Artistry Online: The source for painting photos in Corel Painter and Adobe Photoshop

Click the green links at left for information and to register for the Artistry Retreats.

I attended an Artistry Retreat taught by Karen Sperling and she is an
amazing teacher. Her class was organized, relaxed and thorough. I went from
a total novice to being able to create wonderful paintings from my photographs.
However, when my granddaughters were to be flower girls at my son's wedding, I
knew I had to go to the Master to get stunning results. Karen Sperling has surpassed all
expectations! She sorted through all of the wedding photos and chose two. We
discussed (via email) which to use and the basic look I was hoping for. The
result is a treasured portrait that will make me smile for the rest of my life.
i have a picture of the portrait on my cell phone and share it with everybody I
see! I highly recommend Karen's work--you will not be disappointed. In addition
to being a very talented painter, she is also a very nice lady.
Carolyn Johnson

I recently attended my second Artistry Retreat! It was a great refresher course in what
I learned the first time around, plus I appreciated all the one-on-one feedback on my
progress and additional pointers. Karen Sperling's teaching style is relaxed but
structured in a way to get anyone on their way to painting beautiful portraits
or landscapes!
If you are thinking about taking on Corel Painter, I highly recommend taking one of
Karen Sperling's Artistry Retreats to get you started down the right path!
Thank you Karen!
Kat Meezan
Focal Instincts Photography
www.focalinstinctsboudoir.com

Karen,
Thank you for a thoughtful and challenging workshop.
As a non-artist in the sense I don't draw or paint,
but as a photographer and lover of art, I have longed
to be able to make a stab at doing painting with
photography as the background and inspiration.
I feel at last I am "getting it," thanks to your
patience, encouragement, and step-by-step approach.
Indeed, I have taken a painting class from another instructor,
but this time the approach was, I think, more simplified
to get me jump-started.
Your concept of starting the first day's session to be
the most difficult, and later on in the afternoon,
when the mind is brain dead, to do something fun and
easy was really helpful when my blood sugar ran low.
For example, your Karen's Fireworks idea was fun to play with.
And each day the lessons were progressively easier and also we
continued to review the way to accomplish our tasks in Painter
so it would become more and more familiar.
The concept of light and dark may be second nature to a painter or
illustrator, but for me it made it a great guide for beginning
the process.
And it was so much fun making "image hoses" and custom brushes.
Of course, nothing will progress without practice, but I have
the tools now so no excuses.
Your notes and book will help keep me on track!
Beverly Hanson

Because Karen wrote the early manuals for Corel Painter, she is an expert in this program.
I enjoyed the Artistry Retreat immensely. Karen's comprehensive class covered
many of the fundamentals of art in addition to the skills needed for
digital painting using Corel Painter.
I look forward to more of her patiently taught lessons in the future.
Candy Groat

Karen's Artistry Retreat was an excellent value
for learning art as well as Corel Painter.
You might ask - who is the class for?
For the beginner, Karen provides an essential foundation for art including
understanding essential design concepts, identifying effective focal points,
and choosing effective pictures for painting. She guides you step-by-step
through the foundation of painting in Corel Painter.
For the intermediate to advanced digital artist, Karen continues to add to
our depth of learning by challenging our vision, our understanding of color
harmony and our awareness of good contrast. She also teaches advanced
Corel Painter concepts such as digital watercolor painting and image nozzle
brush creation. I thought I was at least at an intermediate level when I
took her class, but I learned many new concepts of effective design and
composition, which have inspired me to new levels.
Karen's book, Painting for Photographers, is an excellent resource to use in
conjunction with this course as her lessons bring further depth and understanding
to the book she has written. I found it useful to bring my book with me as she
demonstrated concepts in class that I could review and reference along with her
in class materials.
Karen's class opened my vision to what can be and how to make an impact with
my art. I am excited about where my art journey will take me...
Dr. Cynde Herman

