Monthly Archives: August 2013

My You Tube Channel; Corel Painter X3 Artists’ Oils Brush Panel

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

I have a You Tube Channel, Skip Allen.  I started the channel because it made it easier to add videos to my blog with a link instead of processing via WordPress.  I can also make the videos true HD at 1080 p.  Most of the posts that are on the blog are also on You Tube.  BUT…not all videos on You Tube make it to the blog.  I’m finding that it is easy to answer questions found on various forums by doing a video and adding it to my You Tube channel.

I thought maybe some of the subscribers here, might like to subscribe to my You Tube channel as well.  I actually hope that you do because I plan on doing more short very specific videos there.  I do have a request to do videos about animation in Painter from a You Tube subscriber.  Something that complex would probably be posted on the blog, too, but I’m making no promises.

Following is an example of a video posted on my You Tube channel that didn’t make it to the blog until now.  If you like this video, then I would recommend subscribing to my channel.  I have 277 subscribers on You Tube and slightly over 1600 here.

I saw a question on Painter Factory specifically about the wetness slider in the Artists’ Oils brush control Panel.  After a couple of written replies it just seemed easier to answer with a video.  OK, true confessions, I would prefer to always answer with a video.  So that is what I did and provided a link to the video in the forum.  If you like this type of quick response, then I would suggest subscribing to my You Tube Channel…Skip Allen Channel.

“Why do you want a blog and a You Tube channel?”

“Oh my gosh Kevin, where have you been?”

For those who are new to my blog, Kevin is a good computer virus that lives in my computer.  He says he is like Glenda the good witch in the Wizard of Oz.  He wasn’t happy in my previous computer because it was too small.  I now have 9 TB of internal and external hard drives, so he disappears for days or months even.  He is always on my case about something.

“I’ve been here and there…no where in particular.  Why?  You don’t care,” he responded rather brusquely.

“That’s not true Kevin.  I do care…just not a lot.  I want to keep a watchful eye on you.  If you turn into a bad computer virus, I’ll be there with my trusty, virus eradicating gun.”

“Look, I asked you a question.  Are you going to answer it or should I just leave for my private island created in the bowels of external drive two?”

“Private island…in the bowels…”

“Answer the question doofus?” he shouted.

“I already said.  It is easier to link to You Tube for the blog.  I get a better resolution.  And I want to do more quick videos about a specific subject without having to come here and develop a post, check the grammar, and  post it.  I will be able to do more videos that way.”

“Who cares about your silly videos anyway?  I think it is something else.  I think you are a megalomaniacal, egocentric doofus.  Wait, I used doofus before…change that to dummy.”

“Kevin be nice.”

“I am being nice; you should have seen what I really wanted to say!”

“Come on Kevin, I’m not a bad person.”

“In the computer virus world, buddy you stink, and so do most other humans.  You kill our buddies, the evil viruses, and in the process take out a few million good viruses, too.  And you say you are not a bad person.”

“Are you sure we kill good viruses, too?”

“Look it up, it’s on the internet, which makes it true.”

“Really?  I had no idea.  That’s terrible; I don’t want to kill innocent viruses.  What can I do to make up for this horror?”

“I’ll get back with you on that one.”  Odd, he then left snickering at first, and then belly laughing until he was out of earshot.

OMGosh, I’ve been killing innocent good viruses.

Enjoy,

Skip

Painting Without Boundaries, Fall Open Studio with Karen Bonaker, Digital Art Academy

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker has announced the 2013 Fall Open Studio, Painting without Boundaries.  I can’t wait; it starts August 31, 2013, just over a short two weeks away.  You can register or get more information here:  Fall Open Studio 2013 – Painting Without Boundaries.  You cannot beat the $42.00 price tag.

I can remember when I began using Painter back in 2008, I had difficulty getting started.  I could make the software work; make strokes on the page in other words.  I could clone, but it looked like the photograph.  So, I decided to take some classes at the Digital Art Academy owned by Karen.  If memory serves, my first class was with Marilyn Sholin, which helped me understand how to get a more painterly look to my clone.  I knew I wanted to go beyond cloning, too.

I graduated from Art School with a BFA in Pottery, and I had a couple of painting classes and a lot of life drawing classes.  I wasn’t very good at two-dimensional work.  The struggle with trying to paint with Corel Painter was very real.  Then I started taking classes with Karen.  She has a knack for making painting in Corel Painter fun and not the least bit stressful.  I didn’t turn into a painter over night, but I could see big improvements the more I worked with Karen.

Take it from me, I have first hand knowledge; Karen teaches you how to paint with skill and grace.  You do not want to miss her classes.

Here are a couple of examples of Karen’s work:

Corel Painter Master Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

Corel Painter Master Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3.

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3.

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

Corel Painter Master Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

Corel Painter Master Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter X3

I love the last one, since I have a new cat, which makes two total.  Karen works in various styles…all her own.  She can jump between watercolor and chalk and then bring in oils.  If you would like to see more of Karen’s work, visit her blog, Karen Bonaker Art.

Fall Open Studio 2013, Painter without Boundaries  is for intermediate and advanced Corel Painter users.  You can use either Corel Painter 12.2 SP1 or the new Corel Painter X3 for your class assignments.  For more information and to register do go to the link provided.

Y’all hurry!  Class time will be here before you know it.  Go ahead and register; it will be the best $42.00 you have every spent.  I can’t wait for class to start and I hope to see you there.

Enjoy,

skip

Clone Source Image, Pin Point Accuracy, Corel Painter X3

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

A student asked an interesting question in my class, Discover What’s New In Corel Painter X3.  Registration for this session closed Friday evening, but the class will be offered again in a few weeks.

We know that with Corel Painter X3, we have enhanced clone features including a Clone Source Image.  We can manipulate the image in multiple ways and then save it as a new clone source, or update the current clone source, or simply discard it.  I thought you could do almost anything to the Source Image; you can.  Just check out this video.

Tony from Australia asked if we could bring in a clone source that is smaller than the original source and place it in the source image perfectly aligned.  I tried it and at first I thought it couldn’t be done, but as I played, I realized that it could be easily done.  Check out the video.

I cloned the following image in Corel Painter X3.

Ginger Lily, cloned and painted in Corel Painter X3

Ginger Lily, cloned and painted in Corel Painter X3

Hope this video was interesting and it gives you some ideas for cloning in Corel Painter X3.

Enjoy,

Skip