35 Abstract Brushes

Visit BittBox not only to download the brushes but also to:

• see a big illustration he created using these brushes
• download the illustration source files
• download the brushes’ source shape files

Already I see the power of custom brushes, and I’m an Illustrator newbie!

If you’re looking for vectors, BittBox also recently posted some free vector shapes:

• Butterflies
• Wings
• Flowers

Now proudly available on all sorts of swag at CafePress.

I hope to try the other tutorials in the near future. Also might dress up the fishbowl beyond the tutorial, kind alike this one: http://img235.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jpegfishbowlst7.jpg

Haven’t seen anymore roaches.

Forgot to pick up caulk at Home Depot today when I got some lights to use in my “studio” (a lightbox on my art table).

Looked at my watch earlier and saw that it was 4:45 and felt a strange mild relief even though I’m not at work. (It’s been a long week, spent mostly waiting for the days to end.)

Played with Illustrator on my laptop at the library today. Created some droplet shapes with a circle and lines, then with circle and altered rectangles, and finally figured out how to make the collection of shapes into one shape unto itself. Took me a while to figure out, but I think I learn best by doing. Then I made the droplet into a brush, which was a lot easier than I expected. Now I can make it rain.

I think from now on, if I want to do serious work on my laptop that doesn’t require the Internet, I’d better hit a library. Panera will be reserved for online work. Barnes & Noble would be a good alternative to a lirary, but so far their cafés seem to have a lack of outlets.

Oh, and I found a couple of paperbacks and 3 CDs in the library’s used book shop. Also a hardback kids book, The Horse in Harry’s Room. I remembered the story from growing up. Even more, I remember the illustrator’s style. Syd Hoff‘s drawings bring back the simple pleasure and wonders I found in reading when I was young.

And boy howdy, it’s chilly here. Maybe not comapred to Minnesota or Wisconsin, but it sure is a slap in the face when the wind chill is 31 degrees and only 2 days ago we almost hit 80 degrees. But even though it’s cold, the rain (yesterday and today) is welcome.

Oh, and BittBox is my new favorite site. There isn’t as much Illustrator content as I want to absorb these days, but what’s there is quality stuff.

Power Button (in white, black, and green)

Midnight Surfer