Day Nineteen
30 Paintings 30 Days, Day 19
Women in Red # 19 © 2014 Susan Lobb Porter
They’re going gray. My ladies are going gray. Just. Like Me. And no, they’re not self-portraits.
They’re a statement.
I’ll be writing more about this later.
xoxo
Number 18
30 Paintings 30 Days, Day 18
I’m on my feet when I paint in the studio. Rocking out, hopping around, playing a mean air guitar. Painting, for me, is a physical process.
Or was, until I started spending time creating art on the iPad. For 18 days now I’ve been sitting on my butt way too much. Bum planted firmly on the sofa. Feet up on the coffee table. Maybe a bowl of popcorn by my side. And a cuppa tea sans (accidently) soaking paintbrush. As studio conditions go, well, it’s not a studio.
This digital stuff is a whole ‘nuther way of making art.
Women in Red # 18 © 2014 Susan Lobb Porter
But today was different. This is Women in Red # 18 and she wasn’t created like the rest of the series. Oh sure, she was made on an iPad 2 using Procreate. But for the better part of her creation I was spinning my wheels–
on this–the ancient and sturdy stationary exercycle, the one that was already old when I bought it 25 years ago in the Salvation Army store. But today I had an AHA! moment that was sheer genius. I bought a used over-the-bed hospital table, rotated the handlebars on the bike and now have a totally fine bicycle desk. I’ve adjusted the height so it’s perfect or sitting up straight, not the usual slouch I have when working on the laptop or iPad.
It’s not a workout workout, I don’t envision raising a sweat as I blog. But it keeps the blood going and after almost an hour of light pedaling tonight I ended up with jello legs.
Buh-bye chair-butt. Buh-bye.
Oh yeah, about today’s painting. I don’t know who she is, there was no reference photo, just my imagination. I dunno, I think she looks Greek. Or maybe Roman. What do you think?
Learning New Things
“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it”
Pablo Picasso
Women in Red # 17 © 2014 Susan Lobb Porter
When I decided to take part in Leslie Saeta’s 30 Paintings in 30 days I didn’t know much about digital painting. Actually, I knew nothing about it. So I decided to learn. I figured the 30 day challenge would be a good excuse for a regular digital practice. I also decided to blog about it because going public with my intention, putting it out there to the world meant that I would finish it.
Or at least that’s what I hoped it meant.
We’re now 17 days into this and ‘painting’ with a stylus is becoming more natural to me. I’m sticking with the Procreate app because I want to learn it. Know it inside out.
Tonight I realize how narrow my experience with it is when it dawned on me that I was using the same ‘brushes’ over and over. I found what worked for me and didn’t move off that path. So I made myself experiment and try a few I was unfamiliar with. You won’t notice by looking at the finished image but they’re in there adding to the overall effect.
Tomorrow I’ll experiment again. And every day through the remainder of this challenge. Because trying things I’m not comfortable with is the only way to become comfortable with them in the end.
What do you think?
Short and Sweet
30 Paintings 30 Days, day 16.
It’s late. I’m tired. No words tonight, just a picture.
Did you ever think I’d be at a loss for words?
Women in Red # 16 ©2014 Susan Lobb Porter
But just because I am doesn’t mean you have to be. In fact, I’d love to hear your take on this. What do you think the story is? Because every painting has a story.
Looking forward to seeing what you have to say. I’ll be back tomorrow with some more Women in Red.
xo
15 Down 15 to Go
You know the Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy is doing the happy dance?
Well, that’s me tonight. And this is the reason:
Women in Red # 15
Women in Red # 15. Oh, I luvvvvv this one. She makes me happy. I feel like I’m getting this style down, getting comfortable with working in the iPad, working with Procreate.
I even like the way my signature turned out.
And I owe it all to the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge. Because without that commitment I don’t think I would’ve sat down every day and stuck with learning Procreate. Never would’ve gotten past the frustrations of the early learning curve. I know I wouldn’t have painted (if that’s what you call this digital image making) every day. And would have never come up with the Women in Red theme.
But I did and I have and I’m here. And I’ll continue being here with a new painting every day until the 30 days are over. And then I might just set myself up with a new series, a new challenge. Who knows?
Prints of this image and the rest of the Women in Red series are now available in my Society 6 shop. The link is up above and to the right on the sidebar.
Technical info: Created entirely on my iPad 2 using Procreate.
As always, I’d love to hear what you have to say in the comments below. And if you like this post please share it with your friends.
xoxo
Halfway There, Almost
Yep, it’s been two weeks of daily digital painting. Two weeks. WOOT! The Women in Red are beginning to take on their own style. Here’s day 14 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge.
Women in Red # 14 © 2014 Susan Lobb Porter
There’s a story here, I’m sure of it. Hint: It’s not me riding Lana. As much as I would love to say it is, that’s not the energy I get from this image. What do you think it is? If you have a feeling, opinion or outright certainty, tell us about it in the comments below.
Technical info: Created entirely on an iPad 2 using the Procreate app.
If you would like to purchase a print of this image or any of the other Women in Red, click on the sidebar link and check out my Society 6 store.
I think you need one as an early Valentine’s Day present for yourself. Yes, I do.
Be back tomorrow with another Women in Red.
xo