Behind the Canvas: How We Create Mixed Media & Photographic Art (part 1)

Ever wondered what goes into creating contemporary abstract art that starts digitally and ends up as a museum-quality print on your wall? The creative process behind each piece is a journey, from initial inspiration through countless iterations to the final limited edition print.

As the artists behind ooohhh.art, we’re pulling back the curtain to share how we transform ideas into the abstract compositions you see in our collection, and how our practice now spans digital mixed media and photographic art.

What is digital abstract art (and how does mixed media fit in)?

Before diving into our process, let’s clarify what digital abstract art actually means.

Digital abstract art combines traditional artistic vision with contemporary digital tools. In our studio, that usually means we blend photography, digital painting, vector illustration, and mixed media techniques into compositions that exist first as digital files, then as museum-quality limited edition prints.

Important distinction: while our compositions are created digitally, each artwork is limited to just 10 numbered editions, creating the scarcity and collectible value of traditional limited edition art.

Our creative philosophy

Every artist approaches abstract art differently. Our philosophy centers on three core principles:

1) Design-forward aesthetics

We’re artists. And we are designers. Every composition considers how it will function in real spaces. We think about color psychology, visual balance, and how pieces complement contemporary interiors.

2) Emotional resonance through color

Abstract art communicates through color, form, and composition rather than literal imagery. We obsess over color relationships—how blues create calm, how warm tones energize, how neutrals ground a space.

Each piece aims to evoke specific feelings: serenity, energy, contemplation, joy. We succeed when viewers connect emotionally without needing to “understand” what they’re seeing.

3) Limited edition integrity

We commit to editions of 10 because scarcity matters. Once a piece sells out, it’s gone forever. As emerging artists, we’re building relationships with collectors who believe in our vision. Limited editions ensure their early support gains value as we grow.

The creative process: from concept to collection

Let’s walk through how a piece moves from initial inspiration to your wall.

Phase 1: Inspiration and concept development

Every artwork begins with inspiration, sometimes a color combination, sometimes an emotion, sometimes a visual pattern we notice in the world.

Sources of inspiration:

• Nature – Organic forms, natural color palettes, textures in landscapes
• Architecture – Clean lines, geometric patterns, urban compositions
• Music – Rhythm, flow, emotional arcs translated visually
• Emotion – Capturing feelings like calm, energy, melancholy, joy
  
  And especially:
  
• Life - Anything that could come onto our path, such as meditation techniques that have a visual effect on one of us, or an experience or challenge that translates into a visual feeling. For us, certain color combinations and effects can be melancholic, almost in the way scent works for many people.
  

We keep inspiration journals, digital and physical (and mental!), collecting images, color swatches, and notes. When a concept feels compelling, we move to exploration.
In the end, some ideas take years to crystallise, and some take days. 

Examples of concept questions we ask ourselves:

• What emotion does this evoke?
• What colors will create that feeling?
• Will this work in modern interiors?
• Is the composition strong enough to stand alone?
• Does it feel authentic to our artistic voice?
  

However, these questions feel very rational. In practice we ask ourselves these questions more within our minds, it goes much more in a flow, where we run into these questions organically. Within that flow we feel if we are going the way we like to go. 

Phase 2: Digital sketching and composition

Once we have a concept, we begin digital sketching, rough compositions exploring different approaches.

Tools we use:

• Actual sketchbooks – With pencils, markers, anything that works and is around
• Adobe Photoshop – Primary tool for layering, compositing, and color work
• Adobe Illustrator – Vector elements, geometric precision, clean lines
• Photography – Original photos we manipulate and integrate
• Texture libraries – Curated collections of surfaces, patterns, materials
  
  
• AI - We have played with AI to explore and iterate and have used it as part of some of the works, however, at this moment we are leaning towards our conventional methods again because it feels more authentic for us

Compositional considerations:

• Balance – Visual weight distribution across the canvas
• Movement – How the eye travels through the piece
• Focal points – Where attention naturally lands
• Negative space – Breathing room, rest for the eye
• Color harmony – Relationships between hues, saturation, values

We create 10–20 rough compositions for each concept, narrowing to 3–5 strong candidates for further development.

