Monthly Archives: April 2011

Splashing water download

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Friends,

I am trying to do a bit more with this blogging and add another download of one of my watercolor brush sets for Corel Painter 11.  Actually, there are two downloads.  One is called PIX Splashing Water and the other is called P11 Splashing Water.  Why two downloads?  Well, when I make brushes in Painter 11, they are not backward compatible to earlier versions of Painter.  David Gell , an incredible brush master for Corel Painter, has a way of making the brushes backwardly compatible, and he generously makes them compatible for me.  However, this time, there were two brushes that were using the Hard Media brush engine, which is not backwardly compatible.  To alleviate the problem, David changed the two brushes in a way that it is impossible to tell the difference from the ones that I originally made and the ones that are backwardly compatible.

So what does this mean to you? When you click on the link below, if you are using Painter 11 select the P11 Splashing Water brushes for download.  If you are using Painter IX or X, then select the PIX Splashing Water Download.  If you have all three versions, then PIX Splashing Water will work for IX, X or 11.  Or shoot, if you like, just download both.

“Now you are confusing folks,” quipped Kevin.

“Oh hey, Kevin.  I was wondering if you were going to show up.”

“Present and here to help.”

“Oh good grief,” I sighed.  “Look it isn’t really hard.  If you are working in Painter 11 and would like the set as designed, then download P11 Splashing Water.  But, if you have all three versions, you can get by with just PIX Splashing Water and you will not really miss the original design because to be honest, I can’t tell the difference after David changed the variants.”

BTW, both zip files are compatible with StudioChris Brush Manager. Here is the link for the brush downloads:

Splashing Water

Now for the next surprise.  I am experimenting with videos added to the blog.  Here are a couple that are 10 minutes long and show a bit about how I envisioned the use of the brushes.  However, I find that folks use them in very different ways than I expect, which is great.  I love to see what folks do with the brushes.

Here is the second video and it is a little longer than 10 minutes.  I didn’t demo all the brushes, but if you have any problems or questions, please feel free to add a comment and I’ll try to help in any way I can.

Well that is it for this post.  I hope it is enjoyable and useful to you.

“I’m impressed.  You did good.”

“What? Kevin you are giving me a compliment,” I replied skeptically.

“Yes, you are learning about blogging and are picking up a few new tricks.  For an old dog, that is pretty impressive.”

I don’t think I’ll answer him.  I know there is a catch here, so it is best to just leave it alone.

I just noticed something.  The second video doesn’t seem to have the HD option in the upper right corner like the first video does.  Both were done in HD format and the video press upgrade is supposed to show the videos in HD.  I have deleted the video several times, reproduced it several times, but it always posts as if it isn’t HD.  Got to figure that one out.  Anybody having the same problem?

Enjoy!

Doreen is Back!

Posted by Skip Allen on

I have several bird feeding stations in my yard and they are a delight to watch.  Two are outside my windows in my computer room, so I can watch all day.  I also have a fig tree and several pear trees.  One day last year I looked up and was shocked to see a white-tail deer near one of the feeders eating fallen pears.  She was so beautiful.  The very next day I had cracked corn and apples added to the feeding station.

To my surprise she came back and seem to really enjoy the corn and apples. I named her Doreen.  I recognized her by the nick in her right ear.

Day after day she returned and munched on corn and apples.  Of course I wanted to train her to eat out of my hand, but I live in an area where deer hunting is a favorite pastime.  I didn’t think it was a good idea to take away any fear of humans that she had.  Normally hunters can only take bucks, but we do have a doe season, too.  Bow hunters and primitive hunters can take buck or doe.

I guess Doreen felt safe visiting my feeding station.  I often wondered why no other deer came with her, so I was delighted when she brought her fawn with her.  The fawn didn’t come everyday; she came maybe two or three times a week.

Doreen and Fawn

Doreen and Fawn

At least that is what I first thought until the day Doreen brought two fawns with her.  Over the next week or two, she would bring one and sometime two of her fawns.  They were a bit skittish and so cute.  Then, OMGosh, she arrived with three fawns in tow.

Doreen and 3 fawns

I never understood why, but she seldom brought all three with her, usually just one at a time, less frequently two.  As they grew older, Doreen and all three visited, and occasionally another doe joined the group. The fawn frisked about from time to time and chased each other.  They reminded me of puppies.  Sadly, when hunting season came, they all disappeared and I haven’t seen them for months.  I know someone was still visiting the feeding station because I could see evidence of the corn and apples being eaten.

” You really missed your chance! Venison for Thanksgiving would have been so good.”

“KEVIN, shut up.  I would never hurt Doreen and her kids!,” I yelled at him.

“Come on, you have eaten venison before.  And what about those venison sausages you love?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.  Those were just packages brought over by a friend.”

“Look idiot, a deer had to die before you could eat those sausages.”

“Go away! I can’t deal with you right now.  And I especially do not want to think about eating.”

Where was I.  Oh yes…

I kept putting corn out, but less and less was eaten.  Yesterday, I was delighted to see deer approach the feeding station.  One, then two, then three.  None were Doreen and these didn’t seem quite large enough to be full grown, so I hoped they were Doreen’s fawn.  I almost hollered when I saw her; Doreen with her nicked ear approached the feeding station.  And last but not least another doe arrived.  All were still in their gray winter coats, but I suspect they will be reddish brown in no time.  I know one of Doreen’s fawn was a male, but none of these were male.  I suspect that two of the group were Doreen’s and the third was the second doe’s.  The female fawn will stay with Mom for about 2 years, but the males only hang around for a year.

I was so happy to see them.  I had worried that something may have happened to them.