I'm going to have to pretty much pull myself up by my bootstraps here - I'm not too broke for bills and groceries, but I've been too broke for a nice new computer for about eight years. I have a scanner, but it has suddenly decided it doesn't like my computer. Someday, $20k from now, I'd like a huge scanner and a Mac and some other things, but that's going to take awhile to save that up. I am not going into debt.I think that one reason that I don't have the equipment to finish this comic currently is so that I will take the time to craft it with what I have - to concentrate on the writing and art and really produce something respectable as art and as a story. Because I know, and God certainly knows, that I tend to get caught up in bright! shiny! software and apps and even something as simple as new pencils I have to tear the wrapping off of and admire in the car on the way home from buying them. So really if I had everything I wanted right now, I'd be too distracted to create the comic! :D Well played, Lord ;)Right now, I think the plan is to hand-draw, ink, and letter on 14 x 17 Bristol Board, then once every other month or so take a portfolio full of art to Kinkos and scan it all to a thumb drive, and upload that to a small, cheap computer (that's dedicated to my business and that no one else is allowed to download garbage onto)so that I can have an online portfolio, a website, and my Zazzle merchandise designs. Someday, the art and comics will support themselves.What is your most important piece of equipment, and what is worth spending a lot on at what stage of your career?
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I use disposable mechanical pencils, microns for inking. (Micron tip: Art/craft stores tend to sell them in packaged sets in their art section, but if you check the scrapbooking section, you can buy individual ones.) I use regular letter size 110lb card stock. It works well, and I can print my own blue lined templates. (Though finding inkjets that will print on card stock is getting hard.)
Good erasers are worth their weight in.. um.. something that costs and weights about the same as a good eraser. Seriously, a good nylon eraser and a kneaded eraser are musts. But they're fairly cheap and last pretty long.
Art software can be free. I use an oldish version of Inkscape for 97% of my work. A bit here and there with GIMP. Scribus if I need to export a pdf. All free and open source.
I am trusting in God. He will bless your hand. He will bless your finances. He will bless your situation He will Bless YOU! You heart is for Him and his Love is for you. This is a time when he is using your la(precieved) lack to build your skill. Jedi Master Steve gives good advice in his reply. I trust in God that In a few months your skill will have grown bounds. Now get out there and create. Use a stick dipped in soot if you have to. It is your form of Worship. If He can cause fire to fall from heaven to consume a sacrifice, He can bless your talent to grow. Your CCAS family loves you and believes in Our Father that your prayers are already answered!
Thanks for the tip! I do have an iPad, which is quite wonderful for just about everything. I'm testing out the free photoshop express app, and I have to say it doesn't look like much. It's the only photoshop app I found for free, and it just seems to be basic crop, tint, brighten, sharpen tools, with an option to buy effects packages :-/ OTOH, there does seem to be a nice photoshop app for $9.99, so I will look into that when I get an iTunes card.
While I do want to build a portfolio, I would want it primarily for promotional purposes for my own website. I'm not leaning toward getting a job in the industry - I have several ideas for graphic novels and only one arc is in the superhero sub genre. Since the entire industry is going digital and I already know that my strengths lie in handrawn art and lettering, I think that the small irregularities and intimate details which occur in my fine art will make my work stand out among overly slick "industry" products. I could be wrong, and I certainly intend to learn photoshop in any case, but after much prayer that God would make my path clear, I have been freed from concern over traditional employment in the industry. Not to say it won't happen, but it isn't a priority right now.
Alika Parsons said:
If you want to become a professional and succeed in the industry you have to, it's a must, become proficient in digital artwork. The only avenue I see for anyone wanting to get a good digital works platform, aside from donations or ebay deals, the best shoestring option is an iPad w/ the free Photoshop app. Buy that, work on that, and get your skills up, make your portfolio on that. This way when you're going around the booths you can wow them just showing em' your iPad and all your work in one place. Digital which is the way the industry is going.
