Zoom Wedding Screen Shot (with Prisma filter)

Last week, there was a wedding in the family. We couldn't be there in person, but we "attended" via Zoom, as did many friends and family.  Some of them took screen shots and sent them to us.  This image began with a screen shot sent to me by a cousin.  I added a Prisma filter, and used Painter to change the image shape and add a border.  This is a light-hearted image, but I am very serious when I say that it was great to see all these people come together, even if it was just on Zoom, and attend the wedding.

Wedding Cake on Zoom (with Prisma app, Dallas filter)

We had a wedding in the family last week -- on Zoom.  Friends and relatives who "attended" were taking screen shots and sending them, so I am not sure who took this photo. But kudos to the original photographer.  I love the image of the bride and groom cutting their wedding cake -- as seen on the laptop screen. So I cropped the original photo and added a Prisma filter.

Little Dock at Kelleher Pond (with Prisma filter)

Here is another photo from a walk at Kelleher Pond, on March 23rd.  This is right in our neighborhood, but when as you walk on the path around the pond, you can feel you are on a nature trail. 

I like the little wooden dock where people fish or tie up a small boat. (You can row out to the island in the middle of the pond.)  I cropped the original photo and used my Prisma app to add a filter (called Frangipani). 

Walk at Kelleher Pond (with Prisma filter)

This image began with a walk around Kelleher Pond (here in Beverly, MA) on March 23.  I was anxious to see signs of spring, but nothing was blooming.  I took pictures anyway because there is always something to see at the Pond.  I used my Prisma app to add the "Sea Turtle" filter, which provided some of the color I was longing to see. 

Reposting: Floral with Matza Pattern

Back in 2010, I used a photo of a piece of matza to create a pattern in Painter, and then used my matza pattern to create these flowers.  I am reposting this to wish a happy Passover to those celebrating the upcoming holiday.

Vaccination Mirrorball Trophy

On Thursday, we had appointments to get vaccinated, right down the road, at the Vittori-Rocci Post, where we have often gone dancing. After we had our shots, we were sitting in the observation area (otherwise known as the dance floor). I looked up and saw this mirror ball and took a picture.  And why not!!! To me, getting the vaccine felt like winning a prize.  Later I added a Prisma filter. 

Flowers for a Wedding (with Prisma filter)

March 24 was the wedding of our son and his bride, with a small ceremony in their house.  Although the wedding was far away (in Nashville) we watched on Zoom from our living room in Massachusetts and at times the distance seemed to disappear. This image began with a photo of their wedding flowers.  I cropped the photo to get this composition. The flowers were bright to start with, but I added a Prisma filter to make them brighter.  It was a very happy day!

Beaded Flower Pin (Digitally Modified Photo)

What to wear to a Zoom wedding? That was what I was trying to decide on March 23rd, with one day to go. My daughter suggested we should both wear big floral pins, and she supplied me with this one. It looked like a little corsage, which was fun. I decided to wear it with a silver sweater.  I took a picture of the pin against my metallic sweater, and then added some special effects with Painter and my Prisma filter.

Updated Post: Very Quick Bouquet (with Digital Woodcut)

Well, it is officially spring and I have been daydreaming about bouquets.  Here is a digital drawing of a bouqet that I created in Painter back in 2011  (Drawn with the mouse, I am proud to say!)  But these older images are so small! So tonight I opened the original drawing in Painter, enlarged the image, and added posterizing and digital woodcut effects.  

Updated Post: Spring Trees (with Woodcut effect)

Spring is on the way, so here is an image to match.  Today I updated this digital drawing of spring trees, created and originally posted here in 2007. I drew it on an early version of a drawing program on a hand-held device. I decided to update it because the original version is far too small for today's programs.  So I opened it in Painter, enlarged its size, and then added posterizing and woodcut effects.

 

Closeup of Kalimba (from "Kalimba and Lexi" Painting)

I have been finishing up my portrait of two greyhounds, Kalimba and Lexi.  Here is a closeup of Kalimba's face.

