My name is Patty Maher, and I am a conceptual photographer from Ontario, Canada. I use photoshop to create surreal conceptual photography. This year, during lockdown due to COVID-19, I spent my spare time creating this series of self-portraits called "The Alchemy of Being." It is a series about the process of creativity that was inspired, in part, by Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Big Magic."

Like so many people around the world, I have found this year to be both stressful and extremely difficult. As a way to combat those feelings, I decided to create a lighthearted series with bright colors and whimsical subjects. I live in the countryside, so I was able to find isolated places to take these photos, and in some cases, I superimposed subjects into the backgrounds using photoshop.

This series celebrates the joy of imagination and the magical things that can happen when we allow ourselves to become immersed in a world of our own creation. Working on each of these photos allowed me some respite from the isolation and stress of the year, and helped me to feel more balanced and positive. I have always found creating art to be a magical endeavor, and this year, it is what has gotten me through the darkest moments.

I hope you enjoy this series and I hope you are keeping safe, well, and happy wherever you are in the world!

More info: Instagram | pattymaher.com | twitter.com