Although in many ways I am an artist at heart, my skills as a more traditional "artist" tend to be kind of low and limited. Sometimes I come up with something nice, or good, occasionally somewhat better than that. I have increased my digital art ability quite a bit over the last several years, and am better at that than other non-digital mediums.
I used to use Paint Shop Pro, for years, from version 2 or so to X4, but then it was sold to Corel and they kind of messed it up.
So I finally moved to PhotoShop Elements, version 7 or so, and am now using version 10. I have become somewhat proficient in its use, for the things I do, anyway. Full PhotoShop would be overkill for me, plus it's too expensive.
What I like most is exercising and expanding and strengthening and portraying my creativity, which I am much more proficient at than other 'art' areas, and am able to use it in a variety of other areas, as well, including computer programming, writing, etc.
So I engage my creativity for whatever project I am interested in doing and then attempt to create the final artistic result as well as possible to get what I first envisioned.
It's one of my small hobbies. And I think I am good enough at it now that I am fairly satisfied with what I am able to do, most of the time. I wish I had worked on my art more since I was young, because I would probably be much better at it now it than I am. But I took a more science-oriented path, finally coming back to art. Better late than never. I do wish I could draw and create things like the really good artists do, but, unfortunately, I will most probably never achieve that level of ability. Which is okay. Maybe next time around.
I particularly enjoy making web images, at which I have become somewhat proficient, in execution and content, if not always artistry and imagery.
Favourite Visual Artist
I like most of the greats, of course, old and modern; Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Geiger
Favourite Movies
All-time favorite: "The Day The Earth Stood Still" (original!); Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy, RomCom, Drama, Action-Adventure, All; Wr/Dir: Mamet, Coens, Farrellys
Favourite TV Shows
Too many to mention; Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy, RomCom, Drama, Action-Adventure
Favourite Bands / Musical Artists
Mostly "Oldies", Softer Rock, some older artists (pre-60's); Most Classical; very little current stuff; Especially: The Beatles, Enya, OK Go
Favourite Books
Almost any book, fiction and non; Sci-Fi, Horror, Time Travel, Survivalist Fiction, Speculative; Science, Technology; "Time Enough for Love", Outlander series; (I like series)
Favourite Writers
Robert Heinlein, Issac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke = The Four Grandmasters; Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, Harlan Ellison, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Philip K. Dick; Others...
Favourite Games
Board games, card games, and occasional online Flash-based or JavaScript-based games
Favourite Gaming Platform
N/A
Tools of the Trade
PhotoShop Elements 10; PHP, HTML, JavaScript, CSS; Several programming languages
Other Interests
Ecelectic; Sport Fencing (Epee & Foil), CRAV Computing (Classic/Retro/Antique/Vintage), Electronics, SteamPunk, Comedy, Writing (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Short Stories, Novels, Poetry, Screenplays), Indie Filmmaking (Writer, Director, Producer)