*Creative Head Tristan Nesbitt shares his thoughts on the merits of a range of mediums used by Creatives to scamp up ideas, from the traditional to the cutting edge.*
As a creative I am constantly trying to hone my drawing skills. Now, I use the term ‘skills’ very loosely. I am by no means a talented artist or will ever pretend to be one. But I’ve been submerged in creative and surrounded by creative minds from all disciplines for about 16 years, right from college through to my current role as Creative Head at Superdream UK, and I can tell you, I’ve seen first hand what a *real* artist can do.
As creatives we are expected to be able to communicate ideas proficiently. Sometimes an idea can be tossed around in written form or even just as a conversation. The problem with this is that it requires a level of visualisation that some of us just don’t have. It’s nobody’s fault, it’s just the way some people are wired, so we need to get our ideas down in a visual form, one way or another.
‘Scamping’ is a term used in the creative industry (I’ve never heard it used elsewhere) for very loose drawings to communicate ideas to colleagues and clients. I’ve been doing it for years and if you’re a creative person reading this blog, then you probably have too. I’m OK at it, but there are some aspects I struggle with – hands, faces and general anatomy being my biggest hurdles but these are the things I sit at home and draw over and over when I get a spare minute, and trust me, I still struggle at times.
Light boxes are great for when you need to trace something complex rather than draw it. Ultimately this is quicker than trying to work out angles and perspective in a complex scene. But unfortunately, there isn’t always something you can trace that is exactly what you are looking to communicate to your audience. So, what do you do? You practice. It’s as simple as that. (link: http://www.demilked.com/drawing-skills-progress-practice-before-after/ text: This blog from Demilked) proves my point.
**The question is: in the digital world we live in today, which is the best medium to scamp in?**
### **Good old fashioned pen (or pencil) and paper**
(image: https://assets.superdream.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13144229/PEnd-1024×682.png alt: pend)
I love my stationery, always have and always will. My current writing and drawing tools are the Caran D’ache Ecridor Retro pen and pencil set. They’re not cheap but probably the best pen and pencil I have ever held, let alone used. I’ve used some Mont Blancs in the past (not my own) that I would not choose over these two beauties. As well as this I have my usual N60 marker, Staedler fine-liners and my Letraset markers.
The sense of connection you get when using these traditional tools to get ideas onto paper cannot be replicated. The problem with this is that you need a scanner or something similar to get your ideas into the digital sphere.
### **Graphics Tablet (the type without a built-in screen)**
(image: https://assets.superdream.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/13144311/tablet-1024×682.png alt: tablet)
I currently own a Bamboo Pen and Touch. For years I used this as the ‘mouse’ for my Mac using it for everything from re-touching to magazine layouts, but eventually fell out of love with it and stopped using it all the time. It was good (but not brilliant) for retouching and sketching out quick ideas in a digital form, but always slowed me down when it came to layout and general use. So I went back to a mouse. And before you say it, no, not an Apple ‘Magic Mouse’ as the only thing I can see that is ‘Magic’ about them is how unergonomic they are. I mean seriously Apple – what were you thinking?! I decided to go for a gaming mouse – the Deathadder 3.5G to be precise. Now, if you like all you Mac stuff to match and look all ‘Maccy’, then this sort of hardware is not for you. But if you’re not a fashion victim and like comfortable, accurate and fully-customisable hardware, then the Deathadder range is worth a look. But I digress…
The problem with scamping with a graphics tablet is the disconnection from pen to screen. You do get used to it, but you never feel fully connected.
### **Tablet (like an iPad)**
This is where the tablet (yes, the ones like the iPad) have come in. They are bridging the gap like never before. Yes, you’ve been able to sketch your ideas in digital form on smart phones, 5” tablets, 7” tablets etc. with a stylus for donkeys years now, but it is only in the past 12 months that this has really been of interest to me. Why? Well, the answer is simple -the iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil.
iPads have always been a little too small for me and my scamping. I have used the 10” one several times with a pressure sensitive stylus but just ended up reverting back to pen and paper mainly because of the lack of screen real estate and the slightly glitchy workflow of the stylus.
The problem I have is that this is exactly as I said — ‘an interest’. Unfortunately due to house renovations, and generally enjoying life too much, I can never justify the £600 (base model) price tag for something I would draw on and do a bit of internet browsing. Plus, I’m pretty sure the wife would be extremely unimpressed if I came home with an iPad Pro when she has been putting off buying new boots to replace her *very* worn ones because of the money we are pumping into our house. All I can say is that if the Apple Pencil is as smooth and amazing as the adverts make out, I can’t wait to be able to afford one.
So where do I go from here?
### **The Newbie — Wacom Bamboo Folio**
Well, we finally get to the reason for me writing this blog. A couple of weeks ago the popular Japanese graphics tablet giant Wacom announced the Bamboo Folio. Some of you might be familiar with the Bamboo Spark which is exactly the same as the Folio just a lot smaller. But the added size of the Folio (it comes in an A4 format) instantly drew my attention (no pun intended — well maybe a little).
I spotted it on one of my Instagram feeds and almost instantly text my partner-in-crime at Superdream (Rich Preedy) to basically tell him I wanted one. He was in the middle of a Cross-fit competition at the time but still responded rather quickly with as much enthusiasm as me.
**So why is it different?**
The Spark, and now the Slate and Folio versions allow you to draw, write, doodle or whatever you normally do with a pen or pencil, onto real paper. Then, at the push of a button, your ‘masterpiece’ gets transferred digitally to whatever device you have via the app. In my opinion, this is a great way to merge old techniques with new,creating a more fluid workflow for creative minds.
The Spark retails for around £100 so I can’t imagine the Folio is going to be a huge amount more. I’ve seen some reports that the Folio will retail around the £150 mark, but even if it was double the price, it still sits much closer to a price tag I could justify to my wife.
I will write another blog once the Folio is out and I have had chance to try it out and let you all know if it’s any good — unless someone wants to buy me and iPad Pro and Apple Pencil that is…