Graphite is one of the most widely used materials in Art & Media, graphite can be used in many ways but it's main purpose is for drawing. Drawing with graphite is very diverse, you can create dark and light tones easily and can also erase any mistakes without much trouble.

I frequently use graphite in my work to create images to develop in the future


Here is an example of a graphite drawing,

Health & Safety: Graphite is overall a safe material to use. But may propose hazard dangers if inhaled frequently or if the dust were to get into your eyes.

Ink is a very useful material to use in art and media. It allows you to create very washed lines whilst still creating dark outer lines. It also allows you to smudge and create dynamic shapes with sleek texture. When painting with ink, you must go careful to not make mistakes as it's not easily un-doable. When painting with ink it is also advisable to paint more freely creating lines as if you were sketching, this can give a very nice effect to your work.

I have used ink in the past to create very unique images, images with sudden dark shadowing, i hope to use it in future projects.

Below an image painted with ink,

Health & Safety: Ink can be extremely dangerous if it were to enter the blood stream, you should always take care with ink as it proposes obvious safety hazards.

Paper mache is a technique very creative way to create 3-d shapes. It is made from paper, glue and water. When wet the macho is easily editable you may craft it diversely around objects. When the paper macho dries it turn s rock hard, creating the shape which was crafted in the soft mix.

I have used this technique in the past to create sculptures and prototypes and hope to use it more in the future as i find it a very useful technique to use.

Below is an example of paper mache 

Health & Safety: Paper mache is generally a safe item to use. Apart from if the substance were to enter the blood stream or eyes, it could cause some damage.

Paper is probably the most widely material for one to draw upon. It is very diverse and can be used in many ways not just for drawing. you can create sculptures and unique patterns by folding and cutting into it.


I have used paper a lot of the time in my work. Using it achieve many sketches and work towards my portfolio.


Below some paper,

Health & Safety: Paper can be dangerous as the edges are sharp, paper cuts can occur when the paper is moved quick along the skin, cutting it open. 

Sketching is a very useful technique, sketching allows you to freely draw light lines which can later be developed into darker lines of which is then one step closer to using as your final outline for your image. For one to get the best results from sketching you must be loose and free with your drawing, creating almost accidental lines then developing upon these can create unique shapes which really go well with the work.


I often use sketching in my own work. I always sketch an image before drawing in the drawler lines to insure i have the best possible composition and the most interesting shapes possible.


Below an image of a sketch.

Health & Safety: Sketching itself is pretty safe. Although excessive drawing my cause wrist problems and blisters on the fingers.

The lasso tool in photoshop is an extremely useful tool in photoshop, it enables you to select a certain area of the image freely. It allows you to create effects which would not be possible without the tool. if you select a certain area using it you can also feather the ages, so when you add the effect the area is also blends the edges with the area surrounding the selection.


I have used the tool many times in my work. I shall defiantly keep using it as it's a very useful tool to use. I have used it to create blurs in certain places rather than blurring the whole image.


Below an image of the lasso tool,

Health & Safety: Excessive use of computers may result in eye damage and many other health problems. It is always recommended to take regular breaks to insure your health is kept to a decent standard.

The Scalpel is a very useful tool when creating complicated cuts. It allows you to craft complicated shapes without the use of scissors which would be a lot harder to do. The scalpel is a diverse object you can also use it to take layers of cardboard for example. Which can create 3-d effects within your work.


I have used the scalpel in my own work many times. Cutting out sticker vinyl and sketches which would be impossible to cut out with scissors.


Here is an example of the Scalpel,

Health & Safety: The scalpel has obvious safety hazards, it has a very sharp blade which can easily cut through skin. You should always go careful when handling the scalpel and when not in use it should always have the protective cover over the top of the blade.

Modelling is a technique which helps you to create a prototype for your work in the future. Developing a prototype can improve your work drastically in the future. Using materials such as card and paper you can create model prototypes which would the be later used as reference when creating something less changeable such as clays etc.


I have used modelling in my own work creating sculptures from are which i then used as reference to create more permanent work.


Below an example of a cardboard model prototype,

Health & Safety: Creating models consists of using dangerous tools, you should also be aware of sharp edges on the objects of which you're using to create the model.

The photoshop Burn & dodge tool are very useful in the digital art environment. These two tools can be used to create Highlights and shadows, Dodge being highlights and burn being shadows. If used correctly these tools can create very aesthetically pleasing lighting effects, making your images look more realistic and 3-Dimensional. There are different setting on both tools each determining the strength which ultimately alters the exposure of which the tools effects the work.


I use this tool in my work quite often, i find it very useful. Even though it can be used well i try to not over use it and use over toning methods with the brush. the reason for this is that it becomes rather obvious that the tools have been used and destroys the natural effect and creates unrealistic lighting in your work.

