I'll admit it. I'm old enough to have been brought up with the idea that, "A bad workman always blames his tools". And it's definitely true that the effectiveness of art (or any kind of creative outcome) is never decided by the tools used. The ideas and work involved do matter more.
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| Work-in-progress elephant created in Rebelle digital software. |
So, when, of late, I'd noticed I hadn't been getting so much out of my digital art programs and apps, my instant assumption was that somehow, I was failing/falling down/not putting in enough effort.
This went on for some weeks. Until my entirely wonderful other half (luckily a computer man) gave me the best of presents: an amazingly fast, totally souped up and incredible, new-to-me computer.
The difference has been phenomenal. Digital art is a joy again. Some programs (like Rebelle, in which the elephant above was created) have never before run as fast or effectively for me as they do now.
Which has led me to reconsider the whole "workman and tools," thing, in a way that might encourage not just me, but other artists and creative people too. Yes, tools should never be blamed. But occasionally, maybe even those tools also need some help and sprucing up themselves, to help you get the results you want.
P.S. Update: You can see how this elephant turned out in the end here...
