Malaysians are the second
largest ethnic group in Malaysia
after the ethnic Malay, so seeing
and capturing their culture up
close and personal is an exciting
opportunity that you won’t want to
squander.

Melaka

@hp1986

Malaysia is a surprising
country in many ways, but
Melaka might be one of the
most unexpected surprises on
your whole Malaysia photo
tour. You certainly wouldn’t
expect to see Dutch flowers
and windmills on the streets
of Melaka City, but its two
European colonizations, first
Portuguese and then Dutch in
the 16th Century, mean that
this Malaysian city has more of
Amsterdam about it than Asia!
With a strong Chinese
Malaysian community and a
mix of Dutch and Malaysian
architecture, Melaka is ripe
for some great shots for your
travel gallery, especially if you wander the street markets at night tasting freshlymade delicacies and seeing the nightlife unravel. Often missed by tourists, Melaka
is most definitely a top contender for the best travel ideas for Malaysia – especially
if you’re a photographer!

Lenggong Valley, Perak
Trapped as it is in the north of the country, tucked out of the way of most Malaysia
photo tours, the Lenggong Valley isn’t the sort of place you accidentally find
yourself in–but, being a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s worth the extra effort.
While Lenggong town is home to many artifacts and museums of the area’s
fascinating prehistory, it’s the nature and majesty that you’ll find if you head into
the mountains north of the town that are of most interest to photographers.
Rivers, waterfalls, roaming buffalo, jungle and even the odd tiger (if you believe the
locals) will punctuate your drive up into the mountains, but it’s the view from 180
meters above sea level that will really blow your mind. Pack a good landscape lens
especially for these shots and you won’t be disappointed.


Feature: Tips & Tricks

Do it Yourself
Make a Charming Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament!
Locate a standard light bulb in your house or local hardware store.
With a brush, paint your light bulb white. Cover it completely with a thick layer
of paint so that no glass is showing, but ignore the metal base for now.
Dab your light bulb with a sponge while the paint is still wet to give it snow
texture.
Glue a cottonball at the end of your metal base. Add glue on the sides and wrap
a red yarn in a spiral, covering all metal. Leave a loop of string at the end.
With a fine brush paint on your snowman's eyes, nose, and mouth. You should
paint him so that the red yarn acts as his hat, with the bulb turned upside down.
Paint on buttons, arms, legs and a scarf around his neck to finish.

Photos by @ma_lina

Your snowman is now ready to hang with all of the other ornanments on your tree!


Feature: Artist
Odák’s Winter
Wonderland
Our PicsArtist of the month is
Odák (@kadolive), who mystified
the PicsArt community with his
series of magical winter shots.
Snowfall and freezing ice are
naturally gorgeous phenomenon,
but Odák is gifted for extracting
that beauty into killer shots. He
finds a way to take these seasonal
phenomena that we are so used
to and make their beauty seem
new and surprising again. He goes
in close to capture the crystal
shape of individual snowflakes,
steps back to watch them fall by
the thousands in apparent slowmotion, and just generally takes
shots that make the most of the
season’s textures, lighting and
colors.


@kadolive

These shimmering blues and
brilliant whites, comprise a crisp
palette of cool colors that bring
you the bitter cold through
your computer screen, while
simultaneously causing you to
lilt in the wonder of the season’s
crystallized beauty. Altogether,
Odák’s shots paint a stunning
portrait of the winter season.

@kadolive

@kadolive

@kadolive

@kadolive

@kadolive
@kadolive


PicsArt, the mobile photo-editing app and social network, is now available for
Windows Phone. In just over two years, the app has garnered around 100 million
installs worldwide, with 25-30 million active monthly users. Having solidified it's
spot as a top downloaded photo-editing and
drawing app on Google Play and in the AppStore,
PicsArt is sure to become a favorite among
Windows Phone users.
"With the success PicsArt has seen on the
Android and iPhone, "Our goal is to be available
to everyone-regardless of the mobile device they
prefer," said Artavazd Mehrabyan, PicsArt's CoFounder and COO. "We value our users greatly,
and strive to give everyone the tool to become a
great artist. Expanding to the Windows Phone is
our next step in achieving this goal."
PicsArt empowers artists from around the globe
to unleash their inner creativity. PicsArt’s unique
social network gives artists the opportunity
to follow, share and learn from each other in a
vibrant and creative online community of around
10 million users.

Our goal is to
be available
to everyoneregardless of the
mobile device they
prefer

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