Wacom Intuos Draw Review

This is my review about the the Wacom Intuos Draw Graphic Tablet.
This tablet is the smallest in this brand, and this one it's only a pen tablet, it doesn't have the touch functionality.
The tablet has 4 expressive keys that can be maped with the driver (undo, redo, pan/scroll/zoom), and the pen has also two buttons that also can be mapped to different functions (eraser, pressure).
It includes a free software bundle with the program ArtRage Lite and a few tutorial videos, I didn't have any problems at all with the download and registration of the software and the tablet to Wacom's page. Obviously you register first your Wacom tablet and then they give you the serial number for your ArtRage product.

Now, let's see more about this tablet per categories:

1-Drivers: I had a couple of problems with this, the tablet came with a CD with the driver installer, although I rather'd download the driver from the Wacom website. I downloaded and installed it (tablet not connected), then I connected my tablet and it worked, I mapped the expressive keys with the driver and I tried the tablet with ArtRage and it worked fine, then all of sudden, pen wasn't working and also the expressive keys, so I opened the Wacom Tablet Properties and nothing! It appeared a message that said DRIVER NOT FOUND, weird as hell! So, I deleted the tablet's driver and installed it again, and it worked for a few minutes, and then... nothing! The same thing happened! So I deleted again, reinstalled it again, but this time I changed the usb port, I plugged my tablet in a different usb port and that's was it! Mistery solved! Apparently the usb port lost connection with the tablet, so that's why the message DRIVER NOT FOUND, when I changed the tablet to another port the tablet didn't fail again. So it's important try this if it happens the same to you.

2-Software: Like I said before, the Intuos Draw includes the ArtRage Lite, I also tried the Autodesk Sketchbook and both work flawless, I mapped the expressive keys for both programs and also the pen, they'r both amazing apps for you different kind of art.

3-Tablet and Pen: Here comes the most important, the tablet and pen work with EMR (Electromagnetic Resonance) the pen doesn't use batteries, so it works with electromagnetism. So, this has a downfall. I usually use my tablet with my laptop on my desk in my room. One day I took my laptop and tablet to the tv room, and I put my laptop on my lap and the tablet on the couch's arm, when I opened the software it started to behave really weird, the pen did lines that I wasn't doing, the expressive keys didn't work at all and things like that. So intermediately I took my laptop and tablet and went back to my room, put both on my desk,  and the tablet and pen work perfectly again! So, it's simple to guess, there were some kind of interference in my tv room that made my tablet and pen behave that way, maybe an electric failure somewhere, some cable loose or I don't know really, what I Do know, is that something interrupted the connection between the tablet and pen. I think this is important to know, and it only happened in the tv room, in my room I have my speakers connected to my iPod on my desk, and I always listen to music when I'm drawing, and it doesn't interfere with the tablet or pen, they both work perfect even near my speakers and tv also on, so that's why I guess there must be some electric failure in my tv room. So, that's not a tablet or pen problem, I think it's the way they work together, you just have to make sure you won't have any problems where you're gonna use mostly your tablet.
The pen is absolutely accurate! And that's because of the EMR, the lines, eraser, everything you do it's completely accurate! The active area is 6'' x 3.7''

OVERALL: The Wacom brand is the best in the market. I would definitely recommend this tablet for people with small budget or with reduced space on the desk. It works amazing with the different software. The driver issue has nothing to do with the tablet itself, the Intuos Draw works as suppose to do and it's really cool for drawing or painting, it's easy to use and the pen has the right size, it feels like a graphite pencil in your hand. If you're not used to have your eyes and hand in different places, this might not be suited for you. I only used paper and graphite pencils but I wanted to try to draw also in digital, it's a little bit hard at the beginning but I think you can get used to.
This is an amazing tablet, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommend it to someone or buying another one.

Philip Seymour Hoffman Graphite's Portrait

This is my attempt of drawing this amazing actor who left us a little while ago.

Materials:
Drawing Book 90G
Pencils; 5H, 2H, 2B, 4B, 7B
Staedler Pencil Eraser
Faber Castell Perfection Pencil Eraser
Stumps.

Stumps and Shading Materials.

In the world of graphite's drawing, there are different ways for doing some shades.
First of all, the Stumps and Tortillions, the two from below in the photograph are stumps in different measures. The stumps are like piece of paper used for shading, they work really well, and they're the best for graphite.
Then, we have the Blenders, like the Prismacolor Colorless Blender, even though this is for blend with color, some people use it for graphite pencils. I don't think they're the best for graphite because they're made of wax, but for colored pencils they're the best.

And then, we have a simple soft brush, some people like to use only the brush to do the shades and blend, like the first one from the photograph. The brush is also helpful when you're erasing, so with the brush you move away the little garbage on the drawing.

And others like to use it with a soft sponge head applicator on it, I thing it's way better in this last way. This one from the photograph comes already with the sponge head, and it comes with several for replacement. Or you can get the sponge head and put it on the tip of the brush.
I hope this can be helpful to you when you'll be making some graphite drawings with shades.

