What tools do i have to master in order to do this....

**mindscapedesign** · 26 August 2007, 12:55 AM

Thanks guys. Much appreciated...Ron duke that is really impressive. Yet again you show Xara is truly under-rated. I was thinking it's about mastering the gradient tool (i might be wrong)
Ron, I am assuming that is can also be done with Xara Xtreme? At the risk of sounding cheeky....can I see the xar file. I promise it will be used for personal purposes only. This is not my style of illustration but it's something I am trying learn.

**raynerj1** · 26 August 2007, 07:53 AM

syd,

I would take a look in the example 1 and 2 folder of the clipart gallery. There are many examples there of the techniques used. If you look in the xaraxone, Gary has written many truely excellent tuts (I think over 100) that cover Almost every possible thing you can draw (except photo realistc human portraits)

The xaraone one CD came with my copy of xara... (have yet to load it tho...)

**mindscapedesign** · 26 August 2007, 08:34 AM

Hi Rayner,

I was looking at the clip art you suggested. That's very helpful thank you. I did n't even know these existed.

**gwpriester** · 26 August 2007, 01:05 PM

Ron's French Horn drawing could have been done with Xara, Corel Xara, Xara X, Xara X1, etc. The basic tools have been there since day one. Ron just knows how to get the most out of them.

It's like the old Monty Python line about novel writing; The words are all there, the trick is getting them in the right order."

Gary

**raynerj1** · 26 August 2007, 06:12 PM

One thing I didn't mention but should have. The examples provided in these two folders are just that. The copyrights are still held by the respective artists, so you can not use them as "clipart". They have been graciously provided just as a learning tool to create your own works of art.

In other words... don't use those works and call em your own... Particularily to post in the gallery here... The folks here would notice real quick and "correct" you...

**mindscapedesign** · 27 August 2007, 12:43 AM

I'm going to try to do my own car illustration. I think I've got the general idea. The next thing is just to practice.

**raynerj1** · 27 August 2007, 09:57 PM

Cars are pretty hard... just shy a of a portrait. I would try a pen or a pencil, or some other hand held tool to start with. You might get too frustrated with a car as a first big project. Ask Noman or Ron... I think they would agree... Cars are not as easy as they look.

**mindscapedesign** · 27 August 2007, 10:19 PM

I tried a car a few months ago...I got through the line art part (which was not as bad as I thought it would be). But when it came to putting in the detail I just gave up. My style of illustration is more stylized but I would really like to get to grips with some semi realistic types of illustration. I agree cars a quite difficult...but a pen is not much of a challenge.