by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Digital Art, Process |
30 Paintings 30 Days, Day 20
I took some screenshots today to give you an idea of how I created today’s painting.
How this (arrow pointing up) became this (arrow pointing down)
Women in Red # 20 2014 Susan Lobb Porter
Disclaimer: I’m not going to show you all the layers and all the tools I used to make marks. I go back and forth with tools and colors so much it would make you dizzy. And there isn’t enough room in cyberland for all the screenshots that would entail.
First thing I do is choose the size canvas and resolution I want to use. It’s always white and the next thing I do is change the background color (first photo). I never paint on white. I. Just. Don’t.
After that I use a variety of digital ‘brushes’ as I scribble, erase, smudge and have a good old time making marks, just like I do when working on a real canvas.
As you can see from the screenshot, I did this in a couple of layers. I do that so I can erase into the later work and not lose all those lovely scribbles.
When I’m satisfied with all the scribbles and texture I merge the layers into one. Then I rotate the canvas iPad, looking at it from all directions to see if there’s a painting in there waiting for me.
Aha! I saw the shape of a shoulder and an arm. I opened a new layer and did a rough sketch.
Blocked in the composition.
And stuck with it during the ugly teenage stage when digital death was just a click away. Trust me, it was tempting.
But some refinements, way too many app crashes and half a bag of Pepperidge Farm to die for Coconut cookies later, Women in Red # 20 is done.
This screenshot shows the final open layers. You can see that there are three for the composition. The early layers have already been merged with the original color blocking.
The reason I open new layers as I’m working? Experimentation. If I want to try something, even a major shift in the image, working on a new layer allows me the freedom to protect what I already have. Because sometimes experiments don’t work. And when that’s the case, I can just delete ’em.
So there you have it, the condensed version of Drama in Arty Life: How I create My Digital Paintings. For those of you who have been following this blog for any time, you’ll see that the tools and technology are different but my painting technique remains pretty much the same.
That should give you a general idea of the process involved. Thoughts? Questions? Have at it in the comments below. You know how I loves me my comments!
xoxo
Technical info: This was created on an iPad 2 with the Procreate app.
by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Studio |
I love living in the country. Really do. Except for one thing…my internet connection SUCKS. Like a Hoover. Little problem with connectivity. Any static on the phone line and that’s it. By the time they send someone to check it out, and we’re talking an estimated fix-it time of weeks, well by that time it usually ends up fixing itself.
Can you hear me now, AT&T?
AARUGH…
We’re in one of those … phases right now. So I’m going to keep this short. Do a little show and tell, let you see what I’ve been working on. Open Studios is coming up in a couple of weeks and I’ve been in painting mode.
Seriously, check out these cradled boards (24×24 inches). These are just some of the ones Mr. Spouse was kind enough to whack together for me yesterday. Here they are waiting for their coat of plaster.
Mmmm…such a yummy juicy texture to paint on!
Plaster? I haven’t worked on that for awhile but it’s been calling to me again. Here’s one I finished today, still on the easel. This one’s 24 x 36 inches. Oil, oil bar, some pencil.
Meadow
Susan Lobb Porter
Oil on plastered board
Here’s a couple of close up details so you can see the layers and texture.
detail
Meadow
Susan Lobb Porter
detail
Meadow
Susan Lobb Porter
Western Nevada County Open Studios 2014 is the first two weekends of October. If you’re anywhere near northern California come on by and say hi. You can pick up a map and check out the preview show at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley.
Ahem, CFA … you gonna update the info on the website? Just askin’…
As always, if you like what you’ve seen here please share this post with your friends. I PROMISE I will do a backflip for EVERY like I get on FaceBook. A double for any shares. And then I’ll post the address where you can send flowers while I’m in traction.
MMMPH (big kisses here) xoxoxo
by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Work in Progress |
Or birthin’ a painting.
Once upon a time there was a canvas. A big puppy, 48 x 48 inches. She came into this world Artic White.
On the color charts, that is the next step below blinding.
So I fixed her good. With black. And gray. Hints of red oxide. Some pretty light blue. And all manner of marks and scratches. This is a closeup, a small sample of the overall look.
Which soon changed as I tied it all together with Titian Buff. Another small sample.
Then layers and more layers, knowing in my heart that red would play a major roll in her look. Like a slash of carmine lipstick.
This is where I left off today. I’m not finished yet. Before I left the studio I flipped the canvas upside down.
Ahhhh…that was MUCH better. The weight of the red needs to be on the bottom. You have to trust me here, the camera would not cooperate. The battery was exhausted. No lie, EXHAUSTED. That’s what the notice on the screen said.
If you have good insurance you have my blessing to crane your neck or turn your monitor upside down so you can see what I mean.
Or you can come back later in the week to see the finished painting. That’s probably a better idea.
