Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to go to art school to create meaningful pencil drawings and become an artist. It certainly does help to have those tips and tricks you learn throughout your art classes, but they aren’t the only things that will help you create art that resonates with other people. 

At the core of every piece of art is the hope that people care about your work. Art doesn’t always have to invoke negative emotions! Be it a positive resonance with the viewer, or a negative one, as long as you manage to touch people’s hearts, you have succeeded as an artist, and this is by no means an easy feat to achieve. If you are more adept at pencil drawings, this may be trickier for you.

Now you may be wondering, what makes a drawing meaningful? And how can you create your representative works? Here’s a guide to creating meaningful pencil drawings! 

Practice, practice, practice! 

It seems like a pretty obvious tip, and yet it’s one that many end up ignoring for its simplicity. Drawing is a skill, and it’s essential that you keep practicing and trying out new motions for your art to improve. To create a drawing that speaks to people, you have to be familiar with your subject, and for that, you’ll need a ton of practice!

Forget about others’ opinions. 

At the heart of a meaningful pencil drawing is an artist’s intention. If you want to create a great final piece solely for the trends or money, you can bid goodbye to the emotional aspect of the job. Instead of focusing on other people’s opinions and what they think you should draw, pour in all your energy into creating a pencil drawing that means a lot to you – that emotion will automatically translate into your work as well!

Use references but ignore the trends. 

There is nothing wrong with using references. To create an incredible drawing, you will need to know the ins and outs of your subject, and references are your friends! However, make sure you are at a safe distance from trends. They might get you the short-term engagement you’ve been craving, but they will rarely end up being pieces that genuinely mean something to you, and by extension, the audience. 

Draw from reality 

What’s better than some references you find online? The real thing, of course! Another tip for creating meaningful pencil art is to go out into the world and take your environment as a reference. Although references are helpful, they rarely show you what’s going on behind a picture. Drawing from reality will allow you to translate that picture onto your art and learn a lot more, too!

Know your medium 

In this case, your medium is a pencil drawing. Know which pencils are best for specific subjects and what type of paper you will need to produce particular results. It would help if you learned the basics, although the technique and tricks will come from experience. Try different warm-up exercises for your wrist and your brain. Switch out your usual pencil for a different one – for instance, a lead pencil for a mechanical one. Test what you’re comfortable with, and experiment with what you’re new to.

Experiment 

Last but not least, never stop experimenting – be it with different materials, new ideas, or fresh themes, don’t tie yourself down to what you’ve been creating. Keep moving and learning, and you will find what makes your art meaningful in no time! All that’s left is to put it to paper!

The post How to Create a Meaningful Pencil Drawing appeared first on Hue & Eye.

While staring at a collage layout, you may bump into typography, letter fonts, painted figures, stuck objects, newspaper cutouts, glued items, and so on. We may also translate this into a final digital piece to give a three-dimensional feeling to the artwork. Some creatives use a digital approach by digitally reproducing the mixed feelings given by all the elements. The result is stunning, entirely unexpected, and very strong, as if all of those pieces were struggling before they finally encountered that final layout. They are yet happy there, in tune with one another.

Experimenting means understanding and exploring all the possible ways the elements may interact.

Choose a Theme

Are you having trouble finding inspiration for your collage? Give yourself a theme, as sometimes, setting limits can force you into making creative decisions. It can be something as simple and obvious as ‘holidays’, or abstract and open to interpretation as ‘whatever.’ 

Choosing a specific theme will also help you to build up a more specific image source. It is also an excellent way to churn out multiple collages or work in series, as the material you amass might be too much for just one piece of artwork. Collage Composition. A compromise between Art and Design

There is something highly emotional and intriguing in staring at a collage illustration layout.

Not only is the viewer compelled to find a hidden message, but he also has to participate in an artist’s silent manifesto. The artist uses collage to engage with a particular point of view using any tool he likes. No boundaries are allowed.

The creativity resides in the composition, which is how the artist chooses to assemble all the pieces. This creative process is what connects design with art.

Collage composition is empowered to speak artistically to the viewer through a visual language typical of a design approach.

Storytelling Tips: It’s like Entering a Room.

Try seeing your artwork through the metaphor of entering a room filled with unfamiliar people. You start by staring at everybody. The approach will be smooth, starting with something essential, like where you come from, to stick with the most people you enjoy. Then you will begin to search for the most pleasing way to interact and possibly initiate some deeper conversation. This same method will be helpful to build your collage. Attract people with direct and primary elements to keep them interested with specific details. Isn’t this a good process also for a collage?

