"NEW FREE Download of 'I Still Remain' on CDBaby!"

Guitar Player Chording D

After a month of having the songs "Open Secret," and "Something Amazing," FREE from CD Baby's site. I selected to change those back to paid downloads and add "I Still Remain," as a FREE download!

I did the Guitar Player Chording D a number of years ago. I recently found this version on our Laptop. I don't remember all the tools I used to create the Image, but I took the photograph myself.

I have been very busy caregiving for a family member. So it has been difficult to create new Artworks. I have been using my Tablet with free to edit photographs from PicsArt App. And using the Blogger App to post some art directly from my tablet..

If you were one of my listeners of "I Still Remain," it should now be available FREE from CD Baby's site. Look to the right panel and click on the Featured Post, click that Link and it will take you to the website where you can get it FREE!

"New Song on CD Baby 'I Still Remain'" Full Preview Listen!

Link "I Still Remain" Full Preview

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Search for It | CD Baby Music Store

New Song on CDBaby for Full Preview and For Sale. Have a listen and comment or review the song, here or on CDBaby!

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kirkmathewgatzka11

‪#‎CDBaby‬ ‪#‎indiemusic‬ ‪#‎previews‬

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Search for It | CD Baby Music Store

"2016 Time to Re-String Your Guitar" Hand Painted Painter Essentials 5 Plus

2016 Time to Re-String Your Guitar

“2016 Time to Re-String Your Guitar,” began as a free to edit photograph I selected from my Guitar and Music Folder this morning. I began by using Paint.NET's Effects, Artistic, Ink tool and created a digital Pen and Ink image to work with. I saved the large file.

Next I opened the file in Painter Essentials 5 and using varying Digital Watercolor Brushes, I hand painted this piece. I varied from brush to brush changing sizes and strokes. I did not take notes today I just wanted to paint by hand without interruptions. I have an older Wacom Tablet that I use to paint digitally. Hand eye coordination is very important, plus a bit of artistic abandon is freeing.

I selected the colors from the basic palette from Essentials 5, and tried to make the image colorful but consistent. I did later pick a Dry Ink Brush for some details I wanted to add, with a distinctive color of my choice. I saved the large file again.

Then I opened the file in PhotoPaint and adjusted the Tone Curve and Saturation for punch and depth. I brought up my Signature file for 2015 and cloned out the copyright symbol and the date. I used an Arial font for the new copyright symbol and new 2016 date. I did this on my Black and White signature file, I still need to alter the inverted signature file.

I added the signature layer to the piece and sized and placed it, using the Property Add for transparency I merged the layers. I saved once again.

Picasa 3+ was opened so I used the Warmify tool for additional depth to the colors. I added a Black and Brown Border here as well. I uploaded the image from Picasa to my online Picasa Albums.

Back in PhotoPaint I Resampled the file at 120dpi with 75 compression and 25 smoothing, I saved that file for display with a new name.

I have a Seagull S12 Cedar 12-String Guitar, so it takes much time to re-string it when I do that. I love the full-bodied sound of the 12-String and really enjoy playing it. It was built in 1990 and is still going strong. It needs a bit of fret work to freshen the sound. We will see what the budget allows soon for that.

We also have a used Violin for my wife that needs work to bring it up to playing worthiness. That is in the new budget for this year as well.

"New Song on SoundCloud - Come With The Tide" Audacity

Go to this link below for the Song:

https://soundcloud.com/gatzka-music/come-with-the-tide

Come With The Tide

Come With the Tide
©2015 Kirk Mathew Gatzka

As we view the far, far horizon
We can't help but look and see
That the waters go on the wizened
And that's the way that it's gonna be.

The waters go on and on and on
The rivers, seas, flow to the ocean
Our knowledge is only so free
And our wisdom is only a notion

Come with the tide
The waters are a rising
Come to my side
As we run on to the shore sizing

We tumble down on the high beach
Laughter is loud with despair
We both want to know how to be reaching
For the time when all in all is repaired.

We look to the West sun a setting
We look to the dark waves of the sea
We see that the East sky is blackened
We wish to set sail, easy and free.

As the fire and storm is behind us
We find our great ship nestled at bay
Baggage loaded, sails are a thrusting
To the East not a bad wind is blowing
As we happily set sail away.

The waters go on and on and on
The rivers, seas flow to the ocean
Our knowledge is only so free
And our wisdom is only a notion

"Tear The Curtain Down - New Song" SoundCloud

https://soundcloud.com/gatzka-music/tear-the-curtain-down

Tear The Curtain Down

My newest song, it is 8+ minutes long, reminiscent of Neil Young. Just Vocals and my 12-String, recorded in my Studio/Office Live. Not much in the way of mixing. Kept it simple.

