Developing my artistic style: A comparison between Procreate and Sketchbooks
Ever wondered how we creatives infuse our unique perspective into pieces of art and design?
Whether you're a creative seeking a deeper self-expression in your work or a client to trying to understand someone's creative process. Understanding how a contemporary illustrator like myself uses Procreate and a traditional sketchbook is essential.
In the realm of client work, Procreate takes centre stage for me. It’s where I create the visions sought by my clients. The muscle memory in my hand, coupled with a streamlined ideation process, empowers me to produce my own version of line work and take daring leaps when conceptualising ideas.
The ability to swiftly rectify mistakes, redefine lines, and introduce new layers makes this process relatively hassle free. This efficiency, combined with pre-sketch research, instills a confidence in my ideas aligning them with my client’s expectations and goals. Procreate is by far the most efficient tool in my creative arsenal.
On the flip side, sketchbooks serve as sanctuaries free from judgment, exploring ideas that make no sense. Here, creativity reigns supreme and rules can f*ck off.
Iterations flow freely without constraints, communicating the same concept in ways that might seem nonsensical. Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of influences, my sketchbook serve as a piggy bank full of ideas I can tap into during client work to bring freshness and blend unconventional concepts with commercial viability - It keeps my work moving forward.
In short, when I’m stuck on a brief I look through my sketchbooks to see if one the ideas will serve as a solution to my creative problem.
The seamless interplay between Procreate and my sketchbook ensures a constant development of my illustration. It keeps me grounded and reminds me to strive for originality. I take the weird abstract ideas from my sketchbook and feed them into commercial client work but develop them in Procreate just enough to make sense. The important part is retaining the character or playfulness from the original sketch.
This approach defines not only how I create but also what I create as my interests influence the play in my sketchbook.
I’ve experienced demand from my clients who seek this unique fusion of artistic innovation and commercial appeal. I view this as a responsibility to continually evolve within the realms of what I interests me, to create work that my clients and their audiences love.
Give it a go…
Digital playground: Play around with Procreate
Dive into Procreate's cool features and start doodling digitally. Practice makes perfect, so get those precise lines down and have fun experimenting with Procreate’s features.
Go old school: Let loose in your sketchbook
Grab a sketchbook and let your creativity do the talking. This is your judgment-free zone - break the rules, doodle what you want, and discover your own style without overthinking it. Ask yourself: What does EVERYTHING look like in my illustrative world.
Mix it up: Blend digital and Analog for projects
Find a project or client work where you can bring the best of both worlds together. Take ideas from your sketchbook and refine them in Procreate for the brief. It's all about adding that fresh, unique touch to your work! Remember to try and retain some essence of the original sketch otherwise the character gets lost.
Have fun :)
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