|
Post by ronmiller on Jan 20, 2020 14:30:01 GMT
Happily, I was able to recreate the lost cover. Since so much of the time spent on the original was in finding materials and experimenting, I didn't have to do all of that over again. Whew! Anyway, here is the finished art along with the reference photo I used. As usual, it was something from my files (the same girl as in the previous cover, in a different costume). The background is made up of bits and pieces from a couple of astronomical illustrations I had done for a magazine (I've included one of them here). The zither came from a book on musical instruments.
|
|
|
Post by ronmiller on Jan 20, 2020 16:58:03 GMT
Ron, I think it's fascinating the way you bring all the different elements together in order to create a brilliant cover. It must take hours and I really feel for you after you lost one of your designs. Also I have been studying your excellent painting and wondered what media you used to paint it? Yes, it does take quite some time. When putting together something composed of numerous separate elements, it is really, really important to make sure that everything winds up looking like one picture and not a random collage. So a lot of attention has to be spent with (especially) color and light & shadow.
|
|
|
Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jan 20, 2020 17:17:21 GMT
The covers Ron and other talented artists create are a lot like writing a novel about a different reality, it takes a lot of effort to make the creation as seamless as possible. I also know my ability with graphics won't really improve with classes as my strengths are in different areas.
Regarding the overwritten file, been there, and I avoid it by using version control, i.e.: FileName.v1.0.FileExtension as the method of making frequent file backups gets tedious in a hurry.
|
|
|
Post by ronmiller on Jan 20, 2020 19:09:44 GMT
The covers Ron and other talented artists create are a lot like writing a novel about a different reality, it takes a lot of effort to make the creation as seamless as possible. I also know my ability with graphics won't really improve with classes as my strengths are in different areas. Regarding the overwritten file, been there, and I avoid it by using version control, i.e.: FileName.v1.0.FileExtension as the method of making frequent file backups gets tedious in a hurry. Yeah...I was in too much of a hurry and just wasn't paying attention. Regarding art classes...anything will help, from a simple drawing class or 2D design to color theory. You may not become particularly skilled or adept...but it will still do you good.
|
|
|
Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jan 20, 2020 20:53:57 GMT
Ron,
At this point in time, unless I win the lottery jackpot [hard to do since I don't normally waste money on lotteries considering the odds] I have to wait till Their Graces are older and we have the money to get our old Cherokee overhauled and back on the road. It's also 40 miles to the closest place with art classes, so perhaps in time.
Continued learning doesn't hurt, I agree. But for now Prinz Liam will shred whatever I tried to do, while Prinzessin Lilit isn't much better [she is determined she will the artiste].
Then again getting my oldest brother to take the kids for a week would do me good and when he and his wife could see what riding herd on kids when your older they wouldn't be so eager for grandchildren; a win-win. Unfortunately last time I mentioned that idea [the part about my kids visiting him for two weeks] I didn't hear from my brother for a couple months.
|
|
|
Post by ronmiller on Jan 24, 2020 17:52:22 GMT
A new commission for a humorous science fiction novel. In this case, all but the earth was rendered by hand.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 0:07:18 GMT
It's beautiful, Ron. The red behind the earth is a nice touch and complements well the red surrounding the font. It's strong enough so that all the attention does not remain on the highly interesting central art.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2020 5:03:46 GMT
Since working on the internet in order to colour my illustrations I have become even more aware as to how skillful you are Ron. It is not an easy way to paint and draw but you make it seem effortless. The mark of a master.
|
|
|
Post by ronmiller on Feb 7, 2020 12:13:18 GMT
Since working on the internet in order to colour my illustrations I have become even more aware as to how skillful you are Ron. It is not an easy way to paint and draw but you make it seem effortless. The mark of a master. I am not sure what tools you use, but a graphics tablet makes things much easier. I use a small Huion tablet (the Inspiroy model, I believe). It hasn't anything like the bells and whistles of the Wacom tablets (which are kind of the benchmark for these sorts of things but which are also very expensive), but it does the job and has been perfectly reliable. And it makes drawing and painting digitally feel very natural. Later: This is the graphics tablet that I use store.huion.com/products/inspiroy-h950p
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2020 13:47:09 GMT
Thanks Ron I'll check out both of those tablets. I still have the flu, it's taking ages to leave me, but hopefully I'll be ok soon and I can get on with my illustrations.
|
|
|
Post by ronmiller on Feb 7, 2020 15:45:17 GMT
Thanks Ron I'll check out both of those tablets. I still have the flu, it's taking ages to leave me, but hpofully I'll be ok soon and I can get on with my illustrations. I hope you feel better very soon!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2020 7:04:45 GMT
Ron, my son has bought me a wacom. I certainly couldn't have afforded it, but his american salary is so much better than my english pension! Hopefully things will be easier now. I managed to get almost 6 hours sleep last night so I'm definitely on the mend. I guess as you get older any illness is harder to shake off. Thanks for your good wishes.
|
|
|
Post by ronmiller on Feb 8, 2020 13:48:03 GMT
Congratulations! You will have fun with your new tablet! Wacoms have more bells and whistles than the one I use, but it should be really easy to learn. It's just like drawing with a pen or pencil (in fact, I know some people who will tape a sheet of paper over the surface of their tablet to provide more of the feel of drawing on paper. I've never done this, but admittedly the slick surface of the tablet takes a little getting used to). You will soon find yourself drawing and painting very naturally! I have done freehand "paintings" and I have done "pen and ink" line art---like the panels in the Velda comic books---all with the same stylus and tablet.
I know a lot of artists who will mix and match media---something I do myself. For instance, a drawing or painting may be begun using traditional media. It's then scanned and completed digitally.
Glad to hear that you are feeling much better!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2020 5:08:02 GMT
That's what I did Ron. I drew my illustrations and then scanned them in. I'm looking forward to using the wacom. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by ronmiller on Feb 9, 2020 12:49:12 GMT
Although I don't think my friend Steve owns a tablet, he does often enhance his oil paintings after the fact by adding digital elements via Photoshop. In the pictures above, the translucent figure on the left was added later (by simply placing the figure on a layer and then adjusting the opacity). The rainbow halo around the woman in the center picture was added later and the pattern on the floor in the right-hand picture was added with Photoshop. I am sometimes asked if mixing and matching media is "permitted." Well, of course it is. There are no "rules" about how a picture is accomplished. All that matters is the final result. If it turns out well then you did it right. If the results suck then you did it wrong. Norman Rockwell, in his autobiography, told of a time when he had to do a Christmas cover for The Saturday Evening Post. It was to be of a father putting on a Santa Claus costume while his beard lay waiting, draped over the back of a chair. Typical of Rockwell, he worked directly from models, including the beard. After about an hour of painting it in hair by hair, he declared "Enough is enough!", pulled a fistful of hair from the beard and stuck it onto the painting. When the cover finally appeared on the news stands, it looked great. "It might not have been art," Rockwell said, "but it was fun."
|
|