Trying Out Corel Painter Essentials 6 - Painting in an Impressionist style

[@punkinlechat4956]

I don't know art, but I do know what I like, and I love this - love the colors and the style!

[@SteveElliottArt]

Thanks Punkin, much appreciated

[@prk002]

There's always going to be traditionalists who say digital painting is cheating. To me, the most important parts of painting, or drawing, are composition, color theory, contrast, and understanding how to put it all together to make it work. When I see your paintings, I see a great understanding of how to put that all together, and your color choices show your expertise in color theory. Without it, no painting would work, either digital or traditional.

[@SteveElliottArt]

Thanks a lot for the comment. I do agree with what you are saying, It's just a personal thing that if the app makes it easier I feel I'm cheating

[@prk002]

I understand how you feel, but you have to remember, most parts of digital painting make it easier. Using layers so you don't disturb other layers, moving or resizing objects, changing color tones, etc. etc. This is where the big debate comes in to play. It's 2018, the digital age, embrace it and ALL it has to offer.

[@SteveElliottArt]

I totally agree, I probably wasn't expressing my self properly. I'm all for the apps making things easier like you describe. It's when the app takes over the painting process I have an issue. Maybe that might be something I come to terms with. I certainly don't have a problem when the water takes over the painting process in watercolour!

[@DaveyBakerArt]

I think you did a great job with it!

[@SteveElliottArt]

Hi Davey, Thanks a lot

[@jeanproctor560]

I don't think it's cheating Steve if it's there use it. I love the colours you have used . I used the tracing in artRage just to get the Outline of a horse.then drew and painted the rest of the horse and a little scenery, perhaps it is not very good but I have done a digital painting and for an 85 year old that is pretty good and Steve it is you who has made me try to do it

[@SteveElliottArt]

Thanks for the comment Jean. I'm so pleased I've inspired you

[@annavannoni]

Jean Proctor Way to go Jean! Please post the video so we can see it.

[@mauritaschut8466]

I don't think tracing the basic outline is cheating when you then go and draw/paint the rest of the painting yourself. Something I've taught my son to do is to put on tracing in the beginning if it's really complex and just make basic geometrical shapes to show where the basic layout is and use that as your first layer. Turn off trace and then start drawing the actual picture based on those geometric shapes and your reference picture. Many experienced, talented artists have used and use tracing (in the real world too, not just the digital) for marking the basic layout in complex works of art. There are obviously different techniques used in the real world to trace rough outlined of images onto a canvas vs tracing in a digital art program but it all amounts to the same thing. It is a starting point for your work of art!

[@annavannoni]

What a lovely scene, I'd definitely be selling it! Please do one with the Van Gogh brush & one of his paintings as a reference - I'd love to see the outcome!💖🎨👍😆😎😉👏❗

[@SteveElliottArt]

Well I’d better hurry my demo version is coming to an end.

[@annavannoni]

Steve Elliott ok then! Chop, chop my man! 😆👍😉😎👏🎨💖❗

[@cybrough]

Thanks for this. Every medium that artist use has “tricks” and “secrets” that they have found to help them with their art. Digital is no different and it’s not cheating in my opinion. I purchased Corel Painter essentials 6 on Amazon. They offer a CD version and a download version. The download version isn’t supported anymore and will not work. However, the CD version does work. I paid $45.98 USD.

[@SteveElliottArt]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I didn’t know there was a problem with the download version. That’s the version I’ve been using and it’s fine

[@cybrough]

It didn't work for me about a week ago. I downloaded it and it opened a web page that said "page not found or moved". I contacted Corel and they said it was no longer supported. Amazon refunded my money so I bought the CD version and it worked fine. I appreciate your art work and look forward to learning from your videos.

[@SteveElliottArt]

Ah, I downloaded my version directly off the Corel website

[@Staubling]

coral painter is in humblebundle right now you shoud consider to buy it it costs olnely 15$

[@SteveElliottArt]

Thanks fo rthat tip. I've necver heard of Humblebundle before so checked it out, seems interesting

[@juliewhitehead4432]

Hi Steve--- no def not cheating as someone mentioned you have to know other things to make it work and it defiantly worked. I have been having a similar conversation with an artist friend of mine----- i was showing her a finished piece that i had drawn(not traced) then painted digitally I then printed it out, sprayed with fixative and then added soft pastels to enhance. She considered it 'cheating' ! I asked her how it was different to an underpainting but she couldn't get past the printing part. Now it was just an experiment and I'm not claiming its archival or anything but I do find it interesting that because i used technology it was cheating. What do you guys think?

[@annavannoni]

Julie Whitehead if you like using technology to create your art then do it, just tell people it's a new medium your using! (That should quash the 'Cheating' term!)

