I resisted buying an iPad for years. I didn’t need it. I didn’t want it. I prided myself on using actual materials for actual paintings, and maintaining old style slow time in this instant digital world. The truth is, I don’t actually make many actual paintings. I’m actually very busy. If I were go to the studio to set up for an actual painting, which I wouldn’t, because my to do list is longer than the page I wrote it on, but if I did it would take at least an hour before I was even looking at the thing on my easel, and another thirty minutes to get all the colors out on my palette and get my brushes wet. So on a busy day, which is all days, I just don’t go.
Lately I’ve been teaching online, and now this Christmas present iPad is just sitting on my desk. It’s three inches from my elbow. Know how long it would take for me to start a painting? 19 seconds. I just timed it. 13 more seconds to pull up a reference photo from my files, and I’m in. Know how long it takes to mix a color? 4 seconds. And when I’m ready to stop for a moment or for the day, clean-up takes zero seconds. Zero. If I’m going somewhere I can pop it in my bag. If I’m waiting for an appointment I can pull it out again. I can change paintings, try something, go back. To see my composition, I can zoom out. To change the composition to be better, I can add or cut. To change the colors or values, I can slide a bar. I can mix a color, layer, glaze, and edit faster than you can say “Gamblin.” No need to set aside a project I’m groovin’ on just because it’s wet. This thing is ready to go.
David Hockney, using Procreate on an iPad
Did you know David Hockney uses Procreate? Yes, an 82 year old man was ten years ahead of me.
“I bought an iPad as soon as they were out in 2010. (…) I began drawing on an iPad and I loved it. Of course I love drawing but I thought it was a terrific medium. Everything is at your fingertips, there’s no cleaning up.” – David Hockney Interview 2016
This is not a replacement for real paint. It’s an addition. It’s something I can do that’s easy and interesting. It’ll make me better with color, better with composition. I have no doubt it will make me a better painter, and reward me with creative moments I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
I know I can figure it out on my own, but I’m impatient, so I’m taking Keith’s Digital Painting classes. Care to join me? Spring classes start this week!
Painterly Figures with Tone was a 4 week shortie art class, snuck into November/December. This post includes some of my favorite moments from that class. Please kindly overlook any flaws in the photography. A Sunday evening class, the images were taken on the fly, and in the dark. A word about working from photographs… Typically …
[image_with_animation image_url=”9204″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] How old is this sculpture, and who do you think made it? (Answer will be posted tomorrow)
The following is text from my interview of Fran O’Neill, Oct 6, 2020. I asked Fran to share some of the historical artworks she regards as masterworks. She talked about what she sees as the magic of transcriptions. “There’s a whole mystery that is incredible about works from the past, and unlocking some of that …
Why I want to learn digital painting
I resisted buying an iPad for years. I didn’t need it. I didn’t want it. I prided myself on using actual materials for actual paintings, and maintaining old style slow time in this instant digital world. The truth is, I don’t actually make many actual paintings. I’m actually very busy. If I were go to the studio to set up for an actual painting, which I wouldn’t, because my to do list is longer than the page I wrote it on, but if I did it would take at least an hour before I was even looking at the thing on my easel, and another thirty minutes to get all the colors out on my palette and get my brushes wet. So on a busy day, which is all days, I just don’t go.
Lately I’ve been teaching online, and now this Christmas present iPad is just sitting on my desk. It’s three inches from my elbow. Know how long it would take for me to start a painting? 19 seconds. I just timed it. 13 more seconds to pull up a reference photo from my files, and I’m in. Know how long it takes to mix a color? 4 seconds. And when I’m ready to stop for a moment or for the day, clean-up takes zero seconds. Zero. If I’m going somewhere I can pop it in my bag. If I’m waiting for an appointment I can pull it out again. I can change paintings, try something, go back. To see my composition, I can zoom out. To change the composition to be better, I can add or cut. To change the colors or values, I can slide a bar. I can mix a color, layer, glaze, and edit faster than you can say “Gamblin.” No need to set aside a project I’m groovin’ on just because it’s wet. This thing is ready to go.
Did you know David Hockney uses Procreate? Yes, an 82 year old man was ten years ahead of me.
“I bought an iPad as soon as they were out in 2010. (…) I began drawing on an iPad and I loved it. Of course I love drawing but I thought it was a terrific medium. Everything is at your fingertips, there’s no cleaning up.” – David Hockney Interview 2016
This is not a replacement for real paint. It’s an addition. It’s something I can do that’s easy and interesting. It’ll make me better with color, better with composition. I have no doubt it will make me a better painter, and reward me with creative moments I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
I know I can figure it out on my own, but I’m impatient, so I’m taking Keith’s Digital Painting classes. Care to join me? Spring classes start this week!
Digital Painting with Procreate, Wednesday Morning (Shortie) $95
Digital Painting with Procreate, Saturday Morning (Shortie) $95
Landscape Painting with Procreate, Wednesday Morning (Shortie) $95
Portrait Painting with Procreate, Saturday Morning (Shortie) $95
Related Posts
Painterly Figures with Tone: Part 1
Painterly Figures with Tone was a 4 week shortie art class, snuck into November/December. This post includes some of my favorite moments from that class. Please kindly overlook any flaws in the photography. A Sunday evening class, the images were taken on the fly, and in the dark. A word about working from photographs… Typically …
Guess the year, and the artist
[image_with_animation image_url=”9204″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] How old is this sculpture, and who do you think made it? (Answer will be posted tomorrow)
Drawing A Day, Day 28
Fran O’Neill’s Transcriptions
The following is text from my interview of Fran O’Neill, Oct 6, 2020. I asked Fran to share some of the historical artworks she regards as masterworks. She talked about what she sees as the magic of transcriptions. “There’s a whole mystery that is incredible about works from the past, and unlocking some of that …