Written by Ako Lamble – Watercolour / iPad Art

Ako Lamble shows and tells you what you can do with watercolour or your iPad.

The process of watercolour painting of “Mike and Henry” – written by Ako Lamble

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble. "Mike and Henry" process

How the watercolour painting was started and finished.

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone, Some of you have already known that I had been obsessed with watercolour painting for a while. I would like to share with you the process of how I did the watercolour painting of Mike and Henry in my sketchbook.

I was very surprised to know that I received so many good responses when I posted the painting on my Facebook. More than 230 people altogether clicked Like button (I posted it on a couple of art groups on Facebook as well). Never happened that many before. I presume that so many dog lovers were out there and the painting touched a soft spot. Also comments such as how they liked the tones and the sensitivity of my style of painting.

I will tell you that there were mistakes and happy accidents during the process which lead to discovering new techniques, I loved the experience. That’s why watercolour is so addictive for me.

Mike and Henry(rhodesian ridgeback) in 2006.

This is the photo I chose and put up on my computer screen for a reference to paint from. I wanted to test the new colour arrangement of my travel palette so I picked the photo without thinking too much.

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" Process1

At this point, I just wanted to test the colours.

I usually do a pencil drawing or pen drawing before applying the colour to the paper, but this time I just wanted to test the colours, so I went straight to paint. I make a lot of colour swatches in my sketchbook, so I thought this was one of them, then I went to bed.

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" Process2

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" Process3

Next morning, my mind and eyes are as fresh as the morning dew. When I saw the paint marks in the sketchbook which I made the previous night, I thought I could do much more, so picked up a 2B pencil and started drawing over it, then put more colours on it. Oh, by the way, around 30% of the intensity of the colour would be faded when the paint has dried.

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" Process4

I was struggling to shape Mike’s hand and arm.

I started using some watercolour pencils to draw details. This was the area you can see where I was struggling to shape Mike’s hand and arm. I also realised that there was not enough space between Mike and Henry and Mike was slightly smaller than the actual size.

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" Process5

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" Process6

I tried to ignore Mike’s arm and carried on the areas I could deal with.
I have a good habit of taking photos of my painting/drawing with my iPhone during the process. Not just for sake of keeping records, I do it for checking my painting. It’s much easier to find the faults when you see it in thumbnail size. Checking the values, shapes and even colours.

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" Process7

This is the painting I posted on my Facebook and received more than 230 clicks on Like button.

Now, this was the point the happy accident had happened. When I saw the painting through the iPhone thumbnail size, I instinctively dropped a generous amount of the background colour over Mike’s arm, I actually did it holding iphone in my left hand and holding a brush in my right hand.

You don’t know how excited I was, I knew I did the right thing. Not just hiding my crappy drawing but it gave a clear focal point on Mike’s face.

I stopped there and posted it on Facebook. I don’t know exactly, but it took about 40 min to come to this point since I started a pencil drawing that morning.

Watercolour painting by Ako Lamble "Mike and Henry" touched up with iPad.

I used Procreate app with iPad to paint shadow over Henry’s legs to see how it looks like.

Since I decided to write about the painting, I wanted to do a little experiment. This is a good chance to use the iPad to simulate the casting shadow over Henry’s legs before actually painting on it. I was quite happy with the result.

You can lift some colours from the watercolour painting.

I mainly did three things;

Darken a part of Henry’s legs as if there were a casting shadow.
Lifted some colours and painted lightly Mike’s arm and hand which was diffrent form from the photo.
Put more details of Henry’s face, including highlights (with a gel pen) and his collar.

So many people think that watercolour is difficult and unforgiving, but I disagree with that. As you see, I could redo Mike’s arm and hand after covering the dark colour. Yes, there are some restrictions but watercolour is much more versatile than you may think.

Left:the one I posted on Facebook. Right: The final piece.

I’ve employed a new habit of asking myself two questions each time when I finished my painting/drawing. I encourage my students to do the same in my class.

Q1. What is the most I like about the painting/drawing?
Q2. What is the most I would like to improve about the painting/drawing?

I will answer the two questions on this piece.

A1. I liked/enjoyed when I instinctively painted over Mike’s arm, it worked well to hide my crappy drawing, also to give a clear focal point on Mike’s face.
A2. Definitely better drawing of the hand!

Art Materials for watercolour painting of "Mike and Henry" by Ako Lamble

I have a few different sizes and shapes of sketch book. I keep “in-case sketchbook” in every places.

Art materials I used

Some of you might want to know the art materials I used, here is the list of them.
From the right to the left shown in the above image.

Sketchbook: Stillmand & Brin Alpha series 150gsm A5size
Mechanical pencil: 2mm 2B
Watercolour pencil: Caran d”Ache Museum Aquarelle (3510 640) Dark Ultramarine
Watercolour pencil: Caran d”Ache Museum Aquarelle (3510 661) Light cobalt blue
Watercolour pencil: Caran d”Ache Museum Aquarelle (3510 850) Cornelian
Watercolour pencil: Caran d”Ache Museum Aquarelle (3510 009) Black
Watercolour pencil: Caran d”Ache Museum Aquarelle (3510 077) Burnt Ochre
Round Brush: Escoda Kolinsky Sable Pocket Size 8
Aquarelle Dagger Travel Brush 1/4″
Uni-Ball UM-153 1.0mm Broad gel pen WHITE ink
Watercolour: My current travel palette 23colours.

