How my art has changed in 3 years…
One of the best things about being an artist in this day and age is the amount of tools we have available to us — watercolors, oils, Photoshop, Illustrator, Painter. I have dabbled (and try to keep dabbling) in all of them. Heck, I’ve even thrown pots on a wheel, and still have a few pots lying around the house from my weekly studies with the most amazing pottery teacher. He worked out of his garage and used to go dumpster diving for cereal box tops to raise money for his kids’ schools… but I digress.
I guess what I find so amazing about the different mediums we have to work with is just how much it affects our artistic output. Our style. I want to share a personal example of this with you guys. If you love looking back to see how much artists change in skill and style over the years, then you’ll probably get a kick out of this. Check out the following Valentine’s Day card I just redid:
The original was done in 2005. The text was the same, but the style and intent were vastly different. Check out just how different below (and please click on it to view it full size):
The two cards are essentially the same — same idea, same text, but the style and execution are totally different.
The original was created in Photoshop Elements. I was still somewhat new to digital, and my wacom tablet. The idea was to have a quirky older lady, someone eccentric and funny. There are so many things wrong with this original card, it makes me cringe. Firstly, the design of the lady… she’s not quirky. She’s actually a little off-putting. Who would identify with that character? I wanted to reach strong, independent or sassy women. Does that cartoon say strong & sassy to you?
The colors are right in the sense that I was playing off pastel versions of complimentary colors that feel Valentine-y. But they are too muted, or grayed out… something’s off there too.
Lastly I can very clearly see that I hadn’t mastered the hand-eye skill of the wacom yet. My lines are shaky and lumpy. I’d never ink like that in real life with an actual pot of ink and a brush. Why did I think it looked good 3 years ago?
With all these strikes against my sad 2005 version, it’s no wonder I didn’t sell any cards.
I’m hoping that will change with the new, fresher 2008 (well, now it’s the 2009 version.) card.
The card is more cheerful. The character younger. Definitely sassier. The colors are brighter, but still feel soft. This girl is someone that I’d like to be like, or that my younger friends might relate to.
I’m working in Photoshop CS3 now, a fully loaded piece of software that has vector capability. I’ve been working with the pen tool like crazy, and I’m slowly getting better. And learning a new tool has caused me to adopt yet another new style. This might be a bad thing. I often think I should just stick to one style and keep at it. But I can’t help myself. I get a new tool and I can’t rest until I’ve mastered it. I see new styles and I have to have a go at them as well.
I’m much happier with the new version. Hopefully Valentine’s Card shoppers will agree with me.
Posted in New Work
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 am
Very interesting analysis, Karyn. Let me add that you’ve also improved a great deal in the movement of the character. Though she is just standing, he body flows in nice curves, the older lady is completely stiff. I hope you sell
your card is lovely!
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I like that the same concept seems to target two totally different audiences.
I think the new one does succeed in being identifiable to a lot more people!
I don’t think it’s bad to get into a new style. I was listening to some interviews with some artists not too long ago and it seems to be a recent trend that they say being versatile is extremely valuable!
January 4th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I see no reason why you should limit yourself to one style. Embrace whatever attracts you at the moment. Sooner or later you’ll be expert in all of them.
January 10th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I’d like to see the sassier card with an older figure for the rest of your market. Just an idea
The thing I notice in general online is your market is the under 50 crowd (give or take a little).
The character on the 2005 card looks like she is in her late 60s.
I wish I could find a photo of my great aunt… she has the perfect attitude/body style for an older model.
Is zazzle the best way to buy your things?
January 11th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Sonje, that’s a good idea — a redesign for an older character. For greeting cards I’d go Zazzle. The others are all good. It’s up to your preference. E-mail me if you were interested in something specific.