Corel Painter: Explorations: Adventures in Scrap-collage

August 19th, 2010 lvs

Painter Scap Collage

This online class is all about creativity, and fun! It consists of five lessons in which you will learn to incorporate a combination of collage, montage, and digital scrap techniques to assemble five different images. Each lesson will have a separate theme, and the instructor will show you how to create some beautiful backgrounds, and various collage/scrapbook elements from scratch as well as how to “glue” various components together to produce the finished image. In the process, the instructor hopes to teach you a few new tricks about using Painter. Your completed projects will be suitable for printing, either to hang on your walls or to use for greeting cards (the instructor’s favorite use of computer graphics).

A collage may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork, photographs and other found objects, glued to a piece of paper or canvas. It may be either a flat image or a three-dimensional image.

A Montage, or Photomontage, is a composite image made from various photographs.

An assemblage is basically the same as a collage, except that an assemblage is always a three-dimensional piece of art.

A scrapbook is usually a collection of photographs and mementos pasted into a book for the purpose of preserving family history and/or memories of various occasions and highlights.

What all of these things have in common is the idea of collecting and assembling images from various items.

Join us in the Corel Painter: Explorations: Adventures in Scrap-collage online class at LVS Online Classes.

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Blogging Studio Online Class

August 17th, 2010 lvs

WordPress Blog

First, this isn’t a traditional online course. It is a blogging studio where we gather together to learn and support each other in creating interesting, entertaining and/or effective blogs. One of the students explained the Blogging Studio online class as…

"Bring your blog(s), a sack lunch and refillable coffee mug and a list of questions and/or issues you want cussed and discussed until solved, and settle in for five weeks of work. It is helping and learning from each other as well as from our instructor Bean and her sidekick, Anita."

You can bring your blogging questions but how do you ask questions about blogging topics that you don’t about yet? Each session we will start off with at least one tradition lesson, where Bean will provide instruction and exercises related to a relevant blogging topic that may be new to you. The rest of the session will be driven by student questions. Participation and practice will be the focus of this class. Part of the student’s learning process will include assisting other students via feedback and interaction. The instructor and assistant will provide instruction and assistance via:

  • the class message board
  • reading list
  • sharing of resources
  • short exercises
  • interaction on student blog
  • participation in relevant social networks

Blogging questions are limited only by your imagination, here are some possibilities:

Theme Customization Social Media Integration Monetization
Building Your Audience Writer’s Block Establishing Authority
Multi-user blogs Defining Your Niche Advertising Issues
Images Widgets Guest Posts

Learn more about blogging and see what past students are doing at the Blogging Class Blog

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Registration is Open for the September 2010 Session!

August 4th, 2010 lvs

Registration for the September 2010 Session is Open! LVS Online offers hundreds of affordable online classes taught by dedicated instructors who love to share their knowledge. Learn something new at LVS Online – Where Learning is Fun!
Over 100 online courses are now open for enrollment!
Returning students receive a 20% discount! Just sign into your LVS account and the discount will automatically be applied to your registration.
Course Fees:

  • $30.00 New Students
  • $24.00 Returning Students
  • Courses are *5 weeks long unless otherwise noted
  • Certificates of Completion are available.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of the September 2010 session, LVS has taken on a new format. The first lesson will post on Thursday instead of Saturday and then ALL lessons will be posted the following Thursday. Students will need to complete all assignments in sequential order before the session end date as noted in the classroom.
NEW Courses for Sept 2010 session:
LVS Online Classes Gift Certificate
Give the gift of LVS Online Classes to someone special AND….if you refer new students to LVS, receive $5 for EACH referral!

Our Windows classes are FREE to everyone and includes instructor support! Windows Classes


LVS students are eligible for Corel educational version software from the Corel Education Store. This includes CorelDRAW, Corel Painter 11, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo, and Corel PhotoImpact! Registered LVS students enter CRL10LVS when checking out to get an additional 10% discount on all Corel products! Check out the LVS News page for more information and details on special offers!

