Tag Archives: Holiday Open Studio

Holiday Open Studio Starts 14 Nov 2015 at Digital Art Academy

Posted by Skip Allen on

Are you ready for Holiday Open Studio Registration; I am.  OMGosh, by the looks of it, I’m really, really ready.  It all starts Saturday, 14 Nov 2015.

Santa Skip by Corel Painter Master Elite, Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter 2016

Santa Skip by Corel Painter Master Elite, Karen Bonaker, Corel Painter 2016

 

Have you registered yet?  There is still time to register before Holiday Open Studio Registration starts this coming Saturday, 14 Nov 2015.

holiday osThe instructors for this year are Corel Painter Master Elite, Karen Bonaker plus professional painter and educators, Elaina Moore-Kelly and Winifred Whitfield.  Oh…me too…I will do a bit of a song and dance the last week of the four-week class.

Karen Bonaker starts the class with Winter Trees in Snow.  Karen demonstrates watercolor, liquid ink, and how to use selections and the image portfolio to create lovely landscapes.  I am looking forward to her week; I love her artistic innovations.  Karen is always an inspiration.

Where is my peace, Watercolor, Corel Painter 2016, Corel Master Painter Elite, Karen Bonaker

Where is my Peace, Watercolor, Corel Painter 2016, Corel Master Painter Elite, Karen Bonaker

DAA closes for Thanksgiving Week, 21 – 27 Nov 2015

In the second week of class beginning 28 Nov., Elaina Moore-Kelly continues with watercolor, which is something new for her.  Since watercolor is my favorite medium, I can’t wait to learn her approach.  Elaina explains using fonts in Painter and adds creative selections to the mix.

Happy Thanksgiving, Corel Painter 2016, Elaina Moore-Kelly

Happy Thanksgiving, Corel Painter 2016, Elaina Moore-Kelly

Winifred Whitfield takes the reins in week 3 creating images inspired by Roy Lichtenstein, the American Pop Artist from the 1960s.  His work defined pop art through parody and he used comic strips as his inspirations.  He used heavy black lines, dots, checks and all sorts of patterns.  Winifred capitalizes on all aspects of Lichtenstein’s work and provides patterns and papers for your explorations.

Corel Painter 2016, Winifred Whitfield

Corel Painter 2016, Winifred Whitfield

And that brings us to week 4, my week.  I planned to demonstrate painting a poinsettia in watercolor, but that may change.  I am waffling.  I spent the last couple of months making pastel variants for Painter.  The new features in Painter 2016 add so much to the look and feel of pastel variants…so…I may switch my week to pastels…or not.  Hey…who knows, I may just do both.  Here is an example of a photograph I took while walking around my neighborhood.  I live in rural Georgia.  And following is the pastel image I did using the photograph as a reference.  It was loads of fun, but I better get with it and decide what I am doing.

Poole Road, Nikon D810, Skip Allen

Poole Road, Nikon D810, Skip Allen

And the image in pastels.

Poole Road Stream, Corel Painter 2016, Custom Pastel Variants, Skip Allen

Poole Road Stream, Corel Painter 2016, Custom Pastel Variants, Skip Allen

OK, if you have read this far, here is a bit of sad news.  Holiday Open Studio has been an annual event at the Digital Art Academy (DAA) for eight years.  But, Karen Bonaker has announced that this will be the last one.  Yes, that is right, this will be the last one.  If you have never participated in a Holiday Open Studio, then don’t miss this last one.  They are so special.  And, if you have been a regular, then do join us for a farewell to Holiday Open Studio.

OK, that’s it from Santa Skip. I hope to see all of you in the class starting Saturday, 14 Nov 2015.

Holiday Open Studio Starts November 8, 2014; Register Today

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hey Everyone,

It is that time of year again.  Holiday Open Studio, a tradition at Digital Art Academy, starts day after tomorrow, Saturday, November 8, 2014.  As usual, it will be a fun packed few weeks.  Do join us and click the link above and register for this session.

A beautiful image created by Corel Master Painter, Karen Bonaker.

A beautiful image created by Corel Master Painter, Karen Bonaker.

 

This year, I start the party with lessons on calligraphy.  OK, I’m not a calligrapher or a scribe, but I created some cool brushes and show you the basics of calligraphy.  I teach a type style called Foundational Hand, which Edward Johnson developed from a 10th century manuscript.  Want to see a quick video of me starting the alphabet with Foundational Hand.  Well, it is below, but fair warning…it is really a shameless advertisement for the class…but you do see me making part of the alphabet.

Elaina Moore-Kelly reserved the second week for an old-fashioned nostalgic look at Christmas.  She explains how to create a Christmas card that looks like a chalkboard card.  It is very cool and  this type of image is very trendy in craft circles this year.  Elaina provides written and video lessons.