NOTE: "Wait Until Morning," now available on CDBaby for Full Preview and Listening, after a short delay! 

Scroll to the Link below or the the Music Store towards the bottom and select songs for Previews. Listen before considering a purchase!

"New Song 'Wait Until Morning' Now Available" CDBaby

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kirkmathewgatzka10

"Wait Until Morning" is a love song. Two parties are trying to keep a relationship together, but are having difficulties. "You show me your answers, I'll show you mine," shows that they are discussing attitudes and thoughts about being together. The first party (the male singing,) wants to stay until morning. Hoping to express his commitment. But is he really committed to this relationship?

We don't really get to hear the other side of the situation, but, "if you don't mind," shows reluctance on her part to let him stay. The end of the matter is they don't stay together and the relationship is a bust. That's for another tune I suppose. Click on the link above for a Full Preview for your consideration. Thank you for listening!

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Something Amazing | CD Baby Music Store

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Something Amazing | CD Baby Music Store

"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.

"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!"

"New Song: 'Art for Arts Sake' now available on CDBaby"

http://cdbaby.com/cd/kirkmathewgatzka5

CDBaby MP3 For Sale

I have a series of songs coming up in March. Each one as a single, that you can listen to the full song before considering buying. As for today, I just added the newest song here and on Facebook. You will find "Art for Arts Sake," to be an upbeat tune, just vocals and my 12-String. I call my genre Alternative Folk/Rock. Click and have a listen!

As always hope you like what you hear! Thank you for your looking into my Music as a Singer-Songwriter!

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | The Roof Instrumental | CD Baby Music Store

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | The Roof Instrumental | CD Baby Music Store

A melodic Instrumental in the Alternate Tuning DADGAD. Mellow and smooth for Easy Listening, it starts out slowly and builds to a climax ending. All tracks written, played and mixed by myself. Have a listen.

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Hook Line & Sinker | CD Baby Music Store

Kirk Mathew Gatzka | Hook Line & Sinker | CD Baby Music Store

Go to CDBaby and listen to the full song now, instead of a clip. 

This song was actually inspired by a singer/songwriter discussion about "hooks" in our songs. How we use them and if we do or don't. It readily came to my mind as I sat and wrote it. The later part of the song says, "you set the hook," just like fishing for trout or bass. 

"A Minor Ballad on SoundCloud" Music Creator 6 - Line 6 Pod XT Live

Seagull S12 Cedar 12-String

I recently got Cakewalk's Music Creator 6 Touch for a DAW program to use. I tend to use Audacity, but it has MIDI limitations and no Instruments or Loops you can use. I created the A minor Ballad you see linked below.

I put it on SoundCloud for those that listen to my music can hear what I am working with. I play Lead Guitar through my Line 6 Pod XT Live and added some reverb in Creator 6. I also, during mixing, Panned the Guitar and the Drums to opposite sides. I am still learning the interface of Creator 6, but I am having a good time doing so.

This Tune is Mellow and short, very basic Guitar. Please remember that I play a 12-String! Not electric, I use a Soundhole Pickup a Woody from Seymour Duncan to plug into the Pod XT Live, my USB connection to the computer.

I hope you enjoy this short tune, it's only about 2 minutes long:

https://soundcloud.com/gatzka-music/a-minor-ballad-02012015

"Two Women Dual Textured with Map" Corel

Two Women Dual Textured with Map

Another image with layering of a Public Domain Map, showing Michigan and surrounding areas. The Dual Textures are the Map and a Stone Texture from StockVault. (The brownish tint to the Map is the Stone Texture.)

I began with the Women ( from Morguefile) in Corel PSP Pro X3, I used the Threshold tool for white and black space. I left enough detail to satisfy me for their faces and hair. I next copied and layered the Map with a slight change with Curves for the depth of colors.

I selected another Stone Texture and adjusted the darkness of the Stone to a light color before applying the property Burn (or was it Dodge?) one or the other. This gave the brownish tint to the Map.

I added my signature and merged all layers, saving the large iteration. I viewed the full image and found that the Map made a nice border for the sides but too much white on the bottom. I opened in Corel PhotoPaint and added a black border to the entire image. Here I also resampled the image for display with compression set at 75 and smoothing at 33, with the JPG Optimized. I saved that and then posted to "gatzkART!".