@ Montserrat Serra@ Montserrat Serra

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Typography is the application of letters, numbers, and symbols in writing to a graphic design composition. It is everywhere, and we eventually notice there is so much we can do with it. There’s a science behind kerning, leading, serifs, point size, line length, tracking, and more. It still covers communication skills, indeed, but it now holds also a vast visual appeal. Type fonts are shapes and forms that flow inside the layout to produce messages and feelings.

Typographic Composition

To introduce the meaning of typographic composition, we should step back a bit. Since the creation of the modern alphabet much has occurred. Nowadays, thanks to a valuable evolution in the nineteenth century, typography is finally seen as a form of art.

During World War II, the political manifestos were filled with letter fonts and brief sentences to explicitly and straightforwardly shout information. When the war was finally over, people reacted boldly to propaganda by giving it a more pleasant feel for all the nineteenth century. It was about communicating with forms and colors overall. Typography became a visual art by influencing the world of art and design.

We could go now on and on mentioning famous typography composition designers as Neville Brody or Paula Scher, two of the biggest influencers of new typography and graphic design.

How to create a Typography Artwork 

Throughout the nineteenth century, arranging typefonts became renowned as Typography design.

The typeface you choose and how it works with your layout, grid, color scheme, etc., will differentiate between a good, bad, and great design.

Font design

Font design is a long and involved process. Typefaces are created by craftspeople over substantial time, using talent honed over many years. The best, professionally designed fonts come with various weights and styles to form a complete family, carefully considered kerning pairs, multi-language support with international characters, and expressive alternate glyphs to add texture and variety to typesetting.

You’ll need to double-check the one you pick holds all the options you need to produce a great design. There’s a stunning collection of free fonts to choose from online. Or you could either design your own!

Hands-on: Creative Tip

Try strictly designing a layout using letter fonts, typefaces, or related shapes. Keep in mind to divulge a message. Try focusing on the chosen symbol’s semiotics and put yourself in the viewer’s shoes: is the message still clear, or do the shapes and forms cover it? Use whatever medium you prefer and have fun!

Get some inspiration here or follow us for more creative tips! 

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The difference between Serigraphy and Lithography may be tricky. Whether you are a consumer or an artist, knowing how the art world terminology works can make or break your place in it. If you consider yourself an admirer or a reviewer, however, this is all more demanding. 

With that in mind, don’t worry if some terminology seems unfamiliar to you – you aren’t the only one! Even artists are prone to misusing or muddling up some of the terms. Two such complex terms are serigraph and lithograph, which catch collectors’ eyes far and wide. Contrary to popular belief, they’re not the same thing – in fact, there is a world of difference between them. 

Besides the creation process, there’s also a stark difference in collectability and value. In that case, if you wonder about the difference between the two, then you’ve come to the right place – here is a complete guide to distinguishing between the two art styles. 

The definitions 

The word “serigraph” derives from the outcome of the Latin and Greek words for “silk” and “to write or draw,” respectively. Serigraphy basically refers to the printing of an image on fabric with stencils and ink. This is also what someone calls silkscreen. 

On the other hand, for a lithograph, you need to print the image onto stone with oil and water. Lithographs come into two types: offset and handmade. The latter refers to the artist or maker throughout the entire process, and that distinction makes hand lithographs more valuable and expensive. 

The processes 

The main difference between Serigraphy and Lithography is that serigraphs are printed onto fabric, while lithographs are printed on stone plates. A serigrapher places the stencil on the cloth (usual silk) and applies the ink to the silhouette created by the stencil. Unlike the stenciling method for serigraphy, a lithograph is made by printing an image with oil and covering it in ink, which sticks exclusively to the oiled areas. The outcome image is then printed onto paper. 

The final product 

Another difference between the two art styles is their final quality. A serigraph has much more texture than a lithograph, as the ink pours directly onto the surface of the final product. This method is also likely to result in a more vibrant and vivid end piece. In contrast, a lithograph may have a slightly tinted finish because the lithographer prints the image onto the final surface. 

The value 

There is no confirmation about which type of print is more valuable – it merely depends on the buyers’ preference. While some may opt for the detailed serigraph print, others may prefer the more affordable lithograph piece. Your decision as a buyer is all about what you prioritize, be it colors, texture, vibrancy, or affordability.

When it comes to the pricing of the two styles, it is also dependent on your vendor. There is no set rule about which piece will be more valuable – depending on the quantity of the stock for a specific work, their prices may skyrocket, whether it is a serigraph or lithograph. 

Which piece should you get?

If you are purchasing a piece hoping that its current value will rise shortly, then a serigraph is the way to go. Serigraphs tend to be more valuable and expensive, even compared to limited edition lithographs, and so, it seems to be the obvious choice as a collectible. 

