face #7 (2011)

face #7 (2011), a photo by kelise72 on Flickr.

size: variable
media: digital using Inspire Pro for ipad.

This is a painting over a photograph, which I then printed to transfer paper and fixed the image to a piece of canvas to be stretched over a small frame (approx 10 x 10 inches). The printed colours on the canvas are much brighter/more vibrant than seen here. I'm pretty pleased with the experiment; even though it looks like mass-produced "art" you'd find in Ikea (I sort of expected that result).

The mass-produced feel of this painting is still OK with me after seeing the finished piece...it's a "legitimate" painting in my view, even if I haven't used old-fashioned paint to create it. In this digital age, I fully anticipate digital artwork to be recognised as... well... artwork in its own right.

Sometimes with art, it's the IDEA that's important...art is not just about HOW you materialised that idea (see: Andy Warhol). i.e., Just because my painting was done on a computer doesn't make it something other than a painting... look past the screen print to see and think about the IMAGE, COLOUR, COMPOSITION and the FEELING/RESPONSE to see the ART. :)

more practice with the iPad

A. Degas, National Gallery #3 (2011), a photo by kelise72 on Flickr.

Size: variable
Media: digital (using Painting Pad for iPad)

Comparing Painting Pad vs Inspire Pro:

Painting Pad has quite a variety of mark-making implements (pencil, paint, felt-tip pen, marker, stickers) as well as different background papers.

Inspire Pro has only "paint" (no pencil or other marks) BUT you can change the size of the "brush", and can define the colour quite precisely on a colour wheel.

On both apps, you can select an image (e.g., jpg) to paint on (as a background).

Given the variety of marks, Painting Pad app is a bit more difficult to "paint" with than Inspire Pro...there is no blending feature in PP as there is in IP, so the painting feature really looks really "digital" and "singular". With IP the painting and the blending both are a little more painterly, while in PP the painting and drawing both are simply marks over top of another.

So for "painting", I prefer Inspire Pro and for "drawing" I prefer Painting Pad.

Digital. Art?

a. Monet, National Gallery #2 (2011), a photo by kelise72 on Flickr.

Yesterday I plonked myself in front of Monet's "water lillies" (Room 43, National Gallery, London), iPad and Nomad brush in hand, and had a go at copying a couple of the paintings...

First a word on the experience of painting with an electronic device -- not as easy as one might think to "get it just right". I mean, the app I used (inspire pro for iPad) *was* quite simple and easy to use...but it took a few tries to get the knack of desired mark-making, blending, loading the brush with colour, etc.

So above is my first try... I think it's not quite great, but then as with everything, painting with an iPad will just take practice.

The best thing about the afternoon though was the FUN of it, and the FUN of sharing this experience with the other museum-goers. More than one kid (and adult alike) paused to watch what I was doing, comment to each other and even ask questions (about the iPad, the app, the Nomad brush).

I think Apple might be missing out on a marketing/sponsorship opportunity here? ;) Especially since there's an Apple store in Covent Garden... hmm...

Anyway... I'm further convinced that technology is firmly a part of my art practice... either within the source material/images, the sketchbook work, or the finished piece...