iPad Pro for Illustration with $6 Worth of Apps and I'm in Love

I opened the lovely (and probably expensive) box of the iPad Pro and the iPencil.

I did not read any directions.

I signed up and entered the correct WiFi numbers.

Then I uploaded the three apps that the girl at the Apple store told me were good for illustrators: Procreate ($4.99), Tayasui Sketches (free), and Adobe Photshop Sketch (free), and one I found myself called Amaziograph ($.99), and after trying them for about five hours last night I am happy to say I am very happy with the results.

The learning curve is practically nil, and the results were better than anything I was ever able to create on the Cintiq after a year.

I love this thing. 

The apps make drawing very intuitive and take out the guess work. The brushes, pens, and airbrushes are listed with a large sample of each stroke, and one click takes you to a new page to modify if you like.

The iPencil is the perfect weight IMHO, and the tip can draw microscopic dots to super wide background fill, and everything in between. Charging is amazingly fast--fifteen seconds gives you thirty minutes of use. 

I have to give some accolades to the apps too. The additional $6 I spent turned this thing into a drawing machine. Yes, I just got it yesterday and of course I have not run the gamut of drawing situations, but I can only compare it to what I had been using in the digital world and the ease of use and results can't be beat. 

The iPad itself is a great size, light enough to use on your lap, and unencumbered by any cords.

I'll keep you updated as I progress and improve as I use the iPad Pro.

Fun with the Amaziograph app

I was up all night using this thing, and although I am tired today, I am looking forward to using it again today.

I'll be checking out some more apps this week--I'll post about them soon. Off to draw!

xo 

Cintiq vs. Surface Pro vs. iPad Pro IMHO

(Spoiler alert: I am not trying to find an all-in-one to get digital drawing and a laptop in one. I do not own the iPad Pro yet.)

As an illustrator I use paper and pen virtually all day. 

I sketch my images first with a 2H Staedtler pencil, then go over the whole thing with a Micron, brush pen, or crow quill, dipping every 10 to 20 seconds--and praying that I do not mess up the entire time.

I love to draw, but inking is scary stuff.

A few years ago I got a 13 inch Cintiq and had big dreams of transitioning from pen and pencil at least part of the time. Fast forward to today, I still have issues.

But I am getting ahead of myself here--back to inking.

Sketching is great because of erasers. But inking makes things real, real fast.

I have screwed up too many images than I care to remember, and I DO NOT like to start over. Ink blotches, hand shakes, and just outright mess-ups are inevitable, but then some of the magic is gone and I am aggravated.

Thus the Cintiq.

In my head I could mess up all I wanted, correct it, start some areas over...you get the picture. The reality was a bit different. 

I love the actual drawing area of the Cintiq. The surface has a slightly scratchy feel, not unlike a piece of nice drawing paper. The pen itself has buttons on it that are supposed to reduce the back and forth motion of changing modes, pens, tips, etc., but I found then to be a bit cumbersome. I accidentally click them often and wish they were not so close to the tip. And speaking of the tip, there is a gap between where the tip touches the screen and the line or stroke created. My Cintiq connects with cables to my laptop and to a wall socket. Again, kind of cumbersome. Also, the 3 in 1 cord has died several times and when I try to repurchase it has been on back order for weeks and weeks, leaving me with no Cintiq. I use Photoshop with the Cintiq, and find it counter intuitive.  

I eventually went back to paper, pen, and pencil, but my original issues still bothered me.

Back to the store. I tried the Surface Pro after several designers told me it is what their companies supply them with to work. I found it similar to the Cintiq in drawing capability, but with a smaller screen. I also realized it is probably great for work because it is also usable as a laptop--no need to connect your device to another device with wires. It also uses Photoshop.

Then I tried the iPad Pro with the iPencil and it seems to be exactly what I was looking for. With many apps to make drawing, sketching, editing, and designing simple, it feels like this will be the answer to my Photoshop dislike.

There is no space between pencil tip and drawing mark. There is no lag and no visible pixels, even when I make images bigger to correct a mistake. I can easily smooth lines and correct. The iPencil, (although a separate purchase) is a great size, feel, and weight. It charges super fast. Be aware that the iPad Pro cannot handle tiffs, and has no place to store or connect the pencil. The surface is as smooth as glass, so there is no nice scratchy, paper kind of surface feel. It is light, super portable, and uses no cords. The 12 inch surface is big, and when I rested my hand there was no interference at all, the iPencil kept working fine.

I will purchase the iPad Pro today and do an updated review after I use it for a week. 

I have also discovered some very cool apps for creating and coloring. See you in a week!

xo

Incense, Drawing, and a Little Magic

How long has it been since you burned some incense?

