A look at my 3 year progress as a digital artist

 

Year 1-2019-oil paint in procreate 

Year 2-2020-oil paint in procreate 

Year 3-2021-oil paint in procreate 

I purchased an iPad Pro in the beginning of 2019 with the idea in mind that I could teach myself to paint digitally. I’ve been painting traditionally with acrylics and gouache for a few years alongside the photography and felt in 2019 this was the moment to invest in this 1400$ piece of sophisticated equipment. Let’s review!

First screen shot of 2019-first year of painting digitally-rummy the lynx point Siamese is ok-it’s flat and loose and kinda seems like no direction-absolutely too many layers because I thought that’s what I needed to do in order to go back and ‘fix’ what needed to be fixed. Like I said it’s ok. But there is no depth or feeling so it’s a good first try!

Second screen shot of 2020-pandemic year-second year into painting digitally. This is the year where I feel I may be on to something. The photo of the street cat from Norway- this one has some bigger brush strokes where you can see the contrast and texture more. Still using waaaaay too many layers. But the highlights and depth of a digitally painted cat are there. It shows I’m progressing and improving!

Third screen shot of 2021-I’m about 3 years into painting digitally coming up here soon. Seriously still obsessed with my iPad Pro and using procreate to paint with mostly oils and some inks and gouache and oil pastels and some acrylic. But I’m in love with the oils. This lil darling kitten is a photo I took a few years back and chose this as a one of my favorites because I’m slowing down. With painting. My focus is the detail in the eyes then nose then lips. Then I can take my big brush and be loose and abstract. I also have felt it may be time to finally add a background to all of my portraits. At first I needed learn to get the animal painted well. And I’m more confident now. More careful about where the strokes are landing and they are intentional. I’ve quit adding all those needless layers. I paint on 5/6 now not 23! So there is finally more interest and consistency and way more depth in my work. But I’m still learning with so much more to go. Procreate has definitely changed my view of painting digitally. Also tracing is not cheating- it’s simply a step in the whole process. Digital drawing/painting is the new medium of the future and should never be diminished in any way-an artist still requires skill judgement and time. You have to know your fundamentals and you have to be able to conceive a composition in every painting. I’d like to find some oil paint flavored incense while I’m creating. Now that would be something. 

Shifting my mindset in my style of painting

 I’ve been shifting the way I normally paint. These past couple of years of painting on the iPad Pro using procreate has elevated my sense of creativity. I do notice my improvement and am simply thrilled when I’ve completed a final pet piece! When I find a photo of a cat or a dog that is a pleasing composition I never plan right. I never sort through a color palette or think of cropping or pick the perfect medium. I just wing it. And it always seemed rushed but acceptable. But here’s the thing-I need a sense of wonder. I need the piece to speak to me. And each stroke needs to be intentional. The piece has to be somewhat compelling to look at? 

I discovered an artist on YouTube because naturally I travel through its clickbait algorithms and after watching multiple pet painted portrait videos-I stumble on to a terrific German painter named Alpay Efy . His portrait painting presentations are simply delightful and straightforward. He explains that starting with painting the details in the eyes, the nose and then the mouth are the most important to begin with. So I took his advice and painted my photo of a hairless kitty cat also known as a Sphinx. It was the eyes! I may have elevated my art finally. I do plan to paint traditional pets in oil one day. But for now I’m very satisfied with my piece I created in 2 hours tonight. The background I struggled with a wee bit but hey. I’m on a better track now!!

Time Lapse Art Progress Procreate Videos youtube/instagram

   

   

  

                                                  

   

 Here are a few of the black cat videos I created on my iPad Pro using Procreate that I've uploaded to my youtube channel and instagram. Blogger seems to struggle with uploading any type of video so fingers crossed these turn out. This is a selection of the black cats I've appropriately posted for this October month. The bottom photo is my set up creative workspace - jimmy rigged whatever it takes to get something worth looking at - tape assists a busted made in Japan tiny tripod - natural light from the west facing window - foraged seasonal plants/faux plants/tropical plants - as props - pile of patience and voila. I LOVE the process of recording the art process and I remind myself to always TRUST the art process. 

Grateful for my family and this country!

The last big vacation was 2 weeks in beautiful Oslo Norway in August of 2018! Norway!This year I chose the more affordable 1 week in colorful Colorado! My fellow traveler buddies were the ones I care most deeply about and that is Leia and Dougie. Sometimes it can be tricky to accommodate a big doggie on a road trip (and sometimes a kid who asks a lot of questions) and I expected things to go sideways a bit but it did not (except for the stressful moment Dougie slithered out backwards out of his harness/collar-barely escaped but I held on to his fucking fur with all my life so as not to escape and terrorize the touristy town of grand lake next to Rocky Mountain national park) I handled it very calmly and he knew he was in for it. This trip was a breath of fresh air-literally and figuratively. Nothing beats fresh mountain air, clean and beautiful environments, friendly folks and delicious eats! Dougie was a wee bit anxious throughout the road trip, but he managed and I feel like it sent his mental and physical stimulation through the roof and was much needed! This was also a lovely time to further bond with Leia and catch up conversations that we’ve been behind on. I’m grateful for the new memories we have created from this trip and I am reminded of this beautiful country we live in. So thankful to enjoy my freedoms to travel and live and breathe and enjoy life here in America where many parts of the world are absolutely not permitted freedoms. This country is not perfect but its bonuses outweigh astronomically far many other places to live. Colorful Colorado is indeed colorful in that all the lush and green nature here sucks all the fucking carbon out of this earth. And that is something I love. Nature is the answer to everything. Indeed.

