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!
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
Last Thursday I posted over 100 orange artworks. Now there are more! Image right: A Dalecarlian horse is a traditional carved, painted wooden statue of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna (Dalecarlia). Several different types of Dalecarlian horses are made, with distinguishing features common to the locality of the site where they are produced. This one is from around 1950 and is …
We are very nearly done with our 30 day creative challenge. Just three more days! Today’s challenge is to design a challenge. Think of something that you’d enjoy, something unusual that unlocks your creativity. Post clear directions, suggested materials, and an example or two to Padlet. The winning entry will be given to everyone for …
Congratulations! You are 10 days in to this 30 day creative challenge. Have you checked Instagram to see what comes up for #30sal? As I write this there are 598 posts! This is so exciting! Who will post #600? There are quite a few on Facebook too! If you did a few of the challenges …
Yankee Doodle The paintings are credited to Archibald Willard. Color and composition versions, oddly varied, are the contributions of the internets. The original (dutch) nonsense words to “our” Yankee Doodle song: Yanker, didel, doodle down, Diddle, dudel, lanther, Yanke viver, voover vown, Botermilk und tanther. From Wikipedia:The term Doodle first appeared in English in the early seventeenth century[7] and is thought …
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
More Orange Artworks
Last Thursday I posted over 100 orange artworks. Now there are more! Image right: A Dalecarlian horse is a traditional carved, painted wooden statue of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna (Dalecarlia). Several different types of Dalecarlian horses are made, with distinguishing features common to the locality of the site where they are produced. This one is from around 1950 and is …
30SAL Challenge: Challenge
We are very nearly done with our 30 day creative challenge. Just three more days! Today’s challenge is to design a challenge. Think of something that you’d enjoy, something unusual that unlocks your creativity. Post clear directions, suggested materials, and an example or two to Padlet. The winning entry will be given to everyone for …
30SAL Challenge: Monopod Creature (Part 2 of 2)
Congratulations! You are 10 days in to this 30 day creative challenge. Have you checked Instagram to see what comes up for #30sal? As I write this there are 598 posts! This is so exciting! Who will post #600? There are quite a few on Facebook too! If you did a few of the challenges …
Yankee Doodle
Yankee Doodle The paintings are credited to Archibald Willard. Color and composition versions, oddly varied, are the contributions of the internets. The original (dutch) nonsense words to “our” Yankee Doodle song: Yanker, didel, doodle down, Diddle, dudel, lanther, Yanke viver, voover vown, Botermilk und tanther. From Wikipedia:The term Doodle first appeared in English in the early seventeenth century[7] and is thought …