Vector Appreciation
Illustrator, to me anyways, is that best friend that you wonder why you hadn't gotten to know sooner.
It's painful to think about, but when I was first getting into digital art, I used to create paths in Photoshop and use the "stroke along path" option for the brush. Horrific, I know. But growing from there, I learned about Illustrator, learned the power of vectors, and have since learned the error of my early ways.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/15437558d0ed178f037b7058bf98a963/f6c5c2e0-3d83-4ff4-8b2e-ddf5f4da4d33_rw_1920.jpg?h=a2b0fdec7ffbc650ee6a1ead8265e470)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/15437558d0ed178f037b7058bf98a963/053156cf-b272-4ee4-9db4-1e90dd4edf81_rw_1200.jpg?h=0425be6f9280157ab210de154b507633)
And how time can change things. In the span of three years, I went from creating the image on the left to that on the right. While learning is never truly over, I now feel I have learned enough about Illustrator to start working on refinement, experimentation, and building the experience of pushing the limits of what I think I can do.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/15437558d0ed178f037b7058bf98a963/07ed5fd9-b7fc-4c95-bf17-4b47d9c51265_rw_3840.png?h=b54fa1a285ce723c4aed0331b6ea7cd1)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/15437558d0ed178f037b7058bf98a963/98527158-312c-4262-b1fd-455af56ffb93_rw_1200.png?h=4ab03a4b99c16999e04f96532f294b0d)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/15437558d0ed178f037b7058bf98a963/02435a79-1706-44e9-82c7-53fbe5ac1b19_rw_1200.png?h=cf3c3f85f8fa863cc6d68ac578928dfa)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf4.myportfolio.com/15437558d0ed178f037b7058bf98a963/fe3568e1-1b71-4704-accf-08f6e0bab3a8_rw_1200.png?h=334a304a011df19f59b04a26016c556c)
And the best part of trying different styles, experimenting with different techniques and looks, I still get to learn about Illustrator and the process. The fact that I can look across the various vector pieces I've worked on recently and see the lessons I learned from each makes me excited to dive into the next project.