Saturday, November 9, 2013

My first iPad sketch...



This is a pretty simple little sketch -- my first try at Paper 53.  I just got my first iPad for my birthday, after dithering about getting one for at least a year. I downloaded Paper 53 (free) yesterday, then shelled out a grand total of $9 for the add-on tools and palette and started playing.

I also bought a neat stylus/brush that I'd seen in an art supply catalog recently. I got mine through Amazon and couldn't be more pleased.  It's a Sensu, made by Princeton Brush Co.  The brush isn't essential, but it does give a reasonably good feel of actually painting. The only thing I'd like would be a way to control the size of the stroke, but you just get a single weight line -- good for filling in some color, but not quite as sensitive as a real brush.  This is what the Sensu looks like -- it's like a travel brush, with the brush stored inside the handle.

Although there is a built-in palette with about 15-20 fixed colors, the Color Mixer add-on is a worthwhile addition. It was only a couple of dollars and it works much like the color controls in Photoshop -- slider bars let you control the hue, the saturation, and the value, so you have almost unlimited choices.

All in all, a fun app and the iPad is fantastic. Can't believe it took me so long to take this step!!

6 comments:

  1. Oh Lord, you are way ahead of me . . . I'm just now considering a Smart phone (see how far behind the times I am!). 2 friends with iPads will drive me crazy with them, but it was fun to play with one, just not sure it's necessary for me. Have fun with yours!

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    1. Deb, you're saying exactly what I said for ages -- "just not sure I need one." I have to say that the first few days this past week as I got it set up, I wondered if I'd really use it. But I was constantly finding new things to use it for as the week went on. Now I wonder why I dragged my feet so long!!

      We made the jump to smart phones when they put one of the older iPhones on sale a couple of years ago and we love them!! I had infrequent contact with my daughter until I got that phone -- now we text almost daily and share photos, etc. Huge change in our relationship -- not that we were not friends, we just didn't communicate enough.

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  2. Hi, Chris!
    Great sketch for your first one! I'm still doing old fashioned watercolor! ;) I am amazed at your talent and energy! I too have ME/CFS & don't seem to get as much done as you. But you inspire me! That helps tons! Thanks!
    Ciao!
    CC

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    1. Hi CC -- Thanks for your comment! I don't plan to abandon my watercolors for the iPad, but it is fun to experiment with it.

      I am not absolutely certain I had CFS, although I did have something very similar. I've been very fortunate that my health has gradually improved over the 15 years since I first began having problems. I'm glad I inspire you and glad you have the energy to paint -- that was a huge part of helping me recover better health.

      Cheers!!

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  3. Your on way with digital painting and sketching! And congratulations on the column - will look forward to reading it. one of these days i will try those gold leaves and see if i can revive a painting too!!!!

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