I returned to traditional in full for my current comic project and had exactly the same reaction. Full days of working in flow, creative joy, exploration, lively beautiful drawings and art full of energy. No going back for me!
I've been feeling the same way about digital art these days. There's a stiffness in my work that I know hadn't always been there. I don't know if working digital is to blame or all my overlapping deadlines but either way the results the same, the desire to return to traditional. To work at a slower pace and embrace the "messiness" of traditional work.
I totally feel you! Sometimes I think shaking up my process loosens me up regardless if it’s digital or traditional. But it’s been really refreshing using my hands and working slower
Yes!! I'm constantly repeating it to hype myself up to commit to a decision I'm unsure about. It's so comforting knowing I have a safety blanket if I need it!
I'm lucky enough to be really bad at coloring anything digitally. So, when it came time to figure out how to color my comic, digital wasn't an option. I use about 12 to 18 color pencils for every page of my comic and have never looked back. Happy you re-discovered the fun of analog illustration! And BTW, my wife recently got herself a dumb-phone and now I'm thinking I might make the same leap as well. 2005 here we come!
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m on the same path, determined to draw traditionally after 2 books illustrated on Procreate - which I still love, but I think that years from now I will love embracing those pencil lines and unpredictable washes more than the ease of double-taps and digital brushes. Your trad work is beautiful and I wish you all the best with the book! x
As a professional artist who is (/was) in an art block for 2 years now: thank you! This read was a breath of fresh air, and it gave me a sense of comfort (?) to pick up traditional art again
What interesting timing. I need to create a few illustrations for my new book before I can present it to an agent. I am an artist, but it's been a while. Since I'm not an illustrator who knows how to develop characters, etc. I have been frozen just thinking about trying to draw these pages the "old" way because I don't have an iPad Pro or Procreate where I could supposedly fix all my mistakes. I've been staring at the big expense and learning curve ahead of me and just panicking. All the while, in the back of my head, I keep thinking...just go get some gouache and bigger paper. Tape your rough sketches to the sliding glass door and trace them just like the old days and TRY IT! Funny that this is the first article I've read on Substack. Maybe it's God :) Thanks for sharing!
This is great! I've been working traditionally again as well and I just find it so freeing. Also, I love slowpoke just sticking his lil head out of the library.
Great read and I relate to this a lot! I make illustrations next to my graphic design job and changed jobs 3 times over the last 5 years. The last job loss kicked me in the butt and has done some rough things mentally. Have been on an art block for quite some time (probably 3/4 years now). I’m considering going freelance in illustration (at 42 😅).
But I also have been drawing on my iPad for years, maybe a switch to traditional is really the way to go, to get those ideas flowing again and give new insights on drawing.
I feel exactly the same about digital work. I could say Im not even feeling 100% myself when I have to work digital. I absolutely love the way I feel when I sit in front of my desk wearing an old Tshirt and set up my art supplies… My cats walking over while Im painting… I mean I love my iPad and PS but being surrounded by paints and brushes and to paint on real paper… best feeling ever. And I truly believe that mood/ vibe/ state of mind, ends up being part of final art.
I’ve been feeling the same way about screens, social media and technology. They all can be used in a smart way but I think a lot of us are beginning to feel overwhelmed and burnt out about these devices, the pace of life and the weight social media puts on you. I still love my iPad, certainly not as much as before. And “making it” seems almost impossible now in a world where the deadlines and demands are so pressing.
Being an Art Teacher, work w/ traditional media a lot in class. At home I do BOTH. The convenience of the iPad is great when an idea comes to mind, but keep my Sketch Wallet handy at all times. Many times something will be drawn w/ pencil only to be scanned and coloured digitally.
The challenge is to marry and find a happy medium with both. . .
Gah this is amazing I’m so happy for you and makes me want to paint now too
Yesssss we always need more Anoosha paintings!!
I returned to traditional in full for my current comic project and had exactly the same reaction. Full days of working in flow, creative joy, exploration, lively beautiful drawings and art full of energy. No going back for me!