Helio turquoise: Shcmincke (PB16)
Phthalo green: Daniel Smith (PG7)
Ultramarine blue: Daniel Smith (PG29)
Perylene maroon: Daniel Smith (PR179)
Cerulean blue chromium: Daniel Smith (PB36)
Cerulean blue: Daniel Smith (PB35)
Quinacridone burnt scarlet: Daniel Smith (PR206)
Delft blue: Shcmincke (PB60)
Goethite brown ochre: Daniel Smith (PY43)
Transparent red oxide: Daniel Smith (PR101)
Lunar black: Daniel Smith (PBk11)
Cobalt teal blue: Daniel Smith (PG50)
Translucent Orange: Shcmincke (PO71)
Transparent pyrrol orange: Daniel Smith (PO71)
Pyrrol orange: Daniel Smith (PO73)
New gamboge: Daniel Smith (PY153)
Hansa yellow medium: Daniel Smith (PY97)
Translucent Yellow: Shcmincke (PY150)
Quinacridone gold: Daniel Smith (PO49)
Indian red: Daniel Smith (PR101)
Pyrrol red: Daniel Smith (PR254)
Opera pink: Daniel Smith (PR122)
Quinacridone gold: Daniel Smith (PO49)

I hope this blog artcle will inspire you to do watercolour if you haven’t done for a long time.
I started my watercolour for beginners weekly classes on Tuesday afternoon and Friday afternoon. Also The workshops on Saturday will begin. If you are interested in joining, let me know (info[at]art-art.com.au).

Beginners Watercolour with Line & Wash, weekly art class with Ako Lamble

Beginners Watercolour with Line & Wash, weekly classes with Ako Lamble
(Tue 1-3pm): $340 per term [10weeks] / $40 per casual
(Fri 1.30-3.30pm): $340 per term [10weeks] / $40 per casual
More Details >>

Beginners Watercolour Workshop with Ako Lamble
(Sat 10am-3pm): $150 per workshop (All art materials will be supplied for the workshop.)
More Details >>

Ako Lamble iPad Art Northshore School of Art

Ask Our Teacher – Ako Lamble (iPad Art)

“I suppose what I do on my creative works has been based on “what if” spirit and editing (mixing/collaging) methods.”

iPad Art by Ako Lamble / Procreate app
The gif animation was created with Corel Painter.

Name: Ako Lamble
Teaching at NSA: iPad Art Weekly Classes / iPad Art Workshops
Joined NSA since: 2002

NSA: What doodle / drawing / painting did you do in your early life that you were the most proud of? How old were you?

AKO: I suppose that the comic manga book I made when I was around 9-10 yo was the one I was proud of. I wrote a story about me and my best girl friend who lived a few doors away, it was a success story of us becoming a duo pop star who could sing and dance (that’s what I desperately wanted to do those days). It was all hand made and approximately 15 pages long. I wish I kept it but who knows where it is now.

Ako (left) and her childhood best friend Naomi (right), both are 13yo.

Ako made a comic manga book inspired by the Pinklady’s comic book (above).

NSA: Have you been always artistic / creative? if so, in what way?

AKO: “WHAT IF…?” has been always the top phrase in my dictionary. Unlike Mike as a single minded artist since he was young, I had too many minds (and still do)… I was a doodler, an obsessive letter writer, a member of choir, trained to be an announcer for 6 years in the school broadcasting club (which was a big thing to me)… Everybody around me expected that I would be an announcer (in Japan) but I went to collage to learn Photography because I wanted to make a film (oh dear…).

Make a long story short, learning Photography (before the digital photography era) has taught me “how to see” which helped me a lot when I drew and painted afterwords. I still remember the words from the “mastering editing” book which I read in my college days, it said “there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9), so there is no point to be striving to create “originals” because there is no such thing, what you can do is mixing them, collaging them or editing them nicely” I thought that was absolutely true and instantly took off my unnecessary pressure which was “i have to create “originals” to impress people”, rather I enjoyed my experiments. I still do the same. So I suppose what I do on my creative works has been based on “what if” spirit and editing (mixing/collaging) methods.

Broadcasting was a big thing to Ako (17yo)

AKO: I fell in love with the felting a few years back, making scarves and small items like book marks, coasters, Jewellery … I made my original brand called “woolhug” and sell them on the net and the shop but it’s getting slow because I put more my time on iPad Art these days, I am not going to give up my felting which can satisfy my needs to do 3D craft.

"Reading Mate" felted bookmarks by Ako Lamble

“Reading Mate” (felted bookmarks) – designed and felted by Ako Lamble.
The eyes popped out when the book is closed and it can sit because of the wire in the body.

The felted coasters – designed and felted by Ako Lamble.
Fried egg, Bacon, Tomato and Swiss cheese

The felted scarf – designed and felted by Ako Lamble.
One of her customers asked Ako to make this when she saw the egg and bacon coasters.
This was a gift for her friend who loves bacon and egg.

Ako was selling her felted products at the Glebe Markets.

NSA: What made you join NSA? Where did you hear/find about NSA?

AKO: I originally joined Mike’s cartooning class at Mosman evening college and he introduced me to his art school, I joined the following year. It was my first experience painting with oil paints which I enjoyed very much. I started with a simple flower then after a few paintings I painted a cat quite well that led me to paint pet portraits and human portraits.

Ako’s very first oil painting at NSA.

The oil painting of a cat which encouraged Ako to paint pet portraits

“Berney” oils, commissioned work.

“Henry plays at the beach” Oils

“Bella and Silver” Pastels, commissioned work.

“Emi” Oils

“Twins” Oils

NSA: If you are allowed to have any famous painting in the world on your wall, what would it be and Why?

AKO: I would love to have “The Ball” by Félix Vallotton on my wall if you ask me now, it might be different another time. I did not know the artist but when I saw his painting in the exhibition “Masterpieces From Paris” at NGA in 2010, I instantly fell in love with it. It was not a huge painting but I was drawn to it very much. I like the composition and setting, it tells a story. I can look at the painting all day long and wonder how the story develops, the child chasing a ball reminds me of “Alice in Wonderland” and the ladies in the distance reminds me of a private conversation between Anna Karenina and her niece, Kitty.