Elaina Moore-Kelly's Chalkboard Christmas

Elaina Moore-Kelly’s Chalkboard Christmas

Next up is Aaron Rutten with something fascinating.  Aaron demonstrates how to paint totem art in a traditional Native American style.  Totemic art is found in cultures all around the world, which allows the student to draw inspiration from a variety of places.  Aaron encourages each student to choose their own totem animal or symbol, and paint it abstracted instead of in a realistic way.

Totem Art by Aaron Rutten

Totem Art by Aaron Rutten

Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker takes the lead for the two final weeks.  She developed a wonderful technique to create digital Japanese woodcuts.  I have seen some of her images and they are stunning.  She is very excited about the process and I can tell it will be a lot of fun.

What color is snow?  Karen tells us in her second week.  I can’t wait to find out.  I thought snow was white.  Didn’t you?  Karen paints snow scenes in a glorious rainbow of colors; after the class, we can too.

Winter Road - Digital Woodcut by Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker

Winter Road – Digital Woodcut by Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker

OK…that’s the skinny.  Check out Holiday Open Studio at the Digital Art Academy.  Register today and join us for this years seasonal fun.

Enjoy,

Skip

 

Corel Painter X3 Classes, Holiday Open Studio, Introduction to Corel Painter X3, and Natural Media Studio: Opaques’ with Tim Shelbourne Schmid brushes

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

It pleases me to announce several new Corel Painter X3 classes available for registration now.  You will love them all!

Holiday Open Studio

It is time for the Digital Art Academy’s annual Holiday Open Studio.  Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker teaches two weeks with Elaina Moore-Kelly and myself each taking a week.  Want four, fun-filled weeks full of painting Holiday Cheer?  Then do join us for this special seasonal class.  Holiday Open Studio starts November 9, 2013; closes for Thanksgiving week, and restarts on November 30, 2013.  The dates are Open November 9 – November 22; Closed November 23 – November 29; Open again November 30 – December 13.

As a teaser, here is an image by Karen. She demonstrates how to create lovely images like this one.

Image by Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker; Subject for Holiday Open Studio

Image by Corel Master Painter Karen Bonaker; Subject for Holiday Open Studio

Don’t miss Holiday Open Studio!

Introduction to Painter X3, Part 1

Elaina Moore-Kelly is well-known for her “Intro Courses for Corel Painter.”  Part 1 of her Introduction to Corel Painter X3 is open for registration.

I know, you have used Painter for a several years and you don’t need an introduction course to Painter. Or, maybe you are just starting with Painter and are utilizing all the videos you can find on You Tube or various blogs, and you don’t think you need an Introduction course.  Phooey on that.  Yes, I am telling you, the advanced user and beginner, that you are very wrong.

Corel Painter is a very complex piece of software, which means it is difficult to learn.  Time and again, experienced users surprise me with their shallow knowledge of Corel Painter.  Yes, you can get by with limited knowledge and create stunning works, but imagine what you could produce if you knew the program more intimately.  Extra knowledge improves work flow, too.  Trust me; a second look at Painter is a “win-win” situation.  The benefits you gain will more than justify the small cost of this class.  If you are a beginner, the class prepares you to properly use all the bells and whistles of Corel Painter X3.

Elaina’s classes are beautifully crafted.  The class is open enrollment, which means you can register at any time and work the assignments at your own pace.  You may download all materials and use them when needed.  Register for Introduction to Corel Painter X3, Part 1 now.

Corel Painter X3 Natural Media Studio: Opaques

Tim Shelbourne has a new class open at The Artists’ Quarter (TAQ), Corel Painter X3 Natural Media Studio: Opaques.  Tim’s classes are always top-notch and I have enjoyed taking every one of them.  This class has the added bonus of some new custom brushes created by Tim.  The brushes are fabulous.  He calls them Schmid brushes and they were inspired by the work of renowned artist, Richard Schmid.  Check out this video on FB; https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152235582763032&set=o.508369542565533&type=2&theater. 

Here is an example of an image created by Tim using his new brushes.  In class Tim will demonstrate his techniques.

Tim Shelbourne's Gunslinger, Corel Painter X3, using new Schmid brushes.

Tim Shelbourne’s Gunslinger, Corel Painter X3, using new Schmid brushes.

You will love Tim’s class: Corel Painter X3 Natural Media Studio: Opaques.

Well, that’s about it for this post.  Do take these classes; you will be glad that you did.

Enjoy,

Skip

Brush Installation Tips and Don’t Forget, Holiday Open Studio Starts Tomorrow, Still Time To Register

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everybody,

I have a couple of announcements before we get to the fun stuff, brush installation tips.

Today is my Birthday. 🙂  And look what I have been doing…working on this silly blog…LOL…actually it has been fun.

Holiday Open Studio starts at DAA tomorrow.  Registration is still open and will remain open through Saturday week, so you have plenty of time to register, but don’t wait.  Register now and start the class with the rest of us tomorrow.  You can start anytime tomorrow because the lessons are all downloadable.  There will be two live sessions; one during the first week and one during the third week.  Of course more are possible.  I like live meetings.