As an additional benefit to our enrolled LVS students, special offers are made available by famous software developers such as Auto FX, Andromeda, AV Bros, Harry Heim – The PlugIn Site, namesuppressed, Nik Multimedia, and Ulead. Only registered students receive the information and discounts! Be sure to click on the “Class Information” link provided in your registration confirmation for IMPORTANT class information and special offers!

Registered LVS students are also eligible to purchase some of their favorite software and hardware at a student discount through our Academic Reseller programs.

Instructor-led classes begin Sept 2, 2010. Head on over to LVS Online Registration to enroll today!

Registration for the Sept 2010 session ends Sept 1, 2010.

New Course Highlights

*Corel Painter: Adventures in Scrap-collage*

Scrap-collage? What on earth is scrap-collage?

Often, the terms Collage, Montage, and Assemblage are used interchangeably. According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collage

A collage may include newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork, photographs and other found objects, glued to a piece of paper or canvas. It may be either a flat image or a three-dimensional image.

A Montage, or Photomontage, is a composite image made from various photographs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photomontage

An assemblage is basically the same as a collage, except that an assemblage is always a three-dimensional piece of art. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_(art)

A scrapbook is usually a collection of photographs and mementos pasted into a book for the purpose of preserving family history and/or memories of various occasions and highlights.

What all of these things have in common is the idea of collecting and assembling images from various items. Visit our Graphics Program Campus to learn more.

*Corel Painter: PhotoPainting & Portraiture III*

PhotoPainting & Portraiture III is the final of this three-part course. This class introduces human photo painting. You learn fascinating Pop Art, painting children, composite images and a beautiful bridal portrait. Lastly, embellishing a painting can be both challenging and rewarding to see a flat painted print come to life when texture is applied. Visit our Graphic Programs Campus to learn more.

*Photoshop CS5 Special FX: Tips, Tricks, and Pizzazz!*

Join me for tricks and special effects using Adobe Photoshop CS 5! We will talk about layer styles and how to create and save your own styles, and adding Actions to automate the program, as well as how to create your own actions, save them and share them with others. We’ll also learn about the new features in CS5: Puppet Warp, Content Aware Fill, and all about the new brush engine with Mixer Brushes and new bristle tips! This intermediate class is for Photoshop CS 5 only, and many exercises, tips, and tricks will not work with earlier versions of Photoshop or any version of Photoshop Elements. Visit our Graphics Program Campus to learn more.

*Photoshop 3D Level 2*

In the introductory class, we started exploring the 3D world from within Photoshop. A little at a time you were introduced into this wonderful arena using the Photoshop interface and all its wonderful tool. Only so much could be accomplished in that 6 week class. Visit our Graphics Programs Campus to learn more.

*Web Accessibility*

The Web is an increasingly important resource. It is essential that the Web be accessible to everyone. The Web must be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities. The Web offers the possibility of greater access to information and interaction with others for many people with disabilities. Currently most web sites have accessibility barriers that make it difficult or impossible for many people with disabilities to use the Web. Web accessibility is about making websites accessible so that people with disabilities can navigate and interact with others on the Web. Websites should be designed so that people are not excluded from accessing the content and services provided on the Web.

A key principle of Web Accessibility is constructing web sites that are flexible and can meet different user needs, preferences, and situations. Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web including visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, and neurological disabilities. Web accessibility also benefits people without disabilities in certain situations, such as people using a slow Internet connection, people with temporary disabilities such as a broken arm, and people with changing abilities due to aging. Millions of people have disabilities that affect their use of the Web. Visit our Web Development Campus to learn more.

*Web Typography*

Typography is the practice of arranging type within a design. When you design a page for print, you control the size of the paper and the placement of the elements. On the web the size, resolution, fonts, and even the layout of your page can vary with the browser and the system used to view your site.

Web Typography is going through considerable changes. New techniques along with new web browser capabilities are giving Web Typography new life. This online course will take a fresh look at Web Typography and explore all the new possibilities that are available. Visit our Web Development Campus to learn more.