“The Ball” by Félix Vallotton

NSA: What creative project are you working on right now and what would you like to achieve with your art within the next year?

AKO: To establish the iPad Art Classes / Workshops involves a large part of my creative mind, I understand so many people are skeptical about iPad Art because it’s new and digital. My creativity comes in to “show and tell” in the way people can easily relate to it and see the potential as a powerful art tool which they can use straight away.

Also I’m responsible for the art school’s website and organising blog articles, Mike and I constantly talk about how we can grow our art community and how we can interact with each other. The interview “Ask Our Students” is the most fun job for me to do. I enjoy knowing each one’s story about their creativity, it’s so inspiring. This will be an ongoing project.

To create my own iPad Art itself doesn’t need much of my energy, my time or even my creative mind, as I said I still have too many minds to do things and iPad serves a person like me very well. It can be my sketch book, art journal, art references, canvas to paint on while listening to music or I can even read something to feed my spirituality… wonderful!

NSA: why do you teach art, or what do you get out of it?

AKO: I teach iPad Art because I would like to encourage and inspire those who gave up their art due to difficulties in life to pick up their art again. I constantly have a lack of energy and limited time to do creative things, so without the iPad I couldn’t pick up my painting again. It is my pleasure to share my knowledge and experiences with others, in return I also learn and get inspired by them.

NSA: Finally, would you design a T-shirt for Mike to wear in the class?

mike lamble face Mike said “Darling, your breath isn’t too good, I think you ate too much curry last night, will you please take your toung out of my ear?…….. Oh hello Henry!”

ENROL NOW!

Weekly Classes for iPad Art (for All Levels)

10am – 12pm TUESDAY
1pm – 3pm TUESDAY
$330 for Term (10wks) / $35 for Casual

The weekly classes for iPad Art is going very well. Once you decided to start drawing with your iPad, we believe that you might have many questions to be answered and need instructions on a weekly bases, so come to the class with your well-charged-iPad, have fun and make your iPad a powerful art tool which you won’t want to be without!
DOWNLOAD ENROLMENT FORM

Go to iPad Art Weekly Class Page >>

Henry is allowed to lick the cup if it’s a Chai Late.

iPad Art coloured leaves painted by Ako Lamble using a moleskine sketchbook.

iPad Art – “Why iPad Art instead of iPad Painting? ” written by Ako Lamble

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“A desk lamp in the morning sun” iPad Art by Ako Lamble

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,

I deliberately call my class “iPad Art” class instead of calling “iPad Painting” or “iPad Drawing” class because it is not just for draw/paint digitally, you can do more with iPad, I’ll show you one of the good examples today.

My back ground is Photography, I spent my college days in the dark room, if not I was chasing lights and shadows in the field. It took a while for me to handle colours properly after I studied and practiced the B&W photography for long time.

However, it was a happy surprise to know the training I had with photography of how to see the lights and shadows helped me a lot when I started drawing and painting afterwards. I can see the subject much clearer, I instantly make the subject into a black and white picture in my mind and find the lines, negative spaces, perspective and so forth. Even the times I can’t draw properly, I can see what is wrong at least.

I recently invented a way to do a fun sketching with iPad. I call it “Pretend sketching”. You sometimes see a photo like this (below). People take a picture of their sketch and subject together, I got the idea from it.

Mike’s sketch.

I have a few collections of beautiful scenery images. I chose one of them and made this (below) with iPad and Procreate app.

One of the pretend sketching templates.

Then I drew the scenery within a sketchbook area as if I were sitting there and sketching, the result is this (below).

“The rainbow field” iPad Art by Ako Lamble

Soon then I started using my own photos instead of using beautiful images taken by someone else. The process is interesting because it starts from the final image in your mind otherwise you will easily forget to make a space for a sketchbook which you would draw on later, so when I found something interesting (usually it has good light and shadow), I clearly picture in my mind where my sketch book would be located and how the subject is going to be seen in the background then shoot it. I quite like using a small moleskine sketchbook now which has the off-white or yellowish papers that give warm and organic feelings which is very important to me when I do digital art, I also like it having a sewing line in the middle of the two-page spread and make sure I don’t loose it after I draw, I enjoy very much creating the illusion that way.

I consider this whole process is iPad Art, from finding and taking photos of a subject to drawing and sharing them with your friends.

Oh, I should tell you that all my iPad paintings listed here didn’t take me more than 15 minutes (because it’s done as “drawing for a 15 min a day project“), it took another 15 minutes to take a photo with my iPhone and then assemble the background with iPad.

“The Autumn carpet” iPad Art by Ako Lamble

Winter is the best season to take a great photo because sun light is nice and soft which travels at a low angle and gives long shadows during most of the day. You don’t need to go to Paris to take such a pretty picture, it can be created right in your own backyard, kitchen or living room if you have winter sun there.

“The lights though blinds in kitchen” iPad Art by Ako Lamble

Weekly Classes for iPad Art (for All Levels)

10am – 12pm TUESDAY
1pm – 3pm TUESDAY
$330 for Term (10wks) / $35 for Casual

We have started the weekly classes for iPad Art this term, and it has been going very well. This would be the way to go if you would like to do it at your own pace. Your questions will be answered and instructions will be given according to your level of understanding on a weekly basis, so come to the class with your well-charged-iPad, have fun and make your iPad a powerful art tool which you won’t want to be without! Download Enrolment form.

