Digital Drawing
A selection of images from the digtial drawing exercise
Collaborators: UK design for performance 2003- 2007
The collaborators exhibition is a celebration of British Theatre Design. It attracts a variety of theatre design professional and educators and celebrates work from U.K. theatre designers.
Stage 3 of the Drawing Trials took place on the final Saturday of the exhibition which ran at Nottingham University’s Waverly Building for a month. As well as members of the public who came to visit the exhibition on its final weekend, the 3rd February was also the Equity conference to celebrate 30 years of theatre design participation in the Union. My ‘stand’ for the digital drawing trial stood in the entrance to the exhibition and directly opposite to the conference registration. This prime position attracted instant interest and put my in the forefront of the days activities. A slow start and tentative questions followed by a flurrly of participants keen to get their marks down on the computer. Unfortunately I only had one PC and drawing tablet. Originally hoping to use 2, so not to lose any waiting potential participants, I was let down by technology on the day which left me with only the one computer to gather my eager and interested participants.
The results were fantastic with a very busy day and 17 people having ‘a go’ and feeding back their responses (which follow below). The problem I found with the exercise was that everyone wanted to ‘play’ and have a chat about my research and with all the fun being had the post activity questionnaire was almost a disappointment to them. However with a little persuasion and encouragement and a strong emphasis on how important the whole day was to me I started to gain some really interesting results. Though I have analysed the results and understanding my findings I am still unclear on how well it will feed into my ever evolving research question. The most interesting results I found were the images themselves. The variance between the naive and childish lines and the sophisticated and mastered images was astounding. I have learnt a great deal about the way people ‘markmake’ and how the nativity of line has a charm and appeal of its own. What ever I summaries from the results I can without a doubt records that the experience was not only positive, rewarding and highly enjoyable but a really fantastic way to network and what I did ascertain was how interested theatre designers are in technology and what it can offer them.
The results
1. Have you ever used a graphic tablet and pen before
Yes, I use it regularly 2 Category 1
Occasionally 2 Category 2
Once or twice 2 Category 3
No Never 11 Category 4
Total 17
2. Can you describe the sensation of drawing on the computer screen?
Cat 1
Bit like painting in some way, less tactile obviously but strangely more controllable
In this particular exercise you become very focused on the screen and your drawing because you are not working from a model or a subject matter.
Cat 2
Generally relaxing but a little disorientating
Detached, clean, clinical
Cat 3
Very Free and spontaneous
Hard, Frustrating
Cat 4
Great. I’d love to be able to do more and get better
Freedom to create without worry of making mistakes - excited
Felt really weird, drawing on the tablet but not able to see it like you normally would if you were drawing on paper
Its weird but you can get used to it very quickly
Need another hand and another eye. Very quickly got used to the idea of drawing on one surface and seeing the image on another
Free, enabling, confusing, exciting
Difficult hand and eye co-ordination to begin with
Strange, as I am used to looking done at my hand and the paper as I draw. An easy transition to make though and great fun
Slightly disembodied at first
It felt very similar to using a marker pen, quite natural. The pen was very responsive and accurate
Disjointed – didn’t know what to do with my other hand
Yes, I use it regularly 2 Category 1
Occasionally 2 Category 2
Once or twice 2 Category 3
No Never 11 Category 4
Total 17
2. Can you describe the sensation of drawing on the computer screen?
Cat 1
Bit like painting in some way, less tactile obviously but strangely more controllable
In this particular exercise you become very focused on the screen and your drawing because you are not working from a model or a subject matter.
Cat 2
Generally relaxing but a little disorientating
Detached, clean, clinical
Cat 3
Very Free and spontaneous
Hard, Frustrating
Cat 4
Great. I’d love to be able to do more and get better
Freedom to create without worry of making mistakes - excited
Felt really weird, drawing on the tablet but not able to see it like you normally would if you were drawing on paper
Its weird but you can get used to it very quickly
Need another hand and another eye. Very quickly got used to the idea of drawing on one surface and seeing the image on another
Free, enabling, confusing, exciting
Difficult hand and eye co-ordination to begin with
Strange, as I am used to looking done at my hand and the paper as I draw. An easy transition to make though and great fun
Slightly disembodied at first
It felt very similar to using a marker pen, quite natural. The pen was very responsive and accurate
Disjointed – didn’t know what to do with my other hand
What did you like about it?
