Just joined

[Rebecca Hemstad]

Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I wish I could write that I was a full-time artist but I'm not. I've been drawing portraits as a little girl but somehow ended up in the IT world as an adult. Since I work a lot of hours I don't get a lot of free time to paint in my home studio. I do spend a chunk of time drawing and painting on the computer (lunch time every day at the office). Usually, I'll sketch/paint a pic on the Mac or PC, and then I'll sit down and paint it in oil. Is there anyone else out there doing painting on the computer first? I only switched to oil (from airbrush) a couple of years ago. I'm still learning the medium. I appreciate this Forum because whenever I get stuck I can read the posts for help and direction and don't feel so isolated. I've attached a painting of my dad I did in Photoshop. I'm now redoing it in oil.

[Steven Sweeney]

Welcome, Rebecca,

One of my little lunch-hour passions during my "cubicle internment" days was to create crossword puzzles for sale to syndicators. Apparently I wasn't as discreet as I should have been about over-runs, because another employee -- a satirical chap and a swift draftsman -- once produced a wonderful cartoon in which my several coworkers were all bent over nose-to-grindstones, while I was depicted as sitting back in my chair, a thought balloon above my head containing a half-filled crossword grid.

I've heard that there has since been developed software that will fill words into a blank grid for you (the hard part), so that only the clues need to be written (the fun part). I never sought it out, because I rather enjoyed the hard part, even if it did get me cast in a cartoon panel (which is probably where I belong much of the time).

Anyway, I'm fascinated by what you've done in the paint program. I can say that I can't imagine how you did it, because I'm one of those owners of a powerful computer running PhotoShop 7 and all I can do is resize an image, or alter the color, brightness or contrast. The one-inch thick manual sits, spine uncracked, on the shelf with all the other intact one-inch computer manuals. Nonetheless I use the imaging software very often during the course of many paintings, taking digital photos in progress and then, after putting the paints away for the day, playing on PhotoShop with possibilities for changes or improvements to make on the canvas the next day. (And no palette to clean up!)

All that being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how you translate your digital images into oils (or whatever other medium you might choose). As I just mentioned in another thread that began with a digital painting, I'm lacking in any expertise to say anything meaningful about how a digital image shapes up under the standards, methodologies, and materials of traditional portraiture. I could make some generic comments about values and edges and the like, but until I see how you actually execute those details by hand, the comments wouldn't be very useful.

Your dad looks like quite a character. Please give us a look at the painting as you work on it.

Cheers,
Steven

[Rebecca Hemstad]

Hi, Steven.

And thanks for your welcome!

I do plan on posting the final painting for a critique - right now I'm working on the sunflowers.

I view my computer versions as sketches. I focus the most detail on those areas which I think would be the most difficult for me in the painting process, and the convenience of the undo button helps me work through it until I get it right. Sometimes I'm lazy and leave areas fuzzy or vague - and think - I'll resolve that area in paint (like the sunflowers). The last thing I want to do is end up simply copying what I've done on the computer. For me, the computer is truly a digital sketchbook.

I use Photoshop 6 and either a mac or a pc. I prefer the mac for computer drawing. I use layers/masks extensively and stick mostly with either the paintbrush or the airbrush. I only work in low resolution (72 dpi) almost final size. I don't want to make this a long post and could go on into the conceptual differences between the two (computer and traditional)-believe me there are some. I've been using Photoshop since 1992. I often use Illustrator with it. I think the secret is simply how comfortable you feel with the program. I don't think about the program - I know it inside and out. But the fundamental process is the same - start with a blank doc, and draw/paint but with a mouse.

I hope you can take the time to critique the painting when I do post it. I realize now I should probably have never posted the computer sketch since it is confusing to a lot of people but I wasn't ready yet to post a pic of the final painting in process.

If you are interested in more info on the computer side - please don't hestiate to email me.

Thanks again for the welcome.

R

Rebecca,

I think your work is top-notch. I like the idea of sketching a painting on the computer first, then using traditional media; I'll have to try that. I usually sketch in pencil first, then scan it in and paint in Photoshop, or just draw it in Photoshop from the beginning. It just depends on where I am when I get the job or the idea for a painting.

I started out using the airbrush too; then went to digital painting for my illustrations. Now I'm taking up oils for portraiture and my weak attempt at fine art.

Good luck to you. I'll be looking forward to your posts.

Don Perkins