As always, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Unless you’re complaining about your neck and/or the broken monitor….I don’t want to hear about THAT at all. 
by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Process, Work in Progress |
Been so busy lately my head is spinning. Round and round just like a ball bearing. It’s enough to make a girl dizzy. Been finishing moving out of the old studio into the new.
But Susan, didn’t you move into the new! improved! Studio Grande six months ago?
Well, yes, I did. In a half-assed sort of way. Just the necessary stuff, you know. But stuff I had no immediate use for or didn’t know what to do with, I left behind hoping it would magically go away on it’s own.
But it didn’t. And now it’s time to rent out the cottage (ka-ching! ka-ching!) so I’ve been sorting, cleaning, donating and moving things from one place to another. Now that the old studio is nearly clean enough to rent out, the new one is TOTAL chaos. Every counter, every inch of floor is covered with S.T.U.F.F.
By this afternoon I needed a sanity break. So I stopped moving and cleaning and started stepping around and over things, poking through things, finding things… cranked up the music and began PAINTING!!!
YAY!!!
Oh, YAY!!! again.
I started with the piece I showed you last time. You can see and read about it here.
Well, the first thing I did was slap some paint on that puppy. I wanted to warm it up so I grabbed some Golden Open Acrylic in Titan Buff. I glopped it on with a palette knife and then spread it thinner using all sorts of arty tools. Brayer. Squeegie. Foam brush.
I am an equal opportunity spreader.
I began adding one of the golds. Not sure which one this is, it’s a darker one, at least straight from the bottle. Lightens up when you spread it tho.
And I continued scribbling using caran d’ache and plain old pencil. Oh, pardon me, graphite.
This is where it stands tonight. More layers still to come but I’m happy where this is headed.
As always, I would love to hear from you in the comments below. I will even blow kisses to you from afar and leave you with a happy face.
Because it’s such a grownup thing to do.
by Susan Lobb Porter | Art, Inspiration, Life, Process |
Seems like EVERYWHERE I go in blogland people are talking about ‘the word’. Their word for the upcoming year. Something to focus on, to work towards incorporating into their life on a more profound basis. A word that has special meaning to them.
Well, I want on this train. I want my word. I want to doodle it on sticky notes and post them around my space. I want a journal devoted to MY WORD. One I go into with markers and fancy pens and arty making stuff.
But mostly I want to get a necklace with my word, like the ones Liz Lamoreux makes in her Etsy shop. I want one I want one I WANT ONE!!!
But first I have to have a word.
Oh.
There are approximately fifty-five gazillion words in the English language. How. Do. I. Pick. Just. ONE??? Especially one I will develop a close–no, no, not close, an intimate relationship with.
One I will write about. Dream about. Wear around my neck every day like I’m married to it.
Well, I’ve given it a lot of thought and have whittled the selection down to, umm…maybe a dozen or so worthy contenders. I’ll mull them over for awhile until one just pops out and says ME! Me me, pick ME! And when it does, I’ll let you know.
Or not. Maybe my word will be something I need to hold close as I nurture our relationship. I won’t know until I know.
Meanwhile, in reflecting on this past year, I realize my life word would have to be YES!!! Yes, followed by three exclamation points because one just isn’t enough. This was the year I said YES!!! to lots of things. In fact, I created a blog devoted to it.
And then neglected the blog for the entire month of December. I don’t know why. Taking a little break from enthusiasm, perhaps. Misplaced my YES!!! pompoms.
Whatever. I will get back to it. Soon.
But if I had to pick one word, ONE word, when it comes to art…well, that would be easy. LAYERS. I loves me my layers. Always have. But in 2012 I learned to embrace them. To flaunt them in all their juiciness. Because they take away the fear of a blank canvas. What’s to fear when you get to scribble? To make marks that aren’t going anywhere except under more paint.
And so we’ll begin the new year with a look at some layers and how they morphed into my very latest work-in-progress.
This is probably five or six layers in. Working on several canvases at a time, rocking out in Studio Grande.
This is where I left it tonight. Not quite finished but getting there. A few more details and it’s done. I’ve been dreaming about bears a lot lately. Checking over my shoulder as I’m out and about on the property, especially at night. They’re definitely on my mind. Scaring the crap out of me, actually. So I’m thinking the title of this one will be ‘She Dreams of Bears’. But maybe not. We’ll see.
Be sure to check my FaceBook page in a day or two for a photo of the finished painting.
In case you’re wondering about all the attribution on the photo, it’s because I’d like people to share and re-pin my work. And I also want people to know where it came from.
Uh-Oh, getting noisy outside. Sounds like midnight on New Year’s Eve, which it is. We sure know how to party here at the Porterosa. Mr. Spouse has been in bed since 10 and I’m sitting here writing my blog.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you all the BEST in 2013.