Go to iPad Art Weekly Class Page >>

Good news is you can learn iPad Art as an optional in the Monday night class (7-9pm) from term 4, it’s good for those who only have their free time in the evenings.

iPad Art Workshop (18th May 2013) Review – written by Ako Lamble

Erika, Charlotte (12yo) and Anna

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,
We’ve just finished the second iPad Art Workshop on 18th May 2013. We had a great day together. I initially planned and designed my workshop for adults only for many reasons. However, Mike encouraged me to accept Charlotte (12yo) when she wanted to join my workshop. “Charlotte is capable and she is so enthusiastic about Art” said Mike. She has joined Mike’s Monday kids class. I hadn’t met her yet. When I saw Charlotte on the day I instantly thought Mike was right and I was so glad to accept her. She reminded of me when I was her age, being “enthusiastic” about any creative things and full of positive energy. Don’t get me wrong, the other mature ladies were also enthusiastic and creative too, you can see that from what they created at the workshop.

Learning the basic handy functions

First of all, I wanted them to make a kind of surrealistic artwork to learn some of the handy functions along the way. They were asked to take a photo of an apple, use the smudge tool to make the apple have a painterly look, erase the background and duplicate the apple a few times then take another photo of any painting on the art school wall and put it as a background to the apples. That’s why you can see Alex’s chameleon in Charlotte’s iPad Art.

iPad Art by Anna Orlyanskaya
Procreate app & Snapseed app

iPad Art by Charlotte Oleary (12yo)
Procreate app (top) then used Snapseed app (bottom)

Making a greeting card

Next, they were asked to paint anything with a view to make a greeting card. The techniques and the functions which they learned earlier could be used for it. I’m amazed what they could create in a short time! In the afternoon, we went to Officeworks to print it out directly from the iPad by using their printing app and wifi.

iPad Art by Anna Orlyanskaya
Procreate app & Snapseed app

iPad Art by Charlotte Oleary (12yo)
Procreate app & Snapseed app

Printed them at Officeworks and made a greeting card.

For a person like Erika who joined the workshop again.

Erika had joined my previous workshop and this time she carried on learning the next steps she wanted to achieve. Erika quickly adopted “Brushes app” at the first workshop and created the fantastic iPad Art which is rather graphic. She wanted to learn how to create one with a more painterly look than graphic. As you see her painting (below), she created a beautiful painting which is not graphic with a more pastelly feel. Erika said it took a lot of time to finish it compare with doing the more graphic one. I admire Erika’s diligent attitude. She sends me her iPad Art almost everyday since the first workshop in March, you don’t know how much I have been encouraged by her in return. It is a huge pleasure for me to share my knowledge with a person like Erika.

iPad Art by Erika Dollission
Procreate app

“Drawing for 15min a day” project

Once they joined the workshop, they were automatically signed up for “Drawing for 15min a day” project (I’m joining too) which runs from Monday to Friday for 4 weeks. Everybody will send their iPad Art to me by email daily and I put them up on the Art school’s Flickr site to share with others. The artwork doesn’t have to be finished, the whole point of doing it is acquiring a habit to do creative things daily with the iPad and you won’t forget easily about what you learned at the workshop. I created a small iPad Artist circle with those who joined my workshop and class to get motivated and encourage each other. Hey, what’s the point of painting with the iPad if you don’t share it with others?

iPad Art by Erika Dollission Click to see more of Erika’s iPad Art

iPad Art by Charlotte Oleary Click to see more of Charlotte’s iPad Art

"Let's go banana" iPad Art by Anna Orlyanskaya Click to see more of Anna’s iPad Art

Comments from our students

” The workshop on Saturday was very intense and I learnt a lot about procreate. I prefer brushes but believe procreate can be mastered if practised enough.So my aim is to keep practising both and when the next course comes to revise and master saving and moving the drawing around. snap seed will be something to revise in the future. ”

– Erika Dollission

” I would like to thank Ako for the iPad workshop on 18th May. It is obvious that Ako have put a lot of thought and effort in planning the workshop. Ako was focused on teaching the group how to achieve the desired outcome and create the artwork with the least possible steps, utilising various programs and apps available for the iPad. I have in particular enjoyed learning more about the Procreate program and feel more confident in using this program now. ”

– Anna Orlyanskaya

iPad Art Workshops for Beginners

10am – 4pm Saturday 20th July 2013

Did you miss the workshop this time? Don’t worry the next workshop will be held in July. Jot the date down in your diary and send us the enrolment form after you filled in. You will find out how iPad can be your powerful art tool. Download the flyer. Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions about the workshops. Email: info[at]art-art.com.au

Go to iPad Art Workshops Page >>

If you still own the very first iPad,
this is all it’s fit for.

iPad Art “When you are not well, how can you keep your creativity going?” – written by Ako Lamble

A study of the texture of Egon Schele’s painting – iPad and Procreate app

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,
Today, I would like to share my bad days with you. Don’t worry, it will be a happy ending. I have a chronic infection on the bone of my ankle, it flares up every so often and I need to take strong antibiotics for a while which makes me very tired all the time. It happened during the school holiday and I relied on my iPad to keep my creativity going. That’s what I would like to talk about.

If you have an iPad you may have a few apps which helps you kill your time on games, SNS and so forth. Why not nurture your appreciation of the beautiful arts instead of wasting your precious time? I would like to introduce the amazing App called “Art Authority (AU$10.49)”. It might be a little pricy compare with other apps which cost next to nothing but when you think of owning the art gallery where the whole world’s masterpieces are contained and you can take it around with you wherever you go, it’s definitely not expensive at all. I’ve had it for a while and whenever I need some inspiration I get my iPad stand, open it to the Art Authority app, set it to slideshow and view one painting after another.

The main page of the Art Authority App for iPad (AU$10.49)

So I laid on the bed and looked at amazing masterpieces on my bad days, Schele’s paintings of landscapes caught my eye this time. When we are not well we’re drawn to something sweet and nurturing, aren’t we? Schele’s landscapes reminded me of one of my childhood favourite books “Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle” which was translated in Jananese and the illustrations were drawn by a Japanese illustrator, Miyoshi Akasaka.

