I've gone totally paperless in my studio (for drawing) and in the above video I show why and how. Right now I'm working on an ebook app and I'm drawing it entirely with my finger on my iPad. I'm doing all the color work in Photoshop but all the drawings are being done on the iPad. It's not a fad or gimmick to be able to say I can do it, rather a natural evolution that has increased my workflow, productivity, and portablility. Check it out.
Thanks for showing this Will. It's interesting to see how digital sketching can be almost more direct in the fact that now there is no tool needed in hand to do it. Direct from brain to fingertip to surface! Crazy man! I need to get an IPad. So appreciate your insights into creativity and technology.
Thanks for sharing your sketching technique on iPad. I didn't realize it was so useful at drawing. I was wondering how to get fine lines and control, and you demo'd it wonderfully. You may have changed my mind about the iPad.
Wow! This is great. I have a question: Do you end up using the sketches in your final artwork? I know you're working on an app, but I was wondering if the images are hi-res enough to use for a printed book project?
Isn't technology great??? That brushes program was designed primarily for painting and I'll bet the programer didn't think it would be as useful for drawing. Anyway Lynn, I couldn't use the finals for a printed book because they are too low res as you suspected. Also, I like the control I have in photoshop for adding color. Each exported file is 1024 x 768 which I believe is the native resolution of the iPad itself. So, I don't think it could be used for final art unless you want a pixel look but for the way that I'm using it - sketch - export - photoshop "it works swell" (in the voice of the Lady and the Tramp beaver.)
Thanks Will for going in detail how to use the app. I think it is very cool that the sketch has a memory to show your process. I bet that is really handy for your classes.
Thanks I am on the learning curve as I teach a junior high digital media class and we have partnered with Adobe. I am going to let a couple of my students at Dixon Middle watch this and then see what they can do because we have be wondering how to use photoshop for illustration.
Very nice. My daughter Mimi is illustrating a children's ABC book in Brushes. We love it. P.S. You should do video on the equipment you use to project from you iPad.
Man! Ask an artists if he uses a glove to fingerpaint and, in no time flat, you get a video exploring the artist's process in depth. That was a real help, Will. You've left me no excuse but to get to work with my iPad.
So glad this was helpful to see. Getting the iPad was a leap of faith for me but again - seeing it in action down at school from Adam Munoa was really helpful. I saw him drawing in sketchbook pro and knew I had to get one. Also seeing David Kassan's ipad finger painting gave me confidence that I too would be able to find the advantages. Von - here's the link to the adaptor for iPad http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPad-Connector-Adapter-MC552ZM/dp/B003CGOTJW you just need to hook into the normal VGA adapter with this little puppy.
Too cool!! Thanks so much. Just stared wistfully at an iPad at Best Buy today. A question occurred to me: Can you write off an iPad as a business expense if you are an artist?
Hello, I am an art student at UVU who happened upon your blog a while ago quite by mistake and I have been following you ever since.
I have been considering getting a drawing tablet for a while now, but I have debated with myself as to what type of tablet to get. And then when my dad offered me an ipad for Christmas, I found myself a little bit at a loss. So, here is my question...is the ipad a better option than some of the other drawing tablets? Such as the new Inkling?
You bet you can write it off as a business expense - as long as you use it for business purposes.
I don't know about the Inkling and how well it works...The iPad is NOT good for finishing color art unless you only need really small files - what you see is what you get - highest resolution from "brushes" is native iPad 1024 x 768. I really like it for drawing and playing with color but not making final art.
To be fair I've only played with sketchbook pro for about an hour - definitely not enough time to truly evaluate it. However when I started using "Brushes" it had a very simplistic feel. I immediately felt a connection because I've always felt that making art shouldn't feel complicated. It felt like getting from one tool to another and in and out of the color picker was faster and easier. I can only say it was a feeling because I never really analyzed it by counting the number of touches.
Will, came across your site and blog recently and have to say I LOVE it! Question: Have you gotten the newest iPad since these posts? Could you produce final art with it since it has four times the pixels as the iPad 2? And once you have your drawing, you export it into Photoshop? What do you do with it then? Do you take that same artwork and embellish it with higher resolution inking and color and so forth? Thanks for all the great tips!
hi Kim, Thanks! bad news about the Brushes app...wonder why...I can't find it either. I can tell you that I have a friend with an iPad 3 and the resolution in brushes was the same as iPad2 - was a bummer for me because I was thinking like you...I do take my files into photoshop on my desktop, add image size, and paint over the sketch.
Hi Will, I just searched for the Brushes app on my iPad and it's not coming up... and when I go to iTunes, it tells me it's no longer available in the U.S. I hope that's temporary, because it sounds awesome. I guess for now I should use Sketchbook Pro? Any others you'd recommend?
Great video Will, everything I wanted to know about "finger drawing" and more!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your process on using the iPad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing this Will. It's interesting to see how digital sketching can be almost more direct in the fact that now there is no tool needed in hand to do it. Direct from brain to fingertip to surface! Crazy man! I need to get an IPad. So appreciate your insights into creativity and technology.
