Sunday, January 30, 2011

Digital Painting - Animals

When painting in Photoshop one of the big challenges is to use textures. Among the most challenging is creating fur effects. I have practiced this a few times. Sometimes going for the full on cute factor. 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Tomos Moped Oil Painting

I have been really bogged down with work since the holidays and have not had time to do as much art work as I would wish.  I really want to get a big project going but have not had the time.  Frustrating - but I got to eat and pay my dues to the Irish Government so they can pay the poor bankers.  
Anyway during the last break when I got to paint I wanted to do something different . I chose my Tomos Targa moped as though I really am fond of it but I will most likely have to part with it in my next move.  In advance of this I though it would make a good subject.  It is an oil on canvas, 16 x 20".  It took about 20 hours to complete.



Other oil paintings

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Rory's Story Cubes

Rory Story Cubes

Rory's story cubes is a game played with 9 dice.  On the faces of each die are images.  The dice are thrown and the challenge is to create a story which uses all images on the upturned faces of all nine dice.  It is a lot of fun and asks people to creative in ways which most people would not ever be called upon to be.
While the game in itself is worthy just for its simplicity and uniqueness there is something else very interesting about this game.  

I heard the inventor discuss the genesis of this game.  Both he and his partner work in creative industries.  He describes how the initial idea came to him during a creative problem solving exercise he practices called Advanced Civilisation.  The principle is that you imagine a civilisation in the future where all the problems we grapple with today have been solved.
The only reference to this technique I could find was a Course called The Genius Code Personal Learning.  I have to be honest and say techniques like these I would generally dismiss but inventors reported the cubes sold 20,000 units in a few weeks.  I would say it worked for Rory!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Reuters Pictures of the Year

We have all now at least dipped our toes into 2011 and no matter what the New Year holds or has begun to deliver to all of us it is still worth while to look back on the previous year. 
One of the most evocative ways of doing this for me is to take a little time to watch the Reuters Pictures of the Year.  2010 started out will all the possibilities and promise this one has.  It has come and gone.  The images particularly the News ones have a way of translating the headlines big and small into the immediate and personal stories - good and bad.  

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Sligo Fields

This is digital painting in Photoshop of a scene I photographed the year before last.  It is a field of bailed hay.  A very rare sight now as silage making predominates and the round plastic wrapped bales are a more common site.  This was in August when it is possible to get sunlight and rain heavy clouds.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Dungeons and Dragons Do Web Comics

As comics get new a new lease of life with the proliferation of handheld screen devices Dungeons and Dragons are getting ready to foray into the world of web comics.  Even better there is an open invitation to try out for some space and exposure.  Head over to the blog artorder to find out more! Regular challenges are held there, so  be warned some of the talent on display on this site is outstanding.  See for yourself in 'Dungeon Delve'.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Stories Illustrated

I remember first seeing Daniel Lieskes work this image which was created for a CGSociety challenge.  I loved the design, the detail and of course the delicious colours used.  

 It was another image The Journey Home created for another CGSociety challenge which was an early seed of another brave and imaginative project.  Daniels graphic novel The Wormworld saga was launched on 25 December 2010.  This is the first chapter of the story.  

Go along and check it out.   Digital media and the new ways of delivering content such as the iPad  are revolutionising the graphic novel. 

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Let it snow - artfully

As the frost and snow continue here the Telegraph ranks his pick of the Telegraph ranks his top ten winter scenes. 

Limbourg Brothers - "Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry - February" (ca. 1410) was number one. You can find a copy of the image here.   The image is discussed as an example of art without shadows plus the author makes another very amusing observation, ha, ha. 

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Lunch Time Doodle

As the temperature dropped to below zero (coldest December on record).   I swapped out my usual bottled water for something hotter- tea making.  This offered a welcome subject change to the usual fruit.  This is the used tea bag - a pyramid.  About 30 minutes in Photoshop.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Reference Images Copyright

So when I am using images other than my own as  references  there is a nagging question.

The law is that copyright remains with the creator of the image unless you have an instruction from the creator saying otherwise.

Using the image as reference means I will no doubt recreate elements but how much is necessary so as not to infringe on copyright?  How derivative must the image be ? 

This has proven to be a difficult question to answer. The famous case of Rogers v Koons  demonstrates some of the key elements of infringement.  A really interesting commentary on the case is included on the American Society of Portrait Artist Site.

Big Bear Game Art

  I started creating a series of promotional art for a ficticious game.  This was to practice going through the design process.  I have foun...