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Editing Artwork with Software Apps

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Editing Artwork

It has been a very interesting practice to change my artwork with software programs of all sorts. There are many programs out there and I would challenge you to check out as many as you can. Editing artwork with software apps is a great skill to learn.

Some Editing Advice

Do not just use an automatic program to change another persons work, or to push a simple button for one change. Go beyond the filtering capabilities that today’s programs can offer. Create your own awesome artwork as much as possible. Be original. Bring the idea farther, explore what can be achieved. Sometimes all you may need to get a great result on something you have created is that one special effect that you could not get so quickly in real life. Your one painting can have many results, each as spectacular as the original.

Painting of Nude Male edited with a computer app.
Edited Study of Male Form

Procreate is a great program and is very versatile. There are illustating programs that make things even easier. Most programs will cater to a particular purpose. Knowing what you are going to do will help you decide what programs to choose. You may start a work in one program and find it won’t do something you want to do and have to open it in a different program to further edit it.

The Creative Process

Seeing a piece in another way can highlight another form inside your work, changing it so much that it will inspire you to start a new painting based on what you have seen. It is all part of the creative process. The learning curve can be rough for some, but don’t give up and go slow learning how to navigate within these programs. It has paid off for me.

Sketch of a hand that will be edited with software apps.
Original Sketch

I can try things easily, like changing colors or adding a visual element. It is so easy to plan out a composition now more than ever before. Editing art with software apps opens many possibilities. Checking values and color temperatures in a painting is now available with just a push of a button.

Artwork edited with a software app.
Edited Sketch

Using these various programs for completing a work from beginning to end is a freeing exercise. No needing to use “real” paint, mineral spirits and not having to clean brushes is great. Changing colors easily and undoing it is a very valuable tool. Traveling, hiking and work on the go has been made very convenient. Using these programs for editing artwork can be a revelation.

A continuation of artwork edited with software apps.
Continuation of Computer Editing

List of programs to get you started with editing artwork with software apps.

If you have more suggestions that you think should be on the list, drop me a note.

Thanks,

Cyn

To purchase my art on a variety of cool things visit my other art stores.

Redbubble

Society6

Zazzle

A Twenty Minute Challenge

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The Challenge

I was invited by a friend to take up a popular challenge online to produce works within 20 minutes and post them online. “The Twenty Minute Challenge” was to produce a piece of artwork within twenty minutes and I failed doing that. My topic was not something I was used to doing. I thought it would help me quickly improve that particular topic.

I love the shape of the human body, all it’s curves and subtle shapes and wanted to try to express that. Of course, trying to do a nude in 20 minutes is near impossible, there were many difficult moments of frustration. Maybe I should have done more research like reading more books on how to accomplish this and hopefully gain some tips and tricks. This one might have been good. Drawing the Female Nude (Art of Drawing)
No excuses! Throwing caution to the wind and being as brave as I could I dove in. None of these pieces were done in 20 minutes!!! Ughhhh!

This was my first 5 minute sketch.
My second 5 minute sketch.
The Female Form.

My 5 minute sketches came out okay and this was good, but that left me 15 minutes to throw some paint on there. A crazy thing for sure. It was interesting to see what happened. I liked the way her hair turned out.

The Male Form..

While the form works for me I absolutely am not keen on the color. In my opinion this one turned out the best out of 5. I may try some glazing over him to tone it down a bit.

The Male Form.

I did this digitally enhanced work with my painting and I am pleased with this one. Lots of fun playing around with it.

Challenge Conclusion

I don’t think there is anything wrong with working on these after the challenge period is over. These are studies and there really is not too much of a story in them, alternatively I found it interesting doing this.

I would take on a Twenty Minute Challenge again. While it was difficult, it was also freeing, as it allowed me to mess up, it was invaluable. In addition It was good to be more free with the brushwork and paint. While I did complete the challenge it was not always successful, but the takeaways are very useful.

Always exploring, experimenting and learning.

Cyn

To purchase my art on a variety of cool things visit my other art stores.

Redbubble

Society6

Zazzle

What am I currently working on?

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Beginning sketch on acrylic toned board.
Sketch on toned board.
Progress in the base drawing of the hourglass.
Shapes more clearly defined.
Adding lint, texture and more color.
Beginning to build up texture.
More details and other media added for interest in the golden time painting.
Golden Time
Close up of glittered sand for the hourglass.
Close up of acrylic glitter paint with lint.

Projects in the new future

I am currently working on a lot of stuff at the same time and looking forward to doing some acrylic atmospheric abstract scenes with a palette knife and cannot wait to start this series. I would love to have this set because it looks so inspiring. Ationgle Palette Knife 9 Pieces Paint Knives Set Palette Scraper Basic Painting Tools Kit with Stainless Steel Blade and Wooden Handles for Oil Acrylic Painting. I have lots of reference photos and ideas for these.  In the back of my mind I’m thinking about trying to turn some acrylic pours into something more. There has to be more to it than just a pour. So many ideas come and go or are simmering.