[@SteveElliottArt]

I think it’s just a matter of time before digital painters are accepted as serious artist by the establishment, the same way musicians have.

[@annavannoni]

Steve Elliott I totally agree with that statement!

[@juliewhitehead4432]

anna vannoni Thanks Anna

[@patriciacoveney1]

I think it's not cheating if a substantial proportion of the finished work has involved creativity and skill and has something to communicate. I think as an artist you know in your own conscience how much effort you put into it. It is definitely not cheating if you use these short cuts as part of the learning process to build your knowledge. Obviously to sell on the art is another matter, but as one of the subscribers says , be upfront and describe the process used then it's up to the buyer. If Installations of all sorts of forms are accepted in art galleries all over the world I see no reason why digital art shouldn't be included as mainstream. I did see a beautiful digital installation which was a framed electronic screen which had a constantly changing display of serene abstract art in a gallery in Adelaide which was very impressive. David Hockney who loves to pioneer Technology has had his iPad work displayed so why not all the other talented digital painters. There is such a wealth of largely untapped talent out there. Keep up the good work and enjoy the new medium.

[@sanayavg]

well, its still YOUR effort! and ur thoughts translated. if u feel its cheating coz the software helped u make it, maybe ud like to price it lesser than ur other works. coz id love to put this up in my room. love love the colours and effect. and thats what the digital world is all about really isnt it? to make things more accessible and easier which frees up our time to do so much more. cheers!

[@mauritaschut8466]

I love the colors and the finished painting but I totally agree with you that it's cheating to call it your own work and I'm so glad you said it! I've been feeling frustrated, tricked and let-down by people using all these newer software cheats to create art and then claiming they did it themselves. It takes away from the enjoyment you find in viewing real, honest, works of art and all the time, effort and talent put into them. One thing that I'd like to say about yours though, is that you did make it a lot more your own creation than a lot of what I've been seeing out there! You obviously know what you're doing without the aid of those cheats. It would just be nice if people would be honest and say they used auto painting software or brushes that lay down the painting for them wherever they paint a stroke. Don't misunderstand me...I'm all for digital painting software and all the perks of not having a long clean-up process; being able to undo mistakes; using layers and having the capability to erase or change only that one layer; using many different mediums for one project and having a wide array of tools and paints without it costing you a fortune!! These things make digital painting/drawing an awesome art tool! But please, don't claim a work as your own if you used the software to do all the work for you!! Edit, September 2021: Please see my updated comment in replies below as I'm mystified by my own comment here.🤔

[@SteveElliottArt]

Hi Maurita, Thanks for the comment. I agree with you 100%. I try to keep my digital painting as close to traditional painting as possible. So long as there is a good pencil and blending brush. I'm sorted. In fact Paper53 is my favourite apps for sketching, a really basic drawing app that makes you think about the art, not the tools, as far as i'm aware you cant even change the size of the brush,

[@cybrough]

I disagree, learning to use art software requires skill and is a medium like any other. Watercolor has advantages and disadvantages as does acrylic or oils or pen and ink digital is an art form like any other and the artist should take full credit for his/her work.

[@Masterpaintingnowlearn2draw]

I don't see how a scatter brush is cheating, anymore than if I use a beat up bristle brush on canvas with oil and smash in some bushes in a matter of seconds, or using a spunge with oils to get rock texture.

[@SteveElliottArt]

I am becoming more comfortable with the technology, and am buying into some of the more 'techie' features but do have a few issues with brushes that are little more than stamps

[@Raherin]

It's not cheating, if you looked at this image and enjoyed it, that's all that matters, not what brush the artist used.

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

well when artists used the camera obscura to create realistic paintings were they cheating? Some of the best known artists used all manner of techniques to aid in their creations. If it's there then use what you need, otherwise go back to traditional oils and be done with it.

[@SteveElliottArt]

Hi oo0Spyder0oo, To a great extent I think you are right. I'm sure as time goes by tools that would not be available to a traditional artist will become more acceptable and part of the everyday tool kit. I would image someone who has come straight to digital painting without a traditional background will embrace all the new tools more readily than some one with years of experience with traditional media.

[@cortjezter]

If you're using layers or undo, you've already crossed some arbitrary line of cheating compared to traditional. Different tools, different rules 😇

[@SteveElliottArt]

Hi cortjezter, I'm not so sure about layers cheating unless you start using weird blend modes or resizing move objects. Many types of traditional painting use glazing as a technique which is adding another thin/translucent layer of paint, watercolour for example. I've also washed part of a watercolour away back to clean paper, but I'm playing devils advocate here, obviously that wouldn't work with pastels, so I take your point. Thanks for the comment