Darlene the Artist

  By DARLENE

Sometime around Thanksgiving (2008), I received a request to create a book cover as a Christmas present. I understood the art would be part of a gift for someone whose days were numbered. I’d committed myself to the project before I completely understood its parameters. The actual assignment was to create a fantasy cover illustration with very specific, exacting detail. Because of such tight time constraints, I had to spend every waking moment working on the cover.

At the onset, I realized that in order to complete the book cover illustration on time, I needed to abandon my customary (old-fashioned) way of doing things. I called upon my inner resources and decided to use electronic imaging software as an integral part of my creation process. It’s a new thing for me to use the computer in every stage of the painting process instead of just the final ones. So I created the canvas directly on my computer and imported scans of my sketches, paintings and photographs. I placed each image on its own layer so that I could build the design and easily readjust its elements. Although I knew my solution to use the computer was sound, there were times I became overwhelmed and frustrated. The process forced me to stretch beyond my comfort zone.

Even before I had finished, I had devoted many more hours into this book project than could be recompensed. Considering the circumstances, the extra time I gave towards the book cover art, I chalked up to being a seasonal expression of “Good Will Towards Men.” Later, I would learn that this particular book had posed different trials for everyone involved in its creation and delivery. Circumstances outside our control forced each one of us to meet our individual challenges head-on. We could do nothing but persevere. We faced the winter storms, fretted over our sick kitties, confronted our doubts, and basically did whatever it took to meet our deadlines until we ultimately triumphed.

Penny Williams, publisher of a pdf community magazine for the gaming hobby (www.phoenixlore.com) wrote me: “So despite misunderstandings, delays, and the weather, the project came to stunning fruition. It seems it was meant to be. And in the making, it has brought light into the lives of everyone who worked on it, I think, as well as to Dan’s father.” Although the Christmas present was from a son to his father, he was not the only one to receive a gift. My gift was discovering the joy of creating art on the computer.

I find I love painting with light. It’s like–yet so unlike-the physical act of applying and manipulating paint on canvas. One great discovery is that I’m able to use the same techniques on the computer as I did for pastel painting. The best part about painting with electronic media is I don’t have to find a pristine brush or have to clean the one I’m using every time I move to another color or to a new area on my canvas. Even better–there is no need for clean-up. That’s a time-saver in itself! By and far, my favorite electronic painting feature is the ability to undo mistakes. How great is that!?

This will definitely spoil me for traditional media…