Okay, so I had this wild idea to make something about a “dream of a church.” I wasn’t totally sure what it would be, but the phrase just stuck with me. I figured I’d try to make, I don’t know, a visual piece? Maybe a digital painting, or something along those lines.
Getting Started (and Feeling Lost)
First, I just started sketching. You know, just doodling in my notebook. I drew some basic church shapes, some stained-glass window ideas, and just kind of let my mind wander. It was all pretty messy, but that’s the point, right? To get the bad ideas out of the way.
- Drew some wonky crosses.
- Scribbled some arches that looked more like blobs.
- Tried to draw a steeple, failed miserably.
Then I thought, “Okay, let’s try to make this digital.” I opened up my graphics program, the one I usually use for messing around, and created a new canvas. Stared at a blank white screen for a good ten minutes. Total blank.
Finding Some Inspiration
So, I decided to look up some pictures of churches. You know, just to get a feel for different styles and architecture. I didn’t want to copy anything exactly, just wanted some ideas to bounce around in my head. I browsed through photos of old cathedrals, modern churches, even some ruins. It’s amazing how many different ways people have built places of worship.
Experimenting with Colors and Shapes
Back in my graphics program, I started playing with colors. I knew I wanted something dreamy, so I went for lots of purples, blues, and maybe a touch of gold. I used the basic shape tools to create some rough outlines of a church building. It looked super blocky and basic, but hey, it was a start.
I then started layering. I added some gradients to give the colors some depth, and I used some textured brushes to make it look a little less…flat. It still looked pretty amateur, but I was starting to see something that vaguely resembled a church-like shape.
Adding Details (and Almost Giving Up)
The details were the hardest part. I wanted to add some stained-glass effects, so I created some new layers and used bright, contrasting colors. I tried to make it look like light was shining through, but man, it was tough. I kept undoing and redoing things, getting frustrated that it didn’t look like the picture in my head.
At one point, I almost gave up. I thought, “This is stupid, it looks terrible.” But I took a break, walked away from the computer, and then came back with a fresh perspective. Sometimes you just need to step away for a bit, you know?
The Final Touches (and a Sense of Accomplishment)
I added a few more details, like some subtle shadows and highlights. I tweaked the colors a bit more, trying to get that dreamy vibe just right. And finally, I added a simple background, just a soft gradient to make the church stand out.
It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. But it’s something. It’s a visual representation of that “dream of a church” idea that was floating around in my head. And honestly, the process of making it was more important than the final product. It was about exploring an idea, experimenting with techniques, and just seeing what I could create. And I’m Kind of proud for doing that, feeling good.
