The Art of Wildlife

Corey McDonald
Texas School Saturday

At a Glance

• Subject Extraction & Scene Creation: Build believable, emotionally engaging environments that elevate your wildlife images from “nice” to unforgettable.
• Creative Light Control (Dodging & Burning): Shape light and shadow to guide the viewer’s eye and add depth, drama, and realism.
• Color & Shadow Refinement: Learn how to harmonize colors and adjust shadows so every element feels naturally connected.
• Detail Enhancement Techniques: Bring out fur, feathers, texture, and expression to create striking visual impact.
• Digital Painting with Professional Brushes: Master the mixer brush and custom painting tools to blend, soften, and enhance your scenes with confidence.
• Finishing & Presentation Polish: Apply final touches that give your artwork a refined, professional, exhibition-ready look.

Class Description

What happens when you move beyond photographic documentation and into creation?

In The Art of Wildlife, Corey McDonald invites you to re-imagine your wildlife images as raw material for artistic expression. This program explores how to transform traditional photographs into painterly, emotionally driven works of art using Photoshop and custom-made brushes.

Corey will walk through his creative process—from selecting the right base image to building depth, texture, and atmosphere through digital techniques. You’ll gain insight into how he blends photography with fine art influences, using light, color, and brushwork to evoke mood and tell a deeper story.

This session is all about permission to use post-production as an art form.

Attendees will leave inspired to:
-See their wildlife images as a starting point, not a final product
-Develop a more artistic, interpretive editing style
-Experiment with custom brushes and creative Photoshop techniques
-Push beyond realism to create imagery that feels expressive and unique

Whether you’re a photographer looking to expand your creative voice or an artist curious about incorporating photographic elements into your work, this program will challenge you to think beyond the lens—and into the realm of art.