Palette Creatures Released!

New palette creatures are now swimming in an alternate setting.   For those not familiar, palette creatures are colorful shapes that actually show up on my watercolor palette after a watercolor painting session.  When I spot them, I take a photo and play with them in Photoshop.  Some creatures require more attention than others.  This …

The Egg

I fought with this bird-child piece for quite a while. The composition is strange, but trust me, it was stranger before I cropped it.  Thanks to my son, who is an excellent critic, I was able to move away from elements I was hanging onto, and make changes for the better.  I need some time …

Adolescence

Some of the little bird-children are growing up;)

New Bird-Child

I’m still thinking on this one while working on three more.  But, this one is closest to finish and I wanted to share it with you.

Bird-Child Series

This is the second birdie child-vison influenced image. Most of the elements in this piece began as really loose watercolor paintings. I brought them into Photoshop and digitally placed and painted. I almost always put in a little more work after I show you what I’m up too. This piece is no exception, but I …

Vision

I woke up with an image reflected on my retinas. I had an overwhelming urge to realize the vision.  It had to be dreamy-loose but also had to adhere to my vision. I began with a watercolor sketch, but the color was too vibrant.  It needed to be somber. I took a photo of the …

Fall Portrait

Here is Fall, just as we come to the official close of the season. You many recall my  Winter  and  Spring  portraits. I’ve only Summer to go, and the Four Seasons will be available as prints. Below you can see the progression of the face. Nothing fancy, just using the brush tool in Photoshop to act …

Reflection On Reflections:A Collaboration

                                                                                               ©Karen McRae, 2012 Gifted artist/photographer Karen McRae  honored me …

Digital Painting Tutorial Part 3

Final “Spring” Because Spring is part two of a four-part project, I had be sure that the choices I made for this piece will harmonize with the previous work. I have a very clear vision of the overall project, and have decided to contrast the moods of the seasons greatly.  On the other hand, I will …

Digital Painting Tutorial/Spring Part 2

Okey Dokey, part two is mostly about the way I manipulated my photos to provide a back round and a dress for Ms. Spring.  There have to be myriad ways to deal with photos incorporated into digital paintings.  I’m simply revealing the way I went about it in this piece.  And, I have no problem …

Four Seasons:Spring Tutorial

Spring, It’s the second in my Four Seasons project.  Last time with Digital Winter , I explored an overview of the digital painting via Photoshop layers.  The focus of Spring is painting the skin.  I’m using Photoshop CS4 and Wacom Intuos 4.  I’m still working on the finish, but here’s essentially, how I’ve  painted the skin …

Who Are YoU?

A recognizable style.  Most artists have one or two.  Many work most of their lives mastering one medium.  Often one is a fine artist OR makes commercial work. I know this is rapidly changing. The lines between disciplines are blurring and that thrills me!  While I am not competent in any discipline other than visual …

Digital Painting Tutorial

Above is a screenshot of the basic Photoshop underpainting of “Winter”.    Below is a visual tutorial of the painting process. Please feel free to ask any questions that may come to mind, since my text explanation is spare.

Digital Winter

ANOTHER new project:) Four seasons, beginning with winter.  The subject for each season is a lovely young woman.  I chose to paint this series digitally, while my oil portraits are drying between layers.  Next post will feature a layer by layer separation and progression, so stand by.

Intention

Intention began as an Illustration Friday prompt.   It didn’t take long to realize that what I was making was decidedly not an illustration. My intention-derailed.  I should back up and mention that Intention started as a watercolor, though not a good watercolor.   I scanned it and finished painting digitally.  So much for my initial …

3×3 Illustration Annual #8 -I’m In It!

I’ve been entranced with  the  3×3 Illustration Annual  since I first discovered it one Saturday in Barnes and Noble.  Naturally,  I sat with it in the B&N cafe enjoying the eye candy more than my beverage.  My book wish list is always lengthy, but I bumped book title #1 and bought the Annual.  Since then, I’ve …

Lorica #3

The third illustration in my not yet written, middle grade novel.  So many projects, so little time:) Related articles Mysterious Lorica (elenacaravela.wordpress.com)

Katniss

Do book cover illustrations influence the way you envision a character before you read a book?  Does an actor cast as the character from your favorite book embody your idea of the character in a film? My niece and I recently discussed these questions. We decided that we try not to allow an illustrator or …

Mysterious Lorica

There is a story behind this painting.  I posted this piece first on my Illustration Friday  page for the topic mysterious, but I its first obligation is to serve as an illustration for a story floating around in my head.  This story will convert itself into text after I have a few more illustrations worked …

G- rated Steampunk Mermaids

Very recently two illustrators whom I admire, inspired me to paint a steampunk piece for kids.  Now, I really dislike painting mechanical symmetrical elements, but I do enjoy the look of  shiny geometric details. So I decided to simplify, take it slowly, and allow Photoshop’s filters to do the heavy lifting. I also relied heavily …

Caught in the Flashlight

The third in my “Bug” series inspired by Micro Cosmos.  A little color this time along with a little sympathy for the “unsuspecting”.