*The Power of Humor: A Phenomenon Discovered in Highly-Charged Material *SS**

The Power of Humor: A Phenomenon Discovered in Highly-Charged Material online class identifies humor in a Biblical context, offering timeless wisdom with laughter, a twinkle, and a smile. God invented humor, so Jesus would certainly use it. Unfortunately, recognizing Christ’s humor has been rare with only hints and indications. Clearly, Jesus did not fit the mold of what a holy man was –taking in sinners, eating with them, and treating them as if they were old friends.

Though often unnoticed, humor is rooted in much of the Bible. It is no surprise that little has been written on the subject matter. Nevertheless, humor continues to be valuable in communication–tearing down obstacles, encouraging ideas, and challenging people to consider different approaches to life issues.

Topics covered in this online course include a definition and review of the qualities and benefits of merry medicine or humor in the Bible; humor of Jesus through irony, sarcasm and the outlandish; loaded one-liners; and three Bible stories sure to bring a smile to your face.

This self-study course is a very honest and transparent approach to the Bible that encourages readers to understand some of the Scriptures with fresh eyes. Visit our Self-Study Campus to learn more.

Check out our complete selection of online classes!

*FREE TUTORIALS*

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Photoshop Elements 8 Beyond the Basics: High Seas

April 24th, 2010 lvs

Photoshop Elements 8

We have Set Sail, we’ve had Clear Sailing, and now I will take you on the High Seas in this third online class of the series of courses specifically for Photoshop Elements 8 software.! This class will cover more advanced features of Photoshop Elements 8, such as installing and using layer styles, actions, and third party plug-ins. We will learn to replace a bad sky with a good one, work with patterns, and cover some more advanced photo correction techniques, such as using Camera Raw. We will learn to make a studio portrait from a snapshot, do a bit of digital alchemy and turn silver into gold, and much more!

Lesson 1

  • First Class Info
  • What is Covered in this Class?
  • Photomerge Features
  • Working with Patterns

Lesson 2

  • Layer Styles
  • Editing Layer Styles
  • Downloading and Installing Layer Styles
  • Using Third-Party Plug-ins and Filters

Lesson 3

  • Using Actions in Elements 8
  • Downloading
  • Installing
  • Using the Action Player
  • REAL Layer Masks? Yes, you can!

Lesson 4

  • What are DNG files?
  • What is a Sidecar?
  • Working in Camera RAW

Lesson 5

  • Fixing Skies Using the Smart Brush
  • Replacing a Bad Sky with a Good One
  • Sunrise, Sunset: Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is?
  • Transformations: More than Meets the Eye

Lesson 6

  • From Snapshot to Studio Portrait
  • Digital Alchemy: Turning Silver to Gold!
  • Fun Special Effects and Tricks

This online course is not linear like the basics classes. It takes you above and beyond so you can use Elements to its potential. You will draw on skills learned in the basics classes to go further and become more creative than before. You will expand your knowledge of Elements with layer styles, actions, and plugins, and real layer masks! You will also learn to use camera raw to edit photos – even jpgs!

Sara Froehlich is the instructor of the Photoshop Elements classes. Sara is the co-author of Microsoft Expression Design Step by Step. She started in computers in the mid-80′s but she didn’t start teaching until 2001 when she discovered that was what she really loved to do: write and teach! Things have come a long way since then, and her abilities have grown along with the computers and programs she uses. She has probably tried almost every graphics program out there and have written classes for most of them. Since 2001 she has written over 40 courses for Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, Illustrator, Xara, Corel Photo Paint, Dreamweaver, Expression, Acrobat, Freehand, and Fireworks.

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Corel Painter: PhotoPainting & Portraiture II Online Class

April 21st, 2010 lvs

Further enhance your PhotoPainting & Portraiture skills by learning how to paint beautiful skies and embellish your painting with textures; pastels, snow scene paintings and animal portraiture ; paint hair, fur and feathers – paint your own favorite pet. All this from photographs!

PhotoPainting & Portraiture Painting

The PhotoPainting & Portraiture II online class covers more landscape painting but introduces painting of animals and birds. You will have the opportunity of painting your very own favorite pooch or kitty, or other favorite animal.

