Painter 2017 – New Release

Interactive Gradient Tool/Express Paint

Painter 2017 is pretty great! Honestly!  I have to admit that the introduction of  Audio Technology was pretty wild when introduced in Painter 2016, and I used it not one time this past year!  I have not falling in love with Particle Brushes introduced in 2015 but they have formed the bases of some pretty great, more advanced technology – Dynamic Speckles Brushes, for example, so I cannot complain.

This new release, however, is just plain wonderful  and introduces so many new tools. It will change the way you work and support your many creative endeavors. You’re definitely going to want to explore it.  I would also suggest a “tour guide”.  Painter 2017 offers some amazing new features but they are complex on the front end. I will demonstrate some of these features over the next weeks and months. The new Palette Drawers are “to die for”!!

Also, there is a course being taught by Skip Allen at Digital Art Academy which will teach  Painter 2017 New Features “in order”.  I suggest that you take a look.  Our emphasis will be different, so there is no overlap.  The larger your pile of information, the better. Register NOW!

Did  I start at the beginning? Of course not. I start here by introducing you to my favorite – NEW FEATURE – at lease one of them. I hope you enjoy this 3 part tutorial series where I demonstrate the new Interactive Gradient Tool  used in combination with Express Paint.

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Digital Pastel Painting from Observation

I’ve been enjoying painting digitally emulating traditional pastels. You’ve seem some of this work before. This time the subject matter is pretty wide. I painted baby birds, then fruits and veggies placed on a table next to my computer before transitioning to portraits using photo visual reference, even self portrait. Its been fun for sure. Below are some of the images I created.


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Winifred Pastel sml_06 Winifred Pastel sml_08 Winifred Pastel sml_09 Winifred Pastel sml_12 Winifred Pastel sml_14

 

 

 

 

Winifred Pastel sml_11

Winifred Pastel sml_16

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Van Gogh Inspired

Hello Everyone,

Yet another exciting artistic journey awaits you… class begins March 14th “Van Gogh Inspired”. But don’t bother to read below – for more info – just watch the 5 minute video. To Register, click here.

During  Lesson 1 you will be introduced to or you will gain more familiarity with Impasto brushes and you will learn to make adjustments to Impasto Brushes. You will learn more about the life and art of Van Gogh. You will increase the expressiveness of your brush strokes and unleash your creativity.

In addition to exploring brushes, you will paint a simple Van Gogh Inspired Painting. This might be a sunflower or any object you like.

You may use impasto brushes or regular opaque brushes.  I have gathered several great impasto brushes made by Karen Bonaker, Skip Allen and David Gell as well as Painter defaults. My Impasto brush variants  are included as well. The Impasto brush collection,  is large and in case it is overwhelming, I created a small collection as well – I paint using a small collection created from my favorites. I suggest you create a custom palette of your favorites.  I find this very helpful. If you want some of the originals brush categories, I suggest you explore Painter’s Impasto brushes or download from Skip’s Blog, Skip Allen Paints (Thick Paints and/or Bristle Dabs) and from David Gell’s Jitter Brush Site (Living Impasto).

During lesson 2 you will paint a still life. A collection of reference images have been included which you can sketch.

 During lesson 3 you will paint or draw a portrait. Again, references photos to sketch/trace have been provided.

 

 

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Winifred’s Paintings of Trees

I find it very interesting to see my paintings of trees since 2006. This is not something I have ever focused on exclusively though there are a few stand alone tree digital Paintings. Some of the trees simply exist within the context of a painting but they are so varied, I thought I would put this group together to share with you. The variety of styles in which I paint  is amazing – even to me.

My very first digital painting is a girl in a swing in a tree created in 2006 after my first Painter digital painting workshop. I am certainly not bragging about it’s sophistication but I still enjoy it.  I managed to use vibrant complimentary colors and to inject energy movement, texture and fun.

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First Digital Painting 2006

Bride Amongst Trees 2006

Painting using photo reference created in Photoshop.  When I saw the giant dogwood in bloom in Manhasset NY, I knew this was the spot.

A 300 year old Oak tree was the reference image for this commissioned painting  also painted in Photoshop.

This from imagination using selections and pattern fills in Painter

Picking Apples

Shadow Play

The Plaza

In the Garden

Cypress Trees

Village – in Photoshop

10 Minute Sketch – Spring

Just doodling  and testing brushes – Amazing what can happen.

They don’t all work but love the texture.

Commissioned  Original – She wanted a Tree of Life

10 minute Painting Sketch

The Sunflower Tree – An all time favorite!

Dancing Trees

Trees and Shrubs – Painted with Patterns

Imaginary Farm

Heavy with Leaves

Kneeling Boughs

 

 

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Winifred’s Painting with Patterns Workshop is Scheduled

Painting with Patterns Online 6 Hour Mini Live Session Workshop 

Coming Saturday June 1st, 2013  –  8 a.m. PST

Register Now For the Early Bird Discount – Ends May 14th

I enjoy incorporating patterns into my paintings. I tend to include patterns structurally into my painting even if not selecting patterns from my Pattern Library.

However, recently I created several paintings which included custom patterns from my library. Many viewers were enjoyed these unusual paintings and I received several inquiries from several wanting  to learn more about this process. Hence,  I have scheduled a Painting with Patterns Online 6 Hour Mini Live Session Workshop. I enjoy creating such paintings very much and I am sure it will be fun for you as well. I enjoy both the process creating patterns and the process of identifying creative ways to include and insert them into paintings. In the workshop, we will do both.

