Living my retirement dream

[Lynda Kamrath]

Wow!  I met someone here at DK who definitely thinks like me.  She does beautiful pet pictures by painting them with a Wacom tablet.  And she is so talented.  Found out on FB that she is offering high resolution digital files so you can have them printed anywhere.  We did the same thing with our remodeling last summer.  We took high res photos of our favorite places and printed them on canvas.  (We have a canvas printer.)  So, check her out.  She is on the Buy-Sell-Trade group, but even I had problems getting to her.  Her website is:   www.bellcreativegallery.com     Many of you have great photos that she could render into paintings.  I am learning to do the same thing in my Intro. to Digital Arts class but her talent is way beyond mine (at least at this point).  I will get there - one of my goals this year.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I love her art. I've stumbled on some of her work somewhere here on DK and loved it immediately. I think taking a Intro to Digital Arts class would be so much fun. You will need to share some stuff you learn with us, perhaps in the Photography group. I would be really curious to hear what you are learning and what tools you are using.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I already took the Digital Photography/Adobe Photoshop class at a local junior college (2 times) and now am in that Digital Arts class.  We have Mac Computers with Adobe Photoshop, Corel, and many other software programs installed, and Wacom tablets.  I have a PC with Adobe Photoshop and a 24" Printer that prints on everything, including canvas.  I will probably buy a Wacom tablet for my own home use.  It is an on-going process for sure.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

So why is the Wacom tablet so suitable for this kind of art?

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Jarka, not sure if you're asking about tablets in general or a Wacom in particular, but artists and designers I have worked with often prefer a tablet because it allows you to use a stylus which you hold like a pencil or paintbrush. So the motor skills they learned and applied in fine arts transfer readily to the computer. They say trying to do these things with a mouse is like trying to draw with your shoe!

Regarding Wacom, all I can say is that it is the one that the designers I've worked with use. Not sure if it's because of quality differences, or availability, or familiarity.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Agree.  I am still learning, but having the programs to use and a tablet for drawing are necessary.  However, the skill as an artist also helps if you want these beautiful portraits.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Interesting. Thanks for the explanation. I have no idea about these things, I'm just now learning to use Photoshop. What kind of printer do you have for canvas prints?

[Lynda Kamrath]

I have an Epson Stylus Pro 7880.  It has 8 cartridges (at about $75 a piece) and you can get rolls of any kind of paper or canvas to install.  Expensive initial cost and maintenance but we like it.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I love your picture of Cosmo.  Did you have your picture framed or is it just on a wrapped canvas.  Just curious...

I would love to have one done for Bailey! 

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Thanks, Elizabeth!

I haven't done anything with it yet--I just keep gazing at it on my computer screen!

My initial thought had been to have it giclee-printed on water-color paper, but a canvas would be wonderful, too. Whichever I do, it will be framed. I am a traditionalist that way!

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Since I am not fimilar with this type of art...Question for ya.  Does she print it out for you and make the canvas or does she create the picture and send you a computer file?  Or does she do both?

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Looks like she does both. She just recently added the option of you buying the digital file and having it printed wherever you want to.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Thanks...that would be great.  I thought that was what I read but wanted to make sure...This would be a great anniversary present for my DH (wink wink) and me of course LOL