This process started when Karen Bonaker, instructor at the Digital Art Academy, mentioned that one of my paintings reminded her of Klimt with all of the gold on it. I thought I should go further and created this piece. The video allows me to share my creative process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhuiILO7QxU&context=C3dee137ADOEgsToPDskKjoyY7OK5cl4wSX7FTj7TT
The world may not have needed my landscapes and portrait creations – but I created them anyway. I was there in 2008 and I am still selecting and painting images from that trip. I must say that the beautiful light Italy is known for hid itself during the days I was there. It was overcast and the light was very flat for the most part. It is fortunate that we now have such excellent software to pull out image detail and fortunate again for me that I can paint. I am including here a collection of mainly of paintings but a couple of my favorite enhanced photos as well. If you have not visited Italy, I hope these paintings and photos encourage you to do so.
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Color Management
Winifred’s YouTube Channel – Corel Painter Tutorials Client Interviews and More
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Winifred’s X-Rite and Nik Sponsored Webinar
Treasures come in many forms. I took a photo when Florence in 2007. For the past years I kept it. When ever I looked through my files I paused to re experience the moment. I also knew this image was special – it had a story to be told, it was to be special. It was only recently that I knew what this image was to become. I painted it. This lady will never know it but now she will live forever as a very special piece of art.
Submit Your Best Efforts in Print Competition
A week ago I sat with a panel of judges at the annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) print competition. In this competition, each photographer at a very minimum would like to receive an accolade acknowledging “good professional quality work”.
There are many prints which for various reasons do not receive this accolade. It is saddest however, when an entry loses points solely because there is an off color cast to the image or the flesh tone, or the image is too light, or too dark, all of which is reflects a lack of professional color management in the photographers work flow. The image otherwise might have been quite acceptable.
There is a solution to this. X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology and as such serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical.
X-Rite includes in it’s mix devices designed specifically to solve color management problems for photographers. These devices include the Color Checker, to create custom profiles for your camera and ColorMunki and the i1 extreme to calibrate your display, and create custom profiles for your printer, so you can see EXACTLY what you are going to print. Even if your work is printed by a professional lab, the cost of your production is decreased significantly if the lab does not have to color correct your images. Simply by calibrating your display you will able to view the colors, and densities you are actually working with. The ColorMunki is very simple to use. Within minutes the wizard will walk you through the calibration process. Your images are now ready for your final touch before going to your clients – or to competition.
If you are going to spend the money to have prints prepared for competition and pay the entry fee on each one, I would hope that you are submitting the best and most professional images you can create. It will be very difficult to do this without having a professional color managed work flow which means at the very least a frequently calibrated monitor.
For more information on the color management devices available to you, go to: X-Rite.com
Whether for women or men, business portraits are a form of communication – they are to convey a message. I focus on this when creating a portrait for a business client. We discuss the intention of the image during our consultation. My question is “how do you want your viewer to feel when they view your image?” The most frequent responses include, approachable but confident, take charge, empathetic, consoled, leadership, trust, friendly. I am interested in creating very flattering portraits, but I want the images to convey an attitude, and a feeling when viewed, I want to create communication which is effective.
The following are a few professional portraits for women, which I created recently:
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These are but a few of the professional business portraits we have created for competent
professionals who understand the power of their IMAGE.
Can you feel what they are saying?
Port Ludlow Art League – January 19, 2011
Corel Painter is professional digital software engineered to simulate painting with traditional paint media.
On January 19th Winifred displayed many of her large painted canvas portraits and
demonstrated how she used Corel Painter to paint then.
Winifred solicited the assistance of Derick Gundy, who paints in several media, to experience painting digitally. Using a stylus and WACOM tablet he created an image.
There was a great deal of interest from both photographers and traditional media painters following this demonstration. Winifred was ask immediately if she would be available for a second presentation.
