Now I know for sure I will never use Photoshop….
I was at Apple today buying a back-up hard drive as I have so much art stored on my computer…
The young guy there persuaded me to stop, and said he would give me a personal photoshop demo….in vain did I try to tell him that I’m a painter, not a photographer or digital artist..but he said I might want do photos one day and create all sorts of wonderful images with them…
So I sat down and he joyfully started to show me what I could do with a photo in the unlikely event I became a photographer….he was so young and full of enthusiasm, I did not want to disappoint him…besides I thought I would finally get to see what the hoo-ha was all about…
The gizmo to cut out…the gizmo to paint…it all looked exciting…then he started to talk about layers…I felt a strange weariness creeping over my soul and I began to see double…my shoulders started to ache and I developed a strange mist before my eyes…his voice began to retreat, as I continued to smile fixedly at him…just as I began to think water torture would be easier, it was over….
I thanked him profusely and told him I would think about it…
I now have renewed respect and awe for all you digital artists out there, and all those who are either using or attempting to learn photoshop….take my word for it, you are all very talented and creative, but you must also have incredible patience to work with this far reaching software…..this kind of patience is necessary to acquire the skills with which to master current technology…....
At this stage of my life, it takes all the patience I have just to finish a painting..
stephaniek, 2 months ago
Well, thank goodness you are so good at the Painting! :-)
Alison Pearce, 2 months ago
Well said Janis. I am just stunned by what artists can do in photoshop! I love all art forms and attempt many for my own personal enjoyment, but I think the skills used by photoshop artists are very unique and as I am terribly inept when it comes to technology, I have been way to scred to try it!
Maybe some day!
VanSnuG, 2 months ago
Photoshop is just a TOOL to help us CREATE. Photo or Painting or Image are just the MEDIA. The Artist behind the ART is the Only ONE that MATTERS. My humble opinion. :-)
Janis Zroback, 2 months ago
It’s not so much being inept, as I’m very good with my Mac, but I’m reluctant to devote the time it takes to learn something I probably will never use ..plus it takes a lot of time to produce the kind of results I see here on RB…
Frankly I feel most comfortable when I have a real brush in my hand….and I like what I produce…..
Janis Zroback in reply to VanSnuG’s comment, 2 months ago
Yes it is just a tool, and it’s the creator of the work that’s important, but it’s one extra type of art that I personally feel is too onerous for me to take on….in other words, a different kind of creative work, in addition to all that I do, at this stage of my life..
I admire all those who have the patience to learn and use it the way it should be used …for me coping with brush and paint is about all I can handle….
Joanne Bradley, 2 months ago
I hear you Janis, I am avoiding it! It may become inevitable since I am taking photographs and hope to take some of the university courses toward a certificate, but it will definitely not be because I really want to. I so enjoy the physical experience of taking the shot, composing, thinking about lighting etc. I can tolerate some time behind the computer and am relatively addicted to my RB community but spending hours laboring over my work correcting every tiny detail is just not for me. In your case, you are an accomplished artist and really I can’t see any benefit for you!
Uta Mooney, 2 months ago
Never say never. Leave yourself open. You don’t know what the future holds.
coppertrees, 2 months ago
Never stop learning,might find that one thing that will aid you in your quest. lol
Computer work can be very humbling at times,try try again. I still like my brushes yet I fins a mix of each is nice at times.
Solomon Walker, 2 months ago
Its true there are lots of learn in Photoshop and other digital imaging software, and requires lots of patience. I had similar fear ten years back when I first got introduced to Photoshop, but my girlfriend at the time was a whiz at it and she was patient enough to teach me the basics. I was persistent and quite curious so, I supposed that why I went further and created art with that software and many others.
I do thanks my X girlfriend immensely for her wisdom cause without her, I probably would have continued my reluctance for this new media.
Janis Zroback in reply to Uta Mooney’s comment, 2 months ago
That’s quite true in most cases, but as far as my art is concerned as I am in total control of what I want to do and for how long…and for me, there is nothing better in the world than a Winsor Newton Series 7 Brush in my hand….it’s something I already know and love….for me personally, a computer will never be able to replace that….
