Red Devil

It might not look like it, but this drawing represents a milestone for me. This was the first time I ever drew an image ENTIRELY in Photoshop on my graphic tablet.

Before now I'd always drawn everything on paper, then scanned it and imported it into Photoshop where I'd add color. It worked OK, but I was frustrated because I'm not a very good inker. I always had to touch up my drawings after I scanned them into PS. There had to be a better way.

I'd wanted a graphic tablet for a long time, but always thought they were too expensive. Then one day I saw one online and discovered they were surprisingly affordable. So I bought a tablet and it changed my life changed forever. I wouldn't trade for anything. In fact I now divide my life into two distinct periods; life before the graphic tablet, and life after. I'd marry my graphic tablet if it was legal in my state.

I practiced for a while and finally got to the point where I can draw an illustration right on the tablet, leaving out the whole drawing on paper & scanning it in process. It's a lot faster this way and I get the same, if not better results. Plus if I mess up a line I have an undo button! Can't undo with pencil and pen.

I still draw on paper; I haven't totally abandoned it. I usually still sketch things out on paper and will sometimes scan in a sketch to use as a guide for the onscreen drawing.

As for the devil illustration, I'm not sure why I got it into my head to make it look like it was drawn on a piece of cardboard. I looked around online for a cardboard texture, but couldn't find any I liked. So I ripped up an old box until I had a suitable scrap of cardboard, then scanned it for the background.


I also made this version that looks like a printed sticker stuck onto a piece of cardboard. I like them both equally, so I included the pair here.

Drawn in Photoshop on the graphic tablet (I guess we already covered that).