“Krumau Town crescent I” (1915) oil on canvas. by Egon Schiele

The picture from Ako’s childhood favourite book “Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle”

I wonder whether you can see the similarities between them as I do…? Well, I was NOT well and needed something sweet / sweet memories to comfort me after all. The textures of dryness, messing-with-mud-like, earthy colours, uneven lines … all these characteristics give me such endless pleasure, I can almost dive into the picture to have an adventure …

Then I get the urge to know how the textures were made. I used Procreate app which can customise the brush tool and I experimented with a few brushes and colours to get it close to the texture I want. When it comes to digital art, it’s the magic of pixels, it’s all a matter of how you can manipulate the pixels. I’m quite happy with what I did. It’s so fascinating. Oh, don’t forget that I did it while lying on the bed, that’s the beauty of iPad Art.

A study of the texture of Egon Schele’s painting – iPad and Procreate app

Do you really need the iPad if you live in Japan?

I would love to share with you the Youtube video about Japanese stationary which I came across the other day (around 30 min length for Part 1 and 2 altogether), it is fascinating. My first reaction was that I’m so glad that I’m staying in Sydney, otherwise I’d be bankrupt buying all that beautiful and interesting stationary back in my home town, the second one is I might not have shown any interest in the iPad, why bother with the iPad if there is so much variation in fantastic sketching tools which I can buy around the corner?
Guess what? I can actually do the pen spinning (normal and reverse) which I learned while at my high school. You should watch it if you want to find out what it is.

Part 1 : 14’24” length

Part 2 : 13’36” length

iPad Art Workshops for Beginners

10am – 4pm Saturday 18th May 2013

Because you are not living in Japan, you might need to find out how iPad can be your powerful art tool. BOOK NOW! There are still a few spots available. Download the flyer. Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions about the workshops. Email: info[at]art-art.com.au

Go to iPad Art Workshops Page >>

Weekly Classes for iPad Art (for All Levels)

10am – 12pm TUESDAY
1pm – 3pm TUESDAY
$330 for Term (10wks) / $35 for Casual

We have just started the weekly classes for iPad Art, and it has been very well. This would be the way to go if you would like to do it on your own pace. Your questions will be answered and the instructions will be given according to your level on a weekly bases, so come to the class with your well-charged-iPad, have fun and make your iPad a powerful art tool which you won’t want to be without! Download Enrolmentfortm.

Suitable for;

Someone who knows how to draw but has never done digital art before.
Someone (may be a busy mum) who can’t be bothered to carry all those art materials back and forth to attend the art class.
Someone who has limited energy but would like to do something creative.
Someone who has ideas and wants to make their own picture book.
Someone who got an iPad but doesn’t know what to do with it other than checking emails/browsing websites.

Go to iPad Art Weekly Class Page >>

iPad Art “Windows – homage to Edward Hopper” – written by Ako Lamble

iPad Art by Ako Lamble, homage to E hopper Western Motel

created with iPad, Procreate App and ArtistaOil App by Ako Lamble, homage to E. Hopper “Western Motel”

"Western Motel," Edward Hopper, 1957

“Western Motel” by E.Hopper, 1957

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,
Today, I would like to share with you one of my obssessions – “windows”, particularly this time is a homage to one of my favourite artists, Edward Hopper. Hopper painted the window/s in his art so many times, I used my iPad to replace the view to the one I like. I did five of them and it took for me around 15 minutes for each that is a part of “draw for 15 minutes a day project” we’ve just finished week 3 and one more week to go.

I would like to talk about those three points.

The magic of “Layers Tool”
Discover the new perceptions
Learn from Hopper

1. The magic of “Layers Tool”

It’s quite simple it’s esier than you think. I placed Hopper’s painting on the top layer and erased the view with the erase tool to make it like a photo frame then placed the image you want on the lower layer, now you can see the view through the window. It can be addictive once you’ve done that, you will want to try one after another image to see how it looks.

created with iPad, Procreate App and Artrage App by Ako Lamble, Homage to E. Hopper “Room in Brooklyn”

“Room in Brooklyn” by E. Hopper

I used one of my own iPad Art creations (right) for the view. I flicked it over horizontally to match the lights.

“I know where rainbows come from” by Ako Lamble (iPad + Artrage app)

2. Discover the new perceptions

As I said, it’s almost addictive and I tried out so many pictures on this, I ended up with three different images from my own iPad Art to fill the windows, then smoothed out the colours and brush strokes with the smudge tool. If you look at it carefully you will notice that the perspective and composition is not quite right in a realistic way, however it’s successfully created the atmosphere of “something is going on over there”. During the process I kept thinking about Hitchcock’s film “Rear window”.
This is why I like using iPad to create an artwork. You can easily manipulate any world class masterpiece to test out something different with a guilt free mind. You will appreciate how gifted they were in the process and you will discover some similalrities in the masterpieces that these artists created which is inspiring, in my case it is Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear window.

