Day 12 | Henry

“Henry”

6x6” oil ($75)

I saw this cutie on Facebook and wrote the owner asking if I could paint him.  Henry is a Boston Terrier.  If I hadn't known his name I might have titled this painting,  "Eye Got Yah!"  


Learning tip:  Knowing nothing about dogs' anatomy and painting from photographs, I am finding using a black and white photo to do the initial drawing and going back to it after I've laid color in is helping me see shapes better. 

Art tip using Procreate:

Like many artists, I sure my iPad for my photo reference when I paint.  If I print out my reference photo, I usually do it in black and white to use when I draw do I'm not distracted by color and see where I want to lay my darks and later, lights.

I've talked about the Procreate app and how it was recommended to me by both the local art store and a few artist friends.   I'm still at the beginners stage.  After watching some YouTube videos (love, love, love YouTube tutorials and all the wonderful people and artists out there who share their knowledge) on procreate basics to get me started I've been intrigued.  I'm still working on drawing thin lines with a stylus, but I'm having great fun finger painting with it!  I always learn something interesting when I'm just fooling around.  I discovered if I copied a photograph I'm planning to paint on it, I can use it as a color checker.

I've used it to work out the composition before I start painting.  This time,  I left a lot of white boarder.  Then you can touch an area on the photograph your "paint brush" will pick up that exact color.  If you are struggling with figuring out the color this will isolate it for you making it easier to see.  Take the color you have "picked up" and draw a thick line in the white boarder to see the color you are trying to figure out without the surrounding colors throwing you off. 

Day 8 | Procreate App Experiment

"A Shadow of Myself" 

Procreate "mixed media" Experiment

I couldn't paint for my Day 7, 30 in 30 so I took my iPad with me and experimented with  Procreate to do a mixed media style painting.. 

Art Tip:  Creating Art On Your iPad

Procreate is an inexpensive ($4.99!) app for your iPad.  Google it and its exciting to see all the beautiful work that can be created on this app.   It was recommended to me as a easy to use art app when I was looking for a drawing/painting tool for my iPad to use when I'm traveling and don't want to haul paint with me when I know I won't have time to paint.  That was the plan.  

I'm still in the experimental stages so I haven't really created 'paintings' with it yet, but do have fun playing with it and using it as a tool in my studio.  

While I don't use Procreate all the time, its a great way to "sketch" or work out composition and color choices before starting a painting from a photograph.  Right now, I most often use it with a painting that isn't working.  I take a photo and "paint" over it to create different versions or changes to see what they will look like and go back to the painting with fresh eyes.  

Its also a great classroom tool.  We artists are visual.  For me, many times its difficult to try to explain a visual concept to a student without showing them what the heck you are talking about.   With Procreate you can show them without touching their canvas.  Its that saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words" right at your finger tips.  You take a photo of their painting with the iPad, put in into the Procreate.  Now you can show them how to correct perspective that is off or where they should consider adding highlights or shadows.  Take a screen shoot and email it to them.   

Its finger painting for adults... without the mess and some wonderful results.  

There are lots of great YouTube tutorials to get you started. 

You can also see different artists' work and comments on a Procreate FaceBook page