I moved to Paducah Kentucky from California three years ago, primarily to slow the pace of my life and to capture time to pursue making art. But, as is the case sometimes, life has different plans.
I have a semi full time job that came with me from California, which thankfully, I love. I work as a data conversion programmer in the health care industry. Semi full time means I'm a contract programmer and I get work when there is overflow that the full time employees can't handle. Last year it was touch and go with extra idle time. This year it's been 45+ hours a week just trying to keep up. So, having said that, I don't have the slower pace which allows me studio time for traditional painting pursuits.
I've been thinking about how I can find bits and pieces of time to make art. What could I do in those moments between work tasks, aside from sketching in a journal? I want to feel the creative juice that flows when making art.
I recently acquired two things...an iPhone and a graphics tablet. I've just discovered that there are many programs for the iPhone that allow you to create miniature pieces of art. Tiny little applications that are very much like Photoshop or Painter where one can paint virtually through a computer interface. The graphics tablet works in the same fashion but on a much larger scale using a pen with the tablet on the computer versus a fingertip on the iPhone.
There are an amazing amount of people making art on their iPhones...and really great art in my opinion. There are also phenomenal pieces to be found that are a result of a graphics tablet in a capable person's hands.
My goal for this blog is singular, to capture my moments of creativity (whether they be good or bad) and talk about the process of making art in the digital realm.
After a week of finding moments here and there between work tasks, I've managed to compile a small amount of pieces.
I have a semi full time job that came with me from California, which thankfully, I love. I work as a data conversion programmer in the health care industry. Semi full time means I'm a contract programmer and I get work when there is overflow that the full time employees can't handle. Last year it was touch and go with extra idle time. This year it's been 45+ hours a week just trying to keep up. So, having said that, I don't have the slower pace which allows me studio time for traditional painting pursuits.
I've been thinking about how I can find bits and pieces of time to make art. What could I do in those moments between work tasks, aside from sketching in a journal? I want to feel the creative juice that flows when making art.
I recently acquired two things...an iPhone and a graphics tablet. I've just discovered that there are many programs for the iPhone that allow you to create miniature pieces of art. Tiny little applications that are very much like Photoshop or Painter where one can paint virtually through a computer interface. The graphics tablet works in the same fashion but on a much larger scale using a pen with the tablet on the computer versus a fingertip on the iPhone.
There are an amazing amount of people making art on their iPhones...and really great art in my opinion. There are also phenomenal pieces to be found that are a result of a graphics tablet in a capable person's hands.
My goal for this blog is singular, to capture my moments of creativity (whether they be good or bad) and talk about the process of making art in the digital realm.
After a week of finding moments here and there between work tasks, I've managed to compile a small amount of pieces.
iPhone brushes app: first piece
iPhone brushes app: trying to figure out the tools
iPhone brushes app: one of my girls
iPhone brushes app: another girl
So my next question was...can I really produce something in my traditional painting style using a digital interface with either a graphics tablet or my fingertip on a tiny iPhone screen? I decided to go as small as I possibly could, using the iPhone brushes app (of course the app can enlarge your image to 400 percent for easier painting). I was determined to spend time on creating a dog portrait in the style I was accustomed to. The answer to the question was...yes I can. Following is my take on one of my dearest friend's beautiful whippets, Lindy Loo:
iPhone brushes app: Lindy Loo
You sneaky thing!!! You have a BLOG! I shall shout it from the rooftops! YOU HAVE A BLOG!!! I'm going to take all the credit.
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