Artist Palmer's book introduces a method of digital picture-making that can feel very similar to traditional painting but harnesses the advantages and conveniences of tablet computers. The first half of the guide covers the basics: materials, which consist solely of a tablet or a smart phone and a special stylus with a brush tip; general and landscape-specific techniques; commonly used apps and how they work; and building a picture using digital layers. The book's second half provides several step-by-step landscape projects. Palmer includes lots of clever advice, and readers can also scan a QR (Quick Response) code to view tips on video. VERDICT Anyone who has wondered how they could squeeze a bit of creativity out of their tablet or smartphone will enjoy this book.
* Library Journal USA *
It's a fantastic book easy to follow and very good tips to develop what you already know or don't It's a must for anyone interested in iPad art
* Rebecca Jayne *
I was also given this book by search press to review. I found this book really interesting because id never considered going down this Rd. Matthew Palmer gives you all the tools to try it out. Most of the recommended apps are free so I find it very encouraging to give it a go. The book is well ordered & laid out. It gives easy clear instructions the illustrations are clear an easy book to follow.
* Mandy Middleton *
This book is well up to Search Press' usual standard. Lots of photos and clear instruction. My only caveat is it is aimed at people with ipad. Although reference us made to Android all the examples relate to IOS apps. However it really does give inspiration for any artist or non artist come to that thinking of venturing into digital art.
* Jago Pel *
6/4/16
Most people today own some kind of tablet and many are aware that the artist David Hockney makes uses of his to create ideas and pictures that can then be printed as soon as he wants. In this book by the leading author of the field and the top craft book publisher Search Press, the amateur artist can easily understand these modern techniques. The tutor leads you through the basics of what buttons to use for bringing up the tools you require, digital brushes that provide different textures, erasers so that the colours you choose can be altered easily, and for those choosing the format of the picture. Layers can be used so that different tectures and c olour can really bring the painting to life. Once these are all practised, Matthew Palmer shows you how to add them all with photographs. This is an exciting book for keen artists to apply themselves to add the tablet is a valuable tool for both amateur and professional alike
* Yorkshire Gazette & Herald *
This book is clearly written and there are lots of photos to show you how things are done. Matthew Palmer starts from the beginning by explaining about iPads and android tablets and then the different art apps that he uses along with several others. I think the book is really aimed at people who don't know a lot about painting on a tablet. I found it very useful going through the basics and progressing on to the brushes, colour and then layering. Each step is explained very clearly and shown in detail how it's done. If you are interested in learning how to paint landscapes as well as sketching without the use of paint or pencils then this is the book to get. I think it's well laid out and explained very well. Definitely worth getting for someone who is starting out on their iPad or android devices!
* C. Archdale *
I had a very enjoyable weekend trying some of the examples in the book and I feel I have learned quite a lot.
Matthew Palmer starts by explaining what you need to Paint Without Paint (an Ipad or an Android Tablet), painting tools (finger, rubber tipped stylus or brush tip stylus) and your preferred app. The instructions in the book are demonstrated on an iPad using the Brushes app (a free app).
I don't have an iPad but that isn't really a problem. I use an Android tablet and the Brushes app isn't available for android. I have painting apps on my tablet but I'm no expert. I really just doodle. I tried Artrage for the first couple of exercises but ended up using Autodesk Sketchbook Pro. Matthew mentions a few of his favourite apps and gives their pros and cons.
I really liked the section on Creating your brushes. Every app usually has a few preset brushes but you can alter these to give different effects and textures. He lists the settings for a default round brush and 9 other brushes. Each brush has a picture of the brushstroke and the tip plus the settings to get that particular brush. The clear explanations and illustrations meant that I was able to create something similar (but not identical) in the app I was using.
After reading the next section on colour basics I was ready to get started with the first couple of exercises. The exercises have clear step by step instructions and good illustrations.
The next day I managed to borrow an iPad for the weekend and I downloaded the Brushes Redux app (free). I must confess I did find it easier as I could follow the instructions in the book and change the brush settings as directed. I began to understand what would happen when I tweaked the brush settings. That was a revelation. It also meant I got through the next couple of exercises fairly quickly. However just as I was getting the hang of it I had to return the iPad. Even using it for a short time really helped when I went back to using the android tablet. I even tried a couple of simple paintings without reference to the book! I've added some of my attempts to this review. They wouldn't win any prizes but I had fun 'painting' them.
I haven't worked through the whole book. I've flicked through it and it looks really interesting. The next section is 'Layers". I know a little bit about them but have never really learned to use them properly. I'm looking forward to learning more.
