Work in Progress

 have a confession... I'm pretty new at the whole digital art thing. As in, I started a few weeks ago. I've been working with traditional media all my life and it's something I'm very comfortable with, but the idea of drawing on a computer somehow leaves me feeling a bit like the rug's been pulled out from under my feet. So many buttons, shortcuts and layers become very confusing to one who has become at home with simply a pad and pencil. 

Tonight I started a new digital illustration project. I love portrait drawing, and wanted to try something similar, so I went hunting on Deviantart for some inspiring reference. Many thanks to *Eliara who provided me with a most stunning photograph. Check it out here: http://browse.deviantart.com/photography/people/emotive/#/d1bqezq.

Anyway, I got started and found that naturalistic drawing is a whole new story armed with a Wacom Tablet and Photoshop, rather than with a pencil or charcoal and paper. A big issue I have is forgetting about layers, I mean, I'm used to erasing if I make a mistake, not deleting the layer! I know it's really a great tool to have when one knows (and remembers) how to use it properly, but getting into the habit is going to require quite an altering of my mindset. The other thing that really bugged me was having to change colours and pen size/hardness every time I needed a new line or fill as opposed to just altering the pressure of my pencil. About two hours of battling to remember shortcuts and where to find all the impossibly tiny buttons for the different tools left me with an okay-ish face section, but the hair just became an impossible feat, and I decided to leave the rest of the drawing for a night when I don't have an essay due the next morning. 

At the moment, I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed and out of my depth with this trendy new medium. Tonight really proved to me that it's going to require a complete flip around of my skill set to go digital, and I must admit I didn't expect it would be this nerve-wrecking. But hey, digital is the path modern art is taking, and if my goal is to become a renowned fashion illustrator then I have no choice but to jump on the bandwagon and start practicing. So for now have a look at my portrait in progress, an let me know if you have any tips or advice on the issue at hand. 

Jessi