2008
After the last redesign, I never imagined yet another redesign so soon, but with a few comments from visitors, I have to agree that it is that time again. The new design is a huge update and puts the focus where it should be — the content! Here’s a sneak peek of the new design:
I don’t have a release date set, and likely won’t set one, so it’ll be a surprise when the new look pops up! This is a very exciting update here, and my thanks go out to those who have watched through the progress of and commented on the initial design on the Digital Painting Forum and Painter Talk.
Go sign up for your courses now! During this first session, I’ll be teaching Illustrator I, which is a primer for Adobe Illustrator. Being the graphics industry’s standard in the field of vector editing, knowing this application is a must for all serious graphic artists and designers. Don’t miss it! At $32, and all the information packed into this course, it can’t be beat.
How do I sign up for a course?
- First register at DAA to create your general user account. Your information is private and will not be sold or shared with anyone. DAA takes your privacy very seriously.
- After you have registered, sign in and find the class you are interested in joining.
- If the class is open for registration you will see a PayPal icon located towards the bottom of the page. Simply click on it to enroll into that class.
General Information:
Take some time to read the Student Fact sheet located on the front page. It will get you off to a great start at DAA. You may also register and enroll in more than one class at a time. DAA’s website will keep track of all of your class information for you!
As promised on Twitter! At the request of Karen Bonaker and Painter Magazine, I created this painting of my [sister’s] cat, Shadow. I think this is a good painting to kick off 2008.
I don’t usually set resolutions for the new year, but this year is as good as any to start the tradition. Here we are 2 weeks into 2008, so here are my resolutions… well, maybe they’re not resolutions, but more goals and guidelines for what’s to come in 2008!
- Blog more often and take advantage of WordPress native tagging!
- Restyle Studio|chris with a simplified, elegant interface that gives quick access to information, portfolio, and blog posts.
- Introduce a greater variety of products to the established sections of the Studio|chris Shop.
- Begin sharing my knowledge through live workshops.
- Add to the course catalog of Digital Art Academy.
- Paint something, no matter how small, at least three times a week.
What are your goals for this year?
DigitalPaintingForum.com, previously known as Paint Outside the Frame (though it will always be POTF to the beginning members) has been a love of mine for a few years, since I found it for the first time in July 2005. I joined the site immediately after seeing the wealth of information and resources there. Of course, I shouldn’t have been surprised at the community there as it is Marilyn Sholin’s Forum for Artists and Photographers. Over the years, I’ve worked with Marilyn to help build the front end of the site, but the looks have always hinged on premade templates for the main section of the site, the forum. This time, we decided to take the board’s motto to heart and “Paint Outside the Frame” to create a drastically new, updated, fresh and colorful look for the entire site.
The preliminary design was a lot more simple, elegant with rounded corners and began to establish an artistic color theme for the site’s construction, but deep into the project, after pulling in many of the new elements into a test site we decided the entire look was a little less than spectacular (BORING!). So, I hit the drawing board once again trying to figure out a way to bring some punch and wow into the new design, while staying within some of the initial guidelines we had established. This happened only THREE DAYS prior to the scheduled unveiling, which took place on January 1, 2008! Not to fear though, we did unveil the most important section of the site on time, and with 5 colored skins, no less. The remainder of the site’s construction took place over the next week which is where we are today.
So far, the member’s response has been positive, and I am really happy with the way the site has turned out. Marilyn and I do have a couple of other sections to add and reformat to the new look, but those will come soon as some final bits of information pulled together. For now, I’d call the project a complete success. The Digital Painting Forum has a new look with lots of color and fun. The site will continue to grow as new plans are rolled out, and I, for one, am in love with the site even more and am very happy to be a part of the Digital Painting Forum team.
2007 has come and gone. Here are some of the most popular posts that are certainly worth a visit!
- Wacom 6D Art Pen Review: Part 1
Learn about Wacom’s digital painting “wonder-pen.” With features such as active rotation, that are not included with the standard Wacom pens, the 6D adds a whole new level of realism and user experience to their line of popular pen tablets. - Wacom 6D Art Pen Review: Part 2
Combine the 6D Art Pen with Corel Painter for a completely new experience using the Real Bristle brushes introduced with version 10 of this award winnign software. - Photoshop Painting Study: Siberian Husky
Join me as I explore Adobe Photoshop as a fine art painting medium with the help of my trust Wacom tablet. - Painter X: Calla Lilies
Painted with an unusual brush, these lilies turned out beautifully and were published in the Official Corel Painter Magazine! - Fiery Red Insiration: Ilona Royce-Smithkin
I hope I have the energy of this inspirational artist when I am her age! - The Official Corel Painter Magazine Posts
While this isn’t a single post, I consider being published multiple times in this magazine during 2007 a huge accomplishment. Hopefully this trend will continue throughout 2008 with exciting new content! - Waterfalls of the Great Smoky Mountains
Go visit the wonderful story left in the comments for this article. True friendship is certainly is a wonderful thing. Look how photography took these two friends on some great adventures! - Meeting Marilyn Sholin in North Carolina
In October of 2007, I met Marilyn Sholin in person for the first time along with a wonderful group of photographers from across the US. We printed paintings and had fun embellishing them with paints, rubs, and metallic pens! As a small update to this one, I gave my painting to my best friend for her birthday and she absolutely loved it! - Introducing Digital Art Academy
Digital Art Academy is CLOSE to starting classes! It is an exciting opportunity to learn to create art digitally using a variety of programs from some of the best instructors in the community. I will be heading up the Adobe Illustrator program. Hope to see you there! - About the Web Wanderers Category
In November, I started a new category for the blog to give people exactly what they’re looking for when they visit the site. I certainly want to have interesting content for everyone that visits. If you have suggestions for the blog, please don’t hesitate to comment, contact me, or post in the Blog Suggestion Box. The blog is here for YOU!
Now that 2008 is here, I can only hope for another exciting year and more growth for Studio|chris, and in turn for all the readers and visitors to the site. More news later — HAPPY NEW YEAR!