These are the results of my 5 minute Daffodil experiment. 

Normally I would sketch the daffodil with pencil.

This would take approx 5 mins.

Then I would Fill in the background colours with paint.

This would take approx 10 mins.

So here is the first part of the sketch done by digital

pencil and then digital paints.

This took 3 mins to complete.

                       
                                                                                 ( Daffodil digital sketch)

The next stage of a painting would be to add some detail.

For a painting like this it would take approx 15 mins.

Here I blended the painting with Photoshop.

This took 1 minute to complete.

                        
                                                                                   (Daffodil with added detail)

And the result of my finished painting would be trimmed ready to

display with Watercolour on Watercolour pad or Acrylic on

Canvas.

I digitally added some texture. I tried different artistic styles.

This took 1 minute to complete.

First I tried making the daffodil look like it was in water…

                         
                                                                                                  (Daffodil in water)

Then I tried to make it look like it was painted on canvas…

                        
                                                                                       (Daffodil on digital canvas)

The results I found for my quick on the spot painting were:

                                Painting by hand                     Painting in Photoshop

Time taken:          30 mins - Bad                             5 mins – Excellent

As Original Art:     Excellent                                                 Bad

As a print:                Excellent                                             Excellent

So my conclusion is that Digital sketching is excellent for speed and if you are short on time. This makes it ideal if you are painting outdoors and have a laptop , a table that you can put your tablet and pen on and are within broadband signal range.

It is less messy and easier than an easel and paint but a lot less fun.

But you still cannot beat hand painting for an Original piece of Artwork, and textures.

It is possible to print digital Art onto canvas but the textures still are not as good as paint on canvas.

Okay so I know Digital Art is faster, I know that it is cleaner, I know that poster prints

are comparable to the real thing……

So now I have to experiment with the difference between thinking a crazy image up,

sketching ideas, finding the correct perspective and making the image look as realistic as possible…even if it is something wacky like a flying horse…

In the meantime I have been called upon to use my new Photoshop skills

in work…hmmmm….not sure I’m ready for that…..

(Digitally enhanced version)                              (Original Acrylic painting by Tiana Fair)

I am experimenting with Photoshop.

I like the way it can blend and highlight but I personally prefer

the texture of acrylic paints on real canvas.

Let me know what you think.

I used to sell original commissioned paintings for a high price

and then sell poster prints and prints onto real canvas at a cheaper price.

The prints were more popular than the originals which has resulted

in me experimenting with digital art,

for if the customers want prints

more than originals it does not matter if it is made from paint or

from computer technology……anyway back to playing with my new toy…

can’t wait for the pen to arrive….

and yes I did go for the cheapest pen and tablet….

I’m not spending a lot of money on something

that I may be no good at.

Have a great day following your dreams…Tiana x

 
(Watercolour Painting  ’Crystal teardrop’  by Tiana Fair)

Download of Photoshop went smoothly but now I am faced

with the challenge of mastering the controls.

I have decided to use the trial and error approach of learning

Photoshop.

I’m sure that once I know what each gadget does I will laugh

at this moment…ha ha ha

Trial and error approach has so far resulted in my work being

distorted and deleted after hours of messing about because I

pressed a couple of buttons that I shouldn’t have and cannot

undo the total destruction of the ’thing’ I created.

So now I have resigned myself to the fact that the trial and

error approach does not work with Photoshop.

Sigh! It is true what they say – it is hard at first.

I am now going to use the free Adobe on-line manuals and

You tube videos in an attempt to learn what all the pretty

buttons mean.

Ouch! my brain hurts, it actually hurts, too much information

in one go…… I’m going to lie down.

I haven’t bought the wacom tablet/pen yet, I’ll do that when

I am ready to create some serious work.

If you are also learning Photoshop – good luck to you!

- Tiana x