Painter 8 Creativity: Digital Artist's Handbook

Jeremy Sutton's book is a readable, accessible guide to the special features of this very interesting and complicated program. I've used Painter for years but there are so many bells and whistles that I've generally stuck to a few palettes and brushes. Mr. Sutton's book shows what else is possible, and I appreciate his taking the time to specify exact settings for the two major computer OS. This is an eminently practical book aimed at artists who have some computer ability but who are not intimately familiar with the workings of their machines. I am a little mystified by some of these reviews; one who works in a photorealistic technique should need the same instruction on tool use as the rest of us. It's not an art instruction book. It's about using the program. This book is highly recommended and I am glad to see this excellent program is now so much better.

Painter Creativity - Digital Artist's HandbookBy Jeremy SuttonThis book written for version 8 of Corel "Painter" is exceptionally good. I am a user of Painter, but I feel had I never seen the program before, I could take this and work my way from beginning to end and know enough about the program by the end to be fairly proficient in its use. It is written from the student's standpoint and takes you through the basics carefully and gives a solid foundation. It is a "must have" for all Painter 8 users. In my opinion Jeremy Sutton is THE expert of this wonderful program and this, his latest book, is a joy to have in my library.

I loved the program Painter from the start even though I initially felt intimidated and overwhelmed by it. Confusion turned into excitement after I acquired a set of Painter 4 instructional videos taught by Jeremy Sutton. I enjoyed his no-nonsense, hands-on and fun approach to teaching. He encouraged me to learn without feeling inadequate, to explore different avenues of self-expression and to experience Painter as a enjoyable adventure. Not an easy task to accomplish, but something that Jeremy does extremely well on a consistent basis. Painter 8 Creativity showcases Jeremy's informative and playful spirit, which truly enhances the learning experience. He places the step-by-step learning process within a larger context, in which Painter becomes a medium that taps into self-discovery and releases the creative juices within us in fun, expressive ways. Painter 8 Creativity is written in clear, easy-to-follow language, with highlighted instructions and illustrated examples to enhance comprehension and allow for quick review and reference.Through the teaching of Painter 8, Jeremy also addresses issues such as: tackling the working environment in an organized, uncomplicated way; learning the basics of portraiture; utilizing the amazing array of Painter brushes to enhance photographs; and finding ways to keep yourself motivated and inspired. After all is said and done, Jeremy invites you to leave it all behind and to have a ball with the art making process.Painter 8 creativity stays true to Jeremy's basic rules, established at the beginning of the book:- There is no such thing as a mistake.- There is no such thing as a dumb question.- Be bold and take risks-you won't break the computer!- Have FUN!If you have wanted to learn Painter, this book will be the best place to get started. If you think you know all about Painter, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover that there is still room for learning, for this book demonstrates that creativity has no bounds.

Painter 8 Creativity is a wonderful book for anyone wanting to learn Painter! I received my book the other day and haven't been able to put it down. First of all this is not just a `how to' book. Reading Painter 8 Creativity is just like being in the classroom with Jeremy and he is a wonderful and motivating teacher. You feel as if he were in the room with you. All the lessons are based on portraiture and they cover a wide variety of material, from the basics: tips for getting the most out of Painter to the foundations of painting: using line, tone, colour, form and brushwork. He shows you how to paint from life as well as how to work from photographs and covers many different styles and ideas, including oil painting, watercolour, pop art, collage, serigraphy, working with scripts, how to express personality, how to tell a story, expanding your vocabulary and a great deal more. But what's even more valuable, and makes this book a gem, is Jeremy's passion and enthusiasm, which come across so powerfully. Just reading this book will get you excited about your paintings! He shares much of his philosophy about painting and is truly an inspirational teacher. In very few computer based art books would you find a discussion on overcoming the fear of the blank canvas, of trusting yourself and finding your own creative path. But Jeremy Sutton tackles these issues just as well as how to put brush to canvas. If this book doesn't make you rush to your computer filled with excitement and desperate to start a new painting then nothing will!This is a truly unique and wonderful book.Highly recommended!

I just received this book and have looked it over thoroughly. It begins with basics, but not just a reiteration of the manual. Jeremy includes his own thoughts about how he works, sets up his workspace, etc. Then it progresses to more advanced ideas -- more advanced techniques in Painter 8 as well as lots of creative ideas for expanding your personal creativity. It looks to be a lot of fun for everybody, newbies to the experienced. It's intended audience is two groups: the individual working alone, and instructors for classes in Painter 8. I think you cannot go wrong with this one.