The Painter's Place

2010-02-14T21:30:00.001-06:00

Read the archived posts

2009-12-01T09:47:00.001-06:00

The Painter's Place forum is now closed, but you can review previous posts. If you have any questions, please send email to sherry@matanzamedia.com

Photoshop Express

2008-06-30T07:14:00.006-05:00

Adobe is testing a new version of Photoshop that is available completely online, Photoshop Express.No need to purchase or download software, Express is used on the Web. You can upload images, edit them, and store up to 2 GB of images, compliments of Adobe. Typical editing tools like crop and rotate, correct exposure, remove red eye, touch up, and fix saturation are all there. Tweak as much as you

Are computers and art your thing?

2008-03-11T19:20:00.003-05:00

For many artists, the last thing they wish to do is fiddle with a computer. They much prefer to paint or sculpt or create jewelry, or carry on with another artistic venture.Learning to use a computer and complex software is a difficult left-brained pursuit. But in today's world, we need to use computers for basic things like email, banking, shopping and more. If you are an artist, there is a long

Color and Curves

2008-02-15T07:35:00.008-06:00

It's the time of year when many artists are applying for summer art fairs and submitting digital images of their artwork.Photographing your artwork is quite a challenge. Unlike ordinary family snapshots, it is absolutely crucial that the digital images represent the correct colors. Whether you shoot outside with soft, bright morning light, or inside with quartz worklights, you may have color

A Quick Look

2008-01-02T06:53:00.000-06:00

Here is a quick look at some of the questions you can answer with The Painter's Guide to Photoshop.Chapter 1: What is a JPG?Chapter 2: How do you resize an image?Chapter 3: How do you convert a color photo to a "black and white" photo?Chapter 4: How do you crop an image?Chapter 5: How can you create original digital artwork?Chapter 6: How can you combine two photos into one image?Chapter 7: How

The Internet = Art for Everyone

2007-11-08T18:23:00.000-06:00

I've recently discovered two very interesting websites for artists and collectors.Fine Art America touts itself as "the premier online marketplace for browsing and purchasing fine art originals and fine art prints." An interesting hook here is that the website 'knows where you live' and shows you art and artists in your region of the country. You can also choose to look at other regions. Artists

Pictures into Words

2007-10-17T07:54:00.000-05:00

The holiday season is here and many artists will be creating cards for friends and customers. Art supply stores carry many types of papers that will run through your printer and allow you to create custom cards with your artwork.For an interesting effect, try placing one of your images inside the text on the card. Shown here is an image of a pumpkin painting placed inside the words, Happy

Art on a Pillow

2007-08-27T07:13:00.000-05:00

Art doesn't have to be confined to a frame. You can place images of your artwork on cotton or silk fabric with your ink jet printer. Then sew the fabric into a pillow, throw, tee-shirt, or another fabric item.First scan your artwork, or upload a photograph of your artwork to your computer. Use the instructions in chapter four of The Painter's Guide to Photoshop to crop and make other adjustments

Fun with Filters

2007-08-12T17:50:00.000-05:00

If you are going to paint from a photograph, and you are looking for new ways to approach the painting, try Photoshop's Filter Effects to give you some ideas.Filters can help clarify light and dark values, reveal textures, simplify color choices, and more. When you select a filter, you can preview it and make adjustments to get just the effect you wish.See chapter five in The Painter's Guide to

How to purchase Photoshop

2007-08-03T08:35:00.000-05:00

I've received several emails about purchasing Adobe Photoshop. Yes, it is expensive. But, if you are an artist, and you wish to use image editing software to enhance the making and marketing of your artwork, the full version of Photoshop is the industry standard and worth the expense.Here are a few different ways to acquire Adobe Photoshop:Free Trial Version: On the Adobe website, you can

Projection

2007-07-30T19:56:00.000-05:00

In response to my post about displaying a presentation of your artwork in a festival booth or gallery exhibit, Les and Mary asked:"Yep, we were planning to do similar in Mary's first exhibition, Aug 4th, just using my laptop out front... Any thoughts about an inexpensive computer projector...brand?? cost??"Here is some info that may be helpful:Click here for About.com's article about choosing

Showtime

2007-07-24T08:09:00.000-05:00

I attended an art festival this summer where one booth stood out. Against the back wall of her booth, the artist had placed a screen with images of her artwork slowly dissolving from one to another. It was a unique attention-getter that drew people into her booth. Because it ran on its own, she was available to speak with customers and make sales, while the slide show was attracting new

Paintjam Dan Dunn

2007-07-17T18:58:00.001-05:00

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned Margaret Dyer's caution against "seeing too much" and trying to get too much detail into your painting. Here's a fun example of getting down to the essence. Be sure to have your sound on, and watch to the end. (@5 min) Enjoy!

