You don’t have to be an astrologer, just want to be able to “read” your own cards and those of others! It’s fun, entertaining, as well as the fact that IT WORKS! It can also be profitable if you want to dedicate some time into really “sinking your teeth” into the material. We all have some degree of ESP — it only takes having a “vehicle” to use to unleash it.

More info will be included in the course description and syllabus about what the course entails and your only materials will be a deck of regular playing cards!

After practicing astrology professionally and teaching it, I’ve also decided to include a compilation of a lot of information that I garnered for my class teachings, so you’ll have lots of help. We’ll be working on not only learning, but interpretation and you’ll be set to start reading by the end of the first class, rather than waiting until the end of the course. I will provide different layouts, from simple to a few more cards being involved.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

As you probably know, Corel now owns/distributes Ulead’s PhotoImpact, a program I’ve been using for my digital art for years (until I was introduced to Painter over a year ago). It’s a powerful image editing program and, though focusing more on photography than graphic arts, it ranks right up there with Adobe Photoshop (and for a heck of a lot less money). It’s object-based (yet each object creates a layer).

I’m delighted that LVS is offering a 10% discount on Corel’s software, which includes PhotoImpact, and strongly encourage you to download the trial version and give it a “spin around the block” just to see all the innovative features!

BTW, it’s a great “prep” program for those who are using Painter as you can easily work back and forth seamlessly. Professional Photographers will love all the great features which are beyond my technical expertise; however, I have had a couple of instructor-photographers test it for me and they are quite impressed.

Great photos, with good composition (it crops to the Rule of Thirds as well as the Golden Ratio), enhanced lighting, masking, etc. can be easily shared with family and friends, as well as subject matter for digital artists.

Color me IMPRESSED!
Hillary
P.S. I’ll be having a PhotoImpact blog by Fall and will announce it here when it’s up and running for those of you who want tips, tricks and even mini-tutorials.

John Hastings asked that I take a look at his book “The Drawing Breakthrough Book (A Shortcut to Artistic Excellence)” some time ago. I was flattered by his request and intrigued by his humbleness. He just happens to be one heck of a nice guy to deal with. Due to time constraints, I procrastinated until I could actually “read” the book. In more years than I want to admit, I’ve read and also own a lot of “how-to” draw/paint/sketch, etc. books.

I have finally found one that I can unequivocally recommend. (Perhaps it was the delicious cover that got me, or maybe the title or maybe the fact that he was an ex-frustrated student.) No matter! John has discovered yet another “missing link” in the usual approach to drawing.

As an instructor in both digital and real-life art, I’ve had the occasional student who couldn’t seem to grasp the “traditional” ways to understand and apply even simple theory. I’ve figuratively torn my hair out in trying to explain a simple theory. This is where John’s book is the answer!

With great pleasure, I can tell you that he has managed to address his words to those who fit into what I call the “stuck in the left side of the brain” students/artists. They need logic in order to do the illogical without becoming intoxicated with my fermented coconut milk and with a minimum of confusion and a maximum of efficiency.

To paraphrase his news release): His premise is that the key within every drawn picture has three types of simple “building-block” lines, which can be utilized to draw anything from the simple to the complex, from the primitive to the elegant. His book offers the results of John’s years of experience and research in the form of step-by-step, “student-friendly” instructions and exercises that anyone can employ in order to quickly achieve competence in their own artwork.

To put it simply, you get more “bang for the buck” packed into 100 pages of wonderful illustrations, simple explanations and great tips. It’s unique, just as John is — someone who isn’t afraid to profess his frustration with the traditional and is willing to share his knowledge!

Don’t just purchase it and add it to your library! Take some time and really try out his technique(s). I’ve posted the link in my list of recommended books!

Hillary
P.S. John has given me permission to post some of his tips, so I shall be tantalizing you with them in the future…LOL

Also, you don’t have to “travel” physically anywhere to take a mental vacation — not if you have a small sketch pad and #2 pencil (mechanical or with a sharpener). Forget about the eraser unless you’re a danged perfectionist. Turn on some soft music, take some time for you, allow your mind to wander to a peaceful place and begin sketching a dreamy vacation spot.

In the alternative, if you are watching your children/grandchildren at play — put down that book and do some quick “gesture” sketches of them enjoying their youth. These can be rough sketches and even “stick figures”. Just lose yourself in the moment! If you’re lucky enough to be at the seashore and see a sailboat going by, or a surfer riding a wave, then quickly sketch what you SEE. If you’re an “artiste” there is always time to “flesh out” your sketches at the easel or computer. The important thing is to forget about those nagging little everyday worries and problems will sink away as you immerse yourself in your drawing. Remember, the mind can only handle one thing at a time!

