Hi there  
 
I draw all my material the old fashioned way (by hand on a piece of paper).  
The black & white drawing gets scanned into the computer where I clean it up and add color to it (I use photoshop for that).
 
That's really all there is to it.
 
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/corrieweb
http://www.corrieweb.nl

Good question! I've been a graphic designer for many years (package design), and I'm a fine artist/illustrator as well. Many of my concepts are fine art (pastel) which I then photograph with my digital camera and finesse in Photoshop; some are scanned in drawings manipulated in Pshop; some are created in Illustrator entirely; some are my own photographs; and several are combinations of all of those methods. I just wish I had more time to devote to this endeavor!

I draw my stuff old skool then scan in Photoshop.

I use anything that gets me a result
mostly hand drawn, coloured in PS.
A few I have painted, some I have created entirely with xara or illustrator or PS.
Occassionally I even get a good photo, but really whatever works!!!

Interesting-thanks for the replies!  I always wondered if anyone drew much on a tablet or with a mouse.  Even with my limited art abilities (and no tablet!)I was having a hard time imagining the intricate designs I see being created digitally.  I guess it's also a matter of what you're used to-I know people that still shoot film vs digital.  In fact, I tried to use my old point and shoot camera recently and had a hard time, since I had gotten used to looking through the eye piece again on my DSLR.

hi all.  i draw and/or paint all of mine then scan them in. i haven't tried any of the computer methods, like the feel of pencil/brush/paper. i do a lot of my designing and such outside, love nature!  

Well, let's see:
1. Watercolor on paper, scanned and modified in CorelDRAW.
2. Acrylics on canvas, photographed and modified in CorelDRAW.
3. Original drawings in CorelDRAW.
 
I use both a mouse and a tablet, depending on the effect desired.
 
I have also tried PaintX from Corel. The result was okay, but I did not like the loss of tactile feel compared to brush on canvas or paper.
 
MJ
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/millennium3designs  

I draw in coloring pencil and use a digital camera, I've made some animated toons and might put one or more up soon. This is my first week and hope Halloween and Christmas cards sell. I try to put some drawings up or photos or both each day. I've looked at a few artist here and they have really great cards. I like to draw cute stuff and people keep telling me to do greeting cards for them. Soooooo. Here I am . My storefront is at :           http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/firebirdscardstore  

That's nice. I draw and use coloring pencils and computer colorize meny of my drawings and or just scan them in. I also take pictures. Though, I can't seem to get my pictures to go at 300 DPI and have not got anyone to help the last 2 days to figure what's making that not work as it used to work well before. Why you might ask? Cuss they are trying to help and I still can't seem to get them up. I'm making dinner now and have to let them try to figure something new for me to try. So I'm at a stand still for now. I'm 47 years old, not young. Should I give up? Hmmm. Still waiting.

There are many "vector" tools in Photoshop to use for designing illustrations and "hand drawn" objects. Separate object and then be combined and also re-sized on your digital illus board. Some of these vecor tools are the "shapes" tool, the "pen" tool and any brush. Many of the coolest brushes are "hidden" in the alternate palettes and you've got to dig them out to use. Vector illustrations are smooth, continuous lines. They can be enlarged and transformed (using the "transform" tool)- meaning you can reshape the object. Scanned drawings and artwork are different. The image is a bitmap image made by a mosaic of different color or black and white pixels. Scanned artwork is often kinda dirty and smudged as scanner pick up the paper texture and stuff. Tablet created illustrations are also bitmapped, but they are cleaner without noisy artifacts in the background.
 
Then, my particular area of expertise is using FONTS and type as graphic elements.  
 
In Photoshop you can add color and "paint" with translucency using a brush. It takes a bit of practice but you can finess your input to look like a "real" watercolor, pastel or oil painting. Another program to use is Corel Painter. A really good digital painter is a lady named Catherine. Google: "Cat Bounds" and you will find her web gallery.
 
I encourage all traditional artists to take the time to explore the digital canvas. Unfortunately there isn't all that much in the form of publications for "advanced" artists- a manual and how-to books...think of your computer as another paint brush!

I use the computer to create all of the images I use for the cards.  I only have photoshop for a graphics program but would love to have illustrator for the vector program...maybe soon.  I am just beginning to appreciate all that I can do with photoshop.  I am very new at this, learning a little every day.  I am not very computer savvy and when something goes right am in awe.  I used to draw the conventional ways, but since I do not have a printer/scanner that is not an option for me at this point for this venue.
 
By the way...anyone getting sales?  I haven't had anything since before Christmas.  I did love that 75 card bulk sale of a New Year design though...that was a rush...I WANT MORE!!! lol.

Quote from Catherine_131549 on Aug 1^st, 2007, 8:20am:

 
 
I'd love to know what type of tablet and pen you are using---any suggestions as to which is better than others?  I've been working in the fine arts all my life--and LOVE the options digital rendering can give--mind boggling with the limitlessness, (is that a word?)
 
Thanks!
-Kerra

Quote from Leslie_131747 on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 1:46pm:

 
 
Hi, Leslie!  I draw and use watercolor, too.  I've heard that people have been scanning their images---I think I'll try that, too.  I've been photographing my images and then resizing in paint shop pro.  How are your sales going?

-Kerra

Quote from Yassine_132473 on Dec 27^th, 2007, 3:23am:

 
off topic: You´re not alone among Americans and English - I´m German. (Although having been married to an Englishman for nearly 38 yrs and having lived on the island for some time before moving back to Germany I consider myself more a "European"  )

I am an artist from the UK, all of my art is produced by hand using graphite and colored pencils, some of the automobile art pieces can take up to 48 hours.
I really love drawing the classic 50s and 60s Americam cars like the Chevy and the Cadillac with all that amazing chrome. I scan all my work to Photoshop.
I sell prints of my work through my website:
http://motornstuffart.co.uk/index.htm

Some cards are just classic coloured pencil
Others are drawn using a free download called paint.net which does alot of the things that paintshop does - but free!
There are one or two photos in there but it's mostly drawings.
 
Nobody says you have to draw well anyway!  Tha cartoon figures are the most fun!

hello I am in Dallas and today it is a little cold out here...So anyway I begin my paintings by first drawing thme with pencil...I then go back and go over with black marker and then finaly put acrylic paint to the work...I just love painting.....
Blessings to all Artist out there....
Lilia Estrada