Creative Suite FIVE!!?!??

Seems like I just bought Photoshop CS4. Now I'm getting hit with all the email hoopla over Adobe's next big release.

I admit it, I'm a technology geek. Every new release I GOTTA have. Especially Photoshop. I'm a little behind on Dreamweaver, just because my little HomeSite so much well fills the bill. And more.

So here I sit, pondering the eternal question. Do I REALLY NEED the next, latest and greatest release of the Creative Suite? Well, on one level (financially) I most certainly DO NOT! At a hefty $2600 for the Creative Suite 5, I think I'll pass. And just the stand-alone version of Photoshop is $699. Oy.

But it typically comes down to not whether I NEED it, but that I WANT it. 'sigh'... the spoiled three year old surfaces her feisy noggin and decrees that THIS version will be better, increase workflow, do jaw-dropping things NO ONE has ever seen before, and make her more money. (Make her thinner, improve skin elasticity, solve global warming, and bring about world peace. No, these are claims by Adobe, just my inner spoiled child trying to rationalize.)

This time around, however, I don't feel quite so compelled to jump on the bandwagon and save every penny 'till I can afford the upgrade. Not even the full version, mind you. A few reasons for this.

One. I haven't explored all the new features in Photoshop CS4 yet.
Two. I don't use Photoshop as often as I used to, down from 6+ hours a day to about 6 hours a week. I like to think I'm getting faster, but I doubt it.
Three. Why? The Photoshop I have now is MORE than enough for my work.

I've come to the conclusion that the day I outgrow Photoshop and NEED to upgrade, I'll think about it then.

Until then, I'll spend my money on painting supplies!!!!!!!!!

An Illustrator and a Painter in One: Gary Kelley's Story

I've always wanted to learn illustration. Illustrators must have a fantastic eye in order to see AND distort/caricature the human form.

A recent article in Art Bistro on Gary Kelley (read the entire article here) highlights an artist/illustrator. I love the below quote.

"Although his skills are still in demand, the artist said the landscape for illustration has changed with the ascension of computer graphics and the decline of printed books. There are simply less spaces that require illustration, and some jobs are filled by computer-aided illustration, much to a purist like Kelley’s chagrin.

“It drives me up the wall when people tell me that they have computer programs that can create the same effects as my painting,” he said. “Why would you want to do that? The end takes over and justifies the means, and I like it the other way round. I enjoy the smell of this paint; I enjoy what it feels like to scrub and wear a brush down on canvas, and if you can’t feel that, you’re never going to get it.”"

I absolutely love this!!

I listen to XM radio while working, in particular "The LOFT" (channel 50). The music is "eclectic", and the folks are so cool. Mike Marrone, Meg Griffin, Vin Scelsa, Franny Thomas, David Johansen, and the fellas at night.

Anyway, this song is Meg's opening song

Disorder in the house warren zevon,bruce

That's kinda the status around here. Disorder in the house. I was recently diagnosed with cutaneous lupus (on the skin), I haven't felt much like doing much. The worst part was it itching and burning. Finally, it's in remission, but am still getting blood tests run to find out what's going on with my liver. What causes lupus is unknown, could be genetic, but no one knows exactly. And once you get it, you have it the rest of your life.


Plus, my dog, Travis, just went through knee surgery.
It's been 3 weeks since his surgery, and he's up and running around. And he's getting a bath today!! Yay!!

But no painting. Or art of any kind. So my weekend will be cleaning up the "disorder" in the house, and hopefully get back to what I enjoy the most, painting. Maybe I'll even have a thing or two to post!!

TTFN!

Procrastination

Oh dear, I believe I'm SO guilty!! I saw this little gem on http://www.thestudiosource.com, and the scary thing is, I just made myself a cuppa tea...

Incredible....

I've been *trying* to be good and not spent too much time just doodling around, surfing, looking at cool stuff. And, I've been pretty good.

HOWEVER, while looking at a wonderful blog, Mind Wide Open, I found this delightful video. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!!

Too Tight!!

I've been realizing that in my effort to capture a likeness I've been painting (and drawing) WAY too tight! Probably part of my colored pencil days when a painting can take up to 300 hours. But I've been working on this painting my my Grandma (see earlier post) and I'm STILL working on it. In fact, none of the paintings I started are completed. I've been fussing over the details.

So, earlier this week, a friend, Susanne, lent me 2 DVDs and a book. All on what she calls "loosey goosey" style of painting. Wow... no one uses size 1 or 0 paintbrush to achieve fine details around the eyes and mouth! No one uses a fan brush to blend skin tones! Stand back.... IT'S A REVELATION!!!!

So, I've broken out some new canvases, and am anxious to try it out. But my left brain is arguing... "Finish what you start".
'sigh'..... ok.

Some old stuff, some WIP

Wow, February. Why does time seem to speed up the older we get?? I'll bet it's some weird "space-time continuum" thing. ;)

I'm back to painting, and I've got a few things in progress. Plus, when we traveled home to Spokane for the holidays, I took pictures of paintings I've done for my Mom. So, a few older pieces and then my WIP.

Buffy
Colored Pencil


Teddy and Tahoe
Watercolor


Now the WIPs. I love oils, but since our house is small, I just can't do them inside. So I decided to try Water Soluble Oils, and wow! they're really Cool!! So, the first one is from a black and white photo of my Grandma, when she was probably in her early/mid 20's.

Grandma


And another in water soluble oils.
A dangerous girl!!

Please remember, both Grandma and the "Dangerous girl" are both works in progress!!