From Traditional to Digital-Painting Fundamentals

0-A

Instructor: Marco Bucci

Description

From Traditional to Digital: Painting Fundamentals: As painters, our job is twofold. First, we must develop a powerful understanding of light, and second, we learn to interpret that information through the medium of brushstrokes. This course provides an intensive, fundamental study of light, how it works, and how to paint it using digital painting tools. We will study from reference photography, and create paintings both from photographs and imagination.

Skill Level

All levels can benefit from this class.

Software Requirements

nstructor is using Adobe Photoshop CS5, but this course is not software specific. Students may use the digital painting software of their choosing. Recommended softwares are: Adobe Photoshop (CS or higher), Corel Painter (any version), ArtRage.

Hardware Requirements

Computer that can run the software properly. Mac or PC will suffice.

Wacom Tablet (Intuos or Bamboo, any size)

Before Class

A familiarity with your chosen digital painting software is highly recommended. This is not an advanced software class, so a basic familiarity is all you need.

Week One

Introduction to Light

Your Instructor will introduce the concept of painting light, and will begin to deconstruct and analyze selected photographs to communicate some fundamental concepts of how light works, as well as introduce the student to common lighting situations found in nature. Students will be asked to find their own photographs that demonstrate the various lighting conditions discussed in the lecture.

Week Two

Quick Digital Studies from Photography

We will examine some more photographs, and instructor will demonstrate quick digital studies, with the goal of accurately reproducing the effect of light seen in the photos. These studies are fast and loose, and will use traditional techniques, rather than relying on ‘digital trickery’. The goal at this stage is for the student to begin to learn what elements are essential to capture, what elements must be simplified, and what must be edited out. Students will be asked to do their own digital studies from photos of their choosing. Some digital brush creation will be discussed as well.

Week Three

Critique of Student Studies

Students will submit their work to the class, and the instructor will choose studies at random, and critique them for the class’ benefit. Critiques will be performed by directly painting over the top of the work, as well as a verbal discussion of how to improve upon the study.

Week Four

Painting from Imagination

The instructor will draw upon information learned during the previous studies, and will paint a scene entirely from imagination, without using any reference material, and discussing the process as the painting evolves. Students will learn how to directly apply their knowledge of light to any subject, and create believable and beautiful images.