Projected

[emkay]

I have my hands on an overhead projector - courtesy of the very kind Amanda.:001_wub:

Considering we have been talking about it on this board, I thought I'd post a WIP and document the experience.

I need to add, this is not a painting I intend to sell or exhibit, just an experimental piece.

Step 1. I traced a reference photograph on to a piece of glass to get the outlines of the figure of the woman. It actually wasn't particularly easy to trace the projected image onto the canvas as the canvas wasn't rigid and as pressure was applied there was bowing, so it ended up not being as accurate as I would have hoped, but still a good outline to go by. There is a lot of information missing that still needs to be done manually, like contours, muscles, perspective. The projector doesn't help with any of that.

Step 2. The second figure (a girl) I'm doing in the way I usually work, from a rough sketch, translated straight onto the canvas from my book.

So far - rough underpainting, colours etc will change a lot as always, but the difference is strong to me already, and the projector is going to come in handy as the painting progresses to put detail on, such as the patterning of tiles in the background.

Having fun with it! Thanks Amanda.

[sweetmango]

Thanks for showing us the process emkay. I am going to enjoy watching this unfold, especially doing the two figures so differently from each other.

[V-Mak]

WOOO HOOO...I am fully tuned in...waiting for more...so it does help a lot !!!!

[after-dark]

Oh nice one! So glad to hear how handy you're finding it.

Will be wanting a play with that soon;)

[ingridr]

Can't wait to see it develop.

[inkgal8290]

kool michelle

[chardonnay]

I'm looking forward to watching this one progress :)

[Amanda]

Emkay, a friend of mine - who doesn't use a projector but who does do a lot of very detailed pattern work in her backgrounds - puts a piece of board in behind the canvas when she leans on it to draw in all the detail. I think she uses about a 4mm-6mm mdf or similar, planed at the edge so there's no hard angle and big enough to slot in behind and cover a good portion. It's something you might like to try when you come to do the tiles.

As for the canvas bowing, it's just a matter of practise. I tend to draw quite lightly with not much pressure so didn't find that too much of a problem.
Also...since this is all about experimenting, another thing you can try is use Photoshop to find outlines and trace the image from that, or even print it onto transparency and project the actual photo....

Have fun

[after-dark]

yeah, photoshop is great for creating outlines - helps focus on the key areas.. - the photocopy filter is great for that.

[Wenz]

Emkay, I'm glad you're having fun with the projector. I found it very handy when doing extra large work. It saved heaps of time.

[jmax]

Its still a good result - like the figure a lot ... I was thinking of a projector that you could put on a stand and using it to project the image onto a canvas, maybe panel sitting on a desk - is there such a beast ???

[Amanda]

I was thinking of a projector that you could put on a stand and using it to project the image onto a canvas,

Yeah jmax that is the type of projector that Emkay is using.
It can sit on a table top, chair, milk crates (my personal favourite), anything flat and stable.

You can project the image onto a canvas or onto a wall if you have canvas/paper attached to the wall...or just want to paint yourself a studio mural :biggrin:
As for a panel leaning on something, possibly you could but it would just take a bit of patience to set everything up ...I think projecting onto an upright surface works best.

[emkay]

Emkay, a friend of mine - who doesn't use a projector but who does do a lot of very detailed pattern work in her backgrounds - puts a piece of board in behind the canvas when she leans on it to draw in all the detail. I think she uses about a 4mm-6mm mdf or similar, planed at the edge so there's no hard angle and big enough to slot in behind and cover a good portion. It's something you might like to try when you come to do the tiles.

As for the canvas bowing, it's just a matter of practise. I tend to draw quite lightly with not much pressure so didn't find that too much of a problem.
Also...since this is all about experimenting, another thing you can try is use Photoshop to find outlines and trace the image from that, or even print it onto transparency and project the actual photo....

Have fun

Sorry Amanda, meant to reply :blush:. Those are great tips. Thanks again. :w00t:

I havn't been able to get back to my easel at all in the past week, but hope to soon. I'm missing it like crazy... It really is driving me a bit nutty.

Jmax - I think it would be really helpful for you in the way you work. The ability to outline trace is very useful to a point, and being able to see a small composition boldly on a larger canvas is fantastic.

[Petra Sohns]

this is fantastic , thx for sharing the procress as well thats great

[emkay]

Spent some time with this last night.

It's fun having a large piece to just muck around with and try some things I wouldn't usually.

Still laying down under layers at this point, and moving things about a bit. I realised that the woman's hand was too far forward and I'm modifying it a bit to bring it back, otherwise the girl is displaced. I also changed the angle of her head, because kids (in my experience) often don't look at you when you are giving them instructions..... or is that just mine.....

I am noticing that the outlines from the projector have been a bit miselading for me at this point. Having to go back to my original photograph and map the drawn outline to the actual figure and place muscles etc has been a little difficult, though I still think it's a better result than the girl who is a little more stiff.

[Petra Sohns]

i really like what you did It is Fantastic
i love your themes great concept

[Steve Gray]

at a photocopy shop you can get images transferred onto a transparency so that you just place it on the glass and go from there., but surely in this digital age you can get your hands on a digital projector? set the composition up in photoshop, project it and draw.

[chardonnay]

surely in this digital age you can get your hands on a digital projector? set the composition up in photo-shop, project it and draw.

There is such a thing? My goodness how technology has come along.... I'm such a dinosaur!

[emkay]

surely in this digital age you can get your hands on a digital projector? set the composition up in photoshop, project it and draw.

I'm sure you can Steve. For the experiment though, it was great to borrow Amandas (which is compact and fits into a little case). My budget as an emerging career artist doesn't quite stretch to hundred of dollars to 'see how it goes'. Geez it would be nice though. :tongue_smilie:

[winnierose]

Loving it Michelle. whats the title?

[emkay]

Thanks Winnie,
It's called 'The swimming lesson'.

[jmax]

Loving how the painting is turning out ...

[emkay]

Thanks John. ;)

[Helm]

I like the soft colours Michelle, but love the background patterns

[emkay]

Thanks Jade. It was supposed to be soft background and I would work over them with larger actual patterns, but I really like them myself.

[inkgal8290]

looking great michelle