The last section of the book builds on the simple earlier exercises and takes you step by step through four landscape paintings that combine the techniques featured earlier in the book.
The book is great value. It is packed with useful information. Although I only got to page 57 of 128 pages, I've learned quite a lot. Painting is one of my hobbies (acrylics and sometimes soft pastel). I get very messy. Digital art is different. You can take it anywhere. There is no mess! (With practice I might even improve)
* Janis S *
Dealing with smartphone or tablet is part of normal everyday life. So it was only a matter of time to use these devices in creative territory too. With the help of numerous apps even the beginner can succeed in a short time in painting pictures in watercolor acrylic or oil optics, also drawing sketches are possible.
The well-known British artist and author Matthew Palmer has worked out this new art form, bringing the knowledge and experience gained in the form of a textbook.
You only need a tablet and the fingers to paint, but some preparations are necessary. This begins with the downloading an appropriate app. Matthew Palmer used in this book, all "Brushes" that only works on iOS. For Android tablets similar programs are offered for free or at a small amount. Advantages and disadvantages of some apps that used are mentioned by the author. The artist starts with the introduction of the basic techniques. Exercises with your finger on the tablet surface to give a first impression in this for painters for getting used to painting. Full operation of the user interface is described. Many pictures make it possible even for beginners to quickly navigate on the tablet. Exercises of increasing difficulty show different application examples. The first three projects deal with the issue of "Sky". Here various brushes and their different effects are presented. Colors are collected and stored for the image. Now, the stylus is used. With this pen, the tip of which is similar to an eraser, to objects like trees, people, houses that make a landscape alive, drawing exact and the tablet surface is contaminated with fingerprints blank. By enlarging the image section, the display of smaller details succeeds very accurate. The Stylus Brush, also an important tool mimics and responds like a brush with real hair. The chapter "levels" includes the most interesting part. An image can be constructed in different layers are superimposed projected pictures integrated and processed or objects to be manipulated. In the second half of the book to Matthew Palmer is devoted to the application of previously acquired knowledge in the form of four projects. It shows the gradual development of landscapes throughout the seasons. Using numerous examples shown and simply worded texts, the user can track all paint gaps. The final image can then be sent by e-mail to friends, printed on watercolor paper and even a video to be viewed from the history of the image.
For more and to see images created using the book: http://kreativreview.blogspot.de/p/blog-page_27.html.
* Kreative review *
There's been a fairly steady stream of books on digital art over the years and they've got progressively simpler. The early ones required a desktop pc and a digitising tablet and also had to accommodate a wide variety of software packages, all of them more than subtly different in their approaches. The results were usually confusing and could make a computer manual look like easy bedtime reading. And then along came tablets. Suddenly, everything got simpler, with on-screen drawing and apps that imitated the conventional painting process as far as possible. There was still the technology gap to bridge, though. A digital image doesn't work exactly like paper or canvas and working in layers involves a bit more than just adding more paint on top of what's already there. It does allow for a great deal of flexibility, though.
As I hinted before, there are complications and paradigm shifts to digital art. You have to get used to working in different ways and with what's effectively a new medium that bears little resemblance to any other (even if it tries to pretend it does). What Matthew does here is to treat digital as a medium for the beginner. He works with a preferred app, avoiding the need for multiple visits to the same topic, a basic range of virtual brushes and, when it comes to layers, sticks to three. Master the basics and you're more than halfway to understanding; the rest can come later. All of these are explained in language that will be familiar to the artist and in as few pages as possible, all of which can be done by avoiding complication. There are also some straightforward demonstrations you can follow to make sure you've picked things up correctly.
The whole approach is remarkably successful and should cut through any apprehension you may have about technology. Some familiarity with hand-held touchscreen devices is probably desirable, but that's about it.
* Artbookreview.net *
'Painting without Paint' is a fascinating introduction to the world of painting landscapes with your tablet by art tutor Matthew Palmer. As he explains in his introduction, using digital media os really easy when you're out and about as you only need your tablet and your finger. "All the same principles are used in traditional painting apply and if you use a brush stylus, it feels surprisingly similar," he says. Matthew explains exactly what you will need and how to begin in a clear and easy-to-follow style. There's information on what apps to use and clear indications of any costs involved. Essential techniques are explored - how to navigate your canvas, choose your brushes, create a colour palette - followed by simple exercises and landscape essentials , such as skies, trees, figures and buildings. Matthew then shows you exactly how you can explore themes using it both as your sketching tool and for taking photographs to use later. Four step-by-step exercises bring together all that you have learnt so far
* The Leisure Painter *
