Ah, the frustration and foibles of web design.

[elfs]

I've spent the last four hours trying to teach myself how to draw tendrils and tentacles using the vector illustration program Inkscape. While I seem to have figured out how to programmatically describe the thickness and fill style of any particular tendril along a curve, my curves always seem to come out... chunky. Not quite tendril-like. I'm missing something, some particular skill that allows me to convince the bezier curves into a more curvy look and feel. It's really frustrating, because I have an idea for a design element for a website and my illustrative skills are so atrophied. I haven't had to use them professionally for over five years now and I have not been practicing as regularly as I should.

Bleah. So much to learn, so much to do. It's really frustrating.

Comments

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

Are the curves a freehand thing with your pen-pad mouse? Try sitting down with some paper and pencil for awhile just working on your drawing skills to reawaken that old muscle memory. Then try working with the mouse pen.

If not, I have no ideas for you. ;p

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I have no suggestions--my drawings of tendrils and vines are done in pencil and I usually start with a central line and flesh out from there.

[(Anonymous)]

Does the program have spline curves?

I think bezier curves are a pain, a drawing tool
designed by a programmer who can't draw ;-)