Corel Painter 2016, Watercolor, Wacom On-Screen Controls

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Friends,

After my last post about using the Wacom On-screen Controls with multiple applications, I thought it might be nice to show you how I paint using Wacom’s On-screen controls.  When I demonstrate, I have tons of panels open because it is easier for the viewer, but it does clutter the screen.  I have heard some complaints about Corel Painter’s user interface being cluttered, and I have to admit it can be, but Painter is also highly customizable.  Over time, I have customized Painter a great deal and I love it.  The following three videos will give you an idea of how I paint when not demonstrating.  There is a surprise in the third video.

I paint the following image in the videos.  I call these types paintings inky landscapes.  I love working with custom watercolor variants and inky black color.  At the end of the blog I have a couple of gifts for you.  I hope you like them.

Corel Painter 2016, Custom watercolor variants

Corel Painter 2016, Custom watercolor variants

In the first video, I show how I like to create a paper texture at the top of the layer stack.  I do this to give me the illusion that I am painting on watercolor paper.  To make it easier for me, I created a script to do the task.  A script is the same thing as an action in Photoshop.  Basically, it is a series of recorded commands that can be played back.  I keep the user interface pretty clean.  OK, I better shut up before I give away the ending.  I hope you enjoy the first video.

At the end of the first video, I finished one watercolor layer.  In the second video, I add two more watercolor layers.  Papers are key to my techniques, which is obvious in the first two videos.  With real watercolors, you can adjust the variant to work with flow maps or paper textures.  I find I get subtle textures with flow maps and more aggressive textures with papers.  I love the surprises that happen.

The last video is the longest and I do the least.  I add a few lines here and there to help solidify the landscape.  I am not interested in making an image that screams landscape.  I like to leave it open for the viewer to interpret.  Oh yes, I did mention there was a surprise in the last video.  Prior to making the video, I touched base with Winifred Whitfield and asked her if she would like to sit in on the video.  She said yes.  Winifred gave me some sound advice and helpful tips.

That’s about it.  I hope you enjoy watching the watercolor painting, the use of scripts, and the Wacom on-screen controls.  Oh yes, I promised gifts.  Unfortunately, they are only for Corel Painter 2016 users.  Please do not try to load them in any other version of Painter.

Click on this link to download a zip file containing the following three files.  Inky Landscape Tools

Unzip the file and install per the following directions.

Inky Landscape.BOX, is the custom palette that I used for the painting.  To install, go to Window > Custom Palettes > Organize > and click import and navigate to where you saved the file.

Show Paper.txt is the script I used to place the currently selected paper on the canvas layer.  Be sure you are on the canvas layer when you activate it.  To install, go to Window > Scripts > and click the option button on the top right corner of the Scripts window and select Import Script from the drop down menu.

Paper Overlay.txt is the script I used to place a paper layer at the top of the layer stack.  Use the import directions I give above.

Enjoy,

Skip

 

33 responses to “Corel Painter 2016, Watercolor, Wacom On-Screen Controls”


  2. Hi Skip… Interesting demo this, thanks… and a quick Hello to Winifred… our paths have not crossed for a few years now! =)

    Just watchingthese, something I must have missed on Jitterbrush unless it has only been added in the past 18 months or so is the paper reset script… must search for that now – very useful!

    Reply

  3. I love your painting. It’s always fun and inspiring to see your creativity unfold. Thank you for including me. I sincerely love the “paper texture reveal” script you made and provided us.

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Kerry. I think of the technique as simple, since I don’t make many marks, but the painting appears very complex to me…almost busy. Once the landscape solidifies in my mind, I begin to see enormous amounts of detail. 🙂

      Reply

        • When I want something to be very simple, I usually work in a sumi-e style. The brush stroke and resulting image are both simple. But…the act of viewing becomes complex…or maybe I should say the response is complex. I am always surprised how a beautiful sumi-e image can capture my attention and hold it for a long time. This would be a fun discussion for sure.

          Reply

          • I agree, Skip. I was working with your watercolor brushes that you gave us for doing Sumi-e. I find it so challenging to keep it simple. It sounds easy, but is very hard. I’m continuing to challenge myself to just start by simplifying my abstracts. Simple in life and art is always a challenge. We’re remodeling our house. I hired a specific decorator just to make sure it stays uncomplicated. I live in Seattle. The style we like is called Pacific Northwest Asian. We have a mid century house and this style can look really wonderful if done right.

            Reply

  6. Hi Skip, Thank you so much for the Box and papers. Its so much fun learning watercolor. Have you tried Rebelle? Have a great weekend!

