Live Digital Painting at Virgin Atlantic’s San Francisco Inaugural 30th Anniversary Celebration

I painted this live event digital painting at the Virgin Atlantic San Francisco Inaugural 30th Anniversary celebration (and 40th anniversary of the founding of Virgin Atlantic), co-organized by the Trade & Investment Department of the British Consulate General San Francisco at The Center for Architecture + Design in downtown San Fransisco. I was invited to perform at this event because of my connection to the original Virgin Atlantic San Francisco Inaugural back in 1994 on which I was participated as part of the VIP guest group. I drew a digital portrait from life of Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic, in flight using a prototype Apple PowerBook borrowed from Apple! To paint the scene and capture the energy and atmosphere this 30th anniversary celebration I used an Apple iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. An interesting reflection that I used technology from the same company thirty years later! The artwork in progress was shown on a large flat panel display so guests could enjoy watching the painting as it evolved over time (and sometimes watch themselves be depicted in the artwork!)

Here are some photos from the event:



Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use the HidNFlix app to augment this artwork. Currently HidNFlix works only on the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, etc). You’ll be able to see the embedded video when you view the image (print or on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

Live Event Acrylic Painting at Davis Estates Winery


Painting the Sunset at the Davis Estates, Calistoga, Napa Valley, Jeremy Sutton, 2024, 48″ x 24″, acrylic on canvas

The 24″ x 48″ acrylic paintings on canvas shown here on this page were painted live at two consecutive Wine Club dinner events at the Davis Estates winery in Napa Valley, Calistoga, California. The one at the top of this page was the Saturday night painting. You’ll see the Friday night painting further down the page (see below). The paintings were created from blank canvases. Guests enjoyed watching the process from beginning to end. I was positioned on the winery’s outdoor terrace with panoramic views. Each painting was painted from direct observation of the scene in front of me—the magnificent sunset view over the vineyards and across the valley, and then the dinner scene. At the end of each evening the painting was raffled off to one of the guests to home with them! The time lapse video I share here is of the Saturday night painting process. It was a spectacular sunset! In the space of a few minutes the skies lit up in the most amazing golden hues in the clouds set against deep azure blue skies.

The winning couple, Jim and Cecily, who won the raffle to take home the Saturday night painting, posing here with myself and the finished artwork.

The winning couple, Janet and Mike, who won the raffle to take home the Friday night painting, posing here with me on the left and Davis Estates founder Mike Davis and his son Brandon, Director of Brand Development, on the right.

Myself with Mike Davis, the founder and owner of Davis Estates, and the Friday night painting.



Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use the HidNFlix app to augment the Saturday night (October 26, 2024) artwork. Currently HidNFlix works only on the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, etc). You’ll be able to see the embedded time-lapse video when you view the Saturday night artwork (actual artwork or it’s image on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

Live Painting at Sonoma Wine Country Birthday

I painted this digital painting live at Web’s 50th birthday “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) celebration in the Cyrus Restaurant, Geyserville, California. The restaurant has floor to ceiling windows that look out over the beautiful vineyards of Alexander Valley in the heart of Sonoma County wine country. You’ll see in the time lapse progression video, shown above, that I started with a background that included some family photos; then painted the guests visiting the kitchen, then captured the view out of the dining room windows as guests mingled outside and the sun set; then the dinner; the children playing in their entertainment space; and, finally, the end-of-the-evening chocolate room! All in one painting!! I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The artwork in progress was shown on a large flat panel display so guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time.



Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use HidNFlix to augment this artwork. You’ll be able to see the embedded video when you view the image (print or on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

“Roses” — Painting Demo at Fall Open Studios 2024

“Roses” – final (stage 6)

The digital painting shown here, “Roses”, was created from life as a live painting demonstration over the three days of my Fall Open Studios, September 27 – 29, 2024. I used the iPad pro, Apple Pencil and Procreate app to make this sketch. The image above (with the time lapse replay video) is the final state of the artwork. Below are a couple of earlier stages as it progressed, plus a picture from the studio that weekend as I worked on the painting.