 

Dogs in August AKA Doggust 2021-1/2 way through the month-my fave dog drawing

 Doggust is a Instagram yearly drawing challenge every August started by a few dog lover artists that has been steadily growing every year. Draw a different dog every day in August or just draw the same dog differently every day for 31 days. I challenged myself last year and completed all 31. This year I’m halfway through the month and am on a roll-I can appreciate the daily practicing of drawing/painting of dogs. I know I struggle with my drawing skills and so I feel this is a fantastic way to speed up honing my skills. I feel I really have improved a bunch and my art style has def evolved. I just have to trust process of drawing/painting and believe it will in the end turn into something worthy to appreciate. This lil guy/gal is currently my fave. Soft pastels and dry brush for that doggy texture! I’m loving the dark and moody textural background I’ve created-I feel like I have to bring the velvet painting vibe back to the future. Goal is to focus in like a laser on the puppy dog subject and his layers of fur texture. A white background distracts and is quite blinding to me-now to experiment with ways for final output on to a dark textured paper without losing the depth and color. Dogs of summer ……

Ginger kitty cat Milo

Razzy relaxes in the cat window

Layers of acrylic paint on repurposed 16 x 20” canvas

Blocking out the values always begins to look like crap

Milo the ginger orange tabby kitty cat

Milo the adopted ginger kitty cat has been on my mind to paint digitally and traditionally. I have done both and can appreciate each form of painting! With traditional you have the planning and prepping and purchasing and gathering and focusing just right in the just right space with the mixing of the just right now paints. Touching and blobbing and scraping and wetting the colors are a fantastic way to mentally free your mind-creating something tangible that includes sweet textures and interest is deeply satisfying. 

Procreate oil painting of Milo

Traditional painting for me has always been using acrylics-however this digital painting I created in procreate on my 11” iPad Pro using my Apple Pencil was painted using the oil paints which has a lovely feel about them-the pressure and colors and textures can result in something quite unique-I get in a comfy spot on my sofa and spend about and hour - no layers - no blending - dark to light - patchwork method - random texture to maintain the abstraction! This is key! So I love them both. Ginger cats are sweet and silly. So I’m obsessed. 

Strategies to get through artists block

 Artists block is simply a feeling like your purpose in life is done. You wake up from an awfully no good sleep, walk the dog, spend nine hours at work, eat and go to bed. Staying stuck and trapped in that routine is pretty dull. Not the worst, but dull. So I’m creating a series. Of 35mm photography. Of Doug the dog. Of YouTube channel for my art. Another YouTube channel for Leias home movies. Painting digital pets art. And painting traditional pet art. All while wrangling a silly semi obedient high energy doggy. And leading a team of 17 backstage warehouse folks at my nine to five job. Did I mention I have to write this blog? It’s no bother because I’ve chosen to post monthly. YouTube is weekly. And creating something from nothing is daily. This dog photography series of doug should be good. For me. And whoever else cares. Artists block for me is that I can’t seem to get anything completed. My focus can be all over the place. I seem to hop from one idea to the next almost completing it fully. I want to multitask but I think that can be bad. Mentally. So I’m somewhat reaching my destination. Slowly but surely. I suppose if I had no ideas that would be simply awful. Leias birthday is coming up and I have a super duper present for her! -do you see how my mind shifts? I can’t wait for her to see it. Artist block? I’ve plenty of external motivators and some internal ones. I should take the time to identify those one day. Goals. 

The first thing I see when I walk in through my front (back) door!

Update! This is the new and improved nook/entryway. Art and plants. Simple. Dougie approves. Love

 My front door to my apartment is my back door-so I needed a work of art that spoke to me and reduced my stress levels every time I turn the key and enter into my cozy pad. This photograph was shot in downtown Copenhagen in 2010 during one of our few and far between  (Leia and I) vacations. When I saw her standing there checking out the cool graffiti on the door the composition just fell into place. A favorite shot since that time-so 2 years ago I had an idea to blow up the image and somehow throw it up on the wall in my home in some sort of cool fashion. The size of the canvas is 20 x 30”. The finish is a metallic glossy coat-I’ve spray mounted it to a old canvas that I really didn’t care about anymore so I’ve finally repurposed that and voila here is where it will live! Ignore the mess below-wip of course. I love graphic design and I also love traditional art as well but my style is modern graphic vintage eclectic. (?) Making it all flow eventually in my new pad. Leia is at the front door(along with the WIP mess)!!! One step at a time. 

