Drawings? In my blog? It’s more likely that you think

Yeah, I’ve been drawing recently.  Can you guess what?  Manga styled stuff, wouldya think?

I’m far from pro, but I’m certainly not too bad.  My sketches aren’t garbage.  They are still pretty rudimentary though.  Even so, it’s got me thinking.  What sort of stuff should I be looking at in the future?  I currently have the pens, pencils, paper and rubbers, I also have a scanner in my current home (I’ll be moving out eventually, so I’ll need to secure a scanner of my own at that point…).  I started thinking of the more technical stuff I’d need to be using once I step beyond the experimentation and learning stages, when I’m actually confident to share my stuff.

Drawing stuff down is fine, and scanning them in is also not an issue, it’s editing them I’m more concerned about.  Sketches aren’t final works, by no means.  I currently have a MacBook Pro, a suitable graphics computer (as I’m doing a Visual Communications course at college), but I reckon I’d need a tablet at some point too.  I’ve used one before, it was hella hard to get my head around.  I’m certain though, that if I keep on trucking, it’ll eventually click and I’ll be using it like it’s a knife and fork.  I just have to make sure I don’t give up :/

Software also comes to mind.  I lack it right now, plain and simple.  I have GIMP, but I find it utterly useless as a whole.  I use Photoshop and Illustrator at college, but that’s the thing, at college.  The programs aren’t on MY computer.  Eventually, I hope to get an Adobe Design Premium student deal.  Though, that’s £300-ish for CS5, and I’ll need to wait until I’m doing my HND course come september (as the student deal requires 2 years minimum on a course).  Manga Studio from SmithMicro is an option too.  In fact, I can get a tablet, Manga Studio and a “For Dummies” book on Amazon for about £80.  The thing is, I’m not really making full on manga (and if I were, it’d probably be 4 panel stuff at first).  So, back to Adobe.  I won’t be able to use it commercially (though when I’m in work, I’d have likely be able to purchase a full proper license), which I believe also includes selling commissions (if I ever get that far).  Still, as a side thing on top of my courses, it should be fine.  Slapping stuff onto DeviantART without commissions is hardly breaking Adobe tight contracts.

So, in conclusion.  Computer, check, other hardware, not check, software, not check.  Eehhh…

Ah well, I’ll wait until I actually progress (and earn money for myself…) before I jump into this.  It’s better to have some idea of what to expect rather than be utter clueless, which is why I started thinking about this in the first place.