I found a Youtube video clip from “Rear window” when you watch it you will know what I mean, however I suggest you don’t watch it if you haven’t watch the whole film yet.

iPad Art by Ako Lamble homage to E. Hopper

created with iPad, Procreate App and Artrage App by Ako Lamble, homage to E. Hopper “Night Windows”

Edward Hopper Night windows

“Night Windows” by E.Hopper, oil on canvas 29″x34″ 1928

“Rear Window” (1954) Movie CLIP ‘Caught Snooping’ by A. Hitchcock 3″28′

This is the one I’m so pround of, because from my point of view my version is better than Hopper’s original. I think blue skys and the distance between the cafe and the buildings across the road gives it breathing space. Adding to that it’s always nice to see your art school in his masterpiece.

iPad Art by Ako Lamble, homage to E. Hopper Chop Suey

created with iPad, Procreate App and ArtistaOil App by Ako Lamble, homage to E. Hopper “Chop Suey”

“Chop Suey” by E.Hopper, 1929, Oil on canvas, 81.3cm × 96.5cm

3. Learn from Hopper

I was struggling with this piece because whatever I placed outside the window it seemed wrong. Maybe because the window is too big and people at the cafe seem too small… What I learn from Hopper’s paintings is the lighting and quietness. I placed a steam train outside the window which I can almost hear quite loudly, in contrast that actually emphasises the solitude between the two people in the painting but changes the mood from isolated uncomfortable quietness between them to companionable silence. This shows Hopper’s brilliance in creating such emotions in us as viewers. I wanted to change the mood which I feel I have achieved by changing the view through the window and I like where I placed the train subliminally opposite the revolving door which suggests it is part of the train, a touch of surrealism which I like.
I found another fantastic youtube video how to paint like E. Hopper, I found it very interesting. About 28 minutes length.

created with iPad, Procreate App and ArtistaOil App by Ako Lamble, homage to E. Hopper “Sunlights in Cafeteria”

“Sunlights in Cafeteria” by E.Hopper

The Forger’s Masterclass – Ep. 1 – Edward Hopper

ENROL NOW!

Weekly Classes for iPad Art (for All Levels)

10am – 12pm TUESDAY
1pm – 3pm TUESDAY
$330 for Term (10wks) / $35 for Casual

From Term2, we will start the weekly classes for iPad Art. Once you decided to start drawing with your iPad, we believe that you might have many questions to be answered and need instructions on a weekly bases, so come to the class with your well-charged-iPad, have fun and make your iPad a powerful art tool which you won’t want to be without!
DOWNLOAD ENROLMENT FORM

Suitable for;

Someone who knows how to draw but has never done digital art before.
Someone (may be a busy mum) who can’t be bothered to carry all those art materials back and forth to attend the art class.
Someone who has limited energy but would like to do something creative.
Someone who has ideas and wants to make their own picture book.
Someone who got an iPad but doesn’t know what to do with it other than checking emails/browsing websites.

Go to iPad Art Weekly Class Page >>

iPad Art “The Lights” – written by Ako Lamble

“Tiffany Lamp” created with iPad and Procreate App by Ako Lamble

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,
Today, I would like to talk about the subject to draw/paint with iPad, “The lights”. I came to realise that drawing the lights with iPad gives much more pleasure to my eyes than drawing it on a paper. One of the reasons is quite simple, you are drawing the lights on the backlit canvas (iPad), so literally it will illuminate once you put the colour on it. It’s more magical than you think.
If you have an iPad and any drawing/painting apps, try putting any bright colour on the dark background, I tell you it would look great. See the following iPad Arts for an example.

“Tealight” created with iPad and Procreate App by Ako Lamble

“Candle light” created with iPad and Procreate App by Hannah Klupiec

The painting of flowers (below) is nothing to do with the light, however doesn’t it glow beautifully?

“Flowers” created with iPad and Brushes App by Erika Dollission

The painting of pear (below) had been made by using one of the techniques I introduced in my iPad Art Wrokshops. It gives a wood cut print / stencil / stained glass look. Erika who’d never done the digital painting before created this particular piece on the first day of the workshop, it really amazed me.

“Pear” created with iPad and Brushes App by Erika Dollission

“Lamp” created with iPad and Brushes App by David Hockney

"Sunlight Filtering Through The Clouds" iPad Art by Ako Lamble

“Sunlight Filtering Through The Clouds” created with iPad and Artrage App by Ako Lamble

“Where on earth are you, Hunter?” created with iPad and Procreate App by Ako Lamble

If you are interested in iPad Art and have 9 more minutes to spend, I highly recommend you to watch one of the tutorial videos (below) made by the Norwegian Artist, Nikolai Lockertsen who creates amazingly detailed iPad Art. He recently uses Procreate app a lot which became my most favourite app as well, if you buy the Procreate app it comes with his painting (below) as an exapmle art work. As you see, he uses the lighting so effectively in his paintings which I deeply admire.
It is so inspiring to see how he created the car head light (around the point of 4’50”) in the video.

iPad Art “Procreate Tutorial WinterVolvo” by Nikolai Lockertsen

ENROL NOW!

Weekly Classes for iPad Art (for All Levels)

10am – 12pm TUESDAY
1pm – 3pm TUESDAY
$330 for Term (10wks) / $35 for Casual

Suitable for;

Someone who knows how to draw but has never done digital art before.
Someone (may be a busy mum) who can’t be bothered to carry all those art materials back and forth to attend the art class.
Someone who has limited energy but would like to do something creative.
Someone who has ideas and wants to make their own picture book.
Someone who got an iPad but doesn’t know what to do with it other than checking emails/browsing websites.

Go to iPad Art Weekly Class Page >>

Review – iPad Art Workshop – written by Ako Lamble

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,
Today, I would like to review my iPad Art Workshop for Beginners which was held on Saturday 23rd March 2013. It was my very first iPad Art Workshop and there were so many things that I wanted to share with my students and I was well prepared but not really sure how much they could take in within a day, so I talked to myself “that’s ok if we cannot finish all the contents I can spread them over a few workshops in the future”. Well then, I had to laugh at myself having such unnecessary worries, it was beyond my expectation, not only I could cover all the materials I prepared – I was actually impressed with what my students created on the day, I’m so proud of them all, most of them had never drawn with their iPad before or done any forms of digital art whatsoever, though they’d already learnt how to draw and paint with Mike, oh speaking of Mike, he was sitting there as one of my students on the day, let me tell you how much other students enjoyed watching Mike having to do as he is told, they said to Mike “Now you know how we feel in your class” <smile>.