New home. New pad.

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Put up a gallery wall of my completed pieces today in hopes that it motivates me to get moving on my painting projects! I still have a big mess to sort through before I can get started but sometimes you just have to get going. And just do it for crying out loud. Dougie is super settled in and loves the backyard! The new smells are driving him crazy and I love that! Mental stimulation is gooood! I’m almost settled in my new pad and I truly love it!

 

Your mindset during a move.

     

  
   Protecting plants and fragile item takes time and CARE! Don’t ever skimp!  

Kraft paper and lots of lil boxes is a must have for the plants!

Wrap it all just to be safe. Seriously. You will not regret. 

Saran Shrink Wrap from ALDI is a must have for the breakables!

My ultimate plan was to buy a house when my lease on my apartment was up April 1 2021. It was serious and then prices skyrocketed. I said-no thanks I’m not over paying 30k for a house. So in January this year I knew I needed to find a new home. Purged 3 carloads in January-one was full of clothes that was donated to the open door mission. The second and third load went to hand me ups charity. I went apartment touring to 4 different locations and finally settled on the fourth one. I’ve lived in a 3000sf house 3 bathroom, this 1100sf apartment -2 bathroom and soon in 3 days I’m completely downsized to 700sf with only one bathroom to clean. Yes please.

 I’m moving from a super icky brown town (carpet and walls ugh) for 3.5 years- to a brand new super gray and black and white (walls and wood floor yay) smaller, cheaper that has a spectacular (wooded area) view. My home will be my art studio.

For 3 months my mind has been in move mode. Purging, donating, simplifying, deep cleaning and collecting bubble and boxes. Nothing creative-which irritates me more than anything. But I just take a deep breath. Think of the future. And then move on. My motivation and creative energy will reappear once I’m all settled. The studio will happen this weekend. I cannot wait. 

Fur-bruary 28: Moxi the Shorkie

 So I've finally reached the end of the month of Fur-bruary! The ultimate goal was to  be consistent in daily posts that included my work as a photographer and painter. To view the progress of my art and to commit to every day social media! It’s hard to motivate myself but not impossible. (Wine and coffee helps) What was more of a challenge for me personally was the Doggust (August) month last year where I actually illustrated/painted a different dog everyday. This final image is of a sweet and dear mutt named Moxi who belonged to my sister lucy. She was obsessed with her mama and was always by her side. I dog sat her a few times and her description of fun with me was collecting landscape rocks as a game. That and modeling for pet portraits. I miss her. Final pet portrait painted in oils/gouache and dry ink in procreate on my iPad pro. 

Fur-bruary 27: Doug the Bowie Eyed Borsky

 This is not a typical pro photograph of a pet. It is rather a good example of a typical pet photo “happy snap” taken by your humble dog “photog” for a future pet painting. Things to consider in the photo reference when a potential client would like to commission you to paint their pet such as natural light, sharpness, angle of the picture and background. Backgrounds “should” be clear of any distractions. The angle should be taken from a low at the pets level-preferably. Should never be blurry. And the use of a flash is definitely forbidden. If these rules are mostly followed then a fun and fantastic portrait will be created!

Doug the Bowie eyed Borsky painted with oils in procreate. Handsome dude I must say. 

Fur-bruary 26: Blue Pug

 Blue pug was one of my favorite oil paintings of the dog series of last year. I felt the blue and green tones for a black dog brought some fun and whimsy to his darling personality. The google eyes are irresistible and I’m super happy with the results!

Fur-bruary 25: Ming Toy The Fluffy Pekingese

                                      

When I choose to set up a photo shoot I prefer to book as many clients as possible during the August- November months of the year. This is ideal to produce the absolute best photographs. This lil fluffy pal posed so nicely outside in the wooded landscape while a light breeze was flowing though his feathery Farrah faucet fur. Ming Toy turned out pretty good as a painted portrait using oils in procreate. 

Fur-bruary 24: Rolf The Friendly Kitty Cat

 Rolf belonged to the neighborhood. On the local streets of the quiet town of Høybråten Rolf knew every secret hideout and the locals loved a friendly visit from Rolf the cool kitty cat. Rolf appears a bit angry in his photo but he’s only a gentle soul who is curious about new things. That’s all. Painted with oil paints in procreate. In the second photo I had just installed the paperlike smooth and luscious screen protector for my iPad Pro! It’s a truly lovely piece of textured like paper to paint and draw on. In love still. 

Fur-bruary 23: Jessica The Brown Staffy

 This beautiful portrait is a favorite of mine and I just knew I wanted to paint her in an abstract and whimsical style using gouache and inks for a fresh and fun look!

Fur-bruary 22: Elaine The Miniature Aussie

 This cute as a button min Aussie posed beautifully at the pet event. Her blue eyes are so unique. Painted her with oil paints in procreate.