Drawing in the 21st Century

Sunday, October 9, 2011

David Hockney on the iPad Using Brushes

"One quickly realizes that it is a luminous medium and very good for luminous subjects."
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=50960

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Dancers at the Barre (after Degas)

Dancers at the Barre Edgar Degas ca. 1900
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/arts/dance/degass-ballet-at-the-phillips-collection-and-royal-academy.html?pagewanted=2&ref=dance
Here is the original painting by Degas.


Dancers at the Barre Al Doyle 2011 Done on the iPad, this "digital finger painting" mimics the loose handling and sketch-like application of paint of the original Degas painting.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Dancers in Blue (after Degas)

I recently returned from Paris where several late paintings and pastels by Degas at the Musée d'Orsay knocked me out.

Towards the end of his life Degas was losing his eyesight, as a result his artistic process loosened up. Towards the very end, he painted in very broad strokes: smudging the oil paints directly on the canvas with his palm and fingers. Prompted by this insight, I was inspired to copy several late Degas paintings using the iPad Brushes App billed as “digital finger painting”.

Dancers in Blue (after Degas) Al Doyle, 2011

The video below shows the progression of the drawing from start to finish.

This exercise in copying aims to demonstrate the usefulness of the iPad as an aid in teaching the basics of drawing and painting. One of the truly revolutionary aspects of the Brushes App is the ease of use. Drawing with you finger provides an artist with direct control not afforded by other digital paint applications.

Two Versions of Dancers by Degas

Here is the Degas painting:

Dancers in Blue - Art Den

Artist Edgar Degas (French, Paris 1834–1917 Paris)
Dancers, Pink and Green
ca. 1890
Oil on canvas
From the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, the version above is similar to the painting at the Musee d'Orsay with an added dancer on the left.