An example of the tools are here,

Health & Safety: Excessive use of computers may result in eye damage and many other health problems. It is always recommended to take regular breaks to insure your health is kept to a decent standard.

Paint, there are many different variations of paint, different ways of using it and different types of it. Paint can be used to create textured pieces which really bring life to a canvas. One can layer paint on the canvas to create unique natural colours or one can mix the paint and put the  needed colour directly onto the canvas. Depending on how much water is used you can create different contrasts of paint. Creating different hues by mixing them accordingly.

I have used paint any times in the past. It has unlimited amounts of usage and unlike digital art you can physically feel it on the page and see it lift of the canvas literally. I pan on using it within future portfolios to create unique pages within a sketch book.

Below is an example of paint,

Health & Safety: Paint may damage health in numerous ways; contact with eyes is a danger also the inhalation of fumes from the paint may lead to future health problems or drowsiness. Certain paints require safety equipment i.e., masks and goggles.

Washing colours onto pieces of paper is very useful to create a colourful canvas for you to produce work upon. using brush you may achieve pale colour wash. Presenting work in this way helps to improve your grade in sketchbooks and so on.


I have used this technique before in past sketchbooks. It creates a more colourful portfolio to the viewer rather than just seeing a boring, white piece of work.


Below is an example of Brusho being used on pieces of paper to create a colourful background,

Health & Safety: The dye used to create the colourful patterns have health and safety risks. If the dye were to enter the blood stream you may become poisoned so always ensure it always remains exterior to your body. Also dangerous to enter the body in all ways including eyes which you would need to use an eye wash immediately if this were to occur.

Layers in photoshop are one of the main uses, they're not to complicated to comprehend. They may take getting used to but when you're confident of using them you will naturally be adding them to create very diverse images which can easily be edited if you change your mind of certain parts. Layers work as they would in real life. In example Layer 1(the bottom, background layer) would be the canvas of which you are going to draw on in reality. Layer 2(the second layer) would be a stroke of black paint. In reality this would be paint on top of the canvas. Layer 3(the third layer) would be some added colour fill. In reality this would be the colour on the canvas onto of the background and black paint. Now the most useful thing about photoshop is the fact that you can change Layer 1 without effecting layer 2 and 3. This enables you to create complicated layers and have no fear that you may change your mind later in the project that you're working on.

In my own work i've became very confident at using layers, i also use more technical adjustment layer masks and layer effects(between layers) I use them in most of my work that i create on photoshop and will continue to do so in the future.

Below is an example of layers in Photoshop,

Health & Safety: Excessive use of computers may result in eye damage and many other health problems. It is always recommended to take regular breaks to insure your health is kept to a decent standard.

The Brush tool in photoshop, is the most widely used in the digital art industry. It is also one of the most diverse tools i have ever come across in not just digital art but art in general. There are millions of different settings to apply to brushes including brush shapes to add. You can change the opacity of the brush to create certain tones and shades of colour which all add up to define shape to the object of which you are painting. You can also use pen pressure settings to replicate actual brushes in reality.


In my own work i have used the Photoshop brush many times, All my work in photoshop i have used the brush at one point, even if it is to simply add a streak of shadow across the image. Also adding highlights and flashes of colour to photos. But i have mainly used it for painting as you would in reality. Creating images from scratch onto a blank canvas i feel my knowledge of using the brush tool is very nourished.


Below an image of the brush tool in use on Photoshop,

Health & Safety: Excessive use of computers may result in eye damage and many other health problems. It is always recommended to take regular breaks to insure your health is kept to a decent standard.

The Transform tool in photoshop is a very useful tool which can be used diversely to create many different perspectives and shapes from an image which has a fixed view. Using certain sub-tools such as 'warp' you may achieve angles from certain images e.g photos. Which would be impossible to create without the use of the tool. It allows you to stretch and manipulate images creating anchors on certain points of the image.


In my own work i have used the tool to save time, rather than redrawing something from scratch one can take the image and manipulate it to the required form you desire. I have used it on many past paintings e.g an eye from a painting appeared to be out of proportion so i have used the tool to enlarge the eye until it is par with the rest of the image.


Below a basic image showing the Transform tool in use in photoshop,

Health & Safety: Excessive use of computers may result in eye damage and many other health problems. It is always recommended to take regular breaks to insure your health is kept to a decent standard.

Techniques

Photoshop is a very efficient program which may be used to create dynamic pieces of art which would not be possible by using traditional methods. Using various tools which can replicate realistic tools such as Brushes, scissors, stamps and many more it opens up a whole new dimension of possibilities to create masterpieces from the comfort of a desk.

In my own work i have used photoshop efficiently to create art work from concept pieces, illustrations to fashion designs and logo development.

Below is an example of unique work that may be created by using such a technique,

Health & Safety: Excessive use of computers may result in eye damage and many other health problems. It is always recommended to take regular breaks to insure your health is kept to a decent standard.