Phase 3: Layering and refinement

This is where digital mixed media’s power shines. We build compositions in layers, sometimes 30–50 layers in a single piece.

Typical layer structure:

• Background foundation – Base colors, gradients, textures
• Primary elements – Main shapes, forms, or photographic components
• Secondary elements – Supporting visual elements, patterns
• Texture overlays – Grain, noise, surface quality
• Color adjustments – Selective color shifts, saturation changes
• Lighting effects – Highlights, shadows, depth
• Final refinements – Edge work, small details, polish

Each layer can be adjusted independently, changing opacity, blend modes, colors, or positions. This flexibility allows endless experimentation without destroying previous work.

Refinement process:

• Adjust color relationships for harmony
• Fine-tune contrast and visual hierarchy
• Add or remove elements to strengthen composition
• Test different color variations
• Ensure the piece works at multiple sizes
• Verify it looks good in various lighting conditions

We often step away for days, returning with fresh eyes to catch issues we missed in the intensity of creation.

Phase 4: Color calibration and testing

Color accuracy is critical. What looks perfect on our calibrated monitors must translate accurately to physical prints.

Our color workflow:

• Monitor calibration – Professional calibration tools ensure screen accuracy
• Color profile management – Working in Adobe RGB color space for maximum range
• Test prints – Small test prints to verify color translation
• Adjustments – Fine-tuning based on physical print results
• Final proof – Full-size proof print before approving for edition

This process ensures every limited edition print matches our artistic vision exactly. Color consistency across all 10 editions is non-negotiable.

Phase 5: Sizing and format decisions

We design pieces to work beautifully at multiple sizes, but each composition has optimal dimensions.

The sizes we currently offer:

• A3
• A2
• A1
  

Sidenote: We are working on new (bigger!) sizes and stunning premium framing options. So make sure to subscribe to our newsletter if you don't want to miss this.

Sizing considerations:

• Does the composition maintain impact at smaller sizes?
• Are details visible and meaningful at each size?
• Which size best serves the piece’s emotional intent?
• What price points make sense for different sizes?

Some pieces work beautifully small and intimate. Others demand large scale to achieve their full effect.

Phase 6: Limited edition production

Once we approve a composition, we produce the limited edition of 10.

Production standards:

• Printing method – Museum-quality giclée printing
• Paper – Archival, acid-free, heavyweight (typically 300gsm+)
• Inks – Archival pigment inks (100+ year lifespan)
• Color accuracy – Matches our approved proof exactly
• Quality control – We inspect every print before signing

Edition documentation:

• Each print is numbered (1/10, 2/10, etc.)
• Artist signature (both artists sign)
• Certificate of authenticity with edition details
• Archival packaging for shipping and storage

Once all 10 editions sell, the piece is permanently retired. We never reprint sold-out editions, this integrity is fundamental to our collector relationships.

Phase 7: Framing recommendations and styling

We don’t just create art and send it off, we guide collectors on presentation.

Framing guidance:

• Recommended frame styles (black, white, natural wood, metal)
• Matting suggestions (with or without, based on size and style)
• Glass recommendations (always UV-protective)
• Hanging height and placement tips

Interior styling support:

• Which rooms suit each piece best
• Color palette compatibility
• Complementary artworks for gallery walls
• Lighting recommendations

This consultation service—included free with every purchase, helps collectors display their art professionally and confidently.

The photographic side of our practice (and how it feeds the work)

Alongside our digital mixed media pieces, we’re building a body of photographic art.

Photography plays two roles in our studio:

• As source material for mixed media works (details, textures, atmosphere)
• As finished photographic artworks (where the photograph is the artwork)

A 20-year archive we keep returning to

Over the last 20 years, we’ve built an archive of thousands of photographs. When we create new pieces, we often pull from this library, sometimes in ways you’d never notice at first glance.

