Reviews

Here's what everyone's saying about Artistry tutorials

Artistry Watercolor Techniques Tutorials Offer Invaluable Insight
Editor's note: The Watercolor tutorials are available in the
July 2007 issue of Artistry Tips and Tricks.

I have had the privilege and pleasure of being amongst the first of Karen's customers
to see her new tutorial, named rather appropriately "Watercolor Techniques in Painter for
Artists and Photographers." It's a long title but it does exactly what it says
on the label, and in a way that is so easy to follow!
To my knowledge, this is the first time that a Painter tutorial has actually presented a detailed
side-by-side run-through showing a renowned watercolour artist creating a beautifully
atmospheric painting and a digital artist creating the same image from scratch using Painter.
To me, this work presents an invaluable insight into the techniques and materials Birgit O'Connor
uses to create her paintings. From the deep understanding this provides, the reader can mimic
Karen's digital techniques to achieve the same effects. But more than this,
Karen has a way of passing a more profound understanding of Painter as an artist's tool
so the reader can successfully apply these tips and techniques to his or her own work.
With most people now owning a digital camera, Karen's new tutorial also answers a red hot
question on almost everyone's mind: "How can I turn a digital photograph into a painting???"
Using one of her own photo images as a basis, she applies the simple Painter techniques learned
in session 1 of the tutorial and stage by easy stage a beautifully atmospheric painting emerges
that eliminates all the unnecessary detail, clutter and greyness that so often gives away the
photographic origins of a painting. This results in a stunning landscape that any artist would be
proud of, and pretty much anyone can achieve given the knowledge.
I can honestly say that this Painter tutorial is what the digital art world has been waiting for -
to achieve this level of understanding would take a very long time and much frustration without it!
Nick Cliffe
Shropshire UK

Watercolor Techniques Tutorials Comprehensible and Logical
Editor's note: The Watercolor tutorials are available in the
July 2007 issue of Artistry Tips and Tricks.

Hi Karen,
In a word, wow!
I must tell you that when I turned to page 6 and saw the washes you had created,
I was startled! I had to double-check the copy to make sure this wasn't Birgit's.
Same effect on page 17. Amazing.
You know that I've long considered Painter to be a wonderful but somewhat arcane program.
Coming from a Photoshop
background I have often found Painter to be unintuitive and
needlessly complex. Well, you may have changed my mind. This is far more than a tutorial
on watercolor in Painter.
It is a gentle, skillful and methodical tour of many of Painter's capabilities. Anyone who
goes through this tutorial is going to become very comfortable with Painter. For the beginner,
I'd recommend this tutorial over almost any of the very excellent books I've read. It follows a
single, comprehensible, logical course through the important details of a program that seems
sometimes to have been designed to confuse.
We've heard numerous complaints that the brush engine in Painter 7 is less conducive to
watercolor-type images than in previous versions. You've blown this objection out of the water
(no pun intended). In the process, you've created a wonderful synthesis between digital and
traditional forms of art (for Painter 7 and 8). It's been accepted practice for centuries
to copy works of art we admire, in order to hone our technique. You've brought the simplicity and
spontaneity of "analog" watercolor to the world of Painter. It is an amazing accomplishment,
and there for all to see, in full color.
I remember the early days of music synthesis, when we were all trying to be Wendy Carlos
and imitate instruments on the unwieldy but very controllable Moog synthesizer. Purists objected,
saying that electronic music should find its own way, define its own sounds and usage. But we all
knew what music sounded like, and we were trying to do it electronically. Similar objections have been
raised from time to time, as digital artists sought to meld with the long tradition of art that
has inspired us. Your tutorial is a bold, inventive, and above all approachable method that, through
your collaboration with a fine watercolorist, has accomplished that fusion in the visual world.
No one interested in Painter, or in fact, in digital art in general, should miss this. While the
keystrokes may differ, the techniques could be applied to almost any reasonably capable program.
The new brush engine in Photoshop 7 makes all your techniques applicable to that program as well.
For the Painter user it is virtually the short course in Painter we've all been waiting for.
Heartfelt congratulations on breaking new ground and continuing your tradition as a premiere
educator in Painter.
Bobbo Goldberg
Artwork and Nature Photopaintings -- http://www.bobbogoldberg.com
Voice over demos and services -- http://www.bob-vo.com

Loves Artistry Tutorials

Hello!

