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learning the language and capturing spirit

Kitties - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck 2003

Prior to doing this piece, I had done digital paintings which did not require the drawings to capture any sort of figure. In general, the subject matter was more forgiving.

Using a mouse is a bit clumsy - though I must confess, I have gotten to enjoy the movement when drawing. One of the tools I use, puts the color on the inside of every curve. Drawing figures like this is not like drawing using pencil, pen or paintbrush.

Like any artistic medium - it is a learned skill. I have become quite comfortable with the language - creating figures and even specific people.

The kitties are so not literal, but I somehow was able to capture their spirit like I did my previous dog, Max.

I am never sure how it happens, but I am pleased that it does.

See Also

• Kitties
  availability of art prints for digital painting - Kitties
• The Painting Environment
  a dated and naturally incomplete look at the appleworks painting program - still a good intro though
• Dog Gallery by artist Sarah Theophilus
  a more literal look at capturing spirit - as she describes in about artist section - 2nd row up/bottom right Autumn looks a lot like Max

approaching digital painting figures first

Window View - digital painting / art prints - Dan Beck 2006

I was very happy with this digital painting - I knew it from the start. I approached this computer art in a different way and was successful.

It always feels good to try something a new a way and have it succeed. I think there are many ways to get somewhere good.

I start pieces in different ways - gradients vs patterns vs simple sketch. But for the most part when figures have been involved, they are brought in after the background.

This time, I created the figures first. I had just looked out the window and I didn’t want to lose what I had seen. Fortunately, they way the workers appeared to be wading in the field probably made this work that much better.

The rows aren’t all that deep, but with everyone bent over, the strawberry harvesters all look ensconced.

For art prints of the above digital painting, please email specialorders@outhousestudios.net.

See Also

• Fielding
  First of the strawbery harvest paintings - 2005
• Many Paths | Chabad.org
  I liked this story of different paths
• Ming the Mechanic: Many paths, but only one is yours
  Not sure what NCN is - or some of the lingo - but again - many different paths