Smartie's Bar & Grill #74

Yes my son used photoshop for years, did a lot of design work for my business on there for me. Its a good program but not very instinctive. He is now designing 3d images for us on blender, but also likes playing with it. Especially at the moment while he's got no work because of Covid restrictions over here.
Never heard of firealpaca

 

I'm thinking Blender is even less instinctive, though - it's possibly the most user-UNfriendly program out there. You log in and all you see is a cube in space and no directions as to what to do. But it's great though; I love making robots on it. Also, it's freeware so we have fun with it at school.

That's why we have Firealpaca. Also freeware. You could download it and have a look; I've never had an issue with bugs or spyware with it. I use that to have the kids do animation - it's pretty neat. And like I said, for freeware the school can afford it!

 

Thank you I will have a look. (I've never used blender, I'm not good enough

 

I said I'd have a go at painting this picture, so I thought I'd share the process with you all. Hope you don't mind.

So here's stage 1.
I sketched it out then masked the tree trunks
(Masking fluid dries and protects the paper while you paint the background washes, sky etc)
When that was dry I wet the paper and masked out where the yellow leaves will go, putting masking fluid on wet paper allows it to spread and fade out at its edges giving a soft join. I needed to mask out the leaves because the sky and leaves are both translucent light colours, so I can't paint one over the other and if I paint both at the same time they would mix and produce green.

 

This could be more interesting then a Bob Ross marathon.... (humor, Tigger2!)

 

Or less

 

Was a huge machine in the back of the ranchito this moring.. I initially tho't the trash truck had driven into the ranchito (to drop off the mechanic for wifey's Lexus) but after it tooted it horn, I realised it was a train! Now there have been train tracks at teh back of the property since 1928.. but they went defuncnt shortly there after, they have been talking about resurrecting the line for pert near a century.. guess they are getting closer! LOL (BTW.. the train is elevated above the farmland there, so I guess I'll have to get use to it being in my house! )

 

I had family that lived with a fully functional set of train tracks run directly at the back of their property. As in, the gravel bed was literally at the property line. The train ran several times a day.

They of course said 'you get used to it, after a while you don't even hear it'. Sorry, but that will be a no for me!

 

~ Something nice ...

 

@Tigger, when is your next art lesson?

 

Well due to underwhelming support I wasn't going to bother.

 

I was extremely interested. Tell me all about the supplies you use. What brand of brushes do you use? I bought some brushes and I spent more time picking the hair off the canvas than I did painting.
Have you ever used tube water colors?

 

Ok thank you. I will post again now.
My brushes are a mixed lot, bought over many years (I have about 70) but if you want reasonably priced ones Cotman are pretty good.
I tend to use 450gm cold pressed paper so is doesn't buckle as much when you wet it.
My paints are a mixed lot as well, though in the main Windsor and Newton artist quality. I am slowly changing over to Daniel smiths as these are very good.

 

I bought some inexpensive Langnickel brushes. My husband told me to spend more next time. lol
I am practicing on 300g and it does buckle a bit.

 

Stage 2 Stage 3
Stage two was to put a wash in the sky, nothing complicated on this one as you don't see most of it. Dampen the paper from the top to about halfway down, hold the board at an angle to the light and wait for the water sheen to just about go. Now take a medium strength mix of Cobalt blue 70% and Cerulean blue 30% and drop it into the wet paper at the top. As you work down towards the bottom of the sky add more water so the sky pales towards the horizon. Finally drop some stronger blue mix in odd places to create a hazy cloud effect where the deeper blue isn't.
Stage 3
When this dried I added a weak wash of raw umber to the rest of the picture (Except the path) This will be lost under all the under brush added later. The path I did with a very weak wash of burnt sienna and raw umber to give it some warmth.

 

Painting is like anything else, cheap stuff don't work, but expensive stuff makes little difference unless you are a professional.
Many people get put off starting painting because they by cheap stuff and can't get the effects they see in the books and videos.
300gm paper is just fine, I used it for years, I've seen people turn up at painting days with cartridge paper and despair at their inability to produce a good picture. Like turning up to a marathon in carpet slippers.
If you are interested in starting I would be happy to give you a reasonable list.

 

Even big skies like this one I did of Prospect cottage, are mostly learned technique. Though probably not for beginners.
But I can teach anyone to do a good sky in about 15 minutes. (The secret is not to paint it blue like your doing a wall)

 

That is a nice painting. I like the way you did the sky and the clouds, the sand, and the texure in the sand. I have some tubed water colors but I think the Windsor Newton is a better choice. What I have now is Speedball and Pentel.
DO you ever use wax ?

 

Thank you.
I'm afraid pentel paints will do you no favours at all, please treat yourself to some new ones. Cotman student paints are very good for starters. you can buy a half pan set for about $12.00 Its where I started.
I have used wax resist in the dim distant past, but not recently. I've tried many different techniques but tend to work almost exclusively with brushes now.
Though I do like playing with graphite and indian ink. Dug through some old stuff. Mr Fox in indian ink and watercolur

Paris rain Graphite and acrylic links.

 

Very nice. India Ink is fun to work with.

 

I used to make sculpted cakes in different shapes. No, I was never trained for it, I just "do" it.
I never used fondant because the stuff is disgusting, and I won't make anything that tastes disgusting.
I sculpted cake and used buttercream to cover it, unless it was a special request.

 

@Dr.Phibes
Those are fantastic! and so much fun, you must have made many an event extra special. I know I shouldn't have a favourite but I love the BBQ and the Dinosaur. Oh and the camper van.
Which one was hardest to do?

 

These are just some. There are a lot of cakes I never got pictures of because I just simply forgot to take one.
I did many wedding cakes that took many hours to create, two in particular I loved, that I didn't get pics of.

Out of the ones in the photos, I would say the Beetle and the MiniVan weren't hard, but took the most time to create.

 

@Dr.Phibes

Very cool!

 

Good morning earthlings. Brain teaser for after youve had enough coffee.