Equipment on a Shoestring
I'm going to have to pretty much pull myself up by my bootstraps here - I'm not too broke for bills and groceries, but I've been too broke for a nice…
If you want to become a professional and succeed in the industry you have to, it's a must, become proficient in digital artwork. The only avenue I see for anyone wanting to get a good digital works platform, aside from donations or ebay deals, the best shoestring option is an iPad w/ the free Photoshop app. Buy that, work on that, and get your skills up, make your portfolio on that. This way when you're going around the booths you can wow them just showing em' your iPad and all your work in one place. Digital which is the way the industry is going.
Thanks, Amber! Right now I'm only prepared to do local pickup for the windows - I used to do shipping for my family's business and again on eBay, but I'm a bit scared to ship windows. I might get back with you about some less breakable art, though :)
Amber Parker said:
Couldn't agree with Steve more. And as far as pencils go? Use whatever works best for you, or whatever you are most comfortable with, play with different kinds. Then draw, and draw, and draw, and then draw some more. Sketching is extremely forgiving! As I tell my riding students, 'don't know that this is the official right way to do this, but here on this farm, we do what works.' Same can be applied here, do what works and use what you have to work with. :o)
***Sidebar - If you are interested, I'd be happy to advertise your windows on Touch of Destiny's facebook page. Don't have a ton of followers yet, but it might strike someone's fancy. Let me know!
Equipment on a Shoestring
I'm going to have to pretty much pull myself up by my bootstraps here - I'm not too broke for bills and groceries, but I've been too broke for a nice…
Replies
I use disposable mechanical pencils, microns for inking. (Micron tip: Art/craft stores tend to sell them in packaged sets in their art section, but if you check the scrapbooking section, you can buy individual ones.) I use regular letter size 110lb card stock. It works well, and I can print my own blue lined templates. (Though finding inkjets that will print on card stock is getting hard.)
Good erasers are worth their weight in.. um.. something that costs and weights about the same as a good eraser. Seriously, a good nylon eraser and a kneaded eraser are musts. But they're fairly cheap and last pretty long.
Art software can be free. I use an oldish version of Inkscape for 97% of my work. A bit here and there with GIMP. Scribus if I need to export a pdf. All free and open source.
Check out a Stylus for using w/ a tablet too. They run around $40, the maglus or bamboo.
I am trusting in God. He will bless your hand. He will bless your finances. He will bless your situation He will Bless YOU! You heart is for Him and his Love is for you. This is a time when he is using your la(precieved) lack to build your skill. Jedi Master Steve gives good advice in his reply. I trust in God that In a few months your skill will have grown bounds. Now get out there and create. Use a stick dipped in soot if you have to. It is your form of Worship. If He can cause fire to fall from heaven to consume a sacrifice, He can bless your talent to grow. Your CCAS family loves you and believes in Our Father that your prayers are already answered!
If the Photoshop doesn't suffice your artistry needs there's:
Sumopaint -$1.99
And if that don't fit ur fancy there's Autodesk SketchBook Ink -$3.99
While I do want to build a portfolio, I would want it primarily for promotional purposes for my own website. I'm not leaning toward getting a job in the industry - I have several ideas for graphic novels and only one arc is in the superhero sub genre. Since the entire industry is going digital and I already know that my strengths lie in handrawn art and lettering, I think that the small irregularities and intimate details which occur in my fine art will make my work stand out among overly slick "industry" products. I could be wrong, and I certainly intend to learn photoshop in any case, but after much prayer that God would make my path clear, I have been freed from concern over traditional employment in the industry. Not to say it won't happen, but it isn't a priority right now.
Alika Parsons said:
If you want to become a professional and succeed in the industry you have to, it's a must, become proficient in digital artwork. The only avenue I see for anyone wanting to get a good digital works platform, aside from donations or ebay deals, the best shoestring option is an iPad w/ the free Photoshop app. Buy that, work on that, and get your skills up, make your portfolio on that. This way when you're going around the booths you can wow them just showing em' your iPad and all your work in one place. Digital which is the way the industry is going.
Amber Parker said:
Brien Sparling said:
Love your attitude, Paula (and your artwork, so post when ever you can). I think this winter is going to be an amazing time for us.
So true what Steve said. It's easier to pick up another "tool" when you have mastered the basics.
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