From Photoshop 5 to GIMP and Inkscape: A Lifelong Journey in Creativity

From Photoshop 5 to GIMP and Inkscape: A Lifelong Journey in Creativity

When I was a kid, I was lucky to have parents who pushed me to grow in different ways. My dad always encouraged me to be well-rounded. He wanted me to see life as more than just one track, to pick up skills, to try sports, to read books, and to be the kind of person who could thrive in different settings.

My mom had her own style of encouragement. She could see deeply into who I am as a person. She saw my curiosity and creativity, and instead of steering me away from it, she leaned in. She gave me the room to explore new things and recognized strengths that I didn’t even realize I had.

One day, she let me use her copy of Photoshop 5. It was 1998, and the program was mind-blowing. The History palette, editable type layers, all of it. It felt like stepping into a new world. I was hooked instantly. I was glued to the screen learning how to layer, blend, and push pixels around until they looked like something fresh and alive.

That spark never went away. Today, I spend time in GIMP and Inkscape, open-source powerhouses that give me the same thrill of building something from scratch. And when I want quick assistance or AI-driven polish, I’ve found help in Fotor.

The tools have changed, but the feeling hasn’t. Every time I sit down to create, I hear my dad’s push to stay well-rounded and my mom’s encouragement to explore new territory. That balance is what keeps me moving forward, still excited to see what new tools and inspiration for Holy Spirit will allow us to create next.