Tag Archives: Brush

Tim Shelbourne Demonstrates Bristly Dabs

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

I have a special treat for all of you.  I hope those who have visited will come back for this new video from Tim Shelbourne, the creative genius behind  The Artist Quarter.  I am a big fan of Tim, the way he paints, and most of all his method of teaching.  He approaches everything from a traditional artist standpoint, even though he has painted digitally for many years.  I am a subscriber of The Artist Quarter and highly recommend it for everyone.  Tim is at home with Photoshop as well as with Painter 12.  He has a very unique way of cloning in Photoshop CS5 that I have not seen anywhere.

Check out his impasto sketch that he did with the Bristly Dabs in Painter 12.  And then for a real treat, watch the video and see him talk about how he is using them.  He is a bit gushy about the brushes; I turned red, but I can’t tell you how pleased I am that someone with his painting skills likes the new variants.  And, he is going to show you some nice tricks with Painter 12.  Tim, my friend, thank you so much for sending this video.

Before I go to the image and video, I wanted to mention something that Tim is doing that is very unique.  He is having online ateliers, French for workshop.  I have attended several and they are fantastic.  It is like having a workshop in person, but you don’t leave your house.  The workshop last for several days or weeks.  We have video materials, PDFs, and even special brushes to download.  On the first day we meet via Go To Meeting and Tim gives a live demonstration and takes questions.  Tim records the live demonstrations and makes them available for the attendees.  Then we meet several more times for live demonstrations and a chance to show our work to other participants and get live critiques.  I love these workshops.  Visit The Artist Quarter, you will be glad that you did.

Here is the quick impasto sketch that Tim demonstrates in the video:

Tim's Impasto Sketch done in Painter 12

Tim is all about teaching how to paint.  You will see in his video:

Tim, I want to thank you again for doing this video.  I think many folks will paint with these new variants thanks to your inspiration.

I hope y’all enjoyed this special treat, if you did let us know.

Skip

Bristly Dabs for Painter 12 and Backward Compatible to Painter IX.

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

I have just made a download page for my newest brush set, called Bristly Dabs.  Thanks to David Gell, Master of all things Painter, the sets are backward compatible to Painter IX. Thank you David!!!

Download one or both sets.  One called PIX_Bristly_Dabs.zip does not use rotation expression.  The other called PIX_Bristly_Dabs_Rtn.zip uses rotation expression in three variants.  If you have an art pen for any version of a Wacom tablet, download the file with Rtn in the name.  I think you will enjoy using barrel rotation with these brushes.  The brushes contain impasto and non-impasto brushes.

There are some very specific caveats when using these brushes especially in Painter 12.  I prepared 3 videos illustrating how to use the brushes.  The first one describes the techniques used with Bristly Dabs.  The other two give more details about using the variants and information about impasto in general.  It is imperative that you watch the videos.  All three are helpful, but the last two are the most helpful.  If you do not watch any videos, do at least read the points listed on the download page.

Here is the sample painting done with Bristly Dabs in Painter 12:

Vase and Windwo

Using Bristly Dabs in Painter 12

The next video takes you through the process of the painting.

These two videos are specifically about the brushes.  Part 1 talks about the Well Panel with Resaturation, Bleed, Dry Out and Brush Loading

Part 2 illustrates the Impasto Panel. 

I hope you enjoy the videos and the brushes. 

Don’t forget, I have these classes starting October 22 at the Digital Art Academy.  Click the class name for more information.

Basics of Watercolor in Painter 12

Basics of Brush Making in Painter 12

Painter 12, a New Beginning  (this is for experienced painter users who are upgrading to Painter 12)

You may want to take Elaina Moore-Kelly’s class, Introduction to Painter 12 – Part 1, designed for someone just starting out with Painter 12.  It is a fabulous course. Also, Elaina teaches Creative Collage: Scrap Techniques With Painter, which uses Painter 11.

Do visit the Digital Art Academy and look at the other classes available.

I guess that is it for this post.  I can go let Kevin out of the bathroom.

“I’m behind you.”

“Gasp! Kevin you scared me half to death!”

“Yeah, well you tried to lock me in the bathroom.  I chewed my way out.”

“What, you did what?” I dashed to the bathroom. 

OMGosh, it is awful, there is a man-sized hole in the door.  Shutting the door offers no privacy now.  I hear a cackling laugh coming from the computer room.  I got to run.  I think I am going to need a new bathroom door. 