Janis Zroback in reply to coppertrees’s comment, 2 months ago
Life is learning…..I learn every day whether I want to or not, but at the same time we do have a certain amount of choice thank goodness….we may read this book or that, or see this movie or that…if something gives you pain of any kind you’ll go out of your way to avoid it…for someone else that same experience may provide a whole lot of joy….for me using the computer is just a means to an end…I store my work, I look for information, I talk with you wonderful people here. I email friends and colleagues…..but there are many areas of it I have no inclination to learn as it cuts into the time I want to devote to the things I love most…
And I am loving this debate…thanks to all of you for responding and sharing your opinions….there will always be those who love technology and want to explore it as much as possible and there will be those like me who choose to utilize only the parts of it that they find that service their particular needs…
Thanks so much Vickie, for all your wonderful comments…
Janis Zroback in reply to stephaniek’s comment, 2 months ago
It’s great to be good at what you love to do, but in the end all that matters is what it does for your soul….
RMonroe, 2 months ago
And your paintings are beautiful just they way they are….No need for you to enhance with photoshop. Just keep on painting so we can continue to ooo and aah. So many of your pieces just take my breath away:)
Janis Zroback in reply to Solomon Walker’s comment, 2 months ago
Thanks Solomon for your input…
As soon as the salesman began I realized that this was not for me…. I love a paint brush in my hand and it gives me great joy, but I also love to look at the work of those who do use photoshop or digital work and I very much admire the expertise that goes into it…in fact I have bought some pieces in the past, and may do so again…I certainly love your work very much…...
It’s like some artists swear by oil and others by pastels or watercolour…it’s all depends on what we love to do best..
For me the way of the brush is best….
Janis Zroback in reply to RMonroe’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you Robin for your unqualified support of my work, and taking the time to comment so beautifully on every new painting I add to my pages….
Solomon Walker, 2 months ago
Very Good. its great art you are doing on the real canvas, no need to deviate from what’s working for you.
Janis Zroback in reply to Solomon Walker’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you…until I started here this was not an issue, but I have been asked so many times and had to protest that I did not know how to do it, that I actually started to feel quite defensive of my work…when I was offered the demo I thought well maybe one day I will start taking photos and it may come in handy…there was never any thought of my altering my paintings as I sell the originals…but I will never have the patience for the photo editing, so that’s that….
Solomon Walker, 2 months ago
There is no need to alter your painting for digital satisfaction, they are superb in design and color already.
Janis Zroback in reply to Solomon Walker’s comment, 2 months ago
Thank you Solomon…your comments are always so wonderfully encouraging
Mui-Ling Teh, 2 months ago
I didn’t start using photoshop until my second semestre of year 1 in university, and the profs say you need to be able to do things by hand before moving on to the digital; and I could see what they mean. It is conveniant but there are those who are more adapt with the traditional method. My supervisor at work doesn’t use computers very much- he doesn’t know how to use CAD or Photoshop – but that is fine because he is pretty fast with hand-drafting and drawing perspectives by hand; whereas many architects who rely on CAD and 3D modelling, are afraid to return to the drawing board. Some classmates felt they’ve lost their artisitic touch because throughout school they didn’t have time to do so much art by hand as they used to. I was afriad of the same thing happening to myself, though during this internship I’ve been doing art again.
Janis Zroback, 2 months ago
I think it is really important for all artists to learn to draw and paint even if they end up specializing in digital work…a lot of kids can’t write or spell these days because they were using computers from day one….
In the end it’s just another medium from which to choose, and the results will only be as good as the artist is to begin with…you can never make a bad painting good by editing on the computer….
Don’t be afraid..if you keep painting the “old fashioned way”, you’ll never lose what you already have….
Thanks for commenting and adding to the discussion…
Uta Mooney, 2 months ago
You are absolutely right. A computer can never replace that brush in the hand with that beautiful paint on it, ah :)
Janis Zroback in reply to Uta Mooney’s comment, 2 months ago
It never will…
In general, since no medium can replace the unique look and feel of another, therefore no amount of technology can replace the brush in any of those mediums… but as with all art, in the hands of a good artist, digital work is incredibly beautiful and provides yet another choice of mediums for artists to use in presenting their work….