subject: Graphic Art Creation Primer [print this page] When it comes to creating art, graphic artists have a lot of options in which to design and create their work. There are art stores full of the traditional tools like paints, pencils, pens, and inks. But that's not all. You should also consider other mediums such as stamps, fiber, glue, sewing, fused plastic, and anything else that you can think of that will produce the effect that you are after. Sometimes that means blending certain elements to create a mixed media or collage work of art.
The Starting Line
If you are just beginning to experiment with materials, the first thing every artist or budding artist should have is a sketchbook and a pen. Because it forces you to accept the lines that you have produced and keep going, it is better to start with a pen. With a pencil, many new artists are apt to be too careful. A line is drawn. Erase it. Draw some more and erase some more, until the page is a hatched mess of erase marks. If you use a pen, you will wind up with a looser and more flowing design that shows both the good and bad line, with correction marks showing throughout the work. It will give your sketch movement. A sketchbook should always be around you. Pull it out whenever you are alone in a public place such as a park or a shopping mall bench. The more you draw, the better you will be.
Adding Color
Now that you have made a few sketches, don't be afraid to add a bit of color. It doesn't have to be realistic. In other words, you can try a bit of blue for skin or purple for hair. It doesn't matter. Sometimes when adding color to your sketches, less is more. Try filling a small patch and leave the rest with ink, instead of trying to fill the page with color. For a more interesting appeal, you can outline some of the figure with a brightly colored pen. Go crazy, so what if it doesn't turn out like how you imagined? That is the reason for your sketch book. It's there to get your creativity juices flowing and as a tool for memory that you can refer to later.
Computers are Today's Artist Material
Graphic art has extremely changed over the past decade. There was a time when designers painted and drew there work by hand. Copies were made of the work and it was reproduced for the masses. Today, although you still need the same core competencies, that is, the ability to create art, most of the work is done on the computer with graphic arts programs.
But this doesn't mean you should get rid of your sketch book. The fact is, you need it now more than ever. In your sketch book, you will be able to jot down ideas on the fly. Unless you have it with every minute of the day, you don't normally do this in a computer. Actually, most start with hand painted designs. Then they scan it to the computer and use virtual painting tools to transform it.
