Steven Friedman began his artistic career as a traditional photographer. He studied at Cooper School of Art in the 1970's and received his degree in photography. His photographic works have been published in a number of periodicals he has had several exhibitions of his photographs. 
In the mid 1990's he began experimenting with digital imagery and he is now one of the emerging new artists who are creating digital fine art. He lives in Parker Colorado. His unique style combines photography with digital imagery to produce fine artwork in the style of traditional "natural" mediums. 

Artistic Philosophy
   Many people have the impression that digital art is all ethereal science-fantasy type stuff, or glitzed up photos. In fact there are many artists who are creating exquisite artwork in the style of traditional mediums, but doing it digitally. Many fine artists are migrating to this medium simply because of the many possibilities it offers. The guiding philosophy behind my own work is about realizing a vision. For me part of that vision takes place behind the camera and another part of the vision takes shape as I work with and alter an image in the computer to get just the effect I want. I use the term "Digital Natural Media" to describe the processes I use. It is a union of camera, computer, digital "paint brush", paper, and printer. But more importantly it is a union of realistic imagery (photography) and artistic interpretation. Traditionally photography has always worked with three main elements; light, color, and composition. Computer technology has enabled me to add two additional elements; texture and abstraction. By balancing elements of realism and abstractionism, I achieve an effect that "plays" with the viewer's eye and imagination and bridges the gap that has separated photographic techniques from traditional artistic techniques

Technique
    My artistic technique is similar to the way many French vintners make their wine; by blending various batches based upon their unique characteristics. When I work, I create a lot of digital renditions of images using a variety of effects and then blend them together in a variety of ways to obtain a specific look and style. I then work on them using a digital tablet and stylus using software that emulates natural mediums to make many further enhancements. My goal is to try to create artwork that in every detail looks like they were created with traditional artistic mediums. In some cases this may result in a life-like detailed approach, in others it may result in a very impressionistic interpretation.

Working digitally allows me a lot more freedom to develop different styles that most artists would never dream of because of the time and expense involved in learning and mastering new mediums. Rather than concentrating on a single style that often defines an artist's work, I'd rather explore many different styles and interpret each image uniquely rather than based upon one particular style or medium.

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