http://www.gfxartist.com/general/member_blogs Copyright 2000-2008 GFXartist network / Brothersinart http://www.gfxartist.com http://images.gfxartist.com/gfx/GFXartist_64.png support@gfxartist.com en-us GFXartist Engine 1.0 60 Tue, 13 May 2008 13:23:52 EST dlindsey Announcement If you see this book! Don't buy it! Instead please go the this link and follow the instructions there. Plagiarism abounds, this we all are pretty well aware of. But once in a while you come across an example that literally takes your breath away. Darren Di Lieto, founder of The Little Chimp Society , a well known art blog has been a recent victim. He has spent the last 3 years building up the site to it's current status as a great artist/illustrators advocate and resource. In a fraction of that time a publisher in Hong Kong called Great Creativity organization has plagiarized practically all of that hard work (not to mention the actual work of the artists and writers contributing to the blog), and published a book which is available online and in bookstores at the price of 42 euros! He goes into more detail on his personal blog at the link mentioned above, please do visit and be amazed at the audacity of this company. I know I was. And please, let's do what we can to help by spreading the word. http://dlindsey.gfxartist.com/blog/165789 Phos Exposition sandpaper effect? blue-green watercolor wash followed by a layer of mauve chalk and another layer of black liquid ink I sanded only on the layer of ink, but as you can see, you can sand as little or as much as you desire and all layers are effected http://phos.gfxartist.com/blog/165458 emarts Work in progress Photography vs Photo-manipulation I want to get the differentiation out of the way first because when it comes to the quality issues, they will overlap, if not be identical. What makes an image a photo or a manip? Well, I've done some asking around of professional retouchers (and of course I have my own ideas) and the general concensus -- and I'm surprised that there was a consensus -- comes down to the intent of the photographer/manipulator (I prefer the term Photo Editor as manipulation sounds negative and with evil intent). The process to a great photograph starts with the click of the shutter. But even before then, the Photographer has made a few critical decisions that will affect the outcome of the image. In the strictest sense of the term, manipulation starts here: What aperture should I use? Should I add a filter? How long should I expose the image? Should I try zooming or panning effects? The term "straight out of the camera" gets tossed about as if any image just comes straight out of the camera. In fact, the closest to straight out of the camera is probably slide film, and only if you don't cross-process it. So manipulation really begins at the start. So should we consider every image to be a manipulation? Hardly. We need to talk about the intent of the artist. When I take a photo, I think it would be nice if I could just click the image, and bang! the most brilliant photograph is created. But I have a retouching background, and to me, every photo can be helped by some kind of post work. Whether it's to correct bad exposure, to remove a wrinkle, to add other pleasing elements. But the majority of the time when I click that shutter, I want to say something about what it is I am capturing onto the tiny little CCD thingy-whatsit inside the camera. I want to tell a story, describe a mood, put something (or someone) in a positive light. I want the viewer to get caught up in the image, not so much in the creation of the image. So even if I take a hat from one picture and put it on the head of a person in another picture ( Sweet Melissa ), or soften an image to stress a mood ( Perchance to Dream ), or add detail to correct a flaw ( Prehistory -- in this image the eye was brought it from another photo because the original eye was too much out of focus), the intent is to for the viewer to see and relate to the image. On the other hand, if I the manipulation itself is part of the theme to the image ( Ghost Porsche ), or I am showing my skill as a retoucher through use of before and after images ( Enlighten ), then the intent is to showcase the manipulation. To bring attention to the manipulation. Outside of GFXArtist.com, many manipulated photos exist (and I suppose inside too) to fool the viewer into thinking it represents the real world. Here though, since we are all artists and come here for the teaching/learning environment, I think showing off the manipulation is a celebration of the art form. So keep in mind you audience here. They are not the general public. Many of them are you peers with the same experiences and education as you. Speak to them like a king would speak to a king -- with mutual respect. Place