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Message
Posted
Eric - do post anything you can about your process, tools, and methods - I'd certainly be interested to know how you produce the beautiful veils of colour which often feature in your work: not because I want to achieve the same in digital painting, just out of interest in your techniques.
There was a fantasy artist - I'm trying desperately to think of his name: I think the first was Boris, and I'm struggling after that - Vallejo? This is what comes of getting older: I bought some of his books years ago, which sadly I no longer have: I had to sell a lot of books twenty plus years ago to finance my move to a new location. Do you know of his work - and can you correct my spelling or interpretation of his name? I believe he worked in 'conventional' materials - if I had to sell the books, that would have been over twenty years ago, before digital art was even a thing.
Anyway, he painted dragons, and idealized figure paintings of amazingly, though not impossibly, fit human beings - women and men: made me feel oddly inadequate even back then. If that is basically what you're doing with digital media, you're following a tradition in fantasy art - I enjoyed the books, the techniques (in materials I understood); some of us here will react against both digital AND conventionally achieved fantasy art: I appreciate that this could be a problem to understand - but it isn't what we do; it is what you do - I'm more than happy to respect your interest, your approach and techniques. All I ask is that you don't disparage those of us who think computers are for business, not art: it shouldn't imply criticism of your approach (though I realize it sometimes does): the way to counteract that is just to keep posting your work.
I have a problem with objectifying people - principally, that I don't quite grasp when representing what you want to paint becomes unacceptable - there are obvious boundaries which it would be a danger to cross: Norette believes, if I don't misrepresent her, that you've crossed them. I don't want to go there! But I will - I think I must: your pictures, or some of them, illustrate beautiful young women and emphasize, in one of the latest instances, their secondary sexual charactertistics, i.e. their breasts. This does seem to upset some women, who think that it demeans women generally by concentrating on that which most appeals to heterosexual men - that it fetishizes women to suit the male gaze. And I suppose it probably does.... yes; I suppose it does. Even though women have for a matter of centuries been the object of that gaze: and this has aroused controversy over art that was once considered to be classical and unexceptionable. Times change - attitudes and vision move on.
Anyway - I've made a mouthful of this! I suggest however that you try to understand the objections both to your technique, and your subject matter, both of which can collide against the taste-buds of some. I suggest you be sensitive to it - but not that you be deterred by it: we must do our own thing; indeed, we've little choice: our work is what we are, for better or worse.
I shall now retire to my Boys' Bumper Book of Philosophy for Beginners.
Posted
Yes Robert, I am Very Familiar with Boris Vallejo... He is one of the most Famous Fantasy Artist In the world. He Paints Erotic Fantasy Art... I Have a number of his books.. He was greatly inspired by Frank Frazetta... I also have all his books... I have been inspired by both... I also love a great series of Fantasy art painted by a number of artist I believe called League Of Angels.. You Should check those out... Ming Fan Is also a great artist who inspires me.. He Is a Digital Artist.. Vallejo and Frazetta both painted in traditional mediums... Again I would say that Traditional Mediums and Digital Art Are In Fact the same.. The same techniques I mean... Digital offers a greater variety of tools and greater control, also no mess, no smell... The best advice I can give to anyone to understand painting in Digital is to watch Youtube Videos.. There are thousands of them to instruct someone on specific tools and their use and different software programs.. Krita is the best in my opinion.... Free to download as well... Watch Painting in Krita videos and you will understand a lot... You will probably want to try it yourself... maybe just for fun.. Creating geometric abstracts is particularly easy..
Posted
All very interesting, I must look into Krita app. I'm assuming you use a graphics pen?? If so, which one? Way back I used a early version of photoshop Elements (still have it) and painted my scanned drawings with the mouse. I gave up on that because I was too clumsy (old age), but I can still use an ordinary pen or pencil...so any tips about graphic pens would be appreciated.
This post has been removed as it violates our forum rules and guidelines.
Posted
I have removed the comment made by Norrette , as it has been reported as a personal attack on a legitimate posting of artwork. I have mixed feelings as I see both side have a case but cannot let the personal comments stand as this could lead to more unfriendly comments best to stop it now. Sorry I haven’t worded this very well it the comment about the artist not the artwork. I see looking back Norrette has already changed herself, thank you Norrette for doing so.
Edited
by Paul (Dixie) Dean
Posted
You're a bolder man than I am, Paul - I decided I wouldn't remove it, and I could defend that decision; but I respect yours. Norette feels VERY strongly about this: Eric just as strongly defends his particular vision, and those two poles were never going to move. Drawing the line beneath it is probably the best move - I'm sure the debate will rumble on, if not here necessarily, then elsewhere.
Posted
That is sad , Norrette had a very valid point of view ,I will be so sorry if she walks away she has interesting views on a lot of painting subjects and in my opinion is a valued member of the site. I read the comment it was not at all offensive and was her opinion. .I do not think it warranted being removed.
Who removed Norrette comment ? It was valid. .I understand where she is coming from and she is obviously upset. I was up set when one of my comments was removed, for reasons far less than hers.
She obviously is hugely principled and whether you agree or not you should not silence people.
Edited
by Sylvia Evans
Posted
Sylvia - Paul responded to a complaint: it was a very difficult decision to be asked to make - of course moderators are subject to criticism, but all of us do our best, won't always agree with each other, but ultimately have to make our minds up. If this had been a unilateral decision - ie, not made in response to a complaint - that would be a different matter. We can't ignore complaints, though. I agree that it's sad, and I hope Norette will understand the circumstances.