OT needing a graphics artist

I'm not sure about software to buy - but a very cool drawing web site is at:

And I would also recommend, if possible, a drawing tablet and stylus. I tried out one that a friend had and then got my own as soon as possible. The biggest difference over using a mouse is the increased control of the cursor because you are effectively drawing with a pen. Wacom makes some that are not very expensive (Bamboo tablets).

HTH Allison

Sorry Roberta but Goodby Old Paint's got to be better than "I'm bring home a baby bumble bee". THat's the one I usually have stuck in my head. Polly

Thank you Allison. Seems like the way I did the cartoons was to do a beginning with pencil, scan it and then make all manner of embellishments on Corel. Fun and saved lots LOTS of time and paper. I was just thinking there might be something new and upgraded now. ( Not that new and upgraded are always better or 'as good as'.) Polly

A possibility for a free download is at:

(This loooks similar to one that my kids liked when they were younger)

Also, it gets good reviews at cnet:

DD2 has a graphics tablet and stylus, plus she draws and scans. Her graphics program of choice is Gimp. Gimp is compatible with files from most other graphics programs She railed and ranted when she had to upgrade to it, she does that every time she has to change something, but now she loves it. It might be a little big for the average seven year old, but then again maybe not.

A big double plus for it is it's free. So if your girl just cannot handle it, you are out nothing.

When she wants to move to three dimensional rendering look to Blender.

NightMist

gimp might do the trick. so much there she'd be kept busy figuring it out for ages. free, tho a big download, well for me it was. when i got it was 81mbs. vaguely recall that they've been working on making it more user friendly. maybe i should get an update and put more energy into it myself.

there are screenshots there to look thru as well. they have tutorials online as well. can use it on various operating systems...windows, unix, mac. hth, j.

"Polly Esther" wrote ... ( Is that what you call an artist who does their drawing on computer?) Back before I became a deadbeat, I did some illustrations and cartoons with Corel Draw. Loved it. Even got paid for it. Now there's a young one in the family who is delightfully talented and I need to recommend a drawing software. She enjoys just plain old Paint but I'm just sure there's something super available now. Can any of you suggest a software that is child-friendly? And not babyish? Syd is seven now and quite the grown-up. And aside - wasn't Old Paint some cowboy's horse? Polly

Polly

I would most definitely agree on GIMP. As said, it is a free download and is very, very similar to PhotoShop, one of the industry standards. Our school district used to use it until we started buying site licenses from a consortium and could get the brand name stuff. Also definitely agree on a tablet and stylus. As stated, Wacom makes a large variety, they work well, and from reasonable to WOW! how can it cost that much.

Also, for everyone out there, if you have a student or teacher that needs to buy software, YOU MUST check out

This website is often the place college and university bookstores send students to now days when software needs to be bought. You have to send them some sort of ID that proves you are student/teacher, but the savings are incredible. Everything that I have needed to buy, both for classes I have taken and personal and school needs is often 75% off on average. It's all the real thing, totally legitimate, and shipping is reasonable, especially for way up north here. NAYY

Steven Alaska

Gimp is good, free, lots to do with it and enormous freedom and room to grow creatively. And a drawing pad is vital if she's really artistic and wants to draw. All good things. But the very, very best is pencil and paper. Sorry, I'm a traditionalist. Get her in love with pencil and paper first. She can learn on a computer later. But gorgeous pencils and paper are a very good foundation.

Sunny (Luddite)

I thank you kindly. Thank you so very much. If there's something this precious group doesn't know, it is probably not worth knowing. I surely am glad that darling little girl has some drawing/art talent. The last time she was here I offered her the musical instruments. Might have done better with the Yorkie. Make that Probably could have done better with the Yorkie. Polly