New Design Toy

Inspired by Jinxmedic's convention photos, and my own computer obsessions, I got myself a Wacom Bamboo Drawing Tablet and Pen.  The tablet came with Corel Painter Essentials 4 as part of its basic painting/drawing software package.  I will use the sketches as chasing designs or print them on fabric and use them as a base for further thread embellishment. 

Yes, I could sketch on paper, then scan and resize and print. I'm sure I still will.  I like the idea of sketching right from the computer, skipping the scanning and some potential print phases.  I do love my technology, so why not incorporate it into my art processes?

Expect to see the chasings sooner and the fiber art later this summer.

I know everyone likes to see an idea develop, so I'm showing you my first experiments with the tablet.
I worked from two of my garden rose photos.
 
It feels a bit awkward to draw on the pen tablet while looking up at the computer monitor.  I did more drawings than these, but decided that these are three I can actually work from for a chasing in metal.
  

With any kind of drawing, I constantly remind myself that it doesn't have to be realistic.  I so wish I could go off on some crazy swirly whirly abstraction, based on the original lines and flow of the image I'm working from.  I slowly make progress, but still my eyes and fingers seem set on making the picture look realistic.
Luckily, as I move into the chasing, I seem to be able to loosen up a bit and bring in some more fantasy.

Where's the rose chasing? I haven't made it yet!  I'm leaving you in suspense  I will work on some this weekend and show you photos next week- both in progress and and complete. 
****

oh oh oh
I got my new business cards this week, actually bookmarks.  I rarely keep business cards, but I am always hunting for bookmarks.   I hope you find them useful too and that you pass them on to your friends.