This was part of Winifred’s art work on display for the Port Ludlow Art League
Our pets are so special to us. They make our lives richer. They give the unconditional love that humans are challenged to provide. They are not “JUST” and dog or a cat or …. they are members of the family and we treasure them. These are a few of my favorites – you will notice that some of them have been painted digitally:
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His name is TWIGS. Puppies melt hearts – that is all there is to it.
Twigs – Before and After
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Her name is SOPHIE – her portrait started it all
This family regularly fosters litters of kittens and loves them
until they are ready for a new home.
REMEMBERING HOTSHOT
KEEPING WATCH
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MANS BEST FRIEND
This was not my image but restored from a snapshot belonging to a client
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CHRIS AND THE ST BERNARD HE LOVES
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ONE FOR EACH
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EMILY, CHARLES, (baby)LANDEN ~ Kellie and Kira.
NEW OWNERS OF MY FORMER FARM AND GARDENS
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SOPHIE – DEFINITELY A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
SAMMIE – THE GUARD DOG
My Former Pets Gobi and Butterscotch
While most have Dogs and cats – even horses as their pets, I thought I would have CAMELS.
Somehow I seem to want to take the road less traveled.
I recently discovered just how much I enjoy photo restoration, that is, restoring treasured images of family members. I am excited to offer this as a new service in my business. In September 2008 a women approached me and pulled a small wallet sized photo from her wallet. “Can you do anything with this” she ask almost apologetically, “this is a photo of me with my girls, I have had it is my wallet for 13 years. ” I looked at the dis-colored, faded, orange spotted photo of years gone by and ask if I couldn’t create a portrait of her with her daughters now. “No she replied, we want this photo”. I can do it, I told her, and I took her tiny treasured photo with me.
Weeks later I called Joanne to see a 16×20 full sized proof of the restored portrait. She was delighted and she ordered
three 16×20 portrait canvases, one for her and for each of her girls. Joanne flew to
New York to deliver her Christmas gifts to her daughters in person.
It was the treasure of her family she knew it would be.
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George saw my work while displayed at the Athletic Club in town. He decided to commission a portrait of his
daughter and her year old daughter – both of whom he adores. After seeing the beauty of this portrait,
he wanted a portrait of his wife. She had not yet consented to have her portrait created at the time
I had Christmas dinner in their home. At the end of the evening, however, Barb said to me,
“I don’t have any good image from our wedding 22 years ago. Can you do something with some of the
images I do have?” I left with their album andthe one 8×10 she had of this very special day.
After careful scrutiny, I selected the above image
because I loved her expression and beauty.
George looked handsome as well.
It was mid January. I called George to view the image on my computer. I suggested that if a woman chose
to have a wedding portrait as her special portrait after 22 years – perhaps it would be a great Valentine’s Day gift for her.
George agreed and added that he had proposed to her on Valentine’s Day. I love it when I get it right! He then told
me of his plan to gather friends at a favorite restaurant on Valentine’s Day and at the appropriate time he would have
the restored and enhanced portrait presented to her. It was a perfect plan. I had the portrait printed, framed and ready for its debut.
I was in New York for this Holiday but I checked in when I returned. The tears had streamed he told me.
It was the perfect gift. They were happy and so was I.
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This image was taken with a cell phone when Alice traveled to visit her mom. Although the image quality was very poor,
Alice loved her mom’s expression and decided it was an image she would like to have corrected, enhanced and preserved.
I loved the idea of restoring a special portrait of Alice’s mom.
Only 10 minutes from my home exist one of most beautiful conservation gardens in America.
USA Today named it one of the top ten greatest botanical gardens in the Unites States
There are forest and ferns, moss gardens, waterfalls, a reflection pool, a bird refuge,
trestle bridge and board walk across a bog.
I often bring out of town guest there. They are amazed to find such a place “in my back yard”
This is a public garden supported by donations. It was formally a residential estate.
Although it is full of horticultural specimens, no labeling is allowed. You can wonder dreamily for hours
or be very attentive to the vast plant specimens, birds and other natural features which abide there.
If ever you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend a leisurely day in the gardens.