Cat 1
Control – different tool options easily available. Clean (no messy) paint. Use with other non tablet options it’s very powerful tool.
The seemingly unlimited variety in texture stroke and colour that could be created
Cat 2
Satisfying to see your drawing on screen instantly
Detachment. Being able to change/ delete/ erase quickly
Cat 3
Being able to rub things out
Speed. Surprised by how accurate I could be
Cat 4
Freedom to experiment with colour and technique
Response to pen on tablet and reproduction of everything I did on screen
Something new. It may be better if I had more practice, be able to experiment more. It makes a change from a sketchbook.
The rubber.
The rubber tool!!! Not messy. Easy to get effects, quick to learn.
Looking at the image from a distance. You’re able to see proportion much better by looking at the screen. The rubber tool, painting with the rubber creates really interesting effects
Ability to erase easily
It is rewarding and one I got used to the new way of drawing it was easy to do what I wanted.
Easy to edit
I like exploring the different tools and brush stokes available, and being creative with it.
As it was my first time it felt like there was no pressure on the results being good
What didn’t you like about it?
Cat 1
The lack of tactile response when drawing
Sometimes you miss the feel of a pencil on paper. The stylus and tablet are both made of plastic and when you slide the stylus across the tablet it feels a little unnatural.
Cat 2
Drawing tablet is so far from actual picture [size] you can’t watch both at the same time
Restrictive, scale, very clean – I like getting involved and dirty
Cat 3
Not being very good at it. The transfer of information from tablet to screen without being able to see it and not having the same amount of control as to paper
Nothing
Cat 4
Being to bad at it
Being watched while doing it as I’m not that good
Even though everything you need it there, easer, brush, pen etc It felt odd just clicking it. I didn’t feel like I had the same control over my work.
The way it draws not controlled
My inability to navigate the [Photoshop] program. Practice will improve this
My lack of technical ability
Obviously would take time to learn various options eg brushed, colours, fills etc and the precision on screen would be hard to master.
The marks felt very final at first. With a pencil you can be sketchier and draw lightly. I soon got used to using the lighter colours and the rubber
No comment
I only got frustrated that I’m not a good drawer and the computer can’t help that
The results not being very good. Not having much control
5. What is your opinion on the graphic tablet and pen becoming part of the modern day Artist?
Cat 1
Absolute must for digital artwork. The mouse alone just isn’t enough. Helps make the transition from traditional to digital media
I think it is very important that the modern day artists are aware of the advancements in technology within their specialisim. The Wacom Tablet and Stylus does not replace traditional methods of drawing but with enthusiasm and credibility it can help to produce some very exciting results
Cat 2
Positive, easily adaptable deigns are a bonus
It’s a positive addition to media, I think it’s good because it is quick and can be manipulated easily
Cat 3
It’s inevitable
Has fantastic potential as another means of mark making
Cat 4
A must have
A very valuable tool, in terms of saving time, duplication and alteration of designs
I think it could work – if they felt confident but I prefer to not work in digital media personally
Yes, everyone should get one to play with
Oh yes, might have one myself!. I can see myself using this as an art tool.
You can’t stop it happening
Good: Because I now means drawings can be emailed and transferred easily.
It is really fun and accessible way to use a computer to dawr and encourage people to draw. It felt less pressured than and empty sketchbook page but I did become a bit of a perfectionist with it which I might not have been in a sketchbook
Yes, with practice it has great potential
I think that this would be a good tool to add to the existing tool available to designers
I think with practice it would become a useful tool
As a result of this experience has your interest in digital drawing
47 % - significantly increased
35% - Slightly increased
12 % - interested stayed the same
6% slightly decreased
Occupation
59% of respondents worked or studied in the theatre design/ costume discipline (comments by these respondents are marked in red)
35% of respondents worked or studied in related arts and craft related disciplines
6% of respondents worked in non related disciplines (this respondent worked as a computer programmer)
Age
A wide range of ages participated in the trials the breakdown is as follows
18 -29 47% 30 – 39 6%
40 – 49 29% 50 – 59 12%
60+ 6%