Each week you are given an image as you did in PhotoPainting & Portraiture I and step by step instruction is given on how to transform a photograph into a lovely painterly image. You are then requested to paint your own.

Create your own hairy brush; learn what brushes are great for feather painting and make a nice brush for snow, although I have provided brushes for this. In the PhotoPainting & Portraiture II online course there are some video demonstrations, so look out for that information in the lesson.

Lesson 1

  • From a basic Sunset Photograph create A Stunning Painting
  • Applying Texture and Embellishments

Lesson 2

  • Paint a unique Pastel Painting
  • Change a basic photograph into a Painterly
  • Painting by using the lovely medium of Pastel

Lesson 3

  • Painting Snow
  • Make a beautiful snow scene from a basic photograph
  • Brushes for snow and trees

Lesson 4

  • Paint a lovely image of a Scottie Dog
  • Learn how to make a brush for Dog Hair
  • Paint your own favorite doggy portrait

Lesson 5

  • How to Paint Feathers
  • Paint a Parrot
  • Learn how to make application of various brushes to paint feathers

Lesson 6

  • Cats – large or small they are always a favorite to paint.
  • Painting your own favorite cat and also one of the Big Cats – Tiger
  • This is an interesting and fun project in a variety of Digital Watercolour.

PhotoPainting and Portraiture Online Class Instructor

Maureen Eves-Lavis is the instructor of the PhotoPainting & Portraiture II Online Class. Maureen has always been interested in art and drawing, arts and crafts such as dressmaking from her early school days through to attending Art College. Dabbling in real media art, particularly in sketching and drawing, then oils and acrylics … then…. her interest turned to graphic arts software. In the 1990s she obtained a copy of PhotoImpact, which she played around with for a while. It wasn’t until 2004 when she became more serious in arts and graphics, but more in Digital Art. In 2005 Maureen attended Digital Art Classes that opened a whole new and exciting world to her.

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Would You Like To Learn…

April 20th, 2010 lvs

Would you like to learn about Painter’s Brushes?
Would you like to learn Digital Collage in Painter?
Would you like to learn how to paint – even though you may think you can’t?

Painting with Corel Painter

Painting with Corel Painter

These three questions are directed to you, for you to give some thought to what ‘YOU CAN DO’! I say this in a positive sense because I know you can. How? By learning the techniques using Corel Painter’s fabulous software. Open your eyes to a wonderful world of creativity. Believe me, once you have mastered Painter you will be well on your way to painting your own creative art.

Painter’s brushes are not just a tools to pick a color and paint across the canvas. No, by adjusting, applying and making use of Painter’s Brush Creator or Brush Controls you can make just about any brush display great paint strokes with many variations. You not only learn about Painter’s brushes but all aspects of Painter surrounding the brushes and tools, the palettes, layers and much, much more. There is step by step instruction with numerous graphical examples. Once you learn Painter’s brushes you are well on your way to advance your knowledge in Painter, like taking the following classes.

What about Collage, do you know what Collage is? Well, to me it has a similarity to scrapbooking; something I learned many years ago. You may or may not like scrapbooking, but Collage in Painter is a whole new concept. Digital Collaging is a very interesting and a rewarding experience. Create beautiful art pieces from a variety of images and apply Painter’s many avenues of blending these images together with embellishments, textures and paint to form a Collage. Digital Collage is only limited by your imagination!

Photo Painting…… wow, this is fabulous to learn with Painter. Painter has all the tools for you to create great paintings. Turn a simple photograph into a beautiful work of art, worthy of display on your wall. Start at the beginning with simple cloning and advancing to painting and changing photographs. Portraits of your children, grandchildren and pets. Learn how to paint realistic eyes, lips, hair and the softness of a child’s skin, amazing faces of the aged and how the Old Masters painted. Embellishing your images ‘from before to after print’ giving them a sense of depth and reality, just like an original oil painting. I will be delighted to teach you all aspects of Corel Painter in my classes.

