BLYTHART

DESCRIPTIONS

Hello Friends,

Here’s Dave stirring everyone up again (hopefully).

Am I the only one on Redbubble who likes to know how pictures are made?

When we upload our work, Redbubble have very thoughtfully included a box called DESCRIPTION. I always look to se what the artist has used to make his/her picture and so often I end up commenting, “how did you do this.”

I’m an old fashioned traditionalist when it comes to materials and I like using brushes, pencils and pens. I know many people are cleverer than I am and they use computers to create their images, but sometimes it is difficult to tell how much of a picture has been painted and how much has been tweaked by a computer software program, so would you mind indulging this finicky old nuisance by writing how you created your pictures please? At least it will prevent you from getting “how did you do this” messages from me all the time :-)

Dave (Blythart).

Andy Mercer, 2 months ago

I never use PS Dave ! (I also never tell fibs)
shanghaiwu, 2 months ago

I understand where you are coming from BUT when I look at your work I think”how does he do this”
BLYTHART in reply to shanghaiwu’s comment, 2 months ago

Don’t you mean, “Why does he do this?” :))

I have a system. I number all my work and include the medium in the title … efficient or what ;)
BLYTHART in reply to Andy Mercer’s comment, 2 months ago

I don’t even know HOW to use PS. I have other programs and I sometimes alter the contrast if the scan is poor, but that’s all. What is on the canvas or paper is what you see on Redbubble.
F Magdalene Au..., 2 months ago

Hmm… should I be offended since you’ve never asked me how I do my work?
Austin <- the pixel manipulator, storms off in a huff.
shanghaiwu, 2 months ago

no I mean ….where oh where does he get all this talent
BLYTHART in reply to F Magdalene Austin’s comment, 2 months ago

Hmmmm … now you mention it … I’ve just checked and you are yet another artist who doesn’t use the description box … go and stand in the naughty corner :))
BLYTHART in reply to shanghaiwu’s comment, 2 months ago

I knew what you meant; I get shy when I’m flattered by someone :))
ginnymac, 2 months ago

Dave sometimes I do then people still ask me about the work so lots of people don’t have time to read. or don’t read anyway.i put a pic on saying Acrylic and somebody says oh is this a pastel?

eg go to the butcher ask for 6 chops. bucher goes to get them says how many? just something that drove me mad grrrr ,when I first started practicing being the chief cook and bottle washer,

Nice to see you back ! [and your front.]
shanghaiwu, 2 months ago

you are a wonderful person and it shows through your work
cheetaah, 2 months ago

Well I’m with ginnymac, I try to keep it short and clear detail about my works, because I see people are here to see your work, not the writings, and if they have a specific question then I give them details. xoxoxooxox to you
BLYTHART in reply to shanghaiwu’s comment, 2 months ago

well, thanks … I’m certainly not going to disagree with you :))
BLYTHART in reply to ginnymac’s comment, 2 months ago

I haven’t been away; I am on Redbubble every day without fail :)) You know what makes me sigh .. when I describe something as being ten years old and someone says, “you’ve been busy this week … you are improving.”
Ine Spee, 2 months ago

Yeah I often wonder as well what people use to make their drawings with, so it’s nice to see something like that added into the description.
I try to include this info with all my work (unless I forget!) for this simple reason, that someone might be interested in the way of making it. =)
catblack, 2 months ago

my work is computer all the way.. oh and a dabble of this and a dribble of that… a dash of camera, sometimes some hand work.. u know… i even indulge in a bit of scanning

pretty simple is u ask me
dimarie, 2 months ago

i know exactly what you mean!
it doesnt take too much effort to write in description what medium used, or if a mixture.
i have to admit, i get suss when there is no description, if they produced and created it, then why not say what with, i dont expect lengthy step by step descriptions, just a simple ‘oil paint on canvas’ or ‘painting altered digtially’ dont need to know what programs they’ve used. dont need to how long it took them, i just want a little sentence that says what they used. like does a hard copy original exist in the world or is the original digital….
sometimes i’m guilty of forgetting to add a description, but if prompted will always answer, yet when i leave comments too like “this is great, what medium have you used?” i dont even get a reply.
whatever happenend to etiquette and courtesy, i bet all these artists want the views comments and sales so why not put that effort in with an initial description…?!
argh, sorry to be all huffy about it, you just happened to touch on one of my pet hates!
pinkyjain, 2 months ago

Great Dave, i’m the same, love to know what mediums people use, or computer, i always try to put what medium i used, or if done with a Wacom or Mouse, & the mediums i use in the programs on the computer & which programs i use like PhotoShop, Corel
Terry Krysak, 2 months ago

I agree 1000% Dave, I am often more impressed with the artwork when the medium the artist used is not what I expected. A digital or photographic image of art often does not compare to looking at a piece in a gallery.
Woodie, 2 months ago

Your right Dave,
Some people don’t even bother with a title so they are ignored and wonder why!!
I always read a description someone has taken the trouble to write and I always write something to add a bit of background interest. It has been appreciated in the past.
cheer Neil
Steven Novak, 2 months ago

I always go in with the idea in mind that I’m going to put what I made it with in my description, but my mind tends to wander, I start making myself laugh with my own stupid jokes, and I plain old forget. ;)
Firedrake, 2 months ago

I know I put ‘watercolour/pastel etc on canvas’ in my descriptions…but it’s not true.
I just create some coloured shapes in photoshop and then apply the ‘beast’ filter!
:)
BLYTHART in reply to Firedrake’s comment, 2 months ago

Stop fibbing :))
ginnymac, 2 months ago

Dave thanks for answering!
Karin Taylor, 2 months ago

Dave, i absolutely love reading all about how the image came into being,
and i genuinely miss it when there is nothing in the description..i’m left hanging and wondering…sometimes i feel foolish to comment as the description gives me a thread from which to understand….i wish more people would fill in their description box..it would help me so much!!
Estelle O'Brien, 2 months ago

I also love to read how an image is made…mostly because of my ignorance- sometimes I can’t even tell if it’s a painting or a digital image! And if it’s a painting, I love to know a bit about the medium and support etc. Not a lengthy essay, just a few words. It helps me learn as well as being able to appreciate other’s work better. So….right…we’ll all be more diligent!
Firedrake, 2 months ago

Hehe, why paint when I can use the beast filter??
BLYTHART in reply to Firedrake’s comment, 2 months ago

You are teasing me now, but I can’t imagine you using PS.
Firedrake, 2 months ago

Haha. Don’t fret! I used Photoshop to create my little rocket-riding mascot (using a scanned in sketch) but everything else is au natural!

Though, a ‘feather’ filter would come in handy here and there, when I have individual strands for 30 feathers to draw in!
BLYTHART in reply to Firedrake’s comment, 2 months ago

Haha … I wasn’t fretting … I just refused to believe that anything as wonderful as your art could be faked in PS.
susan davies, 2 months ago

I love pure shots best so if its a blue sky in my phots then it is genuinley blue as seen as thats how i see photos occasionally i might mess with one or two, experimenting i call it so if you ever see experiment in my description you know ive been playing about with the image, but like i say i love pure photos, i too like to know whether work has been tweaked.
BLYTHART in reply to susan davies’s comment, 2 months ago

I too like to keep my photos pure. Only time I tweak them is if they are too dark or need more contrast, but I never alter colours or anything. Maybe that’s just ‘cos I don’t know how though :))