Journey of an artist (traditional and digital stuff)

[merl1n]

New paintings from my oil factory:

[TFsean]

dude, holy balonies how have I not seen this thread before every page is beautiful. Not much I can say in terms of crit just beautiful. Fantastic values and colours and interpretation of forms, just please more. 5* subd x

[bharat]

AWEsome... work..... !

[Obstfelder]

great sketchbook!

Those oil paintings makes me happy

[Mane]

captured that water beautifully man, the clouds in the post near the bottom of 175 are really atmospheric,. nice job

[skMOP]

Wooow man your stuff is awesome. My favorite is the sun one in post 130.

[knut-]

Nice traditionals man.
I love how your strokes are kind of abstract but so distinctive at the same time.
Also, great sense of depth and of 3d space on the last one of the prev page.
Keep up!

[Gpozzo]

great updates, loving the clouds you posted on page 6, beautiful stuff man, keep posting, I'm enjoying this!

Also, thanks for stopping by my thread

[merl1n]

Gpozzo: No problem. Thank you very much for kind comment!
knut-: Thanks man! Yeah. My goal is to make abstract bold strokes while maintaining illusion of reality. But to really learn how to make only meaningful strokes is life long journey.
skMOP: thank you very much!
Mane: Thank you for such words!
Obstfelder: That's the goal!. Thanks!
bharat: thank you!
TFsean: it happens here all the time. I find a new trasure thread every time I get myself to browse it here. Thank you!

Few new oils from me:

[Kasei]

It's been really cool to watch your traditional painting skills progress over time. I love all of the great things you do with color, can't wait to see more!

[Velocity Kendall]

how beautiful!
such elegant interpretations of the beauty of nature.
i would hang any of these in my house, if i had one!

[Black Sun S.]

Awesome work! I love traditional media!!!
Congratulations!!
Keep it up!

[Candra H]

I love the way you paint water, and the sunlight in that last one is beautiful. Really fantastic stuff. Keep it up!

[mushroomz]

Those painting are more than awesome , great job.

[Mr. Corlan]

Nice! I like them! One little crit though: I do wish for some more variation of stroke shape and size, and edge. Not much, just a little extra. Some of them, like this: http://tomhonz.files.wordpress.com/2...nz_rokytka.jpg do it for me—the bigger strokes on the right; the relatively flat area on the stream; and the smaller, crisp, white strokes, make it ten times as interesting as a painting done with strokes of all the same size, shape, and edge.

And this one, I must say, is just awesome. http://tomhonz.files.wordpress.com/2....jpg?w=1200&h= Keep it up.

[poetry man]

Guy, it's impressive. Really. I love your digital paints. very powerful atmospheres. I have a folder of your stuff for inspiration! Question: how would you say is the stroke precision difference and brush economy use when painting colors- digital vs traditional? same thing, or different? rephrase: what's the difference in how you approach brush strokes when finding color or values in both mediums? Thanks.

[bemota]

Lovely sketchbook. I love the impressionist vibe in your landscapes and still lifes.

But one thing i would suggest would be maybe more specular highlights in the water, for example? But that's just my opinion.

[merl1n]

Kasei: I'm glad you say that. Thank you and let's hope I will not stagnate.
Velocity Kendall: Go and buy a house! I need to sell And thank you for always nice comments!
Black Sun S.: thank you very very much
Candra H: Thank you again for inspiring comment Candra!
mushroomz: thank you!
Mr. Corlan: You are right. When I read your comment I realised that this was somehting I've been missing. Thank you Mr. Corlan. And btw: I really enjoy your stuff and links on your website have been most helpful too. Cheers.
poetry man: Thanks man! It's very rewarding when I hear that someone get's inspired by my work. Your question: I don't think there is much difference. Only that you don't have that many shots when working traditionaly. When you paint with oils or watercolours, you have to be precise and think in advance. You have to compare things all the time. When working digitally, you have much bigger room for mistakes.
bemota: Thank you very much! Yeah, sometimes I should capture some interesting lightning effects.

More paintings:

[merl1n]

Two new digital paintings done for clients:

And become fans on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TomasHonz

[Sebastian Gromann]

Yery nice ones, mate!

[MacTire]

Absolutelt stunning work on the last pair! Beautiful plein-airs too. I look forward to seeing how this thread develops further. Great job!

[merl1n]

Sebastian Gromann: thanks bro!
MacTire: Thank you. Me too. The development and improvement themselfs are rewards.

Paintings I brought back from trip to Croatia:

[ArulaSky]

Wow you have a great collection of work here!

I really admire the fact that you done digital and then went to traditional mediums. The landscape work that you have is beautiful.

I started traditionally but it was mainly drawing objects, not landscapes. I now draw digitally all the time but I still really struggle with backgrounds. I have tried doing studies but I can never get it to a point where I an say its finished. I have thought about doing some traditional landscapes out in the field but I just don't know where to start. Do you have any advice?
I know like everything else its just practice practice practice! but is there any advice you could give me on how to approach a landscape scene?

Thanks!


- Michelle

[poetry man]

keep impressing! awesome! awesome!

[sony]

absolute beauty!

[Juno]

Hello Tomas, great paintings from Croatia! Lovely color nuances and shadow-light contrast. I'm interested on what material are these done, is it canvas or what, in some areas looks like a cardboard but not sure Good luck and enthusiasm on your journey.

[merl1n]

ArulaSky: thank you very much for kind words in the first place. I do have and advice or two. The biggest things is to think simple. Start simple, with big masses and biggest shapes. Do whatever it takes to see shapes instead of things and simplify them. Then proceed to smaller shapes. Correct shapes with the right color on the right places make realistic painting. And always work on all canvas at the same time.
And if you really mean it, buy this book. Purchasing it was one the best things for my painting I've ever done.

sony:thank you very much!
poetry man: Thanks man!
Juno: Thank you! They were all done on canvas paper, which pretty much imitates canvas. Ideal for less important work and for light travel. Those cardboard effects are there because I sometimes paint over old paintings and it leaves traces like this.

Few paintings of my favorite spruce forest:

[Candra H]

And if you really mean it, buy this book. Purchasing it was one the best things for my painting I've ever done.

Hah, no way! That very book just arrived on my doorstep this morning and I've been reading it for the last twenty minutes. Very informative so far.

Lovely paintings as always, Merlin. Keep posting and inspiring!

[merl1n]

Candra H: Good to hear. I hope it will help you as it helped me.

And here are some images from summer holidays. Next wave coming soon.

[Forrest_I]

freaking beautiful environments, i love it :o