AMy name is Cindy Grundsten. I live in Sweden. I always loved to create things with my hands and since I was a little girl I used to draw a lot. In the autumn of 2007 I found an internet group about edited pictures which got me interested. So I joined the group and started my first step. In January 2008 I joined Deviantart and started with photo manipulations. This was something I really loved.

AI had a little company called Cindys Art & Design. I had a lot of jobs for models and photographers in Sweden and USA, but it was difficult to get paid what I wanted for the work. I had to close the company for the moment, but my wish is to start it all over again.

AI create my artwork in Photoshop CS3. But I really wish I can upgrade to CS5 some day. I dont really know what to answer about my technique. I love photo manipulations and I think I use the same techniques as other people do. Its about getting every detail to blend in perfectly. Photo manipulation is my favourite, but I also paint in my work (for example skin and hair). Sometimes I have to paint other small details. Colour is very important to me. It must be perfect, and I can go on for hours if I don't feel it is the right colour. I use Photoshop's default tools for colour and I always adjust colour balance.

AI have a graphic tablet, Intous 3. I bought it a couple of years ago, and it was not difficult at all to start working with it. I love my tablet. Without my tablet I would've never been able to paint hair. I never did digital painting, I only paint over stock photos, and the hair of course. I think painting is more difficult than photo manipulation.

AI like fairies and elves. Maybe because I love the magic feel about it. I think that's why I love to create such things. I am very scared about getting stuck on the same theme. I love to expand and develop. I will prove to myself that I can master what ever I like to create. I dont like limitations. And since I started with this I am always trying to get better and better. I have so much more to learn and I want to break boundaries.

AI like so many other things too. And I love to try different types of artwork, not only fairy tales. Lately I also have tried dark art. And I really like that too.

AOhh yes!!! There are so many good artists here on Deviantart that I love and admire. The list is long. But there is a very very special artist. His work goes right into my heart. I found him when I first joined Deviantart. And he will always be my master of art. His name is JohndeLano and you can see his work here JohndeLano's artwork.

AFor photo manipulation there are many steps involved: from cutting out photo pieces to making every object look like it belongs in the resulting art work. I have to work with each and every object and make sure that the contrast, light, shadows, colours and so on blend in with the background. If I, for example, have the work in a tone of yellow, and I place an object with a tone of blue, I must work with the object and give it the same tone, contrast and so own. Sometimes some areas in the artwork need blurring. There are lots of things to think of. Putting things together is not so difficult. But of course sometimes I need to solve some problems on the way. But it usually works out well in the end.

AI often buy stock photos. And its because I want to work with good quality. There is so much more work to do if a photo has a bad quality. I also want to work with big resolution. And all that I can get if I buy my stocks. But of course I also use some stocks here from Deviantart. And I have folders in my favourites where I put those stocks.

ANone of my artwork is for sale on the Internat yet. But I am thinking of selling prints of some of my work. Not here on Deviantart I think. But if I will find a good place for it I probably will use it for selling my work.

AThere are periods of time when there are lots of projects. And sometimes I have a lots of time for my own practices. I love to practice hair painting. You can see that I have quite a few tutorials about hair painting on my deviantart account( Painted Hair TutorialExclusive, Paint hair over stock, Paint hair over stock ).
I love to create what I want, from my own head and heart.