High school? College maybe?

I was drawing a page from a soon-to-be coloring book and the doorbell rang. It was a special delivery--my order of incense.

I was very excited about the idea of my bundle of mysterious fragrances, but did not want to stop working, so I lit a Frankincense and Myrrh stick and got right back to the image of the lighthouse. 

And something a little magical happened. 

The scent transported me. I felt like I was at the top of the lighthouse in the dark, looking over the troubled black waters. Off in the distance I could see the sun crack through the clouds, and I could hear the seagulls call to one another.

The waves settled down, and the sun rose. Far off I could see the gulls swooping, and one landed in a field of poppies and smiled at me.

Coming soon from the book By the Beautiful Sea

Not sure poppies grow anywhere near the ocean, nor am I sure a seagull is capable of a smile, and I don't think Frankincense and Myrrh have anything to do with the sea, but that's fine. None of these images existed before I lit the incense, and now they will all be featured in an upcoming book. (The book was originally called Lighthouses, it has now been renamed By the Beautiful Sea.)

All this from lighting some incense? I guess so. Would I have developed these ideas without the mysterious smoke wafting through my home? Maybe. But maybe not. Plus I sincerely enjoyed it, and I think I will do it more often.

Here is some incense I really enjoy. I am not paid by any company--just want you to know the companies and brands I like.

Click here for the meditative Frankincense and Myrrh I just wrote about by Fred Soll 

Very popular and less expensive Nag Champa--still yummy

So here is my  recommendation--light a candle, put on some soothing music or a healing tone, (I love this one and it supposedly heals our DNA! I'll take it):  Healing Tones, light some incense, and draw, color, or paint. 

No need for meditation--this makes me feel wonderful and creative, and I have a feeling it might create a little magic for you too.

I also have a library of resources for anyone who likes to color. 

CLICK HERE for THE COLORING STASH

      
Enjoy!

xo Dea

Here is the video, Coloring with Pastel Pencils Part One, demonstrating Conte pastels for coloring. Enjoy.

Mini Coloring Resource Guide with Links ~ Check It Out!

A fast blog post to present my mini library of resources for coloring. Great for beginners and established colorers looking for supplies, books, and where to buy the most needed coloring stuff.

For all the coloring fanatics! You know who you are.

CLICK HERE for The Coloring Stash. Hope it is useful!

xo Dea

Coloring for Your Inner Artist

Hello coloring friends!

There is nothing like opening a beautiful coloring book, picking up one of the many pencils or pens available, and settling in to start a picture.

It is relaxing, and even doctors are recommending it for calming the mind and creating focus.

There are many types of people in the world, but I do believe that we are all born creative. When we are small we fiercely search out things to keep our mind stimulated. We looked for and found beauty everywhere. Give us two sticks, a few crayons, and a couple of leaves and we would create a masterpiece.

Some of us were sadly talked out of our relentless search for creativity for more "realistic" pursuits.

I believe this is where coloring comes in.

It is a way to free our inner artist without intimidation. We don't have to be Picasso to create a beautiful image.

We have a reason to go to the art store and search through the Polychromos pencils, the Copic or Tombow markers, and the Conti pastels.

From the soon to be released coloring book COLORING DREAMS

Don't be afraid to try things that feel odd or different. Leaves do not have to be green!

Be brave with your art, and with every stroke you will become more of an artist.

Sign up below to receive monthly artistic coloring tips and art motivation from Coloring Club Press Newsletter.

Click HERE to sign up now! 

Have a great week!

xo Dea

Congratulations CORRINA LORRAINE! Winner of the Coloring Dreams Giveaway!

I am happy to announce the winner of the Coloring Dreams giveaway is CORRINA LORRAINE!

She will receive the first copy of Coloring Dreams, and a 24 set of Prismacolor pencils.

Please stay tuned! Coloring Dreams is the first book in The Coloring Club, where members receive a beautiful coloring book by artist Dea Lenihan delivered right to the front door, along with an art supply that is suited to the book of the month. 

So once again--CONGRATULATIONS CORRINA!

P.S. Please keep on eye on your email--everyone that entered is getting a small gift from me. 

xo Dea

Colorful April Giveaway ~ Five More Days!

Happy April!

I am happy to announce that the April giveaway is a kickoff to the new venture, Coloring Book of the Month Club. 

This first book is called Coloring Dreams and will be given with a set of 24 Prismacolor pencils.

Cover!

Prismacolor pencils are known for their vibrant and long lasting colors, and they are a favorite of many.

The details of the Coloring Book of the Month Club will be released in the near future. 

In the meantime enter the contest. The book will be released in early May. If you would like to be on the alert list please leave your name and email address below. 

Good luck!

xo

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