Starting out in digital
I want to start by saying that I love ImagineFX. The magazine is such a source of inspiration. I like seeing all the different style of imagery and exploring the work of new artists. I especially love poring over the regular Sketchbook section.
I’m writing to you to ask for two things to appear in future issues. So far I’ve worked predominantly with traditional media. I’d really like to get into digital art because I’m so inspired by what I see in your magazine, but I’m finding it hard to know where to start.
I wonder that perhaps in a future issue you could take the time to produce an article that focuses on which digital art resources would be good for an absolute beginner.
Furthermore, I find landscapes and nature very difficult to draw and paint because they’re so chaotic. I would love an issue that focuses on how to simplify nature so that it looks realistic when painted. I find especially vegetation (for example, piles of leaves, grass, mountains seen from afar that are covered with trees) very difficult to portray, especially in black and white because the colour isn’t there to help separate them out. Ioanna Papadopoulou, via email
Claire replies Hello Ioanna, we have previously featured articles on the various digital art software to try if you’re a beginner. The answer can be so varied: it can depend on what hardware you have, your budget, or even what you want the software to help you achieve.
From time to time we also provide a series of Core Skill articles, which takes a piece of software and over the course of a number of issues takes a tool or technique and explains how it works. And yes to environment workshops – I have a few of these planned in for later editions. Stay tuned.