Step by Step: Bluegrass Guitar Session at the Library" PE5 Plus

Bluegrass Guitar Session at the Library

I have another Guitarists photograph to share after I worked on it digitally. The "Bluegrass Guitar Session at the Library," is the image for today's post.

Working on my computer I opened the large photograph in Windows 10 Photos. I enhanced the image and added some shadows to it, saving it with a new name.

My next step was to open it in Corel Painter Essentials 5 (PE5.) Here I selected the Illustration settings. I grabbed a brush from the Pencils, Pens and Markers called the Thick N Thin Marker Brush. I digitally painted the image as an Illustration.

I then added back in some details, like the strings of the guitars, the hands, and faces, painting by hand using the Soft Cloner Brush. I wanted to add some texture to the image so I applied the Apply Surface Texture tool.

I selected a coarse paper type, adjusting the Lighting with a quiet flesh tone color. This added warmth as well as the texture to the piece. I saved this large iteration at 300dpi using the same name.

Now I opened the file in Corel's PhotoPaint. I adjusted the Hue to 0, the Saturation to 25, and the Lightness to -10. I added my signature layer to the file, sized and placed it and merged the layers. I saved that iteration with a new name.

For my final steps, I used PicsArt. I applied a black lines border Mask from PicsArt. I used the Tool Curves to add depth to the colors just a bit. I saved that file with a new name.

I had used the large file to make changes in PicsArt, so I had to resize the image for display. I did this in Paint.NET 72dpi, 1220 X 813, 75 Compression, I saved this with a new name.

Be sure to click on the image to observe it at the large size for detail and texture. 

Musically, I have been practicing on my new Martin DRS1 6-String Acoustic Electric Guitar, acoustically without amplification. I have been working on accurate finger placement for my chord playing. Along with that, I listen to Backing Tracks from QuistJam on YouTube, playing scales by ear trying out differing keys and leads. It is improving my playing as I do this, really enjoying the time spent.

"Gal Playing Acoustic Guitar in a Field" PE5 Plus

"Gal Playing Acoustic Guitar in a Field"

I selected a large photograph of a "Gal Playing Acoustic Guitar in a Field," for today's post. It was very soft in lighting to begin with, but compelling. I opened it in Corel Painter Essentials 5 (PE5.) The first thing I did was apply the Equalize tool, setting the Black point to 25.1%, the White point I left at 100%, and the Gamma at 50%. This added more color depth.

I continued to Adjust the Colors using Uniform Color setting the Saturation to 31%. I saved the large file with a new name. In PE5, I used the photograph now adjusted to paint. Selecting the Watercolor Sketch settings I used a Digital Watercolor Dry Brush to paint.

Next, I used the Soft Cloner Brush to hand paint back in details to the Face, Arms, Hands and the Guitar. I decided I wanted to add more Texture to the image; I applied the Apply Surface Texture. Using the Paper setting, I checked Invert to change the light direction. I picked a Light Fleshtone color for the lighting, creating more warmth for the image and texture.

After applying that, I saved the image again.

I opened that large image in Paint.NET. Here I added my signature layer using the property Additive for transparency. I saved the image with 100% size and compression. Then I resized the image to 72 dpi, 1220 X 813, setting the compression to 75%. I saved that for posting with a new name.

I have been putting my new Martin DRS1 6-String Acoustic Electric through its paces, both Acoustically and along with some jam tracks from QuistJam on YouTube. Playing acoustically I used different tunings, Double Drop D, and DADGAD. I am enjoying this Martin Sapele Guitar! It has great tone and good action for both lead and rhythm playing. I haven't done any recording or songwriting other than some poetry/lyric work lately. I am trying out a new chord progression but have yet to add any melody (singing,) or lyrics for that.

"How To - Acoustic Electric Guitar Player" Corel

Acoustic Electric Guitar Player

I garnered this photograph doing a Music search on Morguefile Free Photos, "An Acoustic Electric Guitar Player," performing. I opened in Picasa and applied the HDR tool increasing the strength and radius. Saving that I opened in Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 and applied the Gouache Style to it. I saved that iteration.

