Sketchbook
This is my sektchbook page where I like to show some works in progress. This fall I would like to showcase a few digital pieces I have been working on, before I do so, let me admit that I have a bone to pick with those contemporary art shows that do not hold digital art categories. These shows are to me, not only antiquated, but are demonstrating a closed-minded attitude -which is an incomprehensible abberrant behavior to be practicing in the world of art. Luckily, such shows are becoming far a few between. Times are changing and all medias used to make art, should in fact, be allowed.
There are some of us who remember the times when artwork generated from photo references where "snubbed" and more recently the pictures taken with digital camers. Computers are only the next step of progression in the art world and technology isn't going away any
Digital Progression
I am creating a new piece for the first ever Shadow Horse Studios LLC print giveaway. For more information about this giveaway make sure to visit the Facebook Fanpage!
Here are the first few stages
Step 1: I scanned in a sketch of mine and then cleaned it up and darkened it and reworked it in Adobe Photoshop.
Step 2: I added a green basecolor (note this is not the background) doing this helps me plan for and visualize my color palette.
Step 3: This stage I refere to as my color bocking stage. I start choosing and blocking in the colors that I feel will work with this piece. At this time I am also deciding which direction the light is coming from and where my shadows will be.
Step 4: The color-up stage is what I call this stage. I am now working exlcusively with my chosen colors and working them into the piece. I should also mention that I design my own brushes for my Adobe Photoshop program and then load them. I have found success in using the brushes that come with Adobe but as I became more advanced with the program I began designing and loading my own brushes and actions.
Step 5: The detail stage is where I begin futher adding color and detail and blending and smudging as I go. This part is where I have fun and usually decide what is working and what isn't. I initially had the idea of a victory gallop in my mind when I first started this piece. But then I have decided I may scrap that idea as the ribbons would be on the other side;One might suggest, "well just flip the image" and while working digitally allows for this easily, it will not work because a discerning equestrienne would quickly notice that the horse would appear to be on the wrong lead due to the fact that the ribbons/rosettes are traditionally displayed on the left bridle side and victory gallops are traditionally done counter clockwise and some of the tack buckles and the way the reins lay would not be correct.
More stages to come...