October was busy... The social media group ran a daily challenge:

Affinity Designer Tutorial - Minimal Landscapes using Gradients youtu.be/8pyXnZ0RFSA I will show you how to quickly create minimal landscapes using gradient fills, silhouettes, strokes, and Gaussian blurs. Enjoy! #Affinity #affinity_designer #vector #vectorart #landscape #gradient

Tutorial Video - Colouring in SVG and PNG images youtu.be/VeYLJ5gy13M When purchasing stock images, they often come in various formats. Which tool is the right choice for further editing? Learn how to approach the different file formats and avoid headaches and poor quality results.

I had fun with a birthday present for a friend. [marker and watercolour]

Manually tracing with the pencil tool Creating line art in Inkscape - Tutorial video youtu.be/CN3msC85AeM This video shows you how to easily trace a sketch using the Pencil Tool to create clean and crisp lineart and add colour to the illustration.

Tutorial Video - Manual Tracing with the Pencil Tool This video shows you how to easily trace a photo using the Pencil Tool to create a simple lineart illustration. youtu.be/b3ePJc-PVLE

Tutorial Video - Manual Tracing with the Pen Tool This video shows you how to easily trace a photo with the Pen Tool to create a simple lineart illustration. youtu.be/ASWXn_qR2SE #affinity #affinitydesigner #vectorart #illustration

I had fun coming up with alien designs for my social media groups for Inkscape and Affinity Designer.

I had a few neurological examinations lately. I learned to live with the term 'hammertoes' a long time ago, but 'claw hands' still gets to me. Yes, there is severe muscle wasting. Yes, the pinky and the 2nd finger don't straighten properly anymore... but they are so much more than claws...

It's the latest AI-generated slop trend and I am not going to rant about it [at least not today 😉 ]... Instead, I did my own as a vector illustration.

Affinity Designer Tutorial - Designing a Maze This tutorial video uses a simple approach using lines, grids, and layer blend modes to create a simple labyrinth. youtu.be/dfId8VQBEKk Set up a grid, use the pen tool to create lines snapped to the grid, and erase lines using the blend mode erase.

Tutorial Video - Creating Seamless Rope Pattern Brushes This tutorial video will show you how to quickly and easily create simple, seamless rope brushes. youtu.be/3HgSO4lYvbk Grab the Rope Pattern Brushes: 2dgameartguru.gumroad.com/l/jzchsi [Put a zero in the price field to get them for FREE!]

Inkscape Tutorial - Creating a Linocut Look youtu.be/5crBiJA_dzU In this video, I create a linocut look using the layer blend modes, basic shapes, and the pencil tool. After creating the video for Affinity Designer, I started wondering what was needed to achieve the effect in Inkscape. Enjoy!

Creating a digital linocut look using Erase youtu.be/pVnYamhifdE In this video, I create a linocut look using the layer blend modes, compounds, and layers to contain the effect. I will show you how to create a digital design that looks like a linocut print without the cuts, the paint, and the mess.

I house- and dog-sat for friends and used the time for some digital detox. I packed the sketchbooks, pens, and watercolours instead of the laptop... and enjoyed it ;)

Inkscape Tutorial - Create and Apply a Crayon-Style Seamless Pattern Fill youtu.be/jXVnLqZYbmQ This video explains the creation of seamless scribble/ colouring-in patterns using crayon patterns as patterns along paths. The lines [inside a clip group] are turned into a pattern to colour the design.

Affinity Designer Tutorial - Create and Colour a Line Art Mandala youtu.be/DyY4iUG9Yqw This video tutorial shows how to design and colour a mandala design based on vector lines and tapered strokes in Affinity Designer. Enjoy!

I am going through the [rather large] backlog of recorded videos that 'only' needed editing and narration... Clipping Photos along a Dividing Text youtu.be/F-z3GMyH4lw In this mini tutorial, I clip two images inside a circle and use text to divide the top and bottom. Enjoy!

Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!

Cute Beaver - feedback illustration Another light and shading feedback illustration for a Facebook Affinity Designer Group. I use clipping masks to place shading shapes, details, and the shadows cast by other objects inside.

Mushroom guy - feedback illustration An illustration to visualize the feedback given to a post in a Facebook Affinity Designer user group. Quick and dirty - good fun ;)

Monster in the moonlight - feedback illustration An illustration to show how a change in the light setup and colour scheme can enhance the design as part of feedback in an Affinity Designer user group.

Drone shading and colours - feedback illustration I had fun working on a little Affinity Designer illustration as feedback on a design of a friend on Facebook. [I used blurred shapes and tapered lines inside clipping masks with added transparency and altered layer blend modes.]

