I love this!! I’ve been going through a similar process. I’m curious what physical tools you’ve returned to and if you have any recommendations- I love the vibrancy in your sketchbook pages!
Thanks Kika! I talk more about this in today's episode (How to make your digital art look more natural - EP53). I think I'd like to explore this deeper in a video format though!
Thanks Tom! This speaks volumes. I am just starting to use more digital illustration techniques.i had to illustrate a book with 40 illustrations recently in four months. Quite a challenge when teaching at a school three days, running two adult art classes and setting up a community garden in my home town. I used drawings from my sketchbook textures i created using different media and captured on Adobe capture and then coloured it all in fresco. Process I really enjoyed that mixed up analogue and digital techniques.I have found the array of brushes and other things on digital media wonderful and also just too much at times or even distracting. I get joy from drawing and using other analogue media and have decided I don't want to miss out on that. Thanks for your words on this subject as it afirms my own thoughts .
After reading the first couple of your words, yes, yes, yes, I almost ended up screaming at my screen. How can you see inside my head? You put into words exactly what I started feeling one or two years ago. It's like I am starving for analogy and am now working on bringing the analog elements back into my illustration, too, like you. Honestly, the fun part is playing and getting your hands dirty.
Constraints can be very useful for honing skill or style and finding unexpected fun things with different media. That undo button can be glorious - but it can also get rid of the stray bits that make your hand shine in your work. All the best for your re-wilding! :)
I've been practicing to incorporate more digital aspects in my work lately, mostly to have some location independent options. One of the challenges is that I don't feel much connection to digital work as I never felt paper, didn't smell ink or paint,... it's easy to forget about a file on a hard drive. I'm also always lost on scale. I love experimenting with drawing super small or on extra large sheets to mix things up. But slowly, I'm finding ways to close the gap and enjoy the process, so I'm positive. I think to me the key it to keep it simple and as true to who I am as possible.
Excellent points, Fenne. I love the tactile/sensory experience of analogue media. It's all about balance though. Digital is good — hopefully we can create new amazing things using both.
I enjoyed reading this post! I’ve been following your sketchbook work and I especially loved your jazz series. I can’t wait to see your client work slowly re-wildering, Tom!
I’ve been transitioning from digital to traditional media too. When I started my daily sketchbook over a year ago, I rediscovered my love for traditional materials! My lines and painting style are much looser when I work traditionally. My process these days is mostly traditional, with some digital clean-up, color adjustments, and a few additional markings at the end.
Right now both my traditional and digital work look almost identical. Some people have complimented that, but I’m not sure if it’s a good thing. I’ll keep experimenting with new media and try to rely on less digital finishing touches.
Hi Yumiko, thanks for reading and for the comment. I suppose whether something is made digitally or physically is less important than what you are going for in the final image. If looser is what you want, and traditional media helps you loosen up, then that's the way to go. I think that's my bias in this article — I want to loosen up a lot more and for there to be that free, spontaneous feeling — and get away from all the extra choices I have to make in digital.
Rewinding your illustration sounds like a fun class idea!
It crossed my mind!
I agree!!!
I love this!! I’ve been going through a similar process. I’m curious what physical tools you’ve returned to and if you have any recommendations- I love the vibrancy in your sketchbook pages!
Thanks Kika! I talk more about this in today's episode (How to make your digital art look more natural - EP53). I think I'd like to explore this deeper in a video format though!
Thanks Tom! This speaks volumes. I am just starting to use more digital illustration techniques.i had to illustrate a book with 40 illustrations recently in four months. Quite a challenge when teaching at a school three days, running two adult art classes and setting up a community garden in my home town. I used drawings from my sketchbook textures i created using different media and captured on Adobe capture and then coloured it all in fresco. Process I really enjoyed that mixed up analogue and digital techniques.I have found the array of brushes and other things on digital media wonderful and also just too much at times or even distracting. I get joy from drawing and using other analogue media and have decided I don't want to miss out on that. Thanks for your words on this subject as it afirms my own thoughts .
Thank you, Jamie! Good way of putting it — I definitely feel like I'm MISSING OUT on the hands-on part when working purely digitally.
After reading the first couple of your words, yes, yes, yes, I almost ended up screaming at my screen. How can you see inside my head? You put into words exactly what I started feeling one or two years ago. It's like I am starving for analogy and am now working on bringing the analog elements back into my illustration, too, like you. Honestly, the fun part is playing and getting your hands dirty.
Constraints can be very useful for honing skill or style and finding unexpected fun things with different media. That undo button can be glorious - but it can also get rid of the stray bits that make your hand shine in your work. All the best for your re-wilding! :)
Well said. Thank you!
I've been practicing to incorporate more digital aspects in my work lately, mostly to have some location independent options. One of the challenges is that I don't feel much connection to digital work as I never felt paper, didn't smell ink or paint,... it's easy to forget about a file on a hard drive. I'm also always lost on scale. I love experimenting with drawing super small or on extra large sheets to mix things up. But slowly, I'm finding ways to close the gap and enjoy the process, so I'm positive. I think to me the key it to keep it simple and as true to who I am as possible.
Excellent points, Fenne. I love the tactile/sensory experience of analogue media. It's all about balance though. Digital is good — hopefully we can create new amazing things using both.
I enjoyed reading this post! I’ve been following your sketchbook work and I especially loved your jazz series. I can’t wait to see your client work slowly re-wildering, Tom!
I’ve been transitioning from digital to traditional media too. When I started my daily sketchbook over a year ago, I rediscovered my love for traditional materials! My lines and painting style are much looser when I work traditionally. My process these days is mostly traditional, with some digital clean-up, color adjustments, and a few additional markings at the end.
Right now both my traditional and digital work look almost identical. Some people have complimented that, but I’m not sure if it’s a good thing. I’ll keep experimenting with new media and try to rely on less digital finishing touches.
Hi Yumiko, thanks for reading and for the comment. I suppose whether something is made digitally or physically is less important than what you are going for in the final image. If looser is what you want, and traditional media helps you loosen up, then that's the way to go. I think that's my bias in this article — I want to loosen up a lot more and for there to be that free, spontaneous feeling — and get away from all the extra choices I have to make in digital.