    Reply

  7. Hi Skip, Many years I have followed your painting that you share with so many people.It is so fantastic what you are doing. And your generosity! I do not know if you receive this but I want to thank you from Sweden, being a happy pensioner amateur painter. Thank you EvaSusanne

    2016-05-05 1:01 GMT+02:00 Skip Allen Paints :

    > Skip Allen posted: “Hello Friends, After my last post about using the > Wacom On-screen Controls with multiple applications, I thought it might be > nice to show you how I paint using Wacom’s On-screen controls. When I > demonstrate, I have tons of panels open because it is ea” >

    Reply

    • Hi Eva Susanne,
      I do get all the messages folks send to the blog. I appreciate you taking the time to write and make a comment. I love knowing that folks are reading the blog and getting something out of it. It makes me very happy.
      Thank you very much,
      skip

      Reply

  8. Hi Skip

    I have enjoyed your tutorials and advise for a couple of years and am still struggling to learn Corel Painter.

    I heard about your May 4, 2016 blog about watercolor and Wacom On-Screen Controls through one of the Facebook art groups I belong to. I found the blog very interesting from two points of view.

    First it has inspired me to look at watercoloring again. I took a course in watercoloring (with real paint and paper) a number of years ago and was quite frustrated with it. I have painted with oils for about 10 years.

    Secondly, your illustration of the use of the On-Screen Controls gave me a much greater appreciation of their use. I have a Cintiq Companion 2 but I ignored the On-Screen features because I felt it was too limiting to have to select 6 commands to use On-Screen and then have to go with the mouse to Painter menus for the others. I didn’t realize that I could use submenus!!!!! NOW the On-Screen system makes a lot of sense and I will try it.

    I have screen-captured those menus you showed to us and am trying to re-create them on my CC2.

    I would like to thank you for all you have done to assist and stimulate those of us who are still struggling with the technology.

    Reply

  9. Skip, I’m sure this is not the right place to ask you this question. I am looking for some videos and brushes you posted sometime ago and cannot tell you the name. It involved watercolor, and creating a bowl from scratch and some beautiful flowers. I remember one of the brushes created a lovely yellow “puffy” string of flowers. I thought it was on your blog but it may have even been in one of the Holiday classes. It does seem it was around the end of a year. I have searched my own brushes and cannot for the life of me come up with what I used for this project. Can you point me in a direction? I would be so very grateful.

    Betty

    Reply

  10. Wow, thanks for all the goodies, Skip. I just now got around to looking at them. For some reason I thought it was just a couple of brushes a some scripts. I’m going to go get my tablet and try out the tons of brushes. I’m watching the gradients videos. Thank you so much.

    Reply

  11. Hi Skip, thanks for the onscreen controls videos, they were very helpful. I managed to set up a very basic Radial menu, it shows up in Photoshop and the Windows desktop, but not in Painter(2015), would appreciate any suggestions, Thanks again

    Reply

    • Hello Martin, I am glad the videos were helpful. I have a question for you. How many fingers am I holding up? I’m just kidding you, but your question for me is similar and as difficult to answer. It is an excellent question and one that I could probably answer if I was in the room with you looking at your screen. I am not singling you out…everyone asks questions the same way…and I have needed to do a blog post about how to ask questions for a long time. Maybe I will finally get to it, but I am lazy. To answer your question I need a lot more information. I know you are using Windows, but it helps to know what version. I know that you are using a Wacom Tablet of some type, but again it would help to know which one…Intuos 3, 4, 5, Pro, Cintiq…and so on. I really need to know the current wacom driver you are using. But, the most important thing to tell me is what you actually did to try and get the radial menu to show up. BTW, telling me you are using Painter 2015 is helpful. At this point, all I know is you opened Painter 2015 and the radial menu isn’t showing, but I don’t know what you did to make it show up. I will be glad to try and help you find a solution if you can supply more details.
      I am not sure these posts will help, but you may want to look at them.
      Using Wacom On Screen Controls with Multiple Applications
      How I set up my Wacom 24″ Touch Cintiq for Painter 2015

      Hope they do help, but if not, please feel free to write back with more details and we can sort it out, I’m sure.
      Enjoy,
      Skip

      Reply

      • Hi Skip, I am hoping, retirement will serve for a plausible excuse :). Very much appreciate your taking the time, thank you kindly!. System details: Windows 10 Home (on quad core), Intuos5 Touch (v 6.3.16-2), PS CS3, Painter 2015. For trial purposes, and following steps in your video, I setup a very simplistic radial menu ‘Painter’ with two items ‘Edit’ and ‘New’, Edit is a radial submenu, with two items, ‘Cut’ and ‘Copy’. ‘Painter’ was mapped to the Art Pen button. When I press the button on the Art Pen, ‘Painter’ menu shows up on the Windows desktop, if I start up PS and/or Painter apps, the ‘Painter’ radial menu persists. My question (different from where I started out), which app is in focus for the menu?. I understand that for a menu item to be functional, it will need to be supported by the particular app.

        Reply

  12. This is so cool!! I’m just finding your tutorial on this today! And gifts too! Skip Allen, you truly are the best! Many, many thanks for all you do!

    Betty

    Reply

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