Artists are inspired by events in their personal lives, but how those situations or emotions are express is what separates the good artists from the great ones. John Trevino used the dislocation he felt after moving to Los Angeles as the source for his digital painting "Street Scene." Without a home of his own or a means of expressing himself through art, Trevino felt not unlike a denizen of the streets who nevertheless wants to believe that life will get better for him.

In this excerpt from "The Secrets of Award-Winning Digital Artists," you'll see how Trevino created Street Scene using Photoshop layers and Painter effects. Along the way you'll get a glimpse into his philosophy and technique, and pick up a few ideas for your own creative work.

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Excerpted from "The Secrets of Award-Winning Digital Artists" by Jeremy Sutton and Daryl Wise. Copyright © 2002 Wiley Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduced here by permission of the publisher.