Plein Air Painting

Summertime is my time for plein air and travel because I love the warm weather. I don’t like lugging too many supplies around so maybe this year I will look into lightening my load. My palette of color I believe is small enough but it is all the other things. Sunscreen, water, turps, brushes, hat, bug spray, oil, garbage bag, easel, sketch pad, palette, camera/phone, snack, paper towel, wet wipes… this list seems to go on forever. I have started to try acrylic on site because of the quick drying time but am so used to oil. I can’t seem to make up my mind which Medium to use. Hopefully I think I have a plan to do several trips in the same location and use different mediums. Practice makes perfect so I think I will go do that! I kinda wish I had a whole separate set-up just for plein air painting, something lightweight maybe like this Sienna Plein Air Pochade Box, Artists Adjustable Easel and Palette Box (CT-PB-0910) – Medium.

Currently Working on On these projects

I will be working on all my sale sites and website such as https://www.zazzle.com/s/jacyncas cleaning them up, updating and adding great new art. Using all these will hopefully bring me to a point that I will have more time for creating if I set things up right.

I also have a few paintings that I consider unfinished, so I am hoping to pull them out and see what I can do. It would be nice to finish them or start all over or just decide to totally abandon them. I develop a personal relationship with each work and I need to be able to let them come to fruition and let go.

Cyn

To purchase my art on a variety of cool things visit my other art stores.

Redbubble

Society6

Zazzle

My year in review

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My year in review

My year in review is not really a year, it is more like 6 months since I have started my website. I have had an online presence on various social media sites and others like Redbubble and zazzle. therefore it will be interesting to look at this post in another 6 months. Maybe I should do a review every 6 months instead.

I continue to learn and experience new things at every corner, never getting bored. Making new friends in the art circle is absolutely essential to me and this helps a lot to avoid feeling alone. Sometimes being an artist can be isolating. It is great to have the help of peers to review my work. Old friends and new always seem to come up with great ideas and suggestions. Of course trying to get and keep a thick skin can be tough sometimes, but true friends help. They don’t tear me down, but bring me up, elevating my work in the process. Friends help teach me and I hope to discover more friends continuously.

I am happy with my progress although I wish it was faster and further along. Some progress is better than none. I certainly look forward to the future. This is partly due to the constant instant gratification we get from perusing the internet, but it is also due in part to the amount of finished pieces I have. In the future I wish to actually finish more of my pieces.

Organization

I did start the year being fairly organized and still make progress organizing more. I am hoping to make my online presence more noticeable, get more followers and learn how to wield that weapon. Making more posts on the various social platforms makes me realize I need to have more material to post.

My year in review causes me to post a picture here of an old transistor cabinet remade into an organizational tool for my tubes of paint and other odds and ends. It was exciting to be able to do this and I think it will be very useful. I can find out at a glance where each color is and what I may need to replace.

Going forward, I hope to have a larger online presence and maybe travel more. I do think travel is very good for an artist.

My Favorite Place to Create in.

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My favorite place to create in is the great outdoors. I love to hike when I can and it can be difficult to have enough supplies when doing that. It is quite a challenge but very exciting.

My Studio

I also love my mini studio at home because it has very close proximity to my kitchen and there is great light with lots of windows. Washing brushes and cleanup is made easier because of this location. Although the family and guests can see my progress and comment on my good or not so good works. It is a lesson for them all on how a painting moves from one point through what may be considered finished. As Leonardo Da Vinci said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” Knowing when to quit is half of my struggle. Everyone seems to have an opinion and I try to listen to my inner voice to decipher good advice from advice I maybe shouldn’t listen to. I think the best advice can come from fellow artists, so you should get yourself out there and network.

I remember seeing my Mother’s paintings take shape and I was taught by more absorption than actual formality. Things I just know were handed down to me without my actual knowledge. Her way of teaching me as I grew up reminds me of her “studio” in our dining room. This was just off the kitchen also. I’m sure many artists struggle with space and light, I am very lucky to have my little corner.

My Dream Studio

But just imagining a big real studio is great fun. I wonder how it would affect my art and maybe how thrilling it would be. How much more prolific I could be. How much more space would be helpful for storage of works in progress and supplies. It is wonderful to dream. Who knows maybe my dream will come true one day.

N.C. Wyeth’s studio in Pennsylvania. It is just beautiful.

Another part of N.C. Wyeth’s studio with its walls of windows. This a very short walk from his main house. This is a very special place and I can only imagine the freedom he must have had to create here.

This is something I think more creatives need. How much farther along would they be?