It would be easiest to to explain my gel enhancement process by looking at the end result. Below is the explanation that I attach to the back of each painting along with the story of how I captured the original photograph.
Original Hand-painted Acrylic Painting
Over a Giclée Canvas-wrapped Photographic Print
Each painting starts with one of my original photographs that are then developed using my specific style to great standards of composition, detail and sharpness. The image is then processed with various software products to change into a more painterly vision. I first simplify the detail of the photograph to capture the essence of the scene and then I intensify the colors and create brush strokes. This file is then produced as a Giclée print on its final medium--it is either produced on to a canvas wrap or it is mounted to an oak board. I then add layers of acrylic paint or medium to exaggerate the brush strokes and impart an impasto effect to my paintings that exude a third dimension.
The term "Giclée print" connotes an elevation in printmaking technology. Images are generated from high resolution digital files and printed with archival quality inks onto artist’s canvas or fine art photographic paper. The Giclée printing process provides great color accuracy and saturation as an archival process and forms the base for the next artistic step. I then hand paint details and accents on the canvas or mounted print with acrylic mediums using paint brushes and palette knives. The resulting brush strokes emphasize the lines and form of the original photograph. This method creates an original one-of-a-kind piece of art. There will be no two paintings that are alike. I sign and date each original painting and provide documentation about the painting that is attached to the back of the painting.
The most important step is the capture of the photograph. The content must be technically correct with regard to composition, exposure and sharpness of detail (when necessary). Many of the photographs that I use are HDR photos.
"High-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI or HDR) is a set of methods used in imaging and photography to capture a greater dynamic range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than current standard digital imaging methods or photographic methods. HDR images can represent more accurately the range of intensity levels found in real scenes, from direct sunlight to faint starlight, and is often captured by way of a plurality of differently exposed pictures of the same subject matter." (Source: Wikipedia)
A good example of an HDR image is the image of the Royal Palms Resort entrance in Phoenix. This was a three frame capture that was shot in the AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) mode of the Canon Digital Rebel. It automatically created three frames at f/4.5 with a shutter speed of 1/60th sec, 1/250th sec (underexposed) and 1/15th sec (overexposed). I then combined the three frames with the computer software Photomatix Pro (http://www.hdrsoft.com/ $99). The great advantage to this step of the process is that you get an image with a very high dynamic range that shows the shadows correctly exposed in all parts of the photo.
The next step of the process is to bring the finished image into Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or Corel Painter 12 in order to utilize their brush tools to place brush strokes on the image. In most cases I use Photoshop plug-ins from Topaz Labs to "Simplify" and take away some detail in the image. This makes the painting look more like a painting and not a photograph with its exact detail. Corel Painter 12 also has features to take away the detail in the photograph. At this stage I usually keep the colors in the image intact although I have been been know to substitute some colors with the brush strokes in order to exert more creative juices.
The next step is to have the image produced on a canvas wrap. I use a wholesale canvas company in Colorado to do this because they produce very accurate color renditions of my images (CG Pro Prints, http://www.cgproprints.com/). I can not print over 13" by 19" prints on my printer. When I receive the canvas wrap I can then start the gel enhancement phase of the project.
I use Golden brand gels, usually Extra Heavy Gel (Gloss) or High Solid Gel (Gloss) to spread on the canvas. I don't have to prepare my canvas to receive the gels. I use the gels with different techniques depending on what the underlying content is. For instance I use a scrumbling technique with a sponge, a palette knife for wide flat areas of an image and brushes to create brush patterns in other parts of the image. The gels go on with white pasty look, but will dry to clear gloss finish while retaining the marks you used to apply the gels. I also try to leave thin lines around the exterior of buildings or to emphasize hand rails or bars. An example of a portion of one of my gel enhanced painting shows brush strokes in the clouds and palette knife marks on the bronze statue. As you can see the gels enhance the contours of the two dimensional art making it more three dimensional.
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| Royal Palms Entrance |
"High-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI or HDR) is a set of methods used in imaging and photography to capture a greater dynamic range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than current standard digital imaging methods or photographic methods. HDR images can represent more accurately the range of intensity levels found in real scenes, from direct sunlight to faint starlight, and is often captured by way of a plurality of differently exposed pictures of the same subject matter." (Source: Wikipedia)
A good example of an HDR image is the image of the Royal Palms Resort entrance in Phoenix. This was a three frame capture that was shot in the AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) mode of the Canon Digital Rebel. It automatically created three frames at f/4.5 with a shutter speed of 1/60th sec, 1/250th sec (underexposed) and 1/15th sec (overexposed). I then combined the three frames with the computer software Photomatix Pro (http://www.hdrsoft.com/ $99). The great advantage to this step of the process is that you get an image with a very high dynamic range that shows the shadows correctly exposed in all parts of the photo.
The next step of the process is to bring the finished image into Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or Corel Painter 12 in order to utilize their brush tools to place brush strokes on the image. In most cases I use Photoshop plug-ins from Topaz Labs to "Simplify" and take away some detail in the image. This makes the painting look more like a painting and not a photograph with its exact detail. Corel Painter 12 also has features to take away the detail in the photograph. At this stage I usually keep the colors in the image intact although I have been been know to substitute some colors with the brush strokes in order to exert more creative juices.
The next step is to have the image produced on a canvas wrap. I use a wholesale canvas company in Colorado to do this because they produce very accurate color renditions of my images (CG Pro Prints, http://www.cgproprints.com/). I can not print over 13" by 19" prints on my printer. When I receive the canvas wrap I can then start the gel enhancement phase of the project.
Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally or believe they will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” See my detailed disclosure at: My Disclosure
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