Today, for laughs, I opened Corel Painter Lite, and I definitely had a blast.  There is so much about the program to like.  It is mean, lean and speedy.  It paints like a dream. Anyway, I wanted to practice some stuff I have learned lately.  And Corel Painter Lite was the obvious choice.  I love taking classes, both digital painting classes and traditional painting classes.

In the traditional painting classes I always ask if I can join the class but use Corel Painter instead of real paint and brushes.  Most folks don’t mind.  Anyway, for a long time my friend and mentor, Karen Bonaker,  has been preaching value drawings, which I have resisted doing.  And another mate and mentor, Tim Shelbourne, has shouted into my deaf ear, value drawings dear boy, value drawings.  Sigh, I’m not really hard of hearing, more like hard-headed.

Then I found a school while searching the web called Tucson Art Academy.  The school also has an online school presence with online classes for traditional artists.  I checked out their online courses and found several that looked appealing.  I decided to take a course called A Painterly Approach to Street Scenes and Architecture taught by Phil Starke.  I did enjoy the class, but the fates were against me…Phil talked about value sketches and value paintings a whole bunch, just like my buds do.  Surely there is a law against such torture.

Cornered by my friends and Phil, listening to them sing the praises of value drawings and value paintings, I had no other choice but to make value sketches.  Before I forget and feel the wrath of Tim, a proper British gentleman, in the Queen’s English he reminds me that the correct term is tone not value.  Tim will not listen to my comments about how Old English is exactly what it is, old.  That’s why software comes in American English now, you know.  Oh boy, I’m really asking for it now.

Anyway, I did take Phil’s class and I used Painter 12.2 SP1.  This morning when I opened Corel Painter Lite, I was just going to mess around.  But as I started playing, I realized that Corel Painter Lite is a great program to practice making value drawings and paintings.  And why not make a video of the process.

Some of the time, I work from my imagination, other times, I use a reference photograph.  Corel Painter Lite does not have a clone options, and I’ve heard a few folks say they really miss it.  So, I decided to work with a reference; I used a photograph I shot from our upstairs deck looking at the backyard with a utility building right in the middle.  Well, the class was about scenic streets and architecture; doesn’t the utility building count?

I am a fantastic photographer…my nose just grew 3 inches.  Here is the image that I decided to use.

Exciting picture of my backyard.

I have no idea why I took this picture.  I’m pretty sure I was checking out some button on my camera.  Obviously I need to salvage the photograph making it useful for a painting.  Did I go to Photoshop, or Corel Painter 12.2? Nope, I did it in Corel Painter Lite.  Doesn’t sound so lite anymore, does it?  I think we forget from time to time, that in Corel Painter or Corel Painter Lite, we are painting.  We do not need perfect photos.  I’ve seen some incredible paintings using poorly shot cell phone camera images as references.  So the first video is about how I tweaked the photo in Corel Painter Lite.  Enjoy.

OK…photo looks good.  What’s next?  I could start my value sketch from scratch.  But I wanted to make my value sketch in a way that I didn’t have to draw or block it freehand.  I think I have a good solution.  You will have to decide for yourself.  In my second video I prepare the canvas.

Now, let’s not forget that this whole exercise is about making a value sketch followed by a value painting followed by making the finished full color painting.  The last video for today does create a value sketch.  Oh, I forgot, one other important concept that my two pals and Phil harp about is simplification.  I’m not a simple person, well maybe I am, but my paintings tend to include everything seen plus the proverbial kitchen sink.  Value sketches are a great simplification tool.  Reducing an image to 3 or 4 values definitely simplifies the image.  So instead of working with details, I am working with large shapes that have a similar value.  Value sketches are stress free because they need not be perfect copies of the reference.  I can really let go of details with a value sketch.  The third video shows how I did it.

OMGosh, I heard what you are thinking.  My value sketch is the pits.  It isn’t, I promise.  It is FANTASTIC; just wait.

I mean that, you have to wait.  See, I have this idea that maybe some of you might like to paint along.  Download the Corel Painter Lite free trial.  Go on…do it…and paint along with a photograph of your choice.  I think you will love it.

