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I rely on clipart for nearly all of my work, but would like to be more creative and original. Clipart is quick and easy but not very original if everyone can use it. I can draw and used to be pretty good but always seem to need something to look at, not to copy...just look at to get a good idea in my head. I remember scetching a friend in school back in the 70's and it looked so much like him it scrared me but I couldn't have done it from memory. Are there books with clipart type images like an idea book or where does everyone get ideas for their stuff? Can you create anything that pops in your head or do you look through magazines and stuff to get ideas?
------------------ When good things happen...that must be a sign!! Tony McDonald DBA-Ace Graphics & Printing P.O. Box 91 Camdenton, MO. USA (573) 346-6696 <daddyo@advertisnet.com> <tony@brownbeverage.com>
Posts: 1196 | From: Camdenton, MO. USA | Registered: Oct 1999
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I hadn't thought about it much.......We're illustrators in our studio, so we originate everything from "wholecloth", so to speak. We also do illustrations for three other signshops. No one ever really knows that a lot of the local artwork comes from us, but we get paid so who cares? Funny how you take it all for granted after doing it for so many years.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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I think artists vary greatly in this. Some can draw from memory, and cartoonists especially. Others always use reference material or take photos. Portrait artists have a knack with portraits that a landscape artist, for instance, might have to struggle with. The Library in Chicago, back when i went to school and worked there had a hugh "morgue" of clippings for artists to use for reference.
------------------ S. Clark Clark Signs (retired) Compton, Arkansas sasc@alltel.net
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School! I had forgotten that many of us went to an art school. I began at The Academy in SanFrancisco in 59 or so? Anyway.....it took one full year to get into the school I really wanted. Kunstschule Westend, Offenbach am Main in Germany where I got my degree in Graphics. Damn......that's a Looooonnnnnngggg time ago.
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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When I need an idea, a trip to the local mall or supermarket usually works. There are all sorts of ideas and color schemes to be found on existing packages. It's a wonderful resourse.
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I usually sit down and sketch ideas before jumping into the job.
I get my own ideas onto paper, then if I need a reference for something, say like the shape of a particular car, I pull out magazines or hit the net and try to scrounge something up.
I do mostly motorsports and extreme sports kinda stuff and I'm lucky to live in an area where those types of activities are extremely popular. I can head to the race tracks, sand dunes or wherever you can find an extreme sport and snap pics or find magazines there.
I also have boxes and boxes full of magazines that people give to me.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Tony, I have been doing fine art for 30 years, and when it comes to graphic arts I still rely on clip art most of the time. Many times, not finding a correct clip, I will take the time, but usually I will use a clip and completely redraw it on the computor, or maybe use some components to organize my own creation......I haven't lost my "Purist" way, but clips are just a tool of the trade in this business. I feel that I can use my creativity to organize and use these clips instead of recreating them. My suggestion would be to try fine art for a release of your talents, but I wouldn't discourage the use of those talents in signage. I am toying with they use of fine art and signage together. An Ozark landscape mural empaneled in a small billboard.....Bronzeo
------------------ Jack Davis 1410 Main St Joplin, MO 64801 www.imagemakerart.com bronzeo@prodigy.net http://www.imagemakerart.com
Posts: 1549 | From: Joplin, MO | Registered: Mar 2000
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Tony when I need reference material I do a picture search on the web.One of the best sites I get reference for ideas to sketch & draw is corbis.com You can only use these for reference tho most are copyrighted.
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My way of thinking is if it's a quick lincense plate I may add a clipart image or sit down and sketch something on a piece of paper and outline with marker to scan into the job area program.. Other jobs are different as to airbrush something on a helmet or vehicle takes the hand to eye approach... Murals will be done with a paper pattern transfer and rework the sketch before I start to paint it...Some but not all pictures I will capture with a Digital Camera and convert to the transfer pattern that is needed ie. Portraits Etc. The local library is a good supply of images too.Taking photocopies of the pictures to project and trace... All cartoon images are of my own hand drawing.
The internet is as good of a place as any... I wanted to Airbrush the Lurch Charactor from the Addams family on a Shirt for myself over Halloween and found a great old Black and white image.... The resouce is there, just go look for it!!!!
Raven/2000
------------------ Raven/2000 Airbrushed by Raven Lower sackville N.S. deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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