Choosing the Acrylic Paint That’s Best for You

Choosing the Acrylic Paint That’s Best for You

This is the last of a three-part article about comparison within traditional paints. [NOTE: the following is taken from the WonderStreet. The article was written by Lindsey Bourret]

Today, we take a closer look at the top 19 brands of acrylic paint that are most frequently used by artists around the world. We analysed consumer reviews from a number of online merchants and surveyed thousands of artists who showcase their work on WonderStreet. We then combined this feedback to form a general consensus about each brand.

Click on the link below to read the article. Enjoy!

Choosing the Acrylic Paint That’s Best for You


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to: me@eliottlillyart.com. I will be keeping this list updated as I discover new entries. Thank you--

 

How to Choose a Brand of Oil Paint

How to Choose a Brand of Oil Paint

Olivier Jennes, from WonderStreet, compares and contrasts 29 well-known brands of oil paints.

[NOTE: the following is taken from the WonderStreet website description]. In this article we present feedback on 29 well-known brands, which we have gathered from a variety of consumer review sites and thousands of artists who display their oil paintings on WonderStreet’s platform. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive comparison of oil colors that you will find online.

Click on the link below to read. Enjoy!

How to Choose a Brand of Oil Paint


Want to help us grow our resources section? If a resource has helped you greatly please e-mail it to me or any suggestions 
to: me@eliottlillyart.com. I will be keeping this list updated as I discover new entries. Thank you--
Which Brand of Watercolor Should You Choose?

Which Brand of Watercolor Should You Choose?

Olivier Jennes, from WonderStreet writes about and reviews several watercolor brands, categorized by tubes, pans, and gouache.

[NOTE: the following is taken from the WonderStreet website description]. WonderStreet is an invite-only platform for designers and artists in the UK to showcase and sell their creations online. This article is from a thee-part installment in a series exploring the best brands for the three main types of paint media. The brands are presented in alphabetical order – not by any sort of ranking system. We remind our readers that a “pro” for one artist might be a “con” for another (or vice versa). A section titled “Final Thoughts” at the end of this article provides a summary of our findings and our recommendations.

Click on the link below to read. Enjoy!

Which Brand of Watercolor Should You Choose?


Want to help us grow our resources section? If a resource has helped you greatly please e-mail it to me or any suggestions 
to: me@eliottlillyart.com. I will be keeping this list updated as I discover new entries. Thank you--
Tutorial Review of Dylan Cole’s Introduction to Landscape Matte Painting

Tutorial Review of Dylan Cole’s Introduction to Landscape Matte Painting

Dylan Cole Tutorial ReviewThis week, ending 8/29/2015, we have a tutorial review of Dylan Cole’s Introduction to Landscape Matte Painting

 

Source: Video (The Gnomon Workshop)

Topic: Environment

Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Software Used: Adobe Photoshop

Web Address: http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/55/The-Techniques-of-Dylan-Cole-1#.VdJCSq3t9qF

Paid/Unpaid: Subscription

Review_score

 

Tutorial Presentation: (Quality)

This tutorial has clean audio and displays a pretty good image.  Steps were very easy to follow as Dylan Cole explained how to create quick environment designs for matte painting.  The tutorial goes over topics that include:

  • Composition
  • Working with a Plate
  • Choosing a Plate
  • Creating a Visual Path
  • Digital Color Sketching
  • Set Extension
  • Realistic Lighting
  • Atmospheric Perspective
  • Channels

The tutorial also comes with the project files in JPEG format and PSDs (per section).

 

Educational Value: (How well the Information is presented, length of material and depth, pacing, etc.)

These easy to follow tutorials run at an average of 20-30 minutes long (per video). Dylan Cole does an excellent job explaining basic matte painting concepts while providing several examples to illustrate these principles.  His demos are prerecorded, but his voice over follows along with the video as he adds other tips and tricks for digital painting.

 

Instructor Insight: (How unique is the advice, process, and techniques offered by the instructor)

Dylan Cole goes over several painting scenarios useful  for environment design and illustration. His knowledge of color theory is very important when explaining  how atmospheric perspective works and how to balance the composition. He goes over using a plate from the start as well as how to paint from scratch and still achieve the same feel. Matte painting techniques using curves and channels are taught effectively, and the importance of planning before spending a lot of time worrying about the details is emphasized.

 

The Final Verdict:

We think that Dylan Cole’s Introduction to Matte Painting video from The Gnomon Workshop is a must have in a digital artist’s arsenal of tools. From a beginning digital painter to the seasoned matte painter, this video goes over many important concepts that are essential when designing environments. Knowing that Dylan Cole is one of the best matte painters around, there is really no wrong in owning and learning valuable knowledge from him.

 

You can purchase The Techniques of Dylan Cole: Introduction to Landscape Matte Painting on The Gnomon Workshop website: http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/55/The-Techniques-of-Dylan-Cole-1#.VdJCSq3t9qF


 


Want to help us grow our resources section? If a resource has helped you greatly please e-mail it to me or any suggestions 
to: me@eliottlillyart.com. I will be keeping this list updated as I discover new entries. Thank you--
Tutorial review of Intro to Mech Design: 4 Part Series

Tutorial review of Intro to Mech Design: 4 Part Series

Intro_To_Mech_Design_Cover

This week, ending 8/22/2015, we have a tutorial review of John Park’s: “Intro to Mech Design: 4 Part Series”

 

Source: Video

Topic: Mech Design

Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate

Software Used: None (Traditional – Pen and Marker)

Web Address: http://gumroad.com/l/Amlo

Paid/Unpaid: $10

Review_score

 

Tutorial presentation: (Quality)

This tutorial has clean audio and displays a crisp image.  Even though the video does not have a clean starting off point, steps were very easy to follow as John explained how to create mech designs, and the resolution on screen was high enough to read his notes.  The Bundle is broken into 4 parts that include:

  • Intro to Mech Design: Part 1 – Introduction to Joints/Gears and Silhouettes
  • Intro to Mech Design: Part 2 – 2D Sketching/ Basic Forms/ Functions
  • Intro to Mech Design: Part 3 – Sketch Ideation Drawing
  • Intro to Mech Design: Part 4 – Marker Drawing/ Designing

 

The tutorial also comes with hi-res demos (per section) as JPEG files.

Educational value: (How well the Information is presented, length of material and depth, pacing, etc.)

These easy to follow tutorials run at an average of 1hr long (per video). John Park does a great job explaining basic design concepts while providing several examples to illustrate these principles.  His real-time demos reinforce his talking points.

Instructor insight: (How unique is the advice, process, and techniques offered by the instructor)

John introduces the silhouette process and proportion when designing the shapes of a vehicle. He stresses the importance figuring out how joints or functions work in a mech design. He then goes into building compound shapes while explaining perspective techniques in drawing. Finally, John makes a series of quick mech designs before getting into marker rendering.

The final verdict:

We think that John Park’s’: “Mech Design Complete Series” is a must have for anyone who is starting out as a mech designer.  John does an excellent job of introducing and explaining the foundations of mech design through real-time demos and high resolution notes. He is clearly knowledgeable of the subject matter and with the examples shown, anyone can be on their way to designing believable mechs.

You can purchase the “Intro to Mech Design: 4 Part Series” and more from John Park here: http://gumroad.com/jparked


 

Want to help us grow our resources section? If a resource has helped you greatly please e-mail it to me or any suggestions 
to: me@eliottlillyart.com. I will be keeping this list updated as I discover new entries. Thank you--

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