Closeup of Lexi (From "Kalimba and Lexi) Painting

Putting final touches on my double-portrait of Kalimba and Lexi.  Here is a closeup of Lexi's lovely face.

Irish Landscape (with Digital Woodcut Effect)

Because everyone is Irish today, I am reposting this classic, a watercolor of the Irish landscape that I painted some years ago, after a trip to the Emerald Isle.  Today I used Painter to add the digital woodcut effect.

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting)

I worked on this painting today, and made a lot of small changes, many done with a very small brush. Now I think it is time to say that this painting is finished. But of course I will fix any mistakes I see while I seal the edges of the canvas, attach a wire, and get this ready for a trip to its new home in Nashville.  I am glad I had a chance to meet these lovely dogs when they were alive, and am glad to be able to paint them now, as a way to remember them. 

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 15, 2021

Yesterday I had decided to modify the background of this double portrait to make the painting seem symmetrical. So today my main task was to carry out in paint the changes to the background that I tried out yesterday on the computer in Painter.  I changed the shapes of the large shadows on either side of the dogs' bed, making them into dissimilar shapes, thus decreasing the expectation of symmetry.  I did this through by just a slightly exaggerating the shapes of the shadows as they appear in my reference photo.  I think this is better, though I might do a bit more on the upper edges of those shadows.  To be continued. . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 14, 2021

This afternoon, I worked on my painting of two greyhounds, Kalimba and Lexi.  I made some small corrections to the Lexi's face, and added "collars", but spent most of the time working on the cushion and the background, trying to find the right colors.  I think this is something close to a solution for the color scheme.  After I had put my paints away and was photographing the painting, I noticed that the composition had lost a bit of its (already tenuous) symmetry.  I decided that I want to nudge it back.  I had an idea for an easy solution that involved changes to the background, so I tried it out with conte crayon outline right on the canvas. It looked like it would help, so I did a digital "dress rehearsal" in Painter. My solution worked pretty well digitally, so tomorrow I will make the changes on the canvas. Meanwhile, here is my painting as it looks today. . . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 13, 2021

I continued to work on this painting today, a double portrait of two greyhounds: Kalimba (left) and Lexi (right). I started by making corrections and more corrections on the faces of both dogs,  using my reference photo.  I also changed the position of Lexi's front leg.  And then I used a transparent wash of a gray (concocted of phthalo green and brown) over the purple I used for Lexi, so now her color is a bit closer to black. I made some other small changes, including the line of the corded seam near Lexi's face.  There are lots of small things to fix, but I think this is going in the right direction. To be continued. . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 12, 2021

I worked on this painting again this morning, a double portrait of two greyhounds, Kalimba (on the left) and Lexi (on the right).  Last night, I had decided that Lexi's head needed to be a bit larger, so that is what I started with.  I sketched in the changes with yellow conte crayon, and then repainted, mostly with purple and white today.  I also made a few changes to Kalimba's face and ears. I am still working to make sure the features and markings are in the right place. For this detailed work, I am using a teeny tiny brush, and it takes time. There are a few changes to go.   It is one thing to draw a dog; it is quite another to capture the face of a particular dog, but it is well worth it.  There is no such thing as a generic dog.  Ask any dog owner.

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 11, 2021

This afternoon, I worked on this painting.  I concentrated most of my attention on facial features of sweet Lexi, the dog on the right. I worked from my reference photos, trying to get a likeness of her, and also trying to make sure that her proportions are similar to Kalimba's (the lovely dog on the left).  I also made a few corrections to Lexi's position, and started a bit of work on the dogs' bed, especially that corded seam.  It is a nice accent to have that line, and it also functions as a way for me to check that my placement is correct.  I am working on small details, so it seems like things are moving slowly.  Nonetheless, I think I will be able to finish soon. The background should go quickly, I imagine.

