Gaps of Knowledge

It’s been nothing but work-work-work for me these days while I focus on getting my Etsy shop set up as my main outlet. I seem to have taken an unannounced hiatus from conventions this year, with book signings, Faerie Escape, and DragonCon being the only things on the schedule thus far. It’s been a much needed step back to figure out where I want to go, how I want to survive in the meantime, and what exactly I need to learn to make myself more viable in my chosen field. While I’m pretty confident in my traditional media, I feel like I still have so much to learn as far as digital rendering goes.

Slowly but surely, I’m completing new digital pieces and learning so much with each one, but still there is always more to learn when it comes to using such expansive programs as Photoshop, Painter, and Illustrator (haven’t touched the last one much, but I feel I should at least know the basics of it for my own good and to make my list of skills that much more appealing). I’m hoping at some point in the future I can take some of the courses at the Computer Graphics Master Academy, but that will have to wait till I have the extra funds. Wow, what a class list, though! I could just spend half my life in there learning it all.

So here’s me, feeling daunted by all the skills I need to brush up on (figure drawing, digital coloring, conceptualizing, lighting, etc. etc. etc.) and it begs the question do artists and creative professionals in general ever stop learning? I suppose that’s what makes our field so interesting (and challenging) to be in. 

For now, I am simply self-teaching and gradually clawing through the reading list of study sources I compiled earlier and a host of The Art Department videos I caught on sale. So much to learn, so little time! Baby steps, Angela, baby steps. Hoping all this knowledge sticks at some point or another. Just have to keep up the repetition till it does!

Till then, I’m afraid I don’t have much interesting to post or share here while I’m in Learning Mode, beyond some studies.  You all like studies, yes?  Prepare for the LEARNING!

5 comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    Dear Angela,

    I think a large part of being creative is the curiosity behind the drive to learn more. You’ve set yourself a big learning task, but I’m cheering for you! Looking forward to see the results of all your hard work, no matter how long you give yourself! Good luck!

  2. Digital rendering takes time to get used to. But your already have other skills in place thanks to your traditional training, so even your first digital pieces are eyecatching and interesting even if a bit rough still.

    I’m doing the opposite of that. I’m taking as many traditional media courses, reading as many traditional media books to learn more. It’s helping me to grasp some concepts more easily, giving me more tools to work with and my digital works are getting better as a result.

    It’s hard work, but if you’re willing to do it then the results will show up with time. Good luck Angela 🙂

  3. Gia, it’s fascinating to hear of people who are taking the opposite journey from me! It just goes to show how much knowledge is out there in the art world that informs everything we do to become better artists in general.

    If you’re seeking good resources, I highly recommend Gurney’s books “Color and Light” and “Imaginative Realism”. Great places to start for any artists, but particularly trad!

    Best of luck to you!

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