Marco Magazine Article 2012 “FINGERPAINT” Marco Island, Florida.
Judy Lacks is an oil and watercolor artist, but two years ago she added a new medium. She’d bought an iPad for the convenience of reading multiple books while traveling, then downloaded a simple art application for her grandkids. While she was teaching them to create pictures, something clicked, calling to the artist inside her, and she wanted to learn more.
“I instantly bonded with the technology.” said Lacks. She purchased a similar, yet more sophisticated application and found it a perfect match. “I decided to take the plunge and fell in love with this application.”
Lacks doesn’t use a tool. Instead, she draws using only the fingertips of both hands. “People keep trying to sell me a 20-dollar stylus”she said with a laugh, but using her fingertips puts her closer to the emotional pull of the subject.
With a photograph as reference on the computer screen nearby. she draws the image freehand. Near the portrait’s completion, she works from the image in her head to put a unique artistic topic to the likeness. “I think I create very emotional pieces in a different way than a photograph can do.”
The application doesn’t do all of the work, she explained. The person behind it must have artistic talent and be able to connect and communicate emotions through the finished product. “It has become intuitive and automatic.” The technology allows her to draw virtually anywhere—while traveling, relaxing at home or in a doctor’s waiting room.
She still paints with oils and watercolors in her Marco Island studio, but it takes a good part of an hour to get everything ready, and the time of day and lighting has to be optimal. With this medium, she said, it’s instantaneous. “All I need to do is get my head clear and in artist mode. My Mac and iPad are always ready for me.”
She never considered herself a techie, but became so proficient with the app that the management at the Apple store in Grand Rapids, Michigan asked her to give a demonstration.
”It used to be that the definition of high tech in art was discovering ways to make a canvas survive the centuries without deteriorating,” Lacks said with a chuckle. Not anymore, she explained People have computers full of digital photos and share copies with the world on social websites. “It’s where the world’s gone.”
Recently she created a website www.originalartgallery.com where, starting at $60, a person can upload a favorite or meaningful photograph, give Lacks an idea of how the image is to be used, eye color of the subject and any other special instructions. Since she draws freehand (no tracing involved), Lacks can leave out certain objects cluttering the image, even take one face from a group shot, for a singe image. She emails the client a proof for a final okay before emailing back the signed, finished product. The digital image can then be stored in their computer for personal use—to be made into a sophisticated canvas or reproduction, printed out and framed, or used on invitations and note cards, (but not used for resale or promotional purposes.)
“This new medium gives me and my clients so much flexibility.”
The number of portraits she’s drawn is well into the hundreds, so she’s aware of the emotional aspects of a person seeing a painted image of themselves or their loved ones. “Everybody should be drawn or painted once, said Lacks, “It changes you. It’s magical.”
Judy Lacks is an oil and watercolor artist, but two years ago she added a new medium. She’d bought an iPad for the convenience of reading multiple books while traveling, then downloaded a simple art application for her grandkids. While she was teaching them to create pictures, something clicked, calling to the artist inside her, and she wanted to learn more.
“I instantly bonded with the technology.” said Lacks. She purchased a similar, yet more sophisticated application and found it a perfect match. “I decided to take the plunge and fell in love with this application.”
Lacks doesn’t use a tool. Instead, she draws using only the fingertips of both hands. “People keep trying to sell me a 20-dollar stylus”she said with a laugh, but using her fingertips puts her closer to the emotional pull of the subject.
With a photograph as reference on the computer screen nearby. she draws the image freehand. Near the portrait’s completion, she works from the image in her head to put a unique artistic topic to the likeness. “I think I create very emotional pieces in a different way than a photograph can do.”
The application doesn’t do all of the work, she explained. The person behind it must have artistic talent and be able to connect and communicate emotions through the finished product. “It has become intuitive and automatic.” The technology allows her to draw virtually anywhere—while traveling, relaxing at home or in a doctor’s waiting room.
She still paints with oils and watercolors in her Marco Island studio, but it takes a good part of an hour to get everything ready, and the time of day and lighting has to be optimal. With this medium, she said, it’s instantaneous. “All I need to do is get my head clear and in artist mode. My Mac and iPad are always ready for me.”
She never considered herself a techie, but became so proficient with the app that the management at the Apple store in Grand Rapids, Michigan asked her to give a demonstration.
”It used to be that the definition of high tech in art was discovering ways to make a canvas survive the centuries without deteriorating,” Lacks said with a chuckle. Not anymore, she explained People have computers full of digital photos and share copies with the world on social websites. “It’s where the world’s gone.”
Recently she created a website www.originalartgallery.com where, starting at $60, a person can upload a favorite or meaningful photograph, give Lacks an idea of how the image is to be used, eye color of the subject and any other special instructions. Since she draws freehand (no tracing involved), Lacks can leave out certain objects cluttering the image, even take one face from a group shot, for a singe image. She emails the client a proof for a final okay before emailing back the signed, finished product. The digital image can then be stored in their computer for personal use—to be made into a sophisticated canvas or reproduction, printed out and framed, or used on invitations and note cards, (but not used for resale or promotional purposes.)
“This new medium gives me and my clients so much flexibility.”
The number of portraits she’s drawn is well into the hundreds, so she’s aware of the emotional aspects of a person seeing a painted image of themselves or their loved ones. “Everybody should be drawn or painted once, said Lacks, “It changes you. It’s magical.”
About Artprize, Grand Rapids Michigan
ArtPrize® is an open, independently organized international art competition which takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It celebrates artists working in all mediums from anywhere in the world, and is open to any creative with an artwork to enter and a venue willing to host it.
For 18 days, art is exhibited throughout the city in public parks and museums, in galleries and vacant storefronts, in bars and on bridges. ArtPrize awards $450,000 directly to artists, through grants to support their ambitious work and through prizes which the public decides through the ArtPrize website.
Since its inception in 2009, millions have participated in ArtPrize, displaying their work, opening their spaces to artists and visitors from around the world, and sparking countless conversations about what art is and why it matters.
ArtPrize® is an open, independently organized international art competition which takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It celebrates artists working in all mediums from anywhere in the world, and is open to any creative with an artwork to enter and a venue willing to host it.
For 18 days, art is exhibited throughout the city in public parks and museums, in galleries and vacant storefronts, in bars and on bridges. ArtPrize awards $450,000 directly to artists, through grants to support their ambitious work and through prizes which the public decides through the ArtPrize website.
Since its inception in 2009, millions have participated in ArtPrize, displaying their work, opening their spaces to artists and visitors from around the world, and sparking countless conversations about what art is and why it matters.
About Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra, Bloomfield New Jersey.
About Children's Healing Center, Grand Rapids Michigan.
Children's Healing Center located in Grand Rapids MI aims to assist children with weak immune systems. It offers programs that focus on education, recreation, and social interaction of children recovering from ailments such as bone disorder, cancer, kidney disease, and others. The center promotes physical fitness program that increases the children's strength, coordination, and flexibility