New Website!

I signed up for a Square Space website. I'm just amazed how easy it is to design and add content. I've messed around with DreamWeaver and even Raw HTML and CSS but I just don't have the talent or time to design and update a site that I wanted to have. Something elegant and just fun for myself. I'm going to try and update my URL but here's the direct link:

http://rogeradams.squarespace.com

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Everyone is mad about LFD2

This is so wrong in so many ways but also just damn funny.

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Cintiq Test #2 and Sketchbook Pro 2010 Thoughts

Here's my latest test with my Cintiq. I'm getting a more and more comfortable with it as I use it. The blue shirt guy started in PhotoShop and then I moved over to the trial version of Sketchbook Pro 2010 (SKBP) for the rest.

I am so impressed with SKBP that I think it will be my go to program for drawing and sketching. They added just enough features to make it a must buy for artists.

First is the Ellipse Tool. Drawing curves is probably the hardest thing to do on a tablet. You can create Paths in PhotoShop and then Stroke the Path or create Paths in Painter then use the Draw on Path feature. But SKBP has them all beat. The ellipse tool is so easy to resize and move around. Once you're happy with the ellipse you just run any brush over the general area and Voila! Perfect ellipse. You don't even have to be all that accurate with your stroke.

Notice how clean the ellipses are on my little robot guy. All done using Sketchbook Pro's Ellipse tool. Actually the little robot and the woman sketch were all done in Sketchbook Pro.

The same can be said about the Ruler tool as well. You have this moveable tool that you can easily move around screen and then simply stroke the line with any brush.

I haven't gone into all the features but there is also a Brush Creation feature. To me, this puts it neck in neck with PhotoShop. I can create any kind of chalk or pastel brush with the feature.

I'm going to continue testing out SKBP but I'm just loving it so far.

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Adolph von Menzel

"Still Life"
Adolph von Menzel

I can appreciate most still life's for their mastery of handling oil but overall their subject matter is very repetitive. The one above has so much drama. Parts of it just scare me. It's just beautiful.

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Cintiq Test

I got my Wacom Cintiq 12WX today and did a quick test. It's going to take a little while to get used to. I've been using a standard Wacom tablet for about 10 years now and I've trained myself to paint pretty decent on it. I could never really draw with line on a standard tablet -- it just turned out too shaky. I mostly just painted with form and carved away at it till it started to look right.

It does get a little warm on your hand as you use it. I guess this means I'll have to take more frequent breaks (nothing wrong with that!). I tried out Zbrush, Painter and PhotoShop. I was really impressed how quickly I could get stuff done. I have read reviews that the tracking is a little off near the edges, and that's true, but since I've been using a standard tablet for years you just get accustomed to looking at the cursor instead of the pen tip. I'll write more about it as I start to use it. Now, I just hope the screen can stay scratch free!

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