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Nickillus In reply to Cloverfish [2010-08-24 18:16:15 +0000 UTC]

Hi Jeffrey.
Yep I use the full version - but this one was done in the beta version I was testing before it escaped officially.
The thing I really like about the software is the ethos behind it. It presents things in terms I understand and you find yourself overcoming 'problems' as you would in the real world. For instance - there are no layer masks - instead you can create 'stencils' from anything you like (layer content you've created or imported shapes or images) and then you paint/draw through it like brass rubbing for textures etc.

The rulers look like rulers. You draw along them and brilliantly, they can extend beyond the canvas onto the workspace so that they are perfect for setting up perspective and such. They have a movable pin, which if you place right on the corner of the ruler means you can place it on a vanishing point and just swing the thing round to draw as many lines as you need - then hide it for reuse later.

Reference images can placed anywhere on the workspace like post it notes and transformed. They have pins to move them round too. It's just a visual thing but for me makes a big difference.

Oh and the tools respond nicely. Like that's not important!

My advice would be to give it a try. If you don't like it you've lost nothing, but at least you'll know about it. I used to keep the older versions for initial sketching because of the nice touch and workflow. Just felt nice. It's the addition of extra industry standard features that have made it much more viable for pro work. You may find you want to keep it for sketching if nothing else though - it feels much less technical than Painter or Photoshop.

Do let me know how you get on if you decide to play.
Cheers,
Nick

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Cloverfish In reply to Nickillus [2010-08-24 18:59:21 +0000 UTC]

Nick,

Thank you very, very much. You've answered all the questions that I didn't have time to put into words. Today I've been trying to nail down just what I'm going to teach these freshman next week. First night of class is Monday, August 30 (mica.edu). It should go well enough, but it's a lot of preparation.

I will give ArtRage a try. Perhaps I can give it a go next week. I have one night of class and then the next week is actually a holiday, so no class for another two weeks.

Also, do you have any thoughts on Sketchbook Pro? Worth a try, or nay?

Jeff

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Nickillus In reply to Cloverfish [2010-08-24 21:17:53 +0000 UTC]

Ooh - a bit of teaching, Jeffrey.
Excellent to hear that you are passing on some of your hard earned knowledge and skills. Good luck with that. I have no doubts that you are an inspirational teacher.

Sketchbook Pro is my other favourite software. Much more reliance on drawing - no textures as such, but the ability to create custom brushes that give the impression of texture. That doesn't sound like it makes any sense but if you try it I think you'll see what I mean. Better touch response than ArtRage even. I flip-flop between these two software in terms of usage - love them both for their different qualities.

Any questions, do just ask. I've beta tested and constantly use both.
Enjoy.
Nick

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Cloverfish In reply to Nickillus [2010-08-24 23:24:25 +0000 UTC]

Thank you again! So far I've enjoyed Photoshop, except I can't seem to get a convincing pencil texture. I will also try Sketchbook Pro. If I have a question I'll be sure to ask.

Teaching was something that I've always been open to, but never thought I'd get an invitation from MICA. I applied to that school twice when I was much, much younger and I got accepted both times. Sadly, without scholarships, which they did not offer me, my family couldn't afford it. Now they're paying me!

Also, I don't think I've posted anything here on DA about the children's book I will be illustrating for Tanglewood Press. Just signed/posted the contract last week. So this fall will be busy with teaching, illustrating and website design. One day I would like to narrow that down to just illustrating and teaching.

Thanks a million!
Jeff

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Nickillus In reply to Cloverfish [2010-08-25 08:07:07 +0000 UTC]

Good for you Jeffrey.

I do think you are going to like the pencil tools in both software. Make sure you check out the 'settings' in ArtRage . You can have it set as 'precise' on or off. Precise feels more like a fine lead pencil - when it's off you get more texture of the paper coming through like regular pencil variants. Both really nice - Depends what you prefer.

A book huh. Now you've got me interested. Do let me know when that starts and how it goes. Another big 'good for you' on that one. Exciting stuff.

Cheers,
Nick

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Cloverfish In reply to Nickillus [2010-10-31 23:17:33 +0000 UTC]

Hi Nick,

I was wondering if you have ever backed out of an illustration project because of poor communication by the publisher or art director? I am currently faced with such a situation with this children's book I'm illustrating. Given how little I am being paid part of me says life is too short and there will be other opportunities and so move on. The other part of me says it would be unprofessional to back out now. Mind you, I have not been paid for anything yet.

When I say poor communication, I mean that the publisher fails to communicate specific needs for the project and then is frustrated when my comps do demonstrate that I have read her mind. She sees the deviations as me disregarding specifics she believe we had agreed upon when in fact we had never discussed. Naturally it is a much longer story, but that's the short of it.

Ever been in this situation?

Sincerely,

Jeff

P.S. Has your book gone to print? I'm sorry I never found time to try the different software. I've been consumed by teaching and this children's book.

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Nickillus In reply to DeviantDel [2010-08-19 11:20:56 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Del - Sorry about the late reply by the way.
Yep it took a while - but then I was using the piece to experiment with the tools in a beta version of ArtRage at the time as well - killing two birds with one stone so to speak.

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Nickillus In reply to InkaQhapaq [2010-06-23 11:13:07 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Inka0hapaq.
I reckon these things go in cycles. It's all the 'politically correct' awareness stuff about trying to protect everybody from psychological harm at the moment. That is needed of course, but sometimes it seems to go a bit far and protect us from things that can actually make us stronger. There is already a reaction against how far it's gone, and it should see some re-emergence of the old tales, reintroducing the rather gruesome elements that made them so compelling in the first place - ??????? I miss them too.

ArtRage is a wondrous package for the money, and would be even if it cost more. Like all software it just needs you to get familiar with it and you can coax all sorts of things out of it. Its 'limitations' (if indeed that's what they are?) are one of the things I like about it - it reminds me more of real media. Still won't make coffee for me though, no matter what combination of keys I press..

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Nickillus In reply to MarieBiscuit [2010-06-21 08:29:48 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Mariebiscuit.
Glad the bad punning didn't put you off. Unfortunately it's how my mind works.

Cheers,
Nick

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MarieBiscuit In reply to Nickillus [2010-06-21 13:09:09 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome!
No it definitely didn't put me off, I really think the whole
setting is very interesting.
You are a very talented and creative artist.
Not only this work is great, your gallery is it too.

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