When most people see the term "digital art," they assume that the artist begins with an image load, then uses Photoshop or some similar software to work on top of the photo. But, no photography was involved in these pieces. These works were all drawn freehand, stylus between my fingers, with no image loads. In traditional media, the artist starts with a blank canvas or blank sheet of paper. I start with a blank iPad screen, moving the stylus across the screen just as I would move a pencil on a sheet of paper. The only difference: the work is digital rather than "analog," for lack of a better term. I save the finished piece, upload it to Photos on my Mac, and can then print it. In a way, you can think of this process as another printmaking medium, digital lithography perhaps. I created all these works on an iPad, beginning with an iPad 2, moving up to an iPad Air 2, and currently an iPad Pro. The app used: Sketch Club, available on the Apple App Store.
Subjects include portraits, still life and landscapes. Scroll down for examples of each.
Subjects include portraits, still life and landscapes. Scroll down for examples of each.
Fantasy Self-Portrait |
Fantasy Self-Portrait in Pinks |
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Ketevan Reading |
The Red Scarf |
Godfrey |
Waiting expectantly Sunhat
Jeremy, from life
Sassy At the Coffee Shop
Sunflower, from life Sunflower, from life
Dreaming, from life Self-portrait, from life
Self-portrait, from life Red Hair
Rick and his coffee Rick and Hank the Tank
Sunny Day Rick in sunglasses
Brittany, from life, in the studio.
Brittany again, from life, in the studio.
Dara, from life
Archie, from life Little Red Riding Hood
Prayer
Rudbeckia, from life Four Petals, from life
Magnolia Blossom, from life |
Neon Daisy, from life |
Out Of The Silence Is Me
I much prefer working with the living, breathing human being in front of me, or the true, solid object. However, sometimes, I have no choice. I knew Kimberly her entire life. She had autism. She passed away about a year ago, at the age of 30. I worked on this piece while she was alive, but her autism was such that she almost continuously turned her head, back and forth, so posing was simply not realistic. Instead, I worked from a personal photograph. To me, she always had a truly haunting beauty, which I tried to capture in this sketch. The title is also the title of a book of poetry she wrote, which you can find on Etsy.com, along with prints of her artwork. Her Etsy store is kimsgifts, and her mother still maintains it. Take a look! |
Broken Rose, from life
The Ballerina
This ballerina sketch actually began as a dashed off drawing from life, using charcoal on printer paper. I scanned the initial drawing, loaded it into the Sketch Club app, and took it from there. I like the loose, gestural quality of her tutu and the general expressiveness of the sketch.
Emma lost in thought, from life Bridgette, from life
STILL LIFE
A SELECTION
LANDSCAPE
A SELECTION