Hey, First name / friends!

This week I want to address a huge question that new artists have…What digital art tool is best for surface design?

 

The short answer? All of them! I know, I know, that’s probably not what you wanted to hear 😅, but it’s true! You can create professional-level surface design illustrations using any digital tool you like. As long as your file is high-quality enough, it doesn’t really matter whether or not your illustrations are vector files.

 

The three tools I get asked about most are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Procreate. So I put together a blog post that breaks down the differences between each one and when you might want to use one vs. another. I also have a brand new post all about the differences between raster and vector files. It explains what each file type is and how to use them.

Your challenge this week is to create a piece using eyes as the main motif. Whether it’s a retro-inspired design, a protective evil eye, or a boho pattern, eyes are a popular motif that make a statement. Share your designs on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq so I can see what you make!

 

I chose this motif this week because it’s a great example of something that I’ve created using multiple different digital tools.

 

For example, this pattern was originally hand drawn in black ink. Then I digitized the piece, changed the colors in Photoshop, and turned it into a seamless pattern. I love how it has the charm of a hand-done piece combined with the power of a digital tool like Photoshop for color alterations and pattern-making!

These illustrations were created in Adobe Illustrator. I like using Illustrator for more clean, digital-looking illustrations like these. 

 

This final example was drawn in Procreate. I love being able to use the Apple Pencil for a more intuitive drawing experience. Plus, Procreate has some awesome symmetry tools to help you draw repeated motifs like this mandala!

Digitizing my art is one of my favorite ways to speed up my workflow and grow my portfolio. It allows me to quickly make color alterations, remove backgrounds for products that require a transparent background, and turn my standalone illustrations into seamless patterns.

 

It’s one of my secret time-saving weapons when it comes to running an art business! I have a ton of resources about digitizing your art and using Photoshop on my blog. You can check those posts out here!

 

And remember, there is no one way to create beautiful, professional illustrations. Use the tools that you enjoy using. Because after all, making art is supposed to be fun! Not overwhelming!

 

I can’t wait to see what you all come up with for this week’s challenge. Don’t forget to share your eye illustrations on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq so I can like, comment, and share your work! 

 

Have a fabulous week!