ReplyDeleteHi Will,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your sketching technique on iPad. I didn't realize it was so useful at drawing. I was wondering how to get fine lines and control, and you demo'd it wonderfully. You may have changed my mind about the iPad.
~John
Wow! This is great. I have a question: Do you end up using the sketches in your final artwork? I know you're working on an app, but I was wondering if the images are hi-res enough to use for a printed book project?
ReplyDeleteIsn't technology great??? That brushes program was designed primarily for painting and I'll bet the programer didn't think it would be as useful for drawing. Anyway Lynn, I couldn't use the finals for a printed book because they are too low res as you suspected. Also, I like the control I have in photoshop for adding color. Each exported file is 1024 x 768 which I believe is the native resolution of the iPad itself. So, I don't think it could be used for final art unless you want a pixel look but for the way that I'm using it - sketch - export - photoshop "it works swell" (in the voice of the Lady and the Tramp beaver.)
ReplyDeleteI like how you flipped the bird(s) at the end of giving your iPad the finger
ReplyDeleteStewart - you're underpaid for your creativity! You made me laugh out loud - thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Will for going in detail how to use the app. I think it is very cool that the sketch has a memory to show your process. I bet that is really handy for your classes.
ReplyDeleteWill, thanks for teaching along the way!!! This looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the heads up on using the latest technology for creating illustrations. thanks...
ReplyDeleteGreat Stuff! Thanks Will for showing your process on the iPad.
ReplyDeleteThanks I am on the learning curve as I teach a junior high digital media class and we have partnered with Adobe. I am going to let a couple of my students at Dixon Middle watch this and then see what they can do because we have be wondering how to use photoshop for illustration.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. My daughter Mimi is illustrating a children's ABC book in Brushes. We love it.
ReplyDeleteP.S. You should do video on the equipment you use to project from you iPad.
Man! Ask an artists if he uses a glove to fingerpaint and, in no time flat, you get a video exploring the artist's process in depth. That was a real help, Will. You've left me no excuse but to get to work with my iPad.
ReplyDeleteSo glad this was helpful to see. Getting the iPad was a leap of faith for me but again - seeing it in action down at school from Adam Munoa was really helpful. I saw him drawing in sketchbook pro and knew I had to get one. Also seeing David Kassan's ipad finger painting gave me confidence that I too would be able to find the advantages. Von - here's the link to the adaptor for iPad http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPad-Connector-Adapter-MC552ZM/dp/B003CGOTJW you just need to hook into the normal VGA adapter with this little puppy.
ReplyDeleteu made that look easy O__O
ReplyDeleteI wish I can buy one of those pads one day, looks like allot of fun :D
Thanks for showing :D
Too cool!! Thanks so much. Just stared wistfully at an iPad at Best Buy today. A question occurred to me: Can you write off an iPad as a business expense if you are an artist?
ReplyDeleteHello, I am an art student at UVU who happened upon your blog a while ago quite by mistake and I have been following you ever since.
ReplyDeleteI have been considering getting a drawing tablet for a while now, but I have debated with myself as to what type of tablet to get. And then when my dad offered me an ipad for Christmas, I found myself a little bit at a loss. So, here is my question...is the ipad a better option than some of the other drawing tablets? Such as the new Inkling?
Hope you get your iPad Mariann!
ReplyDeleteYou bet you can write it off as a business expense - as long as you use it for business purposes.
I don't know about the Inkling and how well it works...The iPad is NOT good for finishing color art unless you only need really small files - what you see is what you get - highest resolution from "brushes" is native iPad 1024 x 768. I really like it for drawing and playing with color but not making final art.
Is there a reason why you choose to work with brushes instead of sketchbook pro?
ReplyDeleteHi Amy,
ReplyDeleteTo be fair I've only played with sketchbook pro for about an hour - definitely not enough time to truly evaluate it. However when I started using "Brushes" it had a very simplistic feel. I immediately felt a connection because I've always felt that making art shouldn't feel complicated. It felt like getting from one tool to another and in and out of the color picker was faster and easier. I can only say it was a feeling because I never really analyzed it by counting the number of touches.
Will, came across your site and blog recently and have to say I LOVE it! Question: Have you gotten the newest iPad since these posts? Could you produce final art with it since it has four times the pixels as the iPad 2? And once you have your drawing, you export it into Photoshop? What do you do with it then? Do you take that same artwork and embellish it with higher resolution inking and color and so forth? Thanks for all the great tips!
ReplyDeletehi Kim, Thanks! bad news about the Brushes app...wonder why...I can't find it either. I can tell you that I have a friend with an iPad 3 and the resolution in brushes was the same as iPad2 - was a bummer for me because I was thinking like you...I do take my files into photoshop on my desktop, add image size, and paint over the sketch.
DeleteHi Will, I just searched for the Brushes app on my iPad and it's not coming up... and when I go to iTunes, it tells me it's no longer available in the U.S. I hope that's temporary, because it sounds awesome. I guess for now I should use Sketchbook Pro? Any others you'd recommend?
ReplyDeleteI would check with sketchbook pro to find put what the output resolution is...a lot of people love sketchbook. good luck!
Delete