I love the tutorials I've gotten from you, including the Artistry
Tips & Tricks newsletter. I've never painted landscapes before,
but with the help of your tutorials I was able to make a really
nice calendar for my family out of images from around my home.

Here they are if you'd like to see them:

Calendar

The calendar's for sale at Cafepress yes, but mostly that's just
because I needed my family to be able to get ahold of extra copies
if they wanted them, and I couldn't afford to pay for the printing myself.
I tried advertising it in a couple of local places, but so far no one other
than friends and family seems interested. That could either be because
I'm still learning, or because I have no idea how to market myself yet.

As a full-time mom to a three year old, I haven't had a lot of time to
commit to my art career lately. I used to be in the movie industry
(I was a post-production effects artist), but then we moved to a tiny
town up the California coast, and now I only get to do art things in
between mom things. I do earn a little extra cash here and there from
commissioned fantasy portraits when I have the chance, and I'm hoping
to expand that business a bit now that my son's going to preschool.

I only went to college for a year, so I feel like there are huge gaps in my art
knowledge. With the help of your tutorials, I've been experimenting with a lot
of different kinds of art this past year, and studying everything I can find on
color theory and composition. I feel like I've made a ton of progress! My plan
for this year is to dedicate myself to taking myself seriously as an artist,
and to make a steady income from it -- somehow!

I love Corel Painter because I can get the effects I want relatively quickly,
without having to leave any messy paints & canvasses out where children or
animals could get into them.

I'm not expecting you to include all that in your write-up, but I thought you
might be interested in how one person has found your instructions very useful
and timely.

Thanks again!
Sue Evans Ross

Artistry Tutorials Intriguing
I have been playing in groups mostly with PSP for years and recently joined
The Artists Loft at MSN which is a group of people dedicated to learning to paint.
We are using a variety of programs but our favorite is Painter. I have had
Painter for years but it seemed too difficult to learn so it sat on the shelf.
I did a search with Google looking for sites who may have Painter tutorials and
I found you that way. Your website is well organized and the types of tutorials and
especially the portrait painting looked intriguing. I believe that the Artist Loft also
has you mentioned in their links pages. I know I needed to start at the beginning and
learn the tools first and you have a beginner tutorial. It seemed to make sense to get
the whole series of Artistry CDs so I could progress at my own pace. Your tutorials are
attractivly priced and we all know how much hard work goes into creating tutorials.. !! Big hugs and thanks.
I just received my Painter V8 software today and you are mentioned on their CD along
with several other authors....It felt good seeing your name there and knowing that you are
recognized as a leading professional and expert with Painter..!!
And I am sure I will highly recommend your tutorials once I get going.
If I can be of any help please let me know. When people ask me how I learned to paint,
well I will of course say, "from Karen...:)) "
Kris
http://aroundrockland.com
http://groups.msn.com/THEARTISTSLOFT

Appreciates Help, Patience and Prompt Replies
Hi Karen,
I'm sorry to have seemed so stressed about this [downloading the Artistry
Beginners tutorials]. I am working on a deadline-oriented job that could use
these kinds of effects and I haven't been successful with the manual that
comes with the software itself.
I do, finally, have the correct file. What was happening was I was right-clicking
and saving the link file in the initial email you sent with the password, not the
link file on the web page. So when I just did this, I finally got the correct .pdf
file. All in-tact.
I want to thank you so much for your help and patience and especially your extremely
prompt replies to my emails. It has not gone unnoticed and I will never hesitate to
purchase from you again, and would not hesitate to recommend your site to anyone.
Thanks so much again.
Denise Devoe

Thankful for Dedication and Talent
Hi Karen:
Needless to say I'm looking forward to your Artistry CDs. You asked me how I heard
about you. I have always been interested in learning Painter as Photoshop is a creative
hobby for me and it seems that whatever I read about Painter your name is always
associated with it. I can't say particularly where because I have seen your name
many, many times. I think it is just understood that you are the expert with this application.
And now I'm ready to explore Painter.
I attended the Photoshop convention in San Francisco at the beginning of the month and
had hoped you might be there giving one of the seminars. In fact this is one suggestion
I want to see manifest. I think having a Painter session would be so complimentary to this
convention as there are many professional photographers there and having seen the painterly
effects in a slideshow of one photographer I fell in love with the combo of using PS and Painter.
I do have Painter 7 and plan on buying Painter 8 upgrade.
And who better to learn from than YOU!
A dear friend of mine who is an artist will be attending your up-in-coming North Carolina
workshop and is excited about it. I'm happy for her and this golden opportunity. Hopefully one
day you might come to Michigan.
Sincere thanks for your dedication and talent and continued future success.
Shirley Kussner