“Apple” by Hannah Klupiec, Procreate App

“Man’s face” by Mike Lamble, Brushes app

Marianne made a greeting card
with her iPad Art she created at the workshop.

Erika made a few greeting cards
with her iPad Art she created at the workshop.

CLICK HERE to see more iPad Art from the workshop

I was very aware of the pit falls of doing iPad Art, one of them is – I call it – the uncontrolled behaviour – this fancy gadget/new toy makes you become crazy about it to the point of spending too much time on it then gradually getting sick of it, in the end you don’t want to see it any more lik a chocoholic who binges then doesn’t indulge for weeks, instead I want them to become my fellow iPad Artist and enjoy it for a long time.

To avoid those pit falls I explained to them 3 important points to MAINTAIN (not just acquire) their creativity which applies to any form of creative activities. I believe that everybody’s born with creative mind which God gave us individually, however you need to do your part to maintain it during your busy daily life. For that reason I introduced to them “Draw for 15 minutes a day” a habit which I learned from Michael Nobbs (sustainablycreative.com).

All students assined to the 4week project “Draw for 15 min a day” which is a part of the workshop;

set a timer 15 minutes and draw (no longer than that).
send it to Ako by email.
do it from Monday to Friday and weekends off, repeat it for 4 weeks.

The whole point of doing this is “to adopt a new habit – draw with your iPad”. We’ve just finished week 1, I upload their iPad Art to our Flickr site daily and the students can see other’s work to be encouraged and motivated. I joined them too.

CLICK HERE to see the iPad Art from “15 minutes a day project”

The next iPad Art Workshop will be held in May, why don’t you join us?
10am – 4pm
Satuday 18th May 2013
Download the flyer

mike_face Mike said “THE BOOT IS ON THE OTHER FOOT
To my surprise it was a surprise to my students who attended Ako’s workshop I quote ” You behaved yourself”
Ah to see ourselves as others see us, what did they mean? I always behave myself don’t I?
I sat there all day as quiet as a Lamb, don’t I always? I loved Ako’s workshop having worked in traditional materials in a traditional way ever since I was a student I was keen to try out and explore the possibilities the ipad could open up to me, wow! the sky is the limit what a wonderful sketchbook, painting palette canvas,paper,pens pencils airbrush, pastels all at my fingertips and Ako made it so easy for me to access and understand,( i’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer) we were only able to scratch the surface in the first workshop I look forward to the the next one in May.
Most of my students are aware I love to go driving roof down in my old MG at the weekends sketchbook in hand but its too much hassle to take watercolours or pastels etc, now I can take everything and anything including a camera to catch that fleeting moment in this most wonderful piece of technology smaller than my A3 sketchbook and draw or paint whatever I want in whatever medium or style I want! looking forward to the weekend.”

iPad Sketch by Mike Lamble, Brushes App

Mike rested his iPad on the steering wheel in a car and drew the building.

iPad Art “how did you do it?” (a demo video [1’34″/no-sound]) – written by Ako Lamble

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,
Today, I’ll show you a small demo video that I quickly made this morning. I used Procreate app with my iPad which is my most favourite app at the moment.

You can see a few useful tools and functions being used in the video. I speeded up the drawing part (x8) so it might look a little busy but I thought one and half minute length was just long enough to keep your attention to see some of handy tools.

Now here is the procedure, the words in bold type are key points during the process.

choose a back ground colour (ocher)
draw on the first layer
use transform tool to change its size bigger to draw details
use smudge tool to make the busy lines smoother
use transform tool to change its size smaller and drew a frame around it
hide the layer before
drawing a book on the second layer
use air-brush tool to make a shade
show both layers
swap the first layer with the second layer before
use Transform tool to distort the shape of a drawing to fit in the book front cover

Didn’t you say Wow! when you saw in the video the picture was distorted to fit to the shape of front cover? It’s impossible to achieve this kind of trick with the traditional art materials.

I am going to mainly use Procreate app in my workshop this time because of the following fantastic tools;

Smudge tool: Much closer to the natural smudge feelings compare to other apps’
Transform tool: Change its scale and distort its shape

There are so many drawing apps out there, I’m sure you wonder which one is the best drawing app for you? You will end up with having a few selections of favourite apps and depends on its developer’s updates your most favourite will move from one to another. I was a big fan of Artrage app one stage then moved to Procreate a few months ago, but I’ve always kept my eye on Artrage and also other favourite apps I like and waiting for their significant updates that might bring me back to one of them again, that’s how it works.

ENROL NOW!

Weekly Classes for iPad Art (for All Levels)

10am – 12pm TUESDAY
1pm – 3pm TUESDAY
$330 for Term (10wks) / $35 for Casual

Suitable for;

Someone who knows how to draw but has never done digital art before.
Someone (may be a busy mum) who can’t be bothered to carry all those art materials back and forth to attend the art class.
Someone who has limited energy but would like to do something creative.
Someone who has ideas and wants to make their own picture book.
Someone who got an iPad but doesn’t know what to do with it other than checking emails/browsing websites.

Go to iPad Art Weekly Class Page >>

iPad Art “Where on earth Are You, Hunter?” – How did you do it? – written by Ako Lamble

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,
Today, I’ll show and tell you how I’ve rescued and revived one of my unfinished paintings with the iPad. If you are like me, having a quite few collections of unfinished paintings in the corner of your room with dust on it. Lo and behold, finally you can save(or should I say “get rid of “) them! Here is my story.

All started from more than 10 years ago, not long after my cat, Hunter immigrated in the art school, I thought I’d lost Hunter because I couldn’t find him anywhere in the art school . Then I found him hiding in the fake fire place in the studio after long searching on that day, that experience made me draw a sketch using a biro on copy paper like this;

I’m not sure if you can see it clearly, it’s kind of a bird’s view over the art school building and I was at the front door (very centre) shouting “Hunter!” Hunter the black cat enters into the fire place (bottom right) climbs up the chimney and flys out over the roof. I put my imagination of “where Hunter might be” on the paper. I didn’t know what I would do with it, so just put it in my file and forgot about it for a next few years.

