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Julie Fox runs the business FotoMechanic where, as the name might imply, she fixes photos. Fox's services include restoration, image enhancement, poster art, paintings and even pillows using her client's personal photos.  Most people aren't likely to make the investment in a photo editing program such as Photoshop or even know how to use it to its full extent. Fox's specialty lies in her knowledge and skill with Adobe Photoshop as well as Corel Painter. With these technologies she can bring ordinary or damaged photos to life. Fox is a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals and the Professional Digital Imaging Association. These memberships give her great resources and benefits as well as show her clients the dedication and skill she has for her craft. Her restoration work can save a family heirloom that is torn, faded, cracked, etc. For one client, they brought a picture in 8 pieces to her, and she was able to rebuild it like new. A great benefit to having a digital copy of antique and special photos is that it can be reproduced for multiple family members, and reprinted on materials that will survive another 100 years or more.  "My main approach," Fox says, "is to help clients realize that many of their photos are not just photos but great art pieces waiting to happen." To turn the everyday photo into art, she gets creative. With painter, she digitally paints an image and is able to manipulate colors and backgrounds to give the look and feel of a traditional painting. Other options are the pop-art Warhol-esque grid picture, and other stylization effects. Fox also creates collages or composite images to make one unique piece. One client brought in 12 pictures of his home and asked her to create an "art like" look for a large print to display. She was able to use all the photos to tell a story about the entire home and property that was an artistic vision, rather than a straight forward picture of a house.  This is just one example of her ability to "present a new look for a common picture." One of her pieces that hangs in the Regions bank in South Austin is a unique design of the Austin Skyline. This overly-photographed shot really did get a new look, as she made it appear to be many images coming in to one to make the skyline picture. The final product is about 6 feet by 4 feet and is a canvas gallery wrap. Fox says that working with Canvas Press has opened up a "whole new world" for what she can offer to clients. They can now have larger pieces of art, and the canvas look and feel really accentuates the enhancements Fox has done to the images. She created a series of collages for the Summit at Westlake, which Canvas Press printed. The seven large gallery wraps portray activities and residents that represent "The Optimum Life" of seniors. The services Fox offers are a way of helping families and businesses create their own art. The canvas prints give a professional and truly artistic impression to complete the vision. Images Courtesy Julie Fox. |
