Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Something Amazing | CD Baby Music Store

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Something Amazing | CD Baby Music Store

"Guitar Player and Friends" Corel Painter

Guitar Player and Friends

I got this photograph from Stockvault's Freebies. It is a great picture of a Guitar Player with friends, a good example of a depth of field. The Guitar Player is in focus and the others are not. I opened the image in Corel PSP Pro X3 and converted it to grayscale. I saved that photograph.

I then opened it in Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 and painted it as a digital Watercolor Sketch, I saved that iteration. Closing Essentials 4 I reopened the image in Corel Painter 11. There I selected to paint with Digital Watercolor and Gouache brushes.

I used colors almost at random for the image. I knew I wanted a bright red guitar, but the rest came as I worked on the piece. It was tedious work and took longer than usual for me to paint. I am so happy I use a Wacom Tablet and Stylus for digital painting in Painter. I finished the image, saving it as a large file.

I used Corel PSP Pro X3 to adjust the image brightness and used Saturation Vibrancy to punch up the colors. I added my signature and merged all layers, then saved again. I resized the image for display and saved with another name.

NOTE: My next new song will be coming out soon! I am getting the production ready with CDBaby and now am awaiting the 'ready,' report from them. It is titled "Something Amazing," and is a positive tune with upbeat lyrics and sound. Watch for it! The Full Song Preview will be available so you can get a complete idea of the tune in itself.

"Digital Watercolor Homeless Man Four" Corel Painter

Homeless Man Four

I garnered another Homeless Man Portrait from Morguefile and did a Digital Watercolor of it. I opened it in Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 and applied the Watercolor Sketch tool to it. This auto painted the grayscale image into a sketch to paint with color.

I saved the painting and opened it with Corel Painter 11. There I applied the Flesh tones I wanted to the face. I selected from a colorful palette of flesh tones appended. I added the white in the eyes and beard using a Gouache brush, and painted the knit hat with a version of it as well.

I saved the large iteration and reopened in Corel PSP Pro X3. Here I adjusted it with the Smart Photo Fix, which brightened it up a bit. I made the colors bolder by Increasing the Saturation Vibrancy. I added my signature. Saved again, then resized for display.

My efforts in digital painting are much like using Corel Painter and PhotoShop to arrive at a satisfying image. Although I don't have the most current versions of some of my programs, they still work well in Windows 7 as 32 bit programs. I happily paint away and adjust at will with my current arsenal of Corel Products, I would recommend Corel Painter 2015 as it is a good step up from Painter 11.

I have been a Painter user since its Fractal Design days and highly recommend it to those Photographers who want to learn how to digitally paint their art. A Wacom Tablet is highly recommended as well. They have pressure sensitivity and act like real world brushes. A tablet with a stylus is really needed to paint digitally.

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Reckoning | CD Baby Music Store

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Reckoning | CD Baby Music Store

Today I am finally releasing the day of "Reckoning!" You can listen to the Full song in Preview mode! The "Blind Guide," was warned in "Collision Warning," that with Pride comes the Fall. Now he pays for his indebtedness for his past behavior.



I have a BONUS track coming out after this series of three songs. The name of it is "Something Amazing." It is a positive song that has a good outlook and attitude in its lyrics. Watch for it!

"Pen and Ink Watercolor Distressed Man" Corel Painter

Painting of Pen and Ink Watercolor Distressed Man

As it takes CDBaby 24-48 hours to release a single for publication as I am waiting for the "ready," signal from them for "Reckoning." I decided to take the image I used to announce my new song and Digitally Paint it in Corel Painter 11.

I opened the Pen and Ink image in Painter and selected the Digital Watercolors Broad Brushstroke to begin painting. I did the brick and windows background first with a light brown. I then selected some Flesh tone colors for the face and hand. I mixed some grays with the flesh tones for the hair.

I painted the 'STOP,' sign red and added some red tones throughout the piece. I now switched to a Gouache Brush to paint on the black hoodie he is wearing. I used a light enough blue to show the brush strokes. I added a touch of blue to the rest of the piece to consolidate my color scheme.

I saved the Painting and opened with Corel PSP Pro X3 to adjust it a bit. Increased the Saturation with Vibrancy and Brightened the overall image.

I am anxiously awaiting the go-ahead from CDBaby so I can give to you my new song in the series of "Blind Guide," "Collision Warning," and NEXT: "Reckoning." I will again allow listening to the Full Song in Preview mode for you to consider. Watch for it!

I have another tune coming soon, it is very upbeat, I have a back catalog of tunes, not all of them good enough to share as a purchasable copy. So after the series I especially chose the next one. It is a positive and uplifting song lyrically and I can't wait to share it with you.

"Teaser - Third Song in the Series Coming Soon"

Indebtedness

The Third Song in a series is coming out within a few days. The "Blind Guide," has been warned in "Collision Warning," of his prideful ways. Now comes his day of "Reckoning." He has to pay his debt for being so self-centered and prideful.

