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F.A.Q. Main
Image Use
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Tech Info
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| Tech Tools FAQ |
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What mediums and tools do you use to paint?I may use several different mediums, traditional and digital, to create a single piece, especially if it's one I'm doing just for myself. There have been times when I began a piece in graphite pencil as a simple doodle, only to end up inking it, coloring it in watercolor pencil and acrylic, then scanning it and adding effects digitally with my graphics tablet. I very rarely have a set plan until I have the basic composition worked out, and even then I may end up doing something entirely different in color and texture by the time it's done. That's one thing I love about art: it's completely unpredictable. For sake of discussion however, here is a list of some of my favorite tools: Favorite canvas: Smooth, heavy-weight, acid-free Bristol board. It's versatility with so many mediums is
perfect for my fickle tastes. Watercolors: Dr. Martin's Radiant Concentrated Watercolor Dyes are my favorites, followed by Windsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors. Inks: When not using technical pens, I love doing brushwork with Japanese liquid Sumi ink washes, especially on Bristol board. I do use other inks as well, but that is my favorite. Acrylic: Windsor and Newton all the way. I've tried many other brands but given the choice I always return to them. The same goes for my favorite paint brushes - I love their sables. Colored Pencil: Derwent and Conte Aquarelle watercolors. Berol Prismacolors in water and oil based sets. I was also blessed with a set of Venus watercolor pencils that my great-grandmother used when she was young (she lived to be 103, so we're talking well over 90 years ago), and I'm proud to say they're still in use today. |
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What digital art programs do you use? I started out with Photoshop, and it's nice. I've also used Painter now and then. But the heavy majority of all my digital work I do using Paint Shop Pro. I LOVE my PSP. It is without a doubt one of the most user-friendly, cost-effective and versatile paint programs on the market today, and I wouldn't be without it. |
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You mentioned a graphics tablet - what kind do you use? A 9" x 12" Wacom Intuos SE (now sold as the Intuos 2 ). This baby is the 800-pound-gorilla of my digital arsenal, and makes drawing with a traditional roller mouse seem like drawing with sidewalk chalk in comparison. A mouse has all the finesse of a brick next to the Intuos pen, and looking back on some of my early works pre-Wacom I'm honestly amazed they turned out as well as they did. Wacom tablets aren't cheap by any stretch, but you DO get what you pay for, and much, much more. I cannot recommend them highly enough! |
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How are your prints created? My prints are produced as high resolution (usually 300 dpi) ink jet prints, on heavyweight, professional grade Satin-finish Kodak Ultima photo paper. I then mount each one by hand on acid-free matboard, then sign and number each one personally. It may be matted further depending on the option purchased. By overseeing all my own printing not only helps keep the costs relatively low, but also allows me complete quality control on the final results. They are then sealed in an archival-grade Mylar bag for display, and shipped in a hard pack by US Priority Mail, unless other arrangements have been made for faster shipping. If ever any of my prints arrive damaged from the transit, just send email me to let me know and send the poor thing back to me - I will replace it free of charge. |
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Did you attend art school? Do you feel that's important? Yes I did, and to a point I do feel it's important. I attended the Art Institute of Seattle as a Visual Communications (i.e., Graphic Design) major, though I was unable to complete the degree at the time due to financial constraints. That turned out to be a mixed blessing, as I also discovered there that what I really wanted to be was an illustrator, not an advertising designer. I don't mind creating custom logos, but I didn't want to do it as a full-time career. AIS was a decent school with some very fine teachers, and I did learn some valuable information - just not what I was searching for at that time. Now, bear in mind that I also grew up with a mother who was a freelance artist and art teacher in her own right, so I did receive some private coaching from her most of my life (and I still do now and then - she sends me critiques via email) and I also took art classes throughout elementary and high school. As I mentioned in my Artist's statement, I do believe that schooling in basic technique is essential. And having a degree on your resume certainly looks impressive, though most art directors I've dealt with so far are more impressed by what you can DO more than where you went to school. But I also strongly support individual research, learning at your own pace, as there are just some things that you can really only learn by exploring on your own. The Internet has also been an incredibly valuable part of that research, with unbelievable amounts of tutorials and resources available for people from all walks of life and levels of experience. The information you can find online is often far more in keeping with current industry trends as well, since it adapts with new products and techniques as they're made available to the public. That kind of real-time training is something rarely found in a brick-and-mortar school. Personally, I've learned more about art in the last 7 years I've been online than I ever did in my previous 20 years of study and part-time freelance work. Just don't take yourself too seriously, don't be afraid to make mistakes or ask questions of artists who've gone before that you admire, don't be afraid to try something new, and especially never lose your sense of humor! |
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