Artistry tutorials useful and well done
Hello Karen,
Thank you for your Artistry tutorials CDs for Painter.
I received them without problem and I appreciate them.
They are very useful and well done.
Michel Chanliau
Boulogne
France

Artistry Tutorials Extremely Impressive
Hi Karen,
I downloaded the Artistry Beginners tutorials and began to read. I was extremely
impressed and grateful for your "big picture" approach right at the beginning. It so
helps to wrap one's mind around Painter. WOW! I already feel empowered and I've only
gotten through the first 3 pages of the Beginner's Tutorial! Here are my first two
Painter trials. Karen, I usually have trouble learning from manuals and tutorials.
It amazes me how much I've learned so far from your Beginner's Tutorial. It's nothing
I've done ... it's the way you present the material to instill confidence right from the start.
Confidence and the Big Picture!
By the time I get to the Artistry Painter retreat, I should really get a lot out of it!
Thank you!!!!!
Going back to the tutorial ...
I just read a few sentences on Page 4 of the Beginner's Tutorial and went back to
Painter and resaved my clones as JPGs. Much smaller!
Amazing how your tutorial seems to present the material just as I/we need it!
Carol Goodell

Brilliant Service
Hi Karen,
4 CD's arrived in the mail this morning. Brilliant service, thank you.
Have briefly run them to make sure their are OK, they look fine.
Thanks again.
Ken P

Business with a Touch of Class
Karen,
Your e-mail is received as it was sent; With a touch of class is the
perception of you and your business that I have received this message.
Thanks for the very special and satisfied experience that I've had in this
interaction with you. Your attention to detail and the caring, the communications,
and the personal care you've shone me through out my dealings with you has been
nothing less than a most welcome breath of fresh air in the usually cold and
un-caring business world of today. Yes, I will enjoy my painting;
thanks in part to you.
Rudra

Fast Service
Hi Karen,
Just to let you know the Artistry CD's arrived today. Many thanks for such good service.
Regards,
David Warner

Artistry Tutorials Everything Hoped For and More
Hi Karen:
I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the quick delivery of the Artistry CDs I ordered.
I received the both of them today and will be giving them a try this evening.
Thanks again and you'll be hearing from me when I upgrade to Painter 8...
Now that I have had a chance to use some of the tutorials, I am thoroughly impressed with the
different perspectives and techniques. Often with Internet purchases, you may not get what you expect.
I'm happy to say that your tutorials are everything I hoped they would be and more.
I will be most likely be ordering more Artistry CD's after I've mastered the ones I've just received.
Many thanks,
Patrick LaMontagne
Cartoon Ink

Found Artistry through Glowing Reviews
Wow! That was pretty exciting. A response from a real, live, person instead of a
computer generated confirmation. Thanks so much for the very kind note.
It's difficult to retrace my tracks, but a few of the places where I have run into
glowing reviews of your work besides the DPR retouching forum, are photoshopetc,
graphics.com and, you also show up on about.com.
I have to admit that re: Painter 8, I was beginning to suffer a mild but growing case of
buyer's remorse. Finding out about your tutorials has done wonders for my state of mind.
Enthusiasm may even be creeping back.
Best regards & thanks again, Pat

Artistry Is the Way Over the Hump with Painter
Hello Karen,
I have just ordered the Painter 8 upgrade from you with the Artistry
Premium CD. I would like the Artistry Watercolor Techniques in Painter
for Artists and Photographers CD.
I really enjoyed the Artistry Painting for Photographers CD. It has finally
gotten me over the hump with Painter. I've been messing around with
Painter for a long time and never accomplished anything. But the Artistry
tutorials are the way to go.
Thanks, and you'll probably be hearing from me again.
Jim Allen

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