“Roses” – stage 1

“Roses” – stage 4



Click on the icons above, or on this link, to be taken to the Apple App Store (iOS) to download the free AR app HidNFlix. I use the HidNFlix app to augment this artwork. Currently HidNFlix works only on the iOS platform (iPhone, iPad, etc). You’ll be able to see the embedded video when you view the image (actual artwork or on screen) through the scanning mode of the app.

I’ll also share some of my latest plein air watercolor sketches (non-digital!).

Live Painting at Welcome reception in SOMA Building

I painted this digital painting live at a reception event in a historic building in the South of Market district of San Francisco. The event welcomed some new tenants in the building. I incorporated the building interior motif into my background pattern that you see at the beginning of the replay video.

I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The iPad screen was projected on a large flat panel display mounted on the wall so guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time.

Live Painting in the SFMOMA Atrium

I painted this digital painting live at a corporate dinner / reception in the iconic SFMOMA Atrium. I incorporated in the artwork signature landmarks of the San Francisco cityscape, such as the Transamerica building, Coit Tower, Salesforce Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge.

I used an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The iPad screen was projected on a large flat panel display so guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time. As you can see from the photos below guests enjoyed engaging about the artwork and painting process and enjoyed seeing themselves represented in the painting!

The fabulous event was produced and designed by Whitney Fusion. Project manager Marjolein Daas wrote in a LinkedIn post:
“One highlight of this evening was the attendance of Jeremy Sutton who captivated our guests and offered an interactive art experience that everyone loved.”

Live Painting at Sonoma Wine Country Wedding

This painting was painted live at a wedding in the beautiful Sonoma Wine Country.

The scene I painted from direct observation was the wedding dinner and dancing surrounded by vineyards. The painting was created live over about four hours using an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app. The iPad screen was projected on a large flat panel display so the wedding party and their guests could enjoy watching the painting evolve over time.

Creating at CREATE! Downtown San Francisco

This digital painting was painted live at CREATE!, free public event in Downtown San Francisco https://downtownsf.org/things-to-do/create CREATE! was a wonderful “only in San Francisco” celebration of creativity and the performing, literary and visual arts that took place at the historic Landing at Leidesdorff, next to the Transamerica Pyramid, where the financial district of downtown San Francisco intersects with the North Beach, Chinatown and the old Barbary Coast neighborhoods. The celebration was produced by The Downtown SF Partnership, a nonprofit funded by property and business owners in the downtown district which covers the Financial District and Jackson Square.

I was located at the intersection of Leidesdorff and Commercial Streets, a picturesque pedestrian area free of cars, and created the colorful digital painting of the vibrant scene that you see featured here on this page. My view included a wonderful mural, titled “Beyond the Sea – the life and legacy of Captain Leidesdorff,” created by the Twin Walls Mural Company. https://www.sf.gov/news/mayor-breed-celebrates-launch-new-landing-leidesdorff-downtown-destination Visitors were able to watch my brush strokes unfold in real time on a large display and see my creative process as I painted what I saw (using an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app).

CREATE! honored the historical artistic significance of the Montgomery Block, affectionately known as ‘Monkey Block,’ an artist enclave that once flourished on the site now occupied by the Transamerica Pyramid. Over its nearly century-long existence, this building was a hub for housing and hosting notable artists, both literary and visual, including Frida Kahlo, Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, Dorothea Lange, Diego Rivera, Ambrose Bierce, Bret Harte, and Mark Twain. https://www.sfchronicle.com/chronicle_vault/article/Iconic-SF-building-was-home-to-Bohemians-for-13340080.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Block

The Landing at Leidesdorff, where I was located, is named after Captain William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr., the country’s first African-American diplomat amongst many firsts, and one San Francisco’s most notable founders.

William Alexander Leidesdorff (1810-1848)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Leidesdorff It is called “Landing” since in the 19th century it was where ships landed and was the original coastline walked by SF’s earliest inhabitants. https://downtownsf.org/things-to-do/landing-at-leidesdorff/history

Thank you to The Downtown SF Partnership team!