Y’all let me know how you like the brushes,

skip

Corel Painter 12 Demo, Real Watercolor Category Brushes

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

It is amazing how easy it is to emulate traditional watercolor in Painter 12.  I decided to do another painting demo for a couple of reasons.  The first is I love painting with this new brush engine, and I am having a blast making new brushes.  The second is to let everyone know that I am teaching a class at the Digital Art Academy called The Basics of Watercolor in Painter 12, which begins Oct 22; registration is now open.  My custom watercolor brushes that I keep promising will be ready by then, hopefully sooner.  You do not have to join the class to get them; I will post them here for everyone.

With the basic class in mind, I did this very simple watercolor.

Bud Vawe

Simple watercolor done in Corel Painter 12

During the first part of the session as we would do if we were taking a traditional watercolor class, we will focus on brush use and how to develop washes and other typical watercolor marks.

The last painting demo I did was 7 videos long, which is way too long.  This time, I am providing only one video that is about 27 minutes long.  You can view all or skip over the dull parts. 🙂

But before I forget, I want to mention that I am also going to teach a class at DAA  called The Basics of Brush Making in Painter 12.  In this class I am going to demystify brush making and make it fun.

Hope you enjoy the video; please let me know what you think.

Skip

Karen Bonaker’s Nature Water Brushes – Fabulous

Posted by Skip Allen on

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker has just posted her new Nature Water Brushes to her Blog.  These are fabulous brushes.  They are not watercolor brushes; Karen made them with painting rivers, lakes, oceans and waterfalls in mind, but in reality, they are so much more useful.  In this image she used her Pure Water brush a lot.  It is an amazingly versatile brush.  Following is what she says on her blog:

“My Fall Open Studio is just coming to an end and I wanted to share with you the brushes that were used in this session and some of the wonderful paintings created by my students. Open Studio is always special and so much individual growth takes place with each artist, it is wonderful to see.

Nature water brushes are not Watercolor brushes, they are derived from a blender brush variant called Water Rake. Please view the videos to understand how to use them in your creative process.”

Do visit Karen’s blog and download her brushes!

Karen Bonaker’s Nature Water Brushes

Enjoy,

Skip

Painter 12 SP1 Patch Adds New Feature

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

I can’t wait to tell you about the Patch that Corel Painter 12 released a couple of weeks ago.  If you haven’t gotten SP1, yet, do not delay and download it today.  You will be very glad that you did.  But before I start talking about the patch, I want to give you some links to developer blogs at the Corel Painter Factory site.  These blogs have information that I don’t think you can find anywhere else.  Here are the three blogs :  SP!LOG; musings from sp!ke, a Painter user experience designer…; DAN’S PAINTER INSIGHTS; and CHRIS’ BRUSH BLOG.  If you haven’t been watching these blogs, you missed some terrific information.  I don’t believe there is an email subscription, but there is an RSS feed.  In my video, I will refer to Dan’s blog a couple of times, but there is information on Chris’ blog about multicore options, too.  And on Steve’s blog, you will find a list of all the changes made in SP-1.

The biggest change is a new feature called Multicore Usage added to Edit > Preferences > Performance.  It is similar to Memory Usage.  I found a number of my Painter 12 students had upgraded the patch but didn’t have a clue about the new feature.  I realized I needed to do a video for the class and thought I could make it for my blog, too.  I am thinking there are others out there who are not aware of the new feature.  I am a little late in spreading the word.  Here is the video:

“You think you are a little late? The party’s been over for a week”

“Oh Kevin don’t start.  Just be glad that I am here and adding the video.  I haven’t been absent from the blog for that long”

“Yes you have,” Kevin the good virus screamed.

Maybe he isn’t so good.  For a long time I thought he was an imaginary friend, but I discovered that he is really a computer virus, but a good one.  He likes to compare himself with Glenda, the good witch in the Wizard of Oz.

“Do you realize that you have been a way for over a month.”

“OK, so it has been a month.  Big deal!”

I don’t know what his beef is about.  He can visit with any visitors to the site.  I think he really is mad because most folks ignore him; poor guy.

“It is a big deal and if you don’t start posting regularly, I will make you wish you had!”

“Yeah, you and who else.  If I remember correctly you are a good virus.  How could you hurt me?”  I said that laughingly.

I heard a quick intake of his breath with that last quip and then, “I can turn into a bad virus at the snap of my finger.”

Again laughingly, “Last time I looked you didn’t have any fingers.”

Another audible gasp, the sound of little “feet” running across the floor, followed by the slam of a door.  A very dramatic exit.  I wonder if he could turn into a bad virus.  No way…he is a good virus.