If you do register, one of the first things you will see is a warm-up forum.  Early registrants have been posting warm-up images using Buttery Oils, Karen’s Impressionist Sky, and a couple of other things that escape me at the moment.  I just got permission from my good friend, Kathy Pilgrim, to post her lovely Fall Excursion painting.  Isn’t it beautiful.

Kathy Pilgrim’s Fall Excursion, Painter 12.2 > Buttery Oils

To find out more and register go to Holiday Open Studio.  I hope to see y’all in class.

OK, lets talk about Corel Painter 12.1 and later brush installation.  I know, I have talked about it many times, but trust me, this is something new.  I am often asked how to install downloaded brush zip files and not in one of the new file types that Corel Painter uses to automatically install a library, category or variant.  The files in question, look like this; Name.brushlibrary, Name.brushcategory, and Name.brushvariant.  Name is the name of the library, category or variant.  But the file you have to install is Name.zip, which will not work using the new automatic installation.  What do you do?

Surprise, the two types of files are actually the same except for the extension.  That means that they are interchangeable.  Yep, that opens a whole new ballgame.  Check out the video for more information.

Well that’s it.  I hope you enjoyed the video.  Please join us in Holiday Open Studio.

Skip

Watch Me Prepare for Holiday Open Studio

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hi Gang,

In my last post, I admitted that I am just starting to prepare for Holiday Open Studio.  To prepare, I do a number of sketches of my subject.  I use a variety of photo references.  After I feel like I know my subject, then I paint the final image without references.  I will record the final image and that recording along with other tips becomes the lesson.

Woohoo, this is scary.  I have never published something like this.

I start by sketching the subject with a custom variant called Skip’s sharp pencil.  I don’t think I have ever posted it for download.  I follow the pencil sketch with a painted sketch…at least that is what I call them.  Some are OK, others are not.  Here is the image that you will see painted.  Cut me some slack; it is my first try.

Poinsettia, First Try

Here is the video.  I hope you enjoy my struggles.

UPDATE:  There appears to be something wrong with the video. I have deleted it and will repair it and post in the morning.  Sorry for the bad video.

UPDATE 2, 10/26/2012.  This morning I have tried to repair the video with no success.  I’m going to re-process and see if that will fix it.  Give me a couple of hours and I should have something.  So sorry about this problem. 

UPDATE 3, 10/26/2012:  I give up.  I have done everything I know to fix the video, but I’ve had no success.  I will be doing more of these paintings and I’ll record the next one and post.  I honestly do not know why the video flickered so violently.  There seemed to be a black frame between two good frames.  Again, I am so very sorry for the mess up.

Now I have to run and do some more stuff, so I’ll be ready for class.  Hope you join us for some Holiday fun.

Skip

Holiday Open Studio, Digital Art Academy, Registration is open!

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

It’s time for the Holidays!

It is that time of year again. And I say Yahoo! That’s right Corel Painter Master Karen Bonaker’s annual Holiday Open Studio starts November 17, 2012 and ends December 14, 2012.  You will want to register for Holiday Open Studio here.

Elaina Moore-Kelly and I will join Karen again this year.  Karen will start the class off on Week 1, with Fall Landscapes.  As usual, her demonstrations will be in Painter 12, but students can use any software they like.  Folks use Photoshop, Art Rage, and earlier versions of 12.  Both Karen and I will primarily use Buttery Oils.  Check out this beautiful painting of Karen’s using combining watercolor brushes, Bristly Dabs, and Buttery Oils.

Fall is in the Air

I love fall colors.  I am going to have fun.

Elaina has week two.  She is a card maker extraordinaire.  Elaina describes her class this way, “Wouldn’t it be great to send out your own hand-crafted cards this year? Join me this week as I demonstrate how to make and print your own unique cards while you learn how to do some crafty tricks using Painter 12.”  I hope I send cards this year.  I’ve been so bad about it for so long…sigh.  Maybe with Elaina’s help, I’ll send some this year.  Take a look at Elaina’s beautiful work.

Card from Holiday Open Studio

Week 3 and I’m up.  OK, can I be honest?  I haven’t prepared the class, yet.  I’ve started but have a bunch to do.  I know that I am going to work with Buttery Oils, as well, but no landscapes.  I’m going floral.  Still life or just floral, I’m not sure yet.  I thought it might be fun to give you a little insight into the preparations I do for a class.  I usually have to do a number of painting sketches to learn my subject.  These studies are never posted…yuck…they are just trials.  But, for fun, right after this post, I will post a video of my first practice with a poinsettia.  I think you will find it interesting.  So to see my example, check out my next post.

Karen brings Week 4 with snow scenes.  It’s a toss-up which class I’m most excited about.  I think all four will be terrific.

I know you will love Holiday Open Studio.  Remember it is for anyone, beginner to advanced users.  There is lots of sharing and we learn as much from each other as we do from the instructors.  I know I learn tons from Elaina and Karen.

Here is the link for registration again.  Holiday Open Studio.

Hope to see everyone there.  I promise you will enjoy it.  It’s like one big family.

Skip