I have also updated the 'Inkscape - Helpful Hints' to v.1.1 [also adding over 100 new step-by-step tutorials]. Enjoy! 2dgameartguru.gumroad.com/l/spegq @inkscapetuts #inkscape #free #PDF #FOS

I have updated the 'Affinity Designer - Helpful Hints' to v.2.3 [adding over 100 new step-by-step tutorials]. Enjoy! 2dgameartguru.gumroad.com/l/dpzcv #affinitybyserif #affinity #affinitydesigner #vectorgraphics #free #PDF

I uploaded the 2nd follow-up Affinity Designer Mini Tutorial - Create Hair using Symbols youtu.be/OauYV7hsyFo Enjoy! #affinitybyserif #affinitydesigner #vector #illustration #graphicart #hair #fur #critter #tutorial #basic #easy #symbols

Affinity Designer Mini Tutorial - Create Hair using Texture Brushes youtu.be/EN4CuCyT-jM?... Enjoy! #affinitybyserif #affinitydesigner #vector #illustration #graphicart #hair #fur #critter #tutorial #basic #easy #brushes

I uploaded a new Affinity Designer Tutorial Video on Creating Hair using Strokes with Pressure Curves youtu.be/tOQsHhfoUP8?... #affinitybyserif #affinitydesigner #vector #illustration #graphicart #hair #fur #critter #tutorial #basic #easy

I am so sick and tired of the chronic pains. It's been a challenging week and I could do with a break...

I played with the funny facial hair challenge in the Inkscape - hands-on FB group. I might have gone a little overboard with 1000 tapered lines [~500 lines cloned and mirrored]... but it was fun #Inkscape #vector #graphics #illustration #beard #funny #hair

I am having fun with Affinity Designer, symbols, pressure curves, and the latest challenge 'Funny Facial Hair' of the Affinity Hands-on Facebook group... #affinitydesigner #affinitybyserif #illustration #vector #lines #face #hair

I added a new Affinity Designer Mini Tutorial "Multiple Strokes using the Appearance" youtu.be/tyFF1Z4Ixkc Enjoy! #affinitydesigner #tutorial #video #vector #illustration #GraphicDesign #strokes #magic #appearance

I also created an Affinity Designer Tutorial on "Creating a Mosaic Effect with dashed lines" youtu.be/TKBu8B_SNZ4 #affinitybyserif #affinitydesigner #affinity #video #tutorial #vector #graphics #illustration #mosaic #pattern #fish #dory

I just uploaded a new Inkscape Tutorial "Creating a Mosaic Effect with Pattern along Path" youtu.be/euQof-13RCs?... Enjoy! #inkscape #tutorial #vector #desing #graphics #illustration #mosaic #goldfish #pattern #patheffect

I went a little overboard in Inkscape while binge-watching. As usual, it's a mix of clip groups, gradients, lots of blurs, power strokes, taper strokes, and patterns along paths. #inscape #vector #illustration #graphicdesign #egg #friedegg #challenge

Bending vectors while watching TV - obviously the show is not that engaging :) Another go at the 'Draw one simple object in detail'... #inscape #vector #illustration #graphicdesign #egg #friedegg #challenge

I uploaded a new Inkscape Tutorial "Organizing Complex Designs using Layers, Groups, and Clip Groups" youtu.be/ic3fWTWRT-s?... #inscape #tutorial #video #vector #illustration #graphicdesign #structure #layers #groups #clipgroups

I just uploaded a new Inkscape Tutorial on "Creating a seamless Fill Pattern" youtu.be/_Arjrqvrq58?... Enjoy! @inkscape #inkscape #tutorial #video #vector #graphics #illustration #pattern #seamless #patternfill

I just released a tutorial video on creating complex editable text effects in Affinity Designer using multiple FX in stacked groups with symbols at the base. youtu.be/pdunTh_oyEA #affinitybyserif #affinitydesigner #vector #vectorart #illustration #graphicdesign #texteffects

Thanks to the rainy weather [and nothing better to do] I played around with Inkscape for my 2nd entry to the About Screen Contest for v1.4. [Maybe the recent Serif/ Canva news had something to do with it.] #inkscape #aboutscreen #contest #growth #creative #vectors #illustration #graphicdesign

I had some fun with Affinity Designer [yes... that one! It works awesomely] - simple shapes, gradients, layer blend modes, brushes, and fx all mixed into one illustration. #affinity #affinitydesigner #vector #illustration #graphics

I played around with another pattern for Inkscape's monthly contest. [I sooooooooooo need to go shopping for cheese now... as there's none in the fridge. ] #inkscape #vector #graphics #illustration #pattern

And we didn't see this coming? Looking for reference images has become nearly impossible as the genAI garbage is mixed into the results. It's no longer the 'odd fake image'. It's a tsunami of visual lies that drowns the real photos, the facts, and the human art.

I had some fun with a seamless pattern in Inkscape today... [I added a few rays, colour, and elements from the pattern on top for this image.] @inkscape #inkscape #vector #illustration #graphics #pattern #seamless #jungle

The day after... dealing with the aftermath of a shitstorm... or mental cleanup in progress...

It's been one of those days and I am glad it's Friday... or the fast way to make 'friends'... [...and no... I didn't kick or ban the member from the group. I just blocked his account. Someone doing merchandise on Amazon without knowing generative AI is not in the artists' best interest... really?]

I just uploaded a new Affinity Designer Mini Tutorial - Miniature Storefront design using basic shapes youtu.be/NDpDwSTxmig Enjoy! #affinitybyserif #affinity #affinityDesigner #vector #illustration #tutorial #storefront #miniature #basic #beginner #video

I decided to give the new Inkscape About Screen Contest for v.1.4 a try - the theme is 'Growth' [which was the topic of my entry last year ;( ]. This was fun... #inkscape #opensource #aboutscreen #ArtWithOpenSource #InkscapeAboutScreen