My main pathway to abstracting the 'normal' or 'identifiable' image is with Photographic manipulation, using either Adobe Photoshop or Paintshop Pro. My first attempts were difficult as I USED THE computer mouse as a drawing tool, however I INVESTED IN a graphics tablet and pen which afforded me the luxury of BEING ABLE TO ADD fineR detail. I begin by photographing my scource material WHICH has some particular meaning for me. I then work on a series of digital pictures from the original photographs of A chosen subject as with 'Refectory Images'. I PHOTOGRAPHED my University Refectory late in the day after other students had left. I wanted INITIALLY to express a feeling of isolation. The picture titled 'ALWAYS PRESENT' WAS ONE OF THE LAST IN THIS SERIES. I then distorted the images increasingly until I changed their meaning completely. the process of making representational images disintintegrate through various stages of digital manipulation is fascinating and exciting as I can alter their importance. The emerging, abstract forms and designs are a metamorphosis of ideas, thoughts and emotions. IT means that Something disturbing can THEN evolve in to a visualLY pleasing experience. IT IS A FORM OF easing the mind. Abstracts are not as easy to create as some people think them to be. The artist has to forget the visual imprinting of their life and experience. It is easier to paint a landscape given what is in front of us or remebered than to free the imagination from its restraints.