Enjoy your trip!
Hillary
P.S. If you have an art tip you’d like to share, or a place where we can find good FREE stock photography, leave me a post!

Create a rectangle with your hands, or take the time to create a small frame, i.e., 4×6 cutout on a slightly larger piece of cardboard or heavy stock. Make a mark every 2″ which will create a “Rule of Thirds” which is used in cropping an image. If you do this on your canvas, make little dots which can be covered later…and, if sketching outdoors, take your handy little frame with you to frame what you want to sketch/photograph. It’s definitely lighter than a camera and will save you a lot of time.

If you’ve just sketched/painted something and it lacks interest, a simple cropping may do the trick. Again, you can also use a sheet of plastic/acrylic paper and, with a waterproof pen, mark grids on it to overlay on your painting.

One nice thing about one of my favorite programs, Photo Impact, is that the crop tool automatically gives you the option of cropping, using the “Rule of Thirds” or “Golden Ratio” to crop the artwork I create, or a photograph I’ve taken.

The Golden Mean (I call it the Golden Ratio) is an old principle that was first used by painters and is quite difficult to apply when taking a photo. Painters have the benefit of starting with a blank canvas and penciling in an outlining pattern that they can paint over to ensure elements are in the relevant areas.. It’s made up of a series of squares that become increasingly smaller attached by a curve that spirals inwards like a snail’s shell. Place the point of focus at the end of the spiral and other elements along the path your eye takes inwards following the spiral.

The shape of the Golden Ratio in physical form is supposed to be considered very esthetically pleasing to humans. One of the most interesting graphic forms of the Golden Ratio is the nautilus shell and the way the shell starts from a central origin and then spirals outward around itself until it reaches the horn or opening of the shell where the cephalopod’s head is located.

The more traditional physical shape of the Golden Ratio is the golden rectangle. This rectangle is comprised of a square and one-half of another square that is the same dimension together, as seen below. It can be seen as another example of the rule of thirds as the rectangle can be comprised of three equally sized smaller rectangles. Technically, the golden rectangle is comprised of two parts that follow the Fibonacci sequence. (I cover the method for learning the Golden Ratio in my advanced Digital Art course). It’s good to know the principle; although very difficult to explain. If a picture looks pleasing to the eye, the artist/photographer has done his/her job in composing the work.

The Horizon Line
One last thing — Watch the horizon. Just as an off-center subject is usually best, so is an off-center-and straight-horizon line. Avoid cutting your picture in half by placing the horizon in the middle of the picture. To accent spaciousness, keep the horizon low in the picture. To suggest closeness, position the horizon high in your picture.

As an aside, I’ve found that listening to music inspires and relaxes me so that I am able to immerse myself into my painting. I believe that music evokes emotion, which is reflected in what goes on my canvas. I know I should be reviewing some art books now, but I’m right in the middle of writing the course for PhotoImpact for the Fall semester and am devoting most of my time to that.

I hope you’ll check out this treasure that I found and that it will be worth the few minutes you’ll spend in listening/watching it.

Hillary

Here it is: Starry, Starry Night “Vincent” by Don McLean.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Hillary

To check it out, CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP FOR HostMonster.COM NOW.

I’m just about to be back in business, so anyone who is looking for any of my presets, tutorials, to see my artwork, check on recipes, music, angels, etc. I should be up and running in a couple of days.
Perhaps then I can get back to blogging.

I’m sorry for the inconvenience!

Also, I do believe I might be leaving the Atlanta area to return to Hawaii so it’s gonna be a busy time for me since our next semester begins soon.

Gee, I’d love to be 90 years younger — but then I wouldn’t have all the sage wisdom to impart to the youngsters nor the knowledge to know that life is NOT a personality contest.

Quality always trumps quantity and I live by the credo that if I can light just one little candle of light and knowledge in my students, family and friends, that’s what life is all about. Did I mention that I don’t care for power-hungry divas who profess to know everything? I think that when that happens, God steps in and gives ‘em a kick in the rump to set them straight. Okay, okay — no more philosophizing……LOL

TTFN,
Humbly yours!

Instructor-led classes begin May 10th so head on over to LVS Online to enroll now! Register by clicking here

You’re guaranteed a good time and lots of freedom to express your individuality and creativity!