your image with this audience in mind. Do you want them to be engaged in the image or do you want them to be in awe with the technique? Neither is wrong. But putting the image in the right category is the first step to getting the comments you seek. http://emarts.gfxartist.com/blog/103725 Kaburan Work in progress I've been continuously working on new artwork for the past couple weeks since I released my first complete painting, Aphotisan. To capture a more visual angle of Aphotisan, I started another painting in which the perspective situates on top of the mountains behind the fortress. My ultimate goal has been just improving my painting techniques, workflow, time management, and composition. Details have been my secondary goal. With this I think i'll have a quicker composition that forms before the looks come in. It has been frustrating as i've been continuously scratching out, and painting in my forms in and out. I never feel as if my artwork is where it can be. But with that comes motivation and determination, I believe I can reach that point eventually. The second painting I've been working on is called "Shipwreck Cove". With motivation from Pirates of the Caribbean and just interest in islands, I chose this as my theme submission at my background design & layout class at school. I did get some crits personally from my art instructor, particularly the composition. She said that the mountain in the middle was breaking the oceans horizon line, and looked like a middle finger flying in the air. She also suggested I change the level of my focal point (the rock ledge on the bottom right) up farther so its more natural and noticeable. With that I created a waterfall. I also been working on the lighting. Hopefully I can find success in this piece as well. original after crits If you have any advice for this piece, feel free to shoot em over. I can use every bit of creative help at this point. Im going through technical tunnel vision. http://kaburan.gfxartist.com/blog/162154 ParrotandDuck Announcement I've returned. It's been over a year since I've posted, but I finally got myself back into art school part time and I'm doing what I love again. You'll be seeing a lot more from me from now on, now that I have a regular avenue to produce art. I'm stoked. http://parrotandduck.gfxartist.com/blog/160376 leSicilien Announcement Too rigid a site for me, & too many modern "web2" features missing. See you somewhere else http://lesicilien.gfxartist.com/blog/159998 dlindsey Announcement My online profile is featured in the Nov/Dec issue of Create Magazine! The magazine has been around for quite a while, but their online network is fairly new and really growing. Definitely worth a look! Their http://www.createmagazine.com and my link there http://www.createmagazine.com/user/dlindsey Woo Hoo!! http://dlindsey.gfxartist.com/blog/159410 Phos Exposition Hi guys... well, dove has completed her recovery for her knee surgery. her recovery was a complete success! during the recovery process she was above average in healing; the vets attribute this to dogs who have surgery done very soon after the injury. we were very fortunate that they intentionally got her in asap due to the fact she's a service dog. I have been so happy that I went forward with this-- the relief that she's not in pain from the injury and that her recovery was so amazing has made it all worth while. her surgery occurred on the summer solstice so the end of the 3 months was on the first day of fall...this made our summer not much of a summer, tho, and I find myself feeling loss as the seasons change. that's the only downer of this whole affair. on the art front-- with not giving it much thot but driven by pure excitement --I managed to purchase all within the same time frame the apps of PhotoshopCS3, Painter X, and a wacom Intuos 3 tablet (thankyou mother dear =). this is my first experience with each so I have found myself learning, learning, and learning. watching videos has been a way of life lately --I really enjoy this!! but it will still be a little time b4 I submit work to the gallery here that it a product of these exciting new tools. I am about to publish my latest work to the members gallery...something that was a nice FUN break to take from all the learning. look for it soon. hope you enjoy this thumbnail of my lovely dove. this was taken in color and I used photoshopCS3, thnx to the videos by Deke McClelland on Masks & Channels, to convert it to grayscale not by the ordinary means but by choosing the green channel, and then eliminating the other channels. no color loss occurs with this method. this image is straight from the camera (other than re-sizing); no crop http://phos.gfxartist.com/blog/156509 dlindsey Announcement I know it may not seem like a big deal to everyone, but I am so excited my site is finally up!!! I am so proud!! Come visit! The link is http://dellalindseyart.com/ *happy dancing!!