Go to Hue&Eye’s Creative Tips to learn more about the contemporary art market and techniques!

The post Serigraphy vs Lithography. Whats’s the Difference? appeared first on Hue & Eye.

It’s not that easy to spot a bad graphic design at first sight.

Jared Spool, the American writer, researcher, and usability expert, once said: “Good design, when it’s done well, becomes invisible. It’s only when it’s done poorly that we notice it.”

Let’s figure out a list of fundamental points to avoid common misinterpretations and hire a bad graphic designer!

Communication Skills

An immediate way to spot a bad designer is by deepening its ability to understand what the users need, and then deliver that information. He won’t overload you (the client) with plenty of options to choose from, he will rather make the right questions (never too many) before starting the project.

Working with creatives isn’t easy for non-designers. But a good graphic designer already knows this.

Information Overload

It’s challenging when a big amount of information has to fit in a tiny space. This is one of the first signals of a designer’s ability. Knowing what to highlight and what to place on a secondary spot is the know-how for a skilled designer. They will understand what the users need, then design based on that, to help reduce information overload.

A clever way will be to go for visuals instead of text.

Ignoring Usability

Usability is everything today. Users won’t spend half a second trying figuring out how to navigate a website. Clever designs can backfire and hurt usability.

Clever designs should always be made as foolproof as possible, and/or tested on actual users. 

Non-Original Content

If a graphic designer comes up with a mishmash of stock photos and vectors and just added the text from the brief it’s not a designer who gave some thought into what you need as a client.

Vectors, stock photos, and free illustrations are design elements that even non-designers can create a visual with, and a professional is expected to create something unique and creative.

Being a graphic designer means being original.

Misinterpreting the Audience

We all know how different generations, geographic locations, cultures, etc, have different perceptions of design. For example, different colors have different meanings in cultures all over the world. To a typical western audience, white means purity, but in China, white is a color for funerals.

Western audiences, for instance, perceive information left to right while Eastern cultures or Arabic native speakers right to left.

This means the focal point of the design has to adapt to its perception. If you’re working with freelance designers who are from a much different background than you, you’ll possibly need to state things that are obvious to you in your design brief.

Sometimes the tone of voice or aesthetic of the design has to fit a certain group’s tastes, so your designer needs to know the target audience they are designed for.

Visit our design stories and interviews, or our tips&tricks section to improve your creative skills!

The post Bad Graphic Design, 5 Signs To Spot Low Quality appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Following is a listing of the most common sketchbook brands’ specifics to help you navigate and make the right choice!

#1

Pentalic Watercolour Sketchbook Journal

GENERAL SPECIFICS: Pentalic Watercolour Sketchbook Journal uses 100% cotton, 300gsm paper, and has 64 pages.

DESCRIPTION: The Pentalic sketchbook has high-quality paper and may resist heavy washes, although it will lightly buckle. For this, it’s not the right choice for pen and ink work because the cold press surface is relatively coarser with more grain.

FOR WHO: Pentalic sketchbook is for those who like heavy washes. Satisfying with pen and ink, but it’s more suitable for paint.

GO TO WEBSITE.

#2

Khadi Papers Sketchbook

GENERAL SPECIFICS: The Khadi sketchbook uses 100% cotton, 210 gsm paper, and has 80 pages.

DESCRIPTION: the paper is handmade in India and sold in loose sheets, but it also comes in a sketchbook of different formats with a cardboard cover.

Excellent paper quality is the right choice for wet on wet techniques as it has a lovely granulation. It also handles well heavy washes.

FOR WHO: This choice is the perfect one for both pen ink and watercolor.

GO TO WEBSITE.

#3

Watercolor Sketchbook from Global Art Materials

GENERAL SPECIFICS: The GAM sketchbook uses 25% cotton, 200 gsm paper, and has 60 pages.

DESCRIPTION: The paper is pure white with a clothed cover. The paper handles wet on wet well but not for heavy washes.

FOR WHO: This choice is suitable for who prefers white paper. It is ideal for pen ink and light washes.

GO TO WEBSITE.

#4

Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Journal

GENERAL SPECIFICS: The Strathmore watercolor Journal has 300 gsm, no cotton-made paper, and 48 pages.

DESCRIPTION: This is a good quality sketchbook with a paperback and hardcover format, useful as a solid back to draw on.

It handles water well even though the paper has no cotton content. It isn’t easy to use with heavy washes. As the support is not as absorbent as cotton paper, use wet on wet with care to prevent puddling.

FOR WHO: Strathmore sketchbook is for those who use pen and ink and medium washes.

