Hey there - just popping in over from the mailing list. I had no idea this place was around! Kudos! Hmm. Guess I better make myself an avatar! Happy to be here, Pintail.

Hi Pintail! It's great to see you here! We're pretty fast and loose here, so jump in and join the party!

Oh, a Devilstar! Welcome Pintail! We're happy to have you around!

Welcome Pintail. I recognize you and your stories from the Archives. Glad to have you here. We are a friendly bunch and always welcome having more Gatcha-friends. i see you say your are from Canada, from what part of this fair land to do reside. I live in Southern Ontario (the center of the Universe, according to us. )

Originally posted by clouddancer I live in Southern Ontario (the center of the Universe, according to us. )

Yes, we Nova Scotians humour you and let you maintain your delusions... Hello Pintail! I certainly recognize your name from your fics that I've read and enjoyed. Welcome!

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by clouddancer I live in Southern Ontario (the center of the Universe, according to us. )

Yes, we Nova Scotians humour you and let you maintain your delusions... Hello Pintail! I certainly recognize your name from your fics that I've read and enjoyed. Welcome!

*tongue in cheek * Ohhh, I honestly believe that LB. I mean why would the Universe revolve around a major city when there are so many nicer areas of the country to visit?

Welcome Pintail... It's great to see you over here... I haven't been to the Mailing list in quite some time.

Pintail! Welcome! I love your fics...and I just ran across a gorgeous "Late Nite" pic, that I think was yours...if I have your permission, I'll post it here...it is UBER-yummy!!

Pintail welcome and I have to echo what others have said I love your fics! I think my fav so far that I have read at the archive is Cats eye it is one that I love to go and read over and over.

Welcome. Have yo visited the Rub....Reception Room yet? No, then this way please.

Originally posted by Springie Pintail! Welcome! I love your fics...and I just ran across a gorgeous "Late Nite" pic, that I think was yours...if I have your permission, I'll post it here...it is UBER-yummy!!

Feel free! And thanks for the warm welcome everyone! Gave me inspiration to dust off some of the stuff I haven't been working on in a while. I hail from Sudbury - just 4 hours north of Toronto - not so far as the crow flies; but take heart east coaster - I spent the best 5 years of my life at vet school in PEI. That kind of influence stays with ya! (the roads are slippy today!) Much love to everyone and hugs for the welcome party! Pintail

Ooooo...thanks, Pintail!! You posted it and more yummies into the Gallery!!! WOOHOO! I love that pic...and I don't think I've seen the others...GORGEOUS! Are they paintings?

Thanks! I've been really impressed with your stuff as well! Especially some of the recent art. As for the process - I suspect we might be doing a little of the same thing. I had some tips from a friend of mine that is a graphic artist and it made a huge difference once I applied the technique. First, pencil sketch of the piece. Sometimes there is a source drawing (Ken in the chair is actually based on a photoshoot of Tom Cruise in Vanity Fair a few years back. I just LOVED the lighting effect and had to borrow it), times it is straight from my head (Flight Jackets) so I need a few reference pictures to glance at. Once I'm really happy with the sketch and I want to make it a digital form, I overlay acetate and use the finest tip sharpee you can buy to trace the dominant lines of my sketch. VERY minimal. Scan it, and bring it in to Photoshop. Copy the lines to a second layer and transparent background. Block fill with basic solid colours in this layer. Use dodge and burn tools to start fleshing out the muscles, folds of cloth etc. The trick is to adjust the pressure and brush settings for different textures - ie skin VS hair VS cotton. Make a third layer for background and have fun. You can make easy shadows (and reflections - love that piece you did by the water) in this layer using copy, twist and effect tools. Make a fourth layer and do an overlay for your lighting and play with the transparency to the effect you like. You can also use spotlight for sun effects. Lastly, make a file copy and then merge it down (like to keep the working copy safe for alterations). Then use the adjustments shadows to really make it pop. Lots of hours, but lots of fun. Pintail

Your art is gorgeous, Pintail! Thank you so much for posting it here for us to see.

Originally posted by Pintail Once I'm really happy with the sketch and I want to make it a digital form, I overlay acetate and use the finest tip sharpee you can buy to trace the dominant lines of my sketch. VERY minimal.

I really need to get a better, finer tip, marker than the crappy one I've been using to ink pencil drawings. I always end up spending a long time cleaning up the lines digitally in Photoshop, but if I could ink them better, maybe I wouldn't have too...

Use dodge and burn tools to start fleshing out the muscles, folds of cloth etc. The trick is to adjust the pressure and brush settings for different textures - ie skin VS hair VS cotton.

Hmm, I don't think I've ever used "dodge" and "burn" tools -I will have to check them out. I've been using Photoshop for only about a year, and I keep learning about new things it can do -I've probably only scratched the surface.

Lots of hours, but lots of fun.

I couldn't agree more!

Originally posted by Pintail I hail from Sudbury - just 4 hours north of Toronto - not so far as the crow flies; but take heart east coaster - I spent the best 5 years of my life at vet school in PEI. That kind of influence stays with ya! (the roads are slippy today!)l

Heh, slippy... Say, did you, by any far-flung chance, know a "Cate Creighton" at vet school? She was a good friend of mine, and she would have started there around 1992-93.

Hi Pintail and welcome to the boards! I too have enjoyed your fics and pics and am glad that you have now joined us in our little corner of the universe!

Those are great pics Pintail. For some reason I have never seen them before. They are gorgeous, Ken and Jun in the flight jackets is my favourite.

Hello Pintail!