RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

[Doug Nelson]

RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers
Guest Artist: Victoria Pavlov

I'm pleased to announce a the debut of a new guest artist for RetouchPRO LIVE: Victoria Pavlov.

Victoria is a professional photographer and fine artist who specializes in digital paintings. She had her first exhibition of portrait drawings at age 15, but turned to Photoshop immediately upon its introduction.

She first came to my attention when I read about her desire to see digital paintings receive the same respect afforded to those made from oils, acrylics, or watercolors. I offered RP LIVE as a possible venue to help with that, and she accepted.

On our next RetouchPRO LIVE, watch Victoria's screen as she demonstrates how to use her goto tool: Photoshop's Mixer Brush. She will then walk us through the creation of 3 different paintings. There will be no plugins or filter effects, this is actual brushwork.

She'll answer audience questions while she works.

For this show all 3 examples will be paintings derived from photographs. If there is sufficient attendance this time, she'll come back and do a show about painting from scratch (so share the registration link with your friends if you want more shows like this).

Saturday Sept. 12, 2015 3pm Central US time
(there's a timezone converter on the registration page)
Click here to register

[Doug Nelson]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

Here's the link to Paper Texture Pro
The printing service mentioned was http://www.mpix.com
Here's the link to Victoria's website

The before/after tulip images are attached

[Jensant]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

I thought the presentation by Victoria was excellent today. And Doug's questions were very relevant to questions that alot of people would like to know about with the mixer brush. Using the gradient was fascinating in her painting process. Thanks for a very enjoyable live video. This is the kind of painting that photographers can sell as most clients don't care for "really painterly" in the studio setting. Nice that she showed flowers, models and her cat as subjects. Beautiful work Victoria.
Jensant

[Doug Nelson]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

This show recording is now up on Youtube

[victoriapavlov]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

I thought the presentation by Victoria was excellent today. And Doug's questions were very relevant to questions that alot of people would like to know about with the mixer brush. Using the gradient was fascinating in her painting process. Thanks for a very enjoyable live video. This is the kind of painting that photographers can sell as most clients don't care for "really painterly" in the studio setting. Nice that she showed flowers, models and her cat as subjects. Beautiful work Victoria.
Jensant

Thank you!!!!!

[srex]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

It's too bad she wasn't able to explain more about the mixer brush. It's such a complex and powerful tool. The way she had her brush set you could have any color, not just black and white, selected and it wouldn't make any difference as her settings meant that only the paint on the canvas was wet and nothing was loading onto the brush and blending in. Doug, perhaps you can find someone to do a show on the mixer brush. Not sure I can suggest anyone or anyone that would be willing to do a show but John Derry comes to mind.

As for copyright, this could perhaps be another show as it seems to be a confusing topic. At one time I had read on iStock photo, and sorry I can't find the link, but it said that if you don't change the photo enough then the copyright stays with the photographer. That is, the original has to be adjusted so much that you can't tell where or who took the original photo. For this very reason I don't paint photographs from other photographers unless I have written permission. I spent hours painting a bridal portrait once and had the photographer demand that I put their name on my work as it still resembled their photograph. Never again.

[gregambrose]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

Wedding photographer retention of copyright on the wedding photographs is an absolute rip-off. Unfortunately, copyright remains with the photographer unless otherwise specified in a contract. Wedding photography is sufficiently cooperative that brides/grooms/couples or whoever is paying the photographer should never agree to give rights to the photographer. Their ignorance is the photographer's bliss.

[Doug Nelson]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

Speaking as a former wedding photographer, I made most of my money from reprints, etc. The actual shooting fee wouldn't make for a sustainable living, and if I'd charged enough to cover everything ahead of time no one would hire me.

But when I finally closed those doors I mailed all my negatives to the bridal couples.

[gregambrose]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

I remarked that the photographer keep the copyright unless otherwise stipulated in a contract/agreement. There is nothing wrong with a little negotiation. In most cases, most people simply sign the photographer's standard agreement not knowing of any alternative. That is the ripoff, The couple want to have a photo "painted" and the photographer pounces. So I''ve been told. the other thing that happens is that the photographer says if you want it "painted," I'll get it done and overcharges for the "service."

[cre8art]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

I thought that the tutorial with Victoria Pavalov and Doug was very enlightening and informative. I gave the mixer brush a try and found it provided a unique way to apply personal painting touches to an image. I still have not been able to find the brush Victoria used? I use PS CS6, can anyone give me a heads up as to where to find it or is there a link available to downloading it?
Thanks

[Doug Nelson]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

It's one of the brushes that comes with Photoshop, so downloading would be against copyright. But she stresses the particular brush isn't that important. An audience member provides the proper name of the brush and I shared in in the video a minute or two after Victoria shows it.

[gregambrose]

Re: RetouchPRO LIVE - Painting for Photographers

The brush is called "Per Stroke Brightness and Variance" it is among the standard Photoshop brushes. Victoria mistakenly called it "45" but 45 is simply the size of the standard brush.