My 3rd e-Newsletter

The Art of Animal Newsletter, Vol. 3  

Styl(us)ized Art by Sherri Godsey - creating paintings from photos Visit https://www.theartofanimal.co

Welcome to the third addition of my e-Newsletter! This issue is about posters. I want to make posters that say something meaningful. Short, but to the point via the visual. This is where the Painter program excels - it's all about placing images in layers to create the image. I've tried to use Corel Draw, which is a graphic program, but I'm so used to the Painter that I prefer it. I find the tools easier to use. And I want to create a "painted" image, not just a layout of vectors.

The poster above, "Small Acts of Kindness Can Save A Life..." was my first poster creation. I love size contrasts, and what is more impactful in size than a whale? Imagine having the size and power to overwhelm much smaller beings but using that incredible strength to save a life that you'd expect to be insignificant to something so huge. I made the man small but vibrant in color and pose because he has embraced the fact of his rescue on the snout of a whale.

I like doing water-associated images because it's fun and challenging to work with the light and shadow and motion of a watery scene. All of the different items in the scene - the boat, the whale, the man, the water (even the bubbles) - were created by adding each as a separate layer, then collapsing those layers into one image. Prior to collapsing, each layer can be sized, rotated, and positioned to make the scene. The final image is painted and detailed as a whole, such as blending edges or changing the contrast. The text is added last.

The most difficult thing about placing images is that you're putting in an entire photo, which means there is a background surrounding the image. That has to be removed. It's simple enough to erase the background, but it requires time and patience as you don't want to remove any of the main image. I have this poster in various sizes available on my website. This is the sort of poster I image in an office, or a bedroom, or a children's classroom. It's fun and I like the concept displayed.

Textures are everywhere, expressed to our eyes by contrasting colors and shadows and light. Walruses have an interesting texture because their blubber creates skin folds. The movement of light over those folds brings out a multitude of colors, and the fold creases create depth. These two critters took a long time to paint, and even though I used photos as the basic shape, the result is my original take on the colors and the textures of the walrus flesh. The end results don't look like the originals but have taken on their own characteristics. It was fun, too, working with the ice, which is full of colors from impurities, as well as reflections and refractions because of the shape and different thicknesses of the material.

The fishing boy is the point of the poster. Walruses live by 'fishing' Walrus style, so I put in the boy fishing through ice. He wants to share with his Walrus friends, who sit patiently by in their great bulk, with no interest in harming their little friend. Caring is shown by sharing, a nice message expressed through the companionship of the animals and child.

Friendship - This poster took a long time because I added so many children. The purpose was to show different ages and races, boys and girls, playing together with their big moose friend. It's all about the interaction of people and animals in the best possible condition of companionship. This was many layers, many adjustments, many erasures, many paintings. A huge composition. A unique composition. Can't you picture this hanging in a children's classroom or in a nursery?

This painting is meant to be inspirational. An imaginary image of a child free to race around on a zebra, taking a chance that is both fun and fascinating.

Another attempt to encourage children to join in. I saw this great image of stampeding longhorn cattle and painted it. I liked the colors and dynamics. Then it came to me that I wanted more from it than just the stampede. So, I added the children one at a time. They had to be excited to fit the momentum of the herd. I added a little side note that an actual stampede probably wouldn't be the best activity to join in on. Still...the concept is pertinent and the kids in the painting are having a great time.

Posters are decorative and entertaining and often have some insight to pass on. I'm always open to ideas to make something new and different. Until next time, be safe, be happy, be creative. And, if you think about it, share. :