My two programs of choice for digital art are Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. I generally use Photoshop for things like touch-ups, digital inking, and technical details. The majority of my actual digital painting is done in Painter with tools such as the oil pastel and artist oils brushes. I highly recommend Painter for anyone serious about digital art. I have dabbled in programs like Flash, Paint Shop Pro, Oekaki Boards, Open Canvas, Illustrator, and of course the ever-loved MS Paint, but generally I find Photoshop and Painter suit my needs just fine.
2. You mean you do most of your art on the computer? Isn't that cheating?
It is a common misconception amongst people unfamiliar with digital art that it is not true "art" and takes no talent because programs like Photoshop allow you to do things with the click of a button. Yes it is entirely possible to just use Photoshop filters and pre-made brushes to do neat things, but most computer artists recognize these shortcuts and can tell the difference between them and things that actually took skill.
Real digital art is really not much different from real media, it's just less messy. Let's take this piece for example. The entire thing was painted digitally in Corel Painter. I worked pretty much as I would with a real painting, selecting a brush and laying in colors, shadows, highlights, and details, all with brush strokes There are some things that can make digital art easier such as layers and the undo button, but a true digital painting takes just as much time and effort as a real painting...well...minus the drying time. Digital art software packages are just tools, and the tools do not make the artist.
3. Can I use your artwork on my own site/as my message board avatar/to illustrate my story/etc?
I request that anyone wishing to use my artwork for their own purposes please contact me first and ask for permission. Depending on the specific circumstances, I may say yes as long as credit is given.
Now, if you like my artwork and want to use it on your desktop or put it on your walls or something of that nature, go right ahead, I'm not going to stop you. Personal use of that nature is fine.
4. Can I write stories about your characters/use them in my video game/movie/etc?
I am always quite flattered when I get an e-mail asking if someone can use my characters for some project of theirs, however I must always politely decline these requests. I have plans for my characters and specific storylines worked out for novels and the like, so I'd like to keep them reserved for such purposes for the time being. Drawing my characters in your own personal time just for fun is perfectly fine. I love fan art, just so long as I am credited for the characters and no money is being made off of them.
5. Do you do requests, commissions, art trades, or character trades?
I don't do requests these days, nor do I do character trades. I will occasionally do art trades at my own discretion if there's a particular artist I'd like to trade with, but I don't do them on request. I will happily do paid commissions when my schedule allows. Check out the commissions section of the Shop for information about my commission policies and how to contact me.
6. What computer equipment do you use to produce digital artwork?
I do most of my digital art these days on a custom-built desktop PC with 2 GB of Ram and a 2.13 GHz processor. I also occasionally work on my Dell Inspiron 8600 laptop (2 GB of RAM and a 1.5 GHz processor). My OS of choice is Windows XP. I have a Wacom Intuos 3 which I use as both a mouse and art tool. I use an HP psc 2175 scanner/inkjet printer which I highly recommend as a high-quality but affordable scanner.
7. I want to get a graphics tablet but don't know which one to get. What do you recommend?
I recommend a 6x8 Wacom Intuos: http://www.wacom.com/productinfo/6x8.cfm
Wacom is really the ideal choice for tablets. I've experimented with a number of different models and Wacom really is the best out there. My generation 1 Intuos GD lasted me 8 years, despite being banged up a bit now and then, before it finally started developing problems. They're incredibly durable, long-lived, and I would never recommend any other company. The things you need to consider are the specific model and size.
Size is a matter of personal preference. Some people do just as well with the smaller 4x5 but I actually have one of those as a spare travel tablet and it's always felt somewhat cramped to me. I think 6x8 is the ideal size because it provides me with a comfortable drawing space while still being extremely portable (it fits perfectly in laptop cases so I can carry it around with my laptop). Anything larger seems unnecessary in my personal opinion but if you'd like it and you can afford it, go for it!
As for the Intuos vs. Graphire debate, the Wacom site has this nifty little page to help you compare different tablets: http://www.wacom.com/productinfo/differences.cfm I can give you a few pointers from my own opinions and experience. The Graphire is really well-suited for graphic designers or people who want to use a tablet as a mouse replacement. It has fewer levels of pressure sensitivity, which isn't really an issue for things like layout and photo editing or regular computer use. However, if you're looking to actually paint on your computer, then I strongly suggest you purchase an Intuos. Not only does the Intuos have many more levels of pressure sensitivity that give you the subtlety you need while painting, it also has pen tilt support. This actually registers the tilt of your pen as you use it and is absolutely necessary for some of the directional and angled brushes in Corel Painter. The Intuos is more expensive than the Graphire, so you'll need to decide for yourself if the extra features are necessary for your tablet use.
8. I'm really interested in digital art but all of these tools and software packages are so expensive! Is there anything I can do?
There's an excellent website called Creation Engine that allows you to purchase a large variety of software and hardware (Adobe products, tablets, etc.) for discount prices if you are a student or a teacher. I ordered my Adobe CS package and my Corel Painter 9 software from them and saved myself a lot of money.
9. Who is Sambu? He seems to be in a lot of your art/is mentioned frequently/is part of your e-mail address.
Sambu is my Pomeranian and my muse. He is awesome. He has plans for world domination. Here's a picture of him:
Have a question? E-mail it to sambustudios@gmail.com
