I couldn't find an appropriate thread to place this on, so I am starting a new thread. I am including an original computer painting I recently did. I have done a few, but felt I would like professional opinions on this one. Unfortunately I have had to upload a reduced size version, and with that some of the quality isn't as good as in the larger version.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

Judi

Judi:

I have to disqualify myself as a "professional," but if you're okay with few observations from an "enthusiastic amateur," read on! :) And no worries about the reduced size = loss of detail. That's understood.

Overall, I like what you've done a lot, mostly because it has absolutely no resemblance to a photo due to simplification, limiting the number of colors and hints of texturing. Detail in the eyes and especially the "wet noses" is very well done though I might tone them down just a little.

The puppy: Not sure how you could fix this, but his eye closeet to the right side of the pic doesn't seem quite right. It's a challenge, I can tell, because of the surrounding colors (mostly black).

I found the seashell-like shapes that appear the top-left, top-right background and bottom-left foreground to be distracting. I'd have preferred something similar to how you handled the foreground under the puppy's body and chin.

The digital signature is exceptionally distracting, so I'll assume when you print this you'll lower the opacity of that layer or take other steps to make it less eye catching.

Overall, this is a very strong effort, one of the best I've seen since the photo-art forum was introducted to RP just over two years ago. Well done.

~Danny~

Danny. I respect and value your opinion. I have attached an altered version following your suggestions.

The background has been altered as had the pups eye. I have also toned down the noses and the signature. I hope this has improved it. Let me know what else should be done. I have only done about 7 paintings on the computer, but this one is quite different to the others, that is why I haven't shown the others even though I have won awards for them.

Judi

Danny. I respect and value your opinion. I have attached an altered version following your suggestions.

The background has been altered as had the pups eye. I have also toned down the noses and the signature. I hope this has improved it. Let me know what else should be done. I have only done about 7 paintings on the computer, but this one is quite different to the others, that is why I haven't shown the others even though I have won awards for them.

Judi

I'd say you have taken this from great to exceptional, Judi. I can see why previous efforts have captured rewards.

Only seven computer paintings before this one? How much better can you get, Judi? :bow: You should be teaching your techniques. Really.

~Danny~

Thankyou Danny, you are too kind. I am very flattered with your encouraging words.

Judi :blush: :blush:

Judi

Is it possible to see your other works? Also, I can't seem to access your website.

Cheers
Dave

Judi, your Poppa dog is right on. Baby seems to be struggling a bit. It is awfully difficult to get highlights to look right on a black subject. Hard to photograph too.
Did you use Painter? I've just started to wade thru it. Whole lot of STUFF.
Ya' done good on the dogs.
kiska

Duv,

Sorry about the wrong site addy. I don't know why it had the au on the end. You should be able to acces it now. Go to www.finchcity.com It hasn't got my artwork on there. I am an aviculturiest and it has a lot of my birds and photography on there. I am about to revamp it so keep that in mind.

I am also in the progress of putting a portfolio website together so until that is ready for public viewing I can show you some other works on here. Due to the upload limit I will only be able to do one at a time. This attached image is my first every computer drawing. I entered it and a couple of others in a show in the computer art section, but the silly steward got his nose put out of joint because he also draws on the computer and had failed to enter any. He later admitted he bought a Adobe programme 8 years ago, but he hasn't opened it yet.....DOH!!

Anyways the steward went and moved it from the computer art section and put it up against actual paintings and lo and behold it took second. That showed him. LOL! Please excuse the signature. It wasn't on the original, but it is too early in the morning to remove it.

Enjoy!!

Judi

Kiska

Thankyou for your kind comments. I did have a rough time with the pup. I didn't use filters. My preferred tools are airbrush, softening tool and the smudge brush with different types of brushes. I also work with many, many layers. This enables me to manipulate and work with any section at any time without disturbing the other areas, especially when you are working with the smudge brush. For example, I might want to smudge the father dog near the pups back. Without layers I wouldn't be able to do this without affecting the pup itself.

I have just managed to get quite a few accessories for the impressionist filter, but until I fully get the hang of it I am reluctant to use it in my paintings. I am a bit of a perfectionist so until I am comfortable with things I won't use them in a serious fashion.

What 'Painter' are you referring to. I might know it as something else. Us Aussies tend to use different terminology sometimes.

Judi

It's Corel Painter 8. I have a mac, so I don't get to play with alot of the plugins.
kiska

Kiska

Ahhh, okay thankyou for explaining that to me. I do have CorelPainter 8 trial version on my system along with many other different programs. I have had a look at it but I have to admit, I prefer to use PSP and Adobe. PSP being the favourite of the two.

I use a lot of plugins, I see them as the jewels of the computer art. But with my paintings I either use no plug-ins or a lot of plug-ins depending on the piece of am doing.

Here is another different style painting. While the previous two didn't use plug-ins, with this one I did. Again, please keep in mind these are reduced down due to upload limits.

Judi

Wow! You certainly are diverse in your artistic approaches. I'm impressed.
kiska

Thankyou Kiska. I do enjoy my work, thankfully. Many people can't say that about their occupation unfortunately. There should be more enjoyable ways out there to earn an income.

Judi

Kitacat, the second set of dogs is much better than the first. The distracting background is gone. The dogs are still "abstracted" but not so much that it takes away from their personalities and breed. This looks like a lot of time and effort was put into it. I would be proud to hang a print of that in my living room; but sadly (cough cough) I'm a cat person. :) Very nice work. You need to describe your techniques in detail for those of us who are painterly challenged.

Thanks Janet. I have written a tutorial on painting, but it really is just using basic tools. There are no plugins used in this type of painting. Your paintbrush/airbrush/retouch and pen tools are all you really need. You can use other effects later such as gaussian blur but that is really only used for the background.

I also am a cat person, but haven't done a painting of cats in a couple of decades, so I suppose that will be one of my next challenges. LOL!!

Judi