Article By: Zak Lodhi
Combining photography with original drawings to make one imagined image
Artist Theresa Poalucci creates vivid, painterly works that begin not with automation, but with imagination. Each piece starts with photographs she has personally taken or drawings she has created by hand. These elements are then combined into a digital collage before she begins what she describes as “painting with pixels,” carefully layering color, shadow, and light to build depth and emotion.
From every brushstroke and drawing in her art studio to the landscape photos she takes, every piece of the puzzle comes together to form one cohesive painting. From being a traditional painter her whole life, to more than four decades of working as a graphic artist, Poalulcci has developed a way to combine both skills to create a collage of different art forms and translate them into her vision. Once her composition is complete, the artwork is refined using the Adobe Suite, much like using a paint palette and a set of brushes: layering, filtering, and color adjustments. It is impossible to tell which component was the artist’s photo and which was the original art that was scanned into the computer and added to the scene.
The final images are professionally produced as fine art prints on acrylic, metal, or cotton rag paper. The result is a contemporary form of painting that merges digital precision with original art.
Inspired by the colors and spirit of the Southwest, Poalucci’s work captures the region’s atmosphere, warmth, and visual energy in a distinctly modern medium. Her pieces are available through select Tucson galleries and through private commissions, and she also offers workshops on acrylic painting, acrylic flow, alcohol ink drawing, and collage. Poalucci feels everyone can be creative if they just learn a few basics. Each limited-edition print is produced in a small run of just 25 professionally printed pieces, after which the original digital painting is permanently retired. Every print is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring both its exclusivity and value. Visitors to Poalucci’s website can also discover her acrylic desert mountains on canvas, her alcohol ink drawings, and a botanical collection.
Collectors may choose between acrylic prints with a luminous high-gloss finish or metal prints with a softer matte sheen, with metal prints also suitable for outdoor patio display.
More work and information can be found at:
Email: theresa.mydirectorynw@gmail.com
Phone: 206-255-4483
