Interview of Joan A Hamilton On Red Bubble
I have been interviewed about my art on Red Bubble (a huge art/photography site that started in Australia that allows you to post your art for sale or viewing. There is a link in the left sidebar.)
I joined Red Bubble early last April and have found the feeling that I am part of an artists community an important part of my life as an artist. Seeing what other digital artists of different skills levels are painting is of interest to me and interacting with them is very pleasant. I have met some really nice people in the Red Bubble community. In the future I plan to interview some of them and feature their art on my blog.
Carolyn Staut has kindly allowed me to post the Interview here on my website:
Meet Joan A. Hamilton
Please meet Joan A. Hamilton, Co-Host of Fine Art Digital Painters Group. I think you will find her interview questions interesting and it will give you a chance to get to know this superb artist.
Joan A Hamilton – Digital Artist – Using Corel Painter 11 and a Wacom Tablet and Intuos Pen.
1. Where are you from? Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am currently living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but grew up in North Bay Ontario. I have been happily married for eons and have a son, a daughter and a daughter in law of whom I am very proud.
2. What goals do you have for the Fine Art Digital Painters Group?
I see Fine Art Digital Painters Group as one than can help change the perception that digital paintings are somehow less ‘real’ than those painted in mediums with more traditional tools. I want the world to know about digital painting as another medium, one that takes just as much skill, talent and artistry to master as watercolours or oils.
The dictionary defines ‘emulate’ as follows:
1. Try to equal somebody or something – to try to equal or surpass somebody or something that is successful or admired.
2. Compete successfully with somebody or something – to be successful in comparison with somebody or something else.
Digital paint brushes have supposedly been designed to “emulate” natural media and I propose that Digital Painters can do more than emulate Traditional Fine Art Painting; we can surpass it with imagination, hard work and these exciting tools.
3. Describe that moment when you realized that it was time to share your art with others.
A pivotal point in my growth as an artist came when an acquaintance who I happened to show my art to asked me if I sold it. Prior to that I had only shown it and given it to family and friends. From that point on, the idea of creating affordable art became a realistic and achievable goal.
I set up my first website and worked hard at improving my art. Learning to print it as well, was part of my plan. I experimented with many different papers and upgraded printers until I was happy with my printouts.
Things progressed to the point where I have an Online Gallery/Blog http://www.joanahamilton.com/ where I sell prints of my work on Fine Art paper and Greeting Cards and Note Cards of my own design featuring my artwork. I blog about what I am doing as an artist and do small tutorials and demonstrations of my digital painting techniques.
Becoming a member of Red Bubble has introduced me to many wonderful artists and has allowed me to share my work in way that is very important to me. We all need feedback, being an artist can be a lonely job.
4. What first inspired you to try Digital Painting? What Painting Program do you prefer?
I had played around with Corel Draw and Photo Paint many years ago and still had an old version on my computer. I tried painting with the mouse and Photo Paint and was sufficiently intrigued to consider the purchase of Corel Painter 9 and a Wacom Tablet. Actually my husband was the one who pushed the idea. I was a little leery of the price tag, but had always wanted to paint watercolours and the need to create won out!
I was hooked from the first day on, despite how daunting the task of learning how to
use these fabulous digital tools seemed. ( I remember being totally freaked by the way the watercolour ran down the page…so much so, that I went back to Corel Photo Paint for a little while until I worked up my courage to try it again!) Having an unlimited supply of clean new pieces of paper, all the paint, pencils, pastels, charcoals etc… I could ever need was very freeing for me!
5. What is your favorite technique….......watercolor, oils, pencil, etc
Although I tried the digital and watercolour brushes when I first started using Corel Painter 9, it was over two years before I went back to them and began to use them in earnest. After a year and a half I still find them a real challenge to master in any kind of way. All of my paintings begin with a blank canvas and are painted stroke by stroke in an attempt to achieve a certain look. In the course of a painting I use many different brushes and layering techniques, and have developed my own custom brushes over time. These brushes are in constant evolution as I continually experiment with new brushes and techniques. It is a real bonus when I finally figure out why a brush does a certain thing and why you would need one to do that very thing!
6. How long have you been creating Digital Paintings?
I have been painting digitally for about five years, and all I can say about that is …it is absolutely addicting! The more I paint the more I want to paint!
7. What are/have been your favorite learning resources?
Digital painting is a continually evolving, learning process for me. My learning style is not really conducive to figuring these things out at a more opportune time … like in the beginning. I tend to jump into the middle of things, make lots of mess and through sheer determination and much trial and error come up with something I can control in some way. Because of this I don’t tend to make good use of the multitude of instructional resources available. I do look at lots of art, watercolour in particular to try and learn its ‘visual language.’ Doing studies, trying to paint like the original, has been a good learning exercise for me. It helps me learn the basics of painting, while helping me evolve the techniques to make the kind of marks I want to make painting digitally.
8. What do you feel drawn to paint? What inspires you?
So far I have been through three distinct phases in what I am drawn and inspired to paint. Florals were, and are still my first love; followed by a briefer period of painting Still Life. Now I’m hung up on trying to paint landscapes. I can only paint what gives me that, “Oh! I want to paint that! feeling.” I’m still trying to figure out what is behind that, and how to translate it into something in my art that others can feel as well. Sometimes I’m successful and sometimes not.
9. What would you like to say to inspire other Digital Painters?
I hope I will continue to feel this passionate urge to create and to keep on learning and growing as an artist. Part of how this can come about is by sharing what I am doing and by learning from other artists. The beautiful thing about digital painting is that there are no limits to your supplies and no mess to clean up after.
So why not try something you’ve never done before on your canvas. Experiment, experiment, and experiment some more! Eventually you will make a mark that’s uniquely yours and you’ll be on your way! I want other digital artists to feel excitement and pride in their work as wonderful additions to the world of Fine Art!
10. Which pieces you have created are you the most proud of?
From each category:
Floral: Pink Magnolia One
Still Life: Blue Silk and Oranges
Landscape: Country Barn
re on your canvas. Experiment, experiment, and experiment some more! Eventually you will make a mark that’s uniquely yours and you’ll be on your way! I want other digital artists
Floral: Pink Magnolia One
Still Life:Blue Silk and Oranges
Posted in Art Marketing/Personal on December 10th, 2009. 4 comments so far.
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monica didur said:
Joan sounds like a very "real" artist to me! She uses her medium brilliantly and is wonderful about sharing what she has learned. Her joy in painting, and isn't that what it's all about, always comes through.