Create a Catalog for Your Artwork

2007-07-15T13:05:00.000-05:00

I've been reading a great new book, Art Festival Guide: The Artist's Guide to Selling in Art Festivals, by Maria Arango. The book includes great tips and techniques for every aspect of selling your art at fairs and festivals.If you sell at festivals, you may want to have a catalog of your work with you, so you can show work that has already been sold, or show other pieces that you do not have

Do You See Too Much?

2007-07-11T09:56:00.000-05:00

Last month I was privileged to participate in a painting workshop led by Margaret Dyer, P.S.A. She specializes in figures and is a master at revealing the essence of people with few strokes and gorgeous colors. Her frequent comment to those of us in the workshop was a caution against "seeing too much." In other words, don't try to put too much detail into your painting.Photoshop can be a great

Is there any easier way to print the greeting cards?

2007-07-07T13:33:00.000-05:00

This question is from Cactikid:I set up my printer HP Photosmart following the guidelines in Photoshop and have problems printing my art within the guidelines specified. I have to keep fiddling around and reprinting until finally the picture prints where I want it to be. Is their an easier way?And here is my reply:Sorry you are having trouble. It is always hard to know the exact specifications of

Camera Pixel Rating

2007-04-03T09:35:00.000-05:00

This question was sent in by EmmCee:Thanks for a really great book and collection of photos. This has long been needed and I am looking forward to getting more involved with Photoshop over the next few weeks.As I see what you teach to work with some of the photos on the CD, I am inspired to go out and start taking pictures of some of my favorite places where I paint, so I can continue to work on

Photoshop Brushes

2007-03-08T10:15:00.000-06:00

If you want to try your hand at some original artwork, and you have a good understanding of the color tools and the painting tools, try using some of the great brush types available in Photoshop.Create a new blank image - about 500 pixels wide and high. Choose an interesting foreground color. Then choose the Brush tool in the toolbox.When the brush tool is selected, notice the Options bar at the

Artist Trading Cards

2007-02-13T11:03:00.000-06:00

This topic is covered in The Painter's Guide to Photoshop. Artist Trading Cards are such a unique and interesting art form. Let us know if you have created or traded Artist Trading Cards.Click here for more information from Wikipedia.

Will it work on Windows 98?

2007-01-16T22:28:00.000-06:00

This question was sent in by Marilyn:Does the CD work on windows 98?And here is my reply:Yes, the CD should work on Windows 98.It contains PDF files and JPG images, so if you have Adobe Reader installed, you should be able to read and/or print the eBook.You will also need to have Adobe Photoshop on your computer, and you will have to make sure your version of that program is compatible with

What format to save the image?

2007-01-04T22:06:00.000-06:00

This question was sent in by Elle:Using the instructions in Chapter 3, I placed the sample photo 3b onto a blank image that I had filled with my chosen color. I learned the guide tool, and placed my image where I want it on the page. The instructions say to print the image and fold it.I wanted to save the file because the instructions indicate that I will learn how to add type later on (pg. 42,

Transparent Background?

2006-12-28T11:10:00.000-06:00

This question was sent in by Deb:I began using my CD to learn Photoshop techniques for artists several weeks ago. All of a sudden I have a problem - it is likely addressed on the CD - but where??? I am designing my own business cards & website - and I can't figure out HOW to make my background invisible when I cut out & move a figure from one box to the other... The background comes out white,

What is an E-Book?

2006-12-12T08:20:00.000-06:00

The term e-book means electronic book. It is a document that you open on your computer.The Painter's Guide to Photoshop is distributed on a CD as a PDF document. The CD contains two PDF copies of The Painter's Guide to Photoshop e-book:One is a screen copy you can use if you want to read the book on your computer.The second copy is suitable for printing. You can print it on your home computer or

Holiday Greeting Cards

2006-12-02T11:25:00.000-06:00

This question was sent in by M:I would like to use photos of my paintings to create holiday greeting cards. Would you have any recommendations and/or guidelines for these cards in terms of photograph size? In addition, is there a tool in Photoshop that would allow me to create these cards easily?Thank you.And here is my reply:Paper companies such as Strathmore sell specialty items like card and