Watch this space for the release of "Reckoning." Written, and performed by Kirk Mathew Gatzka.

"Woman and Blossoms Watercolor Collage" Corel

Woman and Blossoms

Two freebie photographs from Morguefile were used to create today's piece. I opened the Blossoms photograph in Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4. There I used the Detailed Watercolor setting for auto painting.

I saved the Watercolor image and reopened it in Corel PhotoPaint. I opened also the Womans Portrait in PhotoPaint. I layered the Woman over the Blossoms with Add as the property. As she was Sepia toned this gave her some transparency. I then used the Flip Horizontally tool on the blossoms and the woman.

I grabbed the eraser tool and erased around the Womans Face to get rid of white and dark areas I did not want. I did this with some abandon to add some abstraction to the piece. I took the Womans Face and fit it near the fork of the branch on the lower right-hand corner.

Since Spring is almost here in Michigan, I wanted to create a floral image, with a Womans Portrait.

Please have a listen to my latest release "Collision Warning," the second in a series following "Blind Guide." It cost nothing to listen - Click on the Play button to the Right to hear it. The third single is to follow later this month. Time when one is called to account for one's actions, to pay one's debts or to fulfill one's promises or obligations, is the basis of the coming release.

Watch for it. Remember to Scroll down to my CDBaby Store and listen to any of my singles released thus far. Most of them are only four minutes long, not taking up too much time to listen to. Enjoy!

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Collision Warning | CD Baby Music Store

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Collision Warning | CD Baby Music Store

"Collision Warning," is also a rocking tune. It explains that the person who is prideful is on a course of self-destruction. The singer is trying to warn the individual but finds it difficult. Put all that pride away! This is Number Two in a series of three singles. "Blind Guide," was about an Attitude problem. This "Collision Warning," tune gives out the warning. The one to come shows the results of a Prideful Bad Attitude. Watch for the next single about the time when one is called to account for one's actions, to pay one's debts, or to fulfill one's promises or obligations.

"Teaser: New Song Coming Out on CDBaby Second in a Series"

After The Collision - A Wreck

This is Number Two in a series of three singles. "Blind Guide," was about an Attitude problem. This song: "Collision Warning,"  gives out the warning to the prideful.

"Collision Warning," is coming out in just a few days on CDBaby in Full Preview. Yes, the full song is presented for you to consider and enjoy.

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE RELEASE OF THIS ROCKING SONG!

Post to your Facebook Timeline and Invite your friends on Twitter or by email, Please.

"Vintage Family and Bronx Intl Expo Map" Corel

Vintage Family and Bronx Intl Expo Map

Had some time today to browse my Public Domain Maps and Portraits. I selected this Vintage Family and a Bronx International Exposition Map. I opened the family portrait in Corel PhotoPaint. I also opened the Map in PhotoPaint. I layered the two images, after rotating the Map 90 degrees, and played with the property of the Map. I used Multiply and in addition changed the Opacity of the Map.

I applied a Gaussian Blur to the merged layers to soften the piece. I then applied a Filter Forge Film Frame to the image. I neglected to apply my usual signature to the piece, but that is not a big problem as these are Public Domain Images I am using to create another in my series of Map Layering 'Texture Blended,' images.

I hope you are enjoying my Musical contributions, even if you are only listening and not buying it is a pleasure to share with all of you. "Blind Guide," is to be followed by a song containing a warning for that type of person. Keep on the watch for it and subsequent offerings Musically.

NOTE: I now have a CDBaby Music store at the bottom of the posts. Please Scroll down to it and see the other tunes I have for sale. All are Full Preview songs, so you get an idea of what they are like. Comments, Pluses, Shares are welcome. 

"New Song Release Today 'Blind Guide' on CDBaby"

http://cdbaby.com/cd/kirkmathewgatzka6 Click here to listen to the Full Preview!

This is Number One in a series of tunes. This first tune talks about an Attitude Problem, a person with no natural affection, self-centered, and unconcerned about others. Thus a "Blind Guide."

"Blind Guide," is about the type of person we have all met. The one who wants to win and be on top all the time. It is a Classical Rock song with a great beat. Most of us have been victims of such an individual, not a pleasant experience. Reality is not in his or her outlook, only to win every time. A Bad Attitude to have. Don't follow him, you will only fall into a pit.

The next tune sounds a warning. Watch for the coming single after "Blind Guide!"

"Teaser- New Song 'Blind Guide' Coming to CDBaby"

I have been working on the song and artwork for it recently. Today I uploaded to CDBaby.com and now I am waiting for the email to let me know it is all ready to post. "Blind Guide," is the title. It is the first song in a group of themed tunes, I will be releasing this month.

This song Rocks! So get ready to listen to the Full Preview when it becomes available to the public!

Watch this space!