Random Sketches / Artist Trading Cards

Portrait Study Completed in Corel Painter

Mother and Her New Born Baby

This recent commission was completed as a Mother's Day gift.

The under-painting/over-painting techniques was used to complete this oil painting.

Oil on Wood, 9" x 11"

 This technique was invented during the Renaissance era and is still taught in art schools today.

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On top of the stained (thinned down Van Dyke brown) primed surface an under-painting of just one color (Van Dyke brown) and white to used to render all of the lights and darks.

After the under-painting has dried. Certain areas of the painting will get a transparent coat of color such as the Mother's right arm (left side of painting) and the cloth in the background.

The areas illuminated with light or areas desired to stand out more (the baby's clothing) are coated with opaque paint. This careful play of opaque and transparent colors through out the painting will help to enhance the composition.

2nd Attempt at Corel Painter

My 2nd attempt at Corel Painter. Enjoy!

Learning Corel Painter 2015

My first attempt to create "something" in Corel Painter. With only 10 minutes of watching video tutorials and playing around with the program I dived into the program trying to create a painting. I struggled with understanding the dynamics of the paintbrushes and was really lost on why the paintbrush would keep it's "dirty color." Obviously, making it very challenging to paint since I did not know what color my brush mixed into or how to "clean the brush." Furthermore, I naively expected Corel Painter to have similar keyboard shortcuts and tools than Photoshop.

Please note that these are not a complaints,  just observed reactions and part of my learning "as I go" process.

A detail of the concluded effort on the head of the cherub.

This old master drawing was my guide while painting the sketch.

Ink Sketch of a Woman

Often times, it is the unfinished areas of art that can be just as fascinating as the finished areas. I can see the foot on the left side of the drawing being drawn in 3 attempts. The first time is very loose and quickly abandoned, the second effort is higher up than the third and final time, extending her leg to accentuate the foreshortened pose.

Detail of Sketch of a Nude Woman

I did not intend to leave this area of the drawing unfinished, but I am sure glad it is.

Ballpoint Pen on Paper