A Natalie test

Ardith Starostka · 03-17-2005, 01:17 PM

Bill,

Your photographs are wonderful! Do you paint from your monitor screen or do you make prints and paint from them? Just curious because I am looking at moving my computer into my studio and painting from the monitor since making prints with acceptable color is driving me crazy.

Thanks,
Ardith

William Whitaker · 03-18-2005, 10:32 AM

Ardith,

I have found that working from a good computer monitor is the next best thing to working from life. I don't work from prints.

I have an Apple 23" LCD display. It was state-of-the-art when it came out, but there are probably better ones on the market now.

There is a review of 23" LCD displays in the March, 2005 issue of MACWORLD, page 22. They compare my Apple with four others and give their editor's choice to the HEWLETT PACKARD L2335. It lists for $1,599 as compared to the Apple, which lists at $1,799.

Garth Herrick · 03-18-2005, 12:34 PM

Dear Bill.

What a fabulous and elegant setup! Thanks for sharing your innovations and expertise so generously.

I have been painting partially from a monitor for about five years now. The superior image quality to be seen on an Apple Studio Display was enough to convert me from PC to Mac in 2002! I am smitten and hooked for life.

My budget allowed for the smaller, more modest 17 inch monitor, but it has served me well. (I may have introduced my setup before so I hope this is not too redundant.) I have an ancient (50 years?) Chicago Majestic movie camera tripod that will extend from 3 feet to 8 1/2 feet. To this I have installed a custom plywood top that supports my monitor. The nice thing is I can crank it up and down in tandem with my easel. It also can be cranked to any tilt position desirable. Unfortunately it has absolutely no banjo attachment! As you can see I like the same wall color as you do.

Thanks again for your leadership in showing us your best studio methods and practical approaches.

Garth