Learn – Dan Tabata

Inktober 2017

Posted on October 31, 2017November 8, 2018 by Dan Tabata

2018 UPDATE
Visit the Inktober 2018 Drawings galley to see my drawings from 2018. Instead of strictly following the official prompt list, I did a combination of my own prompts and a few of the official ones! It was another fun October of ink drawing!

This year (2017), I participated in the Inktober ink drawing challenge.

Inktober was created by Jake Parker in 2009 as a challenge to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. Participation in Inktober is simple: Draw something in ink, post it online, and repeat the process each day during October. Over the years, Inktober has grown from one artist’s personal challenge into a worldwide annual event that is enjoyed by thousands of artists! Continue reading “Inktober 2017” →

Evolving Art

Posted on June 30, 2017September 9, 2017 by Dan Tabata

When we first see a drawing, we might imagine a flash of inspiration leading straight to the finished artwork. Many times that’s what happens, but not always.

One of my favorite drawings took a few years and several versions until the art finally matched up with my imagination. The fez fish began as a 2013 sketch book drawing that I scanned and colored in Photoshop. Continue reading “Evolving Art” →

How to Create a Vector Portrait with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

Posted on February 27, 2017November 21, 2017 by Dan Tabata

This tutorial will walk you through the steps that I take to create vector portraits using Photoshop to prepare a source/guide image and Illustrator to draw the final artwork. Continue reading “How to Create a Vector Portrait with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop” →

How to Use Opacity Masks in Adobe Illustrator

Posted on August 26, 2016January 19, 2019 by Dan Tabata

Opacity masks offer a easy-to-edit, non-destructive way to change the transparency of your Illustrator artwork by creating shapes through which the underlying artwork is revealed and concealed.

So, when might you want to use an opacity mask?

Here are two practical examples that were adapted from questions asked on the graphic design question-and-answer site Graphic Design Stack Exchange. Continue reading “How to Use Opacity Masks in Adobe Illustrator” →

How to Create a Low Poly Dog in Adobe Illustrator

Posted on June 10, 2016August 26, 2016 by Dan Tabata

If you’ve played 3D video games you’ll recognize low poly from its blocky appearance and lack of detail. In 3D computer graphics a polygon mesh, often composed of triangles, is used to model 3D objects. The more polygons used in the mesh, the more detail can be applied to the object.

I recently watched a video that demonstrated an easily understood process for using an image to create low poly artwork in Adobe Illustrator. While playing the video I wanted to look at written instructions, but there were none available. Watching parts of the video over and over again was slowing me down, so I ended up taking my own notes and have turned them into this tutorial. Continue reading “How to Create a Low Poly Dog in Adobe Illustrator” →

How to Create a Saltire Flag in Adobe Illustrator

Posted on May 25, 2016May 26, 2016 by Dan Tabata

It has nothing to do with salt, tires or salty language. A saltire is the diagonal cross used in many flag designs, including the flags of Scotland and Jamaica.

I first learned about saltires (and their use in flag designs) while searching for an simple way to divide a rectangle into matching pairs of triangles. This tutorial might not be as entertaining as Sheldon Cooper’s “Fun with Flags” videos (from The Big Bang Theory), but you’ll find out a a few flag facts and learn how to create an easily customizable saltire flag. Continue reading “How to Create a Saltire Flag in Adobe Illustrator” →

Dan Tabata

Category: Learn