Van Renselar explains how he creates his pictures.
There are some misunderstandings surrounding digital painting, but I'm not here to explain how other people create their work, only to shed some light on how I create mine.
I create my pictures in 3 stages.
Firstly I hand draw and paint all elements of each picture on paper, fabric, board, found objects, old photographs or whatever comes to hand that I think will help create the effect I'm after. There are typically 10-20 elements.
Secondly (and this is where it becomes digital) I scan these separate elements using a very high resolution scanner and import them into my computer. At this stage I can place the elements exactly where I want them and even make any adjustments to colours and size if I wish. Increasingly I am also painting directly on-screen (as Hockney does). Think of this stage as if you were making a collage. This results in a single computer file. Not being able to devote consistent and regular timetables to my working times, this offers the benefit of not needing to concern myself with the paint, varnishes or glue drying. It also means I can be very spontaneous, by spending hours or a just a few minutes working on a piece at any time of day or night.
Lastly, I can now transfer this file directly onto canvas using the giclee process, then mount it on a 5cm deep wooden stretcher. As an extra benefit, all my pictures can be output to almost any size.
Because I use a computer and Photoshop, my pictures are sometimes described as CGI. This is not accurate at all. The computer itself doesn't generate anything - it's little more than a blank canvas on which I can place my own elements. I think some people imagine that it's s simple as importing a photo into Photoshop, applying a couple of filters and pressing a few buttons and....bingo, you've got art! Well it isn't.
My pictures are usually sold as an artist's original proof on canvas, only one ever being made. A few of my other pictures are set aside to be sold as limited edition prints on paper.
Van Renselar, February 2012
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