Update: I discovered today that there isn’t a free trial download for Macs, only for PCs.  The Mac version is sold through the Apple Store, not through Corel.  Sorry, I should have checked more closely.

Enjoy,

Skip

A question came from Paul via the Digital Art Gallery.  He uses Elements to make a signature and recently saw someone make a signature brush in Photoshop.  He wanted to know if you can make a signature in Painter 12.2.

Absolutely Paul, you can make a signature in Painter 12.2.  Check out this video:

Well, wouldn’t you know it.  I forgot to talk a bit about the Text Tool.  I will save covering the Text Tool in-depth for another time.

Okay, that is how I would make a signature in Painter 12.2

Enjoy,

Skip

Hello Everyone,

Before I do anything else, I would like to announce that the Digital Art Academy and Painter Talk are now back up and running.  I want to say a big thank you to Karen Bonaker, the owner and creative force behind DAA and Painter Talk.  And, I must thank Ken Foster, Karen’s IT guy, who worked tirelessly to get us back up and running.

The following video is in response to a question by Maribel about digital watercolor.  She was not getting the same results I was getting; her colors were too dark.  Thanks for the question Maribel; I hope this video helps.

Enjoy,

Skip

First, let me mention that the Digital Art Academy and Painter Talk are still down.  Hope it will be up and running today, but as I mentioned before, it was a critical server failure.

I have two videos for you in this post.  Again, I am basing these videos on reader responses.  I noticed that 2 Debs were having an interesting discussion about Wacom Drivers here.  One of the questions was very general and mentioned a problem with Wacom Driver failures.  In the discussion, directions for uninstalling and installing Wacom Drivers.  It is a very good discussion and I really like it when you guys talk to each other.

Some of the information needed is on my blog, but you wouldn’t find it just poking around.  In the first video, I show how to use the search function within the blog.

The second video is about making your Wacom Driver stick.  Please note that this is not a scientific response.  When I have a problem, I usually poke around pushing buttons.  Anyway…this tip seems to work for me; but I cannot say it will work for all PC users. This is a simple fix…do give it a try.

Search the Blog:

Make your Wacom Driver Sticky

Enjoy,

Skip

Hello Friends,

This is just a quick announcement to tell everyone that we had a critical server failure yesterday, and both Digital Art Academy and Painter Talk cannot be accessed.  We are still down as I write this note.  Expect to see us up and running later today Keep your fingers crossed and send Karen lots of positive thoughts.

Hang in there…we will be back soon,

Skip

I guess I am back.  I had planned to be back in a couple of days, but I got a note from Deb, which I felt needed answering via a video.  So here we are posting a little early.  You can read the exchange between Deb and me here.  Go to the bottom of the page; you will find her questions there.

Basically, Deb installed a couple of categories, but when she did, she couldn’t find her Painter 12 brushes anymore.  She did a shift start and that allowed her to see Painter brushes again, but not my brushes.

This is one of the most common questions I get.  Actually, I get the most questions about brushes in general.  I have decided that I am going to do a series of videos about Painter Brushes in general.  Not just installation, but everything I can think of that I might know about brushes.  I hope you enjoy them.

So, Deb, let’s start this thing off with answering your question via this video.

Enjoy,

Skip

Guess what!  We have a new tablet driver from Wacom.  Sorry, I am a few days late; the new driver was available March 18.  I did notice something strange.  Usually Wacom leaves previous drivers on the site, but for some reason, the last driver from Feb 13 has been removed.  You can find the new driver HERE.

Here is what Wacom says about the new update:

Driver supports Intuos5 (PTH),  Intuos4 (PTK) and Intuos3 (PTZ) pen tablets and the Cintiq 24HD touch, Cintiq 24HD, Cintiq22HD, Cintiq 21UX, Cintiq 13HD, Cintiq  12WX, Cintiq 20WSX, DTH-2242, DTU-2231, DTU-1931, DTU-1631 and DTU-1031 pen displays.

Save the file to your computer and then double-click on it to launch the installer.