Here are photos from the event:

Photo: Kevin Adams for The Downtown SF Partnership

Photo: Kevin Adams for The Downtown SF Partnership

Photo: Kevin Adams for The Downtown SF Partnership

Painting the Scene: HQ Soirée at the Barnes Foundation

This digital painting was painted live at a company HQ Soirée gathering at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, PA. The artwork depicts the scene both outside in the courtyard where I was located, and inside in the magnificent atrium where the band played. I started with a custom background that I created using textures from the floors, doors, walls and paintings in the museum. The artwork was displayed in real time as it was created on a large 82″ flat panel LED display positioned behind me as I painted.

iPad Art 2014




“Ishmeet”, 2014 – This portrait was created from life on a plane journey from London to San Francisco using an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Pencil by 53. Click on the video to see stroke by stroke build up of the painting.




“Brandon, Masha and Arthur”, 2014 – This portrait of artist Brandon Jones and his family was created from life on a plane journey from London to San Francisco using Brandon’s Wacom Cintiq Companion Hybrid with the ArtFlow app. It was a “draw off”: he painted me at the same time using my iPad with Sketch Club. Neither of us had used the other’s platform or app before so it was very fun!


“Folly Bridge, Oxford” – painted from life on an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Adonit Jot Touch stylus, 2014
”Folly Bridge

“Portrait of Paul”, 2013, created using Art Rage and Adonit Jot Touch stylus on iPad2 at the ideacity conference, Toronto

On this page I share a small sampling of my (mostly) iPad drawings and paintings I have made over the last couple of years. I performed live iPad painting at the De Young Museum in October 2013 for the opening of “David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition” (see my Inspired by Hockney page). I teach iPad painting workshops and classes. If you’re interested in learning how to draw and paint on your iPad, then please visit Paint on the Go! and The iPad Art Summer School. If you’d like to set up a portrait sitting please email me (jeremy@jeremysutton.com) or call me at (415) 641-1221.


“Still Life Study”, 2013, created using Art Rage and Adonit Jot Touch stylus on iPad2

“Mac at Cana”, 2014, created using Zen Brush and Adonit Jot Touch 4 stylus on iPad Air
”iPad Portrait by Jeremy Sutton c 2014
“Alison Wright”, 2014, created using Sketch Club and Adonit Jot Touch 4 stylus on iPad Air

The portrait of Alison, shown above, is one of a series of portraits I drew from life on my iPad of fellow presenters at FOTOfusion 2014 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Alison is an amazing photo journalistic photographer who has captured portraits of people all over the world, including an extensive series of portraits of Tibetan Buddhists in Tibet and in exile (see her book Face to Face: Portraits of the Human Spirit). The following three portraits (below) were also created at FOTOfusion of fellow presenters.

”iPad Portrait by Jeremy Sutton c 2014
“Lou Jones”, 2014, created using Sketch Club and Adonit Jot Touch 4 stylus on iPad Air

As I drew Lou’s portrait we discussed his six year project in which he and his team photographed and interviewed death row inmates across the country (see his book Final Exposure: Portraits from Death Row). It was an intense subject and that intensity was reflected in the portrait…

”iPad Portrait by Jeremy Sutton c 2014
“Lawrence Gartel”, 2014, created using Art Rage and Sketch Club and Adonit Jot Touch 4 stylus on iPad Air

I’ve known Lawrence, a pioneering digital media artist, for many years. This year at FOTOfusion he drove up in one of his Art Cars. I included a photo I took of his artwork on the car in the background of this portrait.

”iPad Portrait by Jeremy Sutton c 2014
“J. Tomas Lopez”, 2014, created using Sketch Club and Adonit Jot Touch 4 stylus on iPad Air

Tom, University of Miami Department of Art and Art History professor, sat for me for a few minutes at the FOTOfusion Awards Dinner between courses..


”iPad Portrait by Jeremy Sutton c 2014
iPad painting performance at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, at the opening of the David Hockney: Bigger Exhibition. Photo by Stephen Somerstein.

”Portrait
Portrait of Sarah created live during my iPad painting performance at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, at the opening of the David Hockney: Bigger Exhibition. I used Brushes app (favored by Hockney) and an Adonit Jot Touch stylus.

