If I'm posting too many of these please tell me, as I'm enthused and want to paint everything, but can't. Finishing is the largest problem for me. When I start, I don't always know if I can do it, but after a certain point, I know it can be finished, so I stop. That's my 5 cent analysis. This is PSP, don't think I'll need the others. If you study the skin colors, you'll see they don't seem like "flesh" color your used to but they work. This I coppied from a tutorial on painting. Forgot who. If I ever get good, I want to paint one by Manet of a girl in a bar, the title is french, "bar_at_folies_bergeres" If I ever get that good, then I will be happy.

oh, it's Unfinished
greg

The background seems too crisp compared with the subject and has too much texture. I like all the folds and shadows on the subject though. Just soften up the background a bit.

-Looking good,

-T

You're getting pretty good Greg!!

Margaret

Pretty much agree with T Paul, the skin has a subdued yet almost translucent quality to it, the textured background does make it stand a little proud of the main subject. Really like the skin tones though, the whole piece has an almost sombre tone to it.

I'm glad you're enthused Greg. I might not post on many of your images, but I'm following them, and enjoying the visuals. Keep 'em coming.

Ed

I guess the texture has to go, didn't even know I had a problem there. It's just a canned texture, so easy come/easy go. Thanks for the comments guys.

Looks good Greg! It feels almost like a Rembrandt or Vermeer...you would need a bit more shadow though. I would not mind seeing it with a very dark background.

I'm posting another vs. even though this is not a tut, call it a progress report. I didn't even look to see if they are different, as they must be, because I've spent the last 2 hours on it. Sometimes I wish I were doing real oils, they smell great, but again, this would take a long time.

oh, also I found out who I'm copying, it's William Whitaker, a living artist who is amazing.


http://www.williamwhitaker.com/B_HTML_files/09_retro/GALLERY_INDEX.HTM

someone could help me out with this url and lite it up.

I don't know Greg, those old Flemish pics all dark and dreary depress me, I've wondered about them since a kid, why all the dark. Painting is about light. Sometimes I wonder if that Rembrant one with the helmet guy isn't just to show how well he can do gold metal.

I have never heard of that artist before, nice link to the gallery. You have certainly captured the essence of his style, whilst maintaining your own painterly touch:)

I have to ask, did you use another photo for reference?, I saw the front view picture of the one you are emulating, but find it remarkable that you could 'imagine' the back - either way, top job:)

Well that's funny, cause I got this one there, but never saw a front, I'll go back, I like fronts.
Thanks

Very impressed especially with the detail and shadowing in the clothing.
A lot of the darkening of old paintings is the liberal amounts of varnish applied by preservers and general deterioration over the years. Present day restorers have to tread a fine line between restoration and preservation.

and every twenty years the technology changes so they decide the restorers that went before were FOS and ruined the painting. Thanks for the comp.
greg

Thats it ! its too late then of course, ref Michaelangelo's 'Last Supper' being a typical example.

I like it Greg, the ammended version is an improvement. I would like to suggest adding a little more depth to her headress. Hey, you think I should get one of those? I love the link you've provided as well. I've not seen an of William Whittakers work before. I can see why you like it. I would love to be able to reproduce the backgrounds he uses. Any suggestions?

Lisa

Look who came to visit, the beautiful and talented photographer from Wet Canvas.
I'm still working on the head cover.
Backgrounds, different ways to do that. Fill in the subject with the surrounding colors. Make tiles or patterns from areas of it. Use Color Schemer app to get harmonious colors from your own work, and then get some big brushes and paint one.
As for your headdress, yes, as long as you send me a pic large enough to use.
G.

Well, if anyone is going to get me to pop in - it would you! I'm a double agent these days - posing as a photographer during the day..... a would be artist at night. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm really am enjoying your work.

Lisa

and another one. This a little more refined than the last, I hope. Can't get the right texture from the smudge tool. I would like it to act like a rough fabric, but alas, it acts like a polishing cloth. A different texture on the wall this time, and mostly just trying to get the folds to look correct.

Hi Fugitive, It's me, the nosy Dutch kid again...

Just out of curiosity..have you ever tried painting on real canvas with real paint?

From what I've seen of your work, it might give you some surprisingly good results and in return it will improve your skills on 'computer painting' perhaps?