GO TO WEBSITE.

Conclusion

For watercolor techniques, it is preferable to use paper with at least some cotton content. It makes the surface more absorbent so that it can handle some wet on wet techniques. It doesn’t have to be 100% cotton, unless for heavy washes.

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Photography in 2020 it’s probably one of the most overrated and competitive creative disciplines. Finding your way into the business – or as a pure photography amateur – may be a challenging process and also leed to giving it up. Our suggestion is to take your time away from a screen to select some of the best books by renowned masters of photography published in the last years, to show you how to cut useless money and time-consuming steps.

The following is a listing of the must-have reads for beginners to start with or for business professionals to deepen their technical knowledge. We wish this listing may help to develop all the skills necessary to fulfill your photographic objectives.

3 BOOKS IF YOU ARE A FIRST-TIME PHOTOGRAPHER.

• UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE by Bryan Peterson.

EXPOSURE AND LIGHTING TECHNIQUES, THE MOST CRUCIAL SKILL FOR BEGINNERS, TO UNDERSTAND.

Before grabbing your camera, take your time to study how exposure and lighting will affect your dreamed results. UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE by Bryan Peterson, it’s a popular book on how to use your camera settings to reach your aimed images. It’s rich in visual examples to help you understand how each environment affects exposure and lighting effects.

• HOW TO CREATE STUNNING DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY by Anthony Justin Northrup

PUT THEORY INTO PRACTICE WHILE YOU LEARN NEW SKILLS.

Each chapter of this how-to guidebook ends with several exercises for readers to practice what they’ve learned. The book covers an extensive list of skills from composition to lighting and exposure, to scouting a perfect location to studio shooting.

• THE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK by Scott Kelby

LEARN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TOOLS BY A MASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY TO PROVIDE REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES.

Each part of the five published ones is a stand-alone book. By giving practical advice, it smoothes your learning process while getting into full experiences. 

3 BOOKS IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER.

• READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS by Henry Carroll

PRACTICE YOUR SKILLS WITH HANDS-ON TIPS.

Do you want to develop the quality of your images without having to read a complicated technical manual? This book is for you. This book focuses on all skills, from basic settings to the choice of the right camera lens, and has illustrated tips and tricks provided by some of the most talented photographers of all time.

• WHAT THEY DIDN’T TEACH YOU IN PHOTO SCHOOL by Demetrius Fordham

GROW YOUR NETWORK ND SELL YOUR WORK.

Do you feel there was something left out after completing your photo school? Probably it’s about the lack of business-related topics in photography, a problem often undervalued in schools. This book shares excellent tips to help you grow your network, finding and impressing clients and reaching out to brands for partnerships.

• BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS by John Harringto

LEARN HOW TO THINK AS A BUSINESS PERSON.

Do you feel you achieved your photographic identity but are still struggling with how to place your business out there? This book is a guide to help you understand this complex field and smoothly navigate the challenges along your way, from dealing with clients to mastering and sell your work.

3 BOOKS IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATION TO ENRICH YOUR SKILLS.

• HENRI CARTIER BRESSON: THE DECISIVE MOMENT by Henri Cartier Bresson

A COLLECTION OF THE BEST IMAGES BY HENRI CARTIER BRESSON HANDPICKED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER THAT CHANGED PHOTOGRAPHY FOREVER.

This book, initially published in the 1950s, focuses on the search for the decisive moment. Henri Cartier Bresson goes beyond street photography, and with his work, he influenced generations of photographers.

• ANNIE LEIBOVITZ AT WORK by Annie Leibovitz

A BOOK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE.

Dive into this book, and discover the making of Leibovitz’s most iconic images. The unique look and feel of her style have made her a living legend in the history of photography.

• ANSEL ADAMS: 400 PHOTOGRAPHS by Ansel Adams

IF LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY IS YOUR INTEREST, DON’T MISS THE LARGEST AVAILABLE COMPILATION OF ANSEL ADAMS WORKS.

Ansel Adams is probably the most recognized American photographer of all time – either for his images and for its inspiring quotes on photography. This book captures the American landscapes and includes brief essays providing insights into his technique and creative vision. 

The post BEST 9 PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS TO READ IN 2020 appeared first on Hue & Eye.

Would you like to learn more about how to find and manage a job in graphic design, build your digital portfolio, and run your own graphic design business? Then this design course can be for you. You can learn skills that will accelerate your career as a graphic designer and listen closely as successful designers will advise and help you along the way.

This course is structured over 8 online classes, all focused on the specific steps to improve your career as a Graphic Designer!

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