”Portrait
Portrait of Meg created live during my iPad painting performance at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, at the opening of the David Hockney: Bigger Exhibition. I used Brushes app and an Adonit Jot Touch stylus.

”Portrait
Portrait of Lisa and Frank (with self-portrait) created live during my iPad painting performance at the de Young Museum, San Francisco, at the opening of the David Hockney: Bigger Exhibition using Art Rage App app and both the Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus and the Adonit Jot Touch stylus.

”Portrait
iPad sketch of author and historian Lawrence Weschler giving a talk, “Love Life: David Hockney’s Timescapes”, at the de Young, being watched by filmmaker Bruno Wollheim, who created the documentary portrait “David Hockney: A Bigger Picture”, created with the Brushes app and an Adonit Jot Touch stylus.

Over the last two years I have taught iPad painting and given iPad painting presentations in North America and Europe, including at the Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford University, (see William Dutton’s blog post) and at the magnificent flagship Apple Stores in central London (Regent Street), and San Francisco.

 

“Portrait of Tony”, 2013, created using Sketch Club with Adonit Jot Touch on iPad (created on Southwest flight at 30,000′ altitude). I like the recording feature in Sketch Club that also allows you to easily add your choice of music to the replay.

 

“Life Study”, 2013, created using Sketch Club with Sensu Brush on iPad2.

“Seated Man, after Diebenkorn”, 2013, created using Art Rage and Adonit Jot Touch stylus on iPad2 at the de Young Museum

 

Caricaturist Jon Casey and I sketch each other at the Coffee Bar outside my studio in San Francisco, Jon using pencil on paper and me using the procreate app on an iPad with a Sensu brush (see What’s in my studio). For a summary of the different iPad painting apps I am exploring, click here.

“Sketch portrait of Jon Casey”, 2013, creating using procreate on iPad2

In March, 2010, I came across artist Roderick Smith sketching on his iPhone in the Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, using a PogoStick stylus and Brushes iPhone app, the same one David Hockney started with when he began sketching on his iPhone. He kindly let me have a go. When I got home I ordered a PogoStick and experimented with sketching in Brushes and Sketchbook Pro on the iPhone. It didn’t quite click for me. The iPhone screen felt too small and restricted, and the brush stroke styles too flat and uniform. I preferred sketching in my regular sketchpad.

The iPad introduced a significantly larger painting area. That summer in 2010 I sketched my first iPad portrait from life of one of my students at my Amsterdam Painter Workshop on his iPad (see iPad Sketching in Amsterdam). A year a half later, in January 2012, I went to see David Hockney’s Bigger Picture exhibition at the Royal Academy and was impressed with his display of huge prints of his iPad drawings, as he referred to them, in the spacious galleries of the historic and esteemed institution. For me that was the ahaa moment when i knew iPad art had arrived! On returning to San Francisco, I immediately bought a Nomad brush at Macworld and purchased all the cool iPad painting apps I saw they had on their demo stations, even before I’d purchased an iPad! I then got painting on the iPad in earnest, leading to my teaching iPad art workshops and performing live iPad painting at special events, including the Hockney show.


”Portrait
Lyana sitting for her portrait at an event organized by the Monaco Government Tourist Office. Notice that her name is in the structure of the brush strokes used to portray her. The next two portraits (below) were created at the same event. All portrait subjects received both a JPEG image of their portrait plus a video replay of the painting process of their portraits so they could watch it unfold brush stroke by brush stroke!

”Portrait
“Kyle” – painted from life on an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Adonit Jot Touch stylus, 2014

 


”Portrait
“Shambhavi” – painted from life on an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Adonit Jot Touch stylus, 2014

 


”Portrait
“In Thought” – painted from life on an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Adonit Jot Touch stylus, 2014

 


”Portrait
“Simon Playing Double Bass” – painted from life on an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Adonit Jot Touch stylus, 2014

 


”Portrait
“Tuyen Playing Piano” – painted from life on an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Adonit Jot Touch stylus, 2014

 


”Portrait
“Key West Patio” – painted from life on an iPad Air using the Sketch Club app and Adonit Jot Touch stylus, 2014

Rosa, created in Inspire Pro on the iPad, 2013