NOTE: You may noticed I have another Single Tune For Sale at CDBaby to the right. Called "The Roof," it is a three track instrumental done with my 12-String Guitar in the Alternate Tuning of DADGAD. It is a mellow and soothing Tune that builds to a climax. Go to the link and have a listen to a short excerpt about 30 seconds long. You can buy it there or click off the tab to close the purchase page. Thank you for your considering some of my music.

"Creating a Music Artist Page on Facebook" - Confusing Set-up

12-String / 6-String Redux

I have been working on a new Facebook profile and Page for my Music promotion. I find that Google+ is easier to work with posting and trusting the public. I already have people I don't know wanting to join my profile and Page, I'm anxious about this move.

I mainly did it because CDBaby has a Facebook app that allows you to sell your music there and it is always available on the Page. So, given I have avoided Facebook for all this time, I am finding it a challenge, to say the least.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kirk-Mathew-Gatzka/812702152122935

And I am doing it when the News states that many younger people no longer are using it. Go Figure, I don't think that that teenagers would like my Alt Folk/Rock, but I may be wrong.

I am uncertain of the security changes I have to make, but if you would like to take a look, click on the link above, if you are a Facebooker. Hmm, is that offensive? I hope not.

Music and Digital Visual Art by Kirk Mathew Gatzka

"Open Secret - New Song" - Line 6

https://soundcloud.com/gatzka-music/opensecret1

A song for those in a relationship where there are no secrets.

Soon to be on sale on CDBaby.com

My first single there.

Have a listen!

"Hummingbird Hook Globe Chimes" - Corel - "DADGAD Tuning Discussion"

Hummingbird Hook Globe Chimes

I have been very busy this past few weeks. I did this image from a Canon Rebel XTi photograph, taken up North in an area near Clare, Michigan. I opened the photograph in Corel PhotoPaint.

I used the Local Equalization tool on it, then applied the Tone Curve, adding depth to the color. I kept my image processing fairly straight forward. I added a Half-Tone frame with Filter Forge's Frames. I saved the large iteration.

I re-opened the image in Corel PSP Pro X3. Here I upped the color with a Saturation Vibrancy Boost. I added my signature as a layer in Black and then a layer in White. I saved the file in display size for this post.

I also have done some work musically. I now own a used Line 6 Pod XT Live for use with my recording. It is primarily a guitar Pod but I attempted to use the Gearbox software (from Line 6) with it and used a Clean guitar setting for recording with my Shure PG58 Mic.

I played and sang the basis of a DADGAD tune and recorded it with Audacity. Though I am still having some Latency problems with Audacity, but have learned a work around for that until I get my settings right. I then recorded, with my 12-String Seagull plugged in, using a setting called Clean Sweep and laid down a lead track.

I re-plugged in my Shure Mic and did some more vocals in a new track. I adjusted the tracks to match, and Mixed and Rendered to a Stereo file. Saving as a large Wav export and then an MP3 export of a different name.

I shared it with two friends and I have been told it sounded like a late 1960's style tune. Which I don't mind as I like the period of my roots in guitar playing and singing. I was pretty impressed with the results of my experiment with the Pod XT Live and Gearbox, recording with the free source Audacity.

"C12 Seagull Guitar in Case." Corel Painter - Irfanview

C12 Seagull Guitar in Case

I browsed my CD "Guitars & Stuff," and found a photograph of my "C12 Seagull Guitar in Case." I opened in Corel Painter 11.

Here I first Brightened the colors a tad. I then applied the Woodcut tool without black. I took that image an made it into a Sketch. At that point I enlarged the image on my screen to fit my workspace. I began to paint with a basic Color Palette. The browns, a bit darker as Watercolors than anticipated.

I used Various Watercolor Brushes and painted the piece. Yes, the wall was a Canary Yellow, and the inside of the Guitar Case was (is) a nice Red color. The background details were very sketchy so I painted them with a large brush size and kept them ambiguous.

I saved the large iteration and opened with Corel PSP Pro X3. I added some Vibrancy with the Saturation tool. I included a Title, Copyright, and Artist in the Image Information tool. Then I opened and copied and pasted as a new layer my Signature. I resized the signature and applied the Multiply property to it, I Merged (flattened) all layers. Adding a border of black I saved that iteration.

I closed PSP and opened the file in Irfanview to resize for display. I am experimenting with Irfanview, a great tool for batch processing image files and it's Freeware.

I added some yellow lines in Irfanview to lighten up the 12-String Guitar Body. I saved the file again.