Red Bubble PhotoShop Supremo Randy Monteith (previously known as Snow Dog) has flourished since discovering the Community in August 2007, where he managed to sell a canvas print of his work within the first week of being a member, a time when most “Newbies” are still finding their feet.
Randy's work became a regular on the Home Page and he quickly became a popular figure. He then went on to hold his own highly successful competition donating his own prizes.
Randy loves to share his knowledge and has posted many informative tutorials on how to use or apply PhotoShop in a creative way. He is also highly active with other members, collaborating with Yvonne Emerson and Trace Lowe. He's produced a video featuring his artwork, and he composed the soundtrack “The Secret Life of Whales”.
A native Canadian, Randy's Art career has been relatively short. About four and a half years ago, he was emailed an interesting image of a beast composed of three different animals. He thought it was a great idea but then decided he could do better. Though he had no idea how to use PhotoShop, he knew that was the program to learn.
He hasn't looked back.
Since then he has been interviewed by PhotoShop Creative Magazine, had several images printed in two issues of Advanced PhotoShop Magazine and won over a dozen digital art contests on the internet. His most recent interview was in the December 2007 issue of Art & Prose Ezine.
It was through PhotoShop Creative Magazine that Randy discovered RedBubble. When asked about what influences his art he sighed: “I used to get asked this all the time and I could never figure that out. Then last year it occurred to me. RUSH the Canadian progressive rock band has been my favourite band since I was 16 and the guy that does all their covers is the amazing Hugh Syme. I love his work.”
Randy also says any artist that deviates from the norm, who is innovative in some way, and doesn't think outside the box, but blows the box to bits and makes their own statement in their artwork.
In the real world Randy is an electronics technician, here he tests electrical and electronic systems on the subway and passenger railcars that his Company – Bombardier of Canada – builds for cities all around the world.
When asked how RedBubble has affected his art, his answer is all tech jargon and humour:
“It has allowed me to abuse the pupils of many people and as I learn to abuse the pixels on my new Quad core, 4 Gig Ram computer with almost 2 TerraBytes of hardrive storage—actually all that helps me make mistakes faster and delete important files faster.”
Then he adds in a serious tone, “RedBubble has helped me in many ways, I think I have gotten better and become more of an artist. There are so many exceptional photographers, digital artists and amazing people on here.”
Randy Monteith moderates PhotoShop Masters and PixElations – The Art of PhotoShop and is a member of A Class of Its Own, Blue Moon Photo Competition, Boolean Art, BubbleMania, Digital Modern Portraiture, Fantasy Art, Gods and Goddesses, Happy Haven, How To Photoshop, How To RedBubble, Humour Captured, Icy Cold, In the Moment, Inspired Art, Masterpiece: Art, Out of the Blue, Parody, Satire & Lampoon, Rain Drops, RedBubblers, Sci Fi – Multi Genre, The Eyes Have It, The Patchwork and Video Montage Group.
