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Using reference from books or internet – I use both all depending on…

Working so much with images and design´s as I do, it is important to look at reference material. Not only looking for how a certain object looks like but also the emotions surrounding it.

For example I may have to draw a Fiat 5000, the classic style from after the second world war italy for low-income italian families. Not the new updated version for high income people version. And as much as its important to actually see where the lamps are placed and how they actually looks like, it is also a question of style, technique and emotions involved in portraying the Fiat 5000. And depending on your assignment telling a story about and around the car it may be vital for success.

How will I draw and design my image. Where do I get input and inspiration from. Yes I have my own style I work in, and don’t like to copy anyone. Instead I like to be inspired but not copy. So where do I go looking for that inspiration and inputs and what have you. Internet, museums, books – car shops or the streets in the neighbourhood?

Well today we have the internet and “images” tab in search engines like Yahoo, Bing and Google. But as much as I use the internet (basically everyday) for inspiration, I still love and benefit from flipping pages in actual books looking for reference material. When I read and hear people saying they are ditching books on paper, it’s almost like they are having a surgeon remove their second lung. And yes we can live a healthy life and breath with only one lung, but its better using two. Especially if you are going to run a marathon or climb the mount Everest. Or dive down to bottom of the deep oceans for lives hidden truths.

I use Corel PAINTER to paint with digital oils and acrylics, and I use Corel PHOTO-PAINT as well when imitating pencils and markers. Heck I did it for a short movie last year even. But it’s not the same look and feel as a real actual canvas with painted colors – and I know as I have also been a traditional artist painter since my first oil painting when I was 16. So to really be good in painting digitally my own belief is that you must at least dig in with oils and acrylics in real life, and paint on a canvas. To paint on a canvas where you can not use Ctrl+Z when something is going wrong. Yes, you can be outstanding in digital art, that’s fine, but if you get an assignment in which you are to imitate painting with oils, acrylics, dry pastel crayons and water colors, its way better result in the end, if you know how it actually looks like in real life.

So look for books with work you love and get inspired by. I have 10 new books myself right now.

Use the internet to buy the books, or go to a book store with a café inside if possible. You can then sit like in a library with books around you. Some maybe you bring to the table before buying. Have a coffee and cake in the book store, and then go buy the ones you like.

It would feel inspirational and lovely watching a feel good move, so why not try it in real life as well.

Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator, graphic designer
www.canvas.nu

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