Opening in Corel PSP Pro X3 I applied the Smart Photo Fix, brightening it up and increased the colors a bit. Still in PSP Pro X3 I upped the Saturation Vibrancy by 33. So far I like what I had but it was lacking something. So, I went searching for a Texture in my Folder for them. I found one I liked that added Crackle to the image.

As I worked with the Texture I altered the opacity, allowing the crackled lines to show, but lightening the rest of the Texture background. I blended the two images together. I believe I used the property Multiply. I added my signature as a layer and merged all layers.

Check out my Music as you scroll down to the CDBaby Kiosks below, I have Full Preview of each song and they are for sale, but you can listen before you buy! Also my Art is for Sale see my Page about that for details, just click the link listed in the Home row.

"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!

"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!

"Let's Talk About Music with James Olmos " Picasa 3.9 - Corel - Plus

Singer Songwriter James Olmos

"Let's Talk About Music with +James Olmos " is the theme of today's image. I missed the live show but watched it on YouTube.  As you can see it is a Hangout On the Air on Google+ streamed and recorded  for us who miss the live show. James sang and played many of his own songs with great emotion and skill. He has an EP available on his website and is coming out with a new album this Summer.

I used Picasa 3.9 to crop the image from a screen capture. I then warmed it up with the Color Temperature and Warmify.

I took that and used the HDR tool applying that. I saved the iteration after I added the Museum Matte and altered the color of the mat, adjusting it's width.

Saving that I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and added my inverted signature with the property Add for transparency.

Watch the show and visit James site!

The YouTube show is at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I6kwc5oGlWo#!

James site is at this link:

http://jamesolmos.com/fr_home.cfm

Many thanks to our hosts  +George Miller and +Diane Cobb for the great show! 

"Sam Batt 'In The Spotlight' Artists in the Plus" Corel Painter 11 - Plus

Singer Songwriter Sam Batt

I attended another Artist in the Plus "In the Spotlight" with Singer Songwriter +Sam Batt recently. I was able to get a fair screen capture of her during the Interview portion. She is a talented and tough performer as she sang and played guitar for us inspite of having a cold. She was Marvelous. Her Interview answers were full of interesting details as well. She Plays a Yamaha High-end Acoustic-Electric Guitar that sounded just great and fit her voice wonderfully. My painting made her look a little like the actor Angie Dickinson!

You can see the "In the Spotlight" Show at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6AjhI85Ius

And here is Sam Batt's website:

http://www.sambatt.com/index.html

I opened the capture in Corel PhotoPaint with New from Clipboard. There I cropped the capture, I saved that iteration. I proceeded to open with Corel PSP Pro X3. There I used the Camera Noise Removal, the Skin Smoothing, Smart Photo Fix, and some other Noise removal settings. I resized that image and saved it as a third iteration.

From Picasa 3.9 I opened that with Corel Painter Photo Essentials 4 and auto painted it with the Modern setting using Rough Paper and Smooth Brush. I did touch up with the Soft Cloner Brush to add back in some details. I saved again.

I ventured more deeply into painting freehand I opened that file with Corel Painter 11 and using multiple differing Brushes I painted the image using a Clone of it. I added details to the eyes and the background. This gave it even a more painterly look and feel.

I finished the image with Filter Forge's Frames Grunge frame. Added my signature in white and saved the final image.

"Acoustic Magazine No.11 Parody" Corel - Plus

Acoustic Magazine No.11 Parody

A short post for today. Here is a Digital Collage Parody of Acoustic Magazine No.11. I did most of the digital cut and pasting in Corel PhotoPaint with an assist from Corel PSP Pro X3 for some alterations to the beginning background.

"Grunge Guitar Trio" Corel PhotoPaint

Grunge Guitar Trio

Getting some advice on the song "Playing In A Vacuum," to highlight another verse, and drop one chorus. Perhaps a change in the Key as well, then back to the original Key.