* http://dlindsey.gfxartist.com/blog/156014 dlindsey Announcement Woo Hoo! I was just notified that some of my digital art will be featured on Computer Graphic World's website in their online gallery section! The images should be online (on their home page with a link to the online gallery) next week, and remain so for two months (until the start of November). Their url is: http://www.cgw.com/ME2/Default.asp Once there you follow the tab marked "Gallery". (you can't see, but I'm doing the happy dance ) http://dlindsey.gfxartist.com/blog/154931 ARTOONATOR Work in progress Well, there's progress. We've been living here for about 2,5 months and it's a great house. Still not finished entirely, but we're getting there. Check the previous blog to see the differences. We had to wait 6 months for that bloody table...tree wouldn't come down I guess... That cupboard was bought on Ebay for 50 euro's. Than we scoured it, it had to be primed two times, and laked two times....SEE ALL THOSE DETAILS?!?....luckily our aunt did the painting http://artoonator.gfxartist.com/blog/152448 Phos Exposition in preparation for her surgery, dove's left hind leg got a 'poodle cut'. all the fur on this leg was shaved on both the outside and inside all the way up to her hip. they leave this fur on the foot which I have aptly named a fur-sock. by itself I think it is rather cute and amusing. but since her fur takes ages to regrow she will be sporting an odd new hairstyle for some time: 3/4 yellow lab and 1/4 poodle! :/ (Monday June 25th,07) http://phos.gfxartist.com/blog/151365 Phos Exposition well here is a look at dove's incision 3 days after surgery. I put the keys in there to give you a reference for the length. the incision is looking really good and beginning today the swelling began to diminish significantly which has made me very happy. she's already putting some weight on her foot and using it; at other times navigating fine on 3 legs. for those who don't know-- this is a view of the inner left hind leg of my dog who had surgery last Friday for blowing out or completely rupturing her ACL.......yes, dogs have ACL's too, but the following blogs will explain how they are different from humans. many people do not realize that dogs have ACL's until their dog injures theirs, but in fact for a dog to injure themself in this way is not rare or unusual. these dog blog pictures are not attempts at high quality art, but an exposition of explanation with the 'submissions' as aides (Monday June 25th, 07) http://phos.gfxartist.com/blog/151364 Phos Work in progress dove eyes. recent circumstances have been exhausting. while dear dove is healing, I too am mending....... so as friends and family follow these dog blogs (here on "Blog Phos" ), the gfx-community is invited as well "Exhaustion" have you ever felt so fried that you had undoubtedly vaporized? -- your body of flesh, found only as dust blowing around, with the ash of your skin, all gone with one gust. your bones tempered down blended in marrow; blood, sinew, and strength -- fully withdrawn. yet still the eye see still the soul touches the overcast day beside night's deep sadness; knowing hot pain, and intense exhaustion http://phos.gfxartist.com/blog/151272 Phos Work in progress 6-19-07 as I was working on this an idea popped into my little head and this is the direction it took-- not originally in the plan and becoming more complex in concept. the size of this is unfortunate as you are unable to see key details as to what this is about. until I get my regular website going where I can upload larger images this will have to do. I do not not have a wacom tablet and for this image to be complete I will need to get one first, so this means putting on the back burner at least temporarily as I await another purchase. geez, getting this new computer has been like owning a car-- one expense after another ! for my friends and family that are out-of-the-loop on what a w. tablet is.....it is an accessory or periferral to your computer. it has a special pen that you use on the surface of the tablet to sketch with and takes the place of a mouse. the idea is that it gives you as close as possible the feel and capabillity of drawing with a pencil on a natural surface and enables you to draw with much more detail. the tricky part is that you draw on the tablet while you watch your screen to see the result. haha, disassociated drawing -- how amusing! =D the drapes of sight are fallen all is numbed nearly full-- my cerebrum slumbers, the body dysfunctions, tugging to put us to bed what has been scribbled here? what has been said? when the spring of the mind bubbles only molten lead "goodnight" http://phos.gfxartist.com/blog/151056