Above a super short video of the process to draw a traditional card. This one goes for a dear patron on patreon.com/yidneth and I'm completing a few others for them when I gather some peace to sit down and draw. These are raw quick sketches full of "human" imperfection, but sometimes the seed of ideas for bigger illustrations. But they're also a joy for me to send along letters. You know those romantic old fashioned things on paper you send to physical addresses for people to cherish :) And so I hope these two find appreciation along with words of gratitude.
By the way the little music snippet in the video is my "instrumental" song Ode to the Silence and you can listen the full version here:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0FNO5PBAOoaEIc1GyPkG53
Finding joy on traditional paper again
I used to paint a lot when young, in fact I never expected music to take over my illustrations. I enjoy both equally and they are sometimes entwined.
Digital or traditional?
I love both and most of my "finished" drawings are mixed media, I always draw and ink on paper though.
I'm still hoping to safe for an iPad to paint with procreate software as I have been told It's super intuitive. Somehow every time something comes up and I just cannot afford it so it's been like on hold quite a few times (as many other things of my obsolete gear hahah). But right now sketching again on paper with just regular pens it feels something solid and "real" and I'm falling in love with all over it again, though aware I need to dust cobwebs off my fingers, and maybe use some reading glasses (age is unforgiving). I love drawing and sketching always on traditional, even if then I scan the ideas and make digital paintings out of them, still I also paint them, it is just that I have "zoom" for my weary eyes hahah :) and control-Z (undo) for the mishaps when I hurry LOL. I really halted for a long time after a really bad sprain in my thumb that took years to heal (and I wonder if it's in my mind that I feel my pulse is not as steady but you can only "work it out" working as so they say) so now I keep a sketchpad by my side table :).
I do not put much planning in these, they're like automatic writing, no reference, no constraints, just a thought
This one has a few, not entirely symmetrical but made with joy in the spur of the moment just like you see in the video. From this point on, I would scan and sometimes paint or rework digitally.
I sometimes decide to paint traditional as well (watercolour, acrylics, oil)
My thoughts about AI. Will it destroy artists?
I was giving a serious thought about giving a try as an illustrator (besides music) and maybe do some commissions but then all AI artist content exploded and everyone is sharing art created by the power of a click. I'm not voicing myself pro or against it, but it creates a "burn out" effect as people can effortlessly create what an artist takes hours or days to do, so it contributes to the illusion that it does not require effort. And somehow it has had the OPPOSITE effect, I've been finding joy on doodle on pieces of papers and these cards will be for my patrons, people that support my work and art at (https://patreon.com/yidneth) and people that still buy physical albums as a surprise. I have to trust in my unique vision, no matter how imperfect or HUMAN my art is.
You cannot stop progress. Of course there are some things in the foundation that have been done wrong, like Laion scanning all our artworks from deviant art (mine included) for training without the artists permission. And yes, it's going to take food off our plates. I can see also it could become a tool (not only for art) but also for special and visual effects and so many things. But I think the "artists" will find ways to "create" wether it is compositing elements (as if stock) or directing and assembling the little pieces. So far I'm glad to know that though imperfect, if all power in the world goes down... I can still portray on paper what's in my head. And if ever using AI as assistant I want to DIRECT what I create not to ACCEPT what it's given. Right now I think there is a lot of grey area, as I say, there were some unethical things being done and though we artists could now decline having been scanned, it had been trained anyway that way. So we'll see. I always say you cannot stop progress, but also, I believe in human effort. Hope it becomes a way to help rather than to obliterate creators. It's too soon and too revolutionary I know.
Me, despite all the burn out fantasy digital art has suffered, still want to save for that iPad and procreate to doodle and sketch on the go. I try not to think much about it, the same could happen for music, and writing...
and here just me and some examples of my art
So what are your thoughts? Are we artists doomed?
I think we will overcome the challenges. Just like in music I love to have my "own voice" with art I like to have my own "mind" so we'll see in time how we'll adapt or even learn how to incorporate these tools. Meanwhile I'll still enjoy doodling, and learning, and failing at hands time and time again, and sometimes coming up with something I'm proud of :)
By the way, my two physical albums are both illustrated by me. There are still some copies at https://yidneth.com I know this is all like becoming obsolete
Also as always should you wish to support here are all my links
I will upvote every reply with meaningful feedback and "proof of reading"
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS TO SUPPORT
- https://beacons.ai/yidneth (landing page with most links together)
- https://yidneth.com (official site)
- https://patreon.com/yidneth (this card is for one of them)
- https://priscillahernandez.com/shop (Buy my CDs, art)
- https://blog.priscillahernandez.com
- https://youtube.com/yidneth
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Priscilla Hernandez
singer-songwriter & illustrator
http://yidneth.com