If you would like to view previous Students’ work, click on the link below. Believe me, you will be very pleasantly surprised at the high standard of their artwork. Painter Artz Blog

So, what are you waiting for? Come and sign up for a class to learn more about the lessons provided and registration plus costs for each class. The fees for LVS Online classes are extremely affordable to all.

I hope to see you there. Where? in my classes of course! Corel Painter Art Classes – Brushes, Collage and PhotoPainting & Portraiture

Maureen Eves-Lavis
Corel Painter Instructor at LVS Online Classes

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Computer Graphics Starting with GIMP Online Class

April 19th, 2010 lvs

Gimp Online ClassThe Gimp online class is all about images that you see, create and use in various ways on your computer. Whether you are retouching photos for the family, creating artwork for the web, or doing fine art professionally, the Gimp online course will be a good starting point to working with images on the computer. We’ll start out with some very simple exercises and grow from there. By the end of the class, you should be able to create simple images in the GIMP program (and maybe not so simple!). You should also be able to import images into the program. You will also be able to manipulate images to be able to use them in various ways and you’ll know why certain manipulations are needed for various tasks. Along the way, you’ll try out some of the cool things you can do with the GIMP.

Lesson 1

  • Explore some basic differences between images on paper and images on the computer.
  • Install the GIMP.
  • Create and save a simple drawing file.
  • Learn to do a simple PNG export.

Lesson 2

  • Begin to work with:
    • layers
    • selections
    • uniform and gradient fills
    • stroke
    • erase
  • More PNG options for exporting your work.
  • Learn to export to the GIF format.

Lesson 3

  • Open a photograph and do simple editing:
    • crop
    • rotate
    • resize
    • Learn to export to the JPG file format.
  • Compare the capabilities and uses of different file formats.

Lesson 4

  • Adjusting photos- the bare basics:
    • color
    • contrast
    • lighting
    • saturation
    • sharpness
    • red-eye

Lesson 5

  • Add text to images
  • Use some of the many brushes included in the GIMP

Lesson 6

  • Putting it all together.
  • Customizing the GIMP to work for you.

Val Perkins is the instructor of the Computer Graphics Starting with GIMP Online Class. Val is a teacher, musician, author, illustrator, and nurse. She has actively taught for 20+ years and has authored and illustrated her own Sunday School curriculum for preschoolers. Val communicates across a broad audience range.

Over the years, Val P. has taught music, sailing, canoeing, Spanish, English as a second language, introductory nursing skills, and several other strange things. She took her first computer course in 1974 when she also did her first computer graphics project- printing dragonflies and butterflies in x’s and o’s on a teletype machine. After that, she thought she was done with computers until in 1980 she married a computer engineer. Their first major purchase as a couple was a home computer and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Drupal Themes Online Class

April 16th, 2010 lvs

Drupal Themes Drupal is a free and open source Content Management System written in PHP. With Drupal you can create a simple personal homepage, a company website, a blog, an ecommerce site, etc. Themes play a key role in the Drupal system. The theme is the most significant piece of your Drupal installation. It is responsible for your visitor’s first impression of the site.

The Drupal Themes Online Class is designed to take you through the development of your own Drupal themes. You will be setting up your own design environment on your personal computers. We will examine the Drupal System and the files that make up a Drupal theme. In this online class you will learn how to make a subtheme of an original theme, use a starter theme and style it to suit your needs, and build your own theme from scratch.

When you finish this online course you will be able to use your design environment for future projects and have a few new themes that you have designed for use on your website.

Lesson 1

  • What is a Theme?
  • The Drupal System
  • The Drupal Theme Engine

Lesson 2

  • Setting up the Design Environment
  • Installing Themes
  • Using the Administration Area

Lesson 3

  • The PHP Template Engine
  • Theme Files
  • Placeholders and Regions

Lesson 4

  • All About Sub-themes
  • Building Sub-themes

Lesson 5

  • All About Starter Themes
  • Styling Starter Themes

Lesson 6

  • Building your own Themes

The Drupal Themes Online Class is instructed by Yvonne Zaborac. Yvonne loves web design and creating graphics. She is currently working as an Application Programmer at a minor university in Illinois. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems with a major in Computer Science. She also has an Associate’s degree in Computer Networking, a Web Developer certificate, and a Web Administrator certificate.