Robin William's Graphite Drawing!

This drawing it's from a photograph I found on the internet. It's made only with graphite pencils.
This drawing makes me a little bit emotional, as a Psychologist it reminds me every day why I chose this career, to try to help people when they need help. It's a big shame that we don't have anymore this amazing actor on earth, it's a shame that he thought that there wasn't another way out, it was too late for him, but not for others. I give you my drawing of: Robin Williams

Gear used: Drawing Book 90G.

                  Graphite Pencils: 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 7B.

                  Staedler Mars Pencil Eraser.

                  Stumps.

                  Wood Light Box.

Black and White Portrait!

The Black and White portraits are difficult to make, especially if you're like me!
You'll see, I don't have any talent in free-handed drawing, I love to draw but unfortunately  it's not what I'm good at. My thing is more the technical drawing, but anyhow, I try to do some portraits too, or at least I tried with this one: Cara Delevigne!

It's from a photograph I found on the internet. I used a technique called Tracing, some say that's cheating, but for me, it's just another technique for drawing. 

I used a light box and the software Silhouette, with the software I traced it first, and then I printed it, and then I used that traced photo and my light box to make the drawing, of course, meaning the silhouette, then I had to make all the shadows by looking the original photograph.

It's my first portrait, so don't be so hard on me! I had a very long time of not drawing or shadowing.

Just a tip, when you're making the shadows, put a piece of paper under your hand, that will keep you form not stain the drawing.

Gear used: Drawing Book 90G

                  Pencils: HB, 2H and 2B

                  Wood Light Box.

Super Canvas Roll Up Pencil Wrap

This is a review for the Super Canvas Roll Up Pencil Wrap.
This is made for your colored pencils, however it can be used with any pens or pencils you use, including thin markers.

But like I wrote before, it can be used also with thin markers, like for example, the Stabilo. This canvas protects the markers/pens/pencils very well, it has a cover for the tips of your pencils.

In the shown above, I keep my Stabilo's marlers, three Staedler Mars Lumograph Pencils, one Prismacolor Blender and an eraser, you can also keep a thin sharpener, and it folds just right!

Keep in mind that if you're gonna use it to keep markers, they have to be thin, otherwise it's gonna be useless to you!

This is a good choice if you don't like to keep the big boxes that come with your pencils, or markers. This is great for keep everything in a small place, or when you travel!.

The Psychology in Art Therapy!

Drawing or Painting? Either way, it's the best way to feel free of stress, enjoy your spare time, and find yourselves with you interior child.
This Psychological therapy is been used as the way people can connect with the interior child.
Our interior child is always with us. When we grow up and become adults, sometimes we forget to do things for our interior child, we stopped doing things we used to do as a child and begin to make growing up things. And we forget to pay attention to our interior child, the one's who always in there, the one who marks our childhood and our future as an adults.
Drawing and Painting are very common things we used to do as kids, in our home, in the school, with our friends, by ourselves, either way, we used to love to do these; drawing and painting, even we were good or we sucked at it, it's a primary thing we used to do.
As a grown ups, we took for granted that we don't need to take care of that kid anymore, we get involved in our grown up things that we forget our interior child, that he/she still needs us, that needs that we take care of him/her, that we play with him/her.
And if we can do this, if we can take care of this amazing kid, we will be better as the adults that we are. Reconnecting with our interior child, helps us in feeling better with ourselves, it helps us with the rutinary sress of our jobs, and having fun of doing some art.
This art therapy can also be combined with another kind of therapy, the music! It's very relaxing to draw or paint while you're listening some music, either way it's rock, alternative, chill out, punk, etc, it's way better doing your best art while you're also enjoying some music!
So feel free of keep doing what you're doing, keep having fun with it and disconnect yourself of the wildernest of the world.
I'll leave here some of my paintings, I'm not the best at it, but I really enjoy it and that's what it counts!!

The Basics Materials for Coloring!

It is very important to have the basic materials for start coloring your books or your drawings.
Let's start with the new Adults Coloring Books: You can find the Johanna Basford's Books; The Secret Garden, Enchanted Forest, or very soon the new one; Lost Ocean. These are beautiful books with amazing drawings of special gardens, forests, animals, landscapes and others. Of course, you also can find another books from other authors with Mandalas, Animals, Buildings, Houses, almost anything you want.
Next, we have the Coloring Pencils, you can fin a lot of brands in here, Faber Castell, Maped, Norma, Staedler, but the best for coloring and the ones who professionals use are the Prismacolor Premier, you can find them in a box of 24, 48, 130, 150 and so on. These are very soft core, so they're very soft in use.
Then, the Pens, you can find them in brands like Staedler, Prismacolor and Stabilo, my favorites are the Stabilo 88, they have metallic tip and they're perfect for the small details.
For last, but not least, the markers or Pens with fiber tip, you can find them in Prismacolor, Staedler, Pentel, and Stabilo. I use right now the Staedler Noris, they're not the best but they work for now, the best are the Prismacolor, but the Stabilo 68 are also very good, I'm also gonna use these.