Podcast Summary: The Good Ship Illustration - "Why drawing digitally is NAUGHTY 👀 (or is it?)"
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Introduction: Addressing Digital Drawing Concerns
In this episode of The Good Ship Illustration, hosts Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, and Tania Willis delve into the evolving landscape of digital illustration. The discussion is sparked by a thought-provoking question from Megan Vanderlei: “I just opened up the Microsoft Surface Pro I bought for digital drawing and I'm freaking out a little. Not only the expense though I bought refurbished, but a sense of cheating or something. Will this kill the joy of drawing on paper? Does anyone combine the analog and digital drawing worlds?” (00:40)
Combining Analog and Digital: Practices and Benefits
Katie introduces Megan's concern, opening the floor to explore how illustrators blend traditional and digital methods. Megan emphasizes the ubiquity of this hybrid approach, stating, “We all do it.” (01:16) She shares her personal workflow: drawing on paper, scanning layers, and refining in software like Photoshop or Affinity. This method allows for subtle adjustments without overhauling the entire piece.
Tania adds that integrating digital tools doesn’t necessarily diminish the analog experience. She explains how digital platforms enable complex compositions without the messiness of physical mediums, such as watercolors: “There’s so much that could go wrong... but once you’ve scanned it in, you can move things around, change colors, and enhance contrasts.” (02:50) This flexibility fosters creativity while maintaining the integrity of the original artwork.
Tools of the Trade: Digital Devices and Software
The hosts compare various digital tools, highlighting the differences between devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro and the iPad. Megan remarks on the similarity between the Surface Pro and iPad, noting their versatility for digital drawing (00:58). Tanya shares her preference for Wacom tablets over others, admiring the sensitivity of the Apple Pencil but acknowledging her familiarity with Wacom and Photoshop.
Katie points out that transitioning to digital doesn’t equate to cheating: “It’s not cheating.” (03:37) She underscores that digital drawing is merely another tool in an illustrator's arsenal, not a shortcut or inferior to traditional methods.
Navigating Choice: Maintaining Creative Voice in a Digital Landscape
A significant part of the discussion revolves around the overwhelming choice digital platforms offer. Tanya and Megan stress the importance of limiting tool options to preserve a cohesive creative voice. Megan suggests, “If you’re making something digitally, it’s still handmade because it’s your hand, your eyes, your brain.” (03:19)
Katie highlights the necessity of disciplined tool selection to avoid chaotic and unfocused artwork: “You could get some horrible color things going on... you need to choose your favorite brushes and stick to them.” (07:16) Tania concurs, advocating for a curated brush and color library to ensure consistency across projects (09:08).
The Human Touch: AI and Maintaining Handmade Quality
The conversation shifts towards the impact of AI on digital illustration. Tanya references a Bright Agency review, noting a market shift towards hand-drawn imagery over AI-generated content: “There is a kind of return to that human mark and fallibility...” (13:06). This trend underscores the value clients place on the authenticity and emotional depth of handmade work.
Megan echoes this sentiment, expressing a personal preference for handmade qualities: “My eyes just crave handmade... you can really see the human in it.” (13:43) The hosts agree that while digital tools offer precision, the human element remains irreplaceable in creating emotionally resonant art.
Joy of Creation: Analog vs. Digital Experiences
A recurring theme is the intrinsic joy of drawing, whether digital or analog. Megan shares her journey of initially enjoying digital methods but later missing the tactile experience of working with paper: “I felt a bit headachy and dizzy from being on my screen too much.” (14:29) Katie concurs, suggesting that digital tools can sometimes detract from the pure joy of drawing: “It’s nice to be unplugged, isn’t it?” (14:31)
Tanya humorously relates her over-reliance on digital undo functions to a near-driving accident, highlighting the importance of embracing imperfection: “If you're making work with a continual undone ness, your perfectionism... you could spend a whole day just doing Apple Undo and end up with one line on a piece of paper.” (16:15) This anecdote underscores the value of commitment and spontaneity in analog drawing.
Final Thoughts: Embracing Both Worlds
In wrapping up, the hosts affirm that combining analog and digital methods enriches the creative process rather than diminishes it. Katie reassures listeners that integrating digital tools won't kill the joy of drawing on paper: “It’s not cheating, but it is a tool and you might get bored of it as well and just go back to drawing.” (16:50)
Megan and Tanya conclude by emphasizing the importance of flexibility and personal preference in choosing the right tools for one's artistic journey. The episode encourages illustrators to explore digital options without fear, ensuring that their unique creative voices remain at the forefront.
Notable Quotes:
- Katie: “It’s not cheating.” (03:37)
- Megan: “We all do it.” (01:16)
- Tania: “There is a kind of return to that human mark and fallibility...” (13:06)
- Megan: “My eyes just crave handmade... you can really see the human in it.” (13:43)
- Tanya: “If you're making work with a continual undone ness... you could spend a whole day just doing Apple Undo and end up with one line on a piece of paper.” (16:15)
This episode provides a comprehensive exploration of the interplay between digital and analog illustration, offering valuable insights for illustrators seeking to navigate and harmonize both realms in their creative careers.