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Registration for the May 2010 Session is Open!

April 14th, 2010 lvs

Registration for the May 2010 Session is Open! LVS Online offers hundreds of affordable online classes taught by dedicated instructors who love to share their knowledge. Learn something new at LVS Online – Where Learning is Fun!
Over 100 online courses are now open for enrollment!
Returning students receive a 20% discount! Just sign into your LVS account and the discount will automatically be applied to your registration.
Course Fees:

  • $30.00 New Students
  • $24.00 Returning Students
  • Courses are 6 weeks long unless otherwise noted
  • Certificates of Completion are available.
NEW Courses for May 2010 session:
LVS Online Classes Gift Certificate
Give the gift of LVS Online Classes to someone special AND….if you refer new students to LVS, receive $5 for EACH referral!

Our Windows classes are FREE to everyone and includes instructor support! Windows Classes


LVS students are eligible for Corel educational version software from the Corel Education Store. This includes CorelDRAW, Corel Painter 11, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo, and Corel PhotoImpact X3! Registered LVS students enter CRL10LVS when checking out to get an additional 10% discount on all Corel products! Check out the LVS News page for more information and details on special offers!

As an additional benefit to our enrolled LVS students, special offers are made available by famous software developers such as Auto FX, Andromeda, AV Bros, Harry Heim – The PlugIn Site, namesuppressed, Nik Multimedia, and Ulead. Only registered students receive the information and discounts! Be sure to click on the “Class Information” link provided in your registration confirmation for IMPORTANT class information and special offers!

Registered LVS students are also eligible to purchase some of their favorite software and hardware at a student discount through our Academic Reseller programs.

Instructor-led classes begin May 15, 2010. Head on over to LVS Online Registration to enroll today!

Registration for the May 2010 session ends May 12, 2010.

New Course Highlights

*Drupal Themes*

Drupal is a free and open source Content Management System written in PHP. With Drupal you can create a simple personal homepage, a company website, a blog, an ecommerce site, etc. Themes play a key role in the Drupal system. The theme is the most significant piece of your Drupal installation. It is responsible for your visitor’s first impression of the site.

This online course is designed to take you through the development of your own Drupal themes. You will be setting up your own design environment on your personal computers. We will examine the Drupal System and the files that make up a Drupal theme. You will learn how to make a subtheme of an original theme, use a starter theme and style it to suit your needs, and build your own theme from scratch.

When you finish this course you will be able to use your design environment for future projects and have a few new themes that you have designed for use on your website. Visit our Web Related Campus to learn more.

*Introduction to Computer Graphics: Starting with GIMP*

This class is all about images that you see, create and use in various ways on your computer. Whether you are retouching photos for the family, creating artwork for the web, or doing fine art professionally, this class will be a good starting point to working with images on the computer. We’ll start out with some very simple exercises and grow from there. By the end of the class, you should be able to create simple images in the GIMP program (and maybe not so simple!) You should also be able to import images into the program. You will also be able to manipulate images to be able to use them in various ways and you’ll know why certain manipulations are needed for various tasks. Along the way, you’ll try out some of the cool things you can do with the GIMP. Visit our Graphic Programs Campus to learn more.

*Corel Painter: PhotoPainting & Portraiture II*

PhotoPainting & Portraiture II covers more landscape painting but introduces painting of animals and birds. You will have the opportunity of painting your very own favorite pooch or kitty, or other favorite animal.

Each week you are given an image as you did in PhotoPainting & Portraiture I and step by step instruction is given on how to transform a photograph into a lovely painterly image. You are then requested to paint your own.

Create your own hairy brush; learn what brushes are great for feather painting and make a nice brush for snow, although I have provided brushes for this. In PhotoPainting & Portraiture II there are some video demonstrations, so look out for that information in the lesson. Visit our Graphics Program Campus to learn more.

