And it only took 2 years
I finally tackled my Wacom tablet this past weekend. MB bought it for me 2 years ago, but I've been hissing and spitting at it like a feral cat for a while now. What changed? Well, Photoshopping using a mouse is doing a number on my right hand and shoulder. Old, knobby broad is old. I am excited about being able to create a fluid line, however - I've never been able to manage that with a mouse no matter how hard I tried. BUT, I gotta say, using a tablet is no more natural than using a mouse - that's a fallacy. It's closer to drawing, but you still have to reteach yourself how to do it using this tool. There's still the disconnect between what your brain is telling your hand to do and what you see it doing onscreen (if I had wads of cash I'd probably buy one of those Wacom pads where you draw on an actual screen that is also mirrored on your computer - that's as close to drawing in your sketch pad as you're ever going to get). The Wacom also lets you use your fingers as input but I haven't figured that out yet.
It was refreshing to see some tutorials from experienced digital artists who DON'T use crazy custom brushes to achieve their effects (petite madame was really helpful in this regard). I'm sure that all has its place, but I'm more about plugging in and going rather than monkeying with presets. Honestly, I love my German graphite pencils, but I can manage just as well with a #2 Ticonderoga when push comes to shove, ya know? It's just a tool. Anyway, we'll see how this all works out over time. It's a process and I don't imagine that I'll give up my mouse entirely. I worked on a short fic this weekend that will not be posted until I complete the illustration that inspired it, so that's my immediate goal in order to get myself tablet-friendly. PROJECT!!!
Fingers crossed, possums ;)
It was refreshing to see some tutorials from experienced digital artists who DON'T use crazy custom brushes to achieve their effects (petite madame was really helpful in this regard). I'm sure that all has its place, but I'm more about plugging in and going rather than monkeying with presets. Honestly, I love my German graphite pencils, but I can manage just as well with a #2 Ticonderoga when push comes to shove, ya know? It's just a tool. Anyway, we'll see how this all works out over time. It's a process and I don't imagine that I'll give up my mouse entirely. I worked on a short fic this weekend that will not be posted until I complete the illustration that inspired it, so that's my immediate goal in order to get myself tablet-friendly. PROJECT!!!
Fingers crossed, possums ;)