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 10, 2021

This morning, I worked on this painting.  I began by modifying the angle of Lexi's head and repainted the features. (Lexi is on the right.)  Now the position is better, but more work to be done to get a likeness of her lovely face. I also made some changes to Kalimba's face, and made some other small changes, including work on the dogs' bed, and the background.  As the work is becomes more detailed,  it seems to go more slowly. . . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 9, 2021

I returned to this painting this morning.  Today I worked on refining the figure of Lexi, the dog on the right.  Yesterday I printed out a black-and-white copy of my reference photo, which I used to help me see the cast shadows more clearly.  Today I used the black-and-white print again to help me see the darker and lighter areas of Lexi's body that reveal anatomical structures.  I also did a bit more with shadows cast by Kalimba, the dog on the left.  Today I worked exclusively with purple and white paint.  But don't worry; these are not the final colors. . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 8, 2021

Here is my painting-in-progress as it looks now.  Today's goal was to revise the figures, and I needed to be able to see where the dogs ended and their shadows began.  So I started by working at the computer.  I made a copy of my reference photo in black and white, and then adjusted the brightness and contrast until I could see clearly where the shadows were. I printed out a copy, and used it to adjust the shadows and shapes on the canvas.  I used pink paint just so I could see what I was doing, and followed it up with neutral tones to get closer to brown.  I think the figures are more accurate, but there is more to do. To be continued. . . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 7, 2021

I worked on this painting today. I started adding some soft color to the background (the dogs' bed), to help the figures stand out. Still working on symmetry and foreshortening. To be continued. . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 6, 2021

I worked on this painting again today, a double portrait of these lovely greyhounds.  I began on the computer, enlarging, cropping, and printing out a closeup from my reference photo.  I needed a closer look to sort out the position of back legs and tails.  Then I worked on the canvas, correcting positions with red conte crayon, checking proportions with a ruler, and modifying lines accordingly with paint. I think the foreshortening is a little better. As I work, I am adding more color, but still am only using brown, white, and purple. To be continued. . .

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 5, 2021

Today I used my reference photo to refine the details of the position of each dog. Plenty of tails and long legs to figure out.   I made a few changes and there will be many more to come, but I am working in transparent layers of acrylic paint, so it is easy to fix mistakes.  I started adding a bit of transparent color to the dogs. I have been working in brown and white paint only, and today added purple (which will turn into black).  When I am finished, the dog on the left (Kalimba) will have a brown torso with white face and legs, and the dog on the left (Lexi) will be black with white markings on her face.

Kalimba and Lexi (Painting) as of March 4, 2021

Today I began to paint on canvas, painting into my sketch with brown and white acrylic paint.  I started with the goal of indicating placement of shadows on the figures and shadows cast by the figures.  I also painted in the basic shapes of the composition.  The dog on the right is going to be black, and the dog on the left is going to be brown (actually almost brindel) with white markings. But at this point, I am not yet trying to indicate their color, because I am still trying to make sure the figures are correct.  

Kalimba and Lexi (Sketch for Painting) as of March 3, 2021

Today I continued working on the composition for my painting of these two lovely dogs.  I am sketching my composition right on the canvas with conte crayon, switching colors as I make corrections.  I don't often draw or paint dogs, but I am using what I have learned from years of figure drawing.  Today I refined the sketch, using the reference photo as a guide.  The composition is unusual because the faces are in the bottom part of the canvas, but it works in the photo so I am going with it.  Today I worked out placement, and found a solution for symmetry: although the dogs are in different positions, in my composition,  the nose of each dog is about 3.5 inches from the edge.  This is getting close to what I want, although I need to add more foreshortening.  

Boat Race (Animation made in Procreate)

I am learning to use the "Animation Assist" function in Procreate.  I used it to hand-draw this little frame-by-frame animation (no pre-sets).  This is very short, so don't blink.

Kalimba and Lexi (Sketch on Canvas) as of March 1, 2021

I finally picked up a new canvas (16 x 16 inches) over the weekend, so I can actually start this painting.  This morning, using my reference photo, I sketch out placement and composition using conte crayon on canvas.