Your Incredible Neighbors: Local woman creates digital art

In today’s technological times, anyone who has wished they could draw or had innate artistic skill is in for a surprise.

Just as computers have changed the way people communicate or do research, today’s computers can turn an unaccomplished artist into a budding Rembrandt of sorts.

Digital artist Mary Ann Rolfe discovered the amazing world of digital art about 10 years ago. A unique process of dyeing yarns for sweaters and rugs in her microwave oven led to learning how computers could download instructions to an electronic knitting machine—and the subsequent results of computer possibilities simply fascinated her.

“One thing always led to another,” she said.

Moving from Denver to Canoa Ranch eight years ago to supposedly retire, now she’s so enthralled at the infinite things possible via digital art that she can’t stay away from the computer. She has the time and talent to keep discovering.

One room in her home has become her studio, where she creates magic via her imagination and a Corel Painter X.1 digital art program.

Interested in color and craft-related projects since childhood, she says, “As a little kid I realized I had artistic talent but I never had my own ideas… today my strengths are common sense, color and risk taking.” She is also very inquisitive and wants to experiment with the endless possibilities of digital art.

“The first time I tried, I draw an apple and was so excited. I love technology, but it’s time-consuming… there’s a definite learning curve,” she says of becoming adept to this medium.

Demonstrating the possibilities of digital art, Rolfe used two monitors. Having the “tools” on one monitor allows her artwork area to be larger on a monitor by itself. Then, using a WACOM tablet and a stylus, which she says is freer than a mouse, she draws and paints.

Picking a medium from a lengthy list of choices—pastels, watercolor, ink, oil, acrylic, pencil, the list goes on—she says, “There isn’t any kind of art that you can’t replicate.” Then, choosing what kind of brush she wants to work with, she says, “There’s a zillion choices down to how many hairs you want on a brush.”

Showing a digital photograph of a white church taken in Magdalena, Mexico, she shows how she transformed an architecturally beautiful building into one that’s looser in style with a spectrum of color.

Realizing the beauty of the digitally transformed photo, Rolfe then learned to apply it to different surfaces. “The transfer process allows an artist to apply art to glass, tile… even a flat sheet of canvases that can go into my printer.”

Asked if it’s easy for the average person to spot a work of digital art, Rolfe said, “No, not if it’s well done. Computers and programs have become infinitely more powerful; the art form has grown and changed immensely in the past 10 years.” It’s gone from having to say http://www etc. to just saying the name of a Web site and dot com.

“We’re a part of this history and I’m proud to be part of the history of change… I love the freedom to go in any direction at this point in my life. As a result, I’m a better artist… now digital photography and art keep me up at night.”

Aware that one has to market their name, Rolfe has met other innovators in the digital art world and has done many workshops; today she is one of the nationally known pioneers of the art form.

On Jan. 15, she will speak about digital art at the Green Valley Camera Club meeting. Open to the public, the meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the East Center auditorium.

Samples of Rolfe’s work and further workshop information are available at her Web site, digitalstretch.com.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.