Don't know how to respond to that one, you think I should go back to square 1 and start over? I did learn the old fashoned way, but haven't painted in a long time. Tool handling is different in CG because of the feel and instant results. You don't get the drag on the brush, you do on paper or canvas, and you definaitly don't have the smudge tool in real painting. Wheather I need to go back or not, it's not happening soon. And since I've only been doing this CG painting for seven months, I think I'll give it a chance to bloom.

Nope. didn't mean that you should just go back to square one... it was just a question out of curiosity, since you make so many CG paintings, I was just wondering if you ever did 'real' painting, that's all...

this is a first for me, a study to access things going on in the painting so that it may be better presented, more accurate rendering, etc. I did this study to look at color blending, to see if it could be improved, and to check for web compatability. In fact, part of the test is this posting. We're getting into very painterly stuff now, so lightweights beware.
I did a curves to darken, and a contrast increase to look for mistakes. I also wanted to test an idea of adding purple to the back area. This is quite painless with a screen cap.
To make the new color blend in properly, I took a sample of the area I was considering, then checked the SAT and Light. I then picked a purple and set the Sat and Light to the same values as the sampled color, and applied it as on this picture. The value in this lesson is this can be done anywhere. Say, your doing a colorization of Ruby Tuesday, and you want to change a gray tone to a color, measure the values, duplicate them in your color, and it should blend into your work much better than just picking a color. HTH
greg

There's still more to come, if my one fan cares. I worked last nite til after four am. It's getting close.
greg

These threads have a life of their own, I take my eye off the ball for a second and they have the momentum of a runaway train:)

Really loving the progress so far, the changes that you have made so far make the painting sing. I love the way that unexpected colours are blended in to create a believable and realistic feel.

Can I ask what mediums you choose when you are building this up? I think I can detect a pastel/chalk facet, but also paint - I thought it might be useful to others to know what your tools were in the creation of it.

Can I ask what mediums you choose when you are building this up? I think I can detect a pastel/chalk facet, but also paint - I thought it might be useful to others to know what your tools were in the creation of it. [/B][/QUOTE]

Yeah sure, PSP 7

That's not what I meant and you know it:( ;) to be clearer, I mean this, as a real artist uses certain materials, be they chalk, watercolour, oils, charcoal etc.. so the digital artist (YOU) also use certain simulated materials. In short, what did you use in this "painting"? (answers of mouse/tablet will be met with tears):)

You can't use that word here, as Doug censored me for the same word.

I really was puzzeled by ur Qs, what materials, I use a chalk brush for painting on this, but I change all the time.
I'm using a chalk setting for the smudge too, but I don't ever use the stock settings. Is that what you mean, as I sure wouldn't wanna make you cry. PSP does not have brushes for Oils, or Pastels, like Painter and PS, but it works in it's own way.

A lot of you can relate to this, is it done, did I fix every little niggling thing? Will I look at it later and hate it, probably. I usually like my stuff for a few weeks or so, and then start to dislike it. That's why I can't finish some things, they just become ugly. Anyway here it is, but I don't know if it's done, we'll see, you tell me.
Greg

I love it Greg... please say this one is a keeper and it's done!

Lisa

Wow! I'm with Lisa on this one. Please say it's finished - I can't think of what else you could do to improve it!
Jeanie

Excellent! I remember seeing this thread and admiring your first image...you have done a lot of work since then and the result is looking fantastic...an excellent use / example of chiaroscuro. :)

Beautiful Greg, well done.

Margaret

Well, I guess it's done then, thank you all for your help.
And now, it's on to the next one, oh, I think there are some lying around whining to be finished.
Chiao

Originally posted by G. Couch
Excellent! I remember seeing this thread and admiring your first image...you have done a lot of work since then and the result is looking fantastic...an excellent use / example of chiaroscuro. :)

Another art scholar, I had to look that up, but I don't think this one really fits that catagory, as I used quite a few colors.
greg

Originally posted by fugitive


Another art scholar, I had to look that up, but I don't think this one really fits that catagory, as I used quite a few colors.
greg

It fits my definition! :D I see the emphasis of your image as being the interplay of light and shadow rather than color. Regardless of semantics...the figure is exceptionally well rendered and the background reads much more like a textured paper now, than it did in the beginning. Can't wait for your next one!

Greg, this turned out stunning. I love all the folds in the clothes and the smoothness of the skin. Simply beautiful.

-T

Stunning, now, if I could just turn adjectives into greenbacks, I would be sucessful.
Thanks T.

i like it, very nice shadow work. It does remind me of Vermeer. the headdress could use a bit more work, but it is pretty good all together. I like your style.