With the song in mind I worked on a Digital Collage today. It has a grunge background and a trio of guitars. I added a snippet of the song's chords and lyrics using a Typewriter font. In keeping with the grunge theme I added wet paint drippings to the words and some paint splatters.

On the three guitars I applied Little Ink Pot's Thredgeholder for a rough sketch look and feel. I deliberately kept a balanced composition. I did apply the Tone Curve to the cracked concrete background to enhance the color depth.

I did all this in Corel PhotoPaint with Picasa 3.9 for browsing to the folders where I had the images of the background, and guitars.

Listening --- Bob Seger --- Night Moves

"Acoustic Magazine No.5" Fake Cover - Corel PhotoPaint - Picasa 3.9

Acoustic Magazine No.5

Yesterday I worked on this piece. "Acoustic Magazine No.5," is another parody of a faked magazine cover. It is essentially a Digital Collage that pretends to be a magazine cover. I browsed in Picasa 3.9 to my Mayang's Textures folder for a background texture. I opened with Corel PhotoPaint and began browsing for more pieces to make up this cover.

I used scanned in images from my Canon MP495 All in One. On the background I used the Tone Curve for depth and a bit of increased saturation. I copied, pasted, erased and placed the images. I gave the main guitar player Elvis Costello like glasses and eyes and added the shoulders to the arms and guitar.

I used bright colors as accents to the blue in the background for my text boxes. I used the fonts Bleeding Cowboys, and Arial, as well as one I believe was Avantgarde MdBt. I centered by eye and dragged the text to fit the box sizes for a elongated style.

Listening --- Otis Taylor --- Mexican Cowboy

"Acoustic Magazine" Fake Cover - Corel PhotoPaint

Acoustic Magazine Fake Cover

I chose a magazine motif for a creative activity this evening. I created a digital collage in Corel PhotoPaint. I found some images in old magazines and, after cutting them out,  scanned them in using my Canon MP495 All in one.

On the main face I added the eyes of a female singer and her lips on the Blues player wearing the hat, which were both cutouts as well. I applied the Image, Threshold bi-level, on the entire collage prior to adding any text.

I used the names of myself and two Guitar singer songwriters I met on the Acoustic Guitar Community. I also used the band name of the first band I was in in our senior year at high school for the exclusive interview. I added a blurb about using the free recording program Audacity. And using a bit of humor added the six-fingered Blues lesson.

The Fonts I used for the various text phrases were, Arial Narrow, Bleeding Cowboys, Abadi MT Condensed  Extra Bold and Berlin Sans FB. for a realistic touch I added the UPC code from a magazine blotting out the numbers on the code.

I saved the large file with my signature and resampled for display here.

Listening --- Cowboy Junkies --- Blue Guitar

Grunge Acoustic Electric Guitars - PhotoPaint - Filter Forge

I recently purchased a new Canon Pixma MP495 Photo Inkjet printer.(only $49.00 at Walmart.) It has the scanner copier feature and wireless for our laptop. It prints great photographs. But unfortunately it uses the black ink up quite rapidly, a disappointment to be sure. I printed out one of these High Contrast Guitars images and really like the results. It's vibrant and has great color depth.

I also printed out a few of my grandson for my wife and I, brag photographs! I did one of the paintings in watercolor, of my grandson, that I had done in Painter 11 and it also was a great print. I would recommend this printer with a warning about the excessive use of black ink. But, 4"x6" photographs look fantastic, and the scanner works great for color scans. It comes with software as well so it makes printing, scanning and copying a breeze.

I chose to create another high contrast Acoustic Electric Guitars photograph from Motor City Guitar. I first cropped the photograph to focus on the group of guitars. I used the same tools in PhotoPaint and Filter Forge's Photo Effects Vibrance and frames. This time I selected a watercolor frame with the color black for that Grunge appearance. I adjusted the width of the frame to allow more of the image to shine through.


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Now playing: JJ Cale and Eric Clapton - Danger
via FoxyTunes