Hello, I'm new here. My name is Eric and I've been drawing for ages.............more than 20 years doing figure drawing and sequential art. I thought I'd try to learn how to use GIMP and experiment with colors in my work. I didn't even realise that you could simulate the look of watercolors and oils with a computer paint program and I'm surprised how easy and fast it is to paint like a pro. I watched a few speed painting videos and I must say I'm impressed. It looks easy enough that I think I can manage it. So I've got to try this for myself and see what I can come up with. The last time I used a paint program I was limited to 256 colors and 640x480 resolution for Genesis video games. I used an early paint program called Deluxe Paint Animation--that's what the industry used back then...

So I found out about this forum from Miss Tricks on YouTube. That's a cute name. Anyways, I just went ahead and bought myself a Wacom Bamboo Pen tablet to get started and if I like it I might upgrade later to something a bit larger. I also downloaded another free paint program today called MyPaint and it's really easy to use. I like the fact that if you want to use a texture you have to paint it in yourself which means there's no cheating and no photoshopping! And the tools behave like real brushes (and pencils) and the paint smears and gets muddy if you're not careful.

I've only watched 1 video on Youtube about Gimp basics from Gimptricks channel. Can someone point me in the direction of other good Gimp tutorials? I'm anxious to get started. I want to learn about using custom brushes, managing layers, applying special effects, and just painting in general, etc., etc.

I take it you are using windows??

you may consider adding your particulars within your signature (see mine)...it does help when people are looking for solutions to problems.

and welcome....nice to see another Wacom user

to Gimp Chat, Eric! There are a lot of good tutorials in the Gimp Tutorials forum here in Gimp Chat. Be sure to browse through them.

to Gimp Chat!!!!

Welcome!

MyPaint is a fun program. I've seen a few people use it to do the majority of their work, then use GIMP to add the final touches (such as painting textures with the clone tool). Some people scan line art or B&W pencil drawings, then color using GIMP. I use GIMP entirely. You can ask fifty different people how they do their work, and you'll probably get about fifty answers. You'll figure out what works best for you after playing around a bit. As was already mentioned, there are plenty of good tutorials here that will walk you through special effects and other things.

One tool you may find useful, if you like MyPaint, is Gimp Paint Studio. It is an add-on to GIMP that provides additional brushes. It primarily includes brushes that simulate traditional media, but it does include some special effects brushes. It also provides a large array of palettes with skin tones, eye colors, grass colors, etc.

Welcome to Gimp Chat!

Welcome to GIMP Chat Eric

A big welcome to our site Eric. Wish I could draw, but filter manipulator I am (but filters can help augment one's hand drawings significantly). I would highly recommend you contact Griatch (via PM) because he is one of the best masters of computer drawing that I know. Just remember that the computer is just another tool using another type of canvas. Your real skill is still yours and I do look forward to seeing your stuff soon.

Also there is now TheShock

Wow. More responses than I thought I would get in just one day. Thanks everyone for the nice welcome. I just downloaded GPS and I thought it was already included with GIMP because I read some comments about it like it was nothing special, just part of the GIMP program. I don't want to get bogged down by too many details and advanced techniques like creating custom brushes when I'm just trying to learn the basics. I just want to start creating art as quickly as possible.

I think it's great that there's a forum like this for learning all the tricks of the trade of such a powerful program. I have to admit, I've had the program on my computer for over a year now and I'd always get intimidated whenever I launched it. I would just stare in awe at the crazy amount of buttons and dials and the floating windows for a couple of minutes and just close it down after that. It was way too intimidating for me but now I'm serious about learning this program after viewing a couple of galleries on Deviantart and watching a few speed painting videos.

Is there a place to submit art on this site? Like a sketchbook/portfolio forum? If there isn't, somebody should create one.

Welcome, Eric. IMO, Griatch and The Shock are the two most talented in their ability to draw using tablet and computer programs. I would browse the tutorial board and looks at those authored by Griatch for "how-to" in drawing/painting. I cannot draw, and am in awe of those who can.

Thanks 2 ton. Oh, I can draw like an pro I just don't know how to use GIMP and I've never really messed with digital colors before. It shouldn't be too hard for me, I studied oil painting in college many years ago but I was never good at mixing paint to get just the right color I needed. Now that seems more or less a moot point with you digital painting programs because you can just pick your color from the color spectrum without having to mix and experiment. If Griatch and Shock can give me advanced tips and tricks that would be great, I could learn from them.

Currently, I'm watching video after video about the GPS add-on.

There's the Gimp Art forum viewforum.php?f=11

and the Other Graphics Applications forum viewforum.php?f=22

You need to scroll down on the front page of Gimp Chat to see the different forums in here.

http://denis-peterson.deviantart.com/art/1-800-CALL-DHL-194788985
*faint* painting from DeviantArt

You can submit your art right here; pretty good size too (not sure how big, but bigger then most).

We're also one of the biggest OFF-TOPIC bunch that can be found online, and....<drum roll>

We're BIG on SSP (Shameless Self-Promotion)
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1229&hilit=shameless&start=10#p13975

Post away on your artwork, Eric! I would love to see your work.

I actually think captain offtopic is Maffe from GIMPER.... just ask Rod or Dark Lite

Does Maffe have multiple personalities? If no, then he doesn't count as a group (bunch) hehehe...

I guess, but he is still the king of spam in my eyes.

Alright. I'll just submit something right here then... It will only be a pencil sketch of something though, I wouldn't even attempt to draw with a mouse on my computer. For one thing, my optical mouse seems to be extremely dirty and unable to produce a straight line without a lot of jaggies. It's so frustrating to try to draw a line or a circle with it.