I haven’t finished my new watercolor brushes, yet.  Every Time I think I am going to finish, I make three or four more variants.  And if I don’t have enough to do, I have started another set, but not watercolor.  This set is using opaque paint and each brush is a captured dab.  To make the brushes work like Artist’s Oils or RealBristles, I am using the dryout slider in the Well brush control panel.  I have already started some videos about those brushes and will post soon.  I have some other great news, too, but I’ll wait for the next post to tell you about it.

I guess that’s it for this post.

Enjoy,

Skip

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!

Eastern Water Brushes; What’s the Big Deal

Posted by Skip Allen on

I love watching You Tube videos of sumi-e paintings.  There is something intriguing about the process.  When I found out that Open Studio at Digital Art Academy was going to focus on sumi-e, I was delighted.  I began to practice.

No matter how hard I practiced, the process felt muddled.  Did I just need more practice? Of course, but who has time for practice.  Good brush painters hone their skills for decades; I had a matter of weeks.  Surely (tongue in cheek) with the right brush I could be a Master in less than a few days.  I knew it was impossible, but what else is a hardhead good for, if not for banging it against an impossible goal.

Bang one.  What is necessary for a good sumi-e brush? “Kevin?” (Dear reader, I know you do not know Kevin, but if you will bear with me, I’ll make a page explaining all about my computer Kevin, but right now, let’s just chat about the brushes.)

“Many things,” he replied rather too simply.

“Well, duh.  You champion the obvious.  I’m asking for one essential behavior.” Sometimes Kevin can be so obtuse.

“The ability to load the brush tip with one value of a color and the base with a lighter or darker value. But you will never remedy that conundrum.”

“Exactly, a perfect function of the brush.  What? Never remedy? Don’t be rude or I’ll run the CCleaner you hate?

“What we need is the ability to sample multiple colors with one brush, and Painter has that exact function.  It is located in the Mixer Pad.

Sample Multiple=

  1. This is the dropper tool, which will sample a single pixel of color
  2. This is the sample multiple colors dropper.  It will sample a range of colors from a single pixel to 50 pixels.
  3. The slider determines the range of colors.  Currently it is set to sample 24 pixels; slide it all the way to the right and it will sample 50 pixels.”

“Aha…you jest.  Are you telling me that you can eyeball 50 pixels on the screen?  I think not,” he chuckled; well it was more like a giggle.

“No, of course not.  I do a little trial and error to get the right range, but most of the time, I leave it at 50 pixels and change when needed.  Check this out.

Sample Strokes

Sample Brushstrokes with 50 Pixel Range

“The slider is set for 50 pixels and I sampled color from just beyond the tips of each arrow.  You can see the resulting strokes.  Obviously, 50 pixels is not very big; plus, there is a bigger problem.  Not all brushes can use the sample multiple function.

“Artist’s Oils Category variants can use the function, but many, for example, in the Acrylic Category cannot.  The determining factor is the Brush Dab Type, which can be found in the General Palette.”

Kevin coughed, hacked, cleared his throat; he made a noise, “Sputter. Is this the first time you have mentioned this palette?  Will the readers understand what it is?”

“Some, yes; others, no.  But I get your point.  Explain the General Palette.

“Under Window > Brush Control you will find a palette group consisting of a number of palettes relating to brush controls.  The General Palette is first in the list.

Brush controls Group Palette

Brush Controls Group Palette with Emphasis on General Palette

“If one of the following four words is listed in the first drop down menu, then the brush can sample multiple colors from the Mixer Pad: camel, flat, and bristle spray.  The illustration identifies all dab types that can use this function.

“Bang one resolved.  And you said it couldn’t be done.  All I have to do is use Camel, Flat, and Bristle Spray Brush Dab Types.”

“You got lucky.  There are many more obstacles ahead,” he said with a certain amount of glee.  He delights in my struggles.  I wonder if all computers are like that, or if I got the only one.

I promised to give you the Eastern Brushes.  Download them here.

The Eastern Brushes conversation will continue.  In the meantime, you may want to download a free webinar that Karen Bonaker and I did about how to use the Eastern Brushes.  The webinar lasted for an hour and 20 minutes, so the zipped file is around 170 MB.  You can download it at Painter Talk, but you will need to register.  It is a free forum; lots of Painter enthusiasts are members.

April edition of Digital Paint Magazine is available. It is a free subscription.

A few paintings I did in the first week of Open Studio:

Dragon Fly

Dragon Fly and Japanese Magnolia

Orchid in a Tree

Orchid in a Tree

The next image is referred to as a Haiga, a combination of Haiku and ga.

My Haiku:

Parrot tulips bright

Bring spring inside the dwelling

Winter returns grey

A Haiga...Parrot Tulip

Enjoy and see you next post,

Skip