What programs do you guys use for your random graphic goodies? (: are there any programs out there that you wish you could obtain or learn how to use more effectively?

On the flip side, for all you traditional artists, has there ever been a certain medium that you've always wanted to try out or work better?

Well, for actual hand-drawn stuff, I wish I could be able to do things like draw in pen (it's hard enough for me with pencil, so this is a big wish) or to just be able to draw something without a reference. I've got the ideas, I just don't know how to actually draw it. That's why most of my stuff that I've drawn is referenced art.

I've gone more into the graphic art now though (in Photoshop). There's quite a bit I'd love to do in that, too, haha. =). But yeah, I'd have liked to be more potent in hand-drawing things in pen/pencil/oil pastels, etc...

Couldn't say it better, myself. (Though I also have another reason for doing referenced stuff, but it's nothing worth mentioning.) I'm not particularly concerned about doing other things better at this point. I need to get down the basics before I'll start caring about anything special. (Not that I'm particularly willing to go out of my way to improve. And that's likely why I've hardly progressed over the past several years...)

I also need to work a little more on drawing things without reference. :\ For the past few years or so I drew my own figures and stuff, but I always seemed to need a posing ref. for more complicated images. It's only recently that I dropped all refs, and things are looking okay....I just wish some parts of it wouldn't look so awkward. .___.

Uhhh and in Photoshop, I need to learn how to work with my coloring. My coloring skills with layers and curves and whatnot are still kind of noob. D:

I should probably clarify that my "referenced drawings" are direct rip-offs, just without tracing... v_v;
Even if I mean to only use something for a posing reference or whatever, I usually end up drawing the whole thing. I just appreciate others' work way more than I do my own, I suppose. (Don't get me wrong, I always make sure people know that I'm simply copying an image. I don't take credit for anything other than my copying ability. x.x)

I guess I've been improving my original stuff somewhat, but just very slowly, and it's not very consistent. Maybe I'll have to post something sometime. Maybe.

I've always wanted to work with 3D programs like 3DS Max or Maya, or any sort of 3D program and come out making something thats somewhat coherent. I've always wanted to be able to manipulate animation as well, through flash or any kind of other means, really. (I might take a class for the ##### of it when I get a new computer. My laptop is in #### state atm.)
I also wanted to get working better in photoshop, but hey, I've been working in it forever but I still have general basic knowledge of the program. I'm not even entirely sure how people use the program in a commercial way, either. Seems kinda boring to be honest.

I did try working in Premiere at one point and time but I couldn't really figure any of it out.

So yeah, 3D programs and Animation programs. I'm sure theres an entire spectrum of visual-based graphic programs that I'd love to get familiar with as well.

I wish I could draw things better just like DB said. Like, I'd LOVE to be able to create my own stock images and color them in Photoshop and use them as a sig or as a piece of work. I think that ability would expand my potential by tenfold because I could create EXACTLY what I want in an image.

I'd also just like to learn how to do avatars better. I love the 2D style and abstract style (Apple you do some great ones), but I can never seem to get it right. Something about 100x100 just doesn't work for me.

Oh, I wish I could draw strait into Flash with the tablet..... My whole need to turn paper has ruled my drawing life and will always keep me from cutting out the middle man of drawing, inking, and scanning to do more inking/coloring X/ If I was able to draw right into the program, I'd be making my comics AND Flash projects (as I kinda know how to work Flash, it's drawing/moving/animating the stuff that detours me).

What programs do you guys use for your random graphic goodies? (: are there any programs out there that you wish you could obtain or learn how to use more effectively?

On the flip side, for all you traditional artists, has there ever been a certain medium that you've always wanted to try out or work better?



I would really like to try monotypes again. I want to get more involving in printing and etching. I did monotypes in a class and I didnt like anything that I did. I look back at my old work and think of all the ways I could make a better picture. I have not done much with oil, acrylic or water paint. I would totally like to mess with that more. I also want to do pen nibs again. I ruined my first set because I didnt know how to properly take care of them, and what ink I should use. I have done a bit of research since then. All in all I like waht I produced when I was using them but I need more work.

Spray paint and board. I have this idea for a project involving getting some board and doing some tagging on it. Maybe trying to mimic some of the styles in graffiti. I have yet to do so. I would need to do some practicing with spray paints to learn how to make something good.

I use Photoshop CS2. I should upgrade XD. I want to learn how to use Photoshop better.

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I kind of want to try using Dreamweaver and Flash since they seem to be popularly used by web-makers. I've been self-teaching myself HTML and CSS since I've always wanted to know the stuff so I can develope into making webpages. Aside from web-design, I'd want to improve my vectoring on Adobe Illustrator since what I do is pretty basic and I really should try vectoring more complex images xD (but alas, I lack the time these days =_=).

What I would LOVE to have is a Wacom Cintiq tablet, to have one of those would be awesome in so many ways ;o.

As for traditional art, I guess I would just like to get back into drawing in general since I haven't drawn anything big in ages. I'd like to try my hand in drawing with mechanical pencils since I've seen a few pieces done in them and the realism is pwns normal sketch pencils, lol.

More than anything though, I want my creativity spark back! My head just seems so out of ideas lately it's rather disturbing. x_x

I wish to learn Charcoal Drawing/Sketching and Human sketching. I can't draw a human face well The eyes always seems so not proportionate and not symmetrical.

I also want to learn how to draw/make those cool swirls and curls(usually seen in floral brushes) in photoshop for background usage. I really want to learn how to draw them from scratching using photoshop.

By the way, is that Konata from Lucky Star? Looks cute

I'm a photoshop user through and through.

One thing I really wish I could improve upon is my anime-drawing. I have so many characters I'd love to draw, but I can never get the correct body proportions right.

And for photoshop skills, I wish I was a better colorer, and what I mean is cell-shading. Like, if I were to hand draw a character, I'd like to be able to color them and make the colors beautifully layered and whatnot