Release Notes:

• Improved touch performance
• Fixed several issues releated to custom aplication settings
• Redesign of calibration reminder dialog
• Fixed a handedness issue with ExpressKeys
• Improved pan/scroll functionality in Autodesk SketchBook Pro 6
• Other enhancements and bug fixes
• Known limitations for Cintiq 13HD: Cintiq 13HD uses a new Wacom Display Settings utility to manage the display’s colors etc.. When Cintiq is one of multiple displays, the system display configuration must be set to “Extend these displays” while using the utility .

If you have any questions, please contact Wacom Technical Support at 800-922-6613.

A NOTE FROM ME:

I have been meaning to write a quick note about what’s going on with me.  Well, I’ve waited so long to say anything, you may already know I have taken a sabbatical from teaching for a few months.  I will be back at DAA with new classes in July.  I’m still around in the forums and in other DAA classes.  I had hoped I would have more time for my blog, but that hasn’t been the case…I seem to have less time.

Deciding what material to present on the blog is tough for me right now.  I guess it is like writer’s block.  If anyone, has a special topic that they would like to see on the blog, do let me know.  It will probably goad me into action.

OK…go get your Wacom Driver and look for classes from me around July.

Enjoy,

Skip

“Hey, don’t close.  I’ve got questions.”

“Don’t you always, Kevin?  Look, if you are going to live here rent-free, you need to make yourself invisible.”

“I am to our Public, but I’m working on being visible on the blog”

“Good grief, what next.  You said you had a question or questions.”

Kevin pumped up as good as a good virus could and asked, “Am I on sabbatical, too?”

“Bollocks to that! Go bounce around and leave me in peace.”

OK friends, that’s it for now.

Don’t forget to get your Wacom Tablet Drivers,

Skip

Painter Tutorials added a video showing Painter Freestyle using a Leap Motion controller.  The controller isn’t available yet, but google Leap Motion and you can pre-order.   It is very reasonable; I have pre-ordered.

Want to see a demo?  Check it out.

It is amazing.  I’ll be back with more posts later.  I’ve been hiding.

Enjoy,

Skip

Wacom Americas released new Tablet Drivers yesterday.  Following are the notes released:

Driver supports Intuos5 (PTH), Intuos4 (PTK) and Intuos3 (PTZ) pen tablets and the Cintiq 24HD touch, Cintiq 24HD, Cintiq22HD, Cintiq 21UX, Cintiq 12WX, Cintiq 20WSX, DTU-2231, DTU-1931 and DTU-1631 pen displays.

Save the file to your computer and then double-click on it to launch the installer.

• Improved touch performance
• Fixed several issues related to custom application settings
• Redesign of calibration reminder dialog
• Fixed a handedness issue with ExpressKeys
• Improved pan/scroll functionality in Autodesk SketchBook Pro 6
• Other enhancements and bug fixes

If you have any questions, please contact Wacom Technical Support at 800-922-6613.

You can find the drivers on the Wacom Tablet Drivers Page. 

I installed the new drivers last night, but haven’t put them through their paces.  It looks good so far.

Go get ‘em.

Skip

Yesterday, the Corel Painter team released Service Pack 1 (SP1).  It includes a number of documented bug fixes and performance optimization for the Mac and PC.  For complete information about SP1, do read the Corel Blog post by Andy Church.

Here are some of the highlights from Andy’s Post:

“The patch includes a specific performance optimization option for 64-bit Mac systems that have traditional SATA hard drives. Because Painter 12 for Mac is a 32-bit application, and the 64-bit version is still in progress, our team wanted to deliver this service pack as a sign of good faith and to let you know the Mac platform is equally important to us.”

“So what does the Mac performance optimization option deliver? The option, which is called the Mac Memory Manager, lets you take advantage of more your system’s available RAM. It also lets you control how much of your system’s RAM you want to designate to Painter. When you install the service pack, the Memory Manager is NOT enabled. For information about enabling the Memory Manager, please refer to the Read Me.”

I know this is great news for Mac users because it will definitely improve performance.  Be sure to read Andy’s blog for the rest of the information.  Painter notifies you of an update, if you have notify me of updates active.  Otherwise click here for the Service Pack.

Please, do not think this Service Pack 1 is only for Mac users; it is not.  There are bug fixes as well as the performance enhancement.  You do want to download Painter 12.2 SP1.

Enjoy,

Skip