I've been feeling the same way about digital art these days. There's a stiffness in my work that I know hadn't always been there. I don't know if working digital is to blame or all my overlapping deadlines but either way the results the same, the desire to return to traditional. To work at a slower pace and embrace the "messiness" of traditional work.
I totally feel you! Sometimes I think shaking up my process loosens me up regardless if it’s digital or traditional. But it’s been really refreshing using my hands and working slower
I’ve definitely felt a weird art block that I can’t seem to shake. In my spurts of inspiration tho, it’s almost always with traditional mediums 🤔🤔🤔
"I can fix this in post" is exactly what is in my brain when I can't problem solve with traditional media well enough! I love this!
Yes!! I'm constantly repeating it to hype myself up to commit to a decision I'm unsure about. It's so comforting knowing I have a safety blanket if I need it!
I'm lucky enough to be really bad at coloring anything digitally. So, when it came time to figure out how to color my comic, digital wasn't an option. I use about 12 to 18 color pencils for every page of my comic and have never looked back. Happy you re-discovered the fun of analog illustration! And BTW, my wife recently got herself a dumb-phone and now I'm thinking I might make the same leap as well. 2005 here we come!
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m on the same path, determined to draw traditionally after 2 books illustrated on Procreate - which I still love, but I think that years from now I will love embracing those pencil lines and unpredictable washes more than the ease of double-taps and digital brushes. Your trad work is beautiful and I wish you all the best with the book! x
Joined substack to follow you (it’s a whole new world on here!!) and this has really inspired me. You’re amazing!
Yessss more substack converts!! Welcome Meghan!! <33
As a professional artist who is (/was) in an art block for 2 years now: thank you! This read was a breath of fresh air, and it gave me a sense of comfort (?) to pick up traditional art again
What interesting timing. I need to create a few illustrations for my new book before I can present it to an agent. I am an artist, but it's been a while. Since I'm not an illustrator who knows how to develop characters, etc. I have been frozen just thinking about trying to draw these pages the "old" way because I don't have an iPad Pro or Procreate where I could supposedly fix all my mistakes. I've been staring at the big expense and learning curve ahead of me and just panicking. All the while, in the back of my head, I keep thinking...just go get some gouache and bigger paper. Tape your rough sketches to the sliding glass door and trace them just like the old days and TRY IT! Funny that this is the first article I've read on Substack. Maybe it's God :) Thanks for sharing!
This is great! I've been working traditionally again as well and I just find it so freeing. Also, I love slowpoke just sticking his lil head out of the library.
Hehehe thank you he’s my little studio pal
I also just made the switch to working primarily analog again! I’m still in the journey of figuring out my art but I love working with actual mediums!
Great read and I relate to this a lot! I make illustrations next to my graphic design job and changed jobs 3 times over the last 5 years. The last job loss kicked me in the butt and has done some rough things mentally. Have been on an art block for quite some time (probably 3/4 years now). I’m considering going freelance in illustration (at 42 😅).
But I also have been drawing on my iPad for years, maybe a switch to traditional is really the way to go, to get those ideas flowing again and give new insights on drawing.
I feel exactly the same about digital work. I could say Im not even feeling 100% myself when I have to work digital. I absolutely love the way I feel when I sit in front of my desk wearing an old Tshirt and set up my art supplies… My cats walking over while Im painting… I mean I love my iPad and PS but being surrounded by paints and brushes and to paint on real paper… best feeling ever. And I truly believe that mood/ vibe/ state of mind, ends up being part of final art.
I’ve been feeling the same way about screens, social media and technology. They all can be used in a smart way but I think a lot of us are beginning to feel overwhelmed and burnt out about these devices, the pace of life and the weight social media puts on you. I still love my iPad, certainly not as much as before. And “making it” seems almost impossible now in a world where the deadlines and demands are so pressing.
Alex Marin
It’s a very slippery slope.
Being an Art Teacher, work w/ traditional media a lot in class. At home I do BOTH. The convenience of the iPad is great when an idea comes to mind, but keep my Sketch Wallet handy at all times. Many times something will be drawn w/ pencil only to be scanned and coloured digitally.
The challenge is to marry and find a happy medium with both. . .