Using Adobe Illustrator without "hand" drawing skills?

Question

I work on Photoshop for over 4 years for web design and user interface purposes but I'm thinking of starting learning Illustrator because most of design jobs now require illustrator skills beside Photoshop.The problem is that I suck at drawing and I'm wondering what kind of stuff can I craft in illustrator in this situation, and what benefits I can get from using it?otherwise, does it require any drawing skills? should I start learning or not?

Answer 1

Maybe you might find a good drawing teacher to up your game. This will give you greater options and you can express your design sense better, rather than relying on the limitations of royalty free images that are the original artwork of someone else. Or try watching You Tube, so many free drawing videos. Always good to add new skills throughout life to keep that brain cranking. ;)

Answer 2

Illustrator is your drawing program and it's good for creating logos, concepts, and digital illustrations. You don't have to have drawing skills, but it does help to take a drawing class because you will need to understand how to create images with perspective, lines, value, form among other things. There are so many basics you will learn in a drawing class that can help you with using Illustrator.

Just because you know how to use the software, doesn't always mean you'll be a good illustration.

Case in point: I was tutoring a student how to use Illustrator because he wanted to create his own comic book artwork. That was no problem. However, when I gave him projects to work on during the lesson using Illustrator, his digital drawing skills were subpar because he wasn't drawing every day. Drawing does help you become a better illustrator. Take a look at Todd McFarlane. He's been creating comics by hand since he was a kid, and eventually he went digital.

I would also NOT recommend using the trace tool because it's a waste of time and does NOT accurately give you the desired image you are looking for. You're going to have more control over your artwork using the pencil or better yet, the pen tool.

Answer 3

I've found Illustrator doesn't require much drawing skill!

You can use royalty-free reference images as well as stack them on one another to create something new, and trace over them. Just make sure you're able to use them without infringing on copyright!

Answer 4

Yes, definitely! Always learn new skills!!

Learning new skills means that you are improving your craft. Learn new software, new methods, new techniques. You should always be improving your craft and learning how to use new tools. Don't just stick with one medium or software program, absorb them all and learn them enough to know which ones provide the best tool for the job at hand.

Drawing and artistic expression are different than the skill required to learn and use Illustrator. Think of working with vectors in Illustrator more of a construction process and it may help with understanding the difference between artistic expression and plotting a design solution.

Answer 5

Hello,

I am not good at drawing either. You can find line art online, but make sure it's royalty free when doing so. You can image trace the work and color as needed. I have done this with many projects I have worked on. If you can't find line art, then find a royalty free image and trace with the line tool, circle, etc to get the desired look.