Although portraits are featured on this page. Patterns are equally suitable to include creatively in building exteriors and interiors, outdoor scenes, in clothing, and in any creative way you can imagine.

Click Here to View Painting with Patterns Workshop Details Here 

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…. and just for play!!  We can work with simple images in the workshop if you like.

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Winifred Creating Triangles in Composition

A couple of days ago I posted some new paintings on facebook.  My take on the “Three Graces” which I will share with you in several variations, including the reference image.

In addition to enjoying them, a artist friend Cyndi Hornsby noticed that there were so many triangles contained within the composition “8 or 9 at least” she said.  I certainly found the forms very pleasing but had honestly not paid attention to the triangles.  And then I did. WOW!!

I went to internet and picked up a few quotes which I think aptly apply.

Triangular Composition


  • The triangle is used as a tool in composition to indicate the important elements in a work of art. The artist will create the primary subject inside the boundaries of a large imaginary triangle. The viewer will intuitively be drawn into the important elements of the picture through the use of triangular composition. There may be smaller triangular compositions that complement the main subject. There are no rules as to the size or placement of the triangular composition.
  • Simple geometric shapes within a painting or photograph can help strengthen the composition. A triangle is one of the strongest compositional shapes, as it can add a sense of visual unity. In essence, a triangle is a closed curve incorporating at least one diagonal. Since the curve is closed, it won’t lead the eye outside of the frame. A single triangle in in the middle of the frame can lead to a somewhat static composition, but triangular composition can be found in many famous works of art.

  • The shape of a triangle is made up of two diagonal lines that are anchored on a horizontal line. In a painting or photograph, a triangle will guide our eye to the triangle’s three separate points. The image or figure at the peak of the triangle will appear to superior to other images; if the triangle is reversed, the figure at the bottom will appear inferior. A triangular composition can help make an image more coherent and the form appear more dynamic.


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`The original reference image is below:

 

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Almost One to One Online Digital Painting Training

Personalized Digital Painting Workshop  – a training process which works quickly and effectively to get you painting, portrait or fine art, from a photo or from imagination.

I am throughly enjoying training students to begin or to enhance there ability to paint  digitally – “Almost One to One”. I find that students feel comfortable to ask questions without embarrassment and to pursue  knowledge from “just where they are” in this very private and personal workshop environment.

Training and attention is very specific to your individual needs. I work with not more more than 3 students at a time and at times ” one to one” – privately.  I am currently working with an interesting lady in Pennsylvania. She has been a traditional painter for 20 years or so and has even written and published a book on traditional painting. She is not a photographer, which is the path of so many into digital painting. She wanted to expand her capacity to include digital painting. She searched the internet and decided that my training approach and my painting style was what she was looking for.

She purchased the 30 hour training package. She does not own Photoshop, had not yet installed Painter on her computer is a bit uncertain about her computer skills in general.  We got her all set up with Painter 12 and its updates. She purchased her Intuos 5 and we were ready to begin our GotoMeeting sessions.

Our first session was 3.5 hours.   I believe that working in short sessions prevents burnout when consuming lots of new technical information while at the same time allows sufficient time to synthesize it.   I gave her several  assignment after her first session.  We would not be able to meet for another full week, because of her schedule – which is unusual. Normally we meet 2 to 3 times per week. I decided I wanted to reconnect with her later, the evening of  her first training day after she had time to work on her assignment. I wanted to make sure she understood enough to do her assignments in order not to have unanswered questions for a full week. To my delight, she had completed her first assignment which included, painting using different paper textures, using patterns, using a variety of brush stokes and working on layers. WOW!! She was proud and so was I.

We can schedule sessions to fit your schedule.  Please call me at 360.779.1375 for additional information. Also visit my STORE for workshop options and prices.   New workshops are scheduled nearly every month.

 

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Corel Painter 12.1 Tutorial – Creating Multi Color Brush Strokes

Multi color brush strokes add to the richness of this painting.

Create multiple colors in your brush strokes by:

1) varying hue, saturation and value (HSV),

2) select color from a gradient or,

3) select color from an entire color set.

I am sure you will  enjoy creating more colorful and expressive brush strokes.  The set of brushes I referred to are called Desert Oasis.  They are watercolor brushes and would have to be converted to “cover” if they are to be used as a non watercolor variant. They can be found at Skip Allen Paints Blog along with many other brush sets he makes available for free.

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Corel Painter 12.1 Tutorials – Creating Painter LOOKS

It is easy  to create custom and accessible brush and texture combinations called “LOOKS” in Corel Painter 12.1

I have created a custom “splatter look” with a specific brush and paper

to simulate the look spattered paint in the image below.

I  can now apply this”spatter” effect to any image with just the click of a “look”.

I hope  you enjoy this video, I would love to receive your comments and feedback.

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Winifred Whitfield  is a portrait painter, a fine art painter and teaches digital painting using  Corel Painter and Photoshop.

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Corel Painter 12.1 – Painting Dancers

Painting Dancers

I love painting dancers though I have not created many such paintings.  I am changing this. I enjoyed painting the variations below in Corel Painter 12.1.

Watch the video to see how I create the four variations of this painting. Unfortunately, there is not enough time in the 15 minutes to demonstrate the initial painting.

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