After attending your Artistry Retreat,
I just had to write and tell you what a wonderful experience it was.
Meeting and being taught by you was so educational and motivating.
I have been home a week and have already started implementing many theories I learned.
I have taken other classes in painting that were taught by people
well known in the world of professional photography and although
I did gain knowledge from every class I have taken, I feel your method
of teaching and deep understanding of the nuts and bolts of the program
mixed with your true artistic talent gave me more than I have gotten
from any other class.
There is much to be gained by spending 3 days in a class with you for
invested photographers and artists of all levels.
Last but in no way least, I am so excited to have been there to see
you and your work represented for the first time in a New York gallery.
Congratulations, Karen Sperling!
Thanks so much...and watch me grow!
Marsha Cairo, photographer and artist, Chicago

Karen,
I was thinking about your class that I had taken.
It truly has helped me to move on in painting.
I came to your class with a little knowledge and left with so much more.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful techniques and knowledge.
You showed things that I have not seen in any other books.
I can remember thinking more than once, when you gave a certain tip, that "this is worth the price of admission!"
I left with more confidence, more know how and the desire to paint my way to the top!
I have sold several paintings and enjoyed the look of satisfaction on my clients' faces.
Thanks for helping me get there.
Happy painting,
Julie
Austin, Texas

Karen's Artistry Retreat has helped me take my photography business to the next level.
Karen's workshop was interesting, fun and easy to keep up the pace.
I can now offer fine art painterly portraits as a deluxe product, and my customers love it!
Robin Swanson
Treasurer, Professional Photographers of California
Robin Swanson photography
www.rswansonphotography.com

Karen Sperling is an expert who shares her knowledge in a fresh and creative fashion.
Not only does Karen know the technical aspects of Corel Painter, but she also teaches creative concepts as well.
I have taken her class at WPPI and also a one-on-one class; she is articulate, creative, knowledgable and patient!
I highly recommend Karen as a teacher if you want to master this multi-faceted program and give your work a creative edge!
Felicia Tausig
WPPI Member
Former President, Santa Clarita Valley Photographers Association (SCVPA)
Creative Photography, Photos by Felicia
www.photosbyfelicia.com

Photographer Painting Ever Since She Left Malibu Artistry Retreat

Dear Karen,
I am writing to thank you for the amazing Artistry Retreat this past week.
It is always difficult for professionals to take time out and learn something that they have been wanting to learn for a while, so I appreciate that it was time well spent.
In the past 4 years I have only taken 2 classes on Painter and after the first class I was unable to remember everything that I had been taught.
I am so excited to share with you that you not only taught me the most important techniques that I could incorporate into my photography, but you also did it with patience and professionalism.
The way you teach is fantastic.
You made sure we understood everything before we went on to something else and you shared your many talents with us.
It was a blessing to be a student in your classroom.
I have been painting ever since I left the Retreat and I have been commissioned by two families to do portraits.
I am forever grateful for your teachings and your talents that you shared with us.
Sincerely,
Kim Lemaire
photographer
www.kimlemaire.com

Karen Sperling Marvelous and Patient Teacher

Dear Karen,
It was a pleasure for me to meet you and be a participant in your Artistry Retreat. I thank you for allowing me to attend and for the foundation that I have acquired in Painter. You were a marvelous and patient teacher who I thought presented a complex program in a way that made getting started that much easier. As I alluded to in the beginning, I have had Painter for awhile, but have not really ever gotten into it in a meaningful way. Now, I think, I can move on and actually put it to use. When I get there, hopefully soon, I will forward you one of my 'masterpieces'.
I wish you the best of wishes for a successful showing at your gallery show in April. From what you showed, I think, you have some unusual and creative pieces that should show well. If you have the time and remember, let me know how it all turns out.
Again, thank you for getting me started in Painter. Your Retreat was well worth the time and effort in all respects, as you have an incredible knowledge of a complex program that you present in a very understandable way.
Sincerely,
Gary McLaughlin

Photographer Sells First Portrait Following Artistry Retreat

"I made back what I paid to attend an Artistry Retreat several times over with my first portrait. That's a great return on my investment!" says Grey Darrah.
"I completely used everything that I learned from the Artistry Retreat and could never have done this without having been shown all of the basics (and much, much more) from Karen."

Click here, email or call Karen Sperling at 818-981-2803 to register for an Artistry Retreat.

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