A photographic element might be:

• A cloud detail from a sky shot
• A strip of horizon from a beach photo
• A flower texture
• A surface, grain, or subtle color shift

Sometimes the photograph remains recognizable; often it becomes a quiet layer that adds depth, realism, or mood.

Our idea sketchbook (planning what we still want to capture)

Not everything comes from the archive. We keep an idea sketchbook where we iterate and write down ideas and plans for photographs we want to take.

That sketchbook includes:

• Places we’d like to go and explore
• Very specific shots (an exact location, a specific detail we want to capture)
• Fully worked-out studio concepts (materials, props, lighting, mood)

It’s our way of staying intentional, so when a piece needs a new photographic element, we already know what we want to shoot.

A quick note on what’s coming

Most of our photographic works aren’t published yet, because we’re building the collection and plan to start releasing it later this year.

We’ll share a deeper look into our photographic art practice in a dedicated blog post—because it deserves its own space.

The technical side: tools and techniques

For those curious about the technical aspects of our process:

Software and hardware

Primary tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom)
• Wacom tablet (pressure-sensitive digital drawing)
• Calibrated monitors (accurate color representation)
• High-resolution cameras (original photography for compositions)

Technical specifications:

• Resolution – Minimum 300 DPI at final print size
• Color space – Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB
• File formats – TIFF or PSD for maximum quality
• Bit depth – 16-bit for smooth gradients and color transitions

Techniques we use

Photomanipulation We photograph textures, landscapes, and objects, then manipulate them beyond recognition, extracting colors, forms, and moods rather than literal imagery.

Digital painting Using pressure-sensitive tablets, we paint digitally—building up colors and textures with brush strokes, like traditional painting but with infinite undo.

Vector illustration For geometric elements and crisp lines, we use vector tools—creating shapes that scale infinitely without quality loss.

Compositing Layering multiple elements—photos, painted sections, textures, vectors—into unified compositions where individual sources become invisible.

Color grading Applying sophisticated color adjustments—selective color shifts, split toning, gradient maps, to create harmonious, emotionally resonant palettes.

The emotional journey: challenges and rewards

Creating art isn’t just technical, it’s deeply emotional.

The challenges

• Self-doubt – We create, delete, recreate, question, and push through doubt constantly
• Overwhelmed - The ideas, the input and also the art-market can be overwhelming, it helps us to stay close to ourselves and to follow our path that way. 
• Balancing vision and market – Authentic but accessible is an ongoing balance
• Technical mastery – Continuous learning keeps our work evolving
• Knowing when to stop – Infinite adjustability is both blessing and curse

The rewards

• Collector connections – We’re not just selling art—we’re sharing our vision
• Creative freedom – No compromise on our aesthetic
• Seeing our work in homes – Knowing our art enhances daily life is the ultimate reward
• Building a body of work – Each piece adds to a lasting collection
  
  

What’s next: our artistic evolution

Art is never static. We’re constantly evolving, experimenting, and pushing our boundaries.

Current explorations:

• Larger formats (100x140cm)
• Extreme formats and different print mediums (Stay tuned...)
• Glass work and ooohhh design products (Long term)

Long-term vision:

We’re building careers as emerging artists, growing our collector base, and establishing ooohhh.art as a recognized name in contemporary digital mixed media and photographic art.

Experience the process yourself

Understanding how we create helps you appreciate what you’re collecting. You’re not just buying decoration, you’re investing in countless hours of creative exploration, technical mastery, and emotional expression.

Each limited edition represents our artistic vision at a specific moment in our journey. As we grow and evolve, early collectors own pieces from our emerging phase—often the most valuable in retrospect.

Ready to own a piece of our creative journey? Explore our collection, each limited to 10 numbered editions, each representing our commitment to quality, scarcity, and authentic artistic expression.

About Stevie & Basty

We’re the artists behind ooohhh.art, creating contemporary digital mixed media and photographic art for design-conscious spaces. Our backgrounds in both art and design inform every composition—resulting in pieces that are gallery-quality yet perfectly suited to contemporary interiors.

[Explore the Collection] | [Meet the Artists]