Around 2 years ago, I wanted to paint something on a big canvas then I dragged out my old sketch and painted it roughly on a very small canvas (25cm x 20cm) first.

Then worked on a big one (92cm x 92cm).

I forgot whatever the reason was, I stopped painting and left it how it was, it’s been on the art school wall for nearly 2years (abandoned and almost became a half dead painting).

The steps I took to rescue it;

Took a photo of my small rough painting with my iPad
Imported it into Procreate app.
used Smudge tool to smooth its colours and texture.
used layers, Eraser and Transform tool to Change the angle of roof (compare 1. and 2.).
used Several brush tools to change the lines, add the details (see the shape of the circle of lane 1. 2. 3.).
Imported it in Snapseed app to change the tone to darker (see 4.).

I thought it’s too dark so kept changing its tone with Snapseed app until getting the one I like (see 5.6.8.).
Sometimes it’s good to see it as a black & white so that you can clearly check its contrast and tone (see 7.).

There you are! I saved my unfinished painting and revived it. It took only a few days (a few hours for each day). I couldn’t finish it this quick if I painted on the canvas, the question is what do I do with the actual canvas with my unfinished painting on it… oh well I can still finish it by copying the one in my iPad (actually that’s a good way to use iPad to create the blue print version before working on the canvas, it’s a huge time saver!), but for me, I can’t be bothered… I prefer to get it printed on the canvas if I want it on my wall.

iPad Art Workshops for Beginners

10am – 4pm Saturday 23rd March

What you saw was just one of the examples of what you can do with your iPad. If you are interested in discovering your iPad as an art tool BOOK NOW! There are still a few spots available. Download the flyer. Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions about the workshops. Email: info[at]art-art.com.au

iPad Art “Lady with an ermine and Henry” – How did you do it? – written by Ako Lamble

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,

Doesn’t Henry look good in her arm? Today, I’ll show and tell you how I ended up making this piece. If you are like me, often having a funny and crazy sudden idea then you want to quickly make it and show your friends to give a little bit of laugh, for that moment, your iPad serves you very well as a powerful art tool!

All started from here. Friday night last week, Henry was depressed because he ate something earlier which he shouldn’t have and became ill, also the torrential rain outside didn’t help his low mood. I called him “Henry, what are you doing?” and took a photo of his miserable look with my iPad which is this;

He often lays on the floor with awkward position, because he tried to look back towards me it created “S” shape body. I found the image quite interesting, I thought I could make this image into some painting. I imported it in Procreate app started smudging / painting over it which is this (approx 45min work);

I was not sure what kind of style of art I wanted for this, just played around. I use Snapseed app to change its tones when I need some inspirations for the piece i’m working on, these are the ones I tried ;

I liked these three variations (above).

When I looked at the picture (no. 2), something clicked in my mind.

Ah! It reminded me of the masterpiece – “Lady with an ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci”, I thought I could replace the ermine with Henry, what a good idea!

When I placed the trimmed Henry, i realised something was not right. The lighting! The masterpiece got the light from the right hand side, Henry got it from the left. So I flicked Henry over horizontally. The problem was solved.

Changing its scale, flicking over the image… This kind of tricks(functions) are so handy to create the collage. People have done it with Photoshop type of expensive software for years, but now anybody can do it easily with an app costed next to nothing.

After I flicked Henry over, I discovered that Henry and the ermine sat together very well so I decided to let them stay together instead of replacing one with another. I used the layers function to place Henry between her hand and the ermine, also used a few kinds of brushes to paint over Henry to match its colour and texture to the masterpiece.

One of the many things that I like about using iPad is you will never be stuck in the mistake mode, once you thought you made a mistake, that’s actually beginning of the new discoveries. Like I thought I made a mistake about its lighting but that had led to the nicer composition of the ermine and Henry staying together which I initially planned to replace one with another.

I bet even the genius Leonardo couldn’t have imagined that people several centuries in the future would mess about his masterpieces with the gadget so-called iPad ….. or could he?

iPad Art Workshops for Beginners

10am – 4pm Saturday 23rd March

iPad Art “Penguin” – How did you do it? – written by Ako Lamble

Written by Ako Lamble

Hi Everyone,

I would love to share another iPad Art I’ve created recently. If you think “Wow that’s an amazing painting, wish I could paint like that!”, well, believe or not, you can do it much easier than you think. I will show you how I did it … my little trick.

I love watching some good YouTube videos and the one below is one of them. Enjoy watching it first (2minutes11sec long).

then I stopped the video at the point of < 1’10” > which is this;

Now you know where the penguin came from, don’t you? Then I took a screenshot of it (if you don’t know how, watch the how to video)

I imported the penguin image into Procreate app, used the smudge tool to smudge (or you can say paint) over the photograph. As you see the original photo was the landscape shape but I made it the portrait shape by dragging the colour off the top and bottom part towards the edge of the screen.

To extend the blue sky part is easy, but you need to actually draw/paint the extra rocks on the bottom part.

I imported the image into Snapseed app and changed its tone. As you see, it created the strong contrast and bright colours. I didn’t mind that some of the rocks were darkened on the process to the point of so black because it’s a good place to sign.

I did a little touch up on the sky, then signed. There you are, it’s finished. That’s how I did it. Isn’t that incredibly easy?

This is just one of the examples of what you can do with your iPad. If you are interested in discovering the iPad as an art tool BOOK NOW! There are still a few spots available. Download the flyer. Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions about the workshops. Email: info[at]art-art.com.au

“I’m not a thief, just a smart-arse.”