*PSE 8 Beyond the Basics: High Seas*

We have Set Sail, we’ve had Clear Sailing, and now I will take you on the High Seas in this third class of the series of courses specifically for Photoshop Elements 8! This class will cover more advanced features of Photoshop Elements 8, such as installing and using layer styles, actions, and third party plug-ins. We will learn to replace a bad sky with a good one, work with patterns, and cover some more advanced photo correction techniques, such as using Camera Raw. We will learn to make a studio portrait from a snapshot, do a bit of digital alchemy and turn silver into gold, and much more! Visit our Graphics Programs Campus to learn more.

Check out our complete selection of online classes!

*FREE TUTORIALS*

Posted in Announcements, Registration | No Comments »

You Can Draw!

March 5th, 2010 lvs

Painter Classes by Elaina In my Painter online classes, I constantly hear my students say, “I can’t even draw a straight line!” Each time I hear this I have to laugh because I don’t know of anyone who is able to draw a straight line unless they use a ruler. A straight line is no indicator of whether or not one is able to draw. I firmly believe that everyone has the ability to draw, and what holds most people back is a total lack of confidence.

Of course, not everyone can draw perfectly, and your individual drawing skill will depend on how much, or how little, talent you possess; however, even if you’re unable to draw as well as your favorite artist, nevertheless, you still possess the ability, with practice and training, to draw well enough to achieve a personal sense of satisfaction. My belief in everyone’s ability to draw is a direct result of my exposure to of one of my heroes, the artist, Jon Gnagy.

I believe that you are an artist. I believe that everyone is an artist. When I say this I am not trying to be sensational. I merely state it as a conviction which has been proving itself for years in my beginners’ art classes.
—Jon Gnagy

Jon became very famous in the 1950′s as a result of his TV show which continued to be shown until 1970, a very long-running show indeed. I guess I was about eleven when I discovered Jon, and I lusted after his “Learn to Draw Kit”. The kit was out of the question for my mother. In those days a single parent, especially a woman, had all she could do to keep food on the table, much less buy art supplies for her child, no matter how much the child wanted them. …and so, I made do, with a #2 pencil and a rubber eraser, and I followed Jon’s show for several years, learning to master his basic shapes, the ball, the cone, the cube, and the cylinder. As the years passed, I went on to other interests, but always returned to drawing. These days, I can afford wonderful pencils, pens, brushes, and pastels, but they have never replaced the early thrill of being able to produce “art” from my simple tools, a pencil and an eraser.

More than Jon’s lessons, his philosophy is what kept me pursuing art and drawing over the years, and I believe his philosophy to be true, that everyone is an artist, and that each of us contains that spark. So, don’t let your lack of confidence hold you back. Pick up a pencil, a pad of paper, and an eraser. Set up a still life in your kitchen, go out in the yard and sketch a tree, hold your hand out in front of you and draw it, but whatever you do, don’t stop trying. You will never know where it can lead you, and the journey will be one of the best ones you will ever take.

Elaina Moore-Kelly is the instructor of the Painter online classes at LVS. Elaina lives in Florida with her husband, her dog, her 2 cockatiels, and various finches. After spending 15 years at IBM, she never expected to have a computer in her own home. In 1997 her husband decided he wanted to be “plugged in” and he bought a MacIntosh with a whopping 32 megabytes of RAM. He finally convinced Elaina to give it a try and she was immediately hooked, but soon got tired of sharing, so she bought a PC for herself and got a free version of PrintMaster with it.

Once she followed the instructions and created her first greeting card, Elaina decided she loved computer graphics. She tried several other printing programs and finally settled on The Print Shop. While making her own cards, she also began making her own graphics and became a Paint Shop Pro junkie. Eventually she began writing PSP tutorials and became a Beta tester for both Jasc and Corel.

As her interest in computer graphics grew, Elaina discovered the exciting world of Corel Painter. After taking several classes she began using the program to create digital paintings, and at last was able to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming an “artiste”. You may view some of Elaina’s digital paintings here: http://www.nightshadowfx.com/Gallery/imagegallery.php

These days, in addition to creating custom cards and gifts for friends and family, Elaina hangs around on the web talking to other graphics addicts, teaching, and taking more classes at LVS.

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