Now thiis, to me is downright impressive

[Gms9810]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_vGioN0Wzs
I wish I could do it.

[D Akey]

Be careful of the illusions and what you're not seeing.

I recall a YouTube video of the Mona Lisa being 'painted'. It's more like it was being painted out, and when they reversed the video it gave the illusion that it was being painted into being. Basically so they could say, "Look ma, yours truly is as talented as Leonardo daVinci. And I got it all from you. . ." or some variant thereof.

In this case, the guy drawing is tracing or he has a projector or some other trick. What you see is the portion they're wanting you to see. Almost nobody draws the mechanical details without any construction and erasure -- eg the Coca-Cola lettering is too mechanically perfect with nothing to guide placement or size. It probably can be done. But in all likelihood you're not seeing the care one needs to make it right. We're not watching him move his pencil except in very short bursts so I'm not convinced it just came out perfect in a blink. Though that is the implication.

And recall back to the video links people have shown here about the old masters using lenses to get their very exact renderings both in oils and for drawings (especially with the Flemish painters who did those insane photographic oils way back when). It was a guarded trade secret so that not everybody would horn in on their livelihood.

His initial ellipses were fair but not mechanically clean and were kind of stroked along as if following a shape that was provided. It's not cheating not showing you every little correction. I mean people can do what they want and show what they want. And if I were using a video like this to get work as a marker comp artist, you better believe I would streamline it and make it look like the client would be getting a top pro who could mock up their clients' products in high fashion. There's a lot of competition out there for professional artists and we want to look as good as possible in our promotional material.

It's nice to shoot for that kind of perfection, but don't for a second think it's unattainable for yourself. You just have to learn the tricks and develop your eye etc etc. But don't compare your own skill to people using slight of hand. . . that is of course unless you are learning slight of hand.

[Gms9810]

Since I don't know the person that drew it I can see that as a possibility but in some cases like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9LtX9i9H4g I know it's real. Mark always does a full length one and explains what he's doing then he make a speeded up time lapse version. It's a shame that some people have to resort to monkeyshines and trickery.

[D Akey]

Good point. The Leonardo da Vinci one I recalled was a phoney, probably for a lark for someone more into diddling with film than actually painting. But who knows. As to the one you linked to at the beginning, it's showing how to do a finish. I don't have a problem with people projecting or tracing as I've said in the past. And a good slick finish is something to learn how to create in advertising especially.

My caution is that it's somewhat misleading how to get there for those who are not yet there. There are a couple steps and maybe tools missing in what is shown.

What their intention was for making the video I have no idea. It could conceivably been merely showing how well those markers worked and "how easy" it is. So I can't speak to this person's intention or what they're selling -- classes or markers or just playing around. . . But I suddenly feel like drinking some Coca-Cola. . . odd that. . .

Don't get frustrated if you follow a video on YouTube and get hung up because they didn't show the whole process but sort of implied that they had. That's all.

[jmac]

D Akey, you have a very keen eye and a wealth of experience with which to focus it. I always enjoy your observations. Always so well articulated and thought out. I had an uneasy feeling watching the video, particularly when it came to the lettering, but I was lulled to sleep by the high speed presentation and couldn't quite put my finger on what was bothering me.

I appreciate your comments here and the perspective and experience you share.

[D Akey]

D Akey, you have a very keen eye and a wealth of experience with which to focus it. I always enjoy your observations. Always so well articulated and thought out. I had an uneasy feeling watching the video, particularly when it came to the lettering, but I was lulled to sleep by the high speed presentation and couldn't quite put my finger on what was bothering me.

I appreciate your comments here and the perspective and experience you share.

My pleasure, jmac. I would have written with or without anyone reading my stuff because it helps me too, but I was rather astonished to note when I began rummaging around the internet that there exist loads of people who share their knowledge readily, and I've for sure gained a lot from their expertise, from guitar to wood carving to TED lectures to others here speaking of Art. Some people are right, some have different opinions, but it's organic and then listening intelligently becomes a tool we sort of need in an open atmosphere. Yet, mistaken or correct, I try to get it right. And writing is a great tool for getting a little altitude to personally assess what I'm thinking.

Interestingly, the Information Age generosity many have joined in on was the opposite of what I had experienced from others I ran into in my pre-internet life who saw information as a commodity, which it is to some extent. But I can't resolve to view it that way. I was drawn to Art in part because I had thought it would create a community of like minded people -- sort of like the Impressionists or the Medici's in Florence where life was a celebration of the higher aspirations of humanity. And art and philosophy and history are pretty safe areas to share in and more likely to lift us the more open we are with it.

Truly, it's like having found the Fountain of Youth. Writing can happily be beneficial for others to read, but the benefits are beyond words for me. Without going to the bother of writing, my thoughts would remain amorphous and out of my very own reach when wanting to gain clarity. So it's also self serving. If I was an artist in 1890s Paris, maybe writing wouldn't be so important